CCS SysTheo Ecclesiology: The Doctrine of the Church.

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EcclesiologyEcclesiology: The Doctrine of the : The Doctrine of the ChurchChurch

THE NATURE OF THE CHURCH – WHAT IS IT?

The Words Defined

• From the Greek ekklesia• Means: The Assembly– Not to be confused with “called out ones”– Think Butter-fly

• Appearances:– Matthew 16:18, 18:17– Acts 8:3, 9:31, 13:1, 14:23– Romans 16: 1-5, 16, 23

Two levels of the Assembly

The Universal Church• Acts 8:3

• Acts 9:31

• Hebrews 12:22-24

The Local Church• Acts 13:1

• Acts 14:23

• Each of the Epistles and Revelation 2-3 (22:16)

So, What IS the Church?

• What attributes stay constant in these texts?

• What attributes change?

• What is the focus on?

NOTICE . . .

The Big Picture

GOD

GOD and Man*

Man vs. GOD GOD and a

chosen People

The GOD-Man*The GOD-Man*

GOD and a chosen People

GOD and Man*

Man vs. GOD

The Big Picture

GOD

GOD and Man*

Man vs. GOD GOD and a

chosen People

The GOD-Man*The GOD-Man*

GOD and a chosen People

GOD and Man*

Man vs. GOD

Some Images of the Church

• The People of God

• Household of God

• The Body of Christ

• The Temple of the Holy Spirit• What’s missing? . . What’s missing? . .

It’s always about God and People

Remember Mark 12:28-34Remember Mark 12:28-34

BUT, WAIT . . . LOOK AROUND . . .

1. How much time is being spent?

2. How much money is being spent?

3. What level of comfort is poured into other things?

4. Look around . . .

WHOA

The People of God

• 2 Corinthians 6:16

• Old Testament – God’s People– Exodus 15:13– Hosea 1:9-10; 2:23 (Romans 9:24-26)– Ezekiel 36:22-28

The Big Picture

GOD

GOD and Man*

Man vs. GOD GOD and a

chosen People

The GOD-Man*The GOD-Man*

GOD and a chosen People

GOD and Man*

Man vs. GOD

Parallel, but distinctParallel, but distinct

The Household of God

• 14I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long;

• 15but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. – 1 Timothy 3:14-15

Andrew Peterson- Family Man

The Body of Christ• Emphasizes the Connection of the Church as a

group of believers, with Christ.• Some aspects of the Body of Christ– Christ is the Head (Col. 1:18)– The Body is parts, put together (1 Cor. 12:12)– The Body parts depend on one another (1 Cor. 12:26)– The Body must be unified (Eph. 4:4-6)– The Body of Christ, the Church, is Local and Universal

– “a microcosm . . . a small-scale example” (Acts 8, 13)– The Body of Christ is an extension of His ministry (1

Cor. 3:9)

The Temple of the Holy Spirit

• The Doctrine: John 14:12 & 16:7

• The Individual– 1 Cor. 6:19

• The Assembly– 1 Cor. 3:16-17– Eph. 2:21-22

LECRAE- THE BRIDE

CCS SysTheo

EcclesiologyEcclesiology: The Doctrine of the : The Doctrine of the ChurchChurch