3. Lesson 1 - The Church: Its Significance Lesson 2 - The Church: Its Usage Lesson 3 - The Church: Its Sound Speech Lesson 4 - The Church: Its Establishment, Lesson 5 - The Church: Its Origin Then and Now Lesson 6 - The Church: Is It To Be Joined? Lesson 7 - The Church: A Good Man and the Church Lesson 8 - The Church: Its Identity Lesson 9 - The Church: Its Unity Lesson 10 - The Church: Is the Church Denominational? Lesson 11 - The Church: Its Organization Lesson 12 - The Church: Its Elders, Their Qualifications Lesson 13 -The Church: Its Elders, How They Are Made and Unmade Lesson 14 -The Church: Its Elders, Their Duties Lesson 15 -The Church: Its Deacons, Their Qualifications and Duties Lesson 16 -The Church: The Preacher, His Life and Duties Lesson 17 -The Church: The Preacher, General Discussion Lesson 18 - The Church: Its Discipline Lesson 19 - The Church: Its Finances Lesson 20 - The Church: Its Supper Lesson 21 - The Church: Its Music, Lesson 22 - The Church: Its Mission Lesson 23 - The Church: The Model Church

4. LESSON 2 The Church: Its Usage How do people use the word church? How do Christians use the word church? How does the Bible use the word church? As I said last Sunday, with all of these Bible classes, my purpose is for all of us to understand and know how to talk Biblically.

5. HOW THE WORD EKKLESIA (THE CHURCH) IS USED

6.  How many times is the word translated in the New Testament? 115.  How many times is it translated in the singular—”church”? 76.  How many times is it translated in the plural—”churches”? 36.

7. HOW THE WORD EKKLESIA (THE CHURCH) IS USED assembly  How many times is it translated “assembly”?  Here it refers to a mob and to a lawful assembly (Acts 19:32, 39, 41).  How many times did Jesus use the word “church” (Mt. 16:18; 18:17)?  How many times was the word “church” used before the Pentecost of Acts 2:1? for the assembly Acts 19:32 (NKJV) 32 Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together. lawful assembly Acts 19:39 39 But if you have any other inquiry to make, it shall be determined in the lawful assembly. Acts 19:41 Acts 19:41 41 And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly. Matthew 16:18 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. Matthew 18:17 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. Acts 2:1 1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

8. HOW THE CHURCH EXISTS 1.What is the leading idea of the church’s existence? Local. a.What is meant by the local church? 1) God’s working unit in any given locality with the elders to oversee, its deacons to serve, its members to work and the preachers to preach. b. Name some of the many local churches of the New Testament (Acts 8:1; Rom. 16:3-5; 1 Cor. 1:2; 16:1, 19; 2 Cor. 8:1; Gal. 1:2, 22; 1 Thess. 1:1; Rev. 1:4).

9. HOW THE CHURCH EXISTS 2. The saved in what provinces were included in the word “church” in Acts 9:31? a.This church that included all the members of “Judea and Galilee and Samaria” never assembled, and it had no elders nor deacons. b.The King James Version uses the plural form in Acts 9:31. Acts 9:31 (NKJV) 31 Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.

10. HOW THE CHURCH EXISTS 3. To what does the word “church” in Mt. 16:18 and Eph. 1:22 refer? To the church in the aggregate, the church universal, including all the saved. The universal church had no elders or deacons and never met for worship. The universal church had no elders or deacons and never met for worship. Matthew 16:18 (NKJV) 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. Ephesians 1:22-23 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,

11. THE MATERIAL OF THE CHURCH What was meant by the “churches of the Gentiles” (Rom. 16:4)? What was meant by the “churches of the Gentiles” (Rom. 16:4)? What reversed idea is used in Gal. 1:22? What reversed idea is used in Gal. 1:22? What idea is conveyed by “the church of the Laodiceans” (Col. 4:16)? What idea is conveyed by “the church of the Laodiceans” (Col. 4:16)? “The church of the Thessalonians” means what (1 Thess. 1:1)? “The church of the Thessalonians” means what (1 Thess. 1:1)? Every church is composed of whom (1 Cor. 14:33)? Every church is composed of whom (1 Cor. 14:33)? Is every Christian a saint (Acts 26:18; Heb. 12:14)? Is every Christian a saint (Acts 26:18; Heb. 12:14)? Romans 16:4 4 who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Galatians 1:22 22 And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. Colossians 4:16 16 Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. 1 Thessalonians 1:1 1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 14:33 (NKJV) 33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

12. How To Speak Of The Church The word “church,” without any modifiers, is used how many times. 62. The simple designation “churches” is used how many times? 29. The expression “church of God” is used how many times? 9.

13. How To Speak Of The Church The phrase “churches of God” is used how many times? How did Christ associate himself with the church (Mt. 16:18)? How did Paul speak of the church (Acts 20:28)? How is the church referred to in Heb. 12:23? 1.How may all churches be designated (Rom. 16:16)? Matthew 16:18 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 3 Acts 20:28 28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. Hebrews 12:23 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, Romans 16:16 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.

14. CHRIST AND THE CHURCH ARE INSEPARABLE  Who built the church (Mt. 16:18)?  Who is the foundation of the church (Mt. 16:18; 1 Cor. 3:10, 11)?  What place did Christ occupy in the building (Eph. 2:20)?  God exalted Christ to be what over the church (Eph. 1:22)?  What is the church (Eph. 1:23)?

15. CHRIST AND THE CHURCH ARE INSEPARABLE  Whose fullness is manifest in the church (Eph. 1:23)?  The church is whose body (1 Cor. 12:27; Eph. 1:23)?  The church is subject to whom (Eph. 5:24)?  The church is married to whom (Eph. 5:23, 25, 27, 32)?  With what was the church purchased (Acts 20:28)?

16. CHRIST AND THE CHURCH ARE INSEPARABLE  What supreme sacrifice did Christ pay for the church (Eph. 5:25)?  Who cleanses the church (Eph. 5:26)?  Who is to have the pre-eminence in the church (Col. 1:18)?  Why speak so often of the “church of Christ” (Phil. 2:8-11)?

17. Again, Christ wants for us to know how to talk when referring to his church, the kingdom. The usage of the church has taught us that Christ uses only biblical ways to talk about the church. How about us?