What Is The Local Church?

In light of the recent challenges posed by a global pandemic and the blueprint and blessings for the Church laid out in the Scriptures, our new sermon series “Re:Discover the Local Church” kicks off by looking at four biblical images for the church. As Graham emphasizes in this week’s message, rediscovering the church means not only understanding what God’s Word says about the church, but rediscovering its people.

Graham’s Main Points

  • The church is a family.
  • The church is a flock.
  • The church is a body.
  • The church is a witness.

Key Takeaways

  • The church is not an aggregation of people, or strangers who come together on Sundays to have an individual experience, but the family of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
  • We must strive to see Sunday morning as a can’t-miss gathering of God’s family—not out of obligation, but out of a shared affection for God and His people.
  • In accordance with Christ’s message and model, a healthy church looks to serve the needs of others before their own, focuses not only on one’s personal spiritual development, but on the discipleship of others, and is marked by both discipleship and discipline.
  • Discipline is not a tool of hatred, but of love. A family without discipline is dysfunctional. Discipline leads to holiness and healing.
  • The church is a flock belonging to God. Jesus is the Good Shepherd and beneath Him are established additional shepherds. The church’s shepherds are to emulate Jesus and lead, feed, pursue, and protect the sheep.
  • As Graham said, “The flock is a place of life, protection, and provision, not control.”
  • As sheep, our roles are to know the voice of the Good Shepherd, be members of a flock (a healthy local church), and put ourselves under the care and authority of others.
  • Just as the human body has many parts, each with a unique design, role, and responsibility—so, too, does the church. Each member of the body of Christ is valuable, interconnected, and interdependent.
  • The church witnesses Christ through both its words and its works.
  • The church is empowered by the Holy Spirit, to be characterized by love for God and one another, and called to proclaim His praises.

Discussion Questions/Application

Personal application:

  • Read and review the passages referenced by Graham in today’s message (listed below).
  • Attend our upcoming church picnics on May 1st, May 15th, May 29th, June 12th, and June 26th and the next Devoted event on May 22nd.
  • Who can you intentionally contact or serve this week from our church? Is there anyone new to Watermark that you can make feel more welcome?

Discuss with your community group:

  • In what ways can you grow in your love for God’s people at Watermark-FW?
  • What is your plan to continue to grow as a disciple of Christ and disciple others?

Passages Referenced for Further Study
Ephesians 2; 1 John 3:1; Acts 2:42-47; Philippians 2:3-4; Mark 10:42-45; Colossians 1:28-29; Proverbs 3:11-12; Hebrews 12:7-13; John 21:15-17; 1 Peter 5:1-4; John 10:14; 1 Peter 5:8; 1 Peter 5:5; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Corinthians 12:14-20; Psalm 139:13-16; Ephesians 4:15-16; 1 Corinthians 12:15-26; Matthew 5:14-16; Acts 1:8; John 13:34-35; 1 Peter 2:9-10.