Theology of the Church, Mentor's Guide, MG03

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T H E O L O G Y O F T H E C H U R C H

Not a Real Church Service

In a recent meeting in a cell group meeting of a new church plant in an urban neighborhood, a discussion arose about whether or not meeting in homes only is enough to be a real church. Some of the members who went to traditional church services have felt a little awkward meeting in homes and calling those meetings with believers “church service.” This discussion has grown into a larger discussion about what makes a church service a legitimate one. If you were a part of this discussion, what would you say regarding the true marks of a “real church service?”

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Full, Fuller, and Fullest Gospel

In all of the various divisions and denominations which speak about what constitutes a “full gospel” fellowship, many criteria are being used to say what a whole church is. Based on what your understanding is now, if you could only suggest five characteristics of a true church, what would they be? Think for a moment. Why did you choose these five? What, if anything, might be left out of your list?

We Alone Are Jehovah’s Organization

After a difficult discussion with some Jehovah’s Witnesses one morning, a dear Christian sister is troubled about the conversation. The Witnesses claimed two things that stayed in her mind. First, they claimed that God could only really have one legitimate and true Church–all of these bodies claiming to be God’s organization cannot all be correct. Second, they claimed that because of the great division and confusion in the doctrines and practices of the churches (Catholic, Protestant, Anglican, and Orthodox), they cannot be true. Only the clean and understandable positions of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, along with their non-racial and non-institutional practices makes sense. How would you answer this dear sister as she tries to make sense of all the differences among the various traditions all claiming to represent God and to be Christian?

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