Summary of Christian Doctrine - Lesson 7 - "The Church" - Study Sheet
A Summary of Christian Doctrine
An Adult Bible Study on the Basics of the Christian Faith
What is the Holy Christian Church?
The Holy Christian Church is the communion of saints, the total number of those who believe in Christ. (All believers but only believers; The Invisible Church)
Ephesians 2: 19-22
“19. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, 20. built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”*
Romans 8:9
“You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.”
Luke 17: 20-21
“20. Once having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, ‘The kingdom of God does not come visibly, 21. nor will people say, ‘Here it is’, or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.’”
2 Timothy 2: 19
“Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’ and, ‘Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.’”
Romans 12: 4-5
“4. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5. so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
Ephesians 4: 3-6
“3. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4. There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to one hope when you were called — 5. one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6. one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Colossians 1: 18
“And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have supremacy.”
Ephesians 5: 25-27
“25. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26. to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27. and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”
I Peter 2: 5
“you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
I Corinthians 3: 11
“ For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
Ephesians 2: 20
“built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.”
Matthew 16: 16-18
“16. Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ 17. Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.’”
How else is the word “church” used?
The Visible Church consists of all those who claim to have faith in Christ. In such churches there can be, besides true believers, also hypocrites who are not members of the one invisible Church.
Denomination: A church organization with a distinctive name and distinctive doctrines.
Congregation: A group of professing Christians who regularly assemble for worship at one place.
How important are the doctrine and teachings of visible churches?
Matthew 28: 20
“ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 15: 9
“‘They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’”
2 Corinthians 13: 5
“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you — unless, of course, you fail the test.”
John 8: 31-32
“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’”
Matthew 7: 15
“‘Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.’”
Romans 16: 17
“I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.”
What then is the responsibility of visible churches?
Jeremiah 23: 28-31
“28. ‘Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?’ declares the Lord. 29.’Is not my word like fire,’ declares the Lord, ‘and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces? 30. Therefore,’ declares the Lord,’I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me. 31. Yes,’ declares the Lord, ‘I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, ‘The Lord declares.’”
John 17: 17
“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”
Matthew 5: 16
“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Ephesians 4: 1
“As a prisoner of the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”
Romans 2: 23-24
“You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24. As it is written: ‘God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
2 Timothy 4: 3-5
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”
John 20: 21
“Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
Isaiah 55: 10-11
“10. As the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11. so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
What are the “marks of the Church?”
Word and Sacrament (the means of grace)
*Unless otherwise noted, Bible quotations are taken from the New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House) 1984.
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