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Week 1 – Gathered by the Holy Spirit

Explore the origins and nature of the church, as well as the role of the Holy Spirit in gathering and guiding the community of believers.

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Week 1 – Gathered by the Holy Spirit

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  1. Week 1 – Gathered by the Holy Spirit March 13, 2019

  2. Church as Place? • Our English word “church” is probably derived from the Celtic word “kyrk” • Perhaps with roots in a Greek word κυριακός: “pertaining to belonging to the Lord” (κυριος) • Only appears twice in the New Testament, as an adjective modifying “supper” (1 Corinthians 11:20) and “day” (Revelation 1:10) • Many languages have words for the church derived from this root [Kirche (German), Kyrka (Swedish), Kirkko (Finnish), etc.]

  3. Church as a People? • Most frequent word used to describe the church in the New Testament is εκκλησία • Originally a generic word for a gathering of people • Preferred term used by Greek translators for the Hebrew word קָהָל (congregation, assembly) • Came to be the default word to describe the church in the NT period • Used 114 times in the NT • Many languages derive their word for church from this Greek word through Latin [église (French), iglesia (Spanish), Chiesa (Italian), eaglais (Irish Gaelic)]

  4. The Church according to Luther and Melanchthon • “The church is the assembly of saints in which the gospel is taught purely and the sacraments are administered rightly.” • CA VII [Lat.], 1 • “We do not want to hear what they [the pope and bishops of the Roman Catholic Church] command or forbid in the name of the church, because, God be praised, a seven-year-old child knows what the church is: holy believers and ‘the little sheep who hear the voice of their shepherd.’” • SA 4.12.2

  5. What makes us church? • “I believe that by my own understanding or strength I cannot believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him, but instead the Holy Spirit has called me through the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, made me holy and kept me in the true faith, just as he calls, gathers, enlightens, and makes holy the whole Christian church on earth and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one common, true faith. Daily in this Christian church the Holy Spirit abundantly forgives all sins—mine and those of all believers. On the Last Day the Holy Spirit will raise me and all the dead and will give to me and all believers in Christ eternal life. This is most certainly true. • SC, The Creed, The Third Article (Kolb and Wengert, pp. 255-6, para. 6)

  6. What does this mean? • The Holy Spirit is responsible for the existence of the church • We are called to trust in Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit • We are gathered together in prayer, praise, and service by the Holy Spirit • We are recipients of guidance, wisdom, and grace through the Holy Spirit • We are made God’s holy people by the Holy Spirit • Remember that this is not just the church here at St. Paul’s • The Holy Spirit makes possible our unity with Christians across the street, across town, across the state, across the country, and around the world! • The church is a “cosmic” reality, because the Spirit’s work encompasses creation and transcends time and space

  7. The Holy spirit’s work in the church • John • The Holy Spirit continues the teaching begun during Jesus’ ministry • The Holy Spirit reminds us of what Jesus said and did • The Holy Spirit makes present the peace of Christ in our life together • Acts • The Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to share the message about Jesus so that others might come to believe

  8. The Church as gifted and giving • God’s Holy Spirit is not contained or limited by the church • “The Spirit blows where she wills, and you hear the sound of her, but you do not know where she is coming from or where she is going.” (John 3:8) • At the same time, that Holy Spirit promises to be present in and through the work of the church • The apostles lay hands on the baptized, and they receive the Holy Spirit • We continue to trust that the Spirit is given through what we say and do as the people of God, both in worship and outside of it! • You are a conduit for the Holy Spirit to move in the world!

  9. What about Jesus? • We haven’t said much about Jesus! What gives? • Jesus is obviously important • Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit upon the disciples • The Holy Spirit is “another” Advocate; Jesus was the first! • The Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:19) • Lutheran Christians talk about Jesus (Christ) ALL THE TIME! • We often neglect to talk about the Holy Spirit because the Spirit defies description! • Trinitarian thinking as the key to addressing the fullness of God • Trusting in Jesus as an individual? • Living in Jesus as part of a community?

  10. We Are Gathered by the Holy Spirit

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