The Alpha Course, Week 14

Here's a look at the worksheet for tomorrow's class.

Alpha Course, Week 14

What About the Church?

Key Verse: Ephesians 4:16 “From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

Introduction: Misconceptions about the Church

  • Church = services
  • Church = clergy
  • Church = a particular denomination
  • Church = the building
  • So what is the Church?

1. The Church is the People of God (1 Peter 2:9-10)

  • The Greek word “ekklesia” = an assembly or gathering
  • Church/kingdom
  • Baptism is a visible mark of being a member of the Church
  • Baptism Signifies:
    • Cleansing from sin (1 Corinthians 6:11)
    • Incorporation into Christ’s death and resurrection (Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12)
    • Sealing of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13)
  • The Universal Church (Ephesians 3:10; 21; 5:23-25)
    • 1.9 Billion Christians in the world today
      • Persecuted church
      • Third world
      • Free World
  • Local Churches (1 Corinthians 16:1)
    • “The churches in the province of Asia” (1 Corinthains 16:19)
    • “All the churches of Christ”
    • Celebration Services
      • Festive occasions
      • Sense of God’s greatness
      • Weaknesses: difficult to make friends.
    • Cell
      • Small groups (4-12 people)
      • Close friends
      • Keynotes
        • Confidentiality
        • Intimacy
        • Accountability (1 John 4:19)
    • Congregation
      • Pastoral group: 12-50 people
      • Small enough to know others and be known
      • Ministry to each other (Ephesians 4:12)
      • Exercise of gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:7-11)
      • Open group

2. The Family of God (Ephesians 2:14-18; 1 John 5:1)

  • Brothers and sisters to each other (1 John 4:19-5:1)
  • God as our Father (John 1:12)
  • Importance of unity
  • Jesus prayed, “that they may be one” (John 17:11)
  • “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit” (Ephesians 4:3)
  • Faithfulness (Galatians 6:10)
  • Forgiveness (Matthew 18:15, 35; Matthew 5:23-24)
  • Fellowship (Acts 2:42-47)
    • Fellowship with God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (1 John 1:3; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
    • And with one another (1 John 1:7; Hebrews 10:24-25)

3. The Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:1-27)

  • Unity (Ephesians 4:3-6)
  • Diversity (1 Corinthians 12:7-11)
  • Mutual dependence (1 Corinthians 12:14-26)

4. A Holy Temple (Ephesians 2:19-22)

  • Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets (Ephesians 2:20)
  • Jesus as the cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20)
  • Indwelt by God’s spirit (Ephesians 2:21)

5. The Bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:25-27; 32)

  • Christ’s love for his church (Ephesians 5:25)
  • Christ’s purpose for his church (Ephesians 5:27; Revelation 21:2)
  • Our response (1 Peter 2:9)
    • Holiness
    • Worship
    • Witness

Conclusions:

  • You cannot be a Christian alone — get involved in a community
  • The church is the family of God — we are all one family

Discussion questions:

1. What do you think of when you hear the word church?

2. Nicky talked about a lot of the common misconceptions about the church. What do you think the church is today? What should it be?

3. Leslie Newbigin said, “The church is an historic reality, beginning with God’s call to Abraham and continuing through the prophets and apostles right down the ages until now. And whether or not the church is popular, big or small, is relatively unimportant. The fact of this great rock, this anvil upon which so many hammers have been worn out, this given reality, needs to be at the center of our thinking as Christians.” What do you think of that statement? How does that change your view of the church?

4. Rupertus Meldenius said, “On the necessary points, unity; on the questionable points, liberty; in everything, love.” There has been much division historically in the worldwide church. How do we work to be more united?

5. Nicky talks about the fact that we, as Christians, are the church. We represent Christ’s love to the world. How does that change your perspective on the concept of the church and your role as a Christian?

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