Church

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Session 7 Church
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What is a church?
Paulto the church of God which is at Corinth
Greek ekkleesia called out to be together
a congregation
when you come together as a church 
1 Corinthians 11,2 1118
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The first century churches of God
A community of interdependent churches
Including all nationalities without distinction
Under the leadership of a united elderhood
Based on the faith fully delivered (the
apostles teaching)
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Does church matter?
This is His commandment that we should believe
on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one
another, as He gave us commandment.
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting
one another
1 John 323 Hebrews 1025
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Does church matter?
Disciples are not intended to live their lives
alone or in isolation. They are intended to be
joined together, to serve God one another in
unity. Gods prescription for where this should
be is a church of God.  
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'ekkleesia' in the New Testament

• 14 times - the church the Body of Christ
• 97 times - local gatherings of disciples in
  various towns.
• (57 times - a single local church)
• (40 times to the aggregate of local churches)
• - the firstborn who are registered in heaven
  (Hebrews 1223)  

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What is a "church of God"?
the church of God which is at Corinth I
persecuted the church of God beyond measure and
tried to destroy it the Holy Spirit has made
you overseers, to shepherd the church of God
the churches of God (3 times) 
2 Corinthians 11 1116 Galatians 113 Acts
2028 1 Thessalonians 214 2 Thessalonians 14
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Other names of the church
Jerusalem, the city where I have chosen for
Myself to put My name 

• The church in a house (e.g. Romans 165 1
  Corinthians 1619 Colossians 415)
• The church of the living God (1 Timothy 315)
  
• The church throughout all Judea, Galilee and
  Samaria (Acts 931)
• The churches of the saints (1 Corinthians
  1433)
• The churches of Christ (Romans 1616)

1 Kings 1136
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God's callings
Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ
through the will of God To the church of God
which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified
in Christ Jesus, called to be saints God is
faithful, by whom you were called into the
fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Corinthians 11-9
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God's callings

• God calls people to salvation through the gospel
  and also calls them to be saints (holy people for
  Himself).
• Paul had a distinctive call to serve as an
  apostle.
• Disciples are called by God to become part of the
  community which belongs to His Son, where Jesus
  Christ is acknowledged as Lord, in churches of
  God.
• In His faithfulness God will never call them back
  out of it. 

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Reaching for the Summit
Session 7 Church