What is the Church?

Suggested Worship Videos

The Kingdom is Yours - Common Hymnal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUQt7htNwO0

For the One - Brian and Jenn Johnson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_bj6mjUj7k

Come to the Table - Sidewalk Prophets
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXXxLwxfo0U

The Table - Chris Tomlin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyXjaiidm68

Overview

What is the church?
During Covid our experience of the gathered church community has changed the church.
The Community of Christ, is everywhere asking questions about what it means to be the church in this new landscape…big picture questions like:

What is the church?
Who is the church?
Why do we gather?

There are also some more practical questions like:

What has changed in our connections to each other?
How does care happen now?
Where do we go from here in our programming and missional efforts?

These are the questions that will drive our fall series called, The Community of Christ.
A series about the church, as we move into a fall like none other.

This first message looks at a first question, 'What is the Church?'

Scripture:Matthew 16:15-19

¹⁵ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

¹⁷ Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. ¹⁸ And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Reflection/Discussion Questions:

1. We talked about the felt effect of a church called 'The Gathering' not being able to gather.  What do you feel the biggest change has been in not being able to meet physically as the church during Covid?
2. How would you answer someone who sincerely asked you 'What is the church?' 
3. Pastor Steve talked about some of the mistakes Christians can make in thinking the church is for us, and made by us.  Have you seen this in your church experience, and in what ways?
4. "The church gathers in community to gain strength from God’s Spirit embodied in one another, and then we are sent to be the body of Christ in the world."  
     a. What strength have you gained from the church?
     b. How have you been the body of Christ in the world?