What is the Church?

In All Our Doings is a daily prayer podcast brought to you by Anglican Futures.  Today's episode considers the glorious nature of the Church of God.   TRANSCRIPT Hello and Welcome to “In All Our Doings”                                                                                                   Simply confession, catechism, creed and collects brought to you daily by Anglican Futures.  If you find it helpful why not click the like button or subscribe to the podcast and help others find it. But first, let’s begin with Confession Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against your holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and apart from your grace, there is no health in us. O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare all those who confess their faults. Restore all those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy Name. Amen Hear the Word of God to all who truly turn to him. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.   Today’s question from the Anglican Catechism, To Be a Christian is What is the Church? To which the answer is given The Church is the whole community of faithful Christians in heaven and on earth, called and formed by God into one people. The Church on earth gathers to worship God in Word and Sacrament, to serve God and neighbour, and to proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth. (Exodus 19:4–6; Psalm 22:22–23; Matthew 28:19–20; Ephesians 2:11–22; 1 Peter 2:4–10; Articles of Religion, 19) Therefore we turn to 1 Peter chapter 2 beginning at verse 4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,     a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7 So the honour is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected     has become the cornerstone,”[a] 8 and “A stone of stumbling,     and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. This is the word of the Lord The Apostles Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. 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. Amen Let us pray Our Father in heaven Hallowed be your name Your kingdom come Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven Give us today our daily bread And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from the evil one For the kingdom the power and the glory are yours now and forever Amen The Collects for today O God of peace, who hast taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be our strength: By the might of thy Spirit lift us, we pray thee, to thy presence, where we may be still and know that thou art God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Go before us, O Lord, in all our doings with your most gracious favour, and further us with your continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in you, we may glorify your holy Name, and finally, through your mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Final Words The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen   Credits Thank you for listening – we hope you have found “In All Our Doings helpful, if so please like it, share it with friends and family and subscribe to the podcast – it really makes a difference to others being able to find us.  We’d also love to hear your feedback so please leave a comment or contact us through our website www.anglicanfutures.org .  Bible readings are taken from the English Standard Version and the Catechism from To be a Christian – both with permission from Crossway.  The liturgy comes from the ACNA Book of Common Prayer 2019.   Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language. Catechism questions are taken from To be a Christian by Packer etc, Copyright © 2020 Used by permission of Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.org