What is “the Church?” Have you ever thought through a definition? I’ve been thinking about a good definition for years. Here’s my current thought.
Let us know what you think.
The Church is Redeemed people called out of the world to come together to hear God and do what He says.
The Church is the redeemed People of God
•Redeemed
•Bought with blood
•We are not our own
•Paid for, purchased
•1 Cor 6:19-20
•not just an institution
•Not only an organization
•But an organism
The Church is “called out”
•Greek ek=out of plus kaleo=to call
•We are called out of the world, devil, flesh
•World: anything, good or bad, that takes us away from God
•“Called out’ to “come together to hear God”
Hebrew Background
•Qahal=to summon as assembly, congregation
•Numbers 10:7–two trumpet blasts
•People called out of tents, dwellings to assemble at door of tabernacle to hear God”
Greek Background
•Ekklesia: the convened assembly (Acts 19:32)
•Assembly gathered to take responsibility to raise funds, govern military, declare war.
The Church is God’s People
•Not just “called out”
•Rather, called out to ”come together”
•109 times in New Testament
Church Myth # 1
•Attendance is optional
Rather, God Himself has summoned His people!
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another . . .
Church Myth # 2
• “I have chosen to assemble”
Rather, God has summoned us
You did not choose Me, but I have chosen you (John 15:16)
The Church is—Called Out to Come Together
•To Hear—”My sheep hear My voice (John 1:27)
•To Do—Everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them. . . (Matt 7:24ff).
What to Do When Church Meets?
•1 Cor 14:26:
•What is the outcome, then brethren? When you come together each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation.
•Let all things be done for edification.
Summary:The Church is Redeemed People Called Out of the world to Come Together to Hear God and Do What He Says.What do you think?
[…] What I have written is a proposed introduction to the study of hearing and acting on God’s voice. I’m calling it akouology and suggest this is an area of utmost importance for believers and the church of God in general. If the church on earth is be what God called us to be, we must learn to hear God and do what He says. This is what it means to be the church. […]