By Bishop Elijah H.
Hankerson III, BA, MA, DD
I.
GOLDEN
TEXT.
1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself,
and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save
thyself, and them that hear thee.
LESSON NOTES:[1]
I.
THE
WORD CHURCH. The word "Church," which is derived from (Kuptakos,
Kuriakos), "of or belonging to the Lord," is represented in the New Testament
by the Greek word (Ekklesia).
II.
CHRIST’S
USE OF THE WORD “CHURCH.” It is this word ekklesia that was first applied to
the to the Christian society by Jesus Christ himself in St. Matthew 16:18, the
occasion being that of his benediction of Peter at Caesarea Phillippi.
Matthew 16:18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this
rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
A.
WITH THAT IN MIND; SHOULDN’T THE CHURCH CHANGE NEIGHBORHOODS
AND NATIONS?
1.
THE WORD DOES TEACH THAT WE ARE CHANGE AGENTS.
Matthew 5:13-16 13"You are the salt of the
earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It
is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill
cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under
a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the
house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, that
they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
2.
THE CHURCH SHOULD ALSO DO CHARITABLE WORKS.
Galatians 2:10 All they asked was that we should
continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.
3.
BUT, JESUS PROPHESIED THAT WICKEDNESS WOULD INFILTRATE THE
VISIBLE CHURCH (REALM OF PROFESSION).
Luke 13:18-21. 18Then Jesus asked, "What is the kingdom of
God like? What shall I compare it to? 19It is like a mustard seed,
which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the
birds perched in its branches." 20Again he asked, "What
shall I compare the kingdom of God to? 21It is like yeast that a
woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all
through the dough."
Matthew
13:24-30.
24 Jesus told them another parable: “The
kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But
while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat,
and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and
formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said,
‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come
from?’
28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.
“The
servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are
pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let
both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters:
First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the
wheat and bring it into my barn.’”
a.
BIRDS MANY TIMES REPRESENT DEMONIC INFLUENCE.
Mark 4:4 As
he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and
ate it up.
Mark 4:15 Some
people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they
hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.
B.
REMEMBER ALSO WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE LEGALIZATION OF
CHRISTIANITY. After it became the official religion of the Roman
Empire; much of the corruption of the Empire infiltrated the Visible Church.
III.
IS
THE CHURCH AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD THE SAME THING? The Church is a part
of the Kingdom of God. But, a kingdom is the domain of a king. Since God is
King over everything; that really encompasses the entire known and unknown
universe.
IV.
DID
THE CHURCH REPLACE ISRAEL? The church is made up of those who profess Jesus
Christ as Lord and Savior. That obviously would be a distinction from Israel.
Israel has its place and the Church has its place.
Romans 3:1-2 1What advantage, then, is there in
being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? 2Much in every
way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.
Romans 10:1 Brothers and sisters, my heart's
desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.
Romans 11:26 and in this way all Israel will
be saved. As it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will
turn godlessness away from Jacob.
V.
CHRIST’S
VIEW OF THE CHURCH. The words of Christ show that he conceived of the Church as
a society possessing powers of self- government, in which questions of
discipline were to be decided by the collective judgment of the members.
IV.
USE
OF THE WORD “CHURCH” IN ACTS. In Acts, the ekkelsia has come to be the regular
designation for the community of Christian believers, but is used in two
distinct senses.
V.
THE
LOCAL CHURCH. First in a local sense it is used to denote the body of
Christians in a particular place or district as in Jerusalem, in Antioch, in
Caesarea- a usage which reappears in the Apocalypse in the letters to the Seven
Churches (Revelation 2-3).
Acts 5:11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who
heard about these events.
Acts 8:1 And Saul approved of their killing him. On that
day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all
except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
Acts 13:1 Now in the church at Antioch there were
prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen
(who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.
Acts 15:22 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole
church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with
Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were
leaders among the believers.
Acts 18:22 When he landed at Caesarea, he went up to
Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.
VI.
THE
CHURCH AS A WHOLE. The word “church” is used in a more universal sense, to
denote the sum total of existing local churches, which are regarded as forming
one body.
Acts 9:31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and
Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the
LORD and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
VII.
PAUL’S
USE OF THE WORD CHURCH. In the Pauline Epistles, the apostle particularizes the
work ekklesia by applying it to a single Christian household or to little
groups of believers who were accustomed to assemble in private houses for
worship and fellowship, "The Church of the Thessalonians," “The
Church of God which is at Corinth.”
1 Corinthians 1:2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those
sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all
those everywhere who call on the name of our LORD Jesus Christ-their LORD and
ours:
2 Corinthians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of
God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with
all his holy people throughout Achaia:
Romans 16:15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister,
and Olympas and all the LORD's people who are with them.
1 Corinthians 16:19 The churches in the province of Asia send you
greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the LORD, and so does the
church that meets at their house.
Colossians 4:15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters
at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.
1 Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the
Thessalonians in God the Father and the LORD Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to
you.
VIII.
PAUL’S
USE OF THE WORD CHURCH IN HIS LATER EPISTLES:
A. The Church is the body of which Christ is the
head. It is the medium through which God's eternal purpose is made known to all
humanity.
Ephesians 1:22 And God placed all things under his feet and
appointed him to be head over everything for the church,
Colossians 1:24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you,
and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's
afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church
Colossians 1:28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and
teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature
in Christ.
Ephesians 3:9 and to make plain to everyone the
administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who
created all things.
B. It is the Bride of whom He is the heavenly
Bridegroom, the bride for who, in His love, He gave Himself up, that He might
cleanse and sanctity- her and might present her to Himself a glorious church, a
Church without blemish, not having a spot or wrinkle.
IX.
HOW
DO YOU BECOME A PART OF THE CHURCH?
Acts 2:47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the
people. And the LORD added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 5:14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women
believed in the LORD and were added to their number.
Acts 9:26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the
disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a
disciple.
Romans 12:4-5 4For just as each of us has one body with many
members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we,
though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
1 Corinthians 12:13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to
form one body-whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free-and we were all given the
one Spirit to drink.
X.
CHARACTERISTICS
OF THE CHURCH. The Church has certain characteristics which reveal some
conception as to its nature.
A.
FAITH. The fundamental
feature is faith.
Matthew 16:18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this
rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
Acts 2:44 All the believers were together and had
everything in common.
Acts 4:32 All the believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared
everything they had.
Acts 5:14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women
believed in the LORD and were added to their number.
2 Timothy 4:12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
B. FELLOWSHIP. The fact that the Church was first
recognized as a fellowship appears from the name "the brethren" used
by the early Christians.
Romans 12:5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body,
and each member belongs to all the others.
1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of
you is a part of it.
Acts 9:30 When the believers learned of this, they took
him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
1 Thessalonians 4:10 And in fact, you do love all of God's family
throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and
more,
C. INDEPENDENCE. Although local congregations
sprang up wherever the Gospel was preached, and each of these enjoyed an
independent life of its own, the unity of the church was recognized.
Acts 11:22 News of this reached the church in Jerusalem,
and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
Acts 15:2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp
dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with
some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders
about this question.
D. UNITY. Unity of the Church is conceived of as a
visible unity.
John 17:21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as
you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may
believe that you have sent me.
Ephesians 4:3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the
Spirit through the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in
the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole
measure of the fullness of Christ.
E. CONSECRATION. Another dominant note of the New
Testament Church lay in the Consecration of its members.
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the
praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
1 Corinthians 1:2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those
sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all
those everywhere who call on the name of our LORD Jesus Christ-their LORD and
ours:
2 Corinthians 6:17 Therefore, "Come out from them and be
separate, says the LORD. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you."
2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, since we have these promises, dear
friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and
spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
Ephesians 5:26-27 26to make her holy, cleansing her by the
washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a
radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and
blameless.
F. POWER. One final characteristic seen in the
Church is spiritual power. The apostles were to receive the power of the keys
in opening the doors of the Kingdom of Heaven to the Jews and to the Gentiles.
Acts 2:41 Those who accepted his message were baptized,
and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
Acts 10:34-38 34Then Peter began to speak: "I now
realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35but accepts from
every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36You know the
message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace
through Jesus Christ, who is LORD of all. 37You know what has happened
throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that
John preached- 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and
power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the
power of the devil, because God was with him.
Acts 15:7 After much discussion, Peter got up and
addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice
among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel
and believe.
XI.
THE
TRUE CHURCH. When heresies arose, it became necessary for the true church to be
recognized by certain marks of identification.
A.
THE WORD OF GOD. They
are the Preaching of the Word.
John 8:31-32 31To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said,
"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will
know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
John 8:47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The
reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."
John 14:23 Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will
obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make
our home with them.
1 John 4:1-3 1Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but
test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets
have gone out into the world. 2This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God:
Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from
God, 3but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is
the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already
in the world.
2 John 1:9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in
the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has
both the Father and the Son.
B. ORDINANCES. The Right administration of the
Ordinances.
Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mark 16:15 He said to them, "Go into all the world
and preach the gospel to all creation.
Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles'
teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
1 Corinthians 11:23-30 23For I received from the LORD what I also
passed on to you: The LORD Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,
24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body,
which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 25In the same way, after
supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood;
do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26For whenever you
eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the LORD's death until he
comes. 27So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the LORD in an
unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the
LORD. 28Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and
drink from the cup. 29For those who eat and drink without discerning the body
of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30That is why many among you
are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.
D. DISCIPLINE. The Faithful Exercise of Discipline.
Matthew 18:18 "Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on
earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed
in heaven.
1 Corinthians 5:1-5 1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality
among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping
with his father's wife. 2And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have gone into
mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this?
3For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit.
As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in
the name of our LORD Jesus on the one who has been doing this. 4So when you are
assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our LORD Jesus is
present, 5hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that
his spirit may be saved on the day of the LORD.
1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not a God of disorder but of
peace-as in all the congregations of the LORD's people.
1 Corinthians 14:40 But everything should be done in a fitting and
orderly way.
Revelation 2:14-15 14Nevertheless, I have a few things against
you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak
to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and
committed sexual immorality. 15Likewise, you also have those who hold to the
teaching of the Nicolaitans.
Revelation 2:20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You
tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she
misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed
to idols.
XII.
CHRIST
IS THE HEAD OF ONE CHURCH. The Church forms a spiritual unity of which Christ
is the divine Head. It is animated by one Spirit, the Spirit of Christ; it
professes one faith, shares one hope and serves one King. It is the citadel of
the truth and God’s agency for communicating to believers all spiritual
blessings.
XIII.
THE
NAME OF THE CHURCH. The Church is the object of our faith rather than of
knowledge The name, “Church Of God In Christ," is supported by 1
Thessalonians 2:14 and other passages in the Pauline epistles.
1 Thessalonians 2:14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the
churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered
like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
A.
OTHER NAMES INCLUDE:
Psalm 89:7 ....the council of the holy ones...
Psalm 111:1 ...the company of the upright and in the
assembly.
Ephesians 1:22-23 ...the church, His body, the fullness of Him
who fills all in all.
Colossians 1:24 ...His body, which is the church...
Isaiah 60:21 ....The branch of My planting....
Revelation 21:9 ...the bride, the wife of the Lamb.
Acts
20:28. ...church
of God which He purchased with His own blood.
1 Timothy 3:15 ...the household of God, which is the church of
the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.
Hebrews 12:22 ...the city of the living God, the heavenly
Jerusalem...
Psalm 149:1 ...the congregation of the godly ones.
Hebrews 12:23 ...the church of the firstborn, whose names are
written in heaven...
XIV.
PRAYER
FOR SALVATION. As we close, if you
have not received this Jesus pray this simple prayer:
"Father, I know that I have sinned against You. Please
forgive me. Wash me clean. I promise to trust in Jesus, Your Son. I believe
that He died for me—He took my sin upon Himself when He died on the cross. I
believe that He was raised from the dead. I surrender my life to Jesus today.
"Thank You, Father, for Your gift of forgiveness and eternal
life. Please help me to live for you. In Jesus' name, Amen."
[1] Range, C. F.,
Ed. Official Manual Church Of God In Christ. COGIC: Memphis, 1973.
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