What is the church? What should it be doing? Who is in it?

In this short solo episode, Keith shares a few points to describe 6 basics of the church.

* THE CALLED OUT BODY.

* Ecclesia. Greek for the "Called out ones,"
* The church. Universal vs local.
* Nature of the calling. Divine, intended for fellowship, members are called saints,
* How. Through christ,
* A Hope. To inherit a blessing.

* THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD.

* A Family.
* Relationships. God the Father, Jesus the son, believers are children.
* Blessings. Approach to the father. Christ as our advocate, Holy Spirit to lead.
* Demands. Be spiritually separate from the world, obedience to Christ, love the brethren.
* Becoming children. Be born again, faith shown by baptism, obedience.

* THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

* Governed as a kingdom. It's at hand (near), apostles given authority, living believers are to witness the coming of the kingdom, spiritual, after Pentecost kingdom is spoken in current tense,
* Christ is king. He taught it, he conquered sin, has extensive authority to rule, the law is of grace and truth.
* Citizenship. By new birth, obedient to Christ's law, focused on spiritual kingdom, greatness in serving, united, faith as a child.
* Reference to sower parable and explanation.

* THE BODY OF CHRIST.

* church is christ body. Establishes relationships. Many members one body, jew and gentile reconciled, one lord one faith one body.
* One body. Not many.
* Christ the head. Complete authority, body subject to head.
* Believers the members. Every part strengthens the whole, many united, each with work to do, equally important, care of the others.
* Importance of the members. Made of the saved, called to peace, not separated, reconciled in body, the fullness of Christ, obedience,

* THE TEMPLE OF GOD.
* Where God meets worshippers. OT was a physical temple.
* Spiritual dwelling. NT describes the spiritual temple.
* Built according to god's plans. His blueprint described in NT.
* Christ and apostles are the foundation. Rejected cornerstone, Peter the rock to build on, living stones.
* Christians are building stones. Unbelievers not included, strength in unity.
* THE VINEYARD OF THE LORD.
* Sowing seed. The church is the agency, the gospel is the seed, the seed cannot be mixed.,
* Laborers. Sons, hired hands, rebellious tenants.
* Place of labor. Vineyard, the church. living stones build and strengthen the walls of the building.
* Fruit for god. Proof of discipleship. Unbelief breaks off members (branches).
* Reward at end of the day. Payment judged by Jesus, an inheritance, it cannot be taken or corrupted.

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