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The church is literally the ekklesia, “called out ones”.
Our study is a biblical portrait of who and what we are…
More than a 160-year-old organization we are an organism…
The Scriptures call us the body of Christ, a living, growing body called to existence by Christ!!
The New Testament portrait of the church starts in the gospels and finds its complete detail in the epistles.
I. DIVINELY FORMED AND KEPT (Mt. 16, 18) Look at Mt. 16:18 – Christ is building it, but how?
A. Called by God into being (Eph. 1:3, 6, 10)
Eight aspects 3:6, 10
B. Equipped by the Spirit for His purposes
1 Cor. 12:7-11, 12-14 = spiritual gifts each
Eph. 4:11-12 = gifts of pastor-teachers
We will examine pastorals = qualified leaders
C. Disciplined by Christ for purity (Mt. 18:15-20)
Steps 1-4
Promise v. 20, Christ there
Also 1 Cor. 5, Rev. 2-3, see Christ personally involved
Not only are we as the church divinely former. We are also directly commissioned. Open to Mt. 28.