1. Can We Serve Church “Cafeteria Style?”
Lesson 2:
What Makes the Church So Special?

2. Introduction “Shouldn’t you be doing this?” Brief review of lesson 1
How you worship matters
Ignorance is no excuse
Emergencies are no excuse
Excitement and enthusiasm are no
substitute for obedience
The fear of God and love for His
Word are foundational
“Shouldn’t you be doing this?” Commercial for Edward Jones

3. What does it mean to “do church” or to “serve church?”
All that constitutes the nature, the mission, and the practices of the church.
The focus of this lesson
What makes the church so special?
What challenges face the church and how should we deal with them?

4. The meanings of the term “church”
The church universal (Ephesians 1:22; 3:10, 21; Colossians 1:18)
Believers in general (Acts 8:3; Galatians 1:13)
Believers in a certain geographical location (1 Corinthians 16:19; 2 Corinthians 8:1; Galatians 1:2)
Believers of a certain city (Acts 13:1; 1 Corinthians 1:2)
House church (Romans 16:5; Colossians 4:15)
The church gathered for worship (1 Corinthians 11:18; 14:19, 23, 28, 34-35)
The latter categories (4-6) would most likely be known as “the local church.” When I speak of “the church” I am usually speaking of the “local church,” but sometimes “church” will have the wider sense of 1-3.

5. What Makes the Church So Special?
Matthew 16: Jesus revealed His purpose to die, rise from the dead, and build His church
This church was to be invincible in its warfare against the powers of hell (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 6:13-18)
When teaching on discipline, Jesus does so in the context of the church (Matthew 18:15-20)
The death of Christ reconciles sinners to God, and unites Jews and Gentiles who believe into one body – the church (Ephesians 2)
The church is the consummation of God’s eternal plan, which came to its came about at Pentecost (Ephesians 3:1-13).
The church is God’s appointed means by which He saves & unifies Jews and Gentiles (Ephesians 2:11-22).
The church is God’s appointed means by which He brings glory to Himself (Ephesians 3:20-21).
The church is God’s appointed means by which the gospel is sent forth and the truth is proclaimed (1 Timothy 3:14-15).

6. The church is the bastion and bulwark of the truth (1 Timothy 3:14-15)
The church is the culmination of God’s eternal plan to display His glory to the celestial spiritual powers (Ephesians 3:8-10; cf. 1 Corinthians 11:10; Colossians 2:14-15; 1 Peter 1:10-12)
The church is the bastion and bulwark of the truth (1 Timothy 3:14-15)
The church is God’s means for evangelism and discipleship, and outward ministry (Ephesians 4:7-16)
The church is God’s dwelling place in the Spirit (Ephesians 2:22)
The church is the means by which God displays His glory to the celestial spiritual powers (Ephesians 3:8-10; cf. 1 Corinthians 11:10; Colossians 2:14-15; 1 Peter 1:10-12).

7. God endows the church with spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:28)
The church is the instrument for healing (James 5:14)
The church (in its relationship with Christ) is the model for Christian marriage (Ephesians 5:22-33)
The church is the apple of God’s eye:
Imagery (Shepherd and flock, Groom and bride)
Christ loved the church and gave His life for it (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:25)
Christ nourishes and cherishes the church (Ephesians 5:29)
Christ keeps a watchful eye on the church, in its victories and defeats (Revelation 2-3)

8. What challenges face the church and how should we deal with them?
Judaising (yes, even today)
Denominational division
Conflict and competition
The parachurch phenomenon
Cultural concession (accommodation)
Sidestepping Scripture
By “scholarly” sabotage
By applicational avoidance

9. 18 Then Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20). 37 If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, he should acknowledge that what I write to you is the Lord’s command. 38 If someone does not recognize this, he is not recognized (1 Corinthians 14:37-38).

10. 16 I encourage you, then, be imitators of me
16 I encourage you, then, be imitators of me. 17 For this reason, I have sent Timothy to you, who is my dear and faithful son in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church (1 Corinthians 4:16-17).
Nevertheless, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each person, so must he live. I give this sort of direction in all the churches (1 Corinthians 7:17).
16 I encourage you, then, be imitators of me. 17 For this reason, I have sent Timothy to you, who is my dear and faithful son in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church (1 Corinthians 4:16-17).
Nevertheless, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each person, so must he live. I give this sort of direction in all the churches (1 Corinthians 7:17).
If anyone intends to quarrel about this, we have no other practice, nor do the churches of God (1 Corinthians 11:16).
33 for God is not characterized by disorder but by peace. As in all the churches of the saints (1 Corinthians 14:33).
With regard to the collection for the saints, please follow the directions that I gave to the churches of Galatia (1 Corinthians 16:1).

11. If anyone intends to quarrel about this, we have no other practice, nor do the churches of God (1 Corinthians 11:16).
33 for God is not characterized by disorder but by peace. As in all the churches of the saints (1 Corinthians 14:33).
With regard to the collection for the saints, please follow the directions that I gave to the churches of Galatia (1 Corinthians 16:1).

12. Conclusion For those who want church cafeteria style.
For those who embrace New Testament teaching regarding the church.
Copyright © 2008 by Robert L. Deffinbaugh. This is the edited PowerPoint presentation of Lesson 2 in the series, Can We Serve Church Cafeteria Style?, prepared by Robert L. Deffinbaugh for January 27, Anyone is at liberty to use this lesson for educational purposes only, with or without credit.