1. What is a church supposed to look like?

2. What we’ve learned about building the Body of Christ.

3. Ephesians 4:11-13
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 

4. Ephesians 4:14-15
 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—

5. Ephesians 4:16
from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

6. The Pastor-teacher equips the body through teaching the Word
People in the church serve so the church is built up
This is for a three-fold goal:
Unity
Knowing Christ
Christ-like maturity
How a church works

7. All this brings unity and maturity and creates more stable lives protected by false teaching.
As every member works together, we keep building up one another toward spiritual maturity.
How a church works

8. This teaches us:
We meet to learn the Word, serve and build up one another, that we might mature into Christlikeness and avoid the unstable lives false teaching brings.
How a church works

9. Acts 2:42
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 

10. The early church focused on four things:
Apostles doctrine (Scripture)
Fellowship
Breaking of Bread
Prayer
How a church works

11. The structure in the original here indicates that fellowship involved the breaking of bread and prayer.
The “breaking of bread” was probably the Lord’s supper and common meal; church for them.
How a church works

12. This passage teaches us that:
The early church made a priority of Apostolic teaching and fellowship.
(Remembering the Lord and prayer)
How a church works

13. Hebrews 10:23-25
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

14. We stay faithful because God is faithful.
We think about how we can encourage one another in godliness
We maintain a regular presence in the church
We increase those efforts as things get worse
How a church works

15. This teaches us: We meet to encourage.
How a church works

16. 1 Corinthians 11:18-20
For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. 

17. Problems can be beneficial because you learn who will respond spiritually and gain God’s approval.
How a church works

18. 1 Corinthians 11:21-22
 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk.  What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.

19. We must be careful to show respect for other believers.
You can’t understand the death of Christ and not care about those for whom He died.
In Corinth, they were disregarding the special nature of the church.
How a church works

20. 1 Corinthians 11:23-25
For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

21. After the Triumphal Entry,
Jesus celebrated the Passover at which time Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper to remember His death and continue to proclaim it until He returned.
This was the event Paul understood as the pattern for the church.
How a church works

22. The Four Features of the New Covenant: We have great help to obey!
An inner inclination to obey
A firm relationship with God
A knowledge of God
Complete forgiveness of sin
We have great help to obey!
How a church works

23. 1 Corinthians 11:26-28
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

24. Remembering Jesus in the manner continues to proclaim His sacrifice until His return.
Because of the special nature of the church and the high esteem for one another, it is critical that we examine ourselves before taking the bread and the cup.
How a church works

25. We should examine our attitudes toward what we are doing and make sure our sins are dealt with.
There are consequences when we don’t prepare ourselves.
How a church works

26. 1 Corinthians 11:30-32
For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

27. 1 Corinthians 11:33-34
Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.

28. This passage teaches us that:
A critical part of honoring Jesus is honoring one another.
How a church works

29. Remembering important events and eating together are important themes in both the Old and New Testament.
How a church works

30. It is not possible to care about the giving of the body of Christ and not care about His Body, the church.
1 John 4:20
How a church works

31. The seriousness of the Assembly demands both sobriety and joy.
The atmosphere in our fellowship should involve both joy and a respectful environment of courtesy and attention.
How a church works

32. The church gathers to:
Remember
Learn
Serve and
Encourage one another as we prepare for the Kingdom together.
How a church works

33. Our mission is to make disciples. Church growth is up to all of us.
The Scriptures tell us what that looks like, where it began, and where it continues.
How a church works

34. 1 Timothy 3:14-15
These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, 
I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

35. Parachurch organizations can be wonderful, but they are not the church.
The local church is the primary vehicle through which God preserves and communicates truth and builds the Body of Christ.
How a church works

36. “get something out of it”.
The local churches in the early Church did not share some of the concerns we do today.
How strange that something began with such a selfless act for some is now simply a place to go to
“get something out of it”.
How a church works

37. Church is for believers.
It’s design was to make disciples, to serve, and to build one another up in the faith that we all might become more like the One who gave Himself for us.
How a church works

38. The Body of Christ was large, but the local churches were many.
He gave Himself for us and now expects us to do the same for those for whom He died.
How a church works

39. The body of Jesus was broken for us and His blood reminds us that the New Covenant enablements are ours

40. Paul tells us that remembering His body also involves respecting those who are members of it.