TOPIC 20 OF 47
The Church
Christ gathers his people around his Word and Sacraments.
THE MAIN TRUTH
The Church (“assembly”) is the body of Christ, comprised of all people on earth and in heaven who believe in Jesus Christ and are baptized into him.
The teaching
From the book · pages 60–62
The Church (“assembly”) is the body of Christ, comprised of all people on earth and in heaven who believe in Jesus Christ and are baptized into him. As the Head of the body, Jesus is building his Church as a spiritual temple, filled with his presence by the Holy Spirit, so that we may worship the Triune God and represent Christ to one another and to the world.
Since faith in a person’s heart is invisible, only God truly knows who has faith and is a member of Christ’s body. This hidden reality of the Church is revealed and recognized wherever the Gospel of Jesus is clearly proclaimed and Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are faithfully administered according to Christ’s mandate.
Visible gatherings around the Word of God and the Sacraments are called churches—assemblies of Christ’s body, loving families of brothers and sisters in the faith. Such groups of God’s holy people, because of our sinfulness, also include hypocrites, promoters of false teaching, and those weak in faith and life. Therefore, the truth of God’s Word and the pure preaching of the Gospel are the foundation of the church and its members.
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 images of body, household, and temple describe the Church’s life in Christ. Its outward marks direct us to the Gospel and Sacraments rather than to human perfection or prestige.
13 Scripture excerpt groups
SCRIPTURE 01
Ephesians 5:23; Acts 4:32 ↗
“. . . Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he himself is the Savior.” “The whole group of believers. . .”
Book page 61
SCRIPTURE 02
Matthew 16:16,18 ↗
“[Peter:] ‘You are the Christ. . .’ [Jesus:] ‘. . .you are Peter . . . on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overpower it.’”
Book page 61
SCRIPTURE 03
Acts 2:41; 16:5 ↗
“Those who accepted [Peter’s] message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added.” “So the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in number day by day.”
Book page 61
SCRIPTURE 04
Ephesians 2:19-22; Matthew 5:14 ↗
“So then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household. You have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus as the Cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord . . . a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” “You are the light of the world. A city . . . on a hill. . .”
Book page 61
SCRIPTURE 05
John 10:14,27 ↗
“I am the Good Shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me . . . My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.”
Book page 61
SCRIPTURE 06
Luke 17:20-21 ↗
“The kingdom is not coming in a way you can observe . . . because the kingdom of God is within you.”
Book page 61
SCRIPTURE 07
Mark 16:15-16 ↗
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved. . .”
Book page 62
SCRIPTURE 08
Luke 22:19-20 ↗
“This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me . . . This cup is the new testament in my blood. . .”
Book page 62
SCRIPTURE 09
Acts 2:42 ↗
“They continued to hold firmly to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers.”
Book page 62
SCRIPTURE 10
Colossians 4:15-16 ↗
“Greet Nympha and the church at her house. When this letter has been read among you, make sure that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans.”
Book page 62
SCRIPTURE 11
1 John 2:4; 2 Peter 2:1 ↗
“The one who says, ‘I know him,’ but does not keep his commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” “. . . there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly bring in destructive heresies. . .”
Book page 62
SCRIPTURE 13
1 Corinthians 1:18; 3:11; 1 Timothy 3:15 ↗
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.” “In fact, no one can lay any other foundation than the one that has been laid, which is Christ Jesus.” “. . . the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.”
Book page 62
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
What makes the Church Christ’s body rather than merely a human organization?
Where does Scripture direct us to recognize his Church?
How can we love an imperfect congregation while remaining faithful to God’s Word?
A prayer
Lord Jesus, gather and preserve your Church through your Word and Sacraments. Forgive our failures and make us a faithful witness to your saving love. Amen.