What Is the Church? on Streatham Vale Baptist Church

The Church is the Family of God

info@streathamvalebaptist.org.uk (Pastor Alex Camp) — Sun, 08 Feb 2026 08:13:08 +0000

The last in the series looking at the Church and asking the questions “why are we here?” and “what is the Church?”

We consider the truth that the Church is the family of God. God has adopted us into His family and we are now called children of God.

But what does this mean for our day to day life? What part do we play in God’s family? How do we show the world that we belong to the family of God?

The Church is the Body of Christ - Part 2: Unity

info@streathamvalebaptist.org.uk (Pastor Alex Camp) — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 07:34:50 +0000

We continue to ask the questions “why are we here?” and “what is the Church?”

The Church is called the Body of Christ. Last time we saw how we are called to diversity in the Body. This time, we see how the Body of Christ calls us to unity. Unity that is created through the Spirit, that unites us with God and with one another.

Readings

Ephesians 4:1-7; 11-16

Quotes

“If God’s love is so great, if His salvation is so powerful, if God has granted such reconciliation, then believers should live accordingly. They should value God’s love enough to be shaped by it.” Klyne Snodgrass

The Church is the Body of Christ - Part 1: Diversity

info@streathamvalebaptist.org.uk (Pastor Alex Camp) — Sun, 25 Jan 2026 08:02:04 +0000

We continue to ask the questions “why are we here?” and “what is the Church?”

For this reflection and for the next one, we will focus on the famous metaphor of the Church as the Body of Christ. This is such a rich, important metaphor that we’ll be spending two weeks on it. For this reflection, we are looking at the need for diversity in the Body of Christ.

God has gifted EVERYONE in His Church with gifts from the Holy Spirit. We should not be worried about comparing our gifts to someone else’s. We all need to play our part and use our gifts to serve God and to love others.

The Church is the Temple of God

info@streathamvalebaptist.org.uk (Pastor Alex Camp) — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 08:08:47 +0000

We continue to ask the questions “why are we here?” and “what is the Church?”

The Church is the Temple of God - with Jesus as the Cornerstone, God dwelling in us by the Holy Spirit. We are ’living stones’ being shaped and transformed to reflect God more. We declare the majesty of God to everyone around us.

So are you willing to invest your life in being part of the Temple of God?

The Church is the Bride of Christ

info@streathamvalebaptist.org.uk (Pastor Alex Camp) — Sun, 11 Jan 2026 07:42:05 +0000

We continue to ask the questions “why are we here?” and “what is the Church?” We turn to one of the metaphors used about the Church - that it is the Bride of Christ.

But what does that mean?

Watch and listen as we explore Proverbs 31 to consider more about how the Church is to live as the Bride of Christ.

Readings

Proverbs 31:10-31

Ephesians 5:25-30

Revelation 19:7-9

Revelation 21:1-4

Matthew 28:19-20

John 13:34

Quotes

“close on her tools of production but open to share of her rewards with the poor.” Paul E. Koptak.