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Food For Your Soul
The Expository Teaching Ministry of Dr. D. Richard Ferguson 

Spreading & deepening delight in Christ

The Church
     HOME   /   ABOUT US   /   WHAT WE BELIEVE   /   WHAT WE TEACH   /   WHAT GOD WANTS THE CHURCH TO BE
    

  What God Wants The Church to Be

We do  hope you like Agape Bible Church, but that’s not our main goal. Our highest concern is not what people look for in a church, but what God looks for in a church. Our only desire is to please Him.

God uses numerous metaphors in the Bible to describe what the Church is supposed to be. Five of those metaphors are repeated several times and are highlighted in Scripture as especially important.

The Church is…
·  The Body of Christ (1 Cor.12:27, Eph.1:23, 4:12, Col.1:24)
·  The Bride/Wife of Christ (Eph.5, 2 Cor.11:2, Mt.9:15, Jn.3:29, Rev.19:7, 21:2)
·  The Family/Household of God (1 Pe.4:17, 1 Tim.3:15, Heb.3:6,)
·  The Temple of the Holy Spirit (His dwelling place) (1 Pe.2, Eph.2:21, 1 Co.3,6, 2 Cor.6:16)
·  A holy Priesthood (His worshippers) (1 Pe.2:5,9, Rev.1:6, 5:10).

1. BODY

The passages that describe us as Christ’s Body emphasize unity, maturity and work. We are to do the work of Christ on earth in a unified effort, functioning as the main means by which God does everything He does in this world with a primary focus on edification and growing to spiritual maturity.

2. BRIDE

The passages that present us as Jesus’ bride focus on our moral purity and our honoring and being devoted to Him. (2 Cor.11:2, Eph.5:25-33) As the wife of Christ we are to submit to His purifying work in us and respect and honor and love Him as a wife loving her husband.

3. FAMILY/HOUSEHOLD

As the family or household of God we are to relate to God as Father and live together as siblings in intimate, profound, family love.

4. TEMPLE

The purpose of a temple is to serve as the dwelling place of God – the place where God’s favorable presence to bless resides. The Church is God’s home; His dwelling place; the place where God lives with us and walks among us (2 Cor.6:16). When you visit Agape, our responsibility is to function as the place where you will experience the very presence of God.

5. PREISTHOOD

At least 4 times in Scripture we are called a priesthood. (1 Pe.2:5,9, Rev.1:6, 5:10). In Old Testament times the Priests offered acceptable worship on behalf of the people. The job of the people in the Church is to function as priests – offering acceptable worship to God.


Is the Church mostly for believers or for unbelievers? See our statement on The Seeker-Friendly Movement.