“A man can't be always defending the truth, there must be a time to feed on it.” C.S. Lewis 

Hello Kitchen Table Theology Family! We’re your hosts, Jen Denton, and Pastor Jeff Cranston. This is our third episode in a new series on the Church. The Doctrine of the Church is also known as the doctrine of Ecclesiology. Previously we’ve discussed how the church is like a flock and fellowship. Today we’ll discuss how the church is like a body 

[00:26]  What is The Body of Christ?   

• While groups can provide fellowship and interaction, they point to the deeper longing for every person to belong in the family of God. The ultimate membership a person can join is in the body of Christ
• The body of Christ is believers collectively forming as the church

[05:41] The Church is a Body   

• In Ephesians, Paul refers to the church as a body with Christ as the head. Christ as the head then holds the entire body together and equips every part to work as it ought to be working
• Who belongs in the body of Christ? 
  • All people who place their trust and faith in Jesus Christ
  • What is the relation of the kingdom of God to the body of Christ? 

[09:47] A Divided Body 

•  If we are supposed to be the united body of Christ, how can we account for Christianity having so many different branches and denominations?
• A quick history lesson on differences in the church 
  • Differentiation in Christianity has existed since the very beginning
  • The first major schism due to Arianism in the 4th century 
  • 325 AD The Council of Nicea
  • The Great Schism 
  • The Protestant Reformation on October 31, 1517 
• Our diversity is both God-given and essential to our maturity and our health
• As members of Christ's body, He is the head, He controls the body, therefore he is to be given preeminence in all things

[21:08] So What? 

• Jesus uses us in all of our weirdness, oddity, wildness, and oneness to take His gospel into all the world 
• Final words from Jen and Pastor Jeff

Key Quotes

“Groups can provide fellowship and interaction, but they point to the deeper longing for every person to belong in the family of God. The ultimate membership a person can have is in the body of Christ.” - Pastor Jeff Cranston 

“The truth is that the body of Christ is designed to teach us that we need one another and that we must care for one another to the world. We must show ourselves wanting Christ, united in love, and united in a shared life. We're united in Jesus. Such unity is not uniformity, it's not even conformity, it is unity.”  - Pastor Jeff Cranston 

Scripture Mentioned

• 1 Cor 12:27
• Ephesians 3:6, 4:15–16, 5:23
• Romans 12:1, 12:5

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Remember, the real power of theology is not only knowing it but applying it. Thanks for listening!