3 of 26

Basic Meaning of the term “Church”

Greek ekklesia

an assembly of the citizens of a city

Hebrew qahal

A designation of an act of assembling

4 of 26

Eight criteria for ‘proper’ Church.

p181

Community of people called by God
Regularly worships and is sent out in mission
Gospel is proclaimed
Scripture preached and taught
Baptism
Holy Communion
Authorised ministry for Lords Supper
Connected to wider church through various ways

5 of 26

Prayer and Support

Connection

Listening and

Following God’s call

Loving

Service

Evangelism and

Disciple-

Making

Forming

Community

Evolving

Public

Worship

6 of 26

OHCA

Holy

“UP”

Apostolic

“OUT”

Catholic

“OF”

“IN”

One

Enduring Marks

Four linked

Journeys

Jesus focus

Jesus followers

Church is any expression of the life of Jesus in communal form

Universal

7 of 26

DESCRIBE THE CHURCH

1 Peter 2:9: King James Version

⁹But ye are a

(1)chosen generation, a

(2)royal priesthood, an

(3)holy nation, a

(4)peculiar people; that

(5)ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

8 of 26

Six Aspects to the Image of the Church as the Body of Christ (332-3)

1. Christ is the head of this body (Col 1:27)

🡪 He nourishes and rules the church (Col 1:18; 2:19)

2. The interconnectedness between all the persons who make up the church (1 Cor 12:12)

3. The dependence of each believer upon every other and genuine fellowship between them (Eph 4:16; 1 Cor 12:26)

9 of 26

4. Members of the church are not to be divided (Eph 4:5-6).

5. It is for all who will come into it. There are no longer any special qualifications like nationality (Col 3:11).

6. The church is the extension of the ministry of Christ (Matt 28:19-20).

10 of 26

The Temple of the Holy Spirit (333-4)

1. Coming of the Spirit and Birth of the Church.

2. Indwelling of the Spirit: Individual and Church (1Cor 3:16-17).

3. Gifts from the Spirit: Life (Gal 5:22-23); Power (Acts 1:8); Revelation and illumination, Guidance (John 14:26); Spiritual gifts (1 Cor 12:11).

4. Unity of the church (1 Cor 12:13).

5. Makes the church holy and impure (1 Cor 6:19-20).

11 of 26

GOSPEL : Heart of the Church Ministry

1. The foundation and center of all church functions.

2. The raison d’etre and the purpose of the church, which it has to hold on forever no matter what costs are involved in doing it.

3. Christ announced that he was anointed to preach the gospel and entrusted it to the disciples (Luke 4:18).

4. Gospel includes both active proclamation of the gospel message and the content proclaimed.

12 of 26

FORM OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT

Episcopal	GK WORD: episkopos - Bishop- government of the Orthodox Church, the Roman Church, the Church of England and the Anglican communion, the Lutheran Church, the Methodist Church
Presbyterian	Gk WORD: presbuteeros- rule of elders Elder rule in the NT (I Cor. 12:28; I Thess. 5:12; I Tim. 5:17; Heb. 13:7), and to the plurality of Elders (Acts 14:23; 20:17; Phil. 1:1; Tit. 1:5). CCPIMI
Congregational	Congregationalists, Baptist, Anabaptist, Quakers, Evangelical Free, and most independent churches and non-affiliated groups. Congregationalists, Baptist, Anabaptist, Quakers, Evangelical Free,

13 of 26

Do we need the church government? �

1. The value of order

2. The need to have certain persons responsible for specific ministries.

3. The need to have ministers for teaching and observance of sacraments

14 of 26

ORDINANCES OF THE CHURCH:�1. Baptism �2. the Lord’s Supper�

15 of 26

3 Basic View of Baptism (358-61)

View	Explanation	Remarks
Means of saving grace -Sacramentalist	Opere Operato (the sacrament works itself )	Roman Catholic; cf. Old Lutheran
Signs and seals of God’s working out a of covenant	Means of initiation into the covenant and a sign of salvation.	Reformed and Presbyterian. Infant baptism.
A token of salvation- Believers’ baptism	An outward symbol or indication of the inward change which has been effected in the believer.	No infant baptism. Baptist; C&MA.

16 of 26

views on Baptism

EVANGELICAL:

By either awakening or strengthening faith, baptism effects the washing of regeneration. Faith is prerequisite.

R.C.:

The sacrament is self-sufficient. Faith is not really necessary.
(Rom 6:3).

17 of 26

Is baptism essential to salvation? (361-62)

1. Mark 16:16 “He who believes and is baptized will be saved…”

Emphasis is on faith, not on baptism.

2. John 3:5 “Unless one is born of water and spirit” The expression “born of water” would have meant the idea of cleansing or purification, not baptism.

3. Tit 3:5 The expression “washing of regeneration ”may point to the cleaning and forgiveness of sins rather than baptism.

4. Conclusion: There is little biblical evidence to support the idea that baptism is a means of regeneration or a channel of grace essential to salvation.

18 of 26

The Meaning of Baptism

1. Union with Christ in His death and resurrection (Rom 6:1-11).

2. An act of faith and commitment (Acts 22:16).

3. A powerful proclamation of the truth of what Christ has done (forgiveness of sins).

19 of 26

Shall we accept infant baptism or DEDICATION?

1. Lack of any positive NT indication that infants were baptized. “whole household” (Acts 11:14; 16:16, 31) may have referred to “all the individuals reached an age of understanding and responsibility.”

2. When Jesus said that whoever would enter the kingdom of heaven must become like a child, he was making a point about the necessity of simple trust, not about baptism (Mark 10:13-14).

3. Conclusion: The believer’s baptism is the correct position.

20 of 26

Mode of Baptism

(1) The NT mode of baptism: Immersion.

(2) Symbolic meaning: Immersion (Rom 6:3-5). Baptism symbolizes the basis of the believer’s death to sin and new life: the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

2. Conclusion:

Immersion seems the most adequate of baptism while it may not be the only valid form.

21 of 26

Lord’s Supper (Continuing Rite of the Church)

22 of 26

4 Views on the Lord’s Supper(363-5)

	Views
R.C. - Council of Trent (1545-63)	Transsubstantiation: (1) Literally partakes in the body and blood of Christ; (2) Repetitive sacrifice of Christ; (3) Only the properly ordained priest must be present to consecrate the host (sacredotalism).
CHRISTIAN	Spiritual or dynamic presence. Benefits: It seals the love of Christ to believers, giving them the assurance that all the promises of the covenant and the riches of the gospel are theirs by a divine donation. DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME

23 of 26

Meaning of the Supper

Union with Christ
(1) The bread symbolizes one body.
(2) The cup symbolizes in participating in the blood of Christ (i.e. Atonement).

Union of the believers
(1) Believers are united in Christ by sharing from the same bread.
(2) They forgive one another as the forgiven by sharing the cup.

24 of 26

1. REFLECT MEDITATE on the sacrifice Jesus suffered on the cross for us The flogging, He was stripped for our sins, the lashes He recieved, the crown of thorns, the spits and insults He recieved3 We activate our faith, that what happened on the cross, there is Power, He has released the Power on the cross to us As we take communion, we plug to this Power by Faith, because Jesus is the source of Power, and by faith, when we are plugged in to the source of Power- Jesus, there is forgiveness of sins, healing take place, deliverance happens , redemption happens We:

2. REPENT 1 Cor 11:28-29 -We have to examine ourselves first before taking communion -We should not take communion in an unworthy manner -We should confess of our sins - We should reconcile and recommit ourselves to Jesus

3. REJOICE! GIVE THANKS - we give thanks and celebrate as we take the communion As we take the BREAD It reminds us of the body of Jesus which was broken for us He took all the sins, diseases, rebellion, griefs, sorrows, shame , guilt - we give thanks for ALL that He has done for us - we give thanks for the Love He has , as he endured all that for us -

1 of 26

2 of 26