Investigating the meaning of the Church

It doesn’t matter what city you live in or where you may be visiting, chances are if you look around you will find a church.  Churches are everywhere. But what is a church?  We see church buildings all over the place.  But is that all it takes -- build a structure and put the word “church” on it and you have it?  Hardly!  The Bible is pretty clear about what defines a church and it sure doesn’t say anything about a “building” or even the sign you put on it.  A biblical church is defined by so much more, but so few understand it.  So what is it that defines a true, biblical church?  Come and fine out.

Who is the Church?

Investigating the people of the Church

Since the creation of mankind, the creator God has been on a pursuit.  That pursuit began in the Garden of Eden and continues to this day.   It’s a pursuit of redemption and possession.  God, the active agent, seeking to make right, a wrong he never committed but rather was committed against him.  This pursuing God is out to captivate his Bride, with his love and grace, drawing her into eternal fellowship with Himself.  But what does that relationship look like?  How do the people of God relate to the person of God and to each other? 

Where is the Church?

Investigating the place and presence of the Church

In the midst of a broken world, many are searching for something that will fulfill them.  Looking in all the wrong places, they walk away searching for more.  The problem is that many don’t know what they are searching for because they don’t know what truly satisfies.  Amidst all the brokenness, where is the Church?  Where is the Church to show people the eternal hope and joy found, not in herself, but in her groom, Jesus Christ?  Where is the Church to reveal the message of the gospel to a people that don’t even know they are looking for it? 

Why the Church?

Investigating the purpose of the Church

Why does the Church exist today?  Is it just a place we go to fulfill our religious obligation?   Is it just a group of people who gather occasionally to offer praise to God?  Is it just a place to go to feel better about yourself?  Is it just some self-centered, moral support group?  Or does the Church have a greater purpose?  Maybe it’s bigger than simply how it benefits you.  Maybe it’s not about you at all.  Maybe it’s about God’s story of pursuit and redemption.  Maybe it’s God’s means of communicating His love to a people who are broken and desperately and in need of Him.

Background and purpose of the book of Mark::

The Author is… Mark, surname is John Mark. He was neither a disciple or eye witness to life of Jesus. He was Peter’s writer.

The time is… Most believe it to be in the mid 50’s AD. Nero is the emperor of Rome and Herod Agrippa II is the ruler of the Jews and under Roman authority.

The place is… Rome and Christianity is spreading, but Nero is trying to stomp it out.

“The church is experiencing the Neronian holocaust, in which many believers had been burned alive at Nero’s garden parties and two of the church’s more important figures had been executed. Soon after, there appeared among them, Mark’s gospel, written to remind them of the nature of Jesus’ messiahship and to encourage cross-bearing discipleship.”
-Gordon Fee

“And in their (Christian’s executions) deaths they were made the subjects of sport; for they were wrapped in the hides of wild beasts and torn to pieces by dogs, or nailed to crosses, or set on fire, and when day declined, were burned to serve for nocturnal lights."
-From Tacitus’ Annals 100 AD

The theme is… Jesus is the suffering servant and Messiah.
“The ultimate purpose and theme of Mark is to present and defend Jesus' universal call to discipleship. Mark returns often to this theme, and as the narrative unfolds he categorizes his main audience as either followers or opponents of Jesus. Mark's central effort in presenting and supporting this call is to narrate the identity and teaching of Jesus. This fact implies that discipleship for Mark is essentially a relationship with Jesus, not merely following a certain code of conduct. Fellowship with Jesus marks the heart of the disciple's life, and this fellowship includes trusting him, confessing him, taking note of his conduct, following his teaching, and being shaped by a relationship to him. Discipleship also means being prepared to face the kind of rejection that Jesus faced.”
-From ESV Study Bible
Literary Devices used by Mark
• 12 of the 16 chapters start with the Greek word Kai. This is a literary device used to convey urgency.
• Forty times the word eotheos is used. This is immediately, forthwith or straightaway. This paints the picture of Mark being a tour guide through the museum guiding the reader from exhibit to exhibit.

The Climax of Mark 1:1-15

“The time is fulfilled. The kingdom of God is at hand” There is a fracture in us, in our relationship with God. We are broken, we do not work, we can not experience the fullness of life apart from God. But that fracture is being healed with this proclamation, “The time is fulfilled. The kingdom of God is at hand.” The long awaited redemption is here. What has been promised for ages on ages is here. Jesus is it. The restoration of the brokenness that occurred in the garden is here. God’s plan to bring people back