STUDY 48

Advent Sunday                                                                                                     
November 29, 2020

THEME:                    IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST

SUB-THEME 8:        The Head of the Church (1)

TOPIC:                      Jesus Christ: the Head of the earthly Church

TEXTS:                     Numbers 29:35-37; Matthew 16:17-19; (Acts 2:1-12, 37-41)

AIMS:

to define the Church of Jesus Christ on earth,
to show that the Holy Spirit was sent by Jesus Christ to establish the Church at Pentecost and
to establish the fact that no human on earth has the right to claim the ownership of the Church of Christ.

INTRODUCTION:

The word “Church” is derived probably from the Greek word ‘kuriakon’ (i.e."the Lord's house"), which was used by ancient authors for the place of worship. In the New Testament, it is the translation of the Greek word ‘ecclesia’, which is synonymous with the Hebrew ‘kahal’ of the Old Testament. Both words simply mean “an assembly”. The visible earthly church consists of all true believers throughout the world that profess faith in Jesus Christ. It was born at Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit, sent by Jesus Christ came and baptized the believers into one spiritual body. This means that this position is reserved exclusively for Jesus Christ and no believer on earth has the right to the headship or ownership of the church.

STUDY GUIDE/QUESTIONS:

In the context of Num 29:35-37 and Acts 13:1-4, how can you define the Church?
From the incident in today’s text (Acts 2:1-12, 37-41), can you identify the foundation of the Church of Christ? Matt 16:17-19; Acts 1:8.
State the main reason the Church of Christ has survived the tests of time. Acts 5:34-39; Eph 2:19-22.
From your experience, are there some people who claim ownership of the Church today? 2Pet 2:1-3. Is there really anything like a ‘church founder’? Justify your answer. 1Cor 3:9-11

CONCLUSION: Various religious leaders may have founded physical churches, or denominations; but only Jesus Christ is the Founder of the Church which is His body.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Jesus Christ: the founder and sustainer of His Church

MEMORY VERSE: Ephesians 2:19-20 “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone.”