The Church.

• The word "church" is used two ways in the Bible.
  • of the whole number of those redeemed through Christ. Matt 16 vs 18, Eph 1 vs 22, 3 vs l0, 3l, 5 vs 23-32.
  • of an assembly of professing believers in particular area. Matt 18 vs 17, 1 Cor 1 vs 2, 11:16,22, 14:19, 1 Tim 3:5,15.
• Members of THE Church should join A church.
  • The Biblical pattern is that converts were immediately baptised and identified with a local church. Acts 2 vs 37-41, 9 vs 18-19,26, 18:1-11.
  • It is taken for granted that Christians living in the same locality will assemble together as a church. 1 Cor 1 vs 2, 2 Cor 1 vs 1.
  • Christians are commanded not to neglect meeting together, and are to excel in building up the local church. Heb l0 vs 25, 1 Cor 14 vs 12.
  • The early Christians were in such an established relationship with each other that they could speak of some who "went out from us" who "were not of us". 1 John 2 vs 19.
  • As soon as possible churches ordained elders, and. were regarded as defective until this had been done. Acts l4 vs 22-23, Titus 1 vs 5.
  • Thus all. Christians had certain in men as their leaders, who were guardians of the spiritual life of the local assembly. Heb 13 vs 7,17, Acts 20 vs 28.
• God's Word gives clear directives for local church life.
  • Submission
    • The church is Christ's body, and is to be subject to its Head in everything (Eph 1 vs 23, 4 vs 15-16, 5:24). The purpose of church discipline is to restore wandering believers to such a spiritual condition (Heb 13:17, Matt 18 vs 15-17, 2 Thess 3 vs 6-15, l Cor 5).
  • Worship.
    • The church exists for the glory of God, and He dwells there (Ps 4 vs 3, Eph 2 vs 22). It is the place where corporate praise is to be offered (1 Pet 2 vs 5, Heb 13 vs 15).
  • Teaching
    • Christians are to be instructed to observe all that the Lord Jesus Christ commanded (Matt 28 vs 19), and the local church is the place where such teaching is to be given (Acts 2 vs 42) by those authorised and gifted to do it (Acts 20 vs 28, Eph 4 vs 12-16, 1 Pet 5 vs l-4)~ The local church alone is God's. custodian of truth in the world. 1 Tim 3 vs 15.
  • Fellowship.
    • We are members one of another. This is to be expressed around the "Lord's Table (Acts 2 vs 42, 1 Cor l0 vs 16-17, 11 vs 23-34); in a shared life. (Gal 6 vs 1-10); and in united prayer (Acts 2 vs 42, ch 12).
  • Evangelism
    • The local church is the means of sounding forth the Word of God in an area (1 Thess 1 vs 1,8), the commissioning agency for Gospel preachers (Acts l3 vs l-3, l5 vs 40- l6 vs 5), and the family into which new converts are to be welcomed (Rom 14:1).

* God's purposes are totally bound up with the Church. Eph 1 vs 22.

* We must be careful never to despise its local, manifestation - the local church. 1 Cor 11 vs 22