'Food for Thought' is the free monthly, Bible-based meal for individual digestion or group feasting, and is a work of the Holy Spirit.
October 2024 - CHURCH
"...the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved" (Acts 2:47b KJVII).
The Greek word translated "church" is "ekklesia", literally meaning "a calling out of". Ekklesia was used amongst the Greeks for a group of people gathered to discuss the affairs of State (see Acts 19:39), and it was also used for a riotous mob (see Acts 19:32,41). Ekklesia is used in the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament) to designate a gathering of the Israeli nation for some purpose; it is also used in the New Testament for an assembly of the Israelites (see Acts 7:38). However, the word ekklesia is mostly used in the New Testament to describe a group of Christians, either the whole company of redeemed people (for example, in Matthew 16:18 and Ephesians 1:23; 5:23) or a local congregation of Christians (for example, in 1 Corinthians 1:2 and Colossians 4:15). English use of the word "church" today is mostly associated with Christianity. Although church still means the body of all Christians, the Oxford Dictionary lists its primary meaning as "a building for public Christian worship", and the worship itself -- Christians "go to church" and "meet after church". The word church is also used today by Christian organisations -- The Roman Catholic Church, The Anglican Church, The Pentecostal Church, The Church of Christ -- to name a few. There are thousands of different organisations that have the word church in the name of their organisation.
Moving on from semantics, we get a clearer picture of the church by looking at the analogies of the church in the New Testament. The church is variously depicted as:
* An assembly of the saved (Acts 2:47).
* The body of Christ with Christ as the head (Ephesians 1:23; 5:23).
* The bride of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:24-27; Revelation 19:7-9).
* A flock of sheep with Christ as the shepherd (John 10:14-16; 1 Peter 5:2).
* The family of God with God as the Father (Ephesians 2:19; Romans 8:15-16 ; Galatians 4:4-5).
* The temple of God in which God dwells (1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 6:16; 1 Peter 2:4-5).
* The kingdom of God/Christ/Heaven with Christ as the King (John 18:36-37).
It is important for a follower of Jesus to understand the difference between the church as a group of redeemed people chosen by God, and the church as an earthly organisation of Christians who adhere to particular doctrines. Christ loved the church and gave his life for it, purifying it with his blood so that he might present the church to himself as a pure and faultless bride (Ephesians 5:25-27). Whilst church organisations are useful in bringing Christians together for worship, fellowship and good works, they must never usurp Christ as head of the church, nor should they substitute their church for Christ's church, his body. Remember these truths:
* Salvation is in Christ, not in a particular church organisation (as some like to proclaim). The saved make up Christ's church, and Christ knows who is in his church. So preach the gospel! Convert the lost to Jesus, not to a particular church and its doctrines. "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name (the name of Jesus) under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12 NIV). "I (Jesus) am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and they know me" (John 10:14 NIV).
* Obey Christ, not clergy, pastors, priests, or man-made rules and traditions. "If you love me (Jesus), you will obey what I command" (John 14:15 NIV). "Peter and the other apostles answered, 'We must obey God, not men'" (Acts 5:29 GNB/TEV).
* Follow Christ, not charismatic leaders or television evangelists. "...He (the shepherd) calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice" (John 10:4 NIV).
* Worship God, not idols. Don't idolize your particular church organisation, church leaders, or the Bible. "For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only'" (Matthew 4:10b NIV). "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me (Jesus), yet you refuse to come to me to have life" (John 5:39-40 NIV).
* Serve God by serving others, but don't become a slave of a church organisation. "You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men" (1 Corinthians 7:23 NIV). Church organisations have obligations and commitments and agendas, and they need volunteers to achieve their goals. Many excellent works are done by church organisations, and God may direct you to serve him in this way. But there are other ways to serve God, and you should always ask God what he wants you to do. "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as though you were working for the Lord and not for men ... For Christ is the real Master you serve" (Colossians 3:23,24b (GNB/TEV).
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"...the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved" (Acts 2:47b KJVII).
The Greek word translated "church" is "ekklesia", literally meaning "a calling out of". Ekklesia was used amongst the Greeks for a group of people gathered to discuss the affairs of State (see Acts 19:39), and it was also used for a riotous mob (see Acts 19:32,41). Ekklesia is used in the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament) to designate a gathering of the Israeli nation for some purpose; it is also used in the New Testament for an assembly of the Israelites (see Acts 7:38). However, the word ekklesia is mostly used in the New Testament to describe a group of Christians, either the whole company of redeemed people (for example, in Matthew 16:18 and Ephesians 1:23; 5:23) or a local congregation of Christians (for example, in 1 Corinthians 1:2 and Colossians 4:15). English use of the word "church" today is mostly associated with Christianity. Although church still means the body of all Christians, the Oxford Dictionary lists its primary meaning as "a building for public Christian worship", and the worship itself -- Christians "go to church" and "meet after church". The word church is also used today by Christian organisations -- The Roman Catholic Church, The Anglican Church, The Pentecostal Church, The Church of Christ -- to name a few. There are thousands of different organisations that have the word church in the name of their organisation.
Moving on from semantics, we get a clearer picture of the church by looking at the analogies of the church in the New Testament. The church is variously depicted as:
* An assembly of the saved (Acts 2:47).
* The body of Christ with Christ as the head (Ephesians 1:23; 5:23).
* The bride of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:24-27; Revelation 19:7-9).
* A flock of sheep with Christ as the shepherd (John 10:14-16; 1 Peter 5:2).
* The family of God with God as the Father (Ephesians 2:19; Romans 8:15-16 ; Galatians 4:4-5).
* The temple of God in which God dwells (1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 6:16; 1 Peter 2:4-5).
* The kingdom of God/Christ/Heaven with Christ as the King (John 18:36-37).
It is important for a follower of Jesus to understand the difference between the church as a group of redeemed people chosen by God, and the church as an earthly organisation of Christians who adhere to particular doctrines. Christ loved the church and gave his life for it, purifying it with his blood so that he might present the church to himself as a pure and faultless bride (Ephesians 5:25-27). Whilst church organisations are useful in bringing Christians together for worship, fellowship and good works, they must never usurp Christ as head of the church, nor should they substitute their church for Christ's church, his body. Remember these truths:
* Salvation is in Christ, not in a particular church organisation (as some like to proclaim). The saved make up Christ's church, and Christ knows who is in his church. So preach the gospel! Convert the lost to Jesus, not to a particular church and its doctrines. "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name (the name of Jesus) under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12 NIV). "I (Jesus) am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and they know me" (John 10:14 NIV).
* Obey Christ, not clergy, pastors, priests, or man-made rules and traditions. "If you love me (Jesus), you will obey what I command" (John 14:15 NIV). "Peter and the other apostles answered, 'We must obey God, not men'" (Acts 5:29 GNB/TEV).
* Follow Christ, not charismatic leaders or television evangelists. "...He (the shepherd) calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice" (John 10:4 NIV).
* Worship God, not idols. Don't idolize your particular church organisation, church leaders, or the Bible. "For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only'" (Matthew 4:10b NIV). "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me (Jesus), yet you refuse to come to me to have life" (John 5:39-40 NIV).
* Serve God by serving others, but don't become a slave of a church organisation. "You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men" (1 Corinthians 7:23 NIV). Church organisations have obligations and commitments and agendas, and they need volunteers to achieve their goals. Many excellent works are done by church organisations, and God may direct you to serve him in this way. But there are other ways to serve God, and you should always ask God what he wants you to do. "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as though you were working for the Lord and not for men ... For Christ is the real Master you serve" (Colossians 3:23,24b (GNB/TEV).
To Subscribe
Please click the SUBSCRIBE button below, enter your email address in the box provided, and click the SUBSCRIBE button a second time. Thank you.