"What Is the Church?"
A Handbook for the Royal Priesthood - Episode #7
"...so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another."
About This Episode:
On this episode of the Deeper Riches Podcast we discuss The Church – the Body of Christ on the earth, and the Bride who awaits His return.
Sadly, today we have been led to believe that our spiritual growth is primarily an individual matter. But the story God is telling through the history of the Church is not primarily a story about ME. It’s a story about WE.
In this episode, we attempt to bridge the gap between the American “ME-centered” approach to Christianity and the way the Bible describes the Body of Christ as a priesthood of believers who are being built up TOGETHER as the Body of Christ, the Church. We re-examine the concepts of belonging, spiritual gifts, and church membership and present a Biblical alternative to finding “your best Christian life now.” We are invited into so much more.
God’s plan for the Church is one of the great mysteries in all the universe, a thing into which angels long to look.
This episode is focused on THE CHURCH. We discuss:
- What is the Church?
- The mysterious uniting of God and man
- The “Big C” Church and the “little c” church
- Which book of the Bible talks most about the church?
- Who is the church?
- The “mystery” revealed through the church
- The unity of the Church amidst the diversity of the nations
- The church as a foil to the Tower of Babel
- The birth of the Church and the giving of the Holy Spirit
- The importance of meeting together
- To whom do the “one another” commands refer?
- Our “one-flesh” relationship with Christ has a purpose.
- The mark of a gathering of believers is the special love we have for one another.
- The Church is God’s instrument for completing his will on earth.
- What does it mean that we are “members of one another”?
- What about all these denominations?
- Belonging is not a feeling, it is a commitment.
- One purpose of your faith is the spiritual growth of others.
Quotes from this Episode:
"God desires to dwell among us, to fill this dwelling with himself. He first became flesh and dwelt inside one human body, but after he ascended to heaven, he poured out his Spirit so that Christ is now dwelling in every Christian, in the living temple called His Body.”
“The Warrior Bride, the Church, heads straight into the battle, and pulls the captives out from every tribe, tongue and nation. When that work is finished, Christ will return as the conquering King.”
Questions for Contemplation:
BELONGING: How committed am I to my local body of believers? What does it mean to me that we “belong to one another”? What does church membership mean to me?
CONTRIBUTION: How do I or could I exercise my spiritual gifts to bless the church? Do I approach church gatherings asking, “What can I get out of this?” or am I concerned about the spiritual growth of those around me?
- LOVE: Do I have a special love for the people of God? Am I holding a grudge against the church or anyone in the church? What steps can I take to restore my love?
CORRECTION: Am I open to receiving correction and correcting others with the Word of God? How do I feel about the idea that my spiritual walk is the concern of others?
SUFFERING AND REJOICING: Whom do I reach out to when I am hurting or celebrating? Outside my immediate family, am I in close enough relationship with other believers that I feel their pain as my pain and their successes as my cause for rejoicing? How could I cultivate this kind of intimacy?
- UNITY: Is there any thought, word, or action of mine which is undermining the unity of the church? Is there anyone I need to apologize to or reach out to for the sake of unity?
We hope this podcast will help you to seek the deep riches of the glory of God, and inspire you to discover your role in the Royal Priesthood of Believers.
Scriptures referenced in this podcast:
1 Peter 2:9; John 17:22-24; Ephesians 1:23; 1 Corinthians 12; Revelation 21:3; 1 Peter 2:5; Ephesians 2:19-22; John 1:14; John 16:7; James 2:26; Ephesians 1:9-10 Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 5:22-33: 2 Peter 1:4; Genesis 1:28; Ephesians 1:4-5; Ephesians 2:8-9; Ephesians 1:14; Revelation 19:9; Revelation 4:11; Genesis 11:4-8; Romans 1:18-23; Ephesians 3:3-6; Acts 2; Ephesians 2:14-19; Ephesians 3:9-10; Ephesians 1:10; Jeremiah 31:33-34; Ephesians 1:23; Revelation 6:14; 1 Peter 1:12; Ephesians 1:6; Revelation 7:9; Ephesians 2:6-10; Romans 10:15; Matthew 16:18; Revelation 1:14-18; John 10:27; 2 Corinthians 1:22; Matthew 25:32; Ephesians 4:4-16; Acts 2:42-47; 2 Timothy 4:19; Romans 16:3; Hebrews 10:24-25; John 13:35; Galatians 6:10; 1 John 5:1; Romans 5:5; Ephesians 4:25; Colossians 3:13; James 5:19; Matthew 5:23-24; Ephesians 4:15; Matthew 13:24-30; Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; 2 Timothy 2:2; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Corinthians 14:12; John 3:28-30; 1 Corinthians 12:25-26; John 15:11
Links:
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S3Ep8: We Are Kingdom People
This episode of the Deeper Riches Podcast puts the “Royal” in the Royal Priesthood. As adopted sons and daughters of the King of the Universe, we are royalty. But what is this kingdom that we have entered into? What does it mean to do “kingdom work” or be a “kingdom person”? What is the real work of this kingdom of priests? We return to the story of the history of the world and explore what God revealed about His Kingdom through the first three kings of Israel: Saul, David, and Solomon. We also dive into the parables Jesus told about his kingdom and take away some big lessons about the nature of the Kingdom of God.
S3Ep7: What is the Church?
What is the church? Is it a building? A place we go to get some encouragement and fellowship once or twice a week? According to the Scriptures, the church is so much more. It is the Body of Christ on the earth, and the Bride who awaits His return. God’s plan for the Church is one of the great mysteries in all the universe, a thing into which angels long to look! On this latest episode of the Deeper Riches podcast, we explore this beautiful mystery and discover that faith is not a ME thing – it’s a WE thing! Enjoy!
S3E6: We Are Priests Like Living Stones
If you are in Christ, you are a part of the Royal Priesthood. Along with every believer of Jesus, we are being built up, like living stones, into a holy temple where God dwells. We are made to be instruments of reconciliation between God and man. In this episode we explore our Priesthood, and talk about what makes it distinct from the Levitical priesthood established in the Law. We analyze the story of Melchizedek, and gain new insights into our own priestly duties based on the story of this obscure royal priest. If we belong to the Body of Christ, we have already been anointed and ordained and consecrated for this high calling. Isn’t it about time we learn what this Priesthood is all about?
S3Ep5 – The Law and the Gospel
On this episode, we discuss the giving of the Law of Moses. Through this Law, God gave to mankind an unbelievable grace: He revealed the gospel more fully than ever before. We will trace how God clearly communicated his standard for right and wrong, the standard by which all of mankind is judged, and the standard of which we all fall short. But in the Law God also revealed that He would take payment for our sin with the blood of a perfect, spotless sacrifice, and restore us to a right relationship with Him. Without this Law, there is no gospel. We hope that this episode challenges your previous conceptions of the Law, and gives you an extra measure of gratitude and awe.
S3 Ep4: Let My People Go!
On this episode, we discuss God as DELIVERER. We dive into the story of the Exodus, when God delivered His people out of slavery in Egypt. Next to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Exodus is the most miracle-filled story in the Bible. The story is so pivotal, that the Israelites were commanded to remember and reenact it every single year forever. This story is also foundational to the Royal Priesthood today, because before we can serve God in the wilderness, we must actually leave the system of Egypt. This is an application rich episode, worth listening all the way through. It will challenge you, but it is our hope that you, too, will hear the call of God on your behalf, to “Let my people go!”
S3 Ep3: Walk by Faith
On this 3rd episode in the Handbook for the Royal Priesthood series, we examine the life of Father Abraham as a model of walking by faith. God counted Abraham’s faith as righteousness, so what exactly did Abraham believe? And how did he exercise that faith? In an age where it is becoming increasingly more costly to walk by faith and stand for Christ, the Royal Priesthood of believers need to consider what it means to follow in the footsteps of Abraham and walk by faith.
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