“I believe in the holy Christian church, the communion of saints.”

“I believe in the holy Christian church, the communion of saints.”

This series walks through the Apostles Creed as a basic summary of our faith but also as a way to live our faith out with God in the world. Each weekend of this series will explore the biblical and theological roots of the Apostles Creed, while also providing specific spiritual practices and approaches to living out what we know as we ‘proclaim and embody’ the Creed in our daily lives.
This week focuses on the phrase, “I believe in the holy Christian church, the communion of saints.”

SERMON OUTLINE

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9)

Do We Really Believe in the Church?

  • The challenge of the church
    The challenge within us
    Considering what it means to believe in the church

A Church Worth Believing In

  • The church is holy
    • Made holy in Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Peter 2:9)
    • Becoming holy through the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:25; 1 Thessalonians 4:3)
  • The church is universal/catholic/Christian
    • What “catholic” means and doesn’t mean
    • The universal mission of the church (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8)
    • The multi-everything nature of the church (Revelation 7:9-10; Galatians 3:26-29)
  • The church is a communion of saints
    • “Communion” as community unified by Christ for Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16-17)
    • What are “saints”? (Ephesians 2:19-22)

Living Out Our Belief in the Church

  • Seeing the church through the eyes of Jesus
  • Expanding our vision through the global church
  • Being the church through the power of the Holy Spirit

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. When did you first “go to church”? Was it as a child or as a teenager or as an adult? What do you recall about your first experiences of church?
  2. This week we continue our series, “Living the Creed” by exploring this statement from the Apostles’ Creed: “I believe in the holy catholic/Christian church, the communion of saints.” Begin your study in prayer by asking God to speak to you through His Word, and then continue with the study.
  3. Many people refer to Pentecost as the “birthday” of the church. Read Acts 1:7-8 and 2:1-21. What do you notice here about what God is doing in this new community of disciples of Jesus we call the church?
  4. Read some or all the following Bible passages. What do these passages tell us about the church?: Matthew 16:13-20; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 5:26-27; 1 Peter 2:9-10; Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; Ephesians 2:19-20; Hebrews 10:24-25; Revelation 7:9-10; Acts 20:28; Galatians 3:26-29; Ephesians 4:4-6; Hebrews 12:23.
  5. Why do many people you know (or even you) struggle with the church? How might any of the verses we just explored speak to those issues?
  6. What is one thing you learned through this study or sense God is speaking to you about your life and faith? If you’re in a small group, share that with one another. If you are on your own, write it down and share it with someone this week. Conclude your study in prayer.

DIG DEEPER

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