Ancient Church, Present Cross

An Antiquated Church Roughly 100 million Americans are unchurched (if seen as its own country, this would be the 12 th largest nation in the world) Roughly 100 million Americans are unchurched (if seen as its own country, this would be the 12 th largest nation in the world) 13 to 15 million of these are “born again” adults13 to 15 million of these are “born again” adults 42% of residents in the West are unchurched (the highest of any region) 42% of residents in the West are unchurched (the highest of any region) 61% of young adults have been churched at one point, but they are now spiritually disengaged (not attending church, reading the Bible, praying etc.) 61% of young adults have been churched at one point, but they are now spiritually disengaged (not attending church, reading the Bible, praying etc.) 19% of young adults have never been involved in a church (that’s a total of 79% unchurched young adults) 19% of young adults have never been involved in a church (that’s a total of 79% unchurched young adults) Young adults were 70% more likely than their elders to substitute interaction with other believers for church attendance Young adults were 70% more likely than their elders to substitute interaction with other believers for church attendance

An Antiquated Church Only 3% of year-old non-Christians express favorable views towards the evangelical church Only 3% of year-old non-Christians express favorable views towards the evangelical church 87% of non-Christians believe Christianity is too judgmental87% of non-Christians believe Christianity is too judgmental 85% of non-Christians believe Christianity is too hypocritical 85% of non-Christians believe Christianity is too hypocritical 78% of non-Christians believe Christianity is old- fashioned 78% of non-Christians believe Christianity is old- fashioned 75% of non-Christians believe Christianity is too involved in politics 75% of non-Christians believe Christianity is too involved in politics 91% of young non-Christians and 80% of church- goers believe Christianity is anti-homosexual (this went beyond just the idea, but that “Christians show excessive contempt and unloving attitudes towards gays and lesbians.”) 91% of young non-Christians and 80% of church- goers believe Christianity is anti-homosexual (this went beyond just the idea, but that “Christians show excessive contempt and unloving attitudes towards gays and lesbians.”)

Ephesians 2:11-22 “ Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”

The Renewed Church Israel Gentiles Church

People of God Lev. 26:12 – “I will also walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people.” Hosea 1:9 – “And the LORD said, ‘Name him Lo-ammi, for you are not My people and I am not your God.’” I Peter 2:9 – “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

Body of Christ Rom. 6:5-8 – “For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him …” Rom. 12:4-6 – “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them” John 17:21-23 – “That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. “

Temple of the Holy Spirit I Peter 2:4-5 – “As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. “ John 2:19-22 – “Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ 20 The Jews then said, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?’ 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.” I Cor. 3:16-17 – “Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.”

The Church As Israel and the Nations The Idolatrous People of God The Paralyzed Body of Christ The Insubstantial Temple of the Holy Spirit

The Church as Renewed Israel and Blessed Nations The Idolatrous People of God → Christ the Covenant Keeper The Paralyzed Body of Christ → Christ the Resurrected Son The Insubstantial Temple of the Holy Spirit → Christ the Renewed Temple