Heb 10:24 Church Study Guide Part 3 BC 1/01
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
I. What is a church? Why does it exist? How important is it?
=> Church as NT Temple
A. What’s the purpose of the church? (See last week Church Part 2)
From www.bible.org/docs/theology/eccles/ntchurch/nt-05.htm 1) Continuation 2) Proclamation 3) Demonstration 4) Glorification
B. What makes a church a church? (See last week Church Part 2)
A commitment to be a Biblical church by implementing the principles, following the instructions, and in the process obeying the commands of the NT indicating how believers are to relate to each other.
Big Apple Chapel is
- a body of baptized believers,
- submitted to the headship of the Lord Jesus Christ
- and to each other,
- organized and uniting TO BRING GLORY TO GOD by making disciples of every nation. We seek to accomplish this purpose through our: Worship, Instruction, Fellowship, and Evangelism
II. What is the/a Church supposed to do? How do you see the NT church(s) carrying out that purpose?
=> Church as Body
A common mistake is to interpret the Scriptures in light of our present day situations. Instead we should interpret the Scriptures in light of their historical and Biblical contexts, and then APPLY them in our present day, AFTER we’ve understood the principles. We understand a principle when we have determined 1) why the author communicated as he did; 2) what the author (and the HS) expected the NT audience to do (apply) in response to the communication; 3) WHY the communication was given (How does it reveal the purpose and plan of God as well as the need of the audience.); and 4) how does it fit in with the rest of God’s communication. Armed with the principle (universal truth) in NT times, we can them ask how should this principle work out (apply) in our lives.
A. What are the most emphasized or repeated commands given to the church in the NT?
1. How do you see the Church obeying those commands? How do they relate to the Great Commission (Mt 28:18-20)?
2. How would you express the “mission” of the church as specified in the NT?
3. How does being “members of one another” fit with your understanding of unity? See the entire chapters of Rom 12 and 1Cor 12
Romans 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
1Cor 12:12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many. 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
Eph 2:19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 4:25 Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. 5:30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.
4. Define unity. About what were the NT believers to be unified? See/Study the outline from Spring 2000 Retreat “Biblical Unity”
5. How should issues of non or dis-unity be resolved?
B. How are NT believers to relate to each other in the context of a local church? Why?
1. Look up the one another passages (Strongs #240) as a start to get an understanding of how NT believers related to each other.
2. Who is the “another” in the “one another passages”? Why is the church called a Body? What are the implications of that description?
3. What priorities should a church have? What priority should your involvement with other members of the Body have?
4. Why do most churches have membership classes and covenants of membership? Are they Biblical?
5. Is God more pleased with a Christian who is part of a church than one who is living independently of others?”
6. How should a believer who is following Christ as His disciples, relate to carnal Christians, who are following their own desires?
