What the Church Is 

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:1-10.

Memory Verse: "Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God . . ." (1 Corinthians 10:32).

Introduction: One of Webster's definitions for "interlude" is "something that takes up time between events." Interludes are sometimes added to musical compositions to tie together the major themes, or to add interesting flavor to the sound. Sometimes an instrumental interlude, often called a "bridge," will be played between sung verses to avoid monotony and add variety.
  Some would define the Church as an interlude, marking time between the Jews' rejection of the Messiah and the ensuing supposed postponement of God's Kingdom, and the time when the Jews will accept Christ and be restored to the Kingdom. However, God's Word doesn't depict the Church as an afterthought, but as His major plan from the very beginning. The Body of Christ is not a "bridge" between major events, but the central fact of God's will.
  Therefore, it is God's express will to have every detail concerning His Church carried out to the most intricate detail. Rather than Moses starting to build the Tabernacle, and seeing how close he could come to the plan, he had to commit himself to God's direct command to "...make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount" (Hebrews 8:5b). So we must see and understand what God's Church is, and then commit ourselves to it.
  To build by God's standard, we must go by the building code of God's Word. Strict adherence to holiness and purity--radical obedience to every command and attention to the finest detail--bring amazing endurance to the Church's structure. By doing these things, we can be assured of a building that will stand: "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall..." (2 Peter 1:10).

Lesson Questions:

1. Why should the Church be considered a great mystery? 1 Corinthians 2:14; Matthew 13:15; Ephesians 1:3-12 (esp. v. 9); 3:2-5.
A "mystery" in the New Testament is not an undiscovered secret, but a secret that cannot be understood by human reason, which must be revealed by the Spirit of God.

2. Why were men formed into different nationalities after the flood? Genesis 10:32; 11:1,9.

3. Through what prophetic covenant was Israel pre-selected as God's special people? Genesis 12:1-3.

4. For what special work did God select Israel? Genesis 12:3; 17:7; 22:16-18; Deuteronomy 4:5-8; Romans 3:1,2.

5. Did God also care about the other peoples of the world? Genesis 26:4; Psalm 22:27,28; Isaiah 2:2,3; 11:10; 52:15; Zechariah 2:11.

6. What is the composition of the universal Church? 1 Corinthians 12:12,13; Ephesians 2:14-18; 3:6; Galatians 3:26-29; 6:14-16.
The New Testament word for "Church" is important. It comes from two Greek words: ek, meaning "out of," and kaleo, meaning "to call." The Church is made up of those who hear the "call of God," and "come out from the world, separating themselves to God." The Church is God's work of restoration to unify all the nations of the earth in righteousness. In Christ, all are of equal importance and station: we are one in Him!

7. What is the relationship of the Church to Christ? Matthew 16:18; Hebrews 3:5,6; Ephesians 1:22,23; Colossians 2:6-10,18,19;
Ephesians 5:25-27, 29-32.

8. Describe the significance of Christ's Church on earth. 1 Peter 2:4,5,9,10; Matthew 5:13-16; Ephesians 4:11-16.