We are a forgetful people in a land of distractions. Our minds are easily captivated by trivial and temporary inducements. New things quickly become old. In our mind’s eye even glory tends to fade and warnings tend to wane. It is no wonder that we who are invisibly united to Christ and visibly in and not of this world live in constant need of renewal. And what is true for the Christian is true for the church. This is a series that seeks to renew the mind of the church. Not so much by reviewing what she is called to do as much as what she is called. As with the Christian so with church, her God-given identity defines her. We who are the church are a people for God and none other.
Before we return to the book of Romans, we will be looking at the what scripture says about the Church, in its nature, how she expresses herself in song, and how the church cares and equips for its members.
The messages from this series can be found here:
Manny Pereira - February 19, 2017
Marks of the Church
We must picture the ideal in order to aspire. Identifying the church rightly is fundamental to being a church rightly. The high language of the church is intended to elevate our love for her. The first message in this series dealt with the “why” of the church and this one deals with the “what.” It summarizes the nature and character of Christ’s church, identifying the order of her priorities, positions, and essential practices. Accordingly, it is intended to help identify a biblically sound, Christ-honoring local church. It also serves as a strong reminder that Christians striving together to make much of Christ as a local church is biblically sound and Christ-honoring. In other words, it exposes low and anti views of the church for what they are: bankrupt. Understanding the marks of the church helps to defeat unbiblical conceptions of both the church and the Christian life.
