Xenos Christian Fellowship Christian Leadership 1 Ecclesiology 1 Week 1 - What is the Church?

Introduction Goal of Christian Leadership Classes Why study theology of the church (ecclesiology)?

Traditional Framework Read and critique: Ryrie, A Survey of Bible Doctrine, chapter called What Is the Church? , pp!"#ff$ What is a local Church?
There is a good deal of discussion today about what is necessary to constitute a local church. Is a church simply a gathering of two or three believers in the name of Christ? How much or how little organization is required? Is baptism necessary for church membership? nfortunately the !ew Testament does not provide a definition of a local church" but it does describe the normal features of a functioning local assembly. #nd it is from these regular characteristics of local churches that we can formulate at least a descriptive definition. Ta$ing together the features of local churches we see in the !ew Testament" we might propose the following definition% # local church is an assembly of professing believers in Christ who have been baptized and who are organized to do &od's will. !otice% ()* There must be a profession of faith + not ,ust anyone can belong to a church. (-* The !ew Testament $nows nothing of unbaptized church members. (.* Churches were always organized as soon as possible (#cts )/%-.* + an informal" unorganized fellowship of believers does not constitute a church. (/* There is purpose + doing &od's will which is e0pressed in many ways (li$e observing the ordinances" being open and available for ministry to all age groups in all parts of the world" etc.*1 If this be a reasonably good wor$ing definition of the local church" then two or three gathered for fellowship is not a local church since such assemblies are generally not organized nor an0ious to minister to all age groups even in their own neighborhoods. 2urthermore" a Christian school or e0tra+church Christian organization does not qualify because of its selective ministry3 that is" all professing believers would not be permitted to associate with the institution or organization. Can you imagine a Christian school throwing open its doors to all without any admission requirements? 4r can you imagine the problems a youth wor$ would have if retirees could freely enter into its activities? Have you noticed that often today the criticism of the church is coming from those who are associated with organizations whose wor$ would be seriously affected if they had to open their doors to everybody? !aturally" you can be more effective and successful1 if you can be selective" but if you have to try to help people without restrictions" then" li$e some local churches" you won't always be successful.1

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4f course" this definition does allow for some fle0ibility. It does not require that a local church meet in a building specially set aside for such a purpose. It does not indicate what $ind of or how many meetings are required to constitute a church. #ctually it does not specify the mode of baptism or the particular $ind of officers (though perhaps it could and should + more of that later*. 5rincipally it tries to differentiate the local church from other groups" even church+related ones.1

Critique of Ryrie $

The New Testament Definition of the Church %o& do &e go a'out defining the church? We loo( at t&o things:

What Is the )ni*ersal Church?

Col$ !:!+

! Cor$ !,:!-

.ph$ !:!(&hat)

Col$ !:!+ ! Cor$ !,:!.ph$ !:!-

/%.R.01R., the )ni*ersal Church is

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300,000

00,000

In a church institution

/rue 'elie*ers

Words and 2etaphors used for the church in the 3e& /esta2ent !"Church# e$$lesia ( $aleo % to call & e$ % out' $uria$on, &hich 2eans 4dedicated to the Lord$4 2! (Bo)y of Christ( (Ro2ans l,:"567 ! Corinthians$ l,:!!5l+,,87 Colossians l:l+7 .phesians 6:-#)

-$ 1ther 9etaphors and allusions that descri'e the church$ *he *e+ple of ,o) 5 ! Corinthians -:l:7 .phesians ,:,l,,,7 ! ;eter ,:6 *he -erusale+ Fro+ Above or *he .eavenly -erusale+ 5 Galatians ":,:7 %e're&s l,:,,$ Bri)e of Christ or Christ/s Betrothe) 5 (.phesians 6:,65-,7 , Corinthians !!:,)$ What is the 4Local Church?4 0or each of the follo&ing *erses, ans&er the question: 4What geographical area is 'eing descri'ed?4
Colossians !:!+ %e is also head of the 'ody, the church7 and %e is the 'eginning, the first5'orn fro2 the dead7 so that %e %i2self 2ight co2e to ha*e first place in e*erything$ <cts =:-! >o the church throughout all -u)ea an) ,alilee an) Sa+aria en?oyed peace, 'eing 'uilt up7 and, going on in the fear of the Lord and in the co2fort of the %oly >pirit, it continued to increase$ ! Corinthians !:, to the church of ,o) which is at Corinth, to those &ho ha*e 'een sanctified in Christ @esus, saints 'y calling, &ith all &ho in e*ery place call upon the na2e of our Lord @esus Christ, their Lord and oursA Ro2ans !::6 also greet the church that is in their house$ Greet .paenetus, 2y 'elo*ed, &ho is the first con*ert to Christ fro2 <sia$ (;hile2on !:!5,) ;aul, a prisoner of Christ @esus, and /i2othy our 'rother, to ;hile2on our 'elo*ed 'rother and fello& &or(er, B,C and to <pphia our sister, and to <rchippus our fello& soldier, and to the church in your house0 9atthe& !+:,# 40or where two or three have gathere) together in 9y na2e, there I a2 in their 2idst$4

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Col$ !:!+ <cts =:-!

! Cor$ !

Ro2$ !::6 ;hile2on ! 9t$ !+:,#

What are so2e i2plications &e can dra& fro2 these passages concerning &hat siDe or structure a group 2ust ha*e to 'e considered a church?

4What constitutes a local church?4

The Origin of the Church What parts of the Ei'le are &e allo&ed to use to 'uild the church?

;rotestants ha*e tended to ans&er this question in t&o 'asic &ays:

G)<RRH

@CIs /eaching re: the church <cts .pistles Re*$ ,,-

1ld Co*enant 5 Israel

3e& Co*enant 5 Church Col$ !:!+ 0ulfill2ent F su'stance

;ro2ise F shado&

! Cor$ !,:!2006 Copyright, Xenos Christian Fellowship

.ph$ !:!(&hat)

<cts !:67,:!5" (&hen)

"

Colossians !:!+ ! Corinthians !,:!<cts !:67 ,:!5"

Confusing the Old Covenant and the Church JIR.C/I13> 01R W1RK>%1; !$ Hou &ill ha*e !6 2inutes to prepare: Re*ie& 1ld Co*enant purpose of that structure Read 3e& Co*enant passages and eLplain the 3e& Co*enant status of this structure <pplication: dangers if &e ignore the changes, *alue of the changes, etc$

,$ Choose your presenter &isely as sheMhe &ill ha*e only 6 2inutes to present$ !$ (InstructorIs eLa2ple) !a"ernacle#!e$ple 1ld Co*enant ;urpose: /he ta'ernacle &as a prophetic picture of GodNs intent to d&ell in his people7 his presence d&elt in the 'uilding in a unique &ay$ /he sy2'olic e*ents conducted in the ta'ernacle eLplained &hy God could not ind&ell his people ('ecause of their sins) and ho& he &ould one day o*erco2e this pro'le2 ('y 2a(ing atone2ent for their sins through his chosen su'stitute)$ 3e& Co*enant >tatus: 3o& this prophetic picture has 'een fulfilled$ God d&ells in e*ery Christian and in the church corporately7 the church is the te2ple of God$ (! Corinthians -:!:7 .phesians ,:,#5,,7 ! ;eter ,:",6) /hus, it is no longer proper to regard any 'uilding as the place &here God d&ells in a special &ay$ >ee also .Lodus ,=:"-5":7 Genesis ,::-7 -!:-$ Jiscussion: What negati*e effects can result fro2 ignoring this change?

% &riesthood
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1ld Co*enant ;urpose: %e're&s -:!7 ":!" 5 /he high priest &as a type of Christ$ (%e're&s -:!7 ":!") 0or this reason, he alone &as per2itted to enter GodNs presence &ith a sacrifice for the peopleNs sins$ /he other priests &ere a type of Christians in that they could dra& near to God and co22unicate the (no&ledge of God to the people$ /he rest of the people &ere essentially passi*e participants in the ser*ice of God$ 3e& Co*enant >tatus: %e're&s ,:!87 %e're&s ":!6,!:7 %e're&s !#:!=5,,7 ! ;eter ,:=

Jiscussion: What negati*e effects can result fro2 ignoring this change?

3% 'a""ath and Festi(al Calendar 1ld Co*enant ;urpose: God ga*e the Israelites a full calendar of 4holy4 days$ /he >a''ath and the prescri'ed festi*als &ere largely prophetic pictures of the sal*ation &hich @esus &ould acco2plish$ (Colossians ,:!:,!8) 3e& Co*enant >tatus: Ro2ans !":!567 Galatians ":!5!!

Jiscussion: What negati*e effects can result fro2 ignoring this change?

"$ Liturgical Worship 'er(ice )week three* 1ld Co*enant ;urpose: %e're&s +:6 3e& Co*enant >tatus: %e're&s +:!-7 Ro2$ !,:! Jiscussion: What negati*e effects can result fro2 ignoring this change? +% ,n-ant Circu$cision
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1ld Co*enant ;urpose: Infant circu2cision &as a ritual gi*en 'y God to <'raha2 and his physical descendants$ (Genesis !8:=5!") Circu2cision &as to 'e the sign that Israel &as GodNs people$ It &as also a sy2'ol of their need to 'e li'erated fro2 the 'ondage of their sin5 natures$ (Jeuterono2y !#:!:7 @ere2iah ":") God predicted that &hen 9essiah ca2e, he &ould 4circu2cise your heart $ $ $ to lo*e the Lord your God$4 (Jeuterono2y -#::) 3e& Co*enant >tatus: Colossians ,:!!

Jiscussion: What negati*e effects can result fro2 ignoring this change?

31/.: 1ld Co*enant ritualis2 *s$ for2alis2 F Is$ ,=:!-,!", Is$ !:!!5!87 <2os 6:,!5,"7 %e'$ 8,+ .% /elationship 0etween Church and 'tate 1ld Co*enant ;urpose: In the 1ld /esta2ent, the nation of Israel &as 'oth a spiritual and national entity$ /he go*ern2ent of Israel &as originally a theocracy, e*entually replaced 'y a theocratic5chosen (ing$ God needed a nation &here he could preser*e the &itness he &as accu2ulating a'out hi2self$ It &as entirely in order for God to call on the go*ern2ent of ancient Israel to operate the nation in a ?ust and godly &ay$ 3e& Co*enant >tatus: Ro2ans !-:!7 9atthe& ,,:!85,!7 9atthe& !-:-#7 @ohn !+:-:

Jiscussion: What negati*e effects can result fro2 ignoring this change?

6uring almost fifteen centuries the legal establishment of Christianity has been on trial. 7hat have been its fruits? 8ore or less in all places" pride and indolence in the clergy" ignorance and servility in the laity" in both" superstition" bigotry" and persecution.1 (9uoted in :ohn ;eel and 4s &uinness" ed." No God But God (Chicago% 8oody 5ress" )<<-*" p. =<*

1% E$phasis on the Law

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1ld Co*enant ;urpose: /he 1ld /esta2ent la& code &as a national contract &ith Israel &hich stipulated the conditions 'y &hich they could en?oy the land of Canaan$ (see Jeuterono2y ,+) It also had a spiritual *alue in that it sho&ed the2 their need for GodNs grace, &hich &ould 'e gi*en &hen 9essiah ca2e$ (Galatians -:,,5,6) 0or 'oth of these reasons, it &as entirely proper for Israel to ha*e a 4la& e2phasis$4 3e& Co*enant >tatus: Ro2ans 8::

Jiscussion: What negati*e effects can result fro2 ignoring this change?

2% 3utreach 'trategy 1ld Co*enant ;urpose: GodNs strategy for reaching Gentiles in the 1ld /esta2ent period &as centripetal$ <s the Israelites stayed in the land and follo&ed the La&, God granted the2 national security and 2aterial prosperity$ 0oreigners &ould notice this, and so2e &ould thus adopt H%W% as their God$ (Jeuterono2y ,+:85!"7 ! Kings !#:!5!,) /he 2ain reason for this 4stay in the land4 strategy &as that the %oly >pirit &as not operati*e in the sa2e &ay he is today, so the Israelites needed to 'e a separate culture to pre*ent co2plete apostasy$ 3e& Co*enant >tatus: 9atthe& ,+:!+7 <cts !:+

Jiscussion: What negati*e effects can result fro2 ignoring this change?

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Conclusion

Memory Verses )nderstand the interrelationship of these 2e2ory *erses to one another in the conteLt of the definition of, and origin of the church$ Col$ !:!+O ! Cor$ !,:!-O .ph$ !:!-O <cts !,,OO Assignment Read *he ABC1s of 2atural Church Develop+ent, Christian <$ >ch&arD ('oo(let)$ /a(e 2argin notes and 'e prepared for discussion$ Read -, >trange /hings a'out Penos and ta(e 2argin notes in preparation for a class discussion !am "eview #oints Wee( 1ne !$ Kno& the definition of 'oth the uni*ersal and local church$ ,$ Kno& the -5step proof that de2onstrates &hat the church is$ -$ Kno& the -5step proof that de2onstrates the church 'egan at ;entecost$ "$ Co*enantal churches tend to 'ring 1ld /esta2ent structures into the church$ Ee a'le to eLplain one of the eight areas discussed in class: What &as the 1ld /esta2ent purpose of the area? %o& has this area changed in the 3e& /esta2ent? What is a negati*e effect on the Christian life andMor the church of retaining this 1ld /esta2ent practice?

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