The Church; What is it?

2. The Church; What is it? Before the Church (Old Testament Times), Men Came to God to Worship and Ask for Forgiveness through a Priest. A Curtain Separated Men from God in the Temple. When Jesus was Crucified the Curtain was torn from Top to Bottom by God. The Church was formed so that Man could come directly to God rather than continue approaching Him through a Priest. Matt 27: 45, 50 - 51

3. This is what is so significant about Jesus’ execution. Holy God could not continue His close fellowship with His son due to our sins being on him at that time. The Old Testament practice was for a seperating curtain to remain between God and the Hebrew people. Only the High Priest could go behind the temple curtain once a year to offer prayers on behalf of the people and hear from God to instruct the people. With the removal of the curtain, we can all now approach God without a priest. Matthew 27: 45, 50 - 51 From the sixth hour to the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried our in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabach-thani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He gave up His spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

4. Jesus Started The Church He Is The Head of the Church Matt 16: 18 Col 1: 18

5. Peter had spoken from heavenly inspiration and it was from this inspiration or foundation rock that Christ built the Church – not the man Peter. The Church shall prevail against the forces of evil (Hades). Christ is the Head of the Church which is His body on Earth. Matthew 16: 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Colossians 1: 18 And He is the Head of the body, the Church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have supremacy.

6. The Church Was Born 3 40 10 Crucifixion Holy Spirit Ascension Resurrection 50 3 Pentecost Passover Festival of First Harvest All Numbers are in Days

7. The Church Is a Group of Baptized Believers They Have Agreed To Serve Together in Faith and Fellowship

8. Jesus Is The Head of the Church The Church is the Body of Christ Jesus Is the Great Shepherd A Pastor/Elder/Bishop is the Shepherd Or Overseer Deacons are Servant Undershepherds

9. Each Member [of His Body] Has Been Gifted to Minister Ephesians 4: 7 – 8 I Cor 12: 11- 13 Each Member of the Body has been Gifted to carry out the functions of the Body. If Each Member Does Not Carry out his/her Function, then the Church will not Accomplish What God has Planned Through the Church

10. Ephesians 4: 7 – 8, 11 - 13 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: “When He ascended on high, He led captives in His train and gave gifts to men.” It was He who gave some (gifts) to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 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. I Corinthians 12: 11 – 13 All these are the work of the one and same Spirit, and He gives them (gifts) to each one, just as He determines. The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized (enveloped) by one Spirit into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free – we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

11. The Greek Word For Church Is EKKLESIA “Called Out Ones” Separated From the World System We are not to be entangled in the Affairs of this World but to be a separated people that obey the Great Shepherd rather than the god of this world!

12. The True Church Is The Body of Jesus Christ on Earth Through Which He Extends His Influence Eph 3: 10 – 11 II Cor 5: 20 Jesus is Depending Upon The Church to Continue the Ministry He Started. We Are His Ambassadors On Earth

13. Ephesians 3: 10 – 11 His intent was that now, through the Church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms according to His eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. II Corinthians 5: 20 We are therefore Christ’s Ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

14. The Church Is To: • Worship and Praise God • Make Disciples; that make Disciples • Pray; Teach others to Pray • Teach the Bible, and the Study of the Bible • Tell Lost People About Jesus • Provide Fellowship • Send (Take) Jesus’ Message Around the World • Practice Stewardship • Perform Baptisms • Observe The Lord’s Supper • Care for the Poor This course started as part of the ministry of a church. People who are saved are probably saved because some church member was obedient. Some churches participate in a cooperative program to send missionaries around the world.

15. Ordinances: 1. Baptism - To Be Performed Before Partaking of the Lord’s Supper 2. Lord’s Supper- Act of Obedience Through Bread and Grape Juice [Fruit of the Vine] 1 Corinthians 11: 23 - 29 • The Supper used the “Fruit of the Vine” and unleavened bread (No Yeast or Bacteria) • The original manuscripts calls for fruit of the vine (Wine is fermented) • The bread represents Christ’s Body (Free of Sin) • The fruit of the vine represents Christ’s Blood (Life) • The Christian is to be baptized once • The Lord’s Supper can be taken often in remembrance of Him

16. BAPTISM Baptizo: To Dip, Plunge, or Immerse. To Be Engulfed. Baptism Does Not Bring Salvation !! Baptism is symbolic of Death to the old way of living and Arising to a New Life In Christ.

17. Why you should be Baptized To follow the example of Jesus “At that time Jesus came from Nazarene…and was baptized by John in the Jordan (river).” Mark 1:9 Because Jesus commands it “Jesus said, ‘Go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20 It demonstrates that you really are a believer “Those who accepted His message were baptized.” Acts 2:41

18. BAPTISM Baptism is Not a requirement for Salvation! Baptized Into His Death. Death to the Life of Adam Raised Into A New Life The Life Provided By Christ. Romans 6: 1 - 11

19. Romans 6: 1 – 11 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin, how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized (immersed) into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection. For we know that our old (carnal nature) self was crucified with Himso that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin – because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death has no mastery over Him. The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. We must die to our carnal (sin) nature every day. We will then no longer be under the power of sin!!

20. A True Disciple is Transformed. Convert Transformed Disciple

21. The Lord’s Supper FBCD practices open communion with fellow Christians. The Supper is an act of obedience expressed by taking Christ’s symbolic body (Unleavened Bread) and Christ’s Blood (Life represented by Grape Juice) Jesus never said when or how often believers should observe The Lord’s Supper. He instituted it on a Thursday night. We celebrate the Supper once a quarter. Jesus told His disciples that as often as they take the Supper, always remember Him. Only Christians should take the Supper, one should examine his/her heart and confess/repent of any sin. We will now take the Supper in remembrance of Him.

22. I Corinthians 11: 23 – 29 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you. The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. Only Christians should take the Lord’s supper. It is a very serious and solemn practice. The Christian should first search his heart, confess his sin, and meditate on what Christ has done for him.

23. Stewardship: We are to be Custodians or Trustees of All That We Have: Time Talents , Skills Material Possessions etc. Luke 16: 10 - 13 We are to be Stewards of Our Knowledge of the Gospel and Our Christian Experience 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 - Set Aside Weekly Rom. 1: 14 - Share Our Knowledge of the Gospel Matt. 6: 19-21 - Do Not Store Up Treasure on Earth Matt. 6: 25-34 - Trust God for All of our Needs

24. Luke 16: 10 – 13 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own? No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money (or worldly riches).”

25. ASSIGNMENT: Continue daily Bible reading and prayer. Study Acts 1 and 2 this week. Pray for God’s blessings on the Church universal and your church in particular. Pray for your spiritual leaders (this is a prayer for blessing.)

26. Spiritual Gifts Please Complete All Questions on the Survey

27. Spiritual Gifts are given by the Holy Spirit at the time of Salvation to All Christians • Spiritual Gifts are Different from Natural Talents • We do not Choose our Spiritual Gift(s), The Holy Spirit Determines Who Gets Which Gift(s) I Corinthians 12: 7 I Corinthians 12: 11

28. I Corinthians 12: 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit (Spiritual Gift) is given for the common good. I Corinthians 12: 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He gives them to each one, just as He determines.

29. Gifts Listed in the Bible: • Prophesying • Serving • Teaching • Giving or Contributing • Leadership • Showing Mercy Romans 12: 3 - 8

30. Romans 12: 3 – 8 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.

31. Gifts Listed in the Bible: • Wisdom Apostleship • Knowledge Teaching • Faith Serving • Healing Administration • Miraculous Powers • Prophecy • Distinguishing Spirits • Tongues • Interpretation I Corinthians 12: 8 – 10 and 28 - 30

32. Spiritual Gifts are distributed throughout the Church to build up the Church as the Body of Christ in a local community. The gifts should work together just like the members of the body (hands, eyes, ears, etc.) work together. I Corinthians 12: 8 – 12 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that same Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit , and He gives them to each one, just as He determines. The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. I Corinthians 12: 28 – 30 And in the Church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.

33. Gifts Listed in the Bible: • Apostleship • Prophecy • Evangelism • Pastoring-Teaching Ephesians 4: 11

34. Ephesians 4: 11 It was He (Holy Spirit) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ (the Church) may be built up 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.

35. How to Effectively Use Spiritual Gifts: • With an Attitude of (Agape) Love Agape Love is an all giving love with no expectation of anything in return. God agape loves YOU. I Corinthians 13

36. I Corinthians 13: 1 - 12 If I speak in tongues of men and of angels, but have not ____, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not ____, I am nothing. If I give all I posses to the poor an surrender my body to the flames, but have not ____, I gain nothing. ____ is patient, ____ is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ____ does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. ____ never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. The way to properly exercise Spiritual Gifts is always in Love. During this life, we will never attain full knowledge but when we face Christ face-to-face, we will know fully.

37. How to Know your Gift: 1. Believe you are gifted. Spiritual Gifts are for every Christian 2. Pray for Discernment About Your Gift(s) 3. Study the Bible to Learn More About the Gifts 4. Accept Responsibility: All are Commanded to evangelize, show mercy, encourage, give and help 5. Consider Your Desires; What do you Enjoy Doing? 6. Accept the Confirmation of Others 7. At What are you Successful? What Bears Much Fruit?

38. There Are No Small Ministries – All Are Important

39. You Are the Body of Christ Now You Are the Body of Christ and Each One of You Is A Part (Member) of It. Christ is the Head I Am 1 Corinthians 12:27 Romans 12: 3 - 13 Arm Eye Ear Nose Toe

40. God is a God of diversity. No two humans are exactly alike. No two Churches are alike. He has purposely given a variety of Spiritual Gifts so that we will perform different functions through the Church. I Corinthians 12: 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. Romans 12: 3 – 6 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.

41. Fruit (character) of the Spirit The Character [Fruit] of the Holy Spirit in the Christian is: 1. Love 2. Joy 3. Peace 4. Longsuffering [Patience] 5. Gentleness [Kindness] 6. Goodness 7. Faith [Faithfulness] 8. Meekness [Gentleness] 9. Temperance [Self Control] Galatians 5:22

42. The Fruit of the Spirit is the Character of the Holy Spirit who lives in the Christian. Thus, these character traits should radiate from each Christian. Self-Control means that our physical body should always be under the control of the Spirit within us. Galatians 5: 22 - 23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

43. Old Life in Adam New Life in Christ Christian: 1. Love 2. Joy 3. Peace 4. Patience 5. Kindness 6. Goodness 7. Faithfulness 8. Gentleness 9. Self Control Worldly: 1. Pride 2. Envy 3. Jealousy 4. Covetness 5. Lust 6. Greed 7. Anger 8. Anxiousness 9. Selfish Contrasts in Ways to Live Galatians 5:22

44. The Holy Spirit starts living in the Christian when he is saved. These nine characteristics are what the Holy Spirit is like. The Christian should take on these characteristics. Do You? Galatians 5: 22 But the fruit (Character) of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. The Carnal Nature or Self Life Pride, envy, jealousy, covetness, lust, greed, anger, anxiousness and selfishness The Christian should be changing from the Carnal nature to the Spiritual Man. Are YOU?

45. How Spiritual Gifts Are To Be Applied IN Love 1. Supreme Example of Love [John 3:16] 2. Decisive Evidence of Love [1 John 3:11-15] 3. Practical Expression of Love [1 John 3:16-20] 4. Divine Command to Love [1 John 3:21-24]

46. Supreme Example For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3: 16

47. John 3: 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. This is the most popular verse in the Bible. God’s agape love for the people of the world makes it possible to escape Hell and live forever with Him in Heaven. Failure to trust in Christ means eternal separation from God in Hell!

48. Practical Expression This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. Should you be selfish or Compassionate? What are your inner motives? Does your heart [conscience] condemn you? I John 3: 16 - 20

49. I John 3: 16 – 20 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and He know everything.

50. Divine Command And this is His command: to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to love [Agape] one another as he commanded us. Those who obey His commands live in Him, and He in them. I John 3: 21 - 24