what is the church?
DESCRIPTION
What is the Church?. Some think of a building Some think of a denomination. What CHURCH do you belong to?. What is the Church?. Some think of a building Some think of a denomination Some think of a hierarchy or government. They ask: "What does the church teach?". God. God. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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• Some think of a building• Some think of a denomination
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• Some think of a building• Some think of a denomination• Some think of a hierarchy or
government
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Roman Catholic Church
Protestant Denomination
God God
The Saved People The Saved People
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Roman Catholic Church
Protestant Denomination
God God
The Saved People The Saved People
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Roman Catholic Church
Protestant Denomination
God God
The Saved People The Saved People
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Roman Catholic Church
Protestant Denomination
God God
The Church is the Saved People
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The Church – A look at two uses in the Bible
• THE UNIVERSAL ASSEMBLY (church)
• THE LOCAL ASSEMBLY (church)
If we don’t learn to make the proper distinction between these two uses for the people of God – we will tend to think in a denominational sense
• In last week’s lesson – we looked at how the UNIVERSAL and LOCAL church are different.
• This week – we will try to look at some important lessons we can learn.
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The Church: Universal and Local
• The Universal Church
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (Matthew 16:18 NIV)
ALL PEOPLE SAVED BY JESUS
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The Church: Universal and Local
• The Universal Church
• The Local Church
To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ-- their Lord and ours: (1 Corinthians 1:2 NIV)
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: (Philippians 1:1 NIV)
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The Church: Universal and Local
• The Universal Church
• The Local Church
Christians who meet at 9498 Anhawa in Longmont
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Distinction between Universal and Local Church
• Distinction in Fellowship• Distinction in Manner of Entry• Distinction in Enrollment• Distinction in Effect of Death• Distinction in Beginning• Distinction in Number• Distinction in Earthly Organization• Distinction in Shepherds• Distinction in Composition• Distinction in Necessity of Belonging• Distinction in Assembling• Distinction in Founder
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What is your view of the Universal Church?
The most popular view in recent times is that the universal church is made up of all the denominations
Christ
Church of Christ
Lutheran Presbyterian
Catholic
Methodist
Baptist7th Day Adventist
Jehovah Witness
Universal Church
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This divided state is against the will of God
"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (John 17:20-21 NIV)
A prayer of Jesus Christ:
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Presbyterian
Catholic
Baptist
Church of Christ
Methodist
7th Day Adventist
Lutheran
Jehovah Witness
CH
IR
TS
“I am the Vine and you are the Branches” (John 15:5)
According to this view
A Branch is a DENOMINATION
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Presbyterian
Catholic
Baptist
Church of Christ
Methodist
7th Day Adventist
Lutheran
Jehovah Witness
CH
I
R
TS
“I am the Vine and you are the Branches” (John 15:5)
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. (John 15:4-6 NIV)
A branch is not a denomination, but individual Christians
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Peter
Tom
Ben
Laura
Paul
Harry
Mary
June
CH
I
R
TS
“I am the Vine and you are the Branches” (John 15:5)
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. (John 15:4-6 NIV)
A branch is not a denomination, but individual Christians
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What is your view of the Universal Church?
Another View is that the UNIVERSAL CHURCH is made up of all “faithful or sound” local congregations
Christ
Central
Huffman College
Eastside
Limon
Main StreetBoulder County
North Street
Universal Church
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A Comparison of Local churches with the Saved
The Universal Church
Contains all the Saved
Some in Local Churches are lost
So Local Churches are not the building blocks for the universal church (the saved)
Paul
Diotrephes
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The Units of the Universal Church
• The members of Christ’s body are people• Christ’s sheepfold is made up of sheep• God’s army is made up of Christian soldiers• God’s church (assembly) is composed of individuals• God’s kingdom is made up of citizens• God’s temple is made up of living stones
you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5 NIV)
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What is your view of the Universal Church?
Another View is that the UNIVERSAL CHURCH is made up of all “faithful” local congregations
Christ
Central
Huffman College
Eastside
Limon
Main StreetBoulder County
North Street
Universal Church
This view sees the universal church is made up of many local churches
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Main Street
LimonBoulder County
Huffman
College
Central
Eastside
CH
IR
TS
“I am the Vine and you are the Branches” (John 15:5)
According to this view
A Branch is a LOCAL CHURCH
North Street
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Main Street
Boulder County
Huffman
Central
College
Main Street
Eastside
Limon
CH
I
R
TS
“I am the Vine and you are the Branches” (John 15:5)
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. (John 15:4-6 NIV)
A branch is not a local church, but individual Christians
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Alexander CampbellA leader of what is known in religious history as the
Restoration Movement (1800-1860)
The church is not one congregation or assembly, but the congregation of Christ, composed of all the individual congregations on earth. (Millenial Harbenger, July 1834)
Every individual church on earth stands to the whole church of Christ as one individual man to one particular church (Millenial Harbinger, June, 1853)
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Robert MilliganA leader of what is known in religious history as the
Restoration Movement (1868)
For the sake of Order, convenience, and efficiency, this one body may be divided into as many churches or congregations as may be thought necessary; each one of which, when fully organized should have its own corps of elders, and deacons (Scheme of Redemption, Nashville, Gospel Advocate Co., p 509)
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The Basic Issue is This ---
• A Church of Churches?
Or
• A Church of individuals?
The Universal Church
ALL PEOPLE SAVED BY JESUS
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The Body of Christ
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-- whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-- and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13 NIV)
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (1 Corinthians 12:27 NIV)
The Body is not composed of Denominations or
congregations
Christ
ALL PEOPLE SAVED BY
JESUS
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The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches
Central
Huffman College
Eastside
Limon
Main StreetBoulder County
North Street Universal
Church
A Collection of Congregations = A Denomination
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The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches
A Collection of Congregations = A Denomination
Main Street
EastSide
BoulderCounty North
Street
Central
What ties these groups together
NationalHeadquarters
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The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches
A Collection of Congregations = A Denomination
Main Street
EastSide
BoulderCounty North
Street
Central
What ties these groups together
National or StateConvention
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The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches
A Collection of Congregations = A Denomination
Main Street
EastSide
BoulderCounty North
Street
Central
What ties these groups together
Publishing House
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The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches
A Collection of Congregations = A Denomination
Main Street
EastSide
BoulderCounty North
Street
Central
What ties these groups together
Seminary – CollegeTraining of Preachers
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The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches
A Collection of Congregations = A Denomination
Main Street
EastSide
BoulderCounty North
Street
Central
What ties these groups together
Charities They JointlyFund Raise for
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The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches
A Collection of Congregations = A Denomination
Main Street
EastSide
BoulderCounty North
Street
Central
What ties these groups together
Staff Writersof a Magazine
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The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches
A Collection of Congregations = A Denomination
Main Street
EastSide
BoulderCounty North
Street
Central
What ties these groups together
A Few DistinctDoctrines They Share
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The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches
A Collection of Congregations = A Denomination
Main Street
EastSide
BoulderCounty North
Street
Central
What ties these groups together
“Soundness” on a particular divisive issue
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The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches
Central
Huffman College
Eastside
Limon
Main StreetBoulder County
North Street Universal
Church
A Collection of Congregations = A Denomination
To denominate means “to name” so………
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The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches
Central
Huffman College
Eastside
Limon
Main StreetBoulder County
North Street Universal
Church
Each Collection of Congregations Takes a “name”
LutheranSouthern Bap.American Bap.Church of God
This last designation makes a good “scriptural name” but God never intended for his people to wear an exclusive name that “denominates” it from others.
Church of Christ
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The Basic Issue is This ---
The Universal Church Does not have one name or description
ALL PEOPLE SAVED BY JESUS
• church of God
• church of the firstborn
• body of Christ
• church of Christ
• kingdom of God
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The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches
Central
Huffman College
Eastside
Limon
Main StreetBoulder County
North Street Universal
Church
Group of Congregations takes the name
Church of Christ
Church of God Are you a member of the “Church of God”?
Some say
“NO”
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Jule Miller Film Strip - 1970
Does not have one name or description
• church of God
• church of the firstborn
• body of Christ
• church of Christ
• kingdom of God
“God’s names for his church and her members were selected by God Himself. Most people are surprised to learn that God never chose one exclusive name for His church. However, when the scriptures refer to the church, God has chosen descriptive phrases which set forth some of the most distinctive characteristics of the Church.” (Lesson Three, page 18)
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Jule Miller Film Strip - 1970
Does not have one name or description
• church of God
• church of the firstborn
• body of Christ
• church of Christ
• kingdom of God
“God’s names for his church and her members were selected by God Himself. Most people are surprised to learn that God never chose one exclusive name for His church. However, when the scriptures refer to the church, God has chosen descriptive phrases which set forth some of the most distinctive characteristics of the Church.” (Lesson Three, page 18)
Big question at age 19:Why did every
congregation that used these booklets use only one
exclusive name?
Why did they all wear the SAME exclusive name?
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Why did these congregations all use the same exclusive name to the neglect of other scriptural descriptions
Central
Huffman College
Eastside
Limon
Main StreetBoulder County
North Street Universal
Church
Each Collection of Congregations Takes a “name”
The answer is not difficult to find – but hard to accept
Church of Christ
They wanted denominational conformity for a collection of congregations
These congregations associated the name with doctrines and forms that made them distinct from others
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The undenominational denomination
• Started with an appeal for unity among all believers
• Unity based on dropping all denominational names, creeds, and organizations
• Individual disciples used the name Christian, disciples of Christ
• Going by the Bible local churches went by Christians, Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, Church of Christ
• However, after doctrinal differences … collections of congregations began to wear distinctive names to emphasize these differences
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Central
Huffman College
Eastside
Limon
Main StreetBoulder County
North Street
A Collection of Congregations = A Denomination
Church of Christ
Christian Church
Disciples of Christ
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The Basic Issue is This ---
• A Church of Denominations?
Or • A Church of individuals?
The Universal Church
Church of Christ
Lutheran Presbyterian
Catholic
Methodist
Baptist7th Day Adventist
Jehovah Witness I am not a
member of this
I want to belong only to
CHRIST
Darrell
I am a Christian
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Central
Huffman College
Eastside
Limon
Main StreetBoulder County
North Street
The Basic Issue is This ---
• A Church of congregations?
Or • A Church of individuals?
The Universal Church I want to belong only to
CHRIST
DarrellI am not a member of
this
I am a Christian
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Dangers of being a member of a collection of congregations
• The tendency to conform in order to be accepted by the collection of churches
• Pressure to conform to a uniform name• A tendency to reject all others not in this
collection of congregations• The one or two doctrinal issues that make you
want to be a part of such a group – force you to overlook the many things you have in common with other believers
• Keeps you busy deciding “which congregations” belongs in your “sound” collection of churches
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