To understand what it means to be the Church

2. “I will build My church, and the gates of
hell will not prevail against it.”
Matthew 16:18

3. “I will present to Myself a glorious church, not
having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but
that she should be holy and without blemish.”
Ephesians 5:27

4. CHURCH Ekklesia:
“Called out ones; separate, sanctified”

5. CHURCH Ekklesia:
“Called out ones; separate, sanctified”
Body of Christ
Family of God
A Holy Nation
City on a hill
Bride of Christ Army
Field
Flock
Building
Light and salt
Household of faith
Royal Priesthood Mystery
Peculiar people
Branches

6. CHURCH DEFINED:
Centrality of Jesus Christ
Authority of God’s Word
Power of the Holy Spirit bearing
fruit in transformed lives
Three Characteristics:

7. What defines a “CHRISTIAN”?
“A Christian is a Christ follower, properly
responding to Jesus by breaking free from his
past, repentance of sin, and personal faith in
God’s saving grace; commitment to a community
of faith; his humanity made new in Christ,
transformed in mind and spirit and becoming a
part of the family of God.”
Ed Hayes

8. Emperor Trajan
98-117 AD
Pliny the Younger
“You have taken the right
line, my dear Pliny, in
your denouncing and
condemning these
Christians, for they
constitute a very bad
precedent, and also,
impede the progress of
keeping in step with the
age.” (Emperor Trajan)

9. Emperor Trajan
98-117 AD
Pliny the Younger
…be different
CHRISTIANS are called to…
…speak God’s truth
…hold people accountable

10. George Washington
“Without religion and morality,
a free republic would not be
possible.”

11. Burning Jerusalem
Temple Destroyed
70 AD

12. Coliseum completed
78 AD

13. 78-79 AD
Mt. Vesuvius erupts
Many cities destroyed
Rome burns
Plague in Rome

14. Mathew 5:43-48