the church: general & specific
DESCRIPTION
This lesson reminds us why it is important for us to maintain proper distinction between the church in a general and specific sense. Several criteria are examined: number, beginning, founder, organization, shepherds, and belonging.TRANSCRIPT
The Church:General & Specific
“I will build my church”Matthew 16.18, CB NT p. 32
“tell it to the church ... listen even to the church”
Matthew 18.17, CB NT p. 32Specific
General
“dead in Christ” (1 Thessalonians 4.16)
God
General
“dead in Christ” (1 Thessalonians 4.16)
God
Jerusalem
Antioch
Saul
Ethiopian
Corinth
Sardis
Specific
“To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours.”
1 Corinthians 1.2, CB NT p. 289
“To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours.”
1 Corinthians 1.2, CB NT p. 289
Specific
“To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours.”
1 Corinthians 1.2, CB NT p. 289
Specific
General
Distinguishing“church”
Why does this matter?
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by
devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and
teachings of demons”1 Timothy 4.1, CB NT p. 367
Roman Catholic Church
“universal in extent;
involving all”
Roman Catholic Church
“pertaining to the whole
Christian body or church”
Roman Catholic ChurchSpecific
General
God
localchurch
localchurch
localchurch
localchurch
denomination
Distinguishing“church”
“church”
“church”God God
Jerusalem
Antioch
Saul
Ethiopian
Corinth
SardisGENERAL SPECIFIC
NumberGod God
Jerusalem
Antioch
Saul
Ethiopian
Corinth
SardisGENERAL SPECIFIC
NumberGod God
Jerusalem
Antioch
Saul
Ethiopian
Corinth
SardisGENERAL SPECIFIC
Only OneMatthew 16.18
NumberGod God
Jerusalem
Antioch
Saul
Ethiopian
Corinth
SardisGENERAL SPECIFIC
Only OneMatthew 16.18
ManyRevelation 2 - 3
BeginningGod God
Jerusalem
Antioch
Saul
Ethiopian
Corinth
SardisGENERAL SPECIFIC
Day of Pentecost
Acts 2.41
BeginningGod God
Jerusalem
Antioch
Saul
Ethiopian
Corinth
SardisGENERAL SPECIFIC
Day of Pentecost
Acts 2.41
Various TimesActs 15.41
FounderGod God
Jerusalem
Antioch
Saul
Ethiopian
Corinth
SardisGENERAL SPECIFIC
JesusMatthew 16.18
FounderGod God
Jerusalem
Antioch
Saul
Ethiopian
Corinth
SardisGENERAL SPECIFIC
JesusMatthew 16.18
Various Men1 Corinthians 3.10-11;
Romans 15.20
Earthly OrganizationGod God
Jerusalem
Antioch
Saul
Ethiopian
Corinth
SardisGENERAL SPECIFIC
Jesus is Head
Colossians 1.18; Ephesians 1.22
Earthly OrganizationGod God
Jerusalem
Antioch
Saul
Ethiopian
Corinth
SardisGENERAL SPECIFIC
Jesus is Head
Colossians 1.18; Ephesians 1.22
Saints, Bishops, DeaconsPhilippians 1.1
ShepherdsGod God
Jerusalem
Antioch
Saul
Ethiopian
Corinth
SardisGENERAL SPECIFIC
Only One: Jesus1 Peter 2.25
ShepherdsGod God
Jerusalem
Antioch
Saul
Ethiopian
Corinth
SardisGENERAL SPECIFIC
Only One: Jesus1 Peter 2.25
More than One
Acts 20.28; 1 Peter 5.2
Necessity of BelongingGod God
Jerusalem
Antioch
Saul
Ethiopian
Corinth
SardisGENERAL SPECIFIC
By Definition
Acts 2.41
Necessity of BelongingGod God
Jerusalem
Antioch
Saul
Ethiopian
Corinth
SardisGENERAL SPECIFIC
By Definition
Acts 2.41
Not Necessary,
but ExpectedActs 9.26; 3 John 9-10
“dead in Christ” (1 Thessalonians 4.16)
God
Jerusalem
Antioch
Saul
Ethiopian
Corinth
Sardis
Will today be the day you decide to
go to heaven?
Lesson slideshows (with notes)and audio can be found at:
www.churchofchristmiranda.com
Photo Credits: (All photos from istockphoto.com are copyright protected. Please do not use without permission.)
Congregation: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bsabarnowl/4532680606/sizes/l/in/photostream/
Fellowship with MenChurch
#07
The Church: General and Specific -1
Compiled and Presented by:
Dave Stewart10 October, 2010Las Cruces, NM
www.churchofchristmiranda.com
Synopsis: This lesson reminds us why it is important for us to maintain proper distinction between the church in a general and specific sense. Several criteria are examined: number, beginning, founder, organization, shepherds, and belonging.
“Let all that you do be done with love.”
“Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”