Church? By David Turner

What is Church? Common Views – It’s a place to socialize. – It’s a place to network. – It’s the place one goes to feel accepted. – It’s a place where I can go where people will meet my needs or help me feel important. – It’s a place to receive moral teaching. – It’s where we go to teach our kids to behave, or get a break from the kids. – It’s where we plan good social and community projects.

What is Church? Ecclesia – A group, assembly or gathering of people. – It’s not a building. – It’s not an organization or denomination. – It’s not a Country Club. – It’s not a Community Center. – It’s not a Political Organization or Patriotic gathering.

A NT Ecclesia Is People who: Believe in God Believe in Jesus Fellowship – Fellowship in God’s Word – Commit to Prayer and Care for one another Evangelize Practice the Ordinances – Baptism – The Lord’s Supper

Believe in God “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth …” Genesis 1:1

Believe in Jesus John 3:16–18 (ESV) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Believe in Jesus That He is the only begotten Son of God. That He is the only access to the Father. That He died on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. That He we was resurrected from the dead and intercedes on behalf of the believer. That we have eternal life through Him. That He is coming again.

Believe in Jesus Ephesians 2:8–10 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Fellowship of the Saints Fellowship in God’s Word The preaching of God’s Word The study of God’s Word Commit to Prayer and Care for one another We commit to corporate prayer for one another. We commit to private prayer for one another. We Care for one another.

Evangelism Sharing our Faith with others Personal Evangelism Lifestyle Evangelism Outreach ministries and programs Inviting others to hear the Good News Using Literature and other forms of communication

Ordinances Baptism Once Believer Identification with the Death, burial, resurrection of Jesus

Ordinance of Baptism 1Cor. 12:13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free— and all were made to drink of one Spirit. Rom. 6:3-4 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Ordinance: Lord’s Supper Often Remembrance of what Christ has done for us in his death and The New Covenant.

Matthew 26:26–29 26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” John 6: I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."

27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13

May the God of peace be with you all. Amen. Romans 15:33