Church and Saints

Saints means believers --- like you.But what is church?

What Church is:

• When the Bible says “church,” it doesn’t mean a building (there weren’t any church buildings until the 300’s, after Christianity became legal)

In the Bible, church means …

• A group of people who believe in Jesus.• It could be “all” the believers --- then it is

called the “universal church” or the “communion of saints)

Or, church could mean …

• The group of people who get together in one spot to worship together.

• Then it is called the “local church”

As soon as you believe in Jesus,

• You are automatically part of the “universal” church.

• Then, you look for a “local” church so you can get the benefits of being part of the church.

• (Benefits like communion, having a pastor, having a support-system like a youth group)

This verse compares the church to four things:

• You are fellow CITIZENS with the saints, members of the HOUSEHOLD of God, BUILT on the foundation of the apostles and prophets …. A holy TEMPLE in the Lord. (Ephesians 2:19-22)

• What are the 4?• Let’s then look at the 4 in detail:

FELLOW CITIZENS means…

• The church is like a country. • It has a king (Jesus)• It has citizens (us)• It is called the kingdom of God• Discuss --- what do good citizens do for their

country? How does this compare to being a citizen of the Kingdom of God?

HOUSEHOLD OF GOD means …

• The church is like a family.• It has a father (God)• It has brothers and sisters (us)• It does things together

• Discuss --- What is it like to be a good brother or sister? What ideas does this give for being a church member?

If you are BUILT on a foundation,

• That means church (the group of people) can be compared to a BUIILDING:

• If the building has stones or bricks stacked on top of one another, each one depends on the one below, and holds up the one above.

• How does this compare to the people of the church? How good a job are the people of the church doing at DEPENDING and HOLDING UP?

If the church is a HOLY TEMPLE …

• You need to know what a temple IS.• A temple is A PLACE WHERE A GOD LIVES.• In the Old Testament, it was a building.• In the New Testament, it is the PEOPLE of the

church who are “built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” that’s why Jesus said, “Where 2 or 3 are gathered in my name, THERE AM I in the midst of them.”

And here is a fifth comparison:

• We are transferred into the kingdom of God’s Son ….

• He is the head of his BODY, the church.

• The people are called the “body of Christ.”• In a body, what is the importance of the head?

Why get together?

• The Bible says, “Let us stir up one another to love and good works, NOT NEGLECTING to meet together, … be encouraging one another.” (Hebrews 10:25)

• Is getting together man’s idea or God’s idea?What does the verse say to do when together?

Not only in big groups

• Encouraging one another can also be done in smaller groups, such as youth groups.

And what else?

• The Bible says, “Let Christ’s message live in your hearts richly. Teach and instruct each other with wisdom. Sing Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.” (Colossians 3:16)

• Is doing these things man’s idea or God’s idea?

And what else?

• The Bible says “they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, to fellowship, to breaking of bread, and to prayers.” Acts 2:42

• Breaking of bread here means holy communion.

• What else did the early Christians do here?

What’s the purpose?

• Paul writes, “as we build up the body of Christ, we shall become mature people … no longer children who can be drawn away from the truth … by speaking truth in love, we grow up to be more like Christ, the head … when each part of the body works as it should, the whole body grows and builds itself up in love.” (Ephesians 4:13-16)

Closing Prayer

• Jesus, thank you that we are already part of your body, the universal church.

• Help us to make our local church be strong and bonded together in love.