What is a local church?

There is a difference between an individual and a local church.

• Matthew 18:15-17
• I Timothy 5:3-4, 16
• Some say whatever an individual has authority to do, a local church has authority to do, but …
  • Individuals marry each other (I Corinthians 7:2-5)
  • Individuals get jobs and make a profit (James 4:13; I Thessalonians 4:11-12)
  • Individuals have certain family responsibilities (Ephesians 6:4; Titus 2:4-5)
  • Local churches cannot do these things.
• A letter being addressed to a church does not mean that everything in that letter pertains to collective church work.
  • I Corinthians 2:7; 7:2-3
  • I Thessalonians 1:1; 4:11
• A letter addressed to an individual may contain some instructions pertaining to a local church
  • I Timothy 1:2; 3:1-13; 5:16
  • Titus 1:4-9
• The word “ekklesia” is a collective noun (i.e., refers to a group of people).
  • Acts 8:1, 3
  • Acts 11:26
  • Acts 14:26-28
  • I Corinthians 1:2
  • Philippians 1:1; 4:15
  • Hebrews 12:23
• The Bible never uses the word “church” to refer to a group of congregations.
  • There is a word that means “a group of congregations”: denomination.
  • I Corinthians 12:12

When do you have local church action?

An individual Christian (or several Christians) doing something is not necessarily church action.

• Matthew 18:15-17
• I Timothy 5:16
• Although … Philippians 2:25, 30; 4:14-18

Even if ALL members of a church act together, that’s not necessarily church action.

• Acts 19:39
• Church action isn’t determined simply by the number or percentage of members involved (Philippians 2:25), but by the nature of the action.

Church action occurs when the members act together in Christ.

• I Corinthians 14:23
• I Timothy 5:16
• Acts 4:32-5:4
• Matthew 18:15-17
• Philippians 2:25, 30; 4:14-18
• I Corinthians 11:17
• Philippians 1:27

Mindset

• What do you notice?
• How does it make you feel?
• Does it make you want to do anything?
• Does looking at this picture make you wish anything was different?
• Matthew 13:22 - Our possessions can become thorns to us.
• Proverbs 30:7
• II Corinthians 5:16; 10:3
• Galatians 5:16; 6:8

My brother whom I have seen

• I John 4:20
• When we see our brethren, it should naturally flow that we love them.
• I Thessalonians 3:6

Joy - there was so much laughter!

• Colossians 3:16
• The joy in them was overflowing.
• Luke 13:14
• I John 3:18 - Love must be more than lipservice.

Being willing to law down your life.

• I John 3:16-17, 10; 5:16
• I must be ready and willing to help my brother with his most important needs.

Lessons from Toniná

• Genesis 11:4

The ball game … and other religious rituals

• I Kings 18:26-29
• Acts 12:22
• Isaiah 40:6-8

A common theme

• James 1:9-12
• How is it possible?

Abraham jumped off a cliff

• Genesis 22:10-12
• Genesis 22:16
• How could Abraham do it?
• Hebrews 11:17 - By faith!

I Samuel 3

• I Samuel 3:8 - Why did it take Eli three times to realize this was a message from God? Eli had received word from God in the past. I Samuel 3:1 says that word of the Lord was rare in those days.
• I Samuel 3:10 - Samuel slept every night near the ark of the covenant. Getting direct word from God was a big deal!
• I Samuel 3:15 - Samuel was not given a fun message to deliver. This was legitimately scary for a young man. Eli had already been warned by God about the behavior of his sons, but we are not told Samuel was party to this. By giving this warning to Samuel to take to Eli, God was warning Samuel also. This may have also been a bit of a test for Samuel to see if he would be able to take bad news to people in high places. God would require this many more times in the future.
• I Samuel 3:18 - To his credit, Eli accepted the judgment. However, Eli also did not act to repent and restrain his sons. We have examples in the Bible of God relenting from judgment He had planned to bring down on people because they acted swiftly to change their ways (Ninevah, for example).

I Samuel 4

• I Samuel 4:3 - The Philistines assumed God was with Israel, but Israel did not consider this.
• I Samuel 4:10 - Because Israel did not consult with God, they lost 4,000 men (I Samuel 4:2), then another 30,000 men.
• I Samuel 4:4 - Hophni and Phineas thought God had to be with them if they had the ark of the covenant with them. This was a grace misunderstanding of how God works (not to mention a violation of God’s laws about the ark).
• I Samuel 4:18 - As if the death of his sons was not enough, it seems to have been the capture of the ark that truly stunned Eli, resulting in his death.

Introduction

• Ecclesiastes 12:1; 11:9-10

Challenge yourselv to be a good learner and thinker.

• I Corinthians 14:20
• Sometimes, learning isn’t so much about the subject itself but about learning how to learn and think.
• Matthew 18:12
• Matthew 21:28-32
• Matthew 22:42
• Jesus was always trying to get people to think.

Develop a good work ethic.

• Nehemiah 1:1; 4:1, 6, 11, 17
• Nehemiah 6:9, 15 - Enemies tried to trick and frighten Nehemiah, but he would not be deterred.
• Get to work! Have a good attitude!
• Colossians 3:23-24

Manage your time well.

• Matthew 6:25, 33
• Who is the most important?
• Can you do your homework and your Bible lesson?
• You may have to reduce school stuff to make room for God.

Be kind.

• Ephesians 4:31
• Acts 9:36; 10:32
• Job 4:4
• Younger people are looking up to you!
• Even a small act of kindness goes a long way.

Learn humility.

• I Corinthians 13:4-7
• Proverbs 16:18
• We compare ourselves with others in school, and that can lead to pride.
• Romans 12:16
• James 4:6
• Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

What does “church” mean? (continued)

The Bible’s use of “ekklesia”: universal spiritual group (continued)

• Matthew 16:13-20 (Acts 2:36-41)
• The term “universal church”
  • The word “catholic” means “universal.”
• One single Savior ➡️ one, single group of saved people (church)

The Bible’s use of “ekklesia”: local spiritual group

• I Corinthians 1:2
• I Thessalonians 1:1

The Bible’s use of “ekklesia”: local church assembly

• I Corinthians 14:4, 5, 12, 19, 23, 28, 33, 34, 35
• I Corinthians 11:18, 22

The Bible’s use of “ekklesia”: Christians in certain regions

• Acts 9:31

The difference between “church” and “churches”

Number

Salvation

Scope

Entrance and removal

Beginning and ending

Oversight

Treasury

Work

• Examples of the work of local churches:
  • Help needy saints in the local church (Acts 6:1-6)
  • Help needy saints in other churches (Romans 15:26)
  • Add/subtract members (Acts 9:26-28; I Corinthians 5:13)
  • Assembly to worship God and edify each other (I Corinthians 14:23-26)
  • Have overseers and deacons (Philippians 1:1)
  • Make decisions (I Corinthians 16:3)
  • Help sinners repent (Matthew 18:17)
  • Partake of the Lord’s Supper (I Corinthians 11:17-24)
  • Sing spiritual songs (I Corinthians 14:26)
  • Pray (I Corinthians 14:15)
  • Teach God’s word (I Corinthians 14:26)
  • Collect money (I Corinthians 16:2)
  • Sound forth the word (I Thessalonians 1:8)
  • Support preachers in other places (Philippians 4:15-16)
• Romans 16:16 - This verse is sometimes cited as authority for collective action.