Understanding the mission of the church Congratulations for making it to this section In this lecture we will discuss

the nature and the mission of the church We'll do this in four parts So by

the end of this lecture you will have a clear understanding of the church as

Christ's body the Holy Spirit's role and what the church mission really is the church It's

not simply a building or an organization it is a community What is it a community of believers like

minded believers who gather together to worship to serve and to fulfill the great mission which we

will discuss So the church as the body of Christ Ok The Apostle Paul describes the

church as the body of Christ with Jesus as the head of that body for just as the body is

one and as many members and all the members of the body though many are one body

So it is with Christ We see this in First Corinthians 1212 So what does this mean What is it

telling us just as a body has many different parts working together those parts work together for a common purpose

So does the church each member has a unique role to play and contributes to

the overall functioning and growth of that body Think of your body how it functions and how it

works in the church Diversity is embraced and celebrated just like the different organs and the

systems in a human body serve different functions specific functions Each member of the church brings forth

unique talents skills perspectives to fulfill specific roles within that community Some may be gifted

with teaching or preaching or being ministers others serving others healing others in leadership roles others in youth

all together they form a cohesive unit that really works towards a shared mission of love

service really spreading the message of faith So when everyone contributes with their God given talents with their gifts with

their abilities what happens to the church It becomes a place where we are encouraged we are edified we

are built up we are empowered It's through this synergy that the body of Christ

really flourishes and has a chance to flourish as each person's contribution is valued and very important

for the overall health and effectiveness of the community as a whole Now the church as a community

of believers let's discuss this a little bit more This is not just a gathering of

individuals it is a community that is united by one thing What is that one thing Faith in Christ faith

in Jesus by this all the people will know that you are my disciples If

you have love for one another we see this in John 1335 this community is defined by love and mutual

support helping each other out encouraging one another serving as a safe haven where believers

can come together united by that faith in Christ The bonds formed in the church community are

strong members are genuinely caring for one another They wholeheartedly embrace that call to live in unity

Always ready to lend a helping hand uplift those in need So in the church community very close knit

community burdens are not meant to be carried alone You're meant to share those have support believers understand

the power of bearing one another's burdens recognizing that strength it lies in that unity So they offer a listening

ear comforting embrace practical assistance when life's challenges become too overwhelming which they do and they probably will

become multiple times in all of our lives So they're rejoicing together in these times of joy celebrating

each other's victories there for the trials there for the tough times and the accomplishments sometimes might

go unnoticed Let's talk about the church as the pillar and foundation of truth But if I

am delayed I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God

which is the church of the Living God the pillar and the ground of the

truth We see this in first Timothy 315 So what does this mean The church it

plays that pivotal role It is the pillar it is the foundation of truth in our world that is

very conflicting has a lot of ideologies a lot of different beliefs going on The church

really bears the weight of the responsibility of doing what proclaiming and upholding the teachings

of Christ through the Bible through scripture who embodies that ultimate truth So that's the job of

the church through its ministry of preaching and teaching and discipleship the church equips believers and

is meant to equip believers with the necessary tools to live in accordance with God's word So as

the world grows and as these views grow and as things get more distorted the

church should be standing firm as that beacon of truth not changing its commitment to disseminate the wisdom

and the values found in the Bible through Christ we wanna faithfully transmit those teachings

We want to empower members want to empower other people even nonbelievers to find that guidance to

find that support to find that encouragement by keeping the Bible as it is and not adding to it or

taking away through the dissemination of this truth The church really builds that spiritual growth and has an opportunity to

lead us individuals to that path to find that path of God So in essence the

church foundational role is the guardian of truth providing a big sense of stability in a world that is

marked by a lot of confusion A lot of uncertainty and it continues to grow This

is meant to act as that strong pillar that does not go anywhere that does not change That

is always there to promote the teachings of the Bible So in the teachings of Christ

the mission of the church OK is making disciples So go therefore and make disciples of all

nations baptizing them in the name of the father and the son and of the Holy Spirit teaching them to

observe all that I have commanded you and behold I am with you always to the end of the age

Matthew 2819 and 20 So what is this telling us here exactly Jesus gave the church one clear

mission Go out and make disciples of all nations How do we do that Sharing the good news of

salvation baptizing new believers teaching them to follow the commands of Christ Where do we find those

commands in the Bible in scripture So the church is called to be a light in

the world We are called to be salt and light bringing hope reconciliation and a ultimate transformation through the

power of the gospel Now let's talk about the church as a witness to the

world but you will receive the power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and

you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to

the end of the earth acts 18 So what is this telling us in acts the church

is called to be a witness to the world reflecting that character of Christ And again

proclaiming his message of what of redemption reconciliation we have through salvation So through the church's actions it's meant

to demonstrate God's love bring glory to his name How by living out the teachings

of Jesus the church then becomes a living testimony of that transformative power of Christ So in conclusion

the church it's not merely an institution it is a living organism empowered directly by the

Holy Spirit It exists to glorify God solely by by doing what by edifying believers and

fulfilling the great commission of making disciples When we understand the nature and the mission of the

church what the church is supposed to do we can actively participate in its growth and

impact for the world for Christ So in the next lecture we will discuss how baptism

and communion work baptism and communion and systematic theology So in the realm of systematic theology these two topics

come up often baptism and communion They both hold a big importance theologically spiritually symbolically within the Christian faith So

in this lesson we will explore these concepts back them up by relative relevant Bible verses and discuss them in

a little bit more detail So you can fully grasp and understand what they do what they are So start

with baptism what is baptism It is a sacred act that represents an individual's initiation into

the Christian community OK Do you need baptism to go to heaven No but this is what it symbolizes purification

rebirth and the forgiveness of sins So through baptism believers publicly declare their faith in

Christ and their commitment to follow him So the Bible provides several instances where baptism is mentioned and it

really shows us the significance and importance of it as we see it out through scripture

So the first verse is Matthew 2819 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations

baptizing them in the name of the father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit So another verse

that really highlights the symbolism we see with baptism is in Romans 64 We were therefore buried with him

through baptism into death In order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the

father we too may live a new life So we see these verses what are they telling

us about baptism among other things They're really emphasizing the transformative nature we find with baptism its

connection to the life the death and the resurrection of Christ Now keep baptism fresh in your

mind as we go into communion these two sort of work hand in hand So communion

is also known as the Lord's Supper or Eucharist OK What is communion It is another timeless

sacrament you see in Christianity it commemorates the sacrificial death of Christ and the establishment of the new covenant

that is formed between God and humanity What is that new covenant formed through Christ through

Christ's blood on the cross giving us salvation So through the sharing of bread and wine which can

also be grape juice we remember and participate in this redemptive work of Christ This is how we

become a part of it in our participation the institution of the Lord's Supper we see

described in First Corinthians 1123 to 26 To good description for I received from the Lord What

I also passed on to you the Lord Jesus on the night he was betrayed What did he

do He took bread when he had given thanks he broke it and said this is my body which is

for you do this in remembrance of me So in the same way after that supper he took

the cup saying this cup is the new covenant in my blood Do this whenever

you drink it in remembrance of me for whenever you eat this bread and drink

this cup what are you doing You are proclaiming the Lord's death until he comes So this

passage OK What is it telling us It's really emphasizing the sacrificial nature we see of Jesus body

and blood and that ongoing remembrance and proclamation of his redemptive work through the act of communion We

are able to proclaim this and celebrate this So both baptism and communion They hold

significant importance in the life of a believer of every believer these practices really symbolize the deep connection

with Christ that we have with Christ and our participation in his death and in

his resurrection show this continuing remembrance of that sacrificial love That's how this all ties together So through baptism

believers can publicly declare that faith and become united with Christ symbolizing the spiritual rebirth and the new

life they find in him this act of immersion is really is representing a believer's

identification with that death with Christ's death on the cross and burial as well as the anticipation of eternal life

in the second coming So in addition to baptism communion also again known as the Lord's Supper

is another reminder of that sacrifice cross made on the cross That's the important part to

understand here through the partaking in the bread and the wine Believers remember and commemorate Jesus body and blood

which was offered for the forgiveness of all of our sins So communion it's a powerful

way for believers to express that gratitude for Christ's love and to reaffirm their commitment to him So this

serves as a regular reminder of two things of God's grace and God's mercy as well as

a time of reflection And it should be a renewal of faith which we all need to do

consistently So both baptism and communion they are essential practices that enable believers to express

their faith really embrace that identity as followers of Christ and partake in this spiritual

nourishment that is provided by God So the acts show really signify obedience not only fostering that deep sense of

belonging with the Christian community but also really serving as a powerful spiritual marker in an

individual's journey of faith baptism and communion Both stand very powerful symbols of that unwavering devotion to Christ and

a desire to live in accordance with his teachings Both of these provide opportunities for believers

for us to reflect and think about that faith reflect on our faith the communion with God and really strengthen

our relationship with him and with fellow believers The Christian hope had been hell in resurrection

In Christian theology the concept of the afterlife this plays a big role in shaping beliefs and understanding the Christian

hope Ok central to this hope is the assurance of one thing that's eternal life That's how we are

living our lives the reality of heaven and hell comes into play here and the promise of resurrection So

let's talk a little bit about heaven First heaven described as the eternal dwelling place of God the destination

of believers after death depicted as a place of perfection peace communion with God The

idea of heaven can be found throughout the Bible including the following verses to give some good

examples of this John 14 2 to 3 in my father's house are many rooms if

it were not So what I have told you that I go to prepare a place

for you and if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again

I will take you to myself that where I am you may be also So

that was Christ talking about preparing a place for us in heaven Now revelation 21 4 another great example He

will wipe away every tear from their eyes and death shall be no more Neither shall there be mourning

nor crying nor pain anymore for the former things have passed away So what are both of

these verses telling us heaven is portrayed as a realm that is both eternal and perfect Two

important things to remember The emphasis is on its unwavering nature providing believers with a sense of hope and comfort

serves as a main source major source of peace for those seeking reassurance in the face of life's

uncertainties So the eternal nature of heaven this is what we're going for This is

assuring believers that it transcends the worldly limitations of this world offering a sanctuary of permanence and tranquility So

it's perfect essence implies a place that's untouched by the imperfectness of the world and the suffering that we see

we live through providing a haven of that ultimate fulfillment for those who are placing their

faith in its existence So these verses also are confirming to us the enduring aspects of heaven

should serve as a beacon of hope for believers offering us peace offering us consolation as we're seeking

that reassurance with what how we are living our lives with what we are going through we are

doing what we are doing for Christ to go to heaven So by high highlighting the eternal nature

of heaven it should remind us that it's a realm that surpasses the worldly nature What we

know what we can see in this worldly existence portrayed as a perfect place that should really ignite

in us a sense of awe and wonderment and really focusing on heaven as our destination when we leave this

world So these verses should instill faith in our hearts assuring us of that future in a realm

that is eternal and faultless Now let's talk a little bit about hell Ok This is

the realm of judgment contrasting with the hope of heaven How is hell depicted Place of

punishment separation from God lake of fire described as a state of eternal suffering for those who do what project

God's salvation So let's go to the Bible to reference this in Matthew 2546 And these will go away

into eternal punishment but the righteous into eternal life again in revelation 21 8 But as

for the cowardly the faithless the detestable as for the murderers the sexually immoral sorcerers idolaters and all liars

what will happen Their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur which is the second

death So these verses really serve as a hard reminder of the consequences of rejecting God's grace and they are

showing us focusing on the gravity of that unbelief This is what happens This really

emphasizes the seriousness of turning away from God ok Of turning away from the guidance that is offered

to us as we see these consequences These verses they are seeking to make us contemplate and think about the

importance of faith the potential repercussions of not accepting God's mercy and forgiveness when we live a worldly life

without God this is what we can hope for So through these words what are we encouraged

to do Think about our actions think about our choices these verses they remind us

that the decision to reject God's grace This is the weight that it carries These are

the consequences that we can look forward to This reminds us again that potential separation from God's love and His

guidance This is where we end up to really serve as a call of reflection of

the importance of accepting and embracing a relationship with Christ that is offered to us Ok Through grace through faith

we are saved by contemplating these verses We should consider what it will mean if we do not believe

And ultimately the magnitude of what we can look forward to what is in store for

us Let's talk about resurrection Ok The hope of new life is resurrection This is a

core belief in Christianity affirming that believers will be raised to a new life after death

So through Christ's resurrection Christians anticipate their own bodily resurrection and the restoration of all

things The following verses here really will highlight this for you So let's start with First Corinthians 1542 to

is sown is perishable What is raised is imperishable It is sown in dishonor it is raised

in glory it is sown in weakness it is raised in power it is sown in a natural

body It is raised in a spiritual body So let's look again at Philippians 320

to 21 But our citizenship is where in heaven and from it we await a savior who is Christ

who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body But the power that enables him even to

subject all things to himself So this verse really shows us the essential part of Christian faith That's

the belief in the resurrection of the body This belief it holds that believers will undergo a

big transformation which we will being elevated into a state of that glorious existence serving as a powerful affirmation of

the hope and anticipation that Christians hold for the future So the concept of resurrection

OK of our resurrection of our bodies of the body is deeply rooted in Christian theology This

entails the conviction that upon death believers will not only experience a spiritual renewal but

eventually will undergo a physical resurrection as well So this transformative event This means a profound change in the

state of being as we are gloriously renewed and restored to a perfected form the belief in the resurrection

of the body This serves as a source of comfort It should be an assurance

for Christians inspiring them to live in accordance with faith nurturing the anticipation of that eternal life

to come We will all go to eternity It's just a matter of where you want to go So

in conclusion the Christian hope centers around the insurance of one thing which is eternal life with the

reality of heaven and hell and the promise of bodily resurrection So these concepts they're

deeply rooted in scripture is really formed The foundation of Christian theology As believers we find comfort we find

motivation and ultimate purpose in the hope of experiencing the fullness of God's presence while being very mindful of the

consequences of rejecting his grace how we live in this world the actions we take in this

world So it's important to understand heaven and hell How do we want to live while we're

on this earth Do we want to glorify God and live a life for Christ or do

we want to live a life for ourselves and for the world and the consequences of both of those

going to heaven going to hell The decision and the choice is ultimately up to you the second

coming and end times a glorious hope Ok The concept of the second coming and end times

This is a very important event in Christianity This belief centers around the return of Christ to earth

and the combination of God's plan for humanity The specifics interpretations may vary among different denominations

There are key biblical references and teachings that will provide insight into the topic that

we want to go back to and stick with scripture So let's talk about the

second coming First The Bible affirms Christ will return to earth in a glorious and triumphant manner His second coming

is described as an event with worldwide impact meaning everybody will know what's going on This signals the

completion of God's redemptive plan So we can go to the Bible go back to scripture to see this Matthew

earth will mourn and they will see the son of man coming on the clouds of

heaven with power and great glory So acts 111 another good example of this this Jesus

who was taken up from you into heaven will come in the same way as you saw him go

into heaven again revelation 17 behold he is coming with the clouds Every eye will see him

even those who pierced him and all tribes of the earth will wail on account

of him even so amen So the significance of the second coming what does it

mean the second coming of Jesus It holds big implications for both believers and the world as a whole

whether you believe or you don't believe We will all experience this It's a time of final judgment

the establishment of God's eternal kingdom on earth So some key aspects that are related to

the second coming judgment The second coming will be accompanied by the final judgments where all

people will be held accountable for their actions and their beliefs We see this in Matthew

OK The second coming involves the resurrection of the dead both of the righteous and the unrighteous

OK In first Thessalonians 416 to 17 and revelation 24 to 6 for your references restoration here Jesus return

will bring about the renewal and restoration of all creation OK So end times and

eschatology eschatology refers to the study of the end times or the last days It explores

events signs and conditions leading up to the second coming of Jesus While interpretations may differ there

are some key elements associated with the end times What are some of these key elements

Let's talk about them First one is tribulation What does this mean A period of intensified turmoil and tribulation

before the second coming You see this again in Matthew 2421 revelation 714 the anti-christ the

rise of a figure known as the anti-christ who opposes Christ and deceives many We see

this in first John two and four the millennium These are different views regarding the

interpretation of the 1000 year reign of Christ We see mentioned in revelation 21 to 6 with

some believing it to be a literal period While others see it symbolically the need

for systematic theology involves organizing and studying these biblical teachings according to these various topics we can see this

done well here with eschatology This seeks to provide a comprehensive and coherent understanding of God

of his plan and his ultimate relationship with humanity