USES OF WORD CHURCH

  1. God has One Church through out all time, from the beginning to the end of time.(Acts 7:38; Eph.1:22; Heb.12:23)
  2. In the world, God has One Church, which is Christ’s Body.(Matthew 16:18; I Cor. 12:13; Eph.5:27; Col.1:21-29)
  3. In every city/town, God has One Church known as the church of a particular city/community name.(Acts 2:47; 13:1; I Cor.1:2; I Thess.1:1)
  4. In every city/town there are believers gathering in different homes and yet still considered One Church in a city /community (Romans 16:5; I Cor.16:19; Col.4:15; Phm.2)

 

I.                    Example of Singular Usage

A.                One Church per city/town

1)                  Ephesus as in Acts 20:17,28

2)                  Corinth as in I Cor. 1:2

3)                  Jerusalem as in Acts 8:1-4

II.                 Examples of Plural Usage

A.                Several Churches per province or territory

1)                  Judaea as in I Thess. 2:14

III.               Examples of Churches in houses

A.                Aquila and Priscilla’s house as in Rom.16:3-5; I Cor.16:19

B.                 Nympas’ house as in Col.4:15

C.                Philemon’s house as in Philemon 1:1-2

IV.              Church of the city/town is composed of all believers

A.                Rome as in Rom.1:1,7

B.                 Corinth as in I Cor.1:1-2

C.                Ephesus as in Eph.1:1

D.                Philippi as in Philippians 1:1

E.                 Colosee as in Colossians 1:1-2

V.                 Church in a houses of the city/town together make up the city/town church

A.                I Cor. 16:19

B.                 Col.4:15

C.                Philemon 1:1-2

VI.              Church gathering in one place and time

A.                On Solomon’s Porch in Jerusalem as in Acts 2:46; 5:11-14

B.                 In a school in Ephesus as in Acts 19:9

C.                In a house owned by Gaius as in Rom.16:23


© Copyright 2004 New Testament Church