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Study 09 of 25

The Church

The church is a Spirit-formed body meant to reflect Christ's light, not a self-preserving institution.

Hands-free narration of this study — good for the car.

Synopsis

Sequeira describes the church as a living organism, the body of Christ, called to be salt and light in a spiritually decaying world. He traces the church's identity back to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, seeing in them the qualities of faith, new birth, and persevering faith that define true membership in God's family, in continuity with the Old Testament people of God. He is candid that the church today often loses its saltiness and hides its light, borrowing worldly methods instead of relying on the gospel's power, and reminds readers the visible church always contains a mixture of true and false believers, wheat and weeds. The chapter insists the church's authority and identity flow from the cross of Christ, not from human programs, and that revival will come only through a clear understanding of the gospel and surrender to the power of the cross.

Key points

  • The church (ekklesia) is a living organism, the body of Christ, not merely a building, denomination, or organization.
  • Jesus calls the church to be 'salt' (a restraining influence against moral decay) and 'light' (reflecting Christ's character) in the world.
  • The church stands in continuity with Old Testament Israel through the spiritual qualities of Abraham (faith), Isaac (new birth), and Jacob (persevering faith).
  • The visible church always contains both true and false believers (wheat and weeds) until the final harvest.

Key texts

  • Matthew 5:13-14
  • Romans 9:6-8
  • Matthew 16:18

From the book

Chapter 9 · Belief 12 · Read this chapter

  • “In the Bible, however, the church ( koinonia ) represents a living organism made up of individuals from all races and social structures, male and female, rich and poor, educated and uneducated, knit together as one body in Christ.” (ch. 9)
  • “The church today desperately needs revival and reformation. But it will take more than promotional programs to turn things around.” (ch. 9)
  • “A careful study of the lives of these three great men of God reveals that Abraham represents faith — the first attribute of those who make up God’s family.” (ch. 9)

Put it into practice

  • Identify one way your church can better reflect Christ's light this month rather than borrowing worldly methods.
  • Read Romans 9:6-8 and reflect on what it means to belong to God's family by faith rather than heritage alone.
  • Pray for revival and reformation in your congregation grounded in a clearer understanding of the gospel.
  • Extend patience toward imperfect fellow members, remembering the parable of the wheat and weeds.
  1. Comprehension

    1. How does Sequeira define the biblical meaning of 'church' as opposed to popular usage?

  2. Scripture

    2. Read Matthew 5:13-14. What two functions does Jesus assign to His followers?

  3. Doctrinal Clarity

    3. According to Romans 9:6-8, how does Paul redefine who truly belongs to Israel, the people of God?

  4. Contrast

    4. Contrast the restraining ('salt') and reflecting ('light') functions of the church.

  5. Comprehension

    5. Why does Sequeira say the church today has 'lost its saltiness' and is 'hiding its light'?

  6. Doctrinal Clarity

    6. What do the qualities of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob each represent in defining the true church?

  7. Scripture

    7. What does the parable of the wheat and weeds (Matthew 13:24-30) teach about the visible church?

  8. Application

    8. Personal: In what ways is your local congregation functioning as 'salt' and 'light,' and where might it be losing its saltiness?