Upcoming Events:
Vol. 7—Issue 4 March 2009
Pastor’s Breakfast April 30 7:30-9:30 @ River Park Church, Calgary (3818-14A Street SW) Please RSVP to info@equippingevangelists.com
The Indispensable Local Church
David Macfarlane addresses the group of church leaders at Priory Baptist in Guelph on March 3rd.
Cross the Street Engage your community with authentic faith. May 1—2 @ Centre Street Church 3900 2nd Street NE Calgary For info and to register call 1-800-293-3717
EEAT 2015
INTRODUCTION I believe the doctrine of the Church is one of the most exciting concepts of the Bible. Unfortunately, the word “church” conjures up many different images in the minds of different people. Almost instantly people think of a building. Some think of a denomination while others think of a religious club. When some hear the word “church” they think Christmas and Easter and others think of weddings and funerals. NEW TESTAMENT VIEW OF THE LOCAL CHURCH The word “church” occurs over 100 times in the New Testament and it always refers to groups of people. To be precise the word “church” means “a called out people of God”. The most common usage of the word “church” denotes the local church. It is the body of born-again believers in a certain locality and meeting regularly for worship, fellowship, edification and service. Beginning with the Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15, the word “church” occurs in 35 verses just in the rest of the Book of Acts and all refer to the local church geo-specifically. WESTERN VIEW OF THE LOCAL CHURCH Secularized Western society has an increasingly dismal perception of the Christian church in at least three ways: First, the church is irrelevant because it is disconnected with society. Secondly, the church’s message is unclear and unconvincing. Thirdly, the church is anemic as a change agent in society and of society. I believe this has contributed to many Christians