The Mission of the Church Part 1 Ecclesiology The Mission of the Church Part 1

The church was called into existence by God but not just for the sake of existence. Everything work of God has an eternal __________. In most cases the Word of God reveals God’s purpose, at least to the extent that believers may be enabled to ____________ with God in accomplishing that purpose. This is most certainly true of the church. Those things which God designs for and through the church are clear in Scripture. This defines the “__________ statement” of the church. Glorification “The verb translated glorify (doxazo) is found ____ times in the New Testament while the noun translated glory (doxa) is found _____times.” This is the ultimate purpose of God. ___________ is designed to reveal the glory of God. (Psa. 19:1)   Since man in his fallen state fails to render and _________ the glory of God (Rom. 3:23), the believer’s very ___________ is for the purpose of bringing glory to God. (Rom. 15:6,7; Eph. 1:3-6, 12-14; 1 Cor. 10:31; 2 Th. 1:11,12) The church is specifically charged with the responsibility of being ___________ and active in ____________ the glory of God through the life and ministry of the church. (Eph. 3:20,21)

The manifestation of the glory of God through the ministry of the church continues from time into ___________ where believers will participate in that glory unhindered by the flesh. At no point and under no circumstances is the church ever afforded the option of ______________ the glory of God in favor of any person or in favor of the church itself. People must always be directed to God in their thinking and ________ and away from the human instruments of leadership. Adoration One of the principle activities of the church is ____________ worship. Worship of necessity requires a change of focus from the worshipper to the ________ of worship. The primary word for worship in the New Testament is proskunew which means prostrate oneself in ___________. The human spirit must be engaged within the boundaries of ________. (John 4:21-24) In every aspect of worship there must be ____________ of the Holy Spirit. (Phi. 3:3; rom. 11:36 Worship demands _________________. Biblical Christianity is not a __________ sport. Congregational hymn singing, joint prayer (though led by an individual), and visual and auditory participation with the preaching and teaching enable the believers to focus their __________ upon the object of their worship.

Communion Elements of Worship Ministry of the Word of God – Acts 20:7; 1 Tim. 4:13; 2 Tim. 4:2 Prayer – Acts 4:24; 12:5; 13:3; 1 Tim. 2;1-8 Music – Jam. 5:13; Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19,20 Giving – 2 Cor. 8:11,12; 9:7 The first day of the week (Sunday) is called the Lord’s day (Revelation 1:10) because it was the day of the _____________. The disciples gathered on the first day of the week immediately after the resurrection. (John 20:19) The church meeting a Troas convened on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7). Communion The genuine, loving, and generous fellowship of the believers ought to reflect the _______ kind of communion as is enjoyed with God. (2 Cor. 13:11-14 ) The very first church _________ the relationship of the believers because it is a true reflection of God’s work in their hearts and because of the bond that exists between believers as the result of their _________ experience in Christ. (Acts 2:42 ) koinonia, is a derivative of a root meaning “common” and involved the concepts of “sharing: and “___________” in a household or _________ (1 Pet. 4:17).

Fellowship Incudes: Genuine Biblical love (John 15:17; 1 John 3:14), Entering into both the joys and burdens of fellow believers (Rom. 12:14; Gal. 6:2) Encouraging those who are weak (1 Th. 5:14) Exercising patience and forgiveness (Eph. 4:2; Col. 3:13) Every effort must be made to effect reconciliations (Mat. 5:23,24; 18:15). Because the church is analogous to a human body, the interaction of the body parts is __________ to very survival, much less the __________ of the body. (1 Cor. 12:12-27)