The Doctrine of the Church
July 21, 2013      |     By: Sam McVay, Jr.      |      Category: Scripture Teachings      |      Location: El Dorado
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WE BELIEVE the one, holy universal Church is the Body of Christ and is comprised of all who have been gathered into Christ.

We highly value a biblical Ecclesiology.

Ecclesiology is the study of the Church, specifically its nature and manifestation.

Ekkelesia is the Greek word for “church” which means the "called out assembly".

It is a people gathered together in a place for a purpose.

Spiritually speaking it is every believer that is gathered into Christ.

Three Central Convictions about the Church:

1) Jesus builds the church

Matthew 16:18

18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

2) Jesus builds it upon the heavenly spiritual revelation of himself

Matthew 16:17

17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

3) Jesus builds it with living stones which are born again believers

Ephesians 2:22

22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

1 Peter 2:4-5

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.

So we believe that the Church is not a meeting, building, or organization but rather a people built together in Christ.

In a real sense the word “Church” for us is the plural of the word “Disciple.”