What is the Church?

"Church" itself is an ambiguous word, for it may refer to the worldwide church, of which every Christian is a member, to a particular sort of church, or to the actual church you attend.

Dronfleld Baptist Church is a Baptist Church affiliated to other Baptist Churches in this country and around the world, and joins the Christian family or the worldwide Church.

What is the church for?

The church is a reminder that God wants not only to save individuals like you, but to create a whole new community. Paul describes it in Ephesians 1 v 10 as to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

In church, as we learn to get on with each other and care for each other we are being prepared for that new community.

Good reasons for meeting together are given in Hebrews 10 v 24 - 25.

.... let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Paul paints a good picture of the church in Romans 12 v 4-8.

.... Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

There are things which we can achieve together which we could not do alone.

What goes on in the church?

Worship: In church God is worshipped both in Sunday services and in other meetings during the week. We worship him with our voices as we sing and pray, and with our minds as we learn morn about him.

Ephesians 5 v 25-27 shows why Christ should be worshipped in the church.

.... Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless

The Communion service, a potent reminder of all that Christ has done for us, forms a regular part of our worship.

Care: As God*s new community, the church should be a place where we learn to care for each other. It is not only the minister who looks after the church members, but they look after each other.

Paul gives a good description of this in Ephesians 4 v 2 -3.

.... Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace

Service: In any church, whether large or small, there are all manner of jobs to be done. Some serve the church through preaching, some through cleaning, some through playing the organ or stapling the newsletter. ALL these roles are vital in the life of the church.

Paul gives a picture of the church as a body in 1 Corinthians 12 v 12-20.

.... Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

Outreach: The Christian church has been described as ‘the only club which exists for the benefit of those who are not its members". In church we work together to tell others about Jesus, both here and overseas.

Where do I fit in to church?

Work: As you can see in Romans 12 v 5 onwards

.... We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

There is room for all sorts of gifts and talents in the church. Try to assess what your particular talents are and then ask one of the church leaders where your talents can best be used.

Pray: Without the prayers of its members the church would grind to a halt tomorrow. Pray for it on your own and with others.

Give: The Church depends upon your time and talents as well as financial support of its members. Many Christians like to give a tithe (or tenth) of their income to the work of God in their local church and elsewhere.

What makes a Baptist Church different?

There are four elements to consider here:

GATHERED People ‘opt into* membership of a baptist church rather than being members because of tradition or the place they live.

INDEPENDENT Although baptist churches often meet together, each one is independent in its own right.

CONGREGATIONALLY GOVERNED Decisions about the life and work of a baptist church are made by its members.. There is no central governing body of baptist churches

BAPTISM We recognise baptism as the biblical pattern of publicly acknowledging our faith in Christ.

The greatest ability you can give to the church is your AVAILability