What are the Signs of the Church?
Church Signs: 7 Metaphors that Clarify the Mission of the Church
Just because the word “church” appears on the outside of a building does not mean that it is the church of the Living God that Jesus died for, was raised for, and will come back for when he returns! His church was established to accomplish his mission on earth as ambassadors of a Kingdom not of this world. This book explores 7 metaphors from scripture that help clarify the Mission of the Church: The Bride, The Body, The Branches, The Building, The Brothers and Sisters, The Bulwark and The Beacon.
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Book Overview
Just because the word “church” appears on the outside of a building does not mean that it is the church of the Living God that Jesus died for, was raised for, and will come back for when he returns. His church was established to accomplish his mission on earth as ambassadors of a Kingdom not of this world.
The mission of worshipping (Bride) our Creator and serving our neighbors (Body) can only be accomplished as the church abides in his presence (Branches) to bear witness as the living temple (Building) that he is building within us. When we live together in unity as a heavenly family (Brothers and Sisters) we are fortified by his truth (Bulwark) against the spiritually compromised world that surrounds us. We are called to reflect his light (Beacon) into our neighborhoods and among the nations.
These seven metaphors for the church were given to us by New Testament writers to set our “minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” We hope church leaders today will reexamine these signs to evaluate the condition of their local church and to help clarify the Lord’s mission for their congregations.
Book Outline
INTRODUCTION
Chapter One: The Bride
“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her….” (Ephesians 5:25)
Chapter Two: The Body
“He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for
the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ….” (Ephesians 4:11)
Chapter Three: The Branches
“I am the Vine; you are the branches.” (John 15:5)
Chapter Four: The Building
“In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:22)
Chapter Five: The Brothers and Sisters
“For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:50)
Chapter Six: The Bulwark
“… the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth.” (1 Timothy 3:15 NRSV)
Chapter Seven: The Beacon
You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14)
CONCLUSION
Book Dedication
Church Signs is dedicated to our dear friend and benefactor Faythe Laatch-Coley, whose questions about the mission of the church caused us to think more deeply than we ever had before.