WEBVTT

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15 unique facts about the church. The

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church was God's plan before creation.

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Paul teaches the church was in God's

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eternal purpose. Ephesians 3:101, not an

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afterthought.

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The word church means called out ones.

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Ecclesia in the Greek doesn't mean a

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building. It means people called out for

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God's purpose.

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Jesus used the word church before

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Pentecost.

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Jesus said, "I will build my church."

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Matthew 16:18.

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Long before the first gospel sermon in

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Acts 2.

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The first church grew without buildings.

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Early Christians met in homes,

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courtyards, marketplaces, and even

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catacombs. The gospel spread person to

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person. The earliest church prioritized

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teaching.

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The very first description of the church

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emphasizes doctrine first. Acts 2:42

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teaching anchored everything else.

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Baptism was the entry point into the

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church. In the New Testament, every

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conversion ended with baptism. It marked

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the beginning of belonging. Acts 2:41,

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Romans 6:34.

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Communion was originally a full meal.

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The Lord's supper was celebrated during

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a communal fellowship meal, 1

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Corinthians 11, before later becoming

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symbolic portions.

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Singing was a capella for the first 6700

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years. Early church history shows

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Christians sang without instruments

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universally until medieval innovations.

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The early church was known for radical

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generosity.

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Christians cared for the poor, widows

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abandoned infants and the sick, and

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pagans noticed. Acts 4:32:35.

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The church grew wildly during

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persecution.

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Instead of shrinking, Christianity

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exploded during Roman persecution.

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Tertullian famously wrote, "The blood of

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the martyrs is seed."

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Women played significant ministry roles

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in the early church.

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Phoebe, Priscilla, Lydia, and others

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hosted churches in their homes and

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supported mission work. Romans 16.

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Elders and deacons came from Jewish

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synagogue structure. Church leadership

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roles were modeled after familiar Jewish

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leadership offices, making organization

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natural for early believers.