LESSON OBJECTIVES
Goals
1. To introduce students to the biblical perspective of The Church
2. To change student’s perspective on what it means to be The Church
3. To inspire students to belong to The Church with faithfulness and devotion
Topics
Body of Christ, Christianity, Church, Community, Fellowship
Scripture Memorization
Matthew 16:18
OPENING PRAYER (5 to 10 minutes)
GROUP BUILDING (5 minutes)
The Perfect Church (Activity) Click here
GETTING STARTED (5 minutes)
I want us to memorize a verse together. The verse is Matthew 16:18.
(Read that verse together several times. See if anyone can say it without looking. Make sure it’s ingrained into the kids’ heads.)
So Jesus is saying that the Church should be the most powerful, inspiration, unstoppable force in the world. Nothing can bring the church down!
It’s pretty awesome that Jesus promises that all the powers of hell cannot defeat the Church. But what is the Church, exactly? That’s what we’re going to discover today.
DIGGING IN (30 minutes)
Read Acts 1:1-8
Discusion Questions:
1. This is the beginning of the book of Acts. According to verse 3, Jesus appeared to his followers for 40 days doing what? (Teaching about the Kingdom)
2. What question do the disciples ask Jesus about the Kingdom? (Will He restore the Kingdom to Israel when He returns?)
3. What does He promise will happen to them? (They will receive the Holy Spirit and spread the Gospel all over the world)
The disciples were constantly confused about the Kingdom of God. Partly because of their Jewish heritage, they had always thought the Messiah would usher in an earthly kingdom in which the people of God would gain power, influence, and rule over their heathen neighbors.
This is never what Jesus had in mind. Furthermore, God’s Kingdom has never needed “restored” as the disciples are asking in this passage. God’s Kingdom doesn’t require establishment. God’s Kingdom just is. It always has been.
What is unique about these statements from Jesus is that He is giving authority to his followers over something that He is establishing on earth, His Church.
General Discussion:
• When I say “church,” what do you think of? (Most will probably say a building, a steeple, etc.)
• How do you think people outside the church feel about it?
We need to make a couple things clear. First off, the Church is not the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is much bigger than just the Church. Someone who is an unbeliever is still within the boundaries of God’s Kingdom. His Kingdom consists of everything under his realm and reign. It consists of His territory, His influence, His grasp and gaze. Frankly, there’s nothing not included!
But the Church is a specific corner of the Kingdom. And, for our purposes, it is the present manifestation of His Kingdom. There is a more perfect kingdom to come in heaven, but the Church has been established by God to serve the purposes of His kingdom until that happens.
This only makes sense if you look at the church as God’s people, not buildings.
(Have someone read the following passages about the Church. You’ll see in these verses that when the Bible says the Church, it’s talking about people.)
•Acts 5:11
•Acts 8:1
•Acts 9:31
•Acts 11:22
•Acts 12:5
•Acts 18:22
Does a building have ears? Can it pray fervently? Would Paul greet a building? That would be weird! “Hello, building. It’s nice to see your doors and windows.” Are you kidding me? When the Bible talks about the Church, it’s not talking about bricks, beams, and siding. It’s talking about PEOPLE.
So, there are two requirements to be a member of the Church. The first one is easy.
(Have everyone put two fingers on the inside of their wrists, or on their necks just below their jaw line. Tell the room to check for a pulse. Give them about fifteen seconds. This is just to reinforce the fact that the Church is people. If they are a person, they qualify.)
Secondly, you must belong to Jesus. There has to be some entrance point to the Church.
Read Acts 2:38-47
Discussion Questions:
1. According to verse 38, what does Peter say needs to be done to be saved? (Repent, be baptized)
2. This salvation is offered, by invitation, by whom? (see verse 39)? (God)
3. How do you think salvation relates to membership within the Church?
4. Go back and count the times “they” is used in this passage. Who is “they?” (The believers, the Church)
So we’ve determined that the Church is people, people who’ve chosen to belong to Jesus. But we also get some insight in this text as to what the Church is supposed to do.
5. How does the Church feel in verse 43? Why? (A sense of awe, because of wonders and signs being performed by the apostles)
6. Verse 44-47 talk about some of the things the people did together. What are some of those? (Shared, prayed, learned, had things in common, etc.)
7. Do you believe this picture of the Church is similar to how the Church is today? What are some differences?
MAKING IT REAL (20 minutes)
So, we’ve discovered that the Church is not the entirety of God’s Kingdom, but a vital part of fulfilling the Kingdom mission on earth. We’ve asserted that we are the Church, and the Church is supposed to do certain things.
While those first few statements are foundational, I want to explore in greater detail with you that last category of thought – what the Church should be doing. You just chimed in about to what degree you think the Church is doing what it ought to. How similar is the Church of today with the Church of the Scriptures.
Before we get too hard on the Church, remember – we’re it! It’s easy to criticize a group that we’re not a part of. But when the criticism applies to us, too, ouch! For example, you can say your family is dysfunctional all you want. But even if what you mean is that your mom, dad, and siblings are weird, you can’t forget – you’re in the family, too! You’re on the hook for at least some of the dysfunction.
If your critique of the Church stops with others, you’re not being the vital part of the body of Christ that you’re called to be. So let’s consider how we can help the Church.
Below is a comprehensive list of what the Church did together, even in her infancy. These values ring true elsewhere in Scripture as well, and should be taken seriously by a 21st century Christian. Re-visit each of these values, one by one, with your group. Ask them the following questions about each:
General Discussion:
• How well do you think the Church of today lives out this value? Why?
• How well do YOU live out this value?
• What’s one way that you/we can express this function of the Church more completely?
After you’ve gone through each function, ask the discussion questions to summarize this exercise.
The Church’s Function
•They were together (verse 44)
•They had all things in common (verse 44)
•They shared everything (verse 45)
•They helped those in need (verse 45)
•They were of one mind (verse 46)
•They met day by day (verse . 46)
•They broke bread in their homes (verse 46)
•They ate together (verse 46)
•They were glad and sincere (verse 46
•They praised God (verse 47)
•They held favor with all the people (verse 47)
•They were being added to by the Lord (verse 47)
General Discussion:
• Let’s daydream a little. What do you think a Church that did all of those things could accomplish?
• How would a Church like that impact the community around it?
• How can you help the Church be these things?
• What obstacles do you think might get in the way? How does the Church overcome those?
• How exciting would it be to see the Church functioning as her true self? What kind of emotions and thoughts does that bring to mind?
CLOSING PRAYER (5 minutes)
Let’s all take some time praying silently; knowing that as we do, God hears our hearts in unison. (Close in Prayer)