LESSON SIX
The Church of Jesus Christ
What is the strongest organization on earth? It is the church. Composed of every person who has received Jesus Christ into his or her life, the church is also called the Body of Christ or the Bride of Christ. It is the one organization for which he gave his life (Ephesians 5:25).
The Bible describes the church in two senses:
- The universal church, which refers to all true Christians
- The local church, which is an individual group of Christians who gather for worship, instruction, and mutual encouragement
Lesson Objective: To recognize the importance of the church in the Christian’s life
BIBLE STUDY
Read Hebrews 10:19-25 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-31
Before you consider the many verses below, be sure to read the Bible passages listed above.
If you click on the verses in the study below you can see the entire verse! If you are not on-the-go, consider opening a physical Bible and looking up the passages.
The Universal Church
- Paul frequently compares the church to a body. Who is the only head (Ephesians 5:23)? Who are the members (1 Corinthians 12:27)?
- How does Christ see the church (1 Corinthians 12:12,13)?
- As members of his body, how should we feel toward each other (1 Corinthians 12:25,26)? Name some specific ways we can express these feelings.
- Read Acts 1:6–11 carefully. According to verse 8, what is to be the church’s great concern? Where does the Bible say Jesus went physically (verse 9)? Describe in your own words how Jesus will come again for his church (verse 11). Who knows when that will be (verse 7)? (See also Mark 13:32,33.) Although Jesus is spiritually present in our hearts, he is also with God the Father in heaven. In the future, he will return to judge the world and rule the nations (Matthew 25:31,32). In the meantime, the church is to be his witness on earth and bring as many people as possible into a personal relationship with him.
- In light of this, what should be one of your main purposes while here on earth?
The Local Church
- What are Christians not to do (Hebrews 10:25)? Note: The “meeting together” refers to the regular assembling of the local church.
- We are saved by faith. But the church has two simple, yet meaningful, ordinances that we are to observe: baptism and communion. According to Matthew 28:18,19, why should we be baptized? What is the purpose of the communion service (1 Corinthians 11:23–26)?
- Write your own one sentence description of each of the following local churches:
The church in Jerusalem (Acts 4:32, 33)
The church in Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 1:6–10)
The church in Laodicea (Revelation 3:14–17)
Just as some New Testament churches are dynamic and others powerless, so it is today. Not all churches are vital, and great variety exists even within a single denomination. To stimulate your Christian growth, you should attend a church that exalts Christ, teaches the Bible, explains clearly what a Christian is and how to become one, and provides loving fellowship. - What could happen to your spiritual growth if you:
Do not attend church regularly?
Attend a church that is powerless?
LIFE APPLICATION
Questions
- Do you recognize the importance of the church in the Christian’s life?
- Give at least two reasons it is important for us to be a part of a local church.
- If you are not active in a local church, plan right now to get involved.
Ask your Christian friends to recommend dynamic churches. Write the church names in your notes.
Pray over the list.
Ask God to help you select the best one for you.
Visit each until you prayerfully decide on one.
Then look for ways to serve the Lord in your church.
Memory Verse: “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:25 NLT)