116 The Church of Christ

The Church of Christ THIRD YEAR— SUBJECT 8 The Church of Christ

(READ Acts 2) 1. A City. Matthew 5:14.

2. A Temple. 1 Corinthians 3:16.

3. A Body. 1 Corinthians 12:13.

4. A Family. Ephesians 2:19.

5. A Vineyard. Matthew 20:1 -!

6. A Fold. John 10:16.

7. A Bride. Romans 7:4.

8. A Mother. Isaiah 66:8. From the beginning of time, the greatness of nations has been known BY their large cities, and as all nations are controlled by their larger cities, the Son of God fitly represents his church as a city set upon a hill whose light should shine to all the country around. In her larger cities are often found her temples built upon rock foundations. Out of these temples proceed her laws that shall control that nation. He then claims not only is his church a city but also a temple that must not be defiled. As the separate stones in a temple are joined to make the many, one, he calls his church a body and every one members one of the another. But as there are different bodies on earth he claims church is the one body, and then tells what body this is by declaring we are no more strangers but one of the household of faith, or family of God.

Then to teach that this should be a working family he shows that the family is like a vineyard in which all are called to work, and receive the reward after the work is done. One servant, notwithstanding he was called and had opportunity, was so fearful he would displease his master, he did nothing and was rejected for idleness. Then he shows that the church is the one fold with one shepherd, and one bride to the Son of God, and also represents the church as being our mother. In all these figures of speech we can see the oneness in work, in relation¬ship, in love, and in all things that go to make up the church as being the most desirable, the most perfect institution existing today among the children of men.

QUESTIONS 1. Describe a well located, and well governed city, and tell in what way the church should be like it.

2. Tell the object of temples, of what kind of stone they are made, and how can the church be like a temple?

3. Describe the members of the human body, show the position held by each member, and how the church is like a body.

4. Describe the different work and members of a family, and show how the church is like it.

5. Show the work done in a vineyard, and in what sense the church is like it.

6. Show the duty of a shepherd, the kind of a shepherd, and how the church is like a fold.

7. Tell the duties of a bride and show how the church is like her.

8. Is the bride dutiful who would wear some other man’s name instead of her husband’s name?

9. Describe the work of motherhood. What is necessary to make her children contented and happy?

THIRD YEAR—SUBJECT 9 Terms Used to Designate the Church (READ 1 PETER 2) 1. A gathering of the people. Genesis 49:10.

2. A school of instruction. Isaiah 2:2-3.

3. A nation. Isaiah 5:5-7.

4. A flock. John 10:10-16.

5. A church. Matthew 16:18 6. A kingdom. Daniel 2:44.

Shortly before the death of Jacob, he called his sons around him to bless them, and to tell them what should befall them in the last days.After declaring a lawgiver should not depart from Judah until Shiloh should come, he then represents the church of Christ as a "gathering of the people," as a people come together for some purpose.

Isaiah declared that when they came together, God would teach them of his ways, and we would walk in his path; for the law should go forth from Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. That this people should be a holy nation, and the nation should be represented as a little flock, and God would rule over them. In confirmation of these facts Jesus declares he will build his church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Daniel declares that this church shall be an everlasting kingdom and that Jesus would be our king. This kingly power was given him when he ascended and took his seat at the right hand of God, and we are subjects in the earthly province of his kingdom.

QUESTIONS 1. Who refers to the church as a "gathering of the people"?

2. What name did he use to designate the Lord?

3. Who refers to the church as a "school of instruction?

4. Who were to come to this school?

5. What would the Lord teach them?

6. Who spoke of the church as a "righteous nation"?

7. What is Christ called in this prophecy?

8. Who referred to the church as a "flock"?

9. What is the Lord called in this connection?

10. Who said he would build his church?

11. Upon what foundation?

12. What could not prevail against it?

13. Who called the church a kingdom?

14. How was it to start, and how grow?