THE NEUCLUS OF THE LOCAL CHURCH

Lesson 10

1. What is wrong about the Lesson 10 title page? ______

2. A) What does Jesus tell us in Matthew 18:20? ______

Matthew 18:20 (AMP) 20 For wherever two or three are gathered (drawn together as My followers) in (into) My name, there I AM in the midst of them.

B) Would you say that is where it begins? Y ___ N ___

C) Is this the nucleus [or should be] the initial cell for begetting a Local Church? Y ___ N ___

D) The literal translation of Matthew 18:20 reads: “Where two or three have been led together in my name there I am in the midst of them.” Who do you suppose leads them? See

Romans 8:14. ______

Romans 8:14 (AMP) 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

E) Is this saying that in order to live as a child of God, I must be led regularly by the Spirit of God in all that I do? Y ___ N ___

3. True or False The Holy Spirit is the directive force of the church? True False

4. A) True or False Jesus is the Head over the church, but He exercises His authority within the confines of the church by means of the Holy Spirit. True False

B) Does this imply that the Holy Spirit is central – the nucleus – the single most important member of any church body? Y ___ N ___

C) Could we say it is the Person of The Holy Spirit who is the Heart of the Church? Y __ N __

D) When we come to forming the nucleus of the local church, is it the Holy Spirit who must bring the people together? Y ___ N ___

E) Is this the basic requirement, when two or three who have been led together into Jesus’

name, [not in Jesus’ name]. Y ___ N ___

F) What is the difference between being led INTO Jesus’ name, over being led IN Jesus’ name? ______

G) Is that the same thing as bringing people together on the basis of doctrine or church membership? Y ___ N ___

H) True or False There is only one authorized focal point for the true local church, and that is the name of Jesus Christ. True False

I) Does that mean that the church gathers around HIM, not around a human leader or doctrine, not around an experience, but around a Person, and that Person is Jesus Christ? _

5. A) In the Old Testament there was only one place where God allowed for a meeting with Him. The temple. How has this changed? ______

B) True or False For believers in Jesus Christ, the Old Testament temple has been replaced by the body of Jesus Christ. True False

C) What or Where is the Body of Christ to be found? ______

D) What new light does this shed on John 2:18-21? ______

John 2:18-21 (AMP) 18 Then the Jews retorted, what sign can You show us, seeing You do these things? [What sign, miracle, token, indication can You give us as evidence that You have authority and are commissioned to act in this way?] 19 Jesus answered them, destroy (undo) this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again. 20 Then the Jews replied, It took forty-six years to build this temple (sanctuary), and will You raise it up in three days? 21 But He had spoken of the temple which was His body.

E) Was this new temple the Church [His Body]? Y ___ N ___

F) Is this where we are to go to meet with and to worship Him? Y ___ N ___

6. A) Technically, could two or more constitute a church? Y ___ N ___

B) Do believers who happen to drop in for an evening of fellowship fit the definition of church? Y ___ N ___ Why? ______

C) Or is it where two or three [or more] growing out of those who have been led together by the Spirit of God, whose focal point of meeting is the name and the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Where these can harmonize, and are of one accord, whatever they decree or pray, bind or loose, is as effective and authoritative as if almighty God Himself had done it – this is what constitutes the Church. Y ___ N ___

7. A) Could we say as a result of question 6, is that one of the key words to understanding Christianity is the word harmony? Y ___ N ___

B) The Gospel is to produce harmony, in the home, in the larger company of believers, in the community, if there is no harmony, has the gospel really been doing its work? Y ___ N ___

C) Is the fault of the Gospel, or the lack of preaching/teaching/sharing the Gospel? ______

D) In these little cells of harmony there is limitless divine authority and power. Out of these cells will unfold the whole body. Is this saying that the REAL authority and power to grow a church is not in the program, the décor, the atmosphere, the Song Leaders, the Preacher, the coffee, but in the harmony [of Spirit] among the Brethren? Y ___ N ___

8. A) True or False In order to have a healthy body, you must have healthy cells. T F

B) Is this true within the Church? Y ___ N ___

C) If the small, individual groups and the personal relationships within those groups are not right, can we ever have a healthy local church? Y ___ N ___

9. A) For many years, we have been busy trying to build large congregations without observing that they cannot be healthy until the individual, intimate, personal relationships are healthy. Is the purpose of the Church to appeal to the flesh, or to crucify the flesh? ______

B) The Great Commission is to “go out into all the earth, making disciples, baptizing them in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Today’s churches [at least in the U.S.A.] is to bring them in.

Is this rather a convoluted – totally opposite - way to build the church? Y ___ N ___

C) Is it even scriptural? Y ___ N ___

Matthew 18:19 (AMP) 19 Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever [anything and everything] they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven.

WE ARE THE CHRUCH

SYLLABUS 10

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