Scripture Reading: Matt. 16:18, Eph. 1:23, Acts 8:1, 13:1, Eph. 4:3-6, 1 Cor. 12:12-13

Ⅰ　

What the church is:

A　

The Called Out Assembly― Matt. 16:18

B　

The Body of Christ― Eph. 1:23

C　

The Counterpart of Christ― 5:25

D　

The House of God― 1Tim. 3:15

E　

The New Man― Eph. 2:14-15

Ⅱ　

The practice of the church:

A　

The universal Body of Christ is the universal house of God and also the kingdom of God.

B　

Appearing in various cities as local churches, with one city having only one church in order to keep the oneness and to prevent division― Acts 8:1, 13:1, Rev. 1:4, 1:11.

C　

The local churches are scattered in different places by geography, yet they are not divided by any doctrine or matter― 1Cor. 1:10-13.

D　

Although the unique church of God is expressed as the many local churches throughout the whole globe, the churches are still the unique universal Body of Christ and should not be divided into sects or denominations― 10:16-17.

E　

There should not be any hierarchy—religious organization or system of rank.

F　

The local churches in the various localities take God's eternal economy as their center to bear the unique testimony of Christ― 1Tim. 1:3-4.

G　

In the local churches, there should be righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit as the reality of the kingdom of God― Rom. 14:17.

Ⅲ　

The ground and condition of a local church― Eph. 4:3, Rev. 2-3.

Ⅳ　

The fellowship of the Body of Christ― 1Cor. 12:12-13.

Ⅴ　

Knowing the sects― Gal. 5:19-20, Titus 3:10.

Ⅵ　

Endeavouring to keep the oneness of the Body of Christ― Eph. 4:1-3.