The Doctrine of the Church

Sermon Series: Theological Foundations

What is The Church? 

• In the Bible, “the church” = εκκλησια (ekklesia)
• εκκλησια => εκ (out, from) + καλεω (to call, to summon)
• Therefore, “the church” = “the called out ones”

1 Peter 2:9-10, “But you are a chosen race [or people], a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people. Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

• What does it mean to have been called out of darkness, and into God’s marvellous light? (v.9)
  • It includes receiving mercy from Him (v.10).
  • It includes becoming his people (v.10).

The church is a group of people whom God, in His mercy, has called out of darkness, adopted as His own children, and brought into His marvellous light. 

NOTE: 4 Ways the Word ‘Church’ is Used Today

• The universal church: all of God’s people – all around the world.
• The local church: a group of God’s people in a certain location who have decided to be the church together.
• The visible church: everyone who claims to know and represent Jesus.
• The invisible church: everyone who actually knows and represents Jesus.

What Does the Church Do? 

1 Peter 2:9-10, “But you are a chosen race [or people], a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people. Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

The Core Four priorities of a church that’s doing what the church has been called out to do (proclaiming God’s excellencies are:

1. Building one another up in Christlikeness (Eph. 4:11-13, 1 Thess. 5:11)
2. Mobilizing one another for ministry and mission. (Matt. 5:14-16, 2 Cor. 5:18-20)
3. Caring for one another’s souls. (1 Cor 12:24-26, Gal 5:18-20)
4. Close-knit Christian community with one another (Ecc. 4:9-12, Acts 4:43)