Monday July 30, 2012

Conduct a small experiment. Ask your non believing friends what they think of “church” and record the answers for your church’s leadership.

 

Read Ephesians 5:23-29. Rom 16:5, Acts 8:1. 1 Cor 15:9

 

For many people in our own world the ‘church’ has become symbolic of a religious dinosaur that once held sway over people’s lives. Gratefully, they argue, most people have been freed from the grip of this monster that once controlled their lives, society and the entire world. At no point would they consider “Church” to be a house of hope, which it really is.

The word ‘church’ is derived probably from the Greek kuriakon (i.e., “the Lord’s house”), which was used by ancient authors for the place of worship. In the New Testament it is the translation of the Greek word ecclesia, which is synonymous with the Hebrew kahal of the Old Testament. Both words mean an assembly, the character of which can only be known from the connection in which the word is found. There is no clear instance of its being used for a place of meeting or of worship, although in post-apostolic times it received this meaning. Nor is this word ever used to denote the inhabitants of a country united in the same profession, as when we say the “Church of England,” the “Church of Scotland”.

The word ecclesia used in the following senses in the New Testament: (1.) It is translated “assembly” in the ordinary classical sense (Acts 19:32, 39, 41).

(2.) It denotes the whole body of the redeemed, all those whom the Father has given to Christ, the invisible catholic church (Eph. 5:23, 25, 27, 29; Heb. 12:23).

(3.) A few Christians associated together in observing the ordinances of the gospel are an ecclesia (Rom. 16:5; Col. 4:15).

(4.) All the Christians in a particular city, whether they assembled together in one place or in several places for religious worship, were an ecclesia. Thus all the disciples in Antioch, forming several congregations, were one church (Acts 13:1); so also we read of the “church of God at Corinth” (1 Cor. 1:2), “the church at Jerusalem” (Acts 8:1), “the church of Ephesus” (Rev. 2:1), etc.

(5.) The whole body of professing Christians throughout the world (1 Cor. 15:9; Gal. 1:13; Matt. 16:18) are the Church of Christ.

If the “church” is to make an impression on society and if it is to transform society, impression and change must begin internally with its own members. If a church is not transforming and changing its members, it will always remain a religious dinosaur.

Prayer:

¨ Pray for each and every single person in your church. Pray that God would be changing them, transforming them and renewing their minds in Christ Jesus. If you can, pray for each person or each family by name.

¨ Ask God to allow your church to make an impact in your society. Pray that your church would be allowed to change lives, to heal and make broken lives whole.  Pray that the love of Jesus flows out of your church.