Introduction

1. There are varying concepts of the church

2. The word means different things to different people

3. Look at some of those ideas together

4. Look at God's word to see which are accurate and which are not

Body

I. Some See the Church As a Building

A. A physical structure

1. People are proud of the building

2. Usually the building is very elaborate

a. High steeple

b. Stained glass

c. Beautiful artwork

d. Modern creature comforts

e. A focus on entertainment

B. This is a misconception

1. Nowhere does the Bible describe the church as a building

2. The church is not a physical structure

3. This is a modern day misuse of the church

II. Some See the Church As a Local Congregation

A. Many local examples

1. New Georgia church of Christ

2. Lindsay Lane Baptist Church

3. First Methodist Church

B. This is a Biblical principle

1. Revelation 2-3 show us the 7 churches of Asia

2. We see letters written to different churches

a. Ephesus

b. Rome

c. Thessalonica

d. Etc

C. But this concept is abused today

1. New Testament churches only identified themselves with Christ

2. That is not true today.  Many times we see churches by the very name they are called identifying themselves with the teachings of a man or creed

a. Lutherans, by the name they are called, identify themselves with Martin Luther and not with Christ

b. Mormons readily place their loyalty with Joseph Smith over the teachings of Jesus

3. That is not the way local churches in the first century did it

4. Their only allegiance was to Christ and no doctrine of man was tolerated

D. Verses 

1. I Corinthians 1:10-13

2. John 17:20-21

3. Matthew 15:8-9

4. Jude 3

5. Revelation 22:18-19

III. Some See the Church As the Body of Christ

A. This is a much greater entity

1. This is a group that began at Pentecost in Acts 2 and will be continually added to until the end of time

2. It is a group that includes all saved believers

3. It includes living and dead

4. It is an innumerable host

5. Verses

a. Colossians 1:13-18; 24-26

b. I Peter 2:9-10

c. Hebrews 12:18-24

d. Ephesians 2:4-7

6. We sit by Peter, James and John.  We see Dorcas and Barnabus, Stephen and Lazarus

7. We all sit in the same place&ldots;.the church of Jesus Christ

8. We are separated by time but joined together in spirit by Christ

Conclusion

1. To what have you come?  A building?  A local congregation?  The body of Jesus Christ?

2. Important points:

a. I may be accepted as a member of a local congregation and not be recognized by God as a member of the body of Christ

b. I may be rejected by some local congregation but be recognized by God as a member of the body of Christ

c. I must find a local congregation to worship with that is focused on following God and using only His word as our source of authority

3. May we be loyal to Christ and recognized by God as a part of the body of Jesus Christ

4. That is where forgiveness and salvation are found