Landmark                           Missionary

Independent                         Anabaptist

By virtually every valid lexicographer (those who compile and write dictionaries), the word translated from the Greek ekklesia to English "church" always means "a called out assembly." Ekklesia is translated as "church" in the New Testament except for three times where it is translated as "assembly" (as it should be in every other place in the New Testament). These three usages are found in Acts 19:32, 39, 41. One of the essentials for a church to exist, as the definition requires, is for it to be called out and assembled together. (This definition can be found in Vines, Thayers, Moultian & Milligan, Robinson, Vincents, along with most other compilers.)

When the word ekklesia was used in the time of Christ, it simply meant any group that had been called out, as in Acts 19:32-41. It could be a group of politicians gathered for a congress, or fishermen gather to fish. When we speak of a "New Testament Church," we are referring to a group unlike any other group of Bible times. This group was the called out assembly by Jesus himself. Christ called and assembled men and women from all walks and professions, and formed them into his church.

Monday

The Starting of the Church

Almost all Protestants, Catholics, and many Baptists believe that the church started on the day of Pentecost. Pentecost was a Jewish holy day celebrated 50 days after Passover (when Jesus was killed) and when the "first-fruit" of the harvest was offered to the Lord. However, an examination of the scriptures will reveal the folly of this idea. Notice in Matthew 4:18-19: "And Jesus, ________ by the sea of __________, saw two brethren, _________ called Peter, and _________ his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were _________________. And He saith unto them, ____________ me, and I will make you ________________ of men."

This places the beginning of the Lord's church some 3-4 years BEFORE the day of Pentecost!

If the church did not begin until Pentecost, a few problems arise:

1. The church does not have the Great Commission, for the commission was given BEFORE Pentecost.
2. They took the Lord's Supper as individuals, and not as a church, for they took it BEFORE Pentecost.
3. If a brother was offended with another and the former would not be reconciled, they were to "tell it to the church" (Matthew 18:17). How was this possible if the church did not start until Pentecost?
4. How could people have been "added" to the church in Acts 2 if the church did not already exist?
5. Jesus said HE would build his church. (Matthew 16:18)

1. What does the word "church" mean?______________________________
2. When did the first church start?________________________________
3. What does the word "Pentecost" mean?_______________________________
4. What two ways is the word "ekklesia" translated?___________ ___________

The Members of the Church

The beginning of the church marked the beginning of a new relationship with God, the beginning of a new Will. God would work with people in a different manner and under a new set of guidelines, and this new will was instituted when Christ went to the cross. The death of Christ on the cross began the age we call the Church Age, which "overlapped" the age we call the Law Age. God intended to deal with people during this Church Age according to the guidelines found in the New Testament of the Bible.

The first people that were a part of his church professed to have been saved and then received the baptism of John the Baptist. This is one of the reasons that John had been sent to "___________ the way of the Lord" (Isaiah 40:3). Malachi 3:1 says, " Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall ___________ the way _________ me..." Jesus then called the people John had prepared to follow him and thus began his church.

The same God who authorized John to baptize also authorized Jesus to baptize and start the church. Jesus, at his departure into heaven, passed on his authority to his church to continue the work that John had started. Using the same criteria as John did, the church "makes disciples," "baptizes them" and "teaches" them the commands of Jesus. The members of today's church must have first been saved and have valid baptism BEFORE they are eligible to become members of the Lord's church.

Matthew 3:1-2

In those days came ___________ the _________, preaching in the __________________ of Judea, And saying, ____________ ye: for the ___________ of heaven is at __________.

Luke 3:7-8

Then said he to the _______________________ that came forth to be _________ of him, O generation of ___________, who hath warned you to flee from the __________ to come? Bring ______ therefore fruits ______________ of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have __________ to our ______________: for I say unto you, That God is able of these ___________ to raise up children unto __________.

Questions:

1. What did the beginning of the church mark? _________________________
2. The people of the first church had two things prior to church membership - what were they? _____________________________ _________________________
3. Are the materials for the church today the same as in Christ's time?___________
4. What one word would describe what John preached in Matthew 3?___________

The Function, Offices, and Ordinances of the Church

As previously stated in an earlier lesson, the function of the church is to evangelize the world. The church is the "pillar and ground" of the truth, and its duty is to take this good news to all the world. Not one soul should die without having heard the message that Jesus is the Christ.

There are two offices in the Lord's church, the qualifications for which are set forth in I Timothy 3:1-16. Those two offices are Pastor and Deacon.

The pastor is the "under-shepherd" of the flock (church) of the Lord, Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 5:2-4 "____________ the flock of God which is among you, taking the _____________ thereof, not by ___________, but _______________; not for filthy __________, but of a ____________ mind. Neither as being ___________ over God's ___________, but being __________ to the flock. And when the ____________ ______________ shall appear, ye shall receive a __________ of glory that fadeth not away." He is not their master, but is simply directing the church by the Word of God.

The deacon is to be a servant of the church. In fact, that is exactly what the word deacon means, "servant." He sees to the material affairs of the church. If Acts 6 is describing the first deacons chosen by the church, their duties were to see to the material disbursements within the congregation. This relieved the apostles of this responsibility, so they might perform the task God had called them to do.

There are two ordinances (decrees) of the church: the Lord's Supper and baptism. Both of these ordinances are discussed in separate lessons; may it suffice to say here that they are church ordinances and not individual ordinances.

Acts 20:28

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the __________, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you ________________________, to __________ the __________ of God, which he hath _______________ with his own __________.

Questions:

1. What is the function of the church?_________________________________
2. Name the two offices of the church.______________________, ___________
3. Name the two ordinances of the church.___________________, ___________
4. According to Acts 6:4, what two things were the apostles to do?_____________, _____________________________
5. What is the responsibility of the pastor?_________________________________
6. What is the responsibility of the deacon?________________________________

The Destiny of the Church

Paul states in 2 Corinthians 11:2 that the church at Corinth had been espoused (promised in marriage) to Jesus. She is to present herself at the marriage of the Lamb without blemish or spot. In other words, she is to be pure and undefiled by the world, thus excluding many so-called churches and Christians of today.

One day, after the rapture, there will be a marriage celebration. Jesus and his church will be joined together as husband and wife. Exactly how this will be accomplished and what the marriage feast and celebration will consist of is unknown to us at present. However, it is certain from the scripture that it will happen and that not everyone will be included in the festivities.

John told the church at Philadelphia (Revelation 3:12) that if they, the church, were to overcome, God would make them a "...pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name." He later said in Revelation 22:9-10 that this New Jerusalem was in fact the Lamb's wife!

So, what John told us was this: Jesus will marry the church, her dwelling place will be the New Jerusalem, and the nations of them that are saved shall walk in the light of it (Revelation 21:24-27).

Revelation 21:2

And I _____________ saw the holy city, _______ _________________, coming down from God out of _______________, prepared as a bride _______________ for her ___________.

Revelation 19:7

Let us be ______ and ________, and give honour to him: for the _________________ of the __________ is come, and his _________ hath made herself ________.

Ephesians 5:27

That He might _________ it to himself a _____________ church, not having spot, or ____________, or any such thing; but that it should be __________ and without _____________.

John 3:29

He that hath the ___________ is the ______________: but the friend of the ________________________, which standeth and heareth him, ____________ greatly because of the _____________ voice: this my joy therefore is ___________.

Questions:

1. When will the marriage supper of the Lamb take place?___________________
2. Who will live in the New Jerusalem?________________________________
3. According to the scriptures in this lesson, what kind of people will make up the Bride?_______________________________________
4. If we overcome, what will we be in the temple of God?_____________________

Problems With the "Universal" Church

It is unfortunate and unbibical that most "churches" today teach that ALL the saved are in the church. This would mean that the worst backsliders are included in the special relationship that the church will enjoy with Christ. If all the saved are included in the bridal relationship, certainly this would mean that she, the church, would no longer be a "chaste virgin." She would be, in most cases as offensive and repulsive as a call-girl.

1. If all the saved are in the church by virtue of the new birth, then who has the authority to baptize individuals?
2. If all the saved are in the church and the church has the Great Commission, then any individual can and should baptize, give the Lord's Supper, or carry the gospel to the world.
3. If all the saved have the Great Commission, then we do not need a local church.
4. If all the saved are in the church, any individual may vote in any other group's meeting, for they are all in the "church."
5. If all the saved are in the church, how can you "cast them out of the church?" (3 John 1:10)
6. If all the saved are in the church, how can you "put them away" (1 Cor 5), and by what right do you put them out of the church when God put them in at birth? Can they be unborn and, thereby, no longer be in the church?
7. How can the "whole"church come together (1 Cor 14:23) if this means all the saved of all nations and all times?

1. Will all the saved be in the Bride of Christ?_________________
2. If all the saved are in the bride, what happens to the bride?_________________
3. Can a "universal" church be gathered together?_______________________
4. Who pastors the universal church?____________________________