To most people, "religion" is roughly synonymous with "church." Although there is more to Christianity than the church, the church is indeed an important aspect of God's plan for mankind.
 

What is the Church?

1. Read Acts 11:26.

    How does this verse describe the church?  _______________________________________
 

2. Read Acts 20:28.

    How else is the church described? ____________________________________
 

3. Read Acts 2:47.

    Who is in the church? ____________________________________

Thought Question:

    Which of the following best describes the church (circle the number):

        1. A building where people worship.

        2. A collection of Christians.
 

4. Read Ephesians 4:4 and Colossians 1:18 (cf. also Matthew 16:18).

    How many churches does the New Testament speak of? ________________
 

5. Read 1 Corinthians 1:10-13.

    YES NO Is religious division acceptable?
 
 

The Worship of the Church

The basic purpose of the church is to glorify God with worship. When the Bible speaks of the worship of the church, it is not the mere performance of rituals or ceremonies that is meant. Worship must be the heartfelt expression of thanks, priase, and devotion to God.
 
 

The Day of Our Worship Together

1. Read Acts 20:7 and 1 Corinthians 16:1-2.

    On what day did the early Christians assemble together for worship? ______________________________
 

2. Read Hebrews 10:24-25.

  YES NO Does the New Testament here teach that Christains should not willfully forsake the worship assembly?
 
 

The Various Expressions of Our Worship Together

Read the following passages and indicate the various aspects of the worship of the church they show us.
 

1. Acts 20:7 -- ____________________________

    What does "break bread" refer to according to 1 Corinthians 10:16?

    _______________________________________________

    What is the purpose of this supper according to 1 Corinthians 11:23-26?

    ________________________________________________________
 

2. Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 -- _________________________
 

3. Acts 12:5 -- ______________________________________________
 

4. Acts 20:7 (what did Paul do here?) -- _________________________
 

5. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 -- ______________________________________
 
 

The Organization of the Church

1. Read Colossians 1:18 and Matthew 16:18.

    Who is the head of the church? ______________________

    YES NO Should the church be subject to anyone else?
 

2. Read Ephesians 4:11.

    What positions of leadership did Christ give to His church?

    a. ____________________________________________________

    b. _____________________________________________________

    c. ______________________________________________________

    d. _____________________________________________________

    e. _____________________________________________________

    f. (from Philippians 1:1) ____________________________________
 

3. Read the following passages and write the terms in the blanks:

    Acts 20:17 and Titus 1:5 ________________________

    Acts 20:28 and Titus 1:7 __________________________

    Ephesians 4:11 ____________________________

    YES NO   Do all three terms describe the same position of leadership in the church?
 

4. Read 1 Peter 5:1-2.

    How many churches may the elders oversee? __________________

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Scriptures:

Acts 11:26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire
year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were
first called Christians in Antioch.  return to question

Acts 20:28 "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy
Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with
His own blood.  return to question

Acts 2:47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was
adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. return to question

Ephesians 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one
hope of your calling;

Colossians 1:18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.

Matthew 16:18 "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build
My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.  return to question

1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made
complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For I have been informed
concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe's people, that there are quarrels among you. 12
Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, "I am of Paul," and "I of Apollos," and "I
of Cephas," and "I of Christ." 13 Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you,
was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?   return to question

Acts 20:7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break
bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his
message until midnight.

1 Corinthians 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the
churches of Galatia, so do you also. 2 On the first day of every week each one of you is
to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.
return to question

Hebrews 10:24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good
deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but
encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.  return to question

Acts 20:7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break
bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his
message until midnight.

1 Corinthians 10:16 Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood
of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?

1 Corinthians 11:23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you,
that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He
had given thanks, He broke it and said, "This is My body, which is for you; do this in
remembrance of Me." 25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying,
"This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in
remembrance of Me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you
proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.  return to question

Ephesians 5:19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom
teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  return to question

Acts 12:5 So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made
fervently by the church to God.   return to question

Acts 20:7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break
bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his
message until midnight.  return to question

1 Corinthians 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the
churches of Galatia, so do you also. 2 On the first day of every week each one of you is
to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.
return to question

Colossians 1:18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.

Matthew 16:18 "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build
My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.  return to question

Ephesians 4:11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some
as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,

Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in
Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: return to question

Acts 20:17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the
church.

Titus 1:5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains
and appoint elders in every city as I directed you,

Acts 20:28 "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy
Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with
His own blood.

Titus 1:7 For the overseer must be above reproach as God's steward, not self-willed,
not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain,

Ephesians 4:11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some
as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,  return to question

1 Peter 5:1 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and
witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2
shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but
voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;
return to question