The Church | Essential Christianity
Essential Christianity
The Church…
Week 1 SOUL TATTOO: Spending time in the Holy Bible is not an obligation, but a privileged way to access the heart of God.
Week 2 SOUL TATOO: Baptism is like the wedding band of Christianity, it is an outward sign of an inward commitment to Jesus Christ.
SOUL TATTOO: Jesus is committed to The Church and promised to build His Church.
Ephesians 5:25 (ESV) 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…
Ephesians 5:25 (MSG) 25Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting.
Matthew 16:18 (ESV) 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Matthew 28:16-20 (ESV) 16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
What the Church is not:
1.) The church is not a building.
2.) The church is not a denomination.
3.) The church is not a business.
Define THE CHURCH:
“The Church refers to a community of Christian believers who gather for the preaching of the Word of God, worship, fellowship, and the practice of their faith.”
When was the first church established?
1st Century AD is the Birthday of the Church. It is founded on the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Acts 2:37-47 (ESV) 37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
“The local church is a community of regenerated (renewed) believers who confess Jesus Christ as Lord. In obedience to Scripture they organize under qualified leadership, gather regularly for preaching and worship, observe the Biblical sacraments of Baptism and Communion, are unified by the Spirit, are disciplined for holiness, and scatter to fulfill the Great Commandment and the Great Commission as missionaries to the world for God’s glory and their joy.” Gerry Breshears from the book Vintage Church
SOUL TATTOO: Jesus is committed to The Church and promised to build His Church.
8 Descriptive thoughts about The Church:
1.) Salvation:
Regenerated believers in Jesus Christ.
2.) Leadership:
Being organized under qualified and competent leadership.
3.) The Word of God and Worship:
Regularly gathering to hear God’s Word truthfully preached and to respond in worshipful ways.
4.) Baptism and Communion:
Performing the Biblical Sacraments of Baptism and Communion.
5.) Power of the Holy Spirit:
The unifying and empowering of the Holy Spirit.
6.) Holiness:
Being a holy people.
7.) Community:
A loving people that devotes itself to fellowship and community.
8.) Evangelism:
Being an evangelistic community where the Gospel of Jesus is constantly made visible by its preaching, its witness of the members and its Spirit empowered life of love.
SOUL TATTOO: Jesus is committed to The Church and promised to build His Church.
The Purpose of the CHURCH…
- Ministry to God. “Worship”
Colossians 3:16 (ESV) 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Ephesians 1:12 (ESV) 12 God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God.
- Ministry to Believers. “Nurture and Mature”
Colossians 1:28 (ESV) 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
- Ministry to the World. “Evangelism and Mercy”
Matthew 28:19 (ESV) 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…
Luke 6:35-36 (ESV) 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
Galatians 5:13 (NIV) 13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
Matthew 16:18-19 (ESV) 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
SOUL TATTOO: Jesus is committed to The Church and promised to build His Church.
Our Church is…
- Built on Jesus.
- Just getting started.
- An unstoppable force.
“When it’s healthy, the local church is the most resource rich environment on the planet. It’s the place where people from every background, every generation, every cultural and ethnic heritage, every diverse skill and ability come together to form a family.” (Pastor Jeff Little, Milestone Church, Book, The Way to Win)
SOUL TATTOO: Jesus is committed to The Church and promised to build His Church.