What is the Church?

FOUNDATION SCRIPTURES: Matthew 16:13-19, Ephesians 5:23

INTRODUCTION
We will be looking at the Word of God and see what the Church is and how the Church is the authority of God on this earth. The Church is not physical building, it is people who are born of the Spirit of God that make up the Church of Jesus Christ.

WORD MEANING Church (Greek) ekklesia means those (people) called out.
(ek-k - ek means out), (klesia means to call)

1) THE CHURCH
i) Matthew 16:13-19, Jesus said that he will build his Church (ekklesia - called out ones) and the gates of hell will not prevail or overcome it. The Church is people, not a physical building or a denomination. The Church is made up of born again believers. Christians.
ii) Ephesians 5:23. Christ is the head of the Church, not a man or organisation. Jesus Christ is the leader.
iii) Ephesians 4:1-4, Colossians 1:18. There is one body and the body of Christ is his Church (people).
iv) Romans 16:16, Galatians 1:2. The Church of Jesus Christ is made up of two groups:
1) Local Church - These are believers in a local area that fellowship together in Christ and there could be several Churches in one area. Names of Churches are not wrong, it is to identify them in different areas.
2) Universal Church - This is made up of believers throughout the whole world.
People that we don't know, yet we are of the same body and universal Church.
v) 1 Timothy 3:15. The Church, which is made up of believers is the pillar and foundation of truth. The Church is the visible body of Christ on the earth. It carries his authority and power to carry out his plans and purposes. Remember the Church is people, people who live in accordance with God's Word to reach the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

2) LOCAL CHURCH
i) 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, Galatians 3:28. We are all members of the same body. The universal Church is made up of the local Church scattered throughout the world. People of different nations e.g. the Church of China is made up of lots of local (village) Churches.
ii) Ephesians 4:7-16. Jesus has given gifts to the Church (universal and local) these gifts have the responsibility to help protect, develop and release the members of the local Church into the work of Jesus Christ. Fivefold ministry: Apostles, Prophets, evangelists, Pastors and Teachers.
iii) 1 Corinthians 14:40, Titus 1:5. God is a God of order and Local Church must have order and things must be done decently. Leadership is raised up by God to protect the local believers from deception and divisions.
Order means - a succession of rank, order or correct arrangement.
Order is not bondage, it is of God.
1) Heaven - There is order in Heaven.
2) Church - There should be order in the Church. Acts 14:23
3) Families - There should be order in the home. 1Timothy 3:4-5
4) Individual - There should be order in your own life.

Shepherds
1 Peter 5:1-4. The Pastor (Shepherd) Is the Shepherd of the Local Church, Jesus is the Head of the whole Church. The Pastor must:
1) Shepherd the flock- care and look after the people.
2) Overseers - to bring God's order to the local church.
3) Examples - to live a Godly standard in their own lives and before the Church.

FAITH FOUNDATIONS prepared by Stephen Fisher - www.stephenfisher.org