Lesson 11

The Holy Spirit gathers the church

The Holy Christian Church Is ...

• People, not buildings.

• It is the whole number of believers everywhere

Ephesians 2:19-20

• Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

Ephesians 5:25-26

• Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word.

It is called ...

• HOLY (or "communion of saints") because Jesus has cleansed its members' sins.Jesus has cleansed its members' sins.

1 Corinthians 3:11

• For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

It is called ...

• HOLY (or "communion of saints") because Jesus has cleansed its members' sins.Jesus has cleansed its members' sins.

• CHRISTIAN because it is built upon it is built upon Christ.Christ.

1 Peter 2:9-10

• But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

It is called ...

• HOLY (or "communion of saints") because Jesus has cleansed its members' sins.Jesus has cleansed its members' sins.

• CHRISTIAN because it is built upon it is built upon Christ.Christ.

• CHURCH because all believers are all believers are "called" out of darkness into God's "called" out of darkness into God's family.family.

Ephesians 4:1-6

• As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called--one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

How many churches are there?

• There is only oneone Church because all all believers are united in Jesus who is the believers are united in Jesus who is the Head of the body, his Church.Head of the body, his Church.

1 Samuel 16:7 2 Timothy 2:19

• Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.

• Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his."

Who knows the members of the church?

• Only the Lord knows who belongs to the church because only the Lord can look only the Lord can look into the heart to see true faith.into the heart to see true faith.

Romans 10:17

• Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

Isaiah 55:10-11

• As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Where will we find this Church?

• The Church will be found wherever the the Word of God is being preached and the Word of God is being preached and the Sacraments are being used faithfully.Sacraments are being used faithfully.

Hebrews 10:23-27• Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we

profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching. If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

What does God want believers to do?

• It is God's will that Christians assemble assemble together around the Word and together around the Word and Sacraments.Sacraments.

Christian Congregation =

Matthew 13:47-50• Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a

net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Within any Christian congregation there may also be

The LordLord knows who they are.

Acts 16:31

• "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household."

God's Will for Us

1 That we be part of the Holy Christian be part of the Holy Christian Church through faith in Jesus.Church through faith in Jesus.

Hebrews 10:23-25

• Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Matthew 18:20 John 8:31

• For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.

• To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples."

God's Will for Us

1 That we be part of the Holy Christian be part of the Holy Christian Church through faith in Jesus.Church through faith in Jesus.

2 That we be part of a Christian, be part of a Christian, evangelical (Gospel-preaching) evangelical (Gospel-preaching) congregation,congregation,

• one that is faithful to all of the Bible one that is faithful to all of the Bible ("orthodox")("orthodox")

Romans 16:17

• I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.

Not this: But this:

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One that is not a sect or cult One that is not a sect or cult (non-Christian group)(non-Christian group)

"heterodox""heterodox"

2 Corinthians 6:14

• Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

Not this: But this:

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