1. Follow along at: southsidepca.org/CE/index.html or

2. T U L I P Total Depravity Unconditional Election Limited Atonement
Irresistible Grace
Perseverance of the Saints

3. The church is the community of all true believers for
all time.
The church is made up of all men and women who
have been, are, or ever will be true believers in
Christ Jesus.

4. The invisible, yet visible church
2 Timothy 2:19a – “But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows who are His.””
Since only God knows who is truly saved, this is
called the invisible church.

5. The invisible, yet visible church
However, the church is also visible.
While the invisible church is the church as God
sees it, the visible church is the church as
Christians on earth see it.
The visible church will contain true believers as
well as others who do not truly believe or follow
the claims of Jesus.

6. Other Descriptions of the Church
Throughout the New Testament, the word “church” is
used to describe different types of groups of believers.
Romans 16:5, 1 Corinthians 16:19
A small house church
2 Corinthians 1:1, 1 Corinthians 1:2
A large church based in a city

7. Other Descriptions of the Church
Throughout the New Testament, the word “church” is
used to describe different types of groups of believers.
Acts 9:31
The church in an entire area
Ephesians 5:25, 1 Corinthians 12:28
The church throughout the entire world

8. Other Descriptions of the Church
Scripture uses a variety of metaphors to describe the
church:
1 Timothy 5:1-2
The church is a family
2 Corinthians 11:2
The church as Christ’s bride

9. Other Descriptions of the Church
Scripture uses a variety of metaphors to describe the
church:
1 Corinthians 12
The church as a body
1 Peter 2:4-8
The church as a new temple

10. Other Descriptions of the Church
Scripture uses a variety of metaphors to describe the
church:
1 Peter 2:5
The church as a holy priesthood
John 15:5
The church as branches on a vine

11. Other Descriptions of the Church
Scripture uses a variety of metaphors to describe the
church:
1 Corinthians 3:6-9
The church as a field of crops

12. What Makes a Church a Church?
Traditionally, theologians have agreed that there are
two major activities, or marks, that every church must
exhibit in order to be truly considered a church:
Correct preaching from the Bible.
Correct administration of the sacraments.
The sacraments of the church are baptism and
the Lord’s Supper.

13. What Makes a Church a Church?
What about para-church organizations?
Young Life
FCA
Campus Crusade for Christ
Can someone attend one of these organizations
instead of attending church?
Do these organizations function as a church?
Or do these organizations encourage their members
to become part of a local church?

14. What Makes a Church a Church?
Among true churches, two further distinctions can be made:
Purity
Ephesians 5:26-27
Unity
John 17:21

15. What is the Church Supposed to Do?
The church is supposed to minister to:
God
Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 1:12
How does the church minister to God?
By worshipping Him.
What does this look like at Southside?

16. What is the Church Supposed to Do?
The church is supposed to minister to:
its members
Colossians 1:28, Ephesians 4:12-13
How does the church minister to its members?
Through discipleship and nurturing.
What does this look like at Southside?

17. What is the Church Supposed to Do?
The church is supposed to minister to:
the world.
Matthew 28:19
How does the church minister to the world?
By making disciples of all nations.
What does this look like at Southside?

18. What is the Church Supposed to Do?
The church was created for:
Worship
Discipleship
Evangelism
Mercy
Is this something we are doing at Southside?
How could we do it better?

19. The Church’s Power to Fulfill Its Mission
When Christ left earth, He gave the church the Holy
Spirit, which empowers Jesus’ followers with the gifts
of the Spirit that are needed to minister.
Spiritual gifts include such gifts as:
Teaching
Showing mercy
Administration
Spiritual gifts are given for the common good
(1 Corinthians 12:7) and for the “building up” of the church.
(1 Corinthians 14:26)

20. The Church’s Power to Fulfill Its Mission
The church, through the power of the Holy Spirit, should
present to the world a foretaste of what is to come
when Christ returns. When the church accomplishes
that, it is truly doing what it is called to do.

21. Memory Verse
Romans 12:4-5 – “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.”

22. Name that Church
Washington National Cathedral

23. Name that Church
The Crystal Cathedral

24. Name that Church
Redeemer Presbyterian Church, New York

25. Name that Church
Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church

26. Name that Church
Perimeter Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA

27. Name that Church
Redeemer Presbyterian Church, San Antonio