Introduction

Dr. Bounds confidently exclaims that, next to God, the most important thing that exists is the Church. The Church is the goal and the point of creation. The Church consists of the people of God, the body of Christ. The Church is the bride of Christ. If humanity is the pinnacle of creation, The Church is the collection of those in humanity who have made a decision for God. This module explores the nature and mission of the Church in the world.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Identify the nature of the Church and its place within God’s creation.
• Recognize that while there is only one Church, there are many different forms church organizations can take in various times and places.
• Explain the three “marks” of a church and their variations.
• Describe the mission of the Church.