CCS SysTheo
Ecclesiology: The Doctrine of the
Church
THE NATURE OF THE CHURCH –
WHAT IS IT?
The Words Defined
• From the Greek ekklesia
• Means: The Assembly
– Not to be confused with “called out ones”
– Think Butter-fly 
• Appearances:
– Matthew 16:18, 18:17
– Acts 8:3, 9:31, 13:1, 14:23
– Romans 16: 1-5, 16, 23
Two levels of the Assembly
The Universal Church
• Acts 8:3
The Local Church
• Acts 13:1
• Acts 9:31
• Acts 14:23
• Hebrews 12:22-24
• Each of the Epistles and
Revelation 2-3 (22:16)
So, What IS the Church?
• What attributes stay constant in these texts?
• What attributes change?
• What is the focus on?
NOTICE . . .
The Big Picture
GOD and
Man*
GOD
GOD and
Man*
Man vs.
GOD
GOD and a
chosen
People
Man vs.
GOD
GOD and a
chosen
People
The GOD-Man*
The Big Picture
GOD and
Man*
GOD
GOD and
Man*
Man vs.
GOD
GOD and a
chosen
People
Man vs.
GOD
GOD and a
chosen
People
The GOD-Man*
Some Images of the Church
• The People of God
• Household of God
• The Body of Christ
• The Temple of the Holy Spirit
• What’s missing? . .
It’s always about God and People
Remember Mark 12:28-34
BUT, WAIT . . . LOOK
AROUND . . .
1. How much time is
being spent?
2. How much money
is being spent?
3. What level of
comfort is poured
into other things?
4. Look around . . .
WHOA
The People of God
• 2 Corinthians 6:16
• Old Testament – God’s People
– Exodus 15:13
– Hosea 1:9-10; 2:23 (Romans 9:24-26)
– Ezekiel 36:22-28
The Big Picture
GOD and
Man*
GOD
GOD and
Man*
Man vs.
GOD
GOD and a
chosen
People
Man vs.
GOD
GOD and a
chosen
People
The GOD-Man*
Parallel, but distinct
The Household of God
• 14 I am writing these things to you, hoping to
come to you before long;
• 15 but in case I am delayed, I write so that
you will know how one ought to conduct
himself in the household of God, which is the
church of the living God, the pillar and
support of the truth.
– 1 Timothy 3:14-15
Andrew Peterson- Family Man
The Body of Christ
• Emphasizes the Connection of the Church as a
group of believers, with Christ.
• Some aspects of the Body of Christ
–
–
–
–
–
Christ is the Head (Col. 1:18)
The Body is parts, put together (1 Cor. 12:12)
The Body parts depend on one another (1 Cor. 12:26)
The Body must be unified (Eph. 4:4-6)
The Body of Christ, the Church, is Local and Universal
– “a microcosm . . . a small-scale example” (Acts 8, 13)
– The Body of Christ is an extension of His ministry (1
Cor. 3:9)
The Temple of the Holy Spirit
• The Doctrine: John 14:12 & 16:7
• The Individual
– 1 Cor. 6:19
• The Assembly
– 1 Cor. 3:16-17
– Eph. 2:21-22
LECRAE- THE BRIDE
CCS SysTheo
Ecclesiology: The Doctrine of the
Church