What the Church is to Be 

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 60:1-7.

Memory Verse: "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name . . ."
(John 1:12)

Introduction: We have studied what the Church is, but we also need to know its purpose and function. There are three major things that the New Testament reveals concerning what God's Church is to be.
  First, the Church is to be agressive and militant (though not in terms of earthly destructiveness). Our expressions to the world are to be direct and challenging, yet seasoned with the love and grace of the Master. Jesus made it clear to Pilate that God's Kingdom was spiritual: "My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence" (John 18:36). Though not physically violent, the spiritual warfare we wage is an all-out war between evil and holiness. Paul instructed Timothy in a soldier's basic duties: "Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier" (2 Timothy 2:3,4). This is our outward call.
  Second, Christ prayed fervently (John 17) that His Church would be unified. He had undoubtedly foreseen the divisions and confusion that would threaten even the most dedicated followers. Knowing that unity is one of the most powerful forces on earth, whether for good or evil, Jesus taught many things about dealing with self and others: love, forgiveness, patience, restoration, ministry, etc. The Apostle Paul saw such a need for unity that he actually begged and pleaded that they would be of the same mind and heart. This is our inward call.
  Third, we are to be a glorious Church: "...that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5:27). The glory of God will only be seen upon the true Church of God that has been sanctified and made pure. "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). This is our Godward call.

Lesson Questions:

1. Did God design the Church to be active or passive? Matthew 16:15-18; 2 Corinthians 10:1-5; Ephesians 6:10-13; Revelation 12:10,11.

2. What power and authority was given to the Church? Matthew 16:19; Mark 16:15-18; Ephesians 1:19.

3. Matthew 16:19 speaks of the "binding" and "loosing" authority of the Church. Does this mean that the Church must conform to what God is doing, or that God must conform to what the Church is doing? Matthew 6:9.
The Greek verb usages in Matthew 16:19 would indicate that the Church binds or looses that which has already been done in heaven. The Church becomes God's authority on earth to implement and enforce His will.

4. Were denominations, divisions, and splits in the Church a part of the Divine blueprint? Ephesians 4:2-6; 1 Corinthians 3:3-9; 10:16,17.

5. What was Jesus' prayer concerning the unity of the Church? John 17:20-23.

6. What did Jesus say would identify His disciples to the world? John 13:34,35; 1 John 2:3-6.

7. Describe the pattern for Christ and His Church from Paul's writings of the husband-wife relationship. Ephesians 5:22-32.
There are at least seven qualities llisted of what the Church is to be in these verses.

8. What things must be disallowed if the Church is to become what God desires? Romans 16:17,18; 13:13b; 1 Corinthians 1:10,11;
2 Corinthians 12:20; 2 Peter 2:1; Titus 3:9-11.