Slides to accompany Bristol Vineyard podcast dated 9th October 2016. www.bristolvineyard.com/media.php

1. Why gather?

5. Models: How to do church?
Ecclesiology: What is the church?
What is the church
for?

9. “An unchurched Christian is a
grotesque anomaly. The New Testament
knows nothing of such a person. For the
church lies at the very centre of the
eternal purpose of God. It is not a divine
afterthought. It is not an accident of
history. On the contrary, the church is
God's new community.”
John Stott
The Living Church

10. “Why gather?”

11. “It’s not just about
going to church!”

12. “The Sunday gathering
isn’t the church. It’s
something the church
does.”

13. “Churches are the
people, not the meeting.
It doesn’t matter
whether they meet or
not, they’re still the
church.”

14. Paul, Silas and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace and peace to you.
1 Thessalonians 1: 1

15. ekklesia

16. ekklesia
gathering, assembly,
meeting

17. “The Sunday gathering
isn’t the church. It’s
something the church
does.”

18. “Churches are the
people, not the meeting.
It doesn’t matter
whether they meet or
not, they’re still the
church.”

20. ‘If… Demetrius and the artisans with him have a
complaint against anyone, the courts are open,
and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges
there against one another. If there is anything
further you want to know, it must be settled in
the regular assembly. For we are in danger of
being charged with rioting today, since there is
no cause that we can give to justify this
commotion.’ When he had said this, he
dismissed the assembly.
Acts 19: 38-41

21. ‘If… Demetrius and the artisans with him have a
complaint against anyone, the courts are open,
and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges
there against one another. If there is anything
further you want to know, it must be settled in
the regular assembly. For we are in danger of
being charged with rioting today, since there is
no cause that we can give to justify this
commotion.’ When he had said this, he
dismissed the assembly.
Acts 19: 38-41

22. ‘If… Demetrius and the artisans with him have a
complaint against anyone, the courts are open,
and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges
there against one another. If there is anything
further you want to know, it must be settled in
the regular assembly. For we are in danger of
being charged with rioting today, since there is
no cause that we can give to justify this
commotion.’ When he had said this, he
dismissed the assembly.
Acts 19: 38-41

23. Surely church is more than just a meeting?

25. ‘So now I charge you in the sight of all Israel and
of the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing
of our God: be careful to follow all the
commands of the Lord your God, that you may
possess this good land and pass it on as an
inheritance to your descendants for ever.’
1 Chronicles 28: 8

26. “Why gather?”