The Holy Christian Church

The Holy Christian Church

Lesson 8

What is the Holy Christian Church?

(1 Peter 1:22-2:11)

9) 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. 10) 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.

What is the Holy Christian Church?

1. The word “church” means “called out.”

2. The Holy Christian Church is all the people who have been called out of the darkness of sin into God’s wonderful light.

What is the Holy Christian Church?

(1 Peter 1:22-2:11)

23) For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24) For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25) but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you.

What is the Holy Christian Church?

3. We became part of the Church when the Holy Spirit gave us new life through God’s Word and Sacrament.

What is the Holy Christian Church?

(1 Peter 1:22-2:11)

4) As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him-- 5) you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6) For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame." 7) Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,"

What is the Holy Christian Church?

4. Christ is the cornerstone of the Church. All who believe in him are living stones built on him (the cornerstone).

What is a Christian Congregation?

See Questions 242-246 in the Catechism.

What is a Christian Congregation?

1. It is a group or an assembly of people gathered around God’s Word.

2. The difference between the Holy Christian Church and a Christian congregation:

In a Christian congregation there may be hypocrites (people pretending to believe).

What is a Christian Congregation?

(1 Peter 2:1-3)

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2) Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3) now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

What is a Christian Congregation?

3. One important purpose for Christian Congregations:

is to keep us growing in our Christian faith and life through the Word of God and the Sacraments.

What is a Christian Congregation?

(Hebrews 10:23-25)

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24) And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25) 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.

What is a Christian Congregation?

4. God’s will for Christians:

is that we assemble together in congregations to hear the Word, to strengthen each other and to become equipped to serve him and spread his Word.

With Which Congregation or other religious organizations should I join in fellowship?

• (John 17:21) that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

• Jesus wants Christians to be one as he and his Father are one; perfectly agreed in all things.

With which congregation or other religious organizations should I

join in fellowship?

• (John 10:27-28) My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28) I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.

With which congregation or other religious organizations should I

join in fellowship?

• (John 8:31) To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.

With which congregation or other religious organizations should I

join in fellowship?

• (Matthew 28:20) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

With which congregation or other religious organizations should I

join in fellowship?

• Jesus wants Christians to remain faithful to all of his Word and to be part of an Evangelical (Gospel-centered), orthodox (true teaching) church.

With which congregation or other religious organizations should I

join in fellowship?• (Matthew 7:15) "Watch

out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

• (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.

With which congregation or other religious organizations should I

join in fellowship?

• We should watch out for false teachers and not unite with churches or any other organizations which go against any part of God’s Word