Purpose: Present the identity of the Church; How it came to be, what is it and why it exists?
(I)
How the Church came to be - Historical Overview
Figure 1
(II)
Description of the Church - Mature Church Model
(A)
Mature Church Model - Based on the character of Christ:
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Communicate Truth.
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Bring (spiritual) Life
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Shepherd
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Bring New Identity
(B)
Characteristics of Jesus Christ translated into the Local Church (individually and corporately)
(1)
God's Word for the Church
(a)
Entrance of God's Word
(i)
Lives which model dependence on in obedience to what God's Word says
(ii)
A faithful translation of Scripture which can be read and Understood
(iii)
The teaching of the Scripture
(b)
Engagement of God's Word
God's Word, when taught correctly, always "engages" or demands choice.
(2)
The Life of the Church
(a)
Jesus intended His local church to be "...a living, functioning, stable body of believers." Evidenced by...
(i)
The function (The character of Jesus Christ needing to be expressed) or what the church produces as a result of its life, will fit into the cultural realities and will flow out from and back into the church in a natural, healthy way and under the direction of the Holy Spirit.
(ii)
The form (The way Christ's life is expressed), or the way things are done by the church, should grow and develop out of its own life.
(3)
Discipleship in the Church.
(a)
Jesus intended discipleship to be "...the practical application of Truth within the proximity and vulnerability of relationships in His Local Church."
(b)
Discipleship will increasingly be part of the fabric of church life, and will be possible because of two different groups in the church;
(i)
Led - those who desire to be helped, and
(ii)
Leaders - those who having gone before in the walk of faith are willing to help ones coming behind.
(4)
Identity of the Church
(a)
Jesus intended His Church to understand and articulate their UNIQUENESS...
(i)
From within, identity has to do with the believer's understanding of who they are, how they came to be, and why they exist as a body.
(ii)
From without, identity has to do with how the society perceives it, that is, if it is seen as a distinct entity within society and how it is seen to be different
(C)
Church's Constituents/Members
(1)
God is calling out a people for His Name
(a)
From among the Jews
[Romans 11:5] In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to {God's} gracious choice.
(b)
From among the Gentiles
[Acts 15:14] "Simeon has related how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name.
(c)
All people are welcome
[I Corinthians 12:3] Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is accursed"; and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.
(III)
Why the Church exists as a body - God's purpose for the Church
(A)
Theme of God's Glory in regards to the Church
[Ephesians 3:21] Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him {be} the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
(1)
Imputed Glory - Position.
(a)
[John 17:22] "The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one;
(b)
[II Thessalonians 2:14] It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(c)
[II Peter 1:3] seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
(d)
[I Peter 5:10] After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen {and} establish you.
(e)
State of being in the negative
[Romans 3:23] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
(2)
How is God receiving glory in the Church today?
(a)
Ascribing to God majesty and splendor
(i)
[I Corinthians 6:20] For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
(ii)
[I Corinthians 10:31] Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
(ii)
Witness to a world filled with people, "...dead in trespasses and sin..."
(i)
[Acts 1:8] but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."
(ii)
[Matthew 28:19-20] "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
(iii)
[Mark 16:15] And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
(c)
Rulers and authorities in heavenly realms; God's wisdom is being displayed to angelic host through the Church.
(i)
[Ephesians 3:10] so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly {places.}
(IV)
Interdependance of Ministry with NTM
Rough Sequence of events and involvement.
(A)
Local Church
(1)
Assisting the Local Church
(2)
Partnership Development
Allowing the local body to get involved with more Globalized Ministry
(I) 