Our response to such a high privilege and destiny must be to live a holy
life of worship, service and witness. “But you are a chosen people, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the
praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
1 Peter 2:9
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Holiness “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation”
Worship “that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of
darkness”
Witness “that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of
darkness”
Questions to think about and discuss.
‣ What misconceptions do or did you have about church?
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Jesus prayed for unity in the church John 17: 21 - 23.
In Ephesians 4: 3 the Apostle Paul says “make every effort to keep
the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” What can or
should you do to help achieve this aim for the Church?
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Christian fellowship cuts across barriers of race, education, class,
gender and every other cultural barrier. In what ways will this truth
affect our relationships with Christians from other backgrounds?
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How are you using your gifts to strengthen the life of the church?
Think of as many ways that you can use your gifts for
strengthening the church (Remember the Church is also here in
prison, use your gifts here for others)
Bible readings for the week.
Day 1. The People of God, 1 Peter 2: 4 – 12
Day 2. Jesus Prays for His People, Part 1, John 17: 6 – 19
Day 3. Jesus Prays for His People, Part 2, John 17: 20 – 26
Day 4. The Church, The Bride of Christ, Ephesians 5: 22 – 33.
Day 5. Unity in the Church Ephesians, 4: 1 – 16
Day 6. Christ the Head of the Church, Colossians 1: 15 – 20
Day 7. Church leaders must be Godly, 1 Timothy 3: 1 - 13
Meditation Verse: “A new command I give you: Love one another.
As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men
will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
What About the Church?
What did you think about the video, how did it make you feel?
What part made the biggest impact on you?
Some Popular misconceptions about the church.
Some think that church is only about things like: religious services; clergy,
ministers, priests, pastors; a particular denomination such as Baptist, Roman
Catholic, Congregational, Episcopal and the like; or the building where services
are held. The church is much more than these things.
1. The Church is the People of God.
The Church is made up of people
”But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people
belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of
darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are
the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received
mercy.” 1 Peter 2: 9 – 10
The Greek word for church in the New Testament is ‘ekklesia’, the word means a
“gathering of people.”
The New Testament speaks of the Universal church Ephesians 3:10, 21;
5:23-25 There are over 2,000 million Christians in the world today some are part
of
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the persecuted church; these fellow believers of ours are in some parts of the
world where they do not enjoy freedom of worship.
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many live in the developing world - in Africa, Latin America and Asia
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Others in the developed world, of Europe and North America.
The New Testament gives the greatest emphasis to local churches, churches in
specific localities, for example the church in Corinth, Rome, Ephesus etc.
‣ “Galatian churches” 1 Corinthians 16:1
‣ “The churches in the province of Asia” 1 Corinthians 16:19
‣ “All the churches of Christ”
In most churches today you will find cell groups, a small group of 4 -12 people
meeting for Bible study, prayer and fellowship. Close friendships can develop in
these groups.
Key principles for a healthy cell group
‣ confidentiality
‣ intimacy
‣ accountability 1 John 4:19
Some churches have larger meetings where two or more cell groups join
together regularly, these are sometimes called pastoral groups of 12 - 50 people.
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they are small enough to know others and to be known
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they allow us to minister to each other “to prepare God’s people for works of
service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” Ephesians 4:12
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exercise of the gifts of the Spirit 1 Corinthians 12:7-11
Cell groups are a part of the larger Congregation
3. The Church is the Body of Christ 1 Corinthians 12:1 - 27
Celebration services
In the Bible people came together for festive occasions such as Passover,
Pentecost, New Year. Often lots of churches get together to celebrate their faith
together in similar festive occasions. There is often a deep sense of God’s
greatness in such gatherings.
“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 centre of our thinking as
Christians.” Bishop Lesslie Newbigin
“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. ”verse 27
“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Acts 9: 4
‣ Unity “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of
peace. There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope
when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and
Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4:3 - 6
‣ Diversity “to each one of us grace has been given” Diverse people with their
various gifts mean that the unity of the church does not mean uniformity. verses
2. The Church is the Family of God Ephesians 2:14-18
4. The church is a Holy Temple
Christians are the children of God, therefore we are God’s family. ”Consequently,
you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but . . . members of God’s
household . . . “ Ephesians 2: 19.
We are brothers and sisters to each other: “We love because he first
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loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For
anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God,
whom he has not seen. He has given us this command: Whoever loves God
must also love his brother. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is
born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 1 John
4: 19 – 5: 1
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God is our Father
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the
right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor
of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God John 1: 12 - 13.
As brothers and sisters in Christ it is very important to maintain unity in the
family of God.
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Jesus prayed for unity “…that they may be one” John 17:11
‣ “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit” Ephesians 4:3
“On the necessary points, unity; on the questionable points, liberty; in
everything, love.” (Rupertus Meldenius)
As brothers and sisters in Christ
‣ We must be faithful to each other Galatians 6: 10.
‣ We must love each other 1Peter 1: 22.
‣ We must forgive each other. Matthew 18: 15, 35; 5: 23 – 24
The Church is a Fellowship Acts 2:42-47
The Greek word for fellowship means “sharing things in common.” No matter
who we are we, what backgrounds we come from, we all share in the life of
God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit and in spiritual life with other Christians.
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7-11
Mutual dependence “build each other up in love, as each part does its
work” verses 14-26
“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with
God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him
the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the
Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which
God lives by his Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22
the church is built on foundation of apostles and prophets verse 20
‣ In the Bible we find the teaching of the prophets and apostles. Get to know the
Bible and God will give you a strong spiritual foundation.
‣ Jesus as the cornerstone verse 20
‣ Indwelt by God’s Spirit “a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are
being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”
verse. 21 -22; it is the presence of the Holy Spirit makes the Church a “a holy
temple”
5. The church is the Bride of Christ
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up
for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the
word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle
or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. . . . This is a profound mystery –
but I am talking about Christ and the church.” Ephesians 5:25 - 27 and verse 32
Jesus Christ loves His church “ Christ loved the church and gave himself
up for her” verse 25
‣ Jesus Christ has a great purpose for His church to present her to himself
as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy
and blameless. . . . verse. 27
“I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from
God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.” Revelation 21:2
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