Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, San Antonio Texas

Shared by Alice Klement, [e-mail], August 2010,

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, San Antonio Texas

with The Equipper, www.theequipper.org.
What is a Church?

Equipping Team Presentation to the Congregation

August 1 and 8, 2010

Slide 1

Alice: Today I’d like you to meet some of the members who serve with me on the Equipping Team at our church.

(Introduce all members who are able to be present)

We’re going to spend some time with you this morning exploring the question: What is a Church?

(Immediately, before slide can be changed Rhonda shouts)

Rhonda: That’s easy, the church is a building. I served as the chairperson of the building committee of A Mighty Fortress Lutheran Church in St. Louis back in ’67. We built a $2 million CHURCH. What a question! Everyone knows what a church is. We’re going to spend an hour talking about something EVERYbody knows?

Alice: Yes, Rhonda, I think everyone here would agree that the church is a building. Why, when you drive by 6914 Wurzbach you see written right on the building: Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran CHURCH?

Rhonda: My point exactly!

Slide 2

Todd:

Hold on there a minute, you two. (Turn to audience) As I’m certain all of you know, I’m an attorney. Just in case we haven’t met - Todd Marquardt here, attorney & counselor at Law. 347.5226 specializing in business and estate law, a fellow member of SHLC always eager to serve you! I’m here to tell you a church is more than a building. It’s a legal entity (explain)

Kris: (Comes forward and puts arm around Alice) Leave it to men to make this WAY too complicated. All you have to do is check with my kids. On Sunday morning when they say, (in a whiny child-like voice) “Do we have to go to CHURCH again?” They’re talking about going to a worship service.

Ron:

Excuse me; I’m a retired pastor and so naturally I have the CORRECT answer. (pause) I have retired after serving ______ years as a pastor in the Lutheran CHURCH – Missouri Synod. After all those years I should know, what the word church means. It is derived from the Middle English and refers to a denomination as in the Lutheran CHURCH-Missouri Synod.

Alice:

Team, Team, I appreciate your conviction and enthusiasm. However, when I asked, “What is a Church?” I was looking for the Biblical definition.

Speakers:

Rhonda: Well, why didn’t you say so in the first place?

Mark: I didn’t know it was a trick question.

Kris: Shoulda known.

Todd (loudly): Object! Object! I object!!!

Pastor Ron; (loudly) Overruled!!!

Alice:

Hold on. I admit that each of you gave a correct answer. (Speakers nod and comment in satisfaction) There is one thing, however, that all of your “earthly” ideas have in common. They can all be lost. (Explain) The Bible talks about Church that is eternal. (Show final item on slide)

Pastor Ron:

Well, of course, as a retired pastor I knew that all along. I assume you are talking about St. Paul’s writing in his first letter to the Corinthians chapter 12?

Alice (to the audience)

Yes, and you can see the chapter that Pastor Ron was referring to on the hand-out you were given.

(Team members take turns reading paragraph by paragraph.)

Kris:

I really like that picture of the Church as the Body of Christ. It makes me feel so honored and important to be a part of Christ’s on body here on earth.

But I have a question about all of those gifts St. Paul was talking about …speaking in tongues, miraculous powers, distinguishing between spirits??? I’m pretty sure I don’t have any of those gifts and I’m not sure that I’d WANT them. How do I find out what gifts I have anyway?

Alice:

I’m soooo glad you asked. (Team is seated. Alice gives her spiritual gifts speal. Spiritual Gifts Inventory is given. Team floats among audience members to answer questions and pick up inventories as they are completed.)

Preview next week.