A 5-Week Crash Course on Following Jesus in College

fxCampus

October 1, 2025 - Woodburn Hall 004

Week 3: The importance of joining a local church

Ice Breakers:

• What is your history with church?
• What are some common complaints you hear people make about the church (their own, in general, etc.)?
• What are some common things that people look for when picking out a church?

Opening Prayer

Study Questions

The word for “church” in the New Testament is used to refer to the universal body of believers and also smaller groups of believers typically in a specific location.

READ: Ephesians 1:20–23; 4:4-6, Acts 11:22, 1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:1, 1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15; Philemon 1:1-2

1. Who is the head of the church according to Ephesians 1:20-23?
2. Why is it important that the NT never uses “church” to describe a building but only the people of God (Ephesians 1:22–23; Acts 11:22)? How does this challenge modern assumptions about church?
3. Why do we need local churches? Why not just have the universal church?

What are the minimum qualifications of a local church according to Scripture?

1. Read John 1:12-13 made up of born again believers
2. Read Matthew 28:19 baptized believers and baptizing others
3. Read Hebrews 10:25 regular gathering of believers
4. Read Ephesians 1:6,12,14; Acts 2:47; Romans 15:6-7 gathered to worship