The Christ Centered Life (Part 7): The Church

The Christ Centered Life: ChurchPart 1

Every area of my life should be Christ Centered

Christ

Family

Work

Church

Community

Education

Recreation

But Especially in the Church

Christ

Family

Work

ChurchCommunity

Education

Recreation

We are not talking about:

• The Christ Centered Church. – A person can attend a Christ Centered Church yet

not have a Christ Centered life.• A Church will be Christ Centered if it’s people

are Christ Centered.– A person can attend a church that isn’t Christ

Centered, yet have a Christ Centered life.

Before we discuss what it is to have a Christ Centered Life in the Church let

us define

CHURCH

Church defined

• Secular word for church (NT – ekklasia):– Ek – means “out”– Klasia – to call or summon– Thus, ekklasia mean “to call out” or form an

assembly. • Acts 19:32 (ESV) Now some cried out one thing, some

another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together.

• Acts 19:41 And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.

Agree Mob or Peaceful Rally

Defining Church

• When applied to the New Testament Ekklesia often applies to the local assembly of all those who profess faith and allegiance to Christ.– The local church..– 1 Thessalonians 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.

Defining Church

• When applied to the New Testament Ekklesia also designated the universal church.– In this sense the church is not the local assembly,

but rather the spiritual unity of all believers.– Ephesians 1:22–23 22 And he put all things under

his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

One Church-One body

• Ephesians 4:4–6 (ESV) 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

• There is not many churches – there is one church

• There is not many denominations – there is one church

The New Testament Church

• Does not refer to a local church building• Nor a denomination• Though “Catholic” is Greek (καθολικός ) for Universal,

the Roman Catholic Church is not the universal church. – There is no human organizational structure for the church

universal.– The unity is that of the Spirit in the body of Christ.– There are people in the Catholic church that are part of the

universal church, but the Catholic Church is not the universal church.

So, What is the relationship of the “Christ Centered Life to the

Church?”

We are not talking about:

• The Christ Centered Church. – A person can attend a Christ Centered Church yet

not have a Christ Centered life.– A person can attend a church that isn’t Christ

Centered, yet have a Christ centered life.

We are not talking about:

• The Church Centered Life.– One can have a church centered life and not have

a Christ Centered life. People go to church for:• Social interaction• Networking• Self-worth• Social causes• Morally guidance, or out of conscious• Protective place for the kids

Try to Find a Christ Centered assembly, but:

• A person can attend a local body that isn’t Christ Centered, yet have a Christ centered life.• The local body may be program centered• The local body may be socially centered• The local body may be self-centered• The local body may be like a country club

– Though the local body may not be Christ Centered, it doesn’t mean some believers in the local body are not Christ Center. • Remain Christ Centered• Help the Church become Christ Centered

True believers make up the real Chruch

• To the ekklasia in Ephesus: Rev. 2:4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.

• Letter to the ekklasia in Sardis: – Rev. 3:1 …“ ‘I know your works. You have the

reputation of being alive, but you are dead. – Rev. 3:4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis,

people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.

What are we talking about?

• A Christ Centered Life has a special relationship with the church (local and universal). A person with a Christ Centered Life understands the implications of being a part of:– “Body of Christ”.– “Bride of Christ”.

• If we truly love Christ, we will take care of the health of his body, and be a faithful, committed bride.

The Church is the Body of Christ

The Church is the body of Christ

• Eph. 1:22–23 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

• Eph. 4:11–12 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

The Church is the body of Christ

• The church is described as an organism with Christ at the head and the church as the body.– It’s bigger than any local Church– But it finds it’s application in the local church

We take care of the body

• Every believer is a member of the body. Therefore, every believer should:– Care about the fitness of every part of the body

(local and universal)– Have a role in the growth and operation of the

body (local and universal)– Respond to the instructions of the head in caring

for the body (local and universal)

The Body of Christ is also The Bride of Christ

The Body of Christ is also The Bride of ChristEphesians 5:25–30 (ESV)

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body.

As the Bride of Christ

• While the groom is gone– The bride should remain faithful to the groom– The bride, as the grooms body must keep the

body in good health– The bride must keep herself pure– The bride must always be ready for the grooms

return.

The Bride Should be excited about his coming

Revelation 19:7–9 (ESV) 7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

Many of you are soldiers. You know the excitement of coming

home to family.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkGzqpGx1KU

Jesus is a husband and a soldier coming home for his bride.

Be Ready.

Until Then

Hebrews 10:23–25 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.