 Okay. Good morning everyone. Good to see three of you, the early birds. Can I ask you little to lead us in prayer, please? Okay, sure, Pastor. Thank you. Let me pray. Father God, we come before your presence in the name of Jesus. As we begin our class of prayer, that Holy Spirit, you will enable us to receive what you have today for us. Lord, you bless our pastor. Thank you for the grace that you have given to her to teach us and also Lord, I want to thank you for each one of our fellow classmates. I pray that Lord, you will give us the spirit of wisdom and understanding so that we can understand your work, Lord, as pastor teaches, Lord, we commit our life, our time, everything into a caring to Lordship in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you, Salatoli. So on Wednesday, we were looking at the doctrine of the Holy Spirit and we completed that. We looked at the gifts of the Spirit and how the gifts of the Spirit, the manifestation of the Spirit, and we looked at different aspects of the gifts of the Spirit. Today, we'll begin chapter 9, the doctrine of the church. Okay. So what is the meaning of the word church? So what is, what idea comes to your mind when you think about the word church? What is the meaning of the word church or what the idea comes to your mind when you think of the church? The body of Christ. Okay. Church is a body of Christ. Yes, Lubega. Two or more people gathered in the name of Jesus Christ. Thank you. So and to what more people are gathered in the name of Jesus, then we call that as a church or like Salatoli said, church is the body of Christ. Anyone else? What do you think about the word church or when, or the word church or when you think about church, what comes to your mind? What are different aspects that come to your mind? Any more thoughts? No more thoughts on the church. Okay. So the Greek word for church is Ecclesia and Lubega says church also consists of past, present and future believers in Christ. Okay. So what do you mean by consist of past, present and future believers? It actually means that a church is a, as we see in 8 in Matthew 18, verse 16, where he says, your petros, it's on this petra that I will start my church and the powers of Hades will not have control over you will not prevail over you. So it actually means that from after when Jesus went on the Pentecost 50 days after his resurrection, the church started like that 120 people plus the 3000 like that, like that, like that and up to now we're in billions. So all those people are still part of his church and the rapture, all those people will be part of his church. The following, the quick and like that faster. Thank you. Yeah, very good. I mean, that's a good way of thinking Lubega. I mean, I was quite taken aback when you said past, present and future believers, but when you explained it, it brought more clarity. Thank you for that explanation. Good thoughts and thank you for sharing. Yeah. So the church, the Greek word for church is Ecclesia and Ecc means out of Ecclesis means a calling or to call. So basically it means Ecclesia means called out once or those who are called out of something into something else. So it's basically called out or a calling out of, okay, because Ecc is out of and Ecclesis is a calling or to call. So it is a calling out of or to call out of, okay. So it was basically used among the Greeks for a body of citizens who gathered to discuss the affairs of the state. So all of those who were the part of the Greek culture when they used to, the citizens is to meet to discuss the affairs of the state. The gathering was called as the church. So in its literal sense, the word church simply refers to a gathering together of those who've been called out for a definite purpose. Okay. So it simply means that those are gathering of those who've been called out for a definite purpose. So who are the called? When we say that church is a gathering of those who are called out of for a definite purpose or we say that the Greek word Ecclesia, Ecc is out of and Ecclesis is a calling or to call. What do we mean by we say, you know, called out? So who are the called? Who are the called? Is it specific people that God has called? How can we define this word called? Born again believers. Okay. Thank you. It's basically those who have responded to the heavenly call. Those who have responded to believe and put their faith in Jesus Christ. So it is those people who are the called again and they called out. So when we say called out, what do we mean by that? Okay. Lubega says the called are those believers in Christ who have confessed their sins and baptised. Yes. Thank you. Who are the called out? I mean, what do we mean by called out? We're basically defining the church, the word church. So we're saying the church simply refers to gathering together of those who have been called out for a definite purpose. So we're trying to define each of these words in the definition. So we said called are people who responded to the to heavenly call, or we can say that people who are born again believers, people who are believers in Christ with confessed their sins and baptised. So who are the, what do we mean by called out? Called out means people basically who have been called out of darkness into God's light, called out of sin into righteous, to being righteous, to being justified, to being holy in God's sight. People who are called out of the world into God's heavenly kingdom. Okay. People who are called out of being slaves of sin and Satan, to being sons and daughters, to being children of God, to being a part of God's family, to being called the family of God. So called out are basically people who come out of the world. Okay. So we see that we are called out to gather together. So the word here is, you know, as we're defining the church, it is a gathering together of those who are called out. So the called out are to gather together. So what does it imply? What does it tell us about the church? When we say that we are called out to gather together, what do we understand by this phrase? For me, I think there are people who have dedicated their life for the service of the Lord. Those who have dedicated their lives to service the Lord, because there's a fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Thank you. So we are called out to gather together means a church is a place where people gather together and it's not just about individuals. So it's not about me, me, myself. It's not about my preferences, what I like. It's about, you know, sharing with others, caring for others, supporting others, putting others ahead of our needs, putting people above us. Okay. So it's calling of people to gather together, to worship God and not just as individuals. And the last phrase we can look at is, we're called out to gather together for a definite purpose. Okay. So we saw what is called, we saw what is called out, we saw what is called out to gather together. Now we're looking at called out to gather together for a definite purpose. Now what does it mean? We're called out to gather for a definite purpose. Any idea? What does it mean when you're saying that we are called out to gather together for a definite purpose? According to my understanding, like Like we are called out to fulfill the purposes and plans of God over life and over the church as a church. Thank you, Zealotoyi. That's good. Yes, we are called as a people, as a church, as a, you know, a church community together or as a local church, not to fulfill our plans, our visions, our goals, but it is to pursue God's heavenly purposes, his plans, his goals that he wants to establish in our city, in the region, in the geographical area, whether the church is the local churches or the church together as a local community, as a community in that specific city, nation, region, area to bring about God's purposes to fulfill his plan and purposes for that region, for that city, for that nation or for that geographical area. So it is us who are called out together, and it's not for us to just do things that we like to do, what we feel like doing, but it's to basically do what God has planned for the city or for that specific region or for the neighborhood, for the geographical area in and through the church. Okay, so that is basically the definition of the word church. Now, if you notice, as we're going through the lesson, there will be some things that I've added in. So it's not part of your notes, you would want to take down notes for yourself, you're welcome to do so. We look at the important truths about the church, which is the body of Christ. Okay, so the first truth is the church is Christ's body. Okay, it's, we see this in Colossians chapter one versus 18 and 24, and Ephesians chapter one was 22 and 23. So can one of you please read Colossians 118 and 24 and someone else read Ephesians chapter one versus 22 and 23 please. Colossians chapter one versus 18 and he is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the first born from the dead, that in all things he may have the permanence. Verse 24 for I now rejoice in my sufferings for you and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ for the sake of his body, which is the church. So it's very clearly mentioned here that, you know, the body, I mean the church is Christ's body, you see that in Colossians 118 says and he is the head of the body, which is the church. And we see that in verse 24, it says for the sake of his body, which is the church. So the church is the body of Christ. Ephesians chapter one verse 22 and 23, can one of you please read that? Ephesians chapter one, 22 and 23. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his spirit. Oh, sorry, I did chapter two. I'll read chapter one. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body. It is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things every, everywhere with himself. Thank you, Jefina. So here we see that, you know, he's the head of all things and gave him to be the head over all things, the church, which is his body. Okay, again here, the church is referred to as the body of Christ. Okay, so that's the first important truth about the church. The second one is that church is eternal. Why do we say that the church is eternal? Why do we say that the church is eternal? Because Christ, who is the head of the church is eternal. Okay, he's God. He has no beginning and no end. He's eternal. And because the church is the body of Christ and because Christ is eternal, the church is also eternal. The third thing is the church is the instrument to execute Christ's purpose. So we see that whatever the head commands, the head is Christ himself. The body executes. That means the body does what Christ wants us to do here, what is his plan, his purpose. And the church is here to execute the command of the head who is Christ himself, the head of the church, both here in this present age and in the millennium. Okay, so even as we're spending our days here on the earth and even as we spend time under God's rule and reign that is for a thousand year period, the millennium, we see that the body that is the church, the body of Christ will execute the commands of the head of the church that is Christ himself. And we see this in Daniel chapter 7 verse 18 where it says, But the saints of the most high shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever. The fourth truth is that every believer is a member of Christ's body, which is the eternal church. First Corinthians chapter 12 verse 27 says that now you are the body of Christ and members individually. Okay, so each one of us are members of the body of Christ, which is the church members individually, but we are to worship him together because we are called out together and together, we are to fulfill the purposes of God. Okay, so that is some of the important truths about the church, which is the body of Christ. We look at some important truths concerning the local church. Okay, the local church is called the household of God. So if you look at various scripture passages, the church is referred to in certain places as the household of God. One of those scripture verses that mentions this is 1st Timothy chapter 3 verses 14 and 15. So can one of you please read that? 1st Timothy chapter 3 verses 14 and 15. 1st Timothy chapter 3 verse 14 and 15. Anyone would like to read that? 1st Timothy chapter 3 verses 14 and 15. I'm writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon so that if I'm delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and the foundation of the truth. Thank you, Jefina. So here it says, you know, talks about the house of God or the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. Okay, so the local church in a certain place is the family of God in that place. So church is household. So when we talk about a house, who lives in a house, it's not an individual person, but it's a family that lives in a house. So when we talk about church, the household of God, we see that it's a local church is a certain place where the family of God in that place dwells or meets together, fellowships together, worships together. And since it is a household of God and has a concept of a family, you know, family is all about relationships where we love each other, we care for each other, we support each other, we are concerned about each other, we help each other. And so a local church in a certain place is just not the family of God, but it's a family of God where we are related to one another just like any human family is, and hence we need to show love, care, support, concern for each other. And even as we see in a family, in a family as a unit, we have a father, we have a mother, we have children, children who may be babies, or some of them would be, you know, pre-teen, some of them, you know, elementary stage, some of them teenage stage, youth or young adults, you know, and also maybe married, but staying together with the parents as a family. So we see that in the family, there are people at different stages of maturity. We have a father who is kind of mature and mother who's mature in their age, in their experience. We have toddlers or children who are in the primary stage or in the pre-teen, teen stage, young adults or, you know, who are already adults. And then we have grandparents as well who are well matured in their age and in their experience. And so we see in a family we have people at different stages of growth and maturity. And so also in a church, you know, which is a family of God, we have people at different spiritual levels, different levels of maturity. Some of them who are just babies in their, in their faith walk, just born again believers, some of them who are strong, mature in their faith. Some of them who are, you know, you know, not babies and not even too mature but, you know, are growing into full maturity. So we have people at different stages of growth and maturity in a family, which means that we need to be patient with each other. We need to be supportive of each other. We need to love each other. We need to encourage, exhort, build, support and grow and learn from each other and, you know, share our experiences so that people can learn and people can mature. And, you know, all of us growing into the fullness of the God, the fullness of Christ that has been given to us. So the first thing we see that is the local church is called the household of God. The second one is that the local church is the physical expression of the spiritual body of Christ in a certain geographical area. Now, what do we mean by this? That the local church is a physical expression of the spiritual body of Christ in a certain geographical area. Now, as the Lord sees us, as God sees us in a city or in a region, he sees us as one church, one citywide church, comprising of all believers from different local churches. So, you know, for some of us, you know, we kind of guard ourselves in our own churches, our denominations, our liturgies, our culture in that church. We don't want to mix with other churches in the region, in the city. But how God sees us is he looks at us as one church, one big citywide church, which is comprising of all believers from all local churches. And serving in that city or serving the church in the city are many local churches. There are many local churches, there are many ministers of God, there are many ministries, different organizations, and hence God allocates for each one, whether it's a ministry, a Christian organization, a minister who is an evangelist, an itinerary evangelist, a missionary, or maybe just a local church, God allocates to each one of us specific roles, callings, and spheres of influence. So, each one of us, you know, are called to different needs that are in the city, God sees it, and, you know, he's the head, and he's the one who commands. You know, we are called out for a definite purpose. We look at the definition of the church, and the purpose is not what we purpose, but what the head purpose is, what Christ purposes. So, based on the needs of the society, or based on the needs of the city, or based on what God wants to be accomplished and done, or what he has purposed even before the foundation of the world, what he wants to establish in the city, he uses each one to minister in different different spheres, because each one of us cannot do everything together. So, for example, in our city, maybe if the suicide rate is very high, then we can have organizations that spring up, which meets the need of counseling people, Christian organizations, or a church can basically cater to the needs of those who are emotionally hurting, being disturbed, suicidal, broken, you know, or we can have, we have a church like that, we basically has programs and seminars and weekend schools that minister to those who are broken, hurting, emotionally disturbed. Or we can have churches who God raises up for apostolic ministry, churches God raises up to be engaged in largely in just mission activity, or churches that are, you know, ministering to the people in the lower social strata or lower social status, basically to the migrant workers or basically to, you know, to the poor. And we have churches that are catering to the needs of the intellectual people, those in, you know, the business field, those who are highly educated apologetics. And so we have, you know, different churches, different organizations that God raises up to cater to specific needs, sometimes to women, to children, you know, to those who are involved in caught up in sex trafficking. So, you know, if in need of the society God just raises up organizations, people to minister the local churches, burdens their hearts to minister to specific areas. So God allocates to each of our specific roles, callings and spheres of influence. Now I suppose you are in a city where there is largely a community of students because it is an educational hub. So, you know, God is turning your heart up to minister or reach out to students in the city. Whatever it is, you know, God is calling. You know, he gives us the plan, the strategies and the calling, and each of them are doing their specific roles. And together, you know, each of the local churches, ministries, each of the organizations, Christian organizations together as a whole, you know, as a church or local community as a whole, you know, is reaching out or catering to the needs of the society or to the city. So each local church and those who are part of that local church have their respective functions in and toward the citywide church. Okay. The third important truth concerning the local church is that the local church in a certain area is Christ instrument in that area to execute Christ's purposes. You know, it's basically that each of us who comprise of the local church and who are part of the citywide church in our specific cities, we are God's hands, we are His feet, we are His voice in that region. Hence, every local church should see themselves on a Godly assignment or an heavenly assignment. We have a responsibility toward God and toward our community and beyond to do what Jesus wants to be done in and through us. Okay. So this is some important truths concerning the local church. Any questions so far? So we basically looked at what is the definition and the meaning of the word church. We saw the important truths concerning the church which is the body of Christ. And then we looked at some important truths concerning the local church. Any questions? If there are no questions and we'll move ahead to what is the mission of the local church. Now the mission of the local church can be categorized in five main areas. So what do you think is the mission of a local church? Before we look at what's given in our notes, what is your idea about the mission of the local church? Any thoughts? What is the mission of the local church? All of us are part of a church, a local church. So what is the mission of a local church? I'm the main mission of the local church is to, like, there are many communities around and there are many souls to win souls for Christ and to share the gospel to do the ministry. Thank you, Siddiq Enno. So it's basically evangelism and missions. Yes, Lubega says evangelize and win souls for Christ. Thank you. What else is the mission of the local church? Other than evangelism and missions, which is important and the first one. Thank you. Fellowship with believers. Yes. Evangelism and... Hello. Discipleship. Yes, of course. Yeah, the mission, one of the missions of the local church is to bring everybody together onto one umbrella to preach gospel to them. Because in the local environment, that is where you see idolatry, worshiping of idols. So by telling them about the Lord Jesus Christ, which is composed of evangelism, but it's more deeper, but it's by bringing everybody together. Local church is the foundation of the mission. Thank you. Thank you, success. Yes, it's evangelism and missions. So evangelizing people, bringing them under the church, bringing them as one unit. Yes, evangelism and missions. Thank you. Evangelism and discipleship. Thank you, Siddiq Enno says, sharing the love of God with everyone. Yes, so that's again evangelism. Bega says guidance and counseling for believers. Yes, thank you. Jefina, to help them know more about Christ and to help them to stay strong in their relationship with Him. Yes, thank you, Jefina. So that's basically discipling people in Christ so that they grow mature in Christ's likeness. Anyone else? Thank you for sharing your inputs. Yeah, so the mission of the local church, the first one is evangelism and missions, reaching out to people with the gospel. Basically fulfilling the great commission to go and preach and teach and baptize the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Discipleship is second disciple training them to be more Christ like in their character, conduct and service. The third thing is praise and worship. You know, when praise and worship is very powerful, when we praise and worship, it changes the spiritual atmosphere of the city. When we praise and worship, it kind of breaks the strongholds in the demonic realm. It's like the stronghold are just covering us like an umbrella in the city. And when we praise and worship, it's like just breaks through those strongholds and it opens up for God's rule, His reign, His activity, His power, His presence, His kingdom to just infiltrate, just flood to just sweep over that city and that nation. So praise and worship is very powerful. It changes the spiritual atmosphere of our city. It creates an atmosphere for spiritual ministry even as we gather together for God to work in our midst. As I said, it just breaks all the strongholds. It breaks the spirit of strife, jealousy, division. You know, every unclean spirit, it just breaks every demonic stronghold, powers in the heavenly realms and just opens up for God's rule, His reign, His activity, His presence, His kingdom to just flood. So, you know, we can experience freedom, bondages to be broken, healing, wholeness, answers to questions that we're having, you know, heaviness that can just be lifted. All this happens, you know, when we praise and worship God because it creates an atmosphere for spiritual ministry even as we gather together. And God speaks in the midst of worshiping and praying congregation, okay? So if you thought that fasting prayer is boring, if you thought, you know, just going for a prayer meeting is boring, we don't see anything happen. Maybe we are not experiencing anything physically, but yeah, things are happening in the spiritual realm. Things are happening in the spiritual realm, in our city, in our nation, in our homes, even as we are praying, even over our lives we do not know. You know, things are just being, we are being set free from so many strongholds that are coming against us and just opens up a room and space for God's intervention in our lives. And then we can, you know, experience more of God in a powerful way. And also we know that the mission of the local church is fellowship, you know, because we are living together. The church is called the household of God. We are a family, living as a family. So there is fellowship, there is, you know, interaction with each other, learning from each other, helping, supporting each other. The fifth thing is that, you know, the mission of the local church is ministry. It's basically equipping the saints for ministry. Now who are saints? Who are called the saints? When we read this word, saints in the New Testament, who does it refer to? Born again believers. Thank you. It's born again believers. All of us who are part of the church are called saints. So basically believers in the church, yes. Thank you, Rebecca. So ministry of equipping all of the saints for ministry. So it's basically equipping the people or believers in the church to minister. So we have to see each member in the body of Christ as, you know, as ministers of God. It's not only the pastors, the evangelists, those are called to ministry offices who have to minister. But each one of us, you know, are called the priests of God. It says that we are a royal priesthood. So each one of us are called priests of God. We're the high priests of God. We're the priests of God. And hence each one of us, you know, should be, you know, each member should be fully equipped, activated in the gifts of the spirit and activated in the areas that God is calling us to minister. And we need to be released to fulfill the calling that God has placed in our lives. And that is what a local church should do. So a local church is basically not just to come on a Sunday and to worship and, you know, to hear some good messages and to fellowship with each other and to go away. But it is basically also a place where we are equipping each believer and for them to be activated and for them to be released to fulfill the calling that God has on their lives. It's also a place where we are equipping believers to discover and exercise the gifts for the edifying of the body of Christ. So we are, you know, equipping each one of them to discover their talents, their calling, and also to be activated in the gifts of the spirit, the nine gifts of the spirit so that, you know, the church of Christ or the body of Christ can be edified, can grow, can be strengthened in their faith. And also, you know, the local church is a place where people or saints are equipped to impact the world around us. It's not just a neighborhood, a city, but also the world. And it is by sending ministers out of the church who are equipped, who are billed, were activated in the gifts of the spirit, activated in their faith and know their specific calling and they're released to fulfill their calling, sending them out to, you know, to go as apostles, prophets, evangelists, missionaries, also to go out as pastors to reproduce the church of the same kind as the mother church or as the main church. So, you know, building up various churches in the city or in the nation or in the nations of the world. So, a well-formed local church will have all of these five dimensions in proper balance and emphasis. That means a local church, you know, has to pay attention or give good attention or emphasize all of these five points, missions and evangelism, discipleship, praise and worship, fellowship and equipping the saints for ministry. All of this has to be emphasized and has to be done in proper balance. So, we look at more in detail what a local church is. A local church we saw is the body of Christ. We also saw that the local church is a family. And the local church is an army, okay? We saw the local church as a body. We also looked at how the local church is a family. We said that in several cases in the scripture the term house of God, the household is used to refer to both the corporate body of Christ that is the city-wide church or also in reference to the local church. So, the local church or the city-wide church is a house of God. It's basically a spiritual house. We read this, you know, in Galatians chapter 6 verse 10 where it says, therefore as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are the household of faith. Ephesians chapter 2 verses 19 to 22 again talks about, now therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. Okay, so again the word household of God mentioned there. We read 1st Timothy chapter 3 verse 15 earlier when we looked at the local church as the household of God. We saw that in 1st Timothy chapter 3 verse 15 it says that, you know, I write to you that you may know how you ought to conduct yourselves in the house of God. Now the Greek word for house is okios and it basically refers to a dwelling, okios, which basically refers to dwelling. And so, you know, in a house which is a dwelling place, we know that the implication is that a family dwells there. So we already said that, you know, the church or the local church is a family of God. And as born again believers, we are all born into the family of God. We are born as spiritual sons and daughters of God and hence we are part of one big family, one same family that is a family of God. We read about this in John chapter 1 verse 12 and 1 John chapter 5 verse 1. So we see that the church is a spiritual family, a spiritual body where each one of us are sons and daughters and all of us, you know, irrespective of our various denominations, liturgies, the style of worship, everything we belong to one family that is, we belong to one same family that is a family of God. And because the local church is a family, there are certain practices that we should pursue. The first thing is that we need to walk in brotherly and sisterly love. How do we walk in brotherly and sisterly love? How do we walk in brotherly and sisterly love? Come on, how do we walk in brotherly and sisterly love in a church? Observing and caring for the needs of others who are part of the family in the church. Thank you, Isaac. Yes, observing, seeing, looking out for people who are in need, helping them out in their need, supporting them. Yes, thank you. How else do we walk in brotherly and sisterly love? We need to be kind to each other, give preference to one another. Like it says in Romans chapter 12 verse 10. Can one of you read that, please? Romans chapter 12 verse 10. Yes, thank you, Jeffina. Picking them up when they fall, when people fall short of the glory of God, when they sin, when they go away from God's ways, His standards, and we know that we need to be patient, loving, gentle, correct them in love, speak the truth in love, correct them in love, and restore them back in their relationship with God. Thank you, Jeffina. Can one of you please read Romans 12 verse 10, please? Romans 12 verse 10. There has to be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love in order, giving, in honor, giving preference to one another. So here the scripture exhausts or, you know, encourages us to be kind and affectionate to one another in love and in honor, giving preference to one another. It's not all about I, me, myself, but it's giving preference to one another. So be kind to each other, giving preference to one another. The second thing that we can walk in brotherly and sisterly love is to do good to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians chapter 6 verse 10. Can one of you please read Galatians chapter 6 verse 10? Yes, thank you, Abubakar. It's also praying for the well-being. That's how we show love for people. Yes, praying for them. Galatians chapter 6 verse 10. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Thank you. So here it says that we need to do good to those in the household of faith, especially to those who are, you know, we need to do good to all, but especially to those who are the household of faith. That means household of faith is talking about the church. The church of God is called a household. So those who are believers in the faith, one in faith with us, we need to be especially doing good to them. Okay. We'll stop here. We look at more about how we can walk in brotherly and sisterly love in the local church as people belonging to the local church. And we look at more about how church is a family in our next class on Wednesday. Any questions? Any questions? Okay. If there are no questions, then we'll end class. Thank you all for joining. Have a blessed day and a blessed and a restful and refreshing weekend. And I'll see you on Monday for our Christology class. Okay. Thank you all. Bye.