SEMESTER 1 305 – The Foundation of the Church BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE COURSE:  ECCLESIOLOGY I LESSON # 5 THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH Read carefully: Mat. 16:13-20. INTRODUCTION: 1. This is the first biblical mention of the church and thus should have great consideration in studying the church’s foundation. 2. Let me again assure you,…

SEMESTER 1 306 – The Founding of the Church BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE COURSE:  ECCLESIOLOGY I LESSON # 6 THE FOUNDING OF THE CHURCH  INTRODUCTION: 1. The time and manner of the founding of the New Testament church is an issue of considerable controversy, and I think, misunderstan­ding. 2. Volumes have been written, and they…

SEMESTER 1 307 – Christ’s Commission to the Church BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE COURSE:  ECCLESIOLOGY I LESSON # 7 CHRIST’S COMMISSION TO THE CHURCH  INTRODUCTION: 1. If we hear the world’s demands today on the church, and behold the efforts of many churches, we could conclude that the commission to the church was very abstract.…

SEMESTER 1 308 – The Mission of the Church BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE COURSE:  ECCLESIOLOGY I LESSON # 8 THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH INTRODUCTION: 1. In the previous lesson, I mentioned the diversity of opinion, as to the church’s job. 2. I appealed to the commission given by our Lord, i.e., what He told…

SEMESTER 1 309 – The Message of the Church BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE COURSE:  ECCLESIOLOGY I LESSON # 9 THE MESSAGE OF THE CHURCH Read Mat. 28:19, Mk. 16:15, Lk. 24:46-47. INTRODUCTION 1. In all the above texts we have the commission to the church. 2. More than that, we have a description of the message they are…

SEMESTER 1 310 – The Message of the Church (Its Results) BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE COURSE:  ECCLESIOLOGY I LESSON # 10 THE MESSAGE OF THE CHURCH (ITS RESULTS) INTRODUCTION: 1. In the previous lesson, I dealt basically with the definition and analysis of the gospel. 2. In this lesson, I want to extend that theme…

SEMESTER 1 311 – The Ministry of the Early Church BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE COURSE:  ECCLESIOLOGY I LESSON # 11 THE MINISTRY OF THE EARLY CHURCH Read Acts 2:36-47. INTRODUCTION: 1. The Gospels deal with Jesus’s; personal ministry on earth. (Acts. 1:1-2) 2. The book of Acts covers the transition of God’s people from a Jewish…

SEMESTER 1 312 – The Persecution of the Church BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE COURSE:  ECCLESIOLOGY I LESSON # 12 THE PERSECUTION OF THE CHURCH Read Ex. 1:11-12, Acts 8:1-4. INTRODUCTION: 1. We live in a day of heresy concerning divine blessing and human “happiness.” 2. I recently saw this referred to as “Cadillac Christianity,” a good thought.…

SEMESTER 1 313 – The Indestructibility of the Church BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE  COURSE:  ECCLESIOLOGY I LESSON # 13 THE INDESTRUCTIBILITY OF THE CHURCH Read Mat. 16:13-18, Acts 4:1-4, 18-31, Acts 5:3-10 compared to Acts 5:11-16, Acts 6:1 compared to Acts 6:7, Acts 8:1-4, Acts 11:19-21, Acts 12:1-5 INTRODUCTION: 1. This large number of Scriptures revealing persecution, sets before God’s people a pattern that should bring great…

SEMESTER 1 314 – Metaphors Describing the Church (A Building) BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE COURSE:  ECCLESIOLOGY I LESSON # 14 METAPHORS DESCRIBING THE CHURCH (A BUILDING) INTRODUCTION: 1. Metaphorical teaching is very broadly used in Scripture, “lively stones” (I Pet. 2:5), “vine” (Jn. 15:1), “cornerstone” (Eph. 2:20), “branches” (Jn. 15:5), etc. 2. To literalize these…