Christianity Is An Interactive Community Lesson 8 Series

A. INTRODUCTION

1. Most people want to know God but want to do it outside the established church. Why do people have problems with the existing church?

a. Scandals.

b. Traditions.

c. Dead music.

d. Rules/legalism.

e. Always asking for money.

f. Ingrown/doesn’t reach out.

2. What do we know about the church from its first mention? “I will build My church” (Matt. 16:18).

a. Jesus is the church planter.

b. Future tense.

c. Self-reproducing.

d. It’s an assembly of Jesus’ followers.

B. WHAT IS THE CHURCH?

1. The church is the body of Christ. “The church which is His body” (Eph. 1:22-23), sometimes called the universal church, i.e., all believers between the ascension and the rapture.

2. The glorified church, believers in heaven. The militant church, believers on earth.

3. The earthly church is a community of believers. The community of Christians is entirely unique from all other religious gatherings.

C. WHAT DOES A CHURCH LOOK LIKE ON EARTH?

1. The church is a body – every member needs every other member to be complete (1 Cor. 12:12).

2. The church is a building – every brick rightly related to each other becomes the temple in which God dwells (1 Peter 2:5).

3. The church is a bride – an intimate close relationship between the bride and Bridegroom (2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:23-32).

4. The church is a flock – the Shepherd provides for His sheep (John 10:16).

5. The church is a vine – Christ and the believer unite in an unbreakable bond (John 15:1-5).

6. The church is family – a protective relationship between Father and His children (John 1:12).

7. The church is a garden – where believers grow (Matt. 13:1-8).

D. BUILDING HEALTHY RELATIONS IN THE CHURCH

Believers relate to one another as Christ relates to them. This community of mutual love interacts within itself to form a unique reflection of their dedicated obedience to Jesus Christ.

1. Be proactive in love. “Greet each other in love” (1 Peter 5:15, LB).

2. Accept people. “Receive ye one another as Christ received us” (Rom. 15:7).

3. Honor and respect for others. “In honor give preference to one another” (Rom. 12:10).

4. Look after other’s needs. “Be hospitable to one another” (I Peter 4:9).

5. Do good to others. “Be kind to one another” (Eph. 4:32).

6. Your relationships are based on love. “Abound in love to one another” (1 Thess. 3:12).

7. Forgiveness. “Forgive one another, just as Christ forgave you” (Eph. 4:32).

8. Serve each other. “Ye ought to wash one another’s feet . . . do as I have done to you” (John 13:14-15).

9. Honest and transparent with others. “Confess your fruits one to another, and pray for one another” (James 5:16).

10. Help others. “We that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak” (Rom. 15:1).

11. Live in peace with others. “Live peaceably with all men” (Rom. 12:18).

12. Comfort one another. “Comfort one another with these words” (I Thess. 4:18).

E. THE SOCIAL POWER OF THE CHURCH

1. The revolutionary hippie should love Jesus and His church because it was counter-culture when established. Jesus stood against the dead traditions, hypocrisy, and formalism of His day. “These who have turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6). But the problem is that the church that was counter-culture now has become ingrained in the culture.

2. The church overthrows an ungodly culture and plants a “one another” culture.

3. Then the church becomes a stable institution of culture.

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.

Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.

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