1. What is Dr. Falwell's definition of the church? A local church is God's soul agency for reaching the world. It is a body of born again, baptized believers who are gathered together for the purpose of evangelizing the world.
2. What is the aim (objective) of the church? Based on Acts 1:8, the church is organized for the purpose of simultaneously carrying out the Great Commission. A local church must be committed to worldwide evangelism.
3. What happens when a church/pastor gets away from this aim? The church becomes a religious country club.
4. How large should a church become? There is not a limit to how large a church can become. Churches should be growing no matter how small when they start out. A church should probably have a gymnasium and sports facility and a musical staff. Large churches can do a lot in a community, plus they have the respect of the lost. They can have an impact on community issues, they can be more efficient per person served, they can minister to individuals, and they can be just as personable as a small church.
5. What were the characteristics of the Antioch church? The church at Antioch had six key ingredients: (1) persecution - they payed the price; (2) presence - the members were faithful to be in their place for services; (3) participation - the members got involved; (4) preaching - the church had strong, Bible-based preaching; (5) penetration - they tried to reach everyone at all times by all possible means; and (6) prayer - they moved under the power and direction of the Holy Spirit.
6. What is a dispensation? A dispensation describes how God deals with the people of the world for a particular time. We are now in the Grace dispensation (church Age). The church was born between Matthew 16 ("I will build my church") and Acts 2 ("were added to the church"). Dr. Falwell believes that the church began at Pentecost and will end at the Rapture.
7. What is the Rapture and how important is it for a person to believe in it? The Rapture refers to the time when Christ will return to the clouds and snatch Christians out of this world to meet with Him in the clouds. The Rapture is the hope of Christians in this world.
8. How are ecclesiology and eschatology tied together? Ecclesiology is the study of the church, and eschatology is the study of end things (the culmination and celebration of everything that the church has been all about).
1. Why would contemporary youth like the founder of the church - Jesus Christ? Jesus was anti-bureaucratic in His teachings and His life. He condemned the religious sham of His age. He was a revolutionary.
2. What does the word church mean? The word, church, is a New Testament doctrine whose first reference is Matthew 16:18 ("I will build my church."). "Ecclesia" is a group of "called out ones." The church is not a fortress, a museum, a stadium, a border crossing, or a country club. It is the body of Christ.
3. Explain each of the following five terms: "I will build my church." Peter knew about the church by Divine revelation. Jesus had asked a question of humanity, but Peter gave a theological answer. Jesus is the Builder. The church was future tense from that point. The church belongs to Jesus. The world "ecclesia" means "called out ones."
4. Correlate the meaning of the following terms: rock, keys, binding, and loosing. The "rock" in Matthew 16:18 has a dual meaning for the man, Peter, and the truth of his message. Comparing Matthew 16:16-19 with Ephesians 2:20 (the apostles and prophets became the foundations once they received the truth) and I Corinthians 3:10-11 (Christ is the Foundation) shows the human foundation of the church. The "keys" in Matthew 16:19 are probably a continuation of the word "rock" and are a reference to the message of salvation that will free any who believe in its truth (John 8:32; 14:6). The words, "binding and loosing," probably refer to the foundational truth that is revelatory in nature. In rabbinical terms, "to bind" meant "to forbid" and "to loose" meant "to permit." Jesus is announcing that Peter will be like a rabbi who communicates the law of God.
5. Explain the phrase "revelatory truth." Revelatory truth is (a) direct from Christ; (b) by the Holy Spirit; (c) we are the human instruments in inspiration; and (d) we are the leaders of the church where policy and doctrine were received.
6. What is a dispensation? A dispensation describes how God deals with the people of the world for a particular time. We are now in the Grace dispensation (church Age). The church was born between Matthew 16 ("I will build my church") and Acts 2 ("were added to the church"). Dr. Falwell believes that the church began at Pentecost and will end at the Rapture. Dispensational means "stewardship."
7. Why is Matthew called a bridge? The Book of Matthew is a "dispensational bridge" between the Old and New Testaments indicating that the Jews and Gentiles should be in church together.
Tom of Spotswood"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5:12)
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)
Index to Selected Essays And Book Reviews
Lesson 3 - Descriptions Of The Church
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