“Questions about Church” Questions We all Ask… Text your Questions to…

It is certainly true that the Christian church has, at times compromised the radical requirements of discipleship prescribed by Christ, and you may find yourself put off by the church because of its failure to be faithful to his teachings and in its practice; you may even have been seriously hurt. 1. The church is a whore, but she's my mother!!!

This statement was made by St Augustine (November 13, 354 – August 28, 430) Augustine, a Latin Church father, is one of the most important figures in the development of Western Christianity. He "established anew the ancient faith" according to his contemporary, Jerome. Church fatherWestern ChristianityJerome

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It is easy for me, like so many of the Christians I know, to note the ways the church been unfaithful… –Sexual abuse –Middle class to the exclusion of the rich and poor –Financial Scandals –False doctrines and the birth of dangerous cults –Wars and rumours of wars –Too often the church has socialized our young into adopting culturally established values of success, rather than calling them into the kind of countercultural nonconformity that Scripture requires of Christ's followers (Romans 12:1-2).

Ephesians 5:25 (NIV) …Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. 2 Corinthians 11:2 (NIV …I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.

2. God has used the church to keep alive and pass down the story of what Christ has done for us Text your Questions now…

3. The church is Christ's primary instrument for bringing about social change and transforming the institutions of society to conform with his will Text your Questions now…

Ephesians 1:21-22 (NIV) Far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church. Ephesians 6:12 (NIV) For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

4. The Church’s purposes require for Christians to be together... Text your Questions now…

–Here are some irreplaceable pieces of the Christian that cannot happen when you live in isolation from the church: 1. USE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS 2. MUTUAL MINISTRY 3. ACCOUNTABILITY

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