A Short Ecclesiology 2.0
The Church:
God uses the gospel to create a people in Christ, ordered by His Word and empowered by the Holy Spirit, responsible for life together and sent on mission.
(Eph 2:19–22; Col 1:18; Acts 2:42–47)
1. What creates the church?
The church is created by:
-the Gospel (Rom 1:16; 1 Cor 15:1–4),
-proclaimed in the Word of God (Rom 10:14–17; 2 Tim 3:16–17),
-and empowered by the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8; John 3:5–8).
2. What is the church?
The church is a recognized, called-out, and sent-out people, living in and under Christ.
(1 Pet 2:9–10; Acts 11:26; Matt 28:19–20)
3. How is the church led?
Under the headship of Christ (Eph 1:22–23):
-the congregation follows the Word and the Spirit (Col 3:16; Gal 5:25),
-elders lead and guard the church (Acts 20:28; Titus 1:5–9), and
-deacons serve and support the church (Acts 6:1–6; 1 Tim 3:8–13).
4. What is the church responsible for?
Local churches are responsible to:
-identify themselves as the church (Acts 14:23; 1 Cor 1:2),
-govern themselves under Christ (Matt 18:15–20; Acts 6:1–7),
-guard and teach sound doctrine (Titus 1:9; Col 3:16),
-provide for their own needs (1 Tim 5:17–18; 2 Cor 9:6–8), and
-multiply through mission (Matt 28:18–20; Acts 13:1–3).
5. What does the church do?
The church gathers around God and His Word:
(a) Preaching and teaching (2 Tim 4:2; Acts 2:42)
(b) Worship (Col 3:16; Heb 12:28)
(c) Prayer (Acts 2:42; 1 Tim 2:1–2)
The church is marked and sustained by the ordinances:
(d) Baptism (Matt 28:19; Acts 2:41)
(e) The Lord’s Supper (1 Cor 11:23–26)
The church shares life as a covenant community:
(f) Membership (Acts 2:41; 1 Cor 12:12–13)
(g) Fellowship (Acts 2:42; Heb 10:24–25)
(h) Accountability and discipline (Matt 18:15–17; 1 Cor 5)
(i) Giving (2 Cor 9:6–8; Phil 4:15–17)
The church grows and is formed through:
(j) Discipleship (Matt 28:20; Col 1:28)
(k) Leadership development (2 Tim 2:2; Eph 4:11–12)
The church reaches outward through:
(l) Evangelism (Acts 8:4; Rom 10:14–15)
6. Where is the church going?
The church is sent on mission, bringing the hope of the gospel to the world.
(Matt 28:18–20; Acts 1:8; Rev 7:9)
God uses the gospel to create a people in Christ, ordered by His Word and empowered by the Holy Spirit, responsible for life together and sent on mission.
(Eph 2:19–22; Col 1:18; Acts 2:42–47)
1. What creates the church?
The church is created by:
-the Gospel (Rom 1:16; 1 Cor 15:1–4),
-proclaimed in the Word of God (Rom 10:14–17; 2 Tim 3:16–17),
-and empowered by the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8; John 3:5–8).
2. What is the church?
The church is a recognized, called-out, and sent-out people, living in and under Christ.
(1 Pet 2:9–10; Acts 11:26; Matt 28:19–20)
3. How is the church led?
Under the headship of Christ (Eph 1:22–23):
-the congregation follows the Word and the Spirit (Col 3:16; Gal 5:25),
-elders lead and guard the church (Acts 20:28; Titus 1:5–9), and
-deacons serve and support the church (Acts 6:1–6; 1 Tim 3:8–13).
4. What is the church responsible for?
Local churches are responsible to:
-identify themselves as the church (Acts 14:23; 1 Cor 1:2),
-govern themselves under Christ (Matt 18:15–20; Acts 6:1–7),
-guard and teach sound doctrine (Titus 1:9; Col 3:16),
-provide for their own needs (1 Tim 5:17–18; 2 Cor 9:6–8), and
-multiply through mission (Matt 28:18–20; Acts 13:1–3).
5. What does the church do?
The church gathers around God and His Word:
(a) Preaching and teaching (2 Tim 4:2; Acts 2:42)
(b) Worship (Col 3:16; Heb 12:28)
(c) Prayer (Acts 2:42; 1 Tim 2:1–2)
The church is marked and sustained by the ordinances:
(d) Baptism (Matt 28:19; Acts 2:41)
(e) The Lord’s Supper (1 Cor 11:23–26)
The church shares life as a covenant community:
(f) Membership (Acts 2:41; 1 Cor 12:12–13)
(g) Fellowship (Acts 2:42; Heb 10:24–25)
(h) Accountability and discipline (Matt 18:15–17; 1 Cor 5)
(i) Giving (2 Cor 9:6–8; Phil 4:15–17)
The church grows and is formed through:
(j) Discipleship (Matt 28:20; Col 1:28)
(k) Leadership development (2 Tim 2:2; Eph 4:11–12)
The church reaches outward through:
(l) Evangelism (Acts 8:4; Rom 10:14–15)
6. Where is the church going?
The church is sent on mission, bringing the hope of the gospel to the world.
(Matt 28:18–20; Acts 1:8; Rev 7:9)
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