The Church: Who We Are, What We Do

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Today we are continuing our look at the church and trying to form a simple, coherent definition that covers the basics well without going too far into preferences and without leaving anything out that God intends for us to do or be.

I have been thinking about the idea of Minimal or Essential Ecclesiology.

Minimal:

The least viable form or the least possible to call something a church. What can you remove from your existing church and it still be a church?

Essential:

If you have nothing else you must at least have this to call it a church.

Ecclesiology: doctrine relating to the church

The goal is to consider the smallest, most adaptable, most flexible definition of the church. Why? Because we need more churches! And it is hard to begin with the finished, mature product, what can you start with? A seed that contains the DNA of the church at maturity. I believe Acts gives us a good picture of this seed that has all the characteristics of the church that will thrive in any setting.

To me that is KEY. The church is God’s people thriving and on mission in every culture and time period. What are the essentials that are consistent in a thriving church in every culture and age?

The Essential Church

What can you remove from your existing church and it still be a church?

If you have nothing else you must at least have this to call it a church.

A seed that contains the DNA of the church at maturity.

Can you separate what the church IS from what the church DOES?

If it doesn’t apply in in all ages, in all cultures and in the persecuted church then it can’t be considered ESSENTIAL.

The Church IS:

WHO:

Baptized Followers of Jesus -

Leadership – When and how much is required for a church to be a church? ie. when is a gathering of believers a church and not just a gathering of believers?

DO WHAT:

Worship

a- John 4:24

-in Spirit and Truth

b- Rom. 12:1-2 

– living sacrifice

c- Phil. 2:5-8

-humility and obedience

Community/ Fellowship

a- Acts 2:42-47

b- Acts 2:41

1 Cor. 11:23-26 - baptism and communion

 

c- Hebrews 10:25 

- assumes gathering together is normal

Mission

a- Acts 8:4 

- share the gospel.

ie.

Acts 1:8 

- To BE His witnesses.

b- Matthew 28:18-20 

-make disciples

1-teaching

A-to obey Jesus commands. Not just knowledge.

2-baptizing

c- Ephesians 4:11-13 

-Equipping the Church for ministry and edifying toward Unity and Maturity, ie. The Image of Jesus

A CHURCH is a group of Jesus’ disciples who worship Him in spirit and truth, humbly offering their lives as living sacrifices, together living out the mission of Jesus as His witnesses to the world, by sharing the gospel and making disciples through teaching obedience to His commands as they edify and equip others to join them on His mission.