Rediscovering the True Nature of the Church

 

Summary

In our journey as Christians, it is crucial to understand the nature and doctrine of the church. While individual salvation is significant, Christianity is not an individualistic faith. We are part of a larger body, the church, which is central to our faith and practice. The New Testament emphasizes the importance of the church, and many of its epistles focus on this theme. Ignoring the doctrine of the church contradicts our belief in the inspiration of the scriptures. The church is not just a gathering of individuals but a unified body, and many of the problems faced by early Christians, such as those in Corinth, stemmed from a misunderstanding of this concept.

Today, the church faces significant challenges, including confusion about its nature and purpose. This confusion contributes to the church's struggles in a world that is increasingly pagan and godless. The ecumenical movement, which seeks to unite all denominations, highlights the urgency of understanding the church's true nature. However, unity should not come at the expense of compromising essential doctrines. Instead, we must return to the New Testament to rediscover the church's original purpose and structure.

The church began with the apostles, who were called and sent by Jesus Christ. Their preaching, empowered by the Holy Spirit, led to the formation of the church. The early church was a community of believers who were radically transformed by the gospel. They were not merely joining an institution but were reborn, convicted of their sin, and committed to following Christ. This transformation is essential for the church today. We must strive to be a pure and true church, as God uses such a church to impact the world.

Key Takeaways:

- The church is not an individualistic entity but a unified body of believers. Understanding the doctrine of the church is essential for addressing many of the issues faced by Christians today. The New Testament provides a clear emphasis on the church's importance, and neglecting this doctrine contradicts our belief in scripture. [01:49]

- The confusion about the church's nature and purpose is a significant factor in its struggles today. The ecumenical movement seeks unity, but true unity must not compromise essential doctrines. We must return to the New Testament to rediscover the church's original purpose and structure. [08:44]

- The church began with the apostles, who were called and sent by Jesus Christ. Their preaching, empowered by the Holy Spirit, led to the formation of the church. This apostolic foundation is crucial for understanding the church's true nature. [45:04]

- True members of the church are those who have been radically transformed by the gospel. They are convicted of their sin, repent, and commit to following Christ. This transformation is essential for the church to be effective in its mission. [51:49]

- In every period of revival and reformation, the church has returned to its New Testament roots. This return is marked by a focus on the apostolic message and a commitment to being a pure and true church. Such a church is used by God to impact the world. [59:44]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - The Nature of the Church
- [01:49] - Importance of Church Doctrine
- [03:19] - Problems in the Early Church
- [05:38] - Modern Challenges Facing the Church
- [07:50] - The Ecumenical Movement
- [10:44] - The Urgency of Understanding the Church
- [12:24] - Historical Context and Modern Implications
- [15:27] - The Spirit of Unity
- [18:21] - Approaches to Church Unity
- [23:02] - Returning to New Testament Foundations
- [28:27] - The Apostolic Foundation of the Church
- [33:58] - Principles of Church Development
- [38:27] - Essentials and Non-Essentials in Church Life
- [45:04] - The Apostolic Commission
- [51:49] - Transformation and Membership in the Church
- [59:44] - Revival and Returning to Roots

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Ephesians 2:19-22 - "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit."
2. Acts 2:42-47 - "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."
3. 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 - "Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many."

#### Observation Questions
1. What does the sermon suggest is the primary cause of the problems faced by the early church in Corinth? ([03:19])
2. According to the sermon, what role did the apostles play in the formation of the church? ([45:04])
3. How does the sermon describe the transformation of individuals who become true members of the church? ([51:49])
4. What is the significance of returning to the New Testament roots during periods of revival and reformation, as mentioned in the sermon? ([59:44])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the sermon explain the relationship between individual salvation and the collective nature of the church? ([01:17])
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that modern confusion about the church's nature and purpose affects its effectiveness in the world? ([08:44])
3. What does the sermon imply about the importance of maintaining essential doctrines while seeking unity within the church? ([12:24])
4. How does the sermon describe the impact of the Holy Spirit on the apostles and the early church? ([48:38])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your understanding of the church as a unified body. How does this perspective challenge or affirm your current view of your role within your local church? ([01:49])
2. The sermon emphasizes the need to return to the New Testament to rediscover the church's original purpose. What steps can you take to deepen your understanding of the New Testament teachings about the church? ([08:44])
3. Consider the sermon’s call for a pure and true church. What personal changes might you need to make to contribute to the purity and truth of your church community? ([51:49])
4. How can you actively participate in fostering unity within your church without compromising essential doctrines? ([12:24])
5. The sermon highlights the transformation of individuals by the gospel. Can you identify a recent experience where you felt transformed by your faith? How did it impact your actions or decisions? ([51:49])
6. Reflect on the role of the Holy Spirit in empowering the apostles. How can you seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance and empowerment in your daily life and ministry? ([48:38])
7. The sermon discusses the importance of understanding the church's nature to address modern challenges. What specific challenges does your church face today, and how can a better understanding of the church's doctrine help address them? ([08:44])

Devotional

Day 1: The Church as a Unified Body
The church is not an individualistic entity but a unified body of believers. Understanding the doctrine of the church is essential for addressing many of the issues faced by Christians today. The New Testament provides a clear emphasis on the church's importance, and neglecting this doctrine contradicts our belief in scripture. [01:49]

"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:12-13, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you contribute to the unity of your local church community this week? Consider a specific action you can take to foster unity among believers.


Day 2: Rediscovering the Church's Purpose
The confusion about the church's nature and purpose is a significant factor in its struggles today. The ecumenical movement seeks unity, but true unity must not compromise essential doctrines. We must return to the New Testament to rediscover the church's original purpose and structure. [08:44]

"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone." (Ephesians 2:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: What is one essential doctrine of the church that you feel is often overlooked? How can you personally uphold and promote this doctrine in your community?


Day 3: The Apostolic Foundation of the Church
The church began with the apostles, who were called and sent by Jesus Christ. Their preaching, empowered by the Holy Spirit, led to the formation of the church. This apostolic foundation is crucial for understanding the church's true nature. [45:04]

"And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ." (Ephesians 4:11-12, ESV)

Reflection: How can you support the leaders in your church who are following in the apostolic tradition? Consider a specific way to encourage or assist them in their ministry.


Day 4: Transformation Through the Gospel
True members of the church are those who have been radically transformed by the gospel. They are convicted of their sin, repent, and commit to following Christ. This transformation is essential for the church to be effective in its mission. [51:49]

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a recent change in your life that demonstrates your transformation through the gospel. How can you share this testimony with someone who needs encouragement?


Day 5: Revival and Returning to Roots
In every period of revival and reformation, the church has returned to its New Testament roots. This return is marked by a focus on the apostolic message and a commitment to being a pure and true church. Such a church is used by God to impact the world. [59:44]

"Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent." (Revelation 2:5, ESV)

Reflection: What is one practice or belief from the early church that you feel your church could benefit from revisiting? How can you advocate for this return to roots in your community?

Quotes


And it is always the business of Christian people to consider this question of the nature of the church or if you like the doctrine of the church. We are not uh just individuals as Christians we do experience an individual salvation and that as I'm going to try to show you is all important but we don't remain as individuals. [00:00:00]

The New Testament pays a great deal of attention to this in the Epistles it is in many ways the leading them and therefore as Christians we are bound to apply ourselves to this a man who says that he believes in the inspiration of the scriptures but who doesn't study the whole of the scriptures is a man who's contradicting himself. [00:01:50]

The teaching of the New Testament shows very clearly that a large number of the troubles and the problems that arise in the life of the Christian are due to the fact that he is not clear about the doctrine of the nature of the church. Look for instance at that first epistle to the Corinthians there was a church full of problems. [00:03:05]

The confusion to which our chairman has referred is is is a very solemn fact and it's a very terrifying fact and it's very largely due to to this that we and our fathers and grandfathers and indeed great grandfathers have not considered the nature of the church as we should have done. [00:05:54]

The Christian church is failing and failing badly in this country at this hour we've become a pagan country the masses the majority of the people 90% of them are outside the Christian church and the paganism and the irreligion and the godlessness and the violence of sin are becoming increasingly evident round and about us on all hands. [00:07:57]

This idea you see that the people are outside the church because of the divisions inside and that our first business is to night and to become one and that what we need is a great World Church including everybody Roman Catholics and all others that we must all be one. [00:10:50]

The church is built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets very well we asking the question where's the church come from what is our origin what is this thing that we're concerned about how did it ever come into being your answer is these people called Apostles like Peter the man who preached that on the day of Pentecost. [00:45:04]

The people who are added to the church the people who constitute the church are people who are completely changed they start as one thing they become something very different indeed entirely different the term that is us of them is that they're so different but there is no analogy that is adequate to describe it say that of a rebirth. [00:51:49]

In every period of Revival and of true Reformation men ATT have always tried to do this now that's not an opinion that is a fact of history when the spirit of God has been moving in Revival and people have become spiritually alive they've always raised this question what is the church what was she like at the beginning. [00:59:44]

The church came into being as the result of the preaching and the witness bearing of these men now I haven't got time to tell you their story you know it these men who had been Disciples of his at the beginning but who when he was crucified and died and buried all were utterly discon felt the end had come. [01:17:11]

The message that Peter gives back to them is repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you know to be baptized in those days was a very dangerous thing to do it would arose the antagonism and the persecution of the Jews you were doing something which would cost you. [01:24:20]

The Christian Church Must continue as she began this you see is not the action of men it's the action of God all of the Way It Is God who sends his son into the world to the Cross raises him from the dead it is God the father and the son who send the Holy Spirit and enable a man like Peter to preach in that way. [01:28:41]

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Transcript
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