What Is the Church? I. Introduction A. We do well to explore an institution which is highly associated with Christianity but which has suffered terribly in public image and relations B. The church! C. People have an understanding that Christians meet in churches 1. A few still have positive feelings toward churches 2. Many, however, associate all churches with the things heard in the media about church structures behaving badly and causing great suffering 3. Others are still grappling with distressing experiences in and with churches in their past or the past of their loved ones D. Meanwhile, most labor under many apprehensions and distortions about what the church is supposed to be according to the New Testament 1. When most people think of a “church,” they think of a building; it remains the first and thus primary definition of the English term 2. The next thing people associate with “church” is a hierarchical religious organization, embodied in the Roman Catholic Church E. In a world with so much confusion and pain surrounding the church, we do well to explore what it is from Scripture 1. What is the church? 2. Who comprises the church? 3. What is the church supposed to be about? II. What Is the Church? A. As we have indicated, “church” in English primarily refers to a building or a religious organization B. The Greek word used in the New Testament is ekklesia, assembly 1. Its range of meaning can be seen in Acts 19: describing the political legislative body of Ephesus in Acts 19:39, also describing the impromptu riot in Acts 19:32 2. Whereas English “church” has become limited in meaning to religious associations, Greek ekklesia could describe any number of range of gatherings of people with all sorts of levels of organization 3. In the Septuagint ekklesia would translate terms referring to the congregation of Israel (e.g. 1 Kings 8:22) C. Thus ekklesia was the natural term for Jesus to use to describe the group of people who would follow Him in Matthew 16:18: the true congregation of the people of God, the assembly of those following the Firstborn D. Above all things we must recognize that the church of the New Testament is people: no more, no less 1. In all of the uses of ekklesia in the New Testament, it never once refers to a physical structure or an institution independent of its constituent members 2. The church is a collective of people: those who are being saved in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:22-23, etc.) 3. English “assembly” can refer to a group of people together but not a group of people with a shared identity who is not together; such is the only reason why “church” remains a valid, legitimate translation of ekklesia 4. The church may be described in terms of a unitary whole, the singular Body of Christ, as in Matthew 16:18, 1 Corinthians 12:12-28, Ephesians 4:1-16, etc. 5. The church is also spoken of in terms of individual local congregations, as in Romans 16:16, 1 Corinthians 1:1-2, etc. 6. We often speak of the “local” or “universal” church; those distinctions are valid, but they are later categories discerned by context: Jesus and the Apostles call both the ekklesia 7. Thus, the church represents those who are in Christ; local congregations are to reflect the Christians comprising the universal body of Christ in that local area at that time E. The church, therefore, is the people of God in Christ III. How Is the Church Described? A. The New Testament tends to speak of the church in metaphorical terms, primarily as a body, a temple, and a family B. The Church as Body 1. The internal functioning of the church is spoken of in terms of a body 2. Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:12-28, Ephesians 1:22-23 3. People are individually members of Christ and thus a part of His body 4. As body parts have independent functions but work interdependently and for the benefit of the whole, so it is with individuals in the church 5. As body parts have different levels of exposure but all prove necessary for its functioning, so it is with individuals in the church 6. As the body does better or suffers as its parts do better or suffer, so it is with the church 7. We know what bodily dysfunction looks and feels like; so it can happen in the church 8. But we also know what bodily function looks and feels like; so it can happen in the church C. The Church as Temple 1. The church is no ordinary body; it is called to be holy as its God and Lord are holy (1 Peter 1:13) 2. And so the church is also envisioned as a Temple, the dwelling place of God 3. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, Ephesians 2:20-23, 1 Peter 2:3-9 4. Believers as stones comprising the structure, built on foundation of teachings of Apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ the foundation/cornerstone 5. We are to recognize the presence of God in our midst spiritually and conduct ourselves accordingly! D. The Church as Household/Family 1. The members of the church are to reckon one another as family members in the household of God 2. Ephesians 2:19, 1 Timothy 3:15 3. God is our Father (Romans 8:11-15) 4. Jesus as our elder Brother (Hebrews 2:11, 17) 5. Fellow Christians as brothers and sisters (cf. continual use of “brethren,” adelphoi, e.g. Acts 9:30) 6. Such is rooted in Jesus’ own instruction (Matthew 12:46-50); believers share a precious faith, and thus have a spiritual connection which can only be valued with the most dear of associations, that of family 7. It also stresses the equality of all Christians before God: we are one in Christ Jesus, regardless of background or heritage or class or any other status (Galatians 3:28, Colossians 3:11) 8. Such is the manifold wisdom of God manifest in the church: different people working together as one in humility and love (Ephesians 3:10-11) E. We gain much insight about how Jesus would have the church function based on these images IV. How Should the Church Function? A. Perhaps no passage sets forth the functioning of the church as well as Ephesians 4:11-16 B. Roles in the Church 1. Paul spoke of roles in the church (Ephesians 4:11) 2. Jesus is the Head of the church (Ephesians 5:22-33); all look to Him for direction and guidance 3. The church was given the Apostles to serve as Jesus’ witnesses and communicated all His purposes for believers in the church (Ephesians 2:20, 4:11) 4. Evangelists go about proclaiming the Gospel, the Word of God, encouraging believer and unbeliever alike toward reconciliation with God in Christ (2 Timothy 4:2-4) 5. Local churches are shepherded by a plurality of qualified men serving as elders, overseeing the local congregation and providing spiritual direction and leadership (1 Timothy 3:18, Titus 1:5-7, 1 Peter 5:1-4) 6. Elders appoint deacons to serve the congregation at their discretion (Philippians 1:1, 1 Timothy 3:9-12) 7. All of these people serve to equip the saints for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:12); none of them are any more or less important in the Kingdom than any other, as seen in 1 Corinthians 12:12-28 C. Standing Firm in Truth 1. When saints are equipped for ministry and strengthened in faith, they will stand firm for truth and not disturbed by false doctrines (Ephesians 4:13-14) 2. The church is to be the ground and support of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15) 3. Thus, the truth of God in Christ is to be proclaimed within the church and supported by the church (1 Corinthians 9:1-15, 2 Timothy 4:1-4, 3 John 1:5-8) 4. Such is the evangelistic purpose of God in Christ among His people in the church D. Edification in Love 1. When the saints are equipped for ministry, they can work to build each other up in love (Ephesians 4:12, 15-16) 2. For this reason the church assembles on the first day of the week and perhaps at other opportunities as well to perform the spiritual service which ought to be done for edification (1 Corinthians 14:26, Hebrews 10:24-25) 3. The acts of the assembly feature praying, singing, preaching, and teaching at any time (1 Corinthians 14:14-17, Ephesians 5:19, 2 Timothy 4:2-4); the Lord’s Supper and giving are done on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 11:24-29, 16:1-4) 4. Christians do well to find other opportunities by which to build one another up; when they encourage each other in Christ, they help to build up the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:15-16) 5. The church can also provide benevolence to its own in need as well as Christians in other places (Acts 4:32-37, 11:27-30, 1 Timothy 5:3-16) E. Ephesians 4:11-16 is really what the church is supposed to be all about: equipping its members for service, upholding and promoting the truth, and building itself up 1. Too many have come to expect the church to serve as a clearinghouse for all sorts of greater community services, a role many churches have taken on but for which there is no precedent in the New Testament 2. The work of community service is good, but not as good as the work given by God to His people and in the church! 3. The resources available to the people of God as the church are designed to be used to provide for one another, build one another up, and facilitate the encouragement for others to join 4. All in the greater community in need, after all, could become part of the body of Christ and then obtain access to all such things, and even greater things! F. And so, paradoxically, the church works to build itself up: as it strengthens itself, others can be attracted to it, providing greater strength! V. Conclusion A. We have explored the church B. We have seen it is the assembly of the people of God; it is described as a body, a temple, and as a family; it works to equip its members for service, promotes the Gospel, and builds itself up C. The church is people, and people are weak, sinful, and have their difficulties D. But that is also true of you and me! E. People in churches have behaved terribly at times; at other times, people in churches have embodied Jesus toward each other and those in need, and it has been a beautiful thing F. Whereas many today may fell as if the church can be abandoned, we do well to note that God will not abandon the church! G. Revelation 21:1-22:56: the saved in Christ are the church, the Bride of Christ; there is no salvation elsewhere! H. The church is not perfect, for we are not perfect; but the church is cleansed and cared for by its Lord, and we do well to work within it patiently and with endurance so as to be cleansed and glorified (Ephesians 5:22-33)! I. In the church God’s manifold wisdom has been accomplished according to His eternal plan in Christ (Ephesians 3:10-11); in the church people can be one with each other as they are to be one with God, as God is one within Himself, and satisfy the prayer of Jesus (John 17:20-23) J. May we take our place in the church, the Body of Christ, glorify God in all we do, and obtain eternal life in Christ with our fellow people of God! K. Invitation Scripture, Meditation, and Application 1: “And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Jesus established the church. The church is the ekklesia, the assembly of the people of God. In the New Testament it is neither a building nor a religious organization independent of its members. The church is people: the people who seek to serve God in Christ. May we be numbered among the saints in the church! 2: For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12). The church is described in various metaphors. The church works as a body, with individual parts working in and with a greater whole. The church serves as a temple of God in the Spirit, holy and sanctified. The church is the household of God, with all who are in it as equal before God, brothers and sisters in Christ. May we embody the characteristics of Christ in our lives! 3: From whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love (Ephesians 4:16). In Ephesians 4:11-16 Paul sets forth the function of the church. Different roles exist to equip Christians for the work of service. The Gospel is to be upheld and promoted within the church; its promotion without ought to be supported by it. Members work to build each other up so as to strengthen and grow the church. May we advance God’s purposes among His people in the church! 4: And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God (Revelation 21:10-11a). The church is people, not a building or an organization. People in the church have often acted terribly and in ungodly ways, hurting people and giving the church a bad name. But people in the church have also often acted well, seeking to build up those within and without, embodying Christ to others. We may be tempted to abandon or give up on the church, but God is not. Jesus will cleanse those who faithfully serve Him in the church; God will glorify the church on the final day. May we work within God’s purposes in the church so His manifold wisdom may be manifest to all!