The Book of Acts: Keys for Supernatural Living – Lesson 8 - Barry Bennett (via video) Charis Bible College IN

Test Review/Class Recap

Lesson 8:  The Importance of the church!

The church is God’s  ‘A’ Plan for the world.

  • The church was purchased by His blood (Acts 20:28)
  • The church nurtures and helps perfect (mature) the saints.  (e.g. Paul, Acts 14:23, also Ephesians 4:11)

Reason that the church is important, relevant:

  1. The authority of God resides with His church (Ephesians 1:20-23).  22And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, (other references Acts 5:11, Acts 15:22)
  2. The purpose of Christ is realized through His church (Ephesians 3:10) 10To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, (other references, Paul reports back to the church, Acts 14:27; The church supports missions, Acts 15:3)
  3. The purpose of the life of believers are confirmed in His church Acts 13:1-3, Paul was confirmed as a teacher in the church.  (Other references: Ephesians 4:11-16).
  4. The life of Christ is released through His church As we operate in our giftings, then the more of the life of Christ is released in His church: Ephesians 416From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. (Other references:  Ephesians 4:25, 5:30).

Five (5) responsibilities or roles of every church

  1. WORD – church should be a place where believers receive the Word! (Acts 11:26).  (Other references:  Acts 14:21, 15:35, 18:11, Acts 20:20).
  2. WORSHIP – should be a natural by-product of the word believers receive at church (1 Corinthians 14:26).
  3. PRAYER – corporate prayer (the whole body) which is very powerful is missing in many of our churches today (Acts 4:24-31).
  4. COMMUNION – breaking bread together was very essential to the first century church and should be essential to our church today!  (Acts 2:42, 20:7).  An environment of community.
  5.  EVANGELISM – (1 Thessalonians 1:5-8)