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

They ask: "What does the church teach?" 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?"

As used in the Bible – the word CHURCH is not a religious word Surprisingly As used in the Bible – the word CHURCH is not a religious word The word CHURCH is translated from the Greek EKKLESIA “Ek” means “out of” “klesia” means “called”

A group of people called into a place or relationship As used in the Bible – the word CHURCH is not a religious word The word CHURCH is translated from the Greek EKKLESIA “Ek” means “out of” “klesia” means “called”

Old Testament Usage Old Testament written in Hebrew. But “ekklesia” is used in the Greek translation of the O.T. made in 200 B.C. The book of Ecclesiastes is named because Hebrew Koheleth translated “Ekklesiastes”. “One who convenes an assembly” (1:1)

Old Testament Usage The LORD gave me two stone tablets inscribed by the finger of God. On them were all the commandments the LORD proclaimed to you on the mountain out of the fire, on the day of the assembly. (Deuteronomy 9:10 NIV)

Old Testament Usage Remember the day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, when he said to me, "Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children." (Deuteronomy 4:10 NIV)

Old Testament Usage For this is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, "Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die." (Deuteronomy 18:16 NIV)

Old Testament Usage No one born of a forbidden marriage nor any of his descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, even down to the tenth generation. No Ammonite or Moabite or any of his descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, even down to the tenth generation. (Deuteronomy 23:2-3 NIV)

a riot composed of angry silversmiths New Testament Usage Not a religious word! Acts 19:23-41 The assembly (Ekklesia) was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there. (Acts 19:32 NIV) a riot composed of angry silversmiths

Same word translated Church New Testament Usage Not a religious word! Acts 19:23-41 The assembly (Ekklesia) was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there. (Acts 19:32 NIV) Same word translated Church a riot composed of angry silversmiths

a town meeting or legal proceeding Not a religious word! If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly (Ekklesia). (Acts 19:39 NIV) a town meeting or legal proceeding

Best translated “assembly” Not a religious word! If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly (Ekklesia). (Acts 19:39 NIV) Best translated “assembly” a town meeting or legal proceeding

“Ekklesia” is a collective noun like: Covey Herd Flock Troop Jury Team Family School Committee Congress When Jesus said “I will build my church” (Matt 16:18), he was not talking about an organization or a corporation – but a group of people

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

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

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

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

Ekklesia (translated church) stands for a group of people As used in the Bible – the word CHURCH is not a religious word It is hard to think of the word church today without thinking of an institution, denomination, or organization The word “ekklesia” stood for a bunch of people; whether they were Christians or not, whether they are religious or not, whether they are believers or not

Ekklesia is a non-descriptive noun Body Flock Kingdom Army Family Assembly These words tell us nothing about the kind, the ownership, the purpose, etc

Look at some examples 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) Do we think of an organization built on Pentecost in 30 A.D.? Do we think of an organization that fell away and needed restoring? Or is Christ still building his church each time an unbeliever is saved Or is the church being restored when a fallen believer is brought back from his sin

Look at some examples But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. (Acts 8:3 NIV) Men and Women were put into prison when the church was destroyed

Look at some examples Don't you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not! (1 Corinthians 11:22 NIV) Were they despising a denomination called the “Church of God” or were they despising brothers and sisters by not waiting to eat with them.

Look at some examples 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, (Ephesians 3:10 NIV) Was God’s wisdom to be made known through church organization, and other organized projects, colleges, papers, etc --- or through the fact that Jew and Gentile being in one body (Eph 3:5-11)

What did Christ Build When He built the Church? “I will build my church” (Matt 16:18) He constructed a temple (1 Cor 3:10-17) We are lively stones (1 Peter 2:5) 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)

What did Christ Build When He built the Church? “I will build my church” (Matt 16:18) He constructed a temple (1 Cor 3:10-17) We are lively stones (1 Peter 2:5) A dwelling for God (Eph 2:20-22) built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. (Ephesians 2:20-22)

What did Christ Build When He built the Church? “I will build my church” (Matt 16:18) He constructed a temple (1 Cor 3:10-17) We are lively stones (1 Peter 2:5) A dwelling for God (Eph 2:20-22) built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. (Ephesians 2:20-22) The building blocks of the church are Christians

What did Christ Buy When He Bought the Church? “the church of God which he purchased with his own blood (Acts 20:28) He paid the price for freedom from slavery (1 Cor 6:20) Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV)

What did Christ Buy When He Bought the Church? “the church of God which he purchased with his own blood (Acts 20:28) He paid the price for freedom from slavery (1 Cor 6:20) For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ's slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. (1 Corinthians 7:22-23 NIV)

What did Christ Buy When He Bought the Church? “the church of God which he purchased with his own blood (Acts 20:28) He paid the price for freedom from slavery (1 Cor 6:20) For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ's slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. (1 Corinthians 7:22-23 NIV) The building blocks of the church are Christians

What did Christ Cleanse When He Cleansed the Church? “Having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word” (Eph 5:25-27) He washed away our sins (Acts 22:16) And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.' (Acts 22:16 NIV) The building blocks of the church are Christians