Sociology and Theology of the Church

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Sociology and Theology of the Church
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Churches can be studied as a communities

• Churches provide rewards
• Church portrayal of God influences participation
  and commitment
• Church member obligations
• Church and society tension (culture wars)
• Congregation sizes change
• Churches change their beliefs
• Churches decline
• Church renewal

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Biblical Metaphors for the Church
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Body of Christ

• Ro. 12 1 Cor. 12 Col. 1.18 2.9,18

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People of God

• 1 Peter 2.9-10 Ro 9.23-26 Heb. 8.10 Jas 1.1 1
  Pet. 2.9-10.

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The Kingdom of God

• The Gospels

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Reign of God

• Lk 14.15-24 18.1-7 Mk. 1.14-16 Matt. 6.33.

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The Building of God

• 1 Cor. 3.9. 16 1 Tim. 3.15 Eph. 2.21-22 2 Cor.
  6.16.

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The Bride of Christ

• Isa. 54.5-6, 62.4 Ho 2.14-20 2 Cor. 11.2-4.

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The Army of God

• Heb. 2.10, 12.5-12 2 Tim. 2.3-41 Pet. 5.2-4
  Eph. 6.10-20.

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Starks Model and Biblical Metaphors

• Why is more than one metaphor needed to describe
  the church?
• What happens if a church focuses on one
  metaphor?
• What are rewards of each metaphor? Which
  emphasize rewards?
• What are commitments in each metaphor? Which
  emphasize commitments?
• What is power of God in each metaphors? Which
  emphasize Gods power? How?
• What are metaphors of tension with society?
  Which
• emphasize this tension? How?