Be The Church - Week 3

INTRODUCTION :

As we begin a new year and anticipate all the new things He will do in our midst, we wanted to take a look at what it means to Be The Church

As humans, our identity is important to us, we have an innate desire to understand who we are. When we identify ourselves as the Church, the people of God, we want to have confidence in what that means. Looking at a dictionary definition of church is enough to reveal that it is a religious concept. Common definitions refer to a building where Christians gather or to the worldwide body of Christians, but those definitions do not even scratch the surface of what it means to be the Church. 

The Apostle Paul used multiple images throughout his letters to help the first Christians better understand who they were as believers in Jesus Christ and what it meant for them to be the Church.  Throughout his letters, Paul describes the Church as a bride, a body, a family, a house, and a living temple. Each of these images helps us better understand and unpack the complexity of our identity. 

By studying Paul’s images and descriptions of the Church, we continue to gain wisdom about our purpose, our role, how we should interact, and what our relationship is to each other and to God.

Last week we discussed the imagery of both Christ the Cornerstone and The Church as Living Stones. This week we will wrap up our Be The Church study by looking at what it means to be the Family of God as well as celebrate communion.

The Family of God 

The Church is God’s family: The Apostle Paul referred to the church as God’s household. This means that the church is a family, an organized unit with structure, lines of authority, and particular functions. More on the organization side of things to come in future topics.

God’s family has certain characteristics: In order to understand what characterizes the Family of God, let's take a look at the early church. Acts 2:42-47 tells us…

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

• Teaching God’s Word- discipleship

• Fellowship of believers- building each other up

• Breaking of Bread- meals together

• Prayer- seeking Him

• Praise- worshiping

• Support- bearing each other’s burdens

• Giving- to help meet the needs of the ministry

Giving: Because we have not spent much time discussing this important discipline, let’s go a little deeper on this particular characteristic of God’s family.

• Tithing is an Old Testament concept. A tithe means a 10th.

• The tithe was a requirement of the Law in which the Israelites were to give 10 percent of the crops they grew and the livestock they raised to the tabernacle/temple. 

• The New Testament nowhere designates a percentage of income a person should set aside, but does say a few things that help us.

• First fruits is the idea that you give first from the fruit of your labor instead of from your leftovers. We see the concept of first fruits in 1 Corinthians 16:2-3. Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 

• We are to give as we are able. Sometimes that means giving more; sometimes that may mean giving less. It all depends on the ability of the Christian and the needs of the body of Christ. 

• Every Christian should diligently pray and seek God’s wisdom in the matter. James 1:5  If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

• Above all, offerings should be given with pure motives and an attitude of worship to God and service to the body of Christ. 2 Cor 9:6-8 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 

CONCLUSION:

In summary, the church is called the family of God because it is made up of believers who are adopted as God’s children through faith in Jesus Christ. This family of believers is deeply connected through their common faith and mission. 

A guiding scripture that we reflect on often to remind us of the importance of having a local church body is Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Questions To Consider:

1. What do you appreciate about being a part of God’s family?

2. Why is it important to be a part of a local body?

3. What do we as the church need to avoid or be careful of so that we are not weakened or distracted from the mission?