August 13, 2023 – Bible Doctrine 11 – The Church

Lesson Date: August 13, 2023

Focal Scripture Passage: Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 2:41-47; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Ephesians 3:20-21; 4:11-12; Hebrews 10:25

AIM: To lead students to discover the nature and work of the church, and to evaluate their service to determine if they are helping their church accomplish its work.

Before class: Read the chapters containing the focal passages several times during the week.  Get enough copies of the Lesson Outline handout for your anticipated attendance.  Do a Google search for “religious organizations in Valdosta Georgia,” and scan through the results.

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Ask: “How many religious organizations do you think there are in Valdosta, Georgia?”  Allow time for some responses.  Tell the class that a recent Google search for “religious organizations in Valdosta Georgia” yielded 187 results!

Ask: “Do you think all of those religious organizations are actually churches?” (no).  Explain that some of the religious organizations are benevolent ministries, counseling ministries, and teaching ministries like The Mailbox Club.  Tell the students that the list also includes organizations that are not Christian, such as the Islamic Center.

Tell the class that the world may lump all religious organizations together, but the Bible makes it clear that the New Testament church of Jesus is distinct from all others.

Ask: “If someone were to ask you what qualifies as a church, how would you answer?”  Allow time for responses.  Ask: “If someone were to ask you what a true New Testament church is supposed to do, how would you answer?”  Allow time for responses.

Tell the class the title of today’s lesson is The Church: What Is It and What Does It Do?  Tell them as we study several Bible passages, we will discover what qualifies a religious group as a church, and the work a true church is supposed to do.

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1. Review.
   • Tell the students we are nearing the end of our survey of Bible doctrine.
   • Ask: “What was last week’s lesson about?” (The Christian Life; we discovered things we must do to successfully live the Christian life).
   • Ask if any volunteer would recite last week’s memory verse (Hebrews 10:25).
2. What Is A Church?
   • Ask everyone to turn to Acts 2, and then read Acts 2:41-47.
   • Tell the class that these verses describe the aftermath of Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost. Tell them the Lord used that miraculous event to launch His new church, and these verses reveal three of the qualifications of a true New Testament church.
   • Ask: “According to verse 46, where did they meet?” (they met together in the Temple and fellowshipped together in their homes).
     • Tell the students that a genuine Christian church is a local group; in other words, it meets together in a specific place.
     • Explain that there are many excellent Christian ministries that touch people worldwide through the Internet, but since they are not local bodies of believers, they are not churches (for example, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association – org).
   • Tell the students that in addition to being local, a true New Testament church is also visible; in other words, it can be seen as it ministers in a specific location.
     • Ask everyone to scan back over Acts 2:43-47.
     • Ask: “What was the new church doing?” (their leaders did signs and wonders, they helped one another, gathered for prayer, ate together in their homes, praised God, etc.).
     • Ask: “Could onlookers see the activities of the new church?” (yes).
     • Stress the fact that the true church is not an invisible or ethereal body; it is visible.
   • Ask: “Verse 47 says new believers were being added to the church daily; according to verse 41, how were they added?” (through baptism).
     • Tell the students this reveals the third qualification of a church: a true New Testament church is a body of baptized believers.
     • Explain that verse 41 makes the time of baptism clear: they received the Word (they believed) and then they were baptized; true baptism comes after
     • (For a description of what baptism portrays, see Romans 6:4.)
     • Tell the class that a religious organization that is not made up of baptized believers is not a genuine Christian church.
   • Ask a volunteer to quote last week’s memory verse (Hebrews 10:25) again.
     • Ask: “What are we warned not to do?” (forsake assembling together with other believers; in other words, we must attend church regularly).
     • Ask everyone to turn to Ephesians 4, and then read Ephesians 4:11-12.
     • Explain that the Lord has given leaders to His churches, to equip His people to do the work of the ministry.
     • Tell the students the fourth qualification of a genuine New Testament church is that it meets together regularly under the authority of a pastor.
     • (For biblical qualifications of pastors, see 1 Timothy 3:1-11; Titus 1:7-9. Everyone who leads a religious group may not meet the Bible’s qualifications for a pastor.)
     • Tell the class that a religious organization that does not meet together regularly under the authority of a pastor is not a genuine Christian church.
   • Summarize: A true New Testament church is a local, visible, body of baptized believers, which meets together regularly under the authority of a pastor. Groups that do not meet those qualifications are not genuine churches.
3. What Does a Church Do?
   • Tell the class that we have answered the question of what a church is; now we will discover what a genuine church is supposed to do.
   • Ask everyone to turn to Matthew 28, and then ask a volunteer to read Matthew 28:19.
     • Ask: “What’s the first thing Jesus commanded His followers to do?” (go and teach everyone about Him).
     • Tell everyone to stay in Matthew 28, but ask a volunteer to find and read Mark 16:15.
     • Ask: “What did Jesus command us to do?” (preach the Gospel throughout the world).
     • Tell the students the first thing the church is supposed to do is proclaim the Gospel.
     • Explain that proclaiming the Gospel includes both preaching within the walls of the church, and taking the Good News of Jesus to those outside the church.
     • Tell the class a religious organization that does not proclaim the Gospel is not functioning as a true New Testament church should.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Matthew 28:20.
     • Ask: “What is the church supposed to do after leading people to faith in Jesus Christ?” (teach them to do all that Jesus commanded; in other words, teach them how to live and grow as disciples of Jesus Christ).
     • Tell the students the second thing the church is supposed to do is make disciples.
     • Tell the class a religious organization that does not make disciples is not functioning as a true New Testament church should.
   • Read Matthew 28:19 once again.
     • Ask: “What did Jesus tell us to do after we go and reach people?” (baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
     • Ask everyone to turn to 1 Corinthians 11, and then read 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.
     • Ask: “What did the Lord command us to do in those verses?” (partake of the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of Him).
     • Tell the students that the third thing the church is supposed to do is carry out the two ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
     • Explain that an ordinance is law, decree, or command; Jesus clearly commanded His church to baptize believers and remember His death through the Lord’s Supper.
     • Tell the class a religious organization that does not carry out the two ordinances of believer’s baptism and the Lord’s Supper is not functioning as a true church should.
   • Ask everyone to turn to Ephesians 3, and then ask a volunteer to read Ephesians 3:20-21.
     • Ask: “Who do you think verse 20 is describing?” (the Lord Jesus).
     • Ask: “What does verse 21 say the church is supposed to do?” (bring glory to Jesus).
     • Tell the students the fourth thing the church is supposed to do is glorify Jesus.
     • Tell the class a religious organization that does not glorify Jesus is not functioning as a true New Testament church should.
   • Summarize: A true New Testament church proclaims the Gospel, makes disciples, carries out the two ordinances of believer’s baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and glorifies Jesus. Groups that do not do those things are not functioning as genuine churches.

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Remind the students that today’s lesson is about The Church: What Is It and What Does It Do?  Tell them that through this lesson we have discovered what qualifies a religious group as a church, and the work a true church is supposed to do.  Give everyone a copy of the Lesson Outline handout.  Review the lesson by reading the main points and subpoints from that outline:

The Church: What Is It and What Does It Do?

What is a Church?

• • Local – Acts 2:46-47
  • Visible – Acts 2:43-47
  • Body of baptized believers – Acts 2:41, 47
  • Meet together regularly under the authority of a pastor – Hebrews 10:25; Ephesians 4:11-12

What Does a Church Do?

• • Proclaim the Gospel – Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15
  • Make disciples – Matthew 28:20
  • Carry out the two ordinances of believer’s baptism and the Lord’s Supper – Matt. 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
  • Glorify Jesus – Ephesians 3:20-21

Read the following statement from the Lesson Outline handout:

A true New Testament church is a local, visible body of baptized believers who meet together regularly under the authority of a pastor to proclaim the Gospel, make disciples, carry out the ordinances of believer’s baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and glorify Jesus.

Ask: “Does our church meet the biblical definition of a church?  Are we a local, visible body of baptized believers who meet together regularly under the authority of a pastor?” (yes).

Ask: “Does our church do the things a genuine New Testament church is supposed to do?  Do we proclaim the Gospel, make disciples, carry out the ordinances of believer’s baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and glorify Jesus?” (yes).

Ask: “What about you?  Do you attend church regularly?  Are you a member of the church you attend?  Are you helping our church do its work of spreading the Gospel, growing as disciples, and glorifying Jesus?”

Ask everyone to bow their head and close their eyes.  Tell them to silently evaluate their membership, attendance, and service in the church.  If they are not a member of the church, urge them to join today.  If they are not helping the church do its work, urge them to get started today.  Voice a closing prayer.

CONCLUSION: Offer to speak to anyone who has questions about joining the church or about getting involved in serving God through the church.  Tell everyone to keep the Lesson Outline handout in their Bibles so they can refer to it again later.