There really isn’t a “best” way to describe the church. Even the writers of the New Testament found it difficult to describe and used a ton of metaphors to help relate the place of the church in its community and the world. We hope this activity helps your youth not only identify with the mission and purpose of the church, but to find their unique place and role within it as well.<\/p>\n
WHAT IS THE CHURCH?<\/p>\n
Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n Objects, pictures, or simply index cards with words on them that represent the Church<\/p>\n What to Do<\/strong><\/p>\n Variations<\/strong><\/p>\n Scripture References<\/strong><\/p>\n Family<\/strong> House<\/strong> Fishermen<\/strong> Flock<\/strong> Body of Christ<\/strong> Bride of Christ<\/strong> New Race<\/strong> Salt<\/strong> An Army<\/strong> A Holy Priesthood<\/strong> Light<\/strong> A Holy Nation<\/strong> A Golden Lampstand<\/strong> One Loaf<\/strong> God\u2019s Field<\/strong> A Vineyard<\/strong> A Temple<\/strong> A City<\/strong> These objects are all metaphors for the church in the New Testament that help Christians understand who we are as a church, and our relationship to each other in the church, and to the world.<\/p>\n Make it Spiritual<\/strong><\/p>\n Make it Personal<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 What is one characteristic you would like to develop in your church? There really isn’t a “best” way to describe the church. Even the writers of the New Testament found it difficult to describe and used a ton of metaphors to help relate the place of the church in its community and the world. We hope this activity helps your youth not only identify with the mission … Continue reading What is the Church?<\/span> \n
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\n(Hebrews 2:10-11; Galatians 4:1-7; 2 Corinthians 6:18; Matthew 12:49-50; Ephesians 2:19; Galatians 6:10; 1 Timothy 5:1)
\nDo your treat other members of your church as part of the same family, as an extended household?<\/p>\n
\n(Hebrews 3:6; 1 Timothy 3:14-15; 1 Peter 4:17; 1 Corinthians 3:11; Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Peter 2:6-7; Isaiah 28:16; Psalm 118:22; 1 Peter 2:5; 1 Corinthians 3:11-17; 1 Corinthians 6:19)<\/p>\n
\n(Matt. 4:19)
\nDoes your church cast its influence outside in order to capture lost souls for Christ?<\/p>\n
\n(Matthew 10:16; 26:31; Acts 20:28-30; I Peter 5:1-3; John 21:15-17; John 10:11-15; Col. 1:13)
\nAre there shepherds in your church guiding and protecting those who are easily lost? Do the members of your church seek and follow the direction of the one Shepherd together?<\/p>\n
\n(1 Corinthians 12:12, 27; Ephesians 4:12, 5:23,30; Romans 12:4-5, 1 Corinthians 10:17; Colossians 1:24; Eph. 4:12, 16)
\nDo the members of your church see themselves as part of the same organism with different abilities working together for the common good?<\/p>\n
\n(2 Corinthians 11:2, 11:12; Ephesians 5:25, 31-32; Romans 7:4, Revelation 19:7-8, 21:9)
\nAre they actively engaged in being loved by Christ and loving Him in return?<\/p>\n
\n(Gal. 6; Eph. 2; 1 Pet. 2)
\nDo the members of your church see themselves as part of a new group of people brought together in Christ and not by physical race, nationality, gender, and social class?<\/p>\n
\n(Matt. 5:13)
\nDo the members of your church preserve, and give others a taste of Christ?<\/p>\n
\n(Eph. 6:10-1 7, 1 Thess. 5:8)
\nDo the members of your church see themselves as part of one army that is growing in spiritual life and conquering anything that stands in the way between them and God?<\/p>\n
\n(1 Pet. 2; Rev. 1; 5)
\nDo all the members of your church serve God and draw near to him?<\/p>\n
\n(Matt. 5:14)
\nDo the members of your church bring light to the world’s darkness and shine for Christ in all things?<\/p>\n
\n(1 Pet. 2; Rev. 1; 5)
\nDo their values reflect that of the Kingdom of God or this present culture?<\/p>\n
\n(Rev. 1-2)
\nDoes your church bear the light of Christ?<\/p>\n
\n(John 12; 1 Cor. 10)
\nAre the members of your church so connected together that they have lost their independence and individualism? Or do they live as independent, individualistic, uncrushed grains of wheat?<\/p>\n
\n(1 Cor. 3)
\nAre they passing through spiritual seasons together and growing into Christlikeness as the word of God takes root in their life?<\/p>\n
\n(John 15; saiah 65:8)
\nIs your church like a vineyard where the cluster of grapes lives and grows together?<\/p>\n
\n(1 Cor. 3; 2 Cor. 6; 1 Pet. 2; 2 Cor. 5, Eph. 2:19-22)
\nAre the members of your church being built together?<\/p>\n
\n(Php. 3; Heb. 12; Rev. 21-22; Gal. 4:26)
\nAre the practices of your church based on human tradition, or are they built on the spiritual principles of the city of God?<\/p>\nTake It to the Next Level<\/h2>\n
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\n\u2022 What can the youth do to immediately start developing that trait in your church?
\n\u2022 What will you personally start doing to see that characteristic is displayed in your church?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"