62. Building The Church
What does a good church look like?

In Your Bible Read This
nz27/zOtkro19.htm#1">Revelation 19.1-10; nz17/zEfesi05.htm#22">Ephesians 5.22-32.

Here Is Your Memory Verse
His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God
should be made known to the rulers and authorities
in the heavenly realms. nz17/zEfesi03.htm#10">Ephesians 3.10

Meditate Word By Word On This Verse
nz04/zIoann15.htm#16">John 15.16.

Spend a Minute to Change the World
Pray For Comoros - 500,000 Indian Ocean islanders
Underdeveloped, poor, Muslim, 120 believers, intense persecution

A. What Is A Church?

Whether we are talking about the universal Church in all the world or whether we are referring to the local church round the corner, 'church' is always the people and never, never the building, however nice it may be. We are the Church, the only 'House of the Lord.'

1. The two Greek words meaning 'church' in the New Testament, 'koinonia' and 'ekklesia', both refer to people, not buildings.
True / False.

(After selecting an answer, please use your scroll bar, or press the Page-Up/Page-Down keys to move up or down in this document. Using your up-arrow or down-arrow will change the answer!)

The Importance Of Church

Church is the Father's purpose: nz17/zEfesi03.htm#10">Ephesians 3.10.

Church is the promise of the Son: nz01/zMatfe16.htm#18">Matthew 16.18.

Church was one result of Holy Spirit's arrival at Pentecost: nz05/zDeani02.htm#42">Acts 2.42-47.

Church in Antioch was planted by ordinary believers and made strong by gifted men: nz05/zDeani11.htm#19">Acts 11.19-26.

Church planting was one of Paul's major goals: nz05/zDeani13.htm">Acts 13; nz05/zDeani14.htm#23">14.23; nz05/zDeani19.htm">19; nz05/zDeani20.htm#17">20.17.

God is blessing new church planting movements today, all over the world.

2. The church is God's...
temple, the holy place where priests perform rituals.
way of keeping people in submission.
main method of winning and discipling new Christians.

B. What Does A Good Church Look Like?

Spiritually, nz17/zEfesi05.htm#25">Ephesians 5.25-27 says that the church is loved by Jesus and he gives himself to her with undivided attention. A good church becomes holy, clean, full of the word of God, fit to be presented to Jesus as a desirable, beautiful bride, without stain, wrinkles and blemishes, blameless in every way.

3. A good church looks like...
a Gothic cathedral, with tall towers and stained glass windows.
a Byzantine cathedral, with a golden dome and a cross atop the dome.
Christ's beautiful Bride dressed in white, without any stain, blemish or wrinkle.
a white wooden rectangular box with a steep, pointed bell tower in front.

By the way . . .

Although everyone says 'Amen' and wants this for their church, notice that the context is all about marriage. "Husbands love your wives," Paul says, in just the same way as Jesus loves the Church and gives himself for her, even to the point of dying for her. That is how we should love, protect, and nourish our wives too. Can we do better?

 

What does a good church look like in practice? Look at the following illustration. You will say it is a palm tree, in fact it was called 'A Tree of Life' by an African pastor who really grasped this revelation from the Spirit of God.

 

Click > 62chart to see the illustration for his lesson

4. Christ's love for the church provides a powerful example of how a man should love his wife, even to the extent of dying for her.
True / False.

C. The Church As A Tree Of Life

Invisible Roots Go Deep
A good church has invisible, hidden roots that go deep under the surface, continually seeking the life that only comes from the living waters of God. Therefore a deep foundation is vital, in prayer, with wisdom from the word of God, and love and power from the Holy Spirit: vz24/zIerem17.htm#7">Jeremiah 17.7-8; vz19/zPsalo01.htm">Psalm 1.

The Trunk, divided into three ascending parts:
The trunk is most visible part of the tree. It grows in stages as a seed gives a shoot, which then grows to become strong, lasting and resistant to ill winds.

The Base Of Evangelism
A good church begins its visible ministry with evangelism, and of course never ceases to evangelise. Without constant evangelism in its many forms people will remain in their sin and ignorance of God. Why do we evangelise? Simply because Jesus said we should. See nz02/zMark16.htm#15">Mark 16.15-16.

The Mid-section Strength Of Discipleship
Now the trunk grows and becomes strong to support the tree's destiny of bearing fruit. Without for one moment ceasing to proclaim the good news, a good church will now dedicate much time to turning the new converts into disciples. Next it will turn those disciples into leaders who take responsibility for advancing God's work. Why do we consider discipleship training to be so important? Simply because Jesus said to make disciples.

See nz01/zMatfe28.htm#19">Matthew 28.19 and "Basic and Advanced Discipleship" sections.

5. The roots, base and mid-section of the 'tree of life' represent...
lives rooted in God, a base of evangelism, and upward growth in discipleship.
roots in the culture, a foundation in the government, and strength in the police.
ethnic roots, an economic basis, and power through political contacts.

The Tops - the Noble Height Of Care Of The Poor
Without for one moment ceasing to evangelise and make disciples, a good church will now follow the example of Jesus in nz05/zDeani01.htm#1">Acts 1.1 and nz05/zDeani10.htm#38">10.38 by doing good. More than 300 times in the Bible God declares his love for the poor and the needy. He expects his body the church to be his caring hands and lips. Not everyone is called to preach or lead but every believer can show God's mercy to the poor, particularly to widows and children. Care for the poor is important because Jesus said so. See nz01/zMatfe25.htm#34">Mat. 25.34-45; nz06/zIakov01.htm#27">James 1.27, and "God's Passion for the Poor" section.

6. Why does a good church care for the poor?
(Choose the best answer:)
Jesus gave us an example by ministering to the poor and crippled.
More than 300 times in the Bible, God declares his love for the poor and needy.
James, Jesus' brother, wrote that true religion is caring for widows and orphans.
All of the above are correct.

D. The Shady Foliage Is The Covering Of A Kingdom Economy

Here is the issue that many churches neglect at their peril. Think about this: prayer and the grace of God for the roots is absolutely free, but evangelism costs something, discipleship costs a lot more, and caring for the poor is very costly. Where will the money come from? And now consider this . . .

In nz05/zDeani02.htm#42">Acts 2.42-47 and nz05/zDeani04.htm#32">4.32-35 we find the church in Jerusalem to be so wealthy that there were no needy people. Some years later that same great church was in such poverty that Paul was raising offerings for them in the new churches across Europe. What happened?

In nz05/zDeani06.htm#1">Acts 6.1-7 the church leaders delegated the issues of racism, discrimination and finances to seven good Grecian men, probably preachers. So the leaders no longer handled the finances. Preachers like preaching, not papers. That preaching sadly cost Stephen his life, and then Philip went to Samaria. If the other 5 Grecians were also preaching or scattered by the nz05/zDeani08.htm#1">Acts 8.1 persecution, who was handling the economy? Anybody? We do not know.

The poor surely came from far and wide, hearing that needs were met, heard the gospel, received Jesus and joined the church. Expenses increased but income did not. The lesson is clear. Unless someone, probably not the main preacher, takes serious responsibility for the church economy using faith and works, poverty will be at the door. Why is handling the money so important? Simply because Jesus said so. See nz03/zLuka19.htm#11">Luke 19.11-26, and "Finances in God's Kingdom" section.

Fruit Of Seeds In The Wind Of God
A good church will always bear fruit in season. That fruit will bring glory for God seen in new baby trees of daughter churches, nearby and far away through missions. Each new tree has its own roots into God, with evangelism, discipleship, its own financial cover and fruit.

Match these words with the definitions shown below:
A. Kingdom economy,   B. Biblical business ethics,
C. Balancing income and expenses,   D. Bearing fruit for God's kingdom.

7. The way to run a business honestly and without paying bribes.
A, B, C, D.

8. Teach church members to work with their hands to earn money so they can help the poor.
A, B, C, D.

9. We demonstrate love, joy, peace, patience and gentleness so that people come to Christ and grow in discipleship.
A, B, C, D.

10. Realistic budgeting practices for the church.
A, B, C, D.

Something To Do Before Next Time
If you are married, talk with your spouse and see if your marriage
contains the same love, attention and goals as Jesus has for the Church.
If you single, prepare yourself with the right attitudes for marriage,
pray and let's see what the Lord will do for you.

Written Diploma Work
Draw or describe the tree of life yourself and write in at the side your own
church's programmes or plans. Write a list of your conclusions.