1. Lesson 8 for November 24, 2012

2. The Greek word used in the Bible for church is “ekklēsia”, an assembly or meeting of
citizens in public session who usually discussed political issues.
For example, this word is used that way in the New Testament in
Acts 19:32 about the disturbance in Ephesus:
“Some therefore cried one thing and
some another, for the church was
confused, and most of them did not
know why they had come together”
In the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament), the
word ekklēsia is used very often to translate the Jewish word
kahal, that is used for the assembly of Israel as the people of
God. “I will declare Your name to My
brethren; in the midst of the church
I will praise You”
(Psalm 22:22)
In the New Testament, the word ekklēsia is used for a group
of Christian believers (it is never used for the place or the
building where they met)
“And the Lord added to the church daily
those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47)

3. The concept of church as the people of God is
valid for both the old Israel and the current
Christian church. Both churches are part of the “For you are a holy people “But you are a
to the Lord your God, and chosen
people of God in different historical periods. the Lord has chosen you generation, a royal
In the time of the apostles, the people of God to be a people for priesthood, a holy
gathered together in groups called “churches”. Himself, a special nation, His own
treasure above all the special people, that
Those churches were part of larger peoples who are on the you may proclaim
associations: face of the earth” the praises of Him
(Deuteronomy 14:2) who called you out
1. Churches that met in private houses
of darkness into
(Romans, 16: 5) His marvelous light”
2. Those churches met regularly with other (1 Peter 2:9)
churches in the same city
(1 Corinthians 1:2)
3. Churches also grouped together
according to their area, like churches in
Galatia or in Palestine (Galatians 1:2;
Acts 9:31)
4. Those churches formed an only
universal church (1 Timothy 3:15)

4. “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be
head over all things to the church, which is His body, the
fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:22-23)
Christ is the Head. He leads and governs the church just like the
head leads and governs the body.
We have great privileges as the body of Christ. We have “the fullness of Him who fills
all in all”.
“Christ has poured His fullness, His qualities, into the
church, filling it with holy life; indeed, with
abounding life.” (SDA Bible Commentary, on
Ephesians 1:23)
As the body of Christ, we also have great
responsibilities. We must be a single unit made of
many members, and we must be one with Christ.
“For as the body is one and has many members, but all the
members of that one body, being many, are one body, so
also is Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12)

5. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the
nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all things that I have
commanded you; and lo, I am with you always,
even to the end of the age. Amen” (Matthew 28:19-20)
Jesus wanted to make quite clear why He wanted his disciples to meet in “assembly”
(ekklēsia). We all gather together to fulfill the mission He entrusted us. Church is a
mission in that sense.
Evangelism is the main mission of the church. Besides
that mission, the church has more functions:
 Help in the believers’ growth (1Tim. 4:6)
 Worship (Eph. 1:6)
 Helping our society (James 1:27)

6. Could the church fulfill its mission
without unity?
Jesus interceded for the unity of the church.
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those
who will believe in Me through their word; that
they all may be one, as You, Father, are in
Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in
Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
And the glory which You gave Me I have given
them, that they may be one just as We are one”
(John 17:20-22)
Unity is a gift from the Father which each one of
us must ask.
Unity begins with each one of us, individually, as
followers of Christ—not just in name but in a life
of true self-sacrifice, a life dedicated to a cause
and a good greater than ourselves.

7. Organization is another important
requirement to fulfill the church’s
mission. Everything in church must be
done “decently and in order” (1Co. 14:40)
The universal church had its leaders from its beginning (Gal. 2:9; Acts
15:22). Every local church was also organized under the leadership of
elders and deacons (1Tim. 3; Titus 1:5)
The Adventist Church is governed by a
“But not so among you; on the
representative system of government; contrary, he who is greatest among
the leaders receive authority from the you, let him be as the younger, and he
parish gathered in assembly. who governs as he who serves. For who
is greater, he who sits at the table, or
Jesus is the head and the greatest
he who serves? Is it not he who sits at
leader in Church. He made quite clear the table? Yet I am among you as the
that the foundation of every leader in One who serves” (Luke 22:26-27)
church must be service.

8. “Through the grace freely given them of God, all will seek to
answer the prayer of Christ, that His disciples should be one, even
as He and the Father are one. Peace, love, mercy, and
benevolence will be the abiding principles of the soul. The love of
Christ will be the theme of every tongue, and it will no more be
said by the true Witness, “I have somewhat against thee, because
thou hast left thy first love” (Revelation 2:4). The people of God
will be abiding in Christ, the love of Jesus will be revealed, and one
Spirit will animate all hearts, regenerating and renewing all in the
image of Christ, fashioning all hearts alike.
As living branches of the true Vine, all will be united to Christ, the
living head. Christ will abide in every heart, guiding, comforting,
sanctifying, and presenting to the world the unity of the followers of
Jesus, thus bearing testimony that the heavenly credentials are
supplied to the remnant church. In the oneness of Christ’s church it
will be proved that God sent His only begotten Son into the world”
E.G.W. (This day with God, March 20)