The Church:

Purpose:
To help each student have a clear understanding of:
1) What the new testament Church is, what it is not,
2) What the function of the Church is in the age we live in.
3) Team methodology in the modern day church and the concept of plurality of leadership
4) How to stay relevant in our methodology while remaining steadfastly biblical in our
message
5) Aspects of practical ministry in the local church
Course Outline: (number of weeks on each topic to be determined)

Why church? What is the biblical foundation and template of the church?
What does Book of acts church looks like what?
The Body of Christ - mission and mandate
The identity of the church - who we are is Christs
How should we do church? A team methodology and a gospel message.
Breakdown of practical ministry.
Assignments:
1) Analyzing effective church ministry report opinion paper. Details to be discussed in class.
2) Church comparative paper New testament church and the modern church. Setails to be
discussed in class.
Requirements:
Read the book (Doing Church As A Team by Wayne Cordeiro)
Complete a 500 word book report on the required reading
Complete the 2 assignments

Lesson 1 What is the Church?

If we took a poll in the community, asking, "What is the church?" we would get diverse and
conflicting answers.
In this course, we will let the Bible answer this question, so we can be the church God wants
us to be.
Origin of the Church
1. God is the originator of the church, according to His eternal purpose in Christ
a. (Eph. 3:10-12).
b. He foretold of the church in the Old Testament,
This is what God the LORD says he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who
spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to
those who walk on it:
I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you
and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes
that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in
darkness.
I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. See,
the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I
announce them to you. (Isaiah 42:5-9)
2. The church began on Pentecost, a few days after Jesus ascended into heaven
a. Acts 1:6-8;
b. Acts 2:1-4
The Church is the Called Out Body
In Matt. 16:18, Jesus promises to build His church, speaking of a worldwide body of believers
who would respond to the gospel call.
The word "church" is translated from the Greek work ekklesia, denoting a called out body of
people. Assembly, or congregation.
The word church is used in two ways. "Church" can be used in reference to all Christians, or a
specific congregation. Jesus uses "church" both ways:
In Matt. 18:17, Jesus uses the word "church" regarding Christians in a local congregation.
Names Identifying the Church
There are several names in the Bible that identify the church But first lets clarify a few of the
terms.
OT vernacular vs. NT Vernacular:
OT: the House of God what was it?

One example was Davids tabernacle: 1 Chronicles 22:1-5

David made the sanctuary (means sacred place / Holy place) of the Lord.
But in the new testament:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

My (Christ's) church (Matt. 16:18).

Church of God (Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 1:2).
Church of Christ (Rom. 16:16).
The body, the church (Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22-23; 5:23; 1 Th. 1:1).
Church of the firstborn (Heb. 12:23).
God's field, God's building (1 Cor. 3:9).
The flock (1 Pet. 5:3; Acts 20:28).
Household (house) of God, church of the living God (Eph. 2:19; 1 Tim. 3:15; cf. Heb.
10:21).

The Church is Christ's Body

Paul tells us the church is the body of Christ, allegorically expressing our relationship to Christ
as members of His body.
Paul says, "And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all
things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all" (Col. 1:22-23).
Since Christ is the head of the body, the church must be subject to Him in everything (Col.
1:18; Eph. 5:24). If our congregation isn't subject to Christ, we're not His church!
As head of the body, Jesus is also the Savior of the church (Eph. 5:23). We must be members
of His church to be saved. He is the author of eternal salvation to those who obey Him (Heb.
5:9) --- He is our Savior if we obey.
The Church is God's Household
Paul tells us the church is God's household, allegorically expressing our relationship to God as
His children.
Paul says, "I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; but in case I
am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household
of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth" (1 Tim. 3:1415).
Just as Jesus is head of the body, He is over the house of God: "but Christ was faithful as a
Son over His house --- whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of
our hope firm until the end" (Heb. 3:6).
Since Jesus is God's Son, and we are also God's children, we are Christ's brethren. "For both
He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is
not ashamed to call them brethren" (Heb. 2:11).
We are heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17).
The Church is God's Temple
Paul tells us the church is God's temple, allegorically expressing our relationship to God as
priests who render spiritual service to Him.

Paul says, "Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the
living God; just as God said, 'I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people'" (2 Cor. 6:16).
And Paul writes to the Ephesians, saying of the church, ". . . Christ Jesus Himself being the
corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple
in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit" (Eph.
2:20-22).
The Church is the Bride of Christ
Paul tells us the church is Christ's bride, allegorically expressing our united relationship with
Him, as a husband is united to His wife.
Paul says, "For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband,
so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin" (2 Cor. 11:2).
We are united with Christ when we are baptized (Rom. 6:3-5; 7:4), becoming one spirit with
Him, baptized into His body by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:17; 12:13).
Most importantly, we will live with Jesus in heaven, united with Him for eternity. John records
his vision of the marriage of the Lamb, saying, "And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I
heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and
He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among
them'" (Rev. 21:1-3).
Bring this to today:
The mandate of the Church: the great commission:
Matthew 28:16-20
That is our mission. Plain and simple. To make disciples.
How we do that is what Anthony is going to talk about in power evangelism and in other
courses.
The rest of this course will outline out method in this the modern church.
1. How WE do church? - team methodology
2. Breakdown of gifts and functions.
3. Assignment; analyzing effective church ministry
4. A new testament:NC church vs OT old covenant church.
5. Staying relevant in our and methodology. Staying biblical in our message.
6. Breakdown of practical ministry.

Course breakdown:
Breakdown of gifts and functions.
Assignment; analyzing effective church ministry

A new testament:NC church vs OT old covenant church.

Staying relevant in our and methodology. Staying biblical in our message.