TOPIC 27 OF 47
The Life of the Church
Joined to Christ, we belong to one another as a family of faith.
THE MAIN TRUTH
When Christ unites us to himself by faith through Baptism, he also joins us to his body, the Church, which receives its life from him, the Head.
The teaching
From the book · pages 82–84
When Christ unites us to himself by faith through Baptism, he also joins us to his body, the Church, which receives its life from him, the Head. Following Jesus alone and living as an isolated believer apart from a church is contrary to God’s plan and harmful to faith. Baptized into Christ’s body, we are adopted as sons and daughters of God to be part of his family together.
The Lord calls each of us to follow him as a disciple in the company of fellow disciples. This means he calls us to commit to a faithful congregation, where the Church confirms our membership as baptized believers. As the Good Shepherd, Jesus leads his sheep in a flock under the shepherding care of pastors. Pastors watch over, guard, and feed them in the faith with the Word of God and the Lord’s Supper, and they continually pray for them.
We are brothers and sisters united in Christ as a family of faith committed to one another. The Spirit gifts and empowers us, as living members of Christ’s body, to love, encourage, and serve one another, to pray, bear one another’s burdens, and forgive one another’s sins as we receive the forgiving love of Jesus.
Scripture foundations
All Scripture excerpts from this topic are presented below in the book’s order. Ellipses and bracketed explanations follow the manuscript. Select a reference to read the surrounding passage in the EHV.
Reading these passages together
The passages describe a shared life of gathering, shepherding, service, and mutual care. Membership in Christ’s body takes visible form in patient commitment to fellow believers.
16 Scripture excerpt groups
SCRIPTURE 02
1 Corinthians 12:13 ↗
“For by one Spirit we all were baptized into one body. . .”
Book page 83
SCRIPTURE 03
Ephesians 4:15-16 ↗
“. . . we would in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head. From him the whole body . . . grows in accordance with Christ’s activity when he measured out each individual part. He causes the growth of the body so that it builds itself up in love.”
Book page 83
SCRIPTURE 04
Galatians 3:26-27, 29 ↗
“In fact, you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Indeed, as many of you as were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ . . . you belong to Christ. . .”
Book page 83
SCRIPTURE 05
Mark 1:17 ↗
“Come, follow me, and I will make you [plural] fishers of men.”
Book page 83
SCRIPTURE 07
John 15:5-6 ↗
“I am the Vine; you are the branches . . . If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers.”
Book page 83
SCRIPTURE 08
Hebrews 10:25 ↗
“Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have the habit of doing. Rather, let us encourage each other, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Book page 83
SCRIPTURE 09
1 Corinthians 12:27 ↗
“You are the body of Christ, and individually you are members of it.”
Book page 84
SCRIPTURE 10
Acts 20:28 ↗
[To pastor-elders] “Always keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock in which the Holy Spirit has placed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood.”
Book page 84
SCRIPTURE 11
Hebrews 13:7,17 ↗
“Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you . . . Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls as men who will give an account.”
Book page 84
SCRIPTURE 12
Romans 12:4-5 ↗
“For we have many members in one body, and not all members have the same function. In the same way, though we are many, we are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”
Book page 84
SCRIPTURE 13
1 Corinthians 12:7 ↗
“Each person is given a manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
Book page 84
SCRIPTURE 14
1 Thessalonians 5:11 ↗
“. . . encourage one another and build each other up. . .”
Book page 84
SCRIPTURE 15
Colossians 3:13 ↗
“Bear with one another and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint against anyone else. Forgive, just as Christ forgave you.”
Book page 84
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture passages are from the Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV), copyright 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission, as noted in the manuscript.
PERSONAL REFLECTION OR GROUP DISCUSSION
Reflect and pray
Why is an isolated Christian life contrary to the picture of Christ’s body?
How does pastoral care serve the life of a congregation?
Whose burden could you help bear within your church this week?
A prayer
Father, thank you for our family in Christ. Teach us to gather faithfully, forgive freely, and use our gifts to encourage and care for one another. Amen.