What Does it Mean to Be the Church? Part I

Purpose: to biblically define key terms in the Christian church

1. Who Builds the Church? (Matt. 16:13-17; Eph. 1:22; 2:8-10; 5:23; Col. 1:18)
       The Great Confession

2. What is the Foundation of the Church? (Matt. 16:18-19; 21:42; 1 Pet. 2:7-10)
       Jesus Christ, the Son of God
       Jesus Christ, the Chief Cornerstone

3. What is the Church? (Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 5:23-24; 1 Pet. 2:7-10)
       A body of baptized believers
       Christ is the Head
       Distinctions of the church universal and local

4. Who is a member in the Church? (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 2:41; 1 Cor. 12:27)
       Repentant believers who have been baptized
       The Great Commission

The source of the true church is God Himself. Christ is the foundation and Head of His church. Believers in Jesus Christ are baptized into His church.

Be Strong and Courageous

Joshua 1:1-9

Purpose: Christian courage is not confidence in ourselves. Christian courage is obedience rooted in the presence and promise of God, secured for us in Jesus Christ.

1. Courage is founded on a clear assignment from God (Joshua 1:1–4)

2. Courage relies on the assurance of God’s presence (Joshua 1:5, 9)

3. Courage is strengthened through obedience (Joshua 1:6–7, 9)

4. Courage is established by the Word of God (Joshua 1:8)
       Proclaim it
       Possess it
       Practice it

Being A Healthy Body
Ephesians 4:1-16

Purpose: A healthy church is united in purpose under the Lordship of Christ.

1. One Body of Many Parts (Ephesians 4:1-10)

2. Parts With Unique Purpose (Ephesians 4:11-12)

3. Parts That Build Strength of Unity (Ephesians 4:13-14)

4. One Body, United and Led By The Head (Ephesians 4:15-16)

A healthy church is a body of believers, each one actively working together to build one another up in love, under the Lordship of Christ.

The Supreme Gospel!

Acts 21:15-40

Purpose: the Supremacy of the Gospel exalted by its vindication on trial!

1. Reunion in Jerusalem (Acts 21:15-18)

2. Report From the Harvest (Acts 21:19-20)
        The Gospel is for Jews AND Gentiles!

3. An Old Refrain Recurs (Acts 21:20-26)
        See Acts 15:23-29
        A Remedy Requested

4. Paul Arrested! (Acts 21:27-29)
        Remedy Rebuffed
        Paul Remanded and Restrained

5. Riotous Raucous Unrest! (Acts 21:30-36)

6. Paul’s Response! (Acts 21:37-40)
        Stage is set for Paul’s first of his five defenses of the Gospel!
        Paul in Jerusalem (21:15-40)
        The “Fuse Lit” when Paul Falsely Accused & Seized in the Temple (21:27-29)
        TRIAL #1: Paul’s Public Trial on the Steps (22:1-21)
        TRIAL #2: Paul Before the Council/Sanhedrin (23:1-29)
        TRIAL 3#: Paul Before Felix (24:1-27)
        TRIAL #4: Paul Before Festus (25:1-19)
        TRIAL #5: Paul Before Agrippa (25:23-26:31)
        Paul Sent to Rome (26:32, fulfills Jesus’ prophetic statement to Paul in 23:11!)

The Gospel may be on trial, but God and His Supreme Gospel are vindicated at every step!

The Spirit of Truth
John 14, 15, 16

Purpose: To see the Spirit’s Christ-exalting work in the life of the believer.

1. The Spirit is Promised (John 14:16-17)

2. The Spirit Prompts (John 14:25-26)

3. The Spirit Proclaims (John 15:26-27)

4. The Spirit Prevails (John 16:5-15)

The Spirit of Truth has come upon you to teach, to remind, to proclaim, and to empower you for all of life and ministry to the glory of God the father and His Son Jesus Christ.

Pressing On
Acts 21:1-14

Purpose: A true servant presses on regardless of the cost and danger. 

1. A Spirit-Revealed Warning (Acts 21:1-6)

2. A Spirit-Revealed Prophecy (Acts 21:7-11)

3. A Spirit-Led Resolve (Acts 21:12-13)

4. A Spirit-Led Release (Acts 21:14)

True servants of Jesus Christ resolve to go in obedience despite the cost and danger. Those who love them pray for them and release them to God.

A True Servant of Jesus Christ

Acts 20:17-38

Purpose: to see that a true servant of Christ …  

1. Perseveres! (Acts 20:17-21)
       He does not shrink back from gospel ministry though facing adversity

2. Sacrifices! (Acts 20:22-24)
       He considers his own life less important than the ministry

3. Guards the Sheep! (Acts 20:25-31)
       He protects the flock by declaring the whole purpose of God
       Pictures of the Problem:
           1 Timothy 1:19–20; 4:1–5
           2 Timothy 1:15; 2:17–18; 3:1–9
           Revelation 2:1-7
           2 Peter 2:1-3

4. Commends! (Acts 20:32-38)
       He commends his hearers to God!

A true servant is faithfully Christ-centered for himself, and for the church!

A Farewell Tour
Acts 20:1-16

Purpose: God works all things together for the purpose of His glory.

1. Gospel Purpose (Acts 20:1-6)

2. Gospel Power (Acts 20:7-12)

3. Gospel Progress (Acts 20:13-16)

Jesus Christ is building His Church and all the powers of Hell itself will not stop it.

Gospel Triumph!

Acts 19:21-41

Purpose: The Gospel always prevails no matter the trial!

1. Rome-ward Bound! (Acts 19:21-22)

2. Pagan Opposition Rises (Acts 19:23-29)

3. Providential Protection for Paul (Acts 19:30-31)

4. A Climate of Confusion (Acts 19:32-34)

5. Calm Prevails (Acts 19:35-41)

The Word of God is alive and active! He watches over His Word to perform it! (Hebrews 4:12; Jeremiah 1:12)

The Power Of Christ Displayed
Acts 19:11-20

Purpose: To show that Christ reigns, redeems, restores and reforms completely.

1. Amazing Restoration (Acts 19:11-12)

2. Audacious Rebuke (Acts 19:13-17)

3. Authentic Repentance (Acts 18-20)

The power of Christ is absolute. Therefore, we hope in Him.

Be Disciples of Jesus Christ!

Acts 18:23-19:10 Paul’s Third Missionary Journey

Purpose: to explain the way of God more accurately, that you would be disciples of Jesus Christ!

There were people who identified with the gospel in various ways at Ephesus before Paul arrived. Priscilla and Aquila understood clearly. Apollos had a growing but not accurate understanding. Twelve disciples of John the Baptist whose faith was incorrect and incomplete.

1. Apollos, a Strong Disciple in Need of Growth (Acts 18:23-28)

2. Believe in the One John Proclaimed! (Acts 19:1-7)

3. The Harvest is Plentiful! (Acts 19:8-10)

The Importance of Being a Disciple of Jesus Christ:

• The importance of the “Home Church” Antioch for Paul’s Missionary journeys

Acts 13:1-3; 14:26; 18:22

• The importance of a full understanding of Jesus Christ

A person must believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ!
Acts 18:26

• The importance (and limitation) of John’s Baptism

Preparatory for something greater! Acts 19:4

• The importance of differentiating between servants and the Master

(see 1 Cor 1:10-13)

John the Baptist, Paul, Pricilla, Aquila, and Apollos are all only servants

• The importance of the gospel to those who hear (Acts 19:10)

Mission in the harvest (Matt 9:37; Luke 10:2; John 4:35)

Mission to the unreached (Matt 28:18-20; Rom 15:20; Rev 5:9; 7:9)

Being a true disciple of Jesus Christ holds Jesus above all others and unifies believers!

The Realities of the Resurrection
1 Corinthians 15:12-26, 50-57

Purpose: To show that Christ is raised and our hope has been realized!

1. The Predicament of the Resurrection (1 Cor. 12-19)

2. The Power of the Resurrection (1 Cor. 20-26)

3. The Payout of the Resurrection (1 Cor. 50-57)

Jesus Christ is alive, death is defeated, sin is atoned for, reconciliation is complete, and eternity is secured!

“Follow Me!”

John 12:12-26

Purpose: Jesus said, “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me” (John 12:26)

1. Jesus Christ Fulfills Prophecy (John 12:12-19)
       Psalm 118 around 1,000 B.C.
       Zechariah 9:9-13 prophesied between 500 and 470 B.C.   
       When, exactly, did the disciples figure this out? (v. 16)
       So how should we read and follow this today?

2. The Hour Has Come for the Son of Man to be Glorified! (John 12:20-24)
       The hour coincides with the all-time Greatest Salvation event, the true Passover!
       The hour is "not yet" (John 2:4; John 7:6, 30; John 8:20)
       The “hour has come" (John12:23; 13:1; 16:32; 17:1)
       “The Son of Man” is Messianic! (from Daniel 7:13-14)
       The Gospel is the Glorification of: Jesus the Messiah/Christ/King
       The Son of Man
       At Passover
       In the death, burial, and resurrection of King Jesus (see 1 Cor 15)

3. Follow Me! (John 12:25-26)
       The difference between losing your life or keeping it to life eternal!
       To “follow” is a call to life-long discipleship
       “Follow Me” (John 1:43; 10:27; 12:26; 13:36; 21:19; 21:22)

What is your faith-answer to King Jesus calling you to “follow Me”?