What is the Church? - Week One

Week ONE – What is the Church?

What is Church?

***(Some material in this lesson was taken from Alistair Begg's Study "What is Church"?)***

How do you define Church?

Who or what is the church? Some might think there are more pressing issues to address in today’s world, but there’s no question that the word ‘church’ conjures up all kinds of images. Indeed it is a word which is very often misunderstood. Many believe it to relate simply to a building, or perhaps to a certain group of people identifying themselves as members of the clergy. Some view the church as an object of mistrust, a place of hypocrisy, or perhaps just as a place for old ladies or those who like to sing in choirs - in other words an irrelevant institution.

In examining passages from several books of the New Testament including Ephesians, 1 Corinthians, Acts and Luke, we will explore such questions as;

What is the Church’s origin?

How is the church defined in the Bible?

What does it mean to be included in Christ’s church?

Who is in charge of the church?

Where do I belong in the church?

What are the marks of a healthy church?

What are the nature and meaning of baptism and the Lord’s Supper?

What does it mean to be a worshipping and witnessing community of God’s people?

What is effective church leadership?

Whatever our starting point, this series of studies will bring us to realize just how vitally relevant and crucial the church is at the beginning of the 21st century.

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My Opening was by Alistair Begg;
“What is the Church” (series) 10-29-2009

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CHURCH: Many people today think of Church as a specific building, denominational structures, or people in the street dressed as clergy distinctly different than the laity that attends their Churches. In today’s America, Church is viewed in many circles as an object or organization that can no longer be trusted. If you ask them directly you will hear them talk of hypocrisy, dislike or hate. They may even refer to a place that at one point in their life they felt harmed, or marked as a non-conformant. Because of these perceptions of the modern Church, it has been marginalized and removed from relevancy in today’s world. The Church here in the West, has been continuously pushed to the periphery of society and away from having any meaningful impact. Because “The Church” in America has become a reflection of our culture and the world has crept in, there is literally no difference in behavior in the Church, from that of the World. Therefore; there is no relevancy to our progressive culture, who wishes to leave any reference to morality out of the public square. For good reason, because the Churches “actions” for many years of the Post-Modern Era have not reflected the words taught and preached from our pulpits.

The way the Church has been marginalized in this country by the secular academic minds, is second only to the perception of marginalization by the people in this country that refer to themselves as the “faithful”. (ROBERT please elaborate this point!!! Isolationism) To that point, in most Churches in America, the Sunday Morning Service attendance is usually 80% greater than that of the Sunday Evening Service or Mid Week Service. God, no longer has His rightful place in our lives and Churches, nor is His Authority feared or respected.

So what gives, why is all this information about the Church of a negative nature? Is the Church in America really falling from the Grace of God, and lost any relevancy in today’s culture, to where we have no positive impact? Can we no longer provide a moral compass to the communities in this country?

To better understand how we got to this point, let’s turn back the hands of time a few years. Let’s take a peek at the Church from the secular point of view. We will look at where some of this stigma has been rooted in the fiber of our culture. By remembering some of these events, we can better understand where the lost world’s mind is when it comes to Church and organized religion.

Remember in the:

1970’s – Lonnie Frisbee, Pentecostal became an ousted closet gay Evangelist

1970’s – James Hargis, sex scandal destroyed this Radio Evangelist

1980’s – Jim Baker, TV Evangelist, sex scandal and extortion imprisoned him.

1980’s – Jimmy Swaggart, multiple sex scandals brought down this Assembly of God TV Evangelist.

1990’s – Oral Roberts, claim that he would end his life if he didn’t get the money he needed for a project.

2000’s – Richard Roberts, dismissed from the Oral Roberts University for his alleged improper use of funds for personal purposes.

2000’s – Robert Schuler, Debtors begin filing in 2010 for claims in court to receive payment on accounts. The Chrystal Cathedral is in debt beyond $55 Million. The church has now filed for Bankruptcy Protection.

WE are not without current woes today either; there is a US Senate probe / investigation into financial practices of:

Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Benny Hinn, Eddie Long, and Joyce Meyer Ministries of Fenton Missouri.

While we here in this Church would keep these people, their teaching and financial practices at arm’s reach. These are the faces of organized religion that “the lost” in this country have seen over the last 30 or 40 years. Is it any wonder that we are trying to climb up the hill of the slippery slope?

We as faithful believers in the one and true Christ, the Beloved Son of God are being deafened by the sounds of the fallen preachers and anti-christs of our age. All this fallout is why I want to take a few weeks and look at the Church, what we think it is, what the world thinks it is and what God says it really is!

We are going to spend a few weeks looking at this subject “What is Church”. We are going to look at the Church origins; we are going to look at its purpose as defined in a few of the apostolic books. We are going to look at the makeup of the Church, past, present and future. We are going to try and understand what is impacting our ability to share the “Good News” in our community and neighborhoods. We are going to look at “gifts” and the inventory of gifts that this particular Church has been blessed with and how we use them to meet the “Great Commission”.

For right now, let’s take a quick look at the first Church…

Turn with me please to Acts Chapter 2:

Acts 2

1And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 8And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 9Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 11Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. 12And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? 13Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. 14But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: 15For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 16But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 19And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: 20The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come: 21And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. 22Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. 25For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: 26Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 27Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 28Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. 29Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 30Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 31He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. 32This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 33Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. 34For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 36Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 37Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call. 40And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Dear Precious Father, we ask blessing and wisdom concerning these words that we just read from Your Book of Truth. Help us now look at YOUR CHURCH, understand Your desire for it and how we got were we are as a nation. Then teach us Father how not to follow the mistakes of the past, help us Learn from those errors of the fallen pastors and churches of the past. Fill our hearts to overflowing Father so that we Keep YOU in Your rightful place in our lives and in this Church! We pray in Your Son’s name, in Christ we pray – Amen.

In the late winter of this year (Feb & Mar), I taught a six week lesson on the 2nd Chapter of Acts. It was taught in the framework of making ready for a new Pastor. Preparing our minds and hearts for service, was the requested action at the end of that study. For the next several weeks, we are going to use this Awesome passage as a back drop to identify “What Is The Church”. As I read a little outline from Alistair Begg earlier, I asked the question “What do you think / believe Church Is”?

Before we look at where the Americanized Church got off the path, I would like you to think about what your definition of Church is – as it applies to our Church... As it applies to our presence in this community… As it applies to our mission… As it applies to our goals… As it applies to our spreading the Gospel – the Good News to those around this building… As it applies to the RELATIONSHIPS you have inside these four walls… As it applies to the Authority in this Church…

Who is the leadership in our Church? Is it the Pastor? Is it the Deacons? Is it the Congregation? Is it the Teachers? This question and how it has been answered over the last 100 years has laid the path of the corporate Church in America. Now strap yourself in, because we are going to cover a lot of ground in just 3 short weeks, roughly 90 minutes of teaching and dialog to help us answer What is the Church….

At the day of Pentecost, what were some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem at the time? (Acts 5:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under Heaven).

Devout Men, Webster defines devout men as: devoted to divine worship; expressing devotion; with synonyms of earnest or sincere; holy; saintly; intense; serious and fervent…

In other words these men “Feared” God, and Worshipped HIM as the one and only GOD! God was elevated in their hearts and minds as Deity and the Ultimate Authority in their lives. God was most important to them, He came first, hence the word Devout – they were totally devoted to God and His purposes.

These men were gathered at Jerusalem, for Pentecost or Shavouth, the feast of weeks, a festival, celebrated on the sixth and seventh days of Sivan by Orthodox and Conservative Jews outside Israel but only on the sixth day by Reform Jews and Jews in Israel, that commemorates God's giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai to Moses. So these men were already in town for Religious / Spiritual Reasons, they were already “devout” followers of GOD.

God’s timing is absolutely amazing, for He sent the Holy Spirit at the time when there were men of God that would make wonderful converts from Judaism, and follow Christ. These men understood devotion, commitment, sacrifice and trust. They would make good disciples of the teachings of Christ, and would spread the Gospel of Christ to each of their native lands. The first Church had been built and formed of devout, Godly, Holy men that eventually became the Churches first missionaries.

God – wants our devotion, He wants our dedication and commitment to Him. We must train our hearts and minds to seek Him first. TRUST – means nothing if we don’t practice or exercise it. FAITH in word only produces absolutely nothing. These men at Jerusalem in Chapter 2 of Acts were Godly, Righteous, and Holy minded men. The Church in the West has lost that sense of Holiness. We have become lazy, laid back and lacks in our Spiritual, Emotional, Academic and Physical disciplines. It seems that in today’s Church, anything goes, once you verbally claim Christ – your good!

If you took the time to look at and investigate some of the “Main Line Denominational Churches” today, you may have your heart set back a pace or two. For these Churches that were once Rock Solid stalwarts of the Faith, are barely recognizable any longer. Today’s Churches reflect an organization that is more in line with a “Religious Social Club” than it is of a house of Worship, Teaching and Praise! See people have forgotten the basics! We have lost track of what it’s all about!! We as the corporate Church of the West, truly Lost sight of out 1st True Love for Christ. If we as the Church truly believed He is who we say he is we would be trembling in fear of His judgment of the Church of Laodicea. We are no long on fire for Him, while we as the Church would not openly disclaim Him, our actions do…

The Bible says the Church owes its origin not to man, but to Almighty GOD! There would be no such thing as the “Church” were it not for the fact that God planned from all eternity to have a people of HIS very own. To that fact, the solidarity and corporate distinctiveness of the people of God, is distinctly apart from all other communities and can be tied to only one thing – that being the Call of God!!! Called of God!!! More importantly, called apart from the World, to Love ONLY Him, to Save Ourselves for Him as His Bride. But we as a Corporate Church have prostituted ourselves to the world and it’s lusts.

The TRUE CHURCH is TRULY of GOD – Period… Anything more or anything less is not of His Calling. That calling is come out of the sea of humanity and to be counted among His own. To be Different. To be Holy. To be Righteous. To be filled with HIS Spirit. To Learn and be filled with His Truth. To Be HIS!!!

In closing tonight I want to digress just a little bit, and ask your indulgence in this little story, a small piece of my testimony….

When I was a little boy, my dad was the local police chief in a small Pennsylvania Township. He made all of $5,700 per year. So we did a lot of things to conserve resources. One of which was my father became an avid hunter to provide food for his family. He learned and became very proficient in reloading his own rifle casings and shot gun shells.

My dad was always my Hero, regardless of how much discipline was applied to the seat of learning – he was bigger than life to me. So we spent a lot of time together. I would stand or sit by his side while he would load shells for hours. To help him pass the time, he would play his favorite 8-Track Tapes  We listened to the Blue Ridge Quartet, the Blackwood Brothers, and a bit of a twangy group called The Happy Goodman’s. Their lead singer was “Rusty Goodman” long time deceased now. Rusty sang this song titled “The Lighthouse” that at the tender age of 10 or 11 gave me goose bumps. Listen to these lyrics:

There's a Lighthouse on the hillside, That overlooks life's sea

When I'm tossed it sends out a light, That I might see

And the light that shines in darkness now, Will safely lead us o'er

If it wasn't for the Lighthouse, My ship would be no more

And I thank God for the Lighthouse, I owe my life to Him

For Jesus is the Lighthouse, And from the rocks of sin

He has shown a light around me, That I could clearly see

If it wasn't for the Lighthouse (tell me), Where would this ship be?

Everybody that lives around us, Says tear that Lighthouse down

The big ships don't sail this way anymore, There's no use of it standing round

Then my mind goes back to that stormy night, When just in time I saw the light

Yes, the light from that old Lighthouse, That stands up there on the hill

If it wasn't for the Lighthouse (tell me), Where would this ship be?

In my mind and heart I tied those lyrics to both Christ and His Church, and the mission of the Church to spread the Light of Christ in our communities and neighborhoods. There are some today that still believe that is one of the defining traits of the Church. Some Churches still believe that we are to evangelize the world one person at a time, one family at a time and one community at a time. That old Lighthouse is the Church, it is this Church in this community. WE ARE THE LIGHT OF CHRIST FOR THESE PEOPLE TO SEE!!!

I have listened to men pray in this congregation – “Lord help us be a beacon” or “Lord help us share the light”. When we pray these action words – are we sincere and ready to put our words and petitions to Almighty God into action? Are we ready for His help in these areas, or are we waiting for someone else to do it? Are we praying these words with no intent to reach others for Christ. Do we really believe we are living in the end days, or are we just allowing ourselves to be blinded by Satan’s subtle moves to remove our relevancy here in Warriors Mark, Tyrone, Bald Eagle, Water Street and Stormstown?

Is this Church – the Bible Baptist Church of Warriors Mark truly a Lighthouse for God in the surrounding area? See this isn’t a message of chastisement or a rebuke, this is a message of encouragement and a reminder as to who we “say we are”! A call to the entire congregation not just the members, not just the Wednesday night regulars, this is a call for all attendants of this Church to get on our faces before our Abba Father and pray collectively “here am I Father, send me”. Help me be the beacon, help me be the light, help me be Your eyes, help me be Your hands, help me be Your LOVE to this part of Your World. MAKE US YOUR CHURCH DEAR FATHER!

Are we allowing the Light of the Truth that lives in us as a corporate body of believers shine to those around us? Is this congregation known by its neighbors to be loving, longsuffering, tenderhearted, charitable, kind, neighborly, compassionate, of good cheer, tempered, selfless, reliable, steadfast, and stalwarts of the Truth and the Faith in Jesus Christ?

Do our Family relationships reflect the Love of Christ? Are our relationships in this Church, Christ Like, do they have depth, love, commitment and conviction? Or are they shallow, superficial and in some cases just a façade? See if the relationship with Christ is messed, all our other relationships will be messed up as well. If we don’t Love Him first, then we will love ourselves first, and all relationships will suffer. If this is the case in more than a few in a congregation, the Love of Christ will suffer as well. Energy and resources are consumed chasing and trying to repair the consequences of SIN! Focus is taking from Christ and our purpose for being here, and is focused on those that choose not to follow the word of God. SO – Growing Disciples, Spiritual Mentoring of the congregation must become a ministry of the Church to build solid foundations on which to launch other ministries – including evangelism or Out Reach!

John Chapter 14 verses 1 through 12 is an awesome look into Christ’s Authority through His Father. I love this passage: 1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 8Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? 10Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. 12Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

We will look at this passage more in depth next week. As we will see next time, CHURCH is NOT defined by just what happens inside these four walls! Church is defined by the very Heart of Christ, in which He sent each and every one of His true followers a piece of through the Holy Spirit! Church, identifies itself with Christ, whom which identified Himself with God the Father! Deeper look next time.

Dear Father in Heaven, thank You for the opportunity to open Your word, reveal to us over this next week Father. Help us see Your hand, chasten us to seek Your Face. When we pray to You Lord, make us ever mindful of the meaning and purpose of being ushered into Your throne room. Remind us of the Holiness of this act, and to choose our words wisely, for we will be held accountable for them. Be with us now through the remainder of the week, bring us back safely Sunday morning the Lord’s day. In all things we say and do Father , let them bring Praise, Honor and Glory to You, in Christ’s name we pray - Amen...