what is the church

ἐκκλησία

The Word church Comes From the Greek ekklesia

HELPS Word-studies1577 ekklēsía(from 1537 /ek, "out from and to" and 2564 /kaléō, "to call") – properly, people called out from the world and to God, the outcome being the Church (the mystical body of Christ) – i.e. the universal (total) body of believers whom God calls out from the world and into His eternal kingdom.

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- Thayer pg. 196

“A gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place; an assembly...”

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- William Barclay News Testament Words pg. 72

“It is worth noting that in all the New Testament the word Church is never used to describe a building. It always describes a body of men and women who have given their heats to God.”

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"I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”

- Matthew 16:18 NASB

WHAT IS THE CHURCH: Used in a Universal Sense

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There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;

- Ephesians 4:4 NASB


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22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

- Ephesians 1:22-23 NASB


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15 “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16 “But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. 17 “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

- Matthew 18:15-17 NASB

WHAT IS THE CHURCH: Used in a Local Sense

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To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.

- 1 Corinthians 1:2 NASB


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Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

- 1 Thessalonians 1:1 NASB


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For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it.


WHAT IS THE CHURCH: Used in an Assembly of Saints for Worship

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4 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it. 5 Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.

- 1 Corinthians 14:4-5 NASB


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But if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.



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So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.

- Acts 9:31 NASB

WHAT IS THE CHURCH: Used in the Distributive Sense

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CHURCH UNIVERSAL

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41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

- Acts 2:41-42, 47 NASB

WHAT IS THE CHURCH: The Church Universal

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CHURCH UNIVERSAL


WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE CHURCH?


DESCRIPTIONS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO MAKE UP THE CHURCH

Christians - Acts 11:26, 26:28, 1 Peter 4:16

Disciples - Acts 11:26

Saints - Philippians 1:1

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DESCRIPTIONS OF THE CHURCH

ChurchBodyBrideKingdomHouse (family)Temple

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DESCRIPTION: THE CHURCHEkklesia

A Secular gathering or assembly of people - Acts 19:23ffUsed of the people of Israel (church or congregation) in the wilderness - Acts 7:38When used of Christians, the term ekklesia means:

- Built by Jesus (Matthew 16:18)- Called out from the world (2 Corinthians 6:16-18)- Called by the gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:14)


It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

- 2 Thessalonians 2:14 NASB

WHAT IS THE CHURCH: The Church is Called Out by the Gospel

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22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.


WHAT IS THE CHURCH: The Church is Described as the Body

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DESCRIPTION: THE BODYEphesians 1:22-23

Indicates a living organism with a head and members - Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18There is one body composed of many members (Eph 4:4, 1 Cor. 12:12, 14, 20, 27)Individuals are likened to parts of the physical body (1 Cor. 12:14-27). Each member is needed to make the body complete.A body must grow (Eph. 4:15-16)

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22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.


WHAT IS THE CHURCH: The Church is Described as the Body

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DESCRIPTION: THE BRIDE of CHRISTEphesians 5:22-33

Uses marriage to illustrate the relationship of the church with Christ with Christ as the husband and the church as His bride.This is also used in the Old Testament illustrating the relationship between the Lord and Israel (Ezek. 16:8, 32; 23:37 & Hosea)A bride honors her husband by wearing his name. It is no less true for the church (Christians), who honor Christ by wearing His name.


DESCRIPTION: THE BRIDE of CHRISTEphesians 5:22-33

Christ is the head of ........................THE CHURCH (V. 23)He gave Himself up for (v. 25) ............. HERThat He might sanctify (v. 26) ............. HERHaving cleansed (v.26)......................... HERThat He might present ......................... HER

Christ is the savior of........................THE BODY (23)There is responsibility to bear fruit (Romans 7:4) and there is no limitation on the size of the family!

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1 Or do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives? 2 For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. 3 So then, if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress though she is joined to another man. 4 Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.

- Romans 7:1-4 NASB

WHAT IS THE CHURCH: The Church Has the Responsibility to Bear Fruit

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For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,

- Colossians 1:13 NASB

WHAT IS THE CHURCH: The Church is Described as the Kingdom

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DESCRIPTION: THE KINGDOMMatt. 16:18f; Col. 1:13, Heb. 12:28

A kingdom is made up of a King and of citizensChrist is the King (1 Tim. 6:15)Christians are fellow citizens (Eph. 2:19)

- The citizenship of Christians is in heaven (Phil. 3:20)- Christians are pilgrims and sojourners (aliens and strangers,

NASB) (1 Peter 2:11)The kingdom was established on Pentecost (Acts 2; Mark 9:1; Luke 24:48-49; Acts :8)First Century Christians were in the kingdom (Col.1:13; Heb. 12:28; Rev. 1:9). of 10 Slide 30 of 36

But in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.

- 1 Timothy 3:15 NASB


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DESCRIPTION: HOUSEHOLDEphesians 2:19; 1 Timothy 3:15

God is the Father (2 Cor. 6:16-18) and Christians are His children (Rom. 8:16-17), sons and daughters (2 Cor. 6:16-18)House indicates a family or household (Acts 16:15, 31-34, Heb. 11:7)The house of God is the church of the living God (1 Tim. 3:15)Entrance into the family of God is by the new birth (John 3:3-5) of 10 Slide 32 of 36

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.



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DESCRIPTION: TEMPLEEphesians 2:19-22

A figure from the Old Testament. The temple was the place of worship to God attended by priests (1 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 5:9-10; Eph. 3:20-21)The dwelling place of God (1 Kings 8:13, 27)A place of sacrifice and worshipThe church is composed of living stones to become a holy temple (1 Pet. 2:5, 9; Eph. 2:19-22). The terms royal priesthood in 1 Peter 2:9 implies both a temple and a kingdomUsed of a local church (1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 1 Peter 2:5)Requires Christians to offer spiritual sacrifices which are acceptable to God (Heb. 13:15-16; Rom. 12:1) of 10 Slide 34 of 36

CONCLUSIONThe term church is used in the New Testament to describe the people of God.The Lord adds the saved to the church (Acts 2:38, 47)Saints have been baptized into one body (1 Cor. 12:13)The church is married to Christ (Eph. 5)Those who hae been born anew are citizens in the Kingdom (John 3:5)The children of God compose the house (family) of God (Eph. 2:19)Chrstians contitute a holy temple where God dwells and they serve as priests who offer sacrifices to God (Eph. 2:19-22; 1 Peter 2:5,9)With each of the terms used to describe the church certain responsibilities are implied. Every Christians should realize his or her responsibility and fulfill it. of 10 Slide 35 of 36

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.- Revelation 22:17

what is the church

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