What It Means to Be
the Church
Taught by Sam Smith
and Jim Hildebrand
In Room 101-102 (next
to sanctuary)
Jun 5 Early Church History
Jun 12 The
Reformation
Jun 19 The
Modern Church
Jun 26 (Missionary
Visit)
Jul 3 What
is a Church? What is a Church Member?
Jul 10 What
are Church Members Like?
Jul 17 (Atlas
Summer Camp Report)
Jul 24 What
Does the Bible Say About Church Membership?
Jul 31 What in the World is the Church Supposed to
Do?
Aug 7 The
Vows! Our Need (#1), Our Confession (#2)
Aug 14 The
Vows! Our Hope (#3), Our Response (#4)
Aug 21 (Missionary
Visit)
Aug 28 Opportunities
Sunday
Living
Out the Communion of the Saints
Taught
by Marion Clark
In
Room 110-112
Jun 5 The
Goal and Responsibility
Jun 12 United
in Love
Jun 19 In
the Worship of God
Jun 26 (Missionary
Visit)
Jul 3 Mutual
Edification
Jul 10 Relief
in Outward Things
Jul 17 (Atlas
Summer Camp Report)
Jul 24 Gifts
and Graces
Jul 31 Family Roles
Aug 7 Family
Dynamics
Aug 14 Family
Commitment
Aug 21 (Missionary
Visit)
Aug 28 Opportunities
Sunday
Jun 5 The
Goal and Responsibility
Westminster
Confession of Faith, Chapter 26 Of
the Communion of Saints
1. All saints, that
are united to Jesus Christ their Head, by his Spirit, and by faith, have
fellowship with him in his graces, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory: and,
being united to one another in love, they have communion in each other’s gifts
and graces, and are
obliged to the
performance of such duties, public and private, as do conduce to their mutual
good, both in the inward and outward man.
2. Saints by
profession are bound to maintain an holy fellowship and communion in the
worship of God, and in performing such other spiritual services as tend to
their mutual edification; as also in relieving each other in outward things,
according to their several abilities and necessities. Which communion, as God
offereth opportunity, is to be extended unto all those who, in every place,
call upon the name of the Lord Jesus.
Definition: Spiritual union with Christ, and, consequently,
with each other.
Goal: found in Eph 4:7, 11-16
7 But grace was given to each one of
us according to the measure of Christ’s gift….
11 And
he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and
teachers, 12 to
equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all
attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the
stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so
that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried
about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful
schemes. 15 Rather,
speaking the truth in love, we are to
grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the
whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped,
when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds
itself up in love.
Exegete text
What works against the goal and responsibility?
1. Our sin – self-centeredness, laziness, etc.
2. Our concept of independence – American concept of
self-made
3. Modern concept of viewing church as a service provider
Go through the schedule of lessons.
Conclusion:
Jun 12 United
in Love
1. All saints, that
are united to Jesus Christ their Head, by his Spirit, and by faith, have
fellowship with him in his graces, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory: and,
being united to one another in love,
they have communion in each other’s gifts and graces, and are
obliged to the
performance of such duties, public and private, as do conduce to their mutual
good, both in the inward and outward man.
Ephesians 4:11-16
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the
shepherds and teachers, 12 to
equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all
attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to
mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may
no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every
wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to
grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the
whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped,
when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Communion with Christ means communion with one another:
Calvin on LS: p 1414-16
Body of Christ – bread or church? 1 Corinthians 11:29
Love the identifying mark: John 13:34-35
Why then is loving one another so difficult?
Eph 4:2-3 provides the clues:
The problem with others:
- with patience, bearing with one another – only need patience and
bearing if others are
sinful
or troubling
The problem with ourselves: we lack the following:
- the traits: with
all humility & gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in
love,
- the motivation for goal: eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Conclusion:
Communion with the saints is both a
statement of what is accomplished in Christ;
And the commandment for the saints to live
out.
Jun 19 In
the Worship of God
2. Saints by profession
are bound to maintain an holy fellowship and communion in the worship of God.
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