Podcast Prep - Do You Church?

1. We like to think of Church as something we do for God. It is better thought as something that God does for us so that then we can:
   

dict:torrey Church, the


Belongs to God kjv@1Timothy:3:15
The body of Christ kjv@Ephesians:1:23 kjv@Colossians:1:24
Christ, the foundation-stone of kjv@1Corinthians:3:11 kjv@Ephesians:2:20 kjv@1Peter:2:4 kjv@1Peter:2:5
Christ, the head of kjv@Ephesians:1:22 kjv@Ephesians:5:23
Loved by Christ kjv@Songs:7:10 kjv@Ephesians:5:25
Purchased by the blood of Christ kjv@Acts:20:28 kjv@Ephesians:5:25 kjv@Hebrews:9:12
Sanctified and cleansed by Christ kjv@1Corinthians:6:11 kjv@Ephesians:5:26 kjv@Ephesians:5:27
Subject to Christ kjv@Romans:7:4 kjv@Ephesians:5:24
The object of the grace of God kjv@Isaiah:27:3 kjv@2Corinthians:8:1
Displays the wisdom of God kjv@Ephesians:3:10
Shows forth the praises of God kjv@Isaiah:60:6
God defends kjv@Psalms:89:18 kjv@Isaiah:4:5 kjv@Isaiah:49:25 kjv@Matthew:16:18
God provides ministers for kjv@Jeremiah:3:15 kjv@Ephesians:4:11 kjv@Ephesians:4:12
Glory to be ascribed to God by kjv@Ephesians:3:21
Elect kjv@1Peter:5:13
Glorious kjv@Psalms:45:13 kjv@Ephesians:5:27
Clothed in righteousness kjv@Revelation:19:8
Believers continually added to, by the Lord kjv@Acts:2:27 kjv@Acts:5:14 kjv@Acts:11:24
Unity of kjv@Romans:12:5 kjv@1Corinthians:10:17 kjv@1Corinthians:12:12 kjv@Galatians:3:28
Saints baptised into, by one Spirit kjv@1Corinthians:12:13
Ministers commanded to feed kjv@Acts:20:28
Is edified by the word kjv@1Corinthians:14:4 kjv@1Corinthians:14:13 kjv@Ephesians:4:15 kjv@Ephesians:4:16
The wicked persecute kjv@Acts:8:1-3 kjv@1Thessalonians:2:14 kjv@1Thessalonians:2:15
Not to be despised kjv@1Corinthians:11:22
Defiling of, will be punished kjv@1Corinthians:3:17
Extent of, predicted kjv@Isaiah:2:2 kjv@Ezekiel:17:22-24 kjv@Daniel:2:34 kjv@Daniel:2:35 kjv@Habakkuk:2:14


2. Then and only then can we add our voice/involvement/worship/service/oversight.
   
3. OT/NT Church is one
   

dict:easton church :


(1.) Its unity. God has ever had only one church on earth. We sometimes speak of the Old Testament Church and of the New Testament church, but they are one and the same. The Old Testament church was not to be changed but enlarged kjv@Isaiah:49:13-23 kjv@Isaiah:60:1-14). When the Jews are at length restored, they will not enter a new church, but will be grafted again into "their own olive tree" kjv@Romans:11:18-24; comp. kjv@Ephesians:2:11-22). The apostles did not set up a new organization. Under their ministry disciples were "added" to the "church" already existing kjv@Acts:2:47).


4. Of interest: Church/State in scriptures:
   

dict:naves church


CHURCH AND STATE @


- ECCLESIASTICAL POWER SUPERIOR TO CIVIL .Appoints kings kjv@1Samuel:10:1 .Directs administration kjv@1Samuel:15:1-4 .Reproves rulers kjv@1Samuel:15:14-35 .Withdraws support and anoints a successor kjv@1Samuel:16:1-13; kjv@2Kings:9:1-26; kjv@2Kings:11:4-12 .Attempted usurpation of ecclesiastical functions by civil authorities, reproved kjv@1Samuel:13:8-14; kjv@2Chronicles:26:16-21


- STATE SUPERIOR TO RELIGION .David, in organizing the priests and Levites in courses, and appointing musicians, instruments, and other details of religious services kjv@1Chronicles:23; 24; 25; kjv@2Chronicles:35:4 .Solomon, in thrusting Abiathar out of the high priest's office kjv@1Kings:2:26-27 .Solomon, in overshadowing the ecclesiastical in building the temple, and officiating primarily in the dedication, intercessory or priestly prayer, pronouncing the benediction, etc kjv@1Kings:5:8 .Hezekiah, in reorganizing temple service kjv@2Chronicles:31:2-19 .Jeroboam, in subverting the Jewish religion kjv@1Kings:12:26-33 .Manasseh, in subverting, and afterward restoring, the true religion kjv@2Chronicles:33:2-9 kjv@2Chronicles:33:15-17 .Jehoash, in supervising the repairs of the temple kjv@2Kings:12:4-18 .Ahaz, in transforming the altars kjv@2Kings:16:10-16 .Josiah, in exercising the function of the priests in the temple kjv@2Chronicles:34:29-33


- STATE FAVORABLE TO RELIGION .Cyrus, in his proclamation to restore the temple at Jerusalem kjv@2Chronicles:36:22-23; kjv@Ezra:1:1-11 .Darius, in his edict furthering the restoration of the temple kjv@Ezra:6:1-14 .Artaxerxes, in exempting priests, Levites, and other temple functionaries from taxes kjv@Ezra:7:24 .
See GOVERNMENT .
See TAX

Quotes:

"The difference between listening to a radio sermon and going to church...is almost like the difference between calling your girl on the phone and spending an evening with her". Dwight L. Moody

"One hundred religious persons knit into a unity by careful organizations do not constitute a church any more than eleven dead men make a football team. The first requisite is life, always". A. W. Tozer

" We do not want a church that will move with the world. We want a church that will move the world".- G.K. Chesterton

"The Church is not a gallery for the better exhibition of eminent Christians, but a school for the education of imperfect ones". - Henry Ward Beecher

"You never have to advertise a fire. Everyone comes running when there's a fire. Likewise, if your church is on fire, you will not have to advertise it. The community will already know it". - Leonard Ravenhill

"The condition of the church may be very accurately gauged by its prayer meetings. So is the prayer meeting a grace-ometer, and from it we may judge of the amount of divine working among a people. If God be near a church, it must pray. And if He be not there, one of the first tokens of His absence will be slothfulness in prayer". - Charles Spurgeon

Misc. Interest

kjv@Acts:20:28 @ Take heed therefore (in context of "kjv@Acts:20:27 @ For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God") unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

kjv@Romans:16:5 @ Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well beloved Epaenetus, who is the first fruits of Achaia unto Christ.

kjv@1Corinthians:4:17 @ For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

Further Resources:
church congregation