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

The Church at Work

Segment 2

Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis

The character of the Church’s works in the world can be understood by exploring various images of the Church mentioned in the New Testament. Each of the images provide us with a different set of concepts to reflect upon the Church’s role and mission in the world. We see the Church’s intimate relationship with God through the images of the household of God, the body of Christ, and temple of the Holy Spirit. We comprehend the Church as agent of the Kingdom of God through the lens of the Church as ambassador of Christ. Finally, we see the Church as doing battle in the Lamb’s war as God’s engaging army. • To concentrate on the character of the Church’s works in the world by exploring various images of the Church mentioned in the NewTestament. • To look at the works of the Church through the lens of the household of God, the body of Christ, and temple of the Holy Spirit. • To explore the works of the Church through the lens of ambassadorship, the Church as the agent of the Kingdom of God. • To look at the Church through the lens of God’s army, the Church’s work as doing battle in the Lamb’s war. These images offer great insight into how we are to understand the Church’s identity and work in the world today. I. The Primary Work of the Church Is to Give Evidence of God’s Work in its Community Life: the Church’s First Work Is to Declare the Excellencies of God in its Life and Relationships. The primary work of the Church is to be something, not to do something; the Church, as God’s people, is called to display a quality of life that reflects the glory of him who created her in the first place. The New Testament provides us with many images of the Church, all of which give us insight into the nature of the works that we must do in order to glorify God as his people. Our objectives for this second segment of The Church at Work :

Summary of Segment 2

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Video Segment 2 Outline