“The Church”

1. From time to time the public is invited to participate in contests.

2. Newspapers offer many types of contests. Radio stations advertise a variety of contests.

3. What if a Bible contest were offered?

4. What if someone said to us,

5. “Without using a Bible or any Bible reference tool, “list a minimum of 10 descriptions for the church of the NT.”

6. “Anyone listing less than 10 descriptions gets nothing.”

7. “Everyone who lists at least 10 descriptions receives $10 per description.

COULD WE WIN A CONTEST WHICH ASKED FOR 10 DESCRIPTIONS OF THE NT CHURCH?

a) We may not realize it but there are a large number of descriptions for the church which was built by Christ.

b) Each of these descriptions in God’s word tells us something.

c) From Mt.26:31 we heard one description of the church.

d) The church built by Christ can be compared to a flock of sheep.

e) Most know that the church was not established till Acts 2.

f) Although the church did not exist in Mt. 26

g) Jesus used an image which would eventually be applied to the church.

h) The church is like a flock of sheep.

i) We have a shepherd . This indicates some things.

j) If we try to do things on our own we will get into trouble

k) Though we may not want to admit it, we need a guide.

l) As sheep do some dumb things, we do too.

m) I am not going to attempt to develop all the pictures of the NT Church

n) My goal is to present several of the descriptions that are given for.

o) In addition to being likened to a flock of sheep,

p) The church is compared to a building.

q) We know that in life there are many types of buildings.

r) Some are large, others are small.

s) Some are well constructed, others are poorly made.

t) The church is like a wonderful building ; additionally this building is made of the most precious type of material.

u) How do I know?

v) Mt. 21:42 says that Christ is the “corner stone “ in the church.

w) 1Pet. 2:6 says that Christ the cornerstone is “precious.”

x) Not only is the church like a building,

y) It is like a structure which is made of the most valuable of materials.

z) What building upon this planet is important?

aa) The White House? Pentagon? Cheyenne Mountain complex?

bb) The structure called the church is a million times more important.

cc) Not only is the church of Christ compared to a flock and a building with precious material.

dd) It is likened to a city.

ee) This is how the Hebrew writer described in Heb. 12:22.

ff) This writer wrote, “ye have come” (perfect tense).

gg) This “coming” is a reference to conversion.

hh) When people become a Christian they enter into the church.

ii) They come to a city. This coming is a glorious event.

jj) READ – Heb. 12:22

kk) If we were to keep reading in this book, Heb 13:14 says that “We seek the city which is to come”

ll) We have not in this life fully experienced God’s promises.

mm) We have, however, partially experienced God’s goodness.

nn) There is a sense in which we have come to Mt. Zion, Heb. 123:22

oo) In the OT Zion became what we know as the city of Jerusalem.

pp) The church, this writer says, is the city of the living God.

i) When I enlisted in the military, I saw some pictures of Russia

ii) I used to wonder what it would be like to set foot in that country.

iii) I have been to Moscow and I was not disappointed.

iv) If I am in church

v) I have access to the city of God.

vi) How can anything compare to that?

qq) In looking at how the Bible describes the church…

rr) I find that it is also described as a temple.

ss) Paul used this exact word to describe the church in 2Cor. 6:16

tt) He asked, “What does the Truth of God have to do with idols?”

i) Temples are considered to be holy, special.

ii) Temples are places which are sacred.

iii) The NT says that the creator of all has a temple.

iv) His temple is the church.

v) Is it any wonder then that Paul said…

vi) If we destroy the temple (church), God will destroy us, 1Cor 3:16-17

WHEN WE BEGIN TO CONSIDER WHAT HAS BEEN SAID THUS FAR, THE CHURCH IS A TEMPLE, GOD’S CITY, AND A BUILDING.

i) Thus, Eph. 1:22-23 should not surprise us.

ii) The church is called “Christ’s body.”

iii) The church is so closely tied to God and heaven,

iv) That it is called the “body of Jesus.”

v) I cannot imagine a way to give a more intimate description of the church.

b) If we continue to examine what the NT says about the church

c) We cannot overlook 1Tim. 3:15.

d) An understanding of this verse causes some to tremble.

e) Studying this verse reveals more than one description of the church.

f) Here is what Paul wrote to Timothy: READ 1Tim. 3:15

i) The church is “God’s house.” House of God

ii) Have we ever wanted to go to someone’s house?

iii) When I pass through Ligonier I see the Porter mansion.

iv) I confess that I have always been curious as to with this house.

v) Other houses also make some of us curious.

vi) I remember a campaign in Jamaica several years ago.

vii) A non-Christian offered to house some of the campaigners.

viii) A preacher said, “I don’t want to stay with that man—he’s a non-Christian.

ix) There are many types of houses and home owners—good and bad.

x) What would we say to not visiting but living in God’s house?

xi) If we are in the church built by Christ, we are in the house of God.

g) Paul said something else in 1Tim. 3:15

h) The church is the “pillar and ground of the truth.”

i) The church is an institution which has been entrusted with truth from God.

j) Thus, the church Christ built has…

k) A responsibility to defend & transmit this truth to all people.

l) If we continue to search the NT, and other descriptions of the church

m) It is described as the “Lamb’s wife” in Rev. 19:7-9.

n) The concept of being Jesus’ wife has many implications.

o) The church is often referred to by the word “kingdom.

i) Most remember one of the thieves who died next to Jesus.

ii) One man said, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.

iii) The Bible says that Christ bought the church with his blood

iv) Put these facts together with me.

v) Jesus bought the church with his blood when he died Acts 20:28.

vi) Jesus said to a thief, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.”

vii) This was said to a man who wanted to be part of Jesus’ Kingdom.

viii) What happened when Jesus died?

ix) He bought the church . He set in motion the events to the king and kingdom.

x) Acts 2:33 describes this as “Christ being exalted.”

xi) If we are a member of the church built by Christ,

xii) We are members of the greatest kingdom that has ever existed.

xiii) Sometimes people pray, “Thy kingdom come.

xiv) Religious leaders tell eager listeners, “The kingdom is close.”

xv) The kingdom is not close, and it is not coming.

xvi) The Kingdom has arrived . We are in it.

xvii) While some aspects of the kingdom have not yet been realized.

xviii) If we are in the church, we are in the kingdom

p) A lot of religious error is taught about the church.

q) Not only is there confusion about the word “kingdom,”

r) People are uncertain about what the word “Israel” means.

s) The Bible says that members of the church are Israelites.

t) Someone may respond, “Not me, I’m an American.”

u) If we are unduly literal that’s true.

v) Listen to Gal. 6:16 – READ.

w) The word “Israel” has described God’s people for a long time.

x) If we are a member of the church, we are the “Israel of God.”

y) This one description could be developed into a full sermon.

i) The next time someone from here needs to come up with a sermon topic

ii) You might want to consider this as a possible subject.

iii) God brought the old nation of Israel through the Red Sea

iv) God took pride in fleshly Israel.

v) He cared and protected them so well that…

vi) They were the apple of His eye (Deut. 32:10).

vii) Surely we can see the implications that this has for the New Testament.

z) Earlier I said that the church is described by the word city.

aa) While this is true, there was a point that I did not add.

bb) When Rev. 21:2 describes the church as a city

i) The church is a “holy” institution.

ii) The word “holy does not mean that those in it are perfect.

iii) The word holy means, “separate, distinct, unique.“

iv) A holy thing is something that is dedicated to God.

cc) Speaking of Revelation, this book offers another description of church.

dd) Rev. 1:20 describes congregations of Christ’s church as candlesticks.

ee) The candlesticks in Rev. 1 are said to be “golden/”

i) Golden candlesticks suggest importance and significance.

ii) Candlesticks also indicate light and beauty.

iii) The church of the NT is all these things and more.

ff) If I back up to the book of Heb. 12:23,

gg) We would learn that the church is an “assembly.”

hh) This is what the church means, a called out group of people.

ii) People come together for some purpose.

jj) The church is not a building; it is an assembly of people.

kk) Not only is the church an assembly of people,

ll) The Bible uses the words, “My people” (2 Cor. 6:16).

i) God says that we are so much His people,

ii) No one can snatch us out of His hand.

iii) When people are in the church bought by Jesus, God says:

iv) THESE PEOPLE ARE MINE.

v) They cannot be handed over to Satan.

vi) They cannot be turned away from God’s kingdom.

vii) Unless we choose to walk away from God,

viii) Members of the Church belong to God and God will claim us.

mm) God is so closely connected to the church that…

nn) The church is referred to as “branches”, and Jesus Christ is the vine.

oo) This is the imagery in Jn. 15:1-11.

i) Some have said that these branches refer to denominations.

ii) If this is true, then Jesus died for “churches”, and he built them.

iii) While men use the word “churches”, the Bible says church.

iv) Even the imagery in Jn. 15:1-11 shows that one church is in view.

v) How many grape stalks have vines which also produce …

vi) Raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, and sweet peas?

vii) If denominations were in view in Mt. 15,

viii) The vine would have to have all kinds of different fruit.

ix) There is one vine with many branches but only one fruit.

x) God has one church with many members.

CONCLUSION:

1. The church of the NT is described in more than 15 ways in the Bible.

2. Each description tells us something about the church Christ died to buy.

3. Do we want to know more about this church?

4. Are we ready to become part of this wonderful body?