Understanding Church Life

UNDERSTANDING CHURCH LIFE

By Owen Carey, Eric J. Hanson, and Dallas E. Henry

UNDERSTANDING CHURCH LIFE

Lesson 1:

THE CHURCH AND ITS PEOPLE

Since you have received Jesus Christ, you need to learn all

you can about Him and His people, the Church.

There are two ways of understanding the Church. The first is to know that the Church is made up of more than a billion believers in Jesus who live in every country on Earth.

(Matthew 16:18, 28:18-20)

The second way to understand the church is what this course is about: the local church. Hosanna New Testament church is one of millions of local churches here on Earth. It is the local church you are part of. Therefore, it is important for you to understand "church life". Then you will know what the Lord Jesus Christ expects of you as a member of His Church on the Earth and of Hosanna Church locally. (Acts 2:47, Philippians 1:1)

Why learn these things?

A. Jesus is our king. We need to please Him.

B. To understand how church life works.

FIVE KINDS OF SAVED PEOPLE WHO BECOME PART OF ANY LOCAL CHURCH

1. New Converts. (People who have just recently received Jesus as their savior and Lord.)

2. "Babes" in the Lord:

a. Those who are still somewhat new converts.

b. Those who have been believers for a while, maybe even for years, but have never "grown up" in their faith.

3. People from other church families:

a. Those who have moved to the area and are looking for another church like their old one which they miss. (whatever type their old church may have been)

b. Those who are looking for something “better” (to them) than their old church.

4. People who have moved to the area and are looking for a church like ours.

5. People who have been hurt in another church or by other Christians, who are “testing the waters” looking for a “safe harbor” to heal and recover in.

HOW LIFE IN A GOOD CHURCH FAMILY WORKS

1. As you get involved in the life of the church, there are people and leaders who grow to care about you. You begin to become a "family member" and have real friends who will help you to live in ways that please God.

2. If you are serious about following Jesus, you begin to "grow up" in the Lord. Because you are serious about pleasing God, He will give you what you need to become effective for Him.

THE TWO PARTS OF THE REAL CHRISTIAN LIFE (The Great Commandment)

a. Love and serve the Lord Jesus Christ and the Father. (Mark 12:29-30)

b. Love (really care about) other people. (Mark 12:31)

The Bible says: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself." -Jesus (Matthew 22:37-39)

This course will help you learn these two important things. Please read the above verses carefully and think about what they mean to you. Then answer the questions which are on the next page. Each lesson will have questions. These questions help the elders to understand you and help you to really "get" the ideas which this course teaches.

Lesson one is the shortest of the lessons, because it is introductory in nature.

QUESTIONS ABOUT LESSON 1:

1. Why learn these things?

2. Name the five kinds of Christians who come into any church.

3. Which type were/are you?

4. What two things happen when people are truly part of a church family?

5. What two commandments did Jesus say are the most important of all?

6. Have you been hurt (wounded) in a local church by leaders or others?

UNDERSTANDING CHURCH LIFE

lesson 2:

OUR FIRST CALL: LOVING GOD

Mark 12:28-31 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important? The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

If we really know Jesus, we will love him, because we will know that he really loves us. He suffered and died for us. He loves you so much that He took the punishment for all the sins of your life, as He suffered and died on the Cross. (I John 4:19) This is amazing love!

If we love Jesus, we will want Him to be our Lord. This means that he is our boss and our guide. We will "put Him first" by obeying his word, the Bible. His Spirit, the Holy Spirit gives us the power to do this. The Bible says: "To be controlled by the human nature results in death. To be controlled by the Spirit results in life and peace." -Romans 8:6 (Good News Bible)