As we begin our discussion of why we go to church on a weekly basis, perhaps the best place to start is a conversation about what the church actually is. Many definitions have been given, beginning with the images offered in the New Testament. The Church is the flock with Jesus as our Good Shepherd (John 10). It is the Body of Christ (Rom. 12:4-5, 1 Cor. 12:12-31) and a building (1 Pet. 2:5). To quote a well-known verse from 1 Peter, the Church is a “chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession...” The church has been grafted into God’s chosen people, Israel, as the means for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be proclaimed in the world (Rom. 11:11-24).
Monday, May 13, 2013
Why we go to church--An introduction
As we begin our discussion of why we go to church on a weekly basis, perhaps the best place to start is a conversation about what the church actually is. Many definitions have been given, beginning with the images offered in the New Testament. The Church is the flock with Jesus as our Good Shepherd (John 10). It is the Body of Christ (Rom. 12:4-5, 1 Cor. 12:12-31) and a building (1 Pet. 2:5). To quote a well-known verse from 1 Peter, the Church is a “chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession...” The church has been grafted into God’s chosen people, Israel, as the means for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be proclaimed in the world (Rom. 11:11-24).
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