What we want students to learn: That the Church is made up of everyone who has, who does, or who will believe in God.

What we want students to do with what they’ve learned: To broaden their concept of the Church, and their place in it, and to begin to view all Christ-followers as their brothers and sisters in God’s family.

Scripture Focus: Deuteronomy 28:1-9, Galatians 3:26-29, Exodus 19:3-6, 1 Peter 2:4-10

Overview: If it’s one thing our students, and many of us, take for granted it’s the HUGENESS of God and His plan. Nowhere is this more evident than in how we see the Church. If your students have been blessed to go on mission trips outside of their communities, they might have a broader sense of the Church. But unless they have gone overseas and interacted with Christ-followers in other parts of the world, then their vision of the Church is still probably too small. But to take it a step further, unless we truly step back and intentionally consider the fact that the Church is by definition everyone who has ever or will ever be identified as God's people, we can't grasp how AMAZING the idea of the Church is! The Church is God's people, His plan for engaging the world in His name. And this study is all about wrapping our brains around what this means.

In this series, your students will see the Church as the universal body of all believers, those past, present, and future people of God (lesson 1). You’ll also focus on how Jesus reframed the idea of the Church as the Body of Christ (lesson 2). And you’ll go deeper into the concept of the Church in the world, what its purpose is and the role your students play (lesson 3).

What we want students to learn: That when they profess faith in Jesus, they become a vital part of the Church, the Body of Christ.

What we want students to do with what they’ve learned: Challenged by their identity as part of the Body of Christ, students will evaluate how effectively they’re living as representations of Christ in their day-to-day lives.

Scripture Focus: Galatians 3:26-29, Matthew 16:13-20, Ephesians 2:19-22, 1 Corinthians 12:27, Colossians 1:18

Overview: Salvation is a pretty cool thing. (That’s a major understatement.) If all God did was save us from our sins, it would be awesome beyond measure. But in His love and grace, God saw fit to have our salvation be the key that ushers us into an incredible fellowship, not just with God, but with other Believers, as well. Our confession of Christ assures us that we become part of a vibrant collection of people who have also seen Christ for who He is. In this lesson, your students will see that this collection of people even includes the very first people to confess Christ as Lord. What’s more, your students will learn that the Church is pictured as the Body of Christ, positioned to represent Christ on this earth. Your students will be challenged to ask themselves if they’re lives give testimony to the fact that they are a part of the Global Body of Believers.

What we want students to learn: That, based on being a part of the Church, God has in mind specific ways they are to interact with those in their Church, other Christ-followers, and those who don’t know Christ.

What we want students to do with what they’ve learned: To choose one of the groups of people mentioned (those within their church, other Christ-followers who attend other churches, or non-Believers), and commit to living out Scripture's call as it relates to their interactions with these people.

Scripture Focus: Romans 15:5-6, Philippians 2:1-4, Ephesians 4:1-6, Colossians 4:5-6

Overview: It's not hard to look around these days and find that, as much as ever in our culture, Christ-followers find themselves increasingly marginalized. And yet in this climate, the Church still struggles with internal division within local bodies, as well as external apathy (or worse, conflict) between churches. The problem with this is that Scripture calls us to a higher standard. The Body is supposed to be unified, particularly in the local churches. And we are to be united on mission for Christ with all Believers with Christ. The compelling thing is that if we were actually to live out these practices, we would find ourselves drawing people to us because of the evident fruit of God in our midst. This final lesson in your students' study of the Church is a call to unity so that they might show the world the purpose and power available to those who follow Jesus.