#1: Fundamental Foundations Of Faith (The Church) Series

Fundamental Foundations of Faith

Understanding the Lord’s Church

INTRO.

A. In order to be successful in any endeavor, you must pay attention to the fundamentals. Those

basic fundamentals serve as the foundation and the building blocks for success.

B. For example- In the late ’60s, Vince Lombardi, just after winning the first Super bowl and on the eve of a

new season, gathered his team in the locker room and stepped up onto a bench for a speech. He

reviewed last year’s season, then began to talk about the plans for a return trip to the great game and

how they would accomplish it. “We’re going back to basics,” he said. And with that, he held up a game

ball, and said slowly and deliberately, “Gentlemen, this is a football.” Coach Lombardi knew what too

many of us fail to remember – the way to stay on the winning team is to work on the fundamentals of a

strong foundation

C. The same holds true in spiritual matters. If we want to be spiritually successful, we need to pay close

attention to the fundamentals of the faith. Then, we can build upon that firm foundation and be assured

that what we build will be pleasing to God. 1 Cor. 3:10-15

“10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the

foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other

foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this

foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one's work will become clear; for

the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what

sort it is. 14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's

work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”

1. We must be careful how we build. If what we build is not pleasing to the Lord, it will not last, and it

will not bring us a reward.

2. Only by remembering the fundamentals and building upon the proper foundation, which is Christ,

can we expect to build something that will last.

3. Those who are built as living stones in the church of the Living God- who are faithful and true will be

able to endure the trials of fire.

4. Those who are built as living stones into the church of the Living God- who are hypocritical and false

will be as stubble- they will be burned up by the trial of fire and be lost.

D. Today, I want us to consider the fundamental foundations of faith concerning the Lord’s church, so we

can be sure that we are “wise builders.” To do this, we begin by…

I. UNDERSTANDING THE NAME.

A. The Bible was written in a language known as Koine Greek. In the first century, this was the language

that the common man on the street spoke. (marketplace)

1. The Greek word for 'church' is ‘Ekklesia' = “Those called out.” (assembled)

2. It does not automatically have a religious association at all. This word is used to describe a mob of

people who were upset with Paul's teachings in Acts 19:32,39,41

“32 Some, therefore, cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of

them did not know why they had come together…39 But if you have any other inquiry to make, it shall

be determined in the lawful assembly…41 And when he had said these things, he dismissed the

assembly.”

In this context, the word Ekklesia is translated as an assembly and in this case, it has absolutely

nothing to do with a religious gathering of any kind.

3. Rom. 16:16 We see it used in a different sense.

“Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.”

Here we have an example of this word being used to represent assemblies of Christians. This refers

to individual congregations of the Lord’s people. The ekklesia at North Brandon, The ekklesia at

Siwell Road, Madison, Etc.

4. Col.1:24 The word is used in a third sense.

“I now rejoice in my sufferings for you and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of

Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church”

Now we see the word used in scripture to represent the one universal body of Christ. This is the

church universal as one entire assembly. Notice that Paul writes of the body [singular] and calls it

the church [Ekklesia].