In this episode, we explore the doctrine of the Church. Rooted in the conviction that the Holy Spirit forms a new community and nourishes it through Word and sacrament, we unpack what it means to belong to Christ’s Body.

We begin by discussing the nature of the Church, drawing from 1 Peter 2 and Ephesians 2 to show how God gathers a holy people, and we explore the visible/invisible, militant/triumphant, organism/institutional dimensions of the Church, emphasizing unity as Jesus prayed in John 17.

Next, we consider the Word as a means of grace. The proclamation of the gospel isn’t just informative—it’s formative. Quoting Calvin, the Church is both the means by which God invites us into Christ’s fellowship and a part of the good news itself.

We then explore the sacraments: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Comparing Reformed, Catholic, and Baptist views, we contrast sacraments as means of grace with ordinances as symbolic acts of obedience.

Finally, we address church discipline as a mark of the true church, highlighting Matthew 18 and Acts 5 to show how Christ calls the Church to live in holiness and accountability.

Discussion Questions:

What makes the church a spiritual reality?

What does it mean that something is a “means of grace”?

What role do sacraments play in Christian life?

Why is church discipline a grace?

How should Word and sacrament shape our community?