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====Uses of TIn English, the word "church" means different things to different people in different contexts. It can be used in common English====reference to a gathering of people for a religious meeting. It is also sometimes used to refer to a building or group of buildings, and occasionally it refers to an entire [[denomination]]. It can also be used in an institutional sense to refer to all churches, such as "... the church today...."
In English, the word "church" means different things to different people in different contexts. It can be used in reference to a gathering of people for a religious meeting. It is also sometimes used to refer to a building or group of buildings, and occasionally it refers to an entire ===[[denominationNature of the Church]]. It can also be used in an institutional sense to refer to all churches, such as "... the church today...." ===
====The Church as There are a variety of understandings about what the Community of Believers====church actually is.
====The Church as belonging to Jesus and his presence among it==== The churchFurthermore, although consisting of people, Biblically speaking, the church is not simply an instution created by people. In [[Matthew 16:18 ]] Jesus spoke about building '''his''' church and later, in [[Matthew 18:20]] he spoke about being present among the church
====The Church as both local and universal====
====Throughout church history, starting with [[Augustine]], the church has sometimes been spoken about in terms of the "invisible church" as opposed to the "visible church". The Invisible versus invisible church basically means the community or collection of true believers in Jesus regardless of denominational affiliation. The term visible church is used to refer to the physical countable members or leaders that make up a church or group of churches. Many Protestant churches tend to emphasize the invisible church, and view this as something quite distinct from the visible church. The Roman Catholic Church, on the other hand, teaches that the invisible church and visible church are very closely connected, although there is recognition that some elements of the invisible church can be present outside the visible Roman Catholic church.<ref>[[Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith]]: [http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20070629_responsa-quaestiones_en.html Responses to Some Questions Regarding Certain Aspects of the Doctrine of the Visible Church====], 2007, second and third question.</ref>
Sometimes the church is spoken about in terms of the "invisible church" and the "visible church". The invisible church basically means the community or collection of true believers in Jesus regardless ===[[Mission of denominational affiliation. The term visible church is used to refer to the physical countable members or leaders that make up a church or group of churches. ]]===
Many Protestant churches tend to emphasize the invisible church, and view this as something quite distinct from the visible church. The Roman Catholic Church, on the other hand, teaches that the invisible church and visible church are very closely connected, although there is recognition that some elements of the invisible church 's mission can be present outside the visible (i.e. Roman Catholic) church.summarized as to bring glory to God through humanity mirroring God’s own holy character of love<ref>[[Congregation Stanley J. Grenz]], ''[[Theology for the Doctrine Community of the FaithGod]]'' (Grand Rapids: [http://wwwEerdmans Publishing, 2000), 489.vatican.va</roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20070629_responsa-quaestiones_enref>.html Responses This involves:# Honourable worship to Some Questions Regarding Certain Aspects God# Building up of each other within the Doctrine of church# Reaching out into the Church], 2007, second world through service and third question.</ref>evangelism
no edit summary
topic_name = Church / Ecclesiology
[[Image:Christians at lourdes.jpg|thumb|center|Christians at [[Lourdes]].]] |
subtopics = [[Nature of the church]]* [[Mission of the church]]* [[Church Terms Index]]* Contemporary Ecclesiology Issues and Terminology - [[Megachurch]], [[Home church]], [[Emerging church]], [[Incarnational church]]* [[Church building]]
* [[Church history]]
* [[Denominations]]
* [[World-wide church directory]]
* [[Church service]]|* opinion_pieces = [[Church Terms Index]]* [[Megachurch(discussion)]] | opinion_pieces = {{short_opinions}}
* {{ebd}}
* [[What is the Church? (G.G.)]]
The English word "church" itself is actually derived from the Old English word "cirice" (which is related to the [[Greek]] word "κυριακή" which means "of the Lord")
===Theology of the church=== There are a variety of understandings about what the church actually is. There are also a variety of uses Uses of the word "church" in common English.===
The context in which the word [[ekklesia]] (church) is used in the Bible suggests that it was not originally intended to mean a building or an organization, but instead was intended to primarily mean a congregation or meeting of God's people. Thus the church, although consisting of the community of believers, is not simply the community of believers, but also includes activity.
: ''{{Bible verse|matthew|16|18|lang=WEB}}'' (Matthew 16:18)
: ''{{Bible verse|matthew|18|20|lang=WEB}}'' (Matthew 18:20)
The Bible uses the term church in both a local and universal nature. Mostly the word refers to local churches, for example, the church in Rome or Antioch. Quite often it is spoken about the plural. On a few occasions the New Testament uses the word in a general or universal sense.
===[[Church building]]===
<references />
==Video==
<YouTube>
title=The First 1000 Years of Christian Church
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKOoPcHxPhU
&rel=1
embed_source_url=http://www.youtube.com/v/LKOoPcHxPhU
&rel=1
wrap = yes
width=500
height=400
</YouTube>
==Links==
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church Wikipedia - Church]
* [http://sharingknowledge.org/wb/pages/bible-teachings/fundamental-doctrines.php Sharing knowledge - Church]
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[[Category:Theology]]
[[Category:Videos]]
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