Min of Church

Page 1: Understanding the Church

• Definition of Church

  • Common concepts associated with "church" include:

    • Building

      • Necessary features for a church building: space; design shape (notable in Catholic churches).

      • Various church buildings worldwide offer unique insights.

      • Special significance often attributed to church buildings.

    • People

      • Church comprises believers who covenant to worship together.

      • Importance of church membership: essential for collective worship?

      • Denominations

        • Reasons for the existence of multiple denominations.

        • Perceptions: good, bad, or neutral?

  • When asked, campus responses about church likely vary widely.

  • Scriptural Perspectives

    • Biblical teachings on the concept of church?

  • Statistics

    • 2020 U.S. Religion Census reports over 350,000 congregations across various faiths.

Page 2: Church Demographics and Study

• Church Composition (2010)

  • Evangelical and conservative Protestant churches were predominant with 191,112 congregations.

  • Catholics constituted a significant demographic with 58,928,987 adherents.

  • Orthodox Christians had the fewest congregations and adherents.

• Purpose of Church Study

  • Value of studying church encompasses:

    • Understanding personal beliefs about the church.

    • Insight into God’s plan for the church.

    • Preventing pragmatic approaches in ministry.

      • John Hammett emphasizes the need for a deeper understanding before action.

• Class Goals

  • Learning objectives and personal aspirations for the course.

Page 3: Terminology and Historical Context

• Ekklēsia

  • Definition and Origin

    • Greek term: ἐκκλησία, meaning "the assembly" or "the ones called out" from roots "ek" (out) and "kalēo" (to call).

  • Historically referred to civic assemblies, but rarely to religious groups.

• Old Testament Correlation

  • Similar Hebrew words: Qāhāl (assembly/summons)

    • 73 translations of qāhāl to ekklēsia in Septuagint.

  • ‘Ēdâh (gathered people before a synagogue), typically not translated as ekklēsia, to avoid implications connected to Jewish law.

• New Testament Usage

  • Ekklēsia appears 114 times in the NT: 109 in relation to the church, with only a few references to secular assemblies.

Page 4: Biblical Context and Imagery

• Importance of Biblical Language

  • Body of Christ

    • Central image of the church, primarily in Paul's writings.

  • Familial Language

    • References God as Father and believers as brothers/sisters in Christ.

• Unity and Diversity

  • The church symbolizes the unity of diverse members under Christ’s authority.

• Temple of the Holy Spirit

  • The Spirit empowers the church, making it a space for worship.

Page 5: The Advancement of the Church

• Key Events in Acts (Chapters 8-14)

  • Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch, introduction to Saul (Paul), gospel expansion to Gentiles, and Paul’s first missionary journey highlight key developments in early church history.

Page 6: Marks of the Church

• Patristic Formulation

  • Nicene Creed emphasizes a united, holy, Catholic, and apostolic church.

• Reformation Formulation

  • John Calvin: a true church must preach the Word of God and administer sacraments correctly.

• Contemporary Observations

  • Modern perspectives address current issues in American church dynamics.

Page 7: Distinct Features of the Church

• Marks of Unity

  • Oneness: Challenges from doctrinal, cultural, and geographical divisions throughout history.

• Holiness

  • Christians referred to as saints, expectation of moral integrity.

• Catholicity

  • Expresses the universal nature of the church transcending distinctions.

• Apostolicity

  • Adherence to apostolic teachings is non-negotiable for true ecclesiastic identity.

Page 8: The Essence and Identity of the Church

• God's Assembly

  • The church’s purpose is rooted in bringing glory to God, deriving its identity from Scripture.

• Local vs. Universal Church

  • Majority references highlight the local expression of church; all believers comprise the global church.

• Living and Growing Assembly

  • The church's life derives from its members being living individuals promoting growth.

Page 9: Discussion Opportunities

• Reflections on Learning

  • Concepts of church identity, marks of the church, critiques of modern expressions, and aspirations for new church initiatives.

Page 10: Regenerate Church Membership

• Membership Criteria

  • Key Baptist distinctive: church membership reserved for those who profess faith and have been baptized.

• Biblical Foundation

  • Emphasis on believers being holy and partaking in the body of Christ; church discipline outlined for maintaining purity.