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Foundation Study #9: The Church

Use the Discovery Study tool to discuss this doctrinal statement.
  1. The Church universal began at Pentecost and consists of all those who are united to the risen Lord by putting their faith in him.  
  2. The Church is built on the testimony of faith in Christ.  
  3. Those who have faith in Christ are baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ, the Church, of which Christ is the head.  
  4. Believers are called to use their spiritual gift(s) to build up the body of Christ and to live out this unity by keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  
  5. The Church exists to bring glory to God, displaying his sovereign wisdom.  
  6. The purpose of the Church is to minister to God in worship, minister to believers by nurturing them in the faith, and minister to the world through evangelism and mercy.  
  7. The purpose of the Church can also be summed up in the Great Commandment (love God and love people) and the Great Commission (go into all the world and make disciples).  
  8. The church ordinances are baptism and communion.  
  9. Baptism is an outward expression of the inward identification with Christ in his death and resurrection and belief in the promises of forgiven, fulfilling and forever life.  
  10. Communion is a memorial commanded by our Lord to remember his sacrificial and beneficial death and resurrection.
Church Leadership
Elders are the leaders of a local church; they are also called overseers/bishops.  (Elder refers to the office; overseer/bishop refers to function of the office.)  The scriptural norm is for a local church to have a plurality of elders who oversee and rule, preach and teach, shepherd, and guard from false teachings.  The qualifications for elders are found in 1 Timothy 3:1-6 and Titus 1:7-9.  Deacons serve the church under the authority of the elders, freeing them up to concentrate on the ministry of the Word and prayer.  The qualifications for deacons are found in 1 Timothy 3:8-10, 12,13, and Titus 1.
Discovery Study
3-Step Bible Study Tool
  1. Read: Read the doctrinal statement together.
  2. Restate: Summarize it as a group from memory.
  3. Reflect: Each person pick a One Thing and discuss as a group:
    1. ​​What does it say? What does it mean? What does it matter?

*A One Thing is a word or phrase that stands out to you personally.
Related verses.
  1. Matthew 16:13-18
  2. Matthew 22:37-40
  3. Matthew 28:16-20
  4. 1 Corinthians 11:26
  5. 1 Corinthians 12:12-27
  6. Ephesians 1:20-23
  7. Ephesians 2:19-21
  8. Ephesians 3:10, 21
  9. Ephesians 4:3-10
  10. Ephesians 5:25-33
  11. Colossians 1:18, 24
  12. Colossians 4:15
  13. 1 John 2:19