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What is the Church?

What is the Church?. Some think of a building Some think of a denomination. What CHURCH do you belong to?. What is the Church?. Some think of a building Some think of a denomination Some think of a hierarchy or government. They ask: "What does the church teach?". God. God.

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What is the Church?

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  1. What is the Church? • Some think of a building • Some think of a denomination What CHURCH do you belong to?

  2. What is the Church? • Some think of a building • Some think of a denomination • Some think of a hierarchy or government They ask: "What does the church teach?"

  3. God God Roman Catholic Church Protestant Denomination The Saved People The Saved People

  4. God God Roman Catholic Church Protestant Denomination The Saved People The Saved People

  5. God God Roman Catholic Church Protestant Denomination The Saved People The Saved People

  6. God God Roman Catholic Church Protestant Denomination The Church is the Saved People

  7. The Church – A look at two uses in the Bible • THE UNIVERSAL ASSEMBLY (church) • THE LOCAL ASSEMBLY (church) If we don’t learn to make the proper distinction between these two uses for the people of God – we will tend to think in a denominational sense • In last week’s lesson – we looked at how the UNIVERSAL and LOCAL church are different. • This week – we will try to look at some important lessons we can learn.

  8. The Church: Universal and Local 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. (Matthew 16:18 NIV) • The Universal Church ALL PEOPLE SAVED BY JESUS

  9. The Church: Universal and Local • The Universal Church • The Local Church To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ-- their Lord and ours: (1 Corinthians 1:2 NIV) Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: (Philippians 1:1 NIV)

  10. The Church: Universal and Local • The Universal Church • The Local Church Christians who meet at 9498 Anhawa in Longmont

  11. Distinction between Universal and Local Church • Distinction in Fellowship • Distinction in Manner of Entry • Distinction in Enrollment • Distinction in Effect of Death • Distinction in Beginning • Distinction in Number • Distinction in Earthly Organization • Distinction in Shepherds • Distinction in Composition • Distinction in Necessity of Belonging • Distinction in Assembling • Distinction in Founder

  12. What is your view of the Universal Church? Baptist 7th Day Adventist Jehovah Methodist Witness Catholic Church of Christ Lutheran Presbyterian The most popular view in recent times is that the universal church is made up of all the denominations Christ Universal Church

  13. This divided state is against the will of God A prayer of Jesus Christ: "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (John 17:20-21 NIV)

  14. “I am the Vine and you are the Branches” (John 15:5) 7th Day Adventist Presbyterian C Methodist Catholic H Church of Christ R Lutheran I S Jehovah Witness T Baptist A Branch is a DENOMINATION According to this view

  15. 7th Day Adventist Presbyterian C Methodist Catholic H Church of Christ R Lutheran I S Jehovah Witness T Baptist “I am the Vine and you are the Branches” (John 15:5) Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. "I am the vine; youare the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. (John 15:4-6 NIV) A branch is not a denomination, but individual Christians

  16. Harry Peter C Paul Tom H Laura R Mary I S June T Ben “I am the Vine and you are the Branches” (John 15:5) Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. "I am the vine; youare the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. (John 15:4-6 NIV) A branch is not a denomination, but individual Christians

  17. What is your view of the Universal Church? Main Street Boulder County North Limon Street Eastside Central Huffman College Another View is that the UNIVERSAL CHURCH is made up of all “faithful or sound” local congregations Christ Universal Church

  18. A Comparison of Local churches with the Saved Some in Local Churches are lost Diotrephes The Universal Church Paul Contains all the Saved So Local Churches are not the building blocks for the universal church (the saved)

  19. The Units of the Universal Church • The members of Christ’s body are people • Christ’s sheepfold is made up of sheep • God’s army is made up of Christian soldiers • God’s church (assembly) is composed of individuals • God’s kingdom is made up of citizens • God’s temple is made up of living stones you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5 NIV)

  20. What is your view of the Universal Church? Main Street Boulder County North Limon Street Eastside Central Huffman College Another View is that the UNIVERSAL CHURCH is made up of all “faithful” local congregations Christ This view sees the universal church is made up of many local churches Universal Church

  21. “I am the Vine and you are the Branches” (John 15:5) College Main Street C Huffman Limon H Boulder County R Central I S Eastside North Street T A Branch is a LOCAL CHURCH According to this view

  22. Main Street Main Street C College Boulder County H Central R Eastside I S Limon T Huffman “I am the Vine and you are the Branches” (John 15:5) Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. "I am the vine; youare the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. (John 15:4-6 NIV) A branch is not a local church, but individual Christians

  23. Alexander Campbell A leader of what is known in religious history as the Restoration Movement (1800-1860) The church is not one congregation or assembly, but the congregation of Christ, composed of all the individual congregations on earth. (Millenial Harbenger, July 1834) Every individual church on earth stands to the whole church of Christ as one individual man to one particular church (Millenial Harbinger, June, 1853)

  24. Robert Milligan A leader of what is known in religious history as the Restoration Movement (1868) For the sake of Order, convenience, and efficiency, this one body may be divided into as many churches or congregations as may be thought necessary; each one of which, when fully organized should have its own corps of elders, and deacons (Scheme of Redemption, Nashville, Gospel Advocate Co., p 509)

  25. The Basic Issue is This --- The Universal Church • A Church of Churches? Or • A Church of individuals? ALL PEOPLE SAVED BY JESUS

  26. The Body of Christ 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 by one Spirit into one body-- whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-- and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13 NIV) Christ ALL PEOPLE SAVED BY JESUS Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (1 Corinthians 12:27 NIV) The Body is not composed of Denominations or congregations

  27. The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches Main Street Boulder County North Limon Street Eastside Central Huffman College A Collection of Congregations = A Denomination Universal Church

  28. The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches A Collection of Congregations = A Denomination What ties these groups together East Side Main Street National Headquarters Boulder County Central North Street

  29. The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches A Collection of Congregations = A Denomination What ties these groups together East Side Main Street National or State Convention Boulder County Central North Street

  30. The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches A Collection of Congregations = A Denomination What ties these groups together East Side Main Street Publishing House Boulder County Central North Street

  31. The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches A Collection of Congregations = A Denomination What ties these groups together East Side Main Street Seminary – College Training of Preachers Boulder County Central North Street

  32. The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches A Collection of Congregations = A Denomination What ties these groups together East Side Main Street Charities They Jointly Fund Raise for Boulder County Central North Street

  33. The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches A Collection of Congregations = A Denomination What ties these groups together East Side Main Street Staff Writers of a Magazine Boulder County Central North Street

  34. The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches A Collection of Congregations = A Denomination What ties these groups together East Side Main Street A Few Distinct Doctrines They Share Boulder County Central North Street

  35. The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches A Collection of Congregations = A Denomination What ties these groups together East Side Main Street “Soundness” on a particular divisive issue Boulder County Central North Street

  36. The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches Main Street Boulder County North Limon Street Eastside Central Huffman College A Collection of Congregations = A Denomination Universal Church To denominate means “to name” so………

  37. The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches Main Street Boulder County North Limon Street Eastside Central Huffman College Each Collection of Congregations - Takes a “name” Lutheran Southern Bap. Universal Church American Bap. Church of God Church of Christ This last designation makes a good “scriptural name” but God never intended for his people to wear an exclusive name that “denominates” it from others.

  38. The Basic Issue is This --- ALL PEOPLE SAVED BY JESUS Does not have one name or description The Universal Church • church of God • church of the firstborn • body of Christ • church of Christ • kingdom of God

  39. The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches Main Street Boulder County North Limon Street Eastside Central Huffman College Group of Congregations takes the name Church of God Are you a member of the “Church of God”? Universal Church Some say “NO” Church of Christ

  40. Jule Miller Film Strip - 1970 “God’s names for his church and her members were selected by God Himself. Most people are surprised to learn that God never chose one exclusive name for His church. However, when the scriptures refer to the church, God has chosen descriptive phrases which set forth some of the most distinctive characteristics of the Church.” (Lesson Three, page 18) Does not have one name or description • church of God • church of the firstborn • body of Christ • church of Christ • kingdom of God

  41. Jule Miller Film Strip - 1970 “God’s names for his church and her members were selected by God Himself. Most people are surprised to learn that God never chose one exclusive name for His church. However, when the scriptures refer to the church, God has chosen descriptive phrases which set forth some of the most distinctive characteristics of the Church.” (Lesson Three, page 18) Does not have one name or description • church of God • church of the firstborn • body of Christ • church of Christ • kingdom of God Big question at age 19: Why did every congregation that used these booklets use only one exclusive name? Why did they all wear the SAME exclusive name?

  42. Why did these congregations all use the same exclusive name to the neglect of other scriptural descriptions Main Street Boulder County North Limon Street Eastside Central Huffman College Each Collection of Congregations - Takes a “name” Church of Christ Universal Church The answer is not difficult to find – but hard to accept They wanted denominational conformity for a collection of congregations These congregations associated the name with doctrines and forms that made them distinct from others

  43. The undenominational denomination • Started with an appeal for unity among all believers • Unity based on dropping all denominational names, creeds, and organizations • Individual disciples used the name Christian, disciples of Christ • Going by the Bible local churches went by Christians, Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, Church of Christ • However, after doctrinal differences … collections of congregations began to wear distinctive names to emphasize these differences

  44. Main Street Boulder County North Limon Street Eastside Central Huffman College A Collection of Congregations = A Denomination Church of Christ Disciples of Christ Christian Church

  45. The Basic Issue is This --- Baptist 7th Day Adventist Jehovah Methodist Witness Catholic Church of Christ Lutheran Presbyterian I want to belong only to CHRIST The Universal Church • A Church of Denominations? Or • A Church of individuals? Darrell I am not a member of this I am a Christian

  46. The Basic Issue is This --- Main Street Boulder County North Limon Street Eastside Central Huffman College I want to belong only to CHRIST The Universal Church • A Church of congregations? Or • A Church of individuals? I am not a member of this Darrell I am a Christian

  47. Dangers of being a member of a collection of congregations • The tendency to conform in order to be accepted by the collection of churches • Pressure to conform to a uniform name • A tendency to reject all others not in this collection of congregations • The one or two doctrinal issues that make you want to be a part of such a group – force you to overlook the many things you have in common with other believers • Keeps you busy deciding “which congregations” belongs in your “sound” collection of churches

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