Sermons

CHURCH! WHAT’S THAT?

The biblical understanding of church should not be hard to explain.

1. Spirit Possessed

(1 Corinthians 12:12ff) For as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body – so also is Christ. For we were all baptized by one spirit into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free – and we were all made to drink of one spirit. So the body is not one part but many.

A. The Holy Spirit lives in every part of The Church Body.
B. The Holy Spirit lives only in the parts of His Church Body.

(Ephesians 1:13) In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation – in Him WHEN YOU BELIEVED – were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.
C. The Holy Spirit lives in all who trust and follow Jesus.

2. Separated

A. A “person” who is separated from the world unto the Lord.
(2 Corinthians 6:14-15) Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partner-ship is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

B. A “people” who are separated from the world unto the Lord.
(1 Peter 2:9, NIV) You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

3. Siblings

(Romans 8:14ff) All those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons… you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.

A. There is only One Church.
B. There is only One Spirit.
C. There is only One Family – made up of many, many siblings.

4. Spousal

A. The bible calls The Church the Bride of Christ.
B. The union between Christ and His Bride actually does last FOREVER.