Title: The Church of the Bible, What is it?

Introduction: If someone asked you, is every white building with a steeple on it a church? What makes up a church? What is the function of the church? And if you were asked to give a Bible reason what a church is what would you give for an answer? Text: Matthew 28:16 - 20 “Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. I. What qualifies a church to be called a church? A. There was an appointment. V.16 Jesus had appointed them. (the eleven disciples).

1. Meaning of appointment: 1. to put in order, to station, to arrange, to assign a place. 2. Acts 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 3. Luke 22:29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; B. People that loved God. V.17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him ILL. Company representative represents the highest interest of the company. HP president stepped down. Bill Ford stepped aside. II. Who qualifies and empowers the church? A. Jesus gives the power & authority to the church. V. 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 1. Jesus empowers and authorizes the church to dispense the truth of God's Word. I Timothy 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth . 2. Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. ILL. Presidential powers and congressional powers. III. What is the church empowered for? A. Jesus empowered the church to teach in the names of the Trinity. Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

1. Go:Meaning: to pursue the journey on which one has entered, to continue on one's journey, to lead or order one's life (your Christian walk) 1. Go: Usage : Middle, Voice: calls special attention to it self. 2. Teach: Meaning: to be a disciple of one, to follow his precepts and instructions, to make a disciple, to teach, instruct . 2. Teach: Usage: Aorist, Active, Imperative . This is the mode of a commanding statement . It reflects a command or an entreaty. 3. Baptize: bapti,zw Meaning: to dip, to immerse, or to submerge. 3. Baptize: Usage: Present, Active, Participle . Describes continuous action and is formed from the present tense stem. This action is simultaneous relative to the main verb. ILL. Christian walk, teaching all in your path, baptizing continually. 4. Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. B. Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 1. The Jerusalem principle: Friends, Relatives, Associates, Neighbors. IV. What is the church charged with, both offensively & defensively? A. Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. 1. Teaching: Meaning: to teach, to hold discourse with others in order to instruct them, deliver didactic discourses, to be a teacher, to discharge the office of a teacher, conduct one's self as a teacher, to teach one, to impart instruction, instill doctrine into one , the thing taught or enjoined, to explain or expound a thing. ILL: Tools of the trade. 1. Usage: Present, Active, Participle: Describes continuous action and is formed from the present tense stem. 2. Observe: Meaning: To attend to carefully, take care of, to guard, to keep, one in the state in which he is. 2. Usage: Present, Active, Infinitive: To be teaching. a. To teach. b. To guard. ILL. You cannot win a football game by defense alone, you must stay on the offense to score touchdowns.