1. the church

2. 3 Apr 20112 Is this the church?

3. 3 Apr 20113 Saharawi Muslim refugees, north Africa Is this the church ?

4. 3 Apr 20114 the church Identity: what is the church? Purpose: what does the church do? Principles: how does the church do this? Patterns: how did the early church do this? Priorities: what should the church do now?

5. 3 Apr 20115 Identity: what is the church? Ekklesia – called out” assembly The universal and local church A mystery – Jews and Gentiles Christ loved and gave Himself for the church Bride, field, flock, priesthood The dwelling of God The body of Christ

6. 3 Apr 20116 Identity: what is the church? Ekklesia Lit. “those who are called out” Assembly, congregation Commonly translated as “church” (except civil/legal assembly, Acts 19:32, 39)

7. 3 Apr 20117 Identity: what is the church? The universal and local church Local assembly, groups of local churches, the universal church (body of Christ) – all use the same word ekklesia E.g. Col. 1:18 and 4:15-16 The church and the churches

8. 3 Apr 20118 Identity: what is the church? A mystery – Jews and Gentiles Gentiles: fellow heirs and members of the same body Eph. 3:6 “My name will be great among the nations” Mal. 1:11 “He Himself is our peace…” Eph. 2:14

9. 3 Apr 20119 Identity: what is the church? Christ loved the church and gave Himself “Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her” Eph. 5:25 “Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us” Eph. 5:2 “The Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me” Gal. 2:20 Christ still loves the church! Eph. 5:29

10. 3 Apr 201110 Identity: what is the church? Other descriptions: The bride The field The flock A priesthood

11. 3 Apr 201111 Identity: what is the church? The dwelling of God God’s building The house or household of God The dwelling or temple of God

12. 3 Apr 201112 Identity: what is the church? The body of Christ The church is His body He is the Head We are members of the body –members of Christ –members of one another

13. 3 Apr 201113 Identity: what is the church? We are members of the body –members of Christ… –…but also members of one another

14. 3 Apr 201114 Identity: what is the church? “What difference does it make?” In my life as a follower of Christ As members in a local assembly As members of the body of Christ

15. 3 Apr 201115 the church Identity: what is the church? Purpose: what does the church do? Principles: how does the church do this? Patterns: how did the early church do this? Priorities: what should the church do now?

16. 3 Apr 201116 Questions? Comments? Hymn: “Your beauty fills our eyes” the church

17. 3 Apr 201117

18. 3 Apr 201118 www.uplook.org www.uplook.org Resources Audio Ministry THE CHURCH: Masterpiece of the Ages

19. 3 Apr 201119 And he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, 'Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?' And he answered him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’ (Luke 13:6-9)

20. 3 Apr 201120 the church what is the church? what does the church do? how does the church do this? how did the early church do this? what should the church do now?

21. 3 Apr 201121 Identity: what is the church? What the church is NOT: Israel A militant army A political party A human institution The Kingdom of God An agent of social or cultural reform Limited to those with whom we totally agree

22. 3 Apr 201122 Purpose: what does the church do?