There are many types of churches in the world. What is church? There are many people going to different churches looking for the right church. But the churches these days are more influenced by the world. The church is supposed to impact the world!
- What is the church
- Church governance
- Purpose of the church
What is the church?
Church does not come from the Greek word “Ekklesia” but from the Greek word “Kuriakos” which means “belong to the Lord”. This word is found in 1 Corinthians 11:20 regarding the Lord’s supper and Revelation 1:10 regarding the Lord’s Day.
The word “Ekklesia” has appeared in the bible about 120 times. Why did the apostles used the word and help the readers understand what church meant?
Ek- “out of,” “Out from” or “from”, “to call”
Ekklesia- The called out from or those called out from, referring to people whom are called out from something. This word meant that the people are called out for a mission or a purpose. We are called by God and separated from the ways of the world and into the ways of God.
As a church what is our relationship with Christ fellowers around the world? It is called the universal church.
1 Corinthians 12-13
For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
What is our relationship with the Messianic Jews?
Romans 11 says we are grafted into Israel and together we are Universal Kingdom. What is the Kingdom of God?
The church is not the kingdom. The kingdom is in the church and creates the church. The church is used by God but its not the end. The church is to fulfill the call of God, to fulfill the call to reach others for Jesus.
What is a local church?
Galatians 1:1-2
Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers and sisters[a] with me,
Paul was addressing the churches in the province of Galatia. So that’s is the local church.
We are adopted into God’s family, body of Christ, Bride of Christ, Building of Christ, Chosen Generation, Royal Priesthood and Holy Nation, Holy Temple, Living Stones, People of God, Salt and Light and Vine and Branches.
A Local church is not a building or a particular denomination, but the body of believers in Christ.
Therefore, its important to serve God in the church community.
What’s the big deal?
We are the church, the church is the body of Christ and we are the body of Christ. Love the body of Christ, love each other.
2) Church governance
3) systems- Bishop Church, presbyterian and congregational.
Bishop Church is governed by bishops. There are also different other titles in the church like Vicars, Rectors etc. The Methodist, Anglican and the Catholic are under this system.
A Presbyterian church is a system ruled by elders. The elders are ordained and responsible for their local churches. The role of deacons is to administer finance and building of the church. There are voting and elections to make decisions.
The congregational church focuses on the autonomy of the local church and members. Independent churches, Baptist and churches of Christ fall under this category.
What God expects of these various offices?
1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9
Elders:
Character: Blameless, temperate/not quick tempered, sober minded, good behavior, not quarrelsome, not violent, not greedy , holy , self controlled etc.
Relationship: Husband of one wife and rules his home well. Manages his children well and must be hospital
Roles and responsibilities: Not a new Christian, able to teach and hold fast to God’s faithful word. Able to exhort and convict those who contradict.
Deacons:
Character: Fear God and do not speak mindlessly, not greedy, holding on to the faith and blameless.
Relationship: husband of one wife, wives must fear God and do not gossip or accuse others. Faithfull in all things and manages his household well.
Roles: Let them serve as a test for their character.
Pastors:
Jeremiah 2:8, Ephesians 4:11, Acts 20:17-32
Pastor means to tend a flock, to feed and pasture it.
Character and relationship: Same as the elders/bishops
Roles and responsibilities: feed and teach the flock with knowledge and understanding. To rebuke when necessary. To watch over the lives of the flock, protect and shepherd the congregation, pray and teach the Word of God.
What is the big deal?
We are all servants of God. It’s a privilege to serve God and lets serve humbly.
3)Purpose of the Church
The office: Ephesians 4:11-16 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the [a]edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Nothing is automatic and everything has to be intentional. A church is only as alive as you; as the body of church. You and I are the church!
The verse: Perfect Man in Ephesians =Maturity and perfection in a man.
We are to be joined together, supplying to each other, causing growth and doing our part to help each other grow. We are supposed to be edifying each other. It is not being preached by us, but it is what being practiced by you and I.
Serving God is not an option. The little things that we do is how God is training us, to mold our character to be more like Jesus. We serve God not the ministry. We serve God everyday not just in church ultimately to glorify God.
What’s the big deal?
Lets us step up, step out and start serving. Lets be the Church.
Application:
Is there an area in your life that needs REVIVAL? Go and start doing what the Word of God says.