Jesus Christ is sovereignly and triumphantly building the Church-His body-which is composed of all believers in Jesus Christ and has been given the task of making disciples, functioning as salt and light in the world, and loving and serving one another until He returns. In part 9 of We Believe, Pastor Dan Cox reads from Matthew 16:13-20 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-27.
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Study Notes
WE BELIEVE… THE CHURCH
We believe that the true church is composed of all persons who, through saving faith in Jesus Christ, have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit are united together in the Body of Christ, of which He is Lord and Head, and are commissioned for the God-given task of proclaiming the gospel to every person. Only those who are members of the true Church shall be eligible for membership in the local church. Every local church has the right, under Christ, to govern its own affairs.
Understanding the Text (Matthew 16:13-20)
- Identity of Christ (vv. 13-17)
- Mission of Christ (vv. 18-20)
Understanding the Text (1 Corinthians 12:12-27)
- The Analogy of the Body (vv. 12-16)
- The Interdependence of the Body (vv. 17-25a)
- The Fellowship of the Body (vv. 25b-27)
The Doctrine of the Church
- The Ekklesia
“The Assembly…Called-Out Ones”
- Biblical Analogies
- Body of Christ
- Bride of Christ
- Holy Temple
- Universal and Local
Universal: All true believers in Jesus Christ everywhere from all time.
Local: The gathering of believers in a specific location.
- Visible and Invisible
Visible: The outward church containing both believers and unbelievers.
Invisible: True believers in Jesus Christ known ultimately only unto God.
- Mission and Ministries
- Make Disciples
- Salt and Light
- Worship
- Edify
- Love
- Serve
- Leadership
- Christ is the Head
- Pastors/Elders… Deacons
- Complementarianism and Egalitarianism
- Government
- Episcopal
- Presbyterian
- Congregational
- Hybrid
- Sacraments/ Ordinances
- Sacraments: Means of Grace
- Ordinances: Symbolic Acts
The Doctrine of the Church: A Mercifully Brief Deep Dive into the Weeds
- Continuity and Discontinuity Between the Testaments
- Distinctions Between Israel and the Church
- Covenant Theology
- Emphasizes continuity; Church as fulfilment of promises to Israel
- Dispensational Theology
- Emphasizes discontinuity: Israel and the Church are distinct
- The Beginning of the Church
- During Jesus’ ministry
- Pentecost (Acts 2)
- Mid-Acts
WLBC & The Doctrine of the Church
Leadership: Complementarian
Government: Congregational (Hybrid), Non-denominational Independent
Ordinances: Believer’s Baptism by Immersion
Memorial Lord’s Supper
Continuity: Dispensational Premillennialism
Applying the Text
- Worship…in spirit and truth
- Love…as Christ loved you
- Serve…one another
- Proclaim Christ…in word and deed
- Make disciples…of all peoples