EPISODE · Apr 19, 2023 · 38 MIN
"The Church: Holy, Catholic, and Imperfect" (Acts 2:36-47)
from RUF at UNCW · host Reformed University Fellowship at UNCW
This week in our series on the Apostles' Creed we’re continuing to talk about the work of God the Spirit. The Spirit is the Helper who applies redemption to God’s people, empowering them to live as God's servants and witnesses in this world. Tonight, we will see the good news that God hasn't left us to ourselves, and he doesn't expect you fix yourself by yourself! God is loving his creation (including you and me) back to life and bringing his heavenly plan to pass through the Church. “Why church? The short answer is because the Holy Spirit formed it to be a colony of heaven in the country of death.. … Church is an appointed gathering of named people in particular places who practice a life of resurrection in a world in which death gets the biggest headlines.” - Eugene Peterson “The Church is an object of faith. In the Apostles’ Creed we pray: “I believe … in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.” ….The Apostles’ Creed does not say that the Church is an organization that helps us to believe in God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. No, we are called to believe in the Church with the same faith we believe in God …. Often it seems harder to believe in the Church than to believe in God. But whenever we separate our belief in God from our belief in the Church, we become unbelievers. God has given us the Church as the place where God becomes God-with-us.” - Henri Nouwen DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: An old proverb says “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Do you agree? What are the parts of your life you’ve assumed need to be figured out “alone” rather than in community Read Acts 2:37-41. In what ways is baptism a “naming ceremony?” Who is doing the naming? Who is receiving the name? Read Acts 2:43-47 and John 13:35. If you were an outsider looking into the community in Acts, what would you notice? How do these things (even the ordinary ones!) serve as a sign that Jesus’ power is right now at work in the world? Compare Ephesians 2:13-22; 5:25-29 and Revelation 21: 1-4. How does Jesus feel about the Church? What do these images of the Church communicate about Jesus posture toward his people? His plans for their future? Read John 17:15-23. What should the Church’s posture be toward the unbelieving world? In what ways have you seen Christians or particular churches misrepresent or distort God’s character for outsiders?
What this episode covers
This week in our series on the Apostles' Creed we’re continuing to talk about the work of God the Spirit. The Spirit is the Helper who applies redemption to God’s people, empowering them to live as God's servants and witnesses in this world. Tonight, we will see the good news that God hasn't left us to ourselves, and he doesn't expect you fix yourself by yourself! God is loving his creation (including you and me) back to life and bringing his heavenly plan to pass through the Church. “Why church? The short answer is because the Holy Spirit formed it to be a colony of heaven in the country of death.. … Church is an appointed gathering of named people in particular places who practice a life of resurrection in a world in which death gets the biggest headlines.” - Eugene Peterson “The Church is an object of faith. In the Apostles’ Creed we pray: “I believe … in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.” ….The Apostles’ Creed does not say that the Church is an organization that helps us to believe in God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. No, we are called to believe in the Church with the same faith we believe in God …. Often it seems harder to believe in the Church than to believe in God. But whenever we separate our belief in God from our belief in the Church, we become unbelievers. God has given us the Church as the place where God becomes God-with-us.” - Henri Nouwen DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: An old proverb says “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Do you agree? What are the parts of your life you’ve assumed need to be figured out “alone” rather than in community Read Acts 2:37-41. In what ways is baptism a “naming ceremony?” Who is doing the naming? Who is receiving the name? Read Acts 2:43-47 and John 13:35. If you were an outsider looking into the community in Acts, what would you notice? How do these things (even the ordinary ones!) serve as a sign that Jesus’ power is right now at work in the world? Compare Ephesians 2:13-22; 5:25-29 and Revelation 21: 1-4. How does Jesus feel about the Church? What do these images of the Church communicate about Jesus posture toward his people? His plans for their future? Read John 17:15-23. What should the Church’s posture be toward the unbelieving world? In what ways have you seen Christians or particular churches misrepresent or distort God’s character for outsiders?
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"The Church: Holy, Catholic, and Imperfect" (Acts 2:36-47)
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