FoundationsFoundations

What is the Church?What is the Church?

1 Peter 1:22-2:101 Peter 1:22-2:10

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, God. For,    "All men are like grass,    "All men are like grass,       and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;       and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;    the grass withers and the flowers fall,    the grass withers and the flowers fall,     but the word of the Lord stands forever.    but the word of the Lord stands forever.““

And this is the word that was preached to you. And this is the word that was preached to you.   Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy,

envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

1 Peter 1:22-2:101 Peter 1:22-2:10

  As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says:    "See, I lay a stone in Zion,    "See, I lay a stone in Zion,       a chosen and precious cornerstone,       a chosen and precious cornerstone,    and the one who trusts in him    and the one who trusts in him       will never be put to shame.      will never be put to shame.““ Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, to those who do not believe,    "The stone the builders rejected    "The stone the builders rejected       has become the capstone, and,       has become the capstone, and,    "A stone that causes men to stumble    "A stone that causes men to stumble       and a rock that makes them fall.      and a rock that makes them fall.““

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a destined for. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. received mercy.

The Holy Christian The Holy Christian ChurchChurch

1.1. The word The word ““churchchurch”” means those people means those people ““called outcalled out”” by God. by God.

2.2. The Holy Christian Church is all the The Holy Christian Church is all the people who people who have been called out of have been called out of darkness into Goddarkness into God’’s wonderful lights wonderful light

3.3. The cornerstone of the church is The cornerstone of the church is JesusJesus. . All who believe in him are All who believe in him are living stones living stones built on the cornerstonebuilt on the cornerstone..

Romans 1:7Romans 1:7

To all in Rome who are loved by God and To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:1-21 Corinthians 1:1-2

Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God in Sosthenes, To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours. . .Lord and ours. . .

A Christian congregationA Christian congregation

1.1. A gathering or assembly of people A gathering or assembly of people around Godaround God’’s word and sacramentss word and sacraments

Matthew 13:47-50Matthew 13:47-50

The kingdom of heaven is like a net that was The kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. weeping and gnashing of teeth.

1 Samuel 16:71 Samuel 16:7

The LORD does not look at the things The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.heart.

A Christian congregationA Christian congregation

1.1. A gathering or assembly of people A gathering or assembly of people around Godaround God’’s word and sacramentss word and sacraments

2.2. A key difference between the Holy A key difference between the Holy Christian Church and a Christian Christian Church and a Christian congregation: congregation: In a Christian In a Christian congregation there may also be congregation there may also be hypocrites.hypocrites.

1 Peter 2:1-21 Peter 2:1-2

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation by it you may grow up in your salvation

Hebrews 10:23-25Hebrews 10:23-25

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one anotherdoing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day —and all the more as you see the Day approaching. approaching.

A Christian congregationA Christian congregation

1.1. A gathering or assembly of people around A gathering or assembly of people around GodGod’’s word and sacramentss word and sacraments

2.2. A key difference between the Holy Christian A key difference between the Holy Christian Church and a Christian congregation: Church and a Christian congregation: In a In a Christian congregation there may also be Christian congregation there may also be hypocriteshypocrites..

3.3. GodGod’’s will for Christians: That we assemble s will for Christians: That we assemble together in congregations totogether in congregations to

a)a) Grow in faith through the WordGrow in faith through the Wordb)b) Spur one another on to love and good deedsSpur one another on to love and good deedsc)c) Encourage one another to remain faithfulEncourage one another to remain faithful

1 Corinthians 1:101 Corinthians 1:10

I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and may be perfectly united in mind and thought. thought.

Church fellowship—GodChurch fellowship—God’’s s willwill

1.1. That Christians have and express That Christians have and express unity unity in mind and thoughtin mind and thought

John 8:31John 8:31

To the Jews who had believed him, To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.you are really my disciples.””

Matthew 28:20Matthew 28:20

““. . .and teaching them to obey everything . . .and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the with you always, to the very end of the age.age.””

Church fellowship—GodChurch fellowship—God’’s s willwill

1.1. That Christians have and express That Christians have and express unity unity in mind and thoughtin mind and thought

2.2. That Christians seek to maintain That Christians seek to maintain unity unity by staying faithful to Godby staying faithful to God’’s words word

Matthew 7:15 Romans Matthew 7:15 Romans 16:1716:17

Watch out for false Watch out for false prophets. They come prophets. They come to you in sheep's to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious they are ferocious wolves. wolves.

I urge you, brothers, I urge you, brothers, to watch out for to watch out for those who cause those who cause divisions and put divisions and put obstacles in your obstacles in your way that are contrary way that are contrary to the teaching you to the teaching you have learned. Keep have learned. Keep away from them. away from them.

Church fellowship—GodChurch fellowship—God’’s s willwill

1.1. That Christians have and express That Christians have and express unity in unity in mind and thoughtmind and thought

2.2. That Christians seek to maintain That Christians seek to maintain unity by unity by staying faithful to Godstaying faithful to God’’s words word

3.3. That Christians recognize the presence of That Christians recognize the presence of false teachings and teachers in this worldfalse teachings and teachers in this world

4.4. That Christians keep separate from That Christians keep separate from teachers, teachers, churches, and religious organizations that go churches, and religious organizations that go against the teachings of Godagainst the teachings of God’’s Words Word..

DiscussionDiscussion

What can a Christian church do for its What can a Christian church do for its community?community?

Some people say, “I don’t want to belong Some people say, “I don’t want to belong to a church because there are too many to a church because there are too many hypocrites there.” How might you hypocrites there.” How might you respond?respond?

Why do you suppose there are so many Why do you suppose there are so many different church bodies in the world?different church bodies in the world?