Minister

							Basic Christianity
Presentation Five

What is the church?

Going to church or being the church

Traditional Model                       New Testament Model
 “Church” is a building                 Church (ekklesia) is a people

   Member of a church like                    “Members of one another”
    membership in the health club               (Romans 12:15)

                                               Spirituality is interdependent
                                                (I Corinthians 12:14—21)



Minister/priest or ministry of all believers

Traditional Model                       New Testament Model
 “Minister” is a religious              Everyone is gifted to serve
    professional with special status      (I Corinthians 12: 4--7)
    in the church
                                               Hundreds of pastors, not one

                                               Goal: Equipping, encouraging
                                                and providing opportunity to
                                                serve (Ephesians 4:11—12)




Event oriented or mission oriented

Traditional Model                       New Testament Model
 Church is a “service” you attend       Church as a unique purpose in
                                          the world (Acts 1:8; Matthew
                                          28:19)

                                               Christian fellowship is a new
                                                community of God’s people in
                                                the world




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What about the Devil?
What do you think?




Who is Satan?
   Ezekiel 28.



   What’s he trying to do?




   The battle lines are drawn.



          1 John 5:19, “The whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” Satan
           is also referred to as “the god of this age,” “prince of darkness,” “ruler
           of this world.”


          Note Christ’s interaction with the devil in Luke 4:6. Jesus does not
           challenge the devil’s contention.


          Satan’s hold is not absolute.


          Spiritual battle centers on who will rule: God or Satan.


          We have the promise that God will put an end to the destructive
           usurpation of the evil one.

   Spiritual warfare

          Overt Satanic attack.



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   Covert Satanic attack.



           Seduction by the “kosmos” or world system



                 1 John 2:15-17.
                      Lust of the flesh


                        Lust of the eyes


                        Boastful pride of life


Our response:
          Are we able to do without?


          What do you think of the idea that the relative impotence of the
           American church is tied to it’s affluence?


   Temptation/Accusation.


          Character weaknesses. James 1:13-15.



          Natural desires. Matthew 4:2,3.



Our response:
          2 Corinthians 7:9,10. Repentance is key. This means to
           “change our minds.”


          Luke 4. Jesus always rebutted temptation with God’s word.




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          Ephesians 6:18,19. Prayer is a key.



   Deception. Our minds are a key battle ground. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.



   The solution to deception is to learn the word. That’s really the only
    objective gauge of truth we have.




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