Study Guide Word Pictures of the Church

STUDY GUIDE WORD PICTURES OF THE CHURCH

Dr. Tommy Smith President, Johnson University Senior Saints in the Smokies 2021

“The church is never a place, but always a people; never a fold but always a flock; never a sacred building but always a believing assembly. The church is you who pray, not where you pray.” (John Havlik, People-Centered Evangelism)

“To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours.” (I Corinthians 1:2)

PART ONE: THE CHURCH AS THE BODY AND BRIDE OF CHRIST (I Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 5:21-32)

A. Introduction:

B. The Church as the Body of Christ:

1. I Corinthians 12:12-27

2. Jesus as the Head of the Church: (Ephesians 1:19-23; Colossians 1:15-18)

 Identity (II Cor. 4:6; Phil. 1:21; Gal, 2:20)

 Authority (I Cor. 2:16; Phil. 2:5)

3. The Church as the Body:

 Unity: o Skeleton—Faith (Eph. 4:4-6) o Internal organs—Love (I Cor. 12:25-26) o Muscles—Purpose (Rom. 15:5-6) o “Breath of Life”—Spirit (I Cor. 12:13)

 Growth: (Eph. 4:15-16; Luke 2:52)

 Presence: (John 14:12)

1 | W o r d P i c t u r e s o f t h e C h u r c h

C. The Church as the Bride of Christ:

1. Ephesians 5:21-32

2. A key theme throughout scripture: (Isa. 62:4; Rev. 22:17)

3. Three characteristics of the Church as the Bride of Christ:

 Submissive (Eph. 5:22-24) o Concept of “Headship” o The motivation for obedience

 Holy (Eph. 5:26-27) o Definition: the two “senses” of holiness o The motivation for holiness

 Faithful (Eph. 5:30-31) o Concept of “Covenant” o Spiritual adultery (Hosea 2:14-17, 19-20; 11:1-8) o The motivation for faithfulness

2 | W o r d P i c t u r e s o f t h e C h u r c h

PART TWO: THE CHURCH AS THE FIELD AND FLOCK OF GOD (I Corinthians 3:5-9b; John 10:1-16, 27-29)

A. Introduction:

B. The Church as the Field of God:

1. I Corinthians 3:5-9b

2. God as Farmer/Gardener:

 Plan (I Cor. 2:9)

 Providence (Phil. 4:19)

 Pruning (John 15:1-2; Heb. 12:5-11)

 Produce (1 Cor. 3:6; Phil. 1:11)

 Patience (James 5:7-11)

3. The Church as “Good Soil”: (Mark 4:3-9; 13-20)

 Hardened, shallow, full of weeds?

 Receptive, deep, cultivated?

C. The Church as the Flock of God:

1. John 10:1-16, 27-29

2. Christ as the Shepherd:

 “Good” (v. 11, 14)

3 | W o r d P i c t u r e s o f t h e C h u r c h

 “Abundant life” (v. 10)

 “Lays down his life” (v. 11-13, 15, 17)

 “Knows each sheep by name” (v. 2, 14, 27)

3. The Sheep:

 “Enter by the door” (v. 7, 9)

 “Know his voice” (v. 3, 4, 16, 27)

 “No one can snatch them” (v. 28-29)

 “One flock and one shepherd” (v. 16)

4 | W o r d P i c t u r e s o f t h e C h u r c h

PART THREE: THE CHURCH AS THE HOUSEHOLD AND TEMPLE OF GOD (Ephesians 2:14-19; Ephesians 2:20-22; I Corinthians 3:9c-17; 1 Peter 2:4-5)

A. Introduction:

B. The Church as the Household of God:

1. Ephesians 2:14-19

2. Share the same Father: (John 1:12; Rom. 8:14-17)

 Submit to the Father’s authority

 Depend upon the Father’s supply

 Imitate the Father’s example

 Communicate with the Father

 Take pride in the Father

3. Share the same Love: (Phil. 2:1-5)

 Acceptance and belonging

 Forgiveness and reconciliation

 Reproduction and growth

4. Share the same Destiny: (Rom. 12:10-12, 15, 18;13:11)

 An earthly destiny (Eph. 2:10)

 An eternal destiny (Eph. 2:7; John 14:2-3)

5 | W o r d P i c t u r e s o f t h e C h u r c h

C. The Church as the Temple of God:

1. Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Corinthians 3:9c-17; 1 Peter 2:4-5

2. The temple in the Old Testament:

 Description

 Meaning: “God is here”

3. Jesus and the temple: (John 2:19-21; Col. 1:19; 2:9)

4. The temple in the New Testament: (Acts 17:24; I Cor. 3:16-17; 6:19; Col. 1:27)

5. The church as a temple: (Eph. 2:20-22; 1 Pet. 2:5)

 The foundation and cornerstone (Eph. 2:20; I Pet. 2:6-7)

 Living stones (I Pet. 2:5; Eph. 2:21) o “a holy priesthood” o “offering spiritual sacrifices”

 A royal priesthood (I Pet. 2:9-12) o “a chosen people” o “proclaim the excellencies” o “see your good deeds and glorify God”

6 | W o r d P i c t u r e s o f t h e C h u r c h