1 Timothy 3:14-16

Definition of “Church”: “The church is the body of people called by God's grace through faith in Christ to glorify him together by serving him in the world. In obedience to scripture, they organize under qualified leadership, gather regularly in one place, at one time, in Christ’s name, to officially affirm and oversee one another’s membership in Jesus Christ and his kingdom through gospel preaching and gospel ordinances. All this they do by the authority of the keys. Unified by the Spirit, they are disciplined for holiness and fulfill the Great Commission as missionaries to the world for God’s glory and their joy.”

1. There is such a thing as proper, necessary Christian conduct in the church (1 Timothy 3:14-15a; Ephesians 2:8-10).

2. Paul’s instructions in the preceding chapters (1:1-3:13) must be followed because (15b)

• the church is the household of God
• the church is the church of the living God
• the church is a pillar and protector of the truth of the gospel

In short, the integrity of the gospel must be maintained in the conduct of the Christians who believe it.

3. The work of Jesus, and the obligation of his church to proclaim that work to the world (16)