Winning the World

Session 6: Mobilizing American Cities for Church Planting Movements 127

d. Apostolic: Eph. 2.19-20 (ESV) – So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, [20] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.

4. Note the distinctions in how the churches are identified in the NT.

a. According to their geographic location, 1 Thess. 2.14 (ESV) – For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea . For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews. b. According to their cultural, linguistic, and social background, Rom. 16.3-4 (ESV) – “Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, [4] who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well.”

c. According to their place as assemblies of Messiah under the apostles’ direction, Acts 15.41 (ESV) – “And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.”

C. The Church as the where of regional and national

1. Sometimes churches were considered in light of their shared conditions or experiences, whether good or bad, e.g., 2 Cor. 8.1 (ESV) – “We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia.”