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Be with Others in the Spirit, Week 7c

Copyright 2007 Wilma Zalabak

Faith Statement: I belong in community with other believers.

The word "church" has many meanings now: building, worship service, denomination, clergy, duties, chains of authority, believer’s gathering, geographically located believers, members on a list, believers everywhere listed in God’s book

"Church" in Acts

1. God adds to the church those who are being saved, Acts 2:47

2. Places where church can be church:

In the temple and house to house, Acts 2:46-47; Philemon 1:2

In the wilderness, Acts 7:38; Matthew 18:19-20

In a specific city, Acts 11:22 (Jerusalem); Acts 13:1 (Antioch)

3. Church has organization:

List of worthy widows, Acts 6:1; 1 Timothy 5:9-11

Offerings sent from one place to another, Acts 11:29-30

Note Jesus’ caution, Matthew 6:1-4

Apostles and elders decided and sent word, Acts 15:2-31; 16:4

Report made to the apostles and elders, Acts 21:17-19

Recommendation letters, 1 Corinthians 16:3

4. Church has distribution of responsibilities (officers):

Some apostles and some servers of tables(deaconos),Acts 6:2-8

Some set apart and sent forth, Acts 13:2-4; 1 Timothy 2:7

Some ordained elders (presbyteros), Acts 14:23

Chairperson/judge in the meeting, Acts 15:13-19

Elders also called overseers (episkopos), Acts 20:17, 28

Some bishops (episkopos), and some deacons, Philippians 1:1; Caution in ordination, 1 Timothy 3:2,8; 5:22

Note Jesus’ caution, Matthew 18:1-4; 23:11

5. What the church does:

Eats and breaks bread together, Acts 2:46

Assembles, Acts 11:26

Prays, Acts 12:5; James 5:14

Rehearses God’s actions, Acts 14:27; 15:4

Sends people and letters, Acts 15:22-23

Preaches and sings praises, Hebrews 2:12

"Church" in 1 Corinthians

1. God has put gifts of the Spirit in the church, 1 Corinthians 12:28

2. God has put symbols in the church

Communion, 1 Corinthians 11:23-24; John 13:1-17

Baptism, 1 Corinthians 12:13: Romans 6:1-11

3. Sometimes the church has problems:

Divisions around various leaders, 1 Corinthians 1-4

Arrogance and adultery, 1 Corinthians 5

Jesus’ way of dealing with arrogant sin, Matthew 18:15-17

Taking fellow Christians to secular court, 1 Corinthians 6

Obsessions and addictions, 1 Corinthians 7-10

Irreverence and unkindness in worship, 1 Corinthians 11-13

Disorder, confusion in worship, 1 Corinthians 14

"Church" in Ephesians

1. Images of church:

Body of Christ, Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:11-13; 1 Cor 12:27

Building, temple of Holy Spirit, Ephesians 2:21-22; 1 Peter 2:5

Family of God, Ephesians 3:15

Bride of Christ, Ephesians 5:25; Revelation 19:7-9

Standing in the armor of God, Ephesians 6:10-18

2. If we act toward the church as Christ did, what will we do? Ephesians 5:25

"Church" in Revelation

1. How to identify God’s church on earth in the last days, Revelation 12:17; 19:10

a. Has the gift of the Sabbath, not Sunday

b. Has the gift of the Spirit of prophecy, no dependence on the spirits of the dead

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Response Questions

1. What images or memories come to mind when you hear the word "church"?

2. What has been your experience in baptism? In communion? In ordination?

3. Have you thought about what gifts the Spirit may have put in you for the church? Have you thought about the responsibilities necessary for carrying on church? Which ones might you find personally fulfilling?

Bible Study Suggestion: Matthew 8:23-27, Jesus Calms a Storm. (May vary the reading by using Mark 4:35-41, and Luke 8:22-25.)

1. Have you ever seen a storm in church? A frightening disruption of life as usual among the members? Maybe a storm of dissension and anger? Maybe a lot of power moves and money grabbing? Maybe a storm of persecution?

2. Which of he disciples do you think led out in calling on Jesus? Which one found Him asleep? Or did they know He’d gone to rest and didn’t want to bother Him?

3. What else stands out for you in this story?

4. Put yourself in the place of one of the disciples. What are your feelings and how do they change throughout the story?

5. What is God asking you to do as a result of this reading?