God’s Perspective of the Church
Teachers
Lesson Summary
During the September 4, 2022 class, the teacher began by asking what the greatest need in the church today might be, noting both the encouraging sight of large congregations and the alarming nationwide numerical decline among Churches of Christ. He emphasized the importance of returning to the church’s roots, examining its past, present, and future promises. The lesson defined the true church as people purchased by Christ’s blood, citing Acts 20:28 and Ephesians 1:1, and warned against the false notion that one can love Jesus while rejecting the church. The teacher then shifted to God’s perspective, illustrating how Jesus views each believer and the Linder Road Church of Christ as His beloved bride. Using a contemporary story of a teenage pregnancy, he demonstrated how God’s love and purpose extend to every individual circumstance. Though acknowledging the church’s imperfections, he celebrated its beauty and called the congregation to an renewed commitment, urging attendance at the upcoming Lectureship to rekindle spiritual fire.
Key Scriptures
He told them to shepherd the church of God, which he bought with his own blood
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses