THE CHURCH DEFINED
FAMILY
Church is called the House of God (Matt. 12:4), House of prayer (Luke 19:46), my Father’s House (John 2:16)
Galatians 6:10 (NIV) Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Hebrews 2:11 (NIV) Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.
1 Peter 4:17 (NIV) For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
FLOCK
John 10
Luke 12:32 (NIV) “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.
Acts 20:28 (NIV) Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
1 Peter 5:2-3 (NIV) Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers–not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
FELLOWSHIP – associations that share life with one another
Acts 2:42 (NIV) They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
1 Cor. 5:2 (NIV) And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this?
BODY – interdependent; needs everyone to function effectively
Romans 12:4-5 (NIV) Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
1 Corinthians 12
BRIDE
2 Cor. 11:2 (NLT) I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. For I promised you as a pure bride to one husband, Christ.
Ephes. 5:27 (NCV) He died so that he could give the church to himself like a bride in all her beauty.
BUSINESS
John 15:15 (NIV) I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
John 2:16 (NIV) To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!”
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