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The Church Militant
Onward Christian soldiers, Marching as to war With the cross of Jesus Going on before. Christ the royal Master Leads against the foe. Forward into battle See, His banners go! (hymn by George Bean) One
Continue reading...The Church as Mystery
Paul writes: 2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In
Continue reading...Metaphors of the Church: The Nature and Purpose of the Church
If we look at the metaphors used of the Church we learn something of the nature and purpose of the Church. Our nature is a beloved people (the Bride of Christ, His special flock) who have been set apart
Continue reading...Metaphors of the Church: Israel of God, Seed of Abraham, True Circumcision
The Church is the people of God, not to the exclusion of Israel as God’s people, but as those who are in Messiah Jesus, who is the ultimate Israel. The Israel according to the flesh (1 Corinthians 10:18,
Continue reading...Metaphors of the Church: Lampstand, Light, Pillar of Truth
Three metaphors emphasize that the Church is the bearer of Christ’s testimony and gives witness to the world of the true way. The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the
Continue reading...Metaphors of the Church: Branches in Jesus the Vine
How would you communicate both that the Church is totally dependent on Christ to thrive and do good, and that it does thrive and do good? Jesus uses a metaphor, likening the Church to branches in himself,
Continue reading...Metaphors of the Church: One New Humanity
When God destroyed the earth with a flood, He destroyed all humanity except Noah’s family, and started a new humanity. It was still descended from Adam. The world will be destroyed again, this time by
Continue reading...Metaphors of the Church: The Flock of God
The patriarch Jacob, who had been a shepherd all his life, described God as his shepherd all his life (Genesis 48:15). David, the shepherd boy, said, “Yahweh is my shepherd, I shall not want” (Psalm
Continue reading...Metaphors of the Church: God’s Family Household
Matthew 12:46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting
Continue reading...Metaphors of the Church: The Bride of Christ
The Church is never directly called the Bride of Christ, but the metaphor is made indirectly. Paul, speaking of the Corinthian local church says, 2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised
Continue reading...Metaphors of the Church: A Kingdom of Priests
Yahweh brought the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt and led them to Mount Sinai to give them the Law and enter into covenant with them. He told Moses to tell the people, 5 Now if you obey me fully and
Continue reading...Metaphors of the Church: The Temple
When Jacob was fleeing from his brother and had a dream of a stairway to heaven and a promise from God, he named the place where this happened The House of God, that is, Bethel, because, he said, “Surely
Continue reading...Metaphors of the Church: The Body of Christ
We love stories of people taking over another person’s body, for humorous or dramatic ends (think Big, Freaky Friday, or Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Face/Off). We also are drawn to stories about
Continue reading...New Testament Concepts of the Christian Ekklesia – Should We Have Church Membership Rolls and Requirements
May I suggest that it is impossible not to have “church membership” in the abstract, if not in the concrete. My local congregation is going to be delimited by my own sense of who belongs to it, whether
Continue reading...Metaphors of the Church: The People of God
When Yahweh called Abraham and gave him a promise, there were already identifiable peoples, masses of humans who belonged together, nations we would say, and ethnic groups, and cultural groups. So God
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