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Seventh-Day Adventist Elder Guide - What Is A ChurchSeventh-Day Adventist Elder Guide - What Is A Church
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Subjects > Religion > Seventh-day Adventist > Seventh-Day Adventist Elders Handbook Study Guide > Seventh-Day Adventist Elder Guide To The Purpose Of The Church
Link for Bible verses: * [SDA Elders Guide To What Is A Church?]
Many images are used in the Bible for the church:
Local churches are refered to as:
So what really is a church? Here are house suggestions:
Christ gives spiritual life through the church. The church must be Christ-centered and people-oriented.
Christianity is a relational religion, impossible to be fully experienced in isolation, so a church is a group of people.
The church is not a building, a fine building may not represent the condition of the church. A churches true messure is the spirituality of its people.
The first 100 years of Christianity may have had 5,000,000 converts, and yet there was no mention of church buildings.
Church exists for the sake of it's people, not doctrines. Doctrines are to be defended on the basis of truth, but also on how well do they help people become Christlike.
There should be no hierarchy in Christ's church. The relationship between leaders and the led is to be one of brother and sister. Leaders must be servant leaders.
Discrimination on race, tribe, or gender, does not belong in Christ's church.
Churches must not become institution centered, building centered, or even doctrine centered.
1 Pet 2:9 - But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
God initiates the call for His "chosen ones", His "elect", people respond.
The church is people called from the world, and exists in the world, but it is not to be like like the world.
A church that is like the world will have little succes n attrating people from the world. - P. 16
Eph 4:32 - And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
John 13:35 - By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
2 Cor 5:20 - Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
1 Cor 12:28 - And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
1 Pet 5:8 - "The devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour"
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