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Memory Verse
Ephesians 115-16 15 For this reason, because I
have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and
your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not
cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in
my prayers,
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Jesus Movement 60s
Para church 70s
Church Attendance
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Church Attendance
Many churches have seen renewed interest in the
last 25 years. Is it healthy growth or just
successful marketing.
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The fact that millions of people are now involved
in multiple faith communities - for instance,
attending a conventional church one week, a house
church the next, and interacting with an online
faith community in-between - has rendered the
standard measures of "churched" and "unchurched"
much less precise
September 11, 2006
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Is it just conventional wisdom that tells us that
we should be part of a church or is it
Biblical?   Can you move closer to God, but
further from the church?   Are there lots of
alternatives to church when it comes to spiritual
growth?   Are those that reject church blameless
before God for that choice?   We will see in
scripture that the answer to all of these is NO.
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The Household of God
Household - Oikos (Greek) can either mean
dwelling place (house) or an immediate family
(household)
The Church is Gods dwelling place
John 216 16 And he told those who sold the
pigeons, Take these things away do not make my
Father's house a house of trade. Acts
747 47 But it was Solomon who built a house for
him.
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The Household of God
1 Corinthians 316-17 16 Do you not know that
you 1 are God's temple and that God's Spirit
dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's
temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is
holy, and you are that temple. Footnotes 1 316
The Greek for you is plural in verses 16 and 17
Ephesians 219-22 19 So then you are no longer
strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens
with the saints and members of the household of
God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles
and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the
cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure,
being joined together, grows into a holy temple
in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built
together into a dwelling place for God by the
Spirit.
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The Household of God
1 Peter 25 5   you yourselves like living stones
are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a
holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
If we want to be where God is, we need to be in
His church, for that is where He dwells. The
way we relate to Him is largely dependent upon
the way we relate to His church, for it is the
house He has built with His own hands.
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The Household of God
The Church is Gods Family
1 Timothy 315 15 if I delay, you may know how
one ought to behave in the household of God,
which is the church of the living God, a pillar
and buttress of the truth.
Here it is obvious that household means family
Romans 815-17 15 For you did not receive the
spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you
have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by
whom we cry, Abba! Father! 16 The Spirit
himself bears witness with our spirit that we are
children of God, 17 and if children, then
heirsheirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,
provided we suffer with him in order that we may
also be glorified with him.
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The Household of God
How could one call God their Father while
refusing to be a part of His Family?
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The Church of the Living God
God created the church, he loves the church and
he still owns the church...it is his.
God the Father
Eph 14-5 4   even as he chose us in him before
the foundation of the world, that we should be
holy and blameless before him. In love 5   he
predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus
Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
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The Church of the Living God
God created the church, he loves the church and
he still owns the church...it is his.
God the Son
Ephesians 525 25   Husbands, love your wives, as
Christ loved the church and gave himself up for
her, Ephesians 523 23   For the husband is the
head of the wife even as Christ is the head of
the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.
Church DisciplineMaking DisciplesCommunion Jesus
is present
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The Church of the Living God
God created the church, he loves the church and
he still owns the church...it is his.
God the Holy Spirit
1 Cor 1213 13 For in one Spirit we were all
baptized into one bodyJews or Greeks, slaves or
freeand all were made to drink of one
Spirit. Ephesians 113-14 13 In him you also,
when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of
your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed
with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the
guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire
possession of it, to the praise of his
glory. Ephesians 43 3 eager to maintain the
unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
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The Pillar of Truth
1 Timothy 315 15   if I delay, you may know how
one ought to behave in the household of God,
which is the church of the living God, a pillar
and buttress of the truth. Matt 1618 18  And I
tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will
build my church, and the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it.
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The Support of Truth
1) Revelation - The Truth or revelation in the
new testament was given to apostles to
communicate to the church. The church was the
intended benefactor of the revelation
Ephesians 38-11 8 To me, though I am the very
least of all the saints, this grace was given, to
preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of
Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what
is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God
who created all things, 10 so that through the
church the manifold wisdom of God might now be
made known to the rulers and authorities in the
heavenly places. 11 This was according to the
eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ
Jesus our Lord,
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The Support of Truth
2) Proclamation - Acts 131-3 tells us that the
church in Antioch officially ordained Paul and
Barnabas as missionaries. And Paul says later
that Titus was appointed by the churches to
travel with them. 2 Cor 819
Proclamation
Acts 131-3 1   Now there were in the church at
Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon
who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a
member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and
Saul. 2   While they were worshiping the Lord and
fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Set apart for me
Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have
called them. 3   Then after fasting and praying
they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
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The Support of Truth
3) Administration  The Bible lays out clear and
detailed instructions on how a church should
function and how people can worship.
1 Timothy 315 15   if I delay, you may know how
one ought to behave in the household of God,
which is the church of the living God, a pillar
and buttress of the truth.
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Attempting to grow in Christ outside of the
church is like trying to learn to swim without
getting in the water.
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The Support of Truth
4) Protection -The church upholds the truth by
protecting it from error. It judges the teaching
of false prophets, declares them to be divisive,
and renounces them if they persist in heresy.
Romans 1617 17 I appeal to you, brothers, to
watch out for those who cause divisions and
create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that
you have been taught avoid them. Matt
1817-18 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell
it to the church. And if he refuses to listen
even to the church, let him be to you as a
Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to
you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in
heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be
loosed in heaven.
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The Support of Truth
The church will always endure.
Matt 1618 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and
on this rock I will build my church, and the
gates of hell shall not prevail against
it. Ephesians 321 21 to him be glory in the
church and in Christ Jesus throughout all
generations, forever and ever. Amen.
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