教会

Church as a family

当我们接受神的恩典和圣灵时，我们就成为神家庭的一员。 每个属灵的孩子都需要成为属灵家庭的一部分。上帝是我们的天父，所有的信徒都像是同一个家庭里的兄弟姐妹。“这家是永生神的教会...” （提摩太前书 3:15）。这个家庭不是一个建筑物，“教会”不是一个崇拜的地方，而是一群信徒。

Church as a body

We are the body of Jesus – that’s how the New Testament describes the relationship between Jesus and His followers. A body means that everyone is a part and has a special role. Jesus is the head; we need to be connected to Him so that He can coordinate everything and lead us. We’re supposed to work together just like a body does. That way we resemble Jesus and He can work through us.

Church as a team

A team is a group of people who decide to work together for a common vision. They train together and do whatever is necessary to reach the goal. Jesus wants His church to be united for His kingdom. He shows us who we could build a team with and who should train us.

教会可以发生在任何地方：在公园，学校，咖啡馆，教堂，办公室或在家里的客厅。

What do the three images of church (as a family, as a body, as a team) look like in your life?

教会的定义（根据使徒行转）

In the New Testament, the word “church” is used in three different ways:

1. All the followers of Jesus in the world (the global “body of Christ”)
2. All the followers of Jesus in a city / a region
   Example: the “church in Jerusalem” (Acts 11:22)
3. A group of followers of Jesus that regularly meet together
   Example: the “church in the house of Priscilla and Aquila” (Romans 16:5)

Here we look at the third meaning. What elements make up a specific church?

Read Acts 2:37-47.

Elements of church

Baptism

与耶稣的结合：洗礼

“洗礼”一词是指“沉浸，淹没”为清洁或洗涤的目的。正如耶稣受洗一般，每个相信祂的人也应当受洗。耶稣在马太福音的结尾命令祂的跟随者：“... 奉圣父圣子圣灵的名，给他们施洗。“（马太福音 28:19）

这节经文的意思在使徒行传2:38 中清楚地表明：
水洗也被称为“重生的洗” （提多书3:5）。罗马书 6:1-11 解释它的意思： 以同样的方式，耶稣被埋葬，然后复活，我们在水中受洗，从水中出来就是一个新的生命。 我们的旧事已经过去，我们不再是“罪的奴隶”。 这意味着我们可以不再犯罪。我们是“新造的人” （哥林多后书 5:17）。 在洗礼中，我们埋葬了我们的旧生活，开始我们的新生活，一个以耶稣为榜样的全新生命。

The Lord’s Supper

纪念耶稣：主的晚餐

耶稣亲自设立主的晚餐，以纪念祂的死和为我们的罪所流出的血。（路加福音 22:15-20）

上帝的盟约

一群受洗，决定跟从耶稣的人。 一群认为自己是一个教会的人，并承诺一起遵行神的旨意。

领导

健康的教会有关心所有的成员的领导，帮助他们更多地认识上帝，并在他们生活的各个方面遵行上帝的旨意。

Giving

给予：奉献

奉献是我们对父神慈愛信实的供应与赏赐，所献上的回应。 我们可以在我们生活的许多领域向神奉献，例如我们的时间和我们的能力。 上帝也要求我们把我们部分的财政献给祂。

敬拜赞美

赞美神和在祂的面前

团契

亲切关爱对方，愿意为彼此牺牲

祷告

与上帝同在并与祂交谈

培训

阅读圣经，学习在日常生活中顺服神

倍增

We share the gospel and make disciples by the power of the Holy Spirit.

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Take time now as a group and evaluate: Which of these elements do you have in your group?

What are your next steps so that you can get closer to God’s ideal of church? (What do you need to add? Where do you need to use your time differently? etc.)