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The Necessity of the Church

4 Major Reasons That the Church Exists in the World

Kerygma

proclamation or preaching. Refers to the announcement of the Gospel offered to all through Jesus. 2 Fold: Even and message of proclamation. The Church has the responsibility to proclaim the good news of salvation.

4 Major Reasons cont. . .

Koinonia communion or fellowship. Used in the NT to refer to the community of Christians joined together in Christ. Exists to create Christian fellowship, support and community. Faith requires frequent support and affirmation from like believers.

4 Major Reasons Cont. . .

Diakonia

those who proclaim and promote religion among others. This means that the Church exists for the purpose of service to the world at large. In different Churches, the form of service that is given takes various shapes, both materially and spiritually.

4 Major Reasons cont. . .

Eucharistia thanksgiving Church exists to worship God. This worship takes many different forms but includes the celebration of the Sacraments. Eating and drinking together Christians generally believe that they are made holy. Christians do not agree with regard to the amount and kind or organization that is needed.

Who is a Christian?

2 Major Positions:

Explicit:

Christians who have undergone some sort of conversion experience and has explicitly chosen the Christian belief system and its professed way of life.

Implicit:

The Christian who lives his/her life according to general Christian beliefs and practices, but is not aware of any conversion experience, nor of the explicit Christian creed.

Creed Meaning I believe it refers to a statement of the essential articles of a religious belief.

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Church & the Kingdom of God

Kingdom of God
This

phrase appears over 100 times in the New Testament. time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel. 1:15

The

Mark

Exegetical & Theological Interpretations

The kingdom is an eschatological reality meaning the definitive and full reign of God at the end of time and which is now at hand.
The reign of God is brought about by God himself and not by human beings. The reign of God is not a material but a spiritual or religious kingdom. The reign of God is a bringing about of salvation for sinners, rather than their condemnation. Reign of God demands a radical decision on the part of human beings for God, involving repentance for sin.

Kingdom & the Church

The

kingdom of God is not usually identified with the Church itself. role of the Church is to pray and prepare for the realization of the kingdom of God. And to work toward it.

The

4 Eschatological Views:

Jesus preaching about the kingdom was heavily influenced by Jewish apocalypticism.

Centered in the covenant with Israel and Gods reign over the world.

Kingdom of God is called proleptic or realized eschatology.

Claims that the KoG was fully realized with the coming of Jesus Christ.
The 2nd coming will pronounce the absolute or sheer totality of the kingdom itself which has already been realized.

4 Eschatological Views cont. . . .

Salvation History or Self-Realizing Eschatology

This view tends to combine the present and the future elements in the teaching of Jesus about the KoG. The KoG became present with the coming of Jesus, but is still awaiting its fulfillment. Tension between the already present and not yet fulfilled aspects of the kingdom. The kingdom is already present but not in its fullness and completeness until the parousia.

Existentialist Eschatology

Any moment of situation in which one has to make an ultimately significant decision is eschatological. Does not lie in the future is the time God gives to each person as an opportunity for making ultimately significant decision. Eternal life is the life one receives now. Ones existence in faith is an eschatological event, making the kingdom of God present.