The Lord's Church
By: M. Allen
FILING INFORMATION:
98020
SUBJECT: The church of Christ
Preached
Originally: 04/12/98 - Rapid City,
SD
I. Introduction.
A.
back of a tractor trailer on
recent trip: attend the church of your
choice. Lady calls church
bldg. This week requesting we rent our building to them for their
services. Thought that it OK to
have more than one church.
1.
Louis Palu crusade here in
Rapid City. All
"churches" are getting together to promote this. Got letter the other day that we have
had a banner made up for us to represent "our" church.
2.
Common belief by many today
that there is more than one church, and that if anyone
teaches that there is only ONE church they are a heretic.
B.
From time to time, we can
get sucked into thinking that the church we are a part of is just like a
denomination. In fact some
brethren now refer to the church as just another denomination.
1.
The church that we are part
of is NOT a denomination.
2.
Denominations are of man.
They are usually characterized by:
a.
A creed book that has to
explain what the church believes and what it doesn't believe. These are changed from time to time…
b.
A worldly central
headquarters. No Biblical
organization.
c.
A willingness to compromise
doctrine for the sake of unity.
d.
A desire to put fellowship,
food, fun, frolic over that of sold based Bible teaching.
e.
Over 300 different
"churches" or denominations in the country today. List is ever growing.
C.
Let us NOT fall for the
notion that we are just another one of "many churches" for the Bible
speaks of only ONE church.
1.
Eph. 1:22-23
2.
Mt. 16:18
3.
This is the church that each
one of us needs to be a part of.
D.
What we wish to do this
morning is to look at some of the identifying marks of the church that Jesus
Christ built.
1.
This is the one that you
read about in the Bible.
2.
This is the church that
Peter, Paul, John, Timothy, and Titus were a part of.
3.
Christ wants you in HIS
church. Are you a part of His
church?
II. The church belongs to Christ.
A.
As Christians, we are to
strive to belong to the church which Jesus Christ
built.
1.
EVERY denomination today
traces itself back to one person, or to a group of
people - not to Jesus…
a.
Methodists - John Wesley -
early 1700's - London, England.
b.
Baptists - John Smyth - 1609 - Holland
c.
Pentecostal (Assemblies of
God) - 1913 - Hot Springs, AR
d.
Lutheran - Martin Luther -
10/31/1517 - Wittenburg, Germany.
2.
The Lord's church (the one
we read about in the Bible) had it's beginning in 33AD
in Jerusalem when Peter preached on Pentecost.
B.
The Lord's church has been
revealed to us in prophecy…
1.
Isa. 2:2-3 - The Word of the
Lord will go forth from Jerusalem.
2.
Isa. 28:14-17 - The
cornerstone of the church - Jesus Christ…
3.
Dan. 2:44 - a kingdom that
would be set up that will NEVER be destroyed - the church of the Lord.
4.
All of these a foreshadowing
of the Lord's church. The church
that Jesus talked about when He was living upon the face of the earth.
C.
Jesus promised to build His
church…
1.
Mt. 16:18…
a.
remember context? Jesus in v. 14 asks who the disciples thought that He was. Peter: You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
b.
Notice especially words of
Mt. 16:18 - Christ only going to build ONE church. Singular in nature.
1.
already pointed out that this is
not what majority of world would have us to believe today!
2. Mk. 9:1 - Jesus predicts the coming of the kingdom of God.
a.
the Lord's church can be
referred to as the kingdom of God.
b.
It would come into existence
during the lifetime of those who were around Him.
3. Lk. 24:44-49 - disciples understanding broadened on the
coming of the church. Again we
find Jesus promising to establish His church.
D.
What Christ said came to
pass...
1.
Acts 2:1-4 - The 12 endowed with
the power of the Holy Spirit. Remember in Lk. 24 - Jesus said they would be endowed with power from on
High.
a.
v. 5-39 - Peter preaches to the
crowd in Jerusalem
b.
v. 41 - about 3,000 people
saved that day. This was the day
the church came into existence.
2.
Acts 20:28 - by this time
the church of Jesus Christ is in existence. Paul said this is the church that Christ purchased with His
blood.
3.
Eph. 5:25-28 - again the
church spoken of as being in existence. Not in future tense. But
existing then. Again, notice the
words of Paul - only ONE church - Christ's church.
E.
Are you a part of Christ's
church?
III. The creed of the Lord's church is the Bible.
A.
Every group has some sort of
creed:
1.
Baptists: Baptist Handbook….
2.
Methodists: Methodist Discipline…
3.
Pentecostals: some creed book that talks about what
they believe/disbelieve.
B.
The creed of the Lord's
church is the Bible.
1.
2 Tim. 3:16-17 - Where do we
derive our doctrine? The Bible.
a.
where do we get authority to
rebuke, reprove, exhort w/all longsuffering? The Bible.
b.
One can be made
"complete" by following/heeding what is said in it.
c.
If I can be made complete by
it, why should I need anything else?
2.
2 Pet. 1:3-4 - where are all
things that pertain to life & godliness found? The Bible. How
can we know of the exceeding great & precious promises? The Bible.
3.
Jhn. 12:48 - what will we be
judged by? The Words of
Christ. Where do we find the Words
of Christ? The Bible. Again, what use are the words of man
when we are going to be judged by what the Bible says?
4.
Rev. 20:11-12 - proves this
further…
C.
Those who are in the Lord's
church are subject to the authority of Christ in ALL things.
1.
Mt. 28:18-20.
2.
Col. 1:18 - Christ to have
preeminence in all things. Can't
go beyond what He has given us authority to do.
3.
Eph. 1:22 - Christ the head
of the church - not a man, not the pope, etc.
IV. Members of the Lord's church are
composed of those who obey God.
A.
Obedience not that important
to many in today's religious world.
1.
Pray a simple prayer,
believe in the existence of Jesus and get on with your life.
2.
Many read Bible today but
fail to apply what it teaches. One
must apply what he reads and seek to strive to obey God.
B.
Bible refers to a group of
people who had been called out.
1.
1 Pet. 2:9-10 - Peter
speaking of those who once w/o a chance, now having hope. What an honor to be in such a group of
people.
2.
Col. 1:13-14 - Paul's
writing parallels what we just read in Peter's epistle.
C.
What did they do to be
"called out?" They
obeyed God's plan of salvation.
1.
plan of salvation spelled
out, especially in Acts 2:36-41; 47
2.
they became as new creatures.
a.
Jhn. 3:5 - unless one is born of the water & the
spirit he shall NOT inherit the kingdom of God. No other passage so clearly demonstrates necessity of
baptism than this one.
b.
Rom. 6:1-5 - Paul talks
about the putting away of the old man of sin.
D.
Upon following the plan of
salvation members of the Lord's church strove to fulfill the fruit of the
spirit. - Gal. 5:22-23.
1.
They continued to
"obey" God.
V. The Lord's church is organized simply.
A.
Various denominations have
complex organizations surrounding their "churches." Perhaps the most widely used example is
that of the Catholics & Methodists.
B.
Only example we have in
Scripture is for the organization of the LOCAL congregation.
1.
Name the scripture where we
find FC churches organizing themselves into parishes, conferences, synods,
associations, etc.
2.
Name the scripture where we
find FC churches having a "board" or "pope" or whatever
over a group of churches.
C.
How is the LOCAL church to
be organized?
1.
The evangelist is to preach
the gospel.
a.
2 Tim. 4:2, 5 - Preach the
Word! Fulfill the work of an
evangelist.
b.
2 Cor. 1:21 - preach the message
of God so that people might be saved.
c.
Notice: the evangelist/preacher/minister has
absolutely NO authority over ANYONE in the local congregation. He is not the HEAD of the local church.
2.
Those who have obeyed the
gospel of Jesus Christ have been referred to by Paul as Saints.
a.
1 Cor. 1:1-2 - ALL
Christians are saints.
b.
Phil. 1:1 - Here is the
picture of the organization of the first century church. Elders (AKA bishops, pastors); deacons, saints.
c.
The organization of the
church is simple! This is the way
that God intended it. We must be content with God's way!
3.
Who is to oversee the work
of the local congregation?
a.
The elders.
1.
1 Tim. 3:1 - bishop lit. "overseer."
2.
Acts 20:28 - elders are to
shepherd the flock of the Lord, the people who are members of their own local
congregation.
3.
1 Pet. 5:2 - shepherd the flock which is among you…
VI. The Lord's
Church has a peculiar worship practice.
A.
Worship according to spirit
& truth - Jhn. 4:23-24. This
means we must worship as God directs - through the inspiration of His word.
1.
Must look to the Scriptures
on how to properly worship.
a.
preaching - Mk. 16:15; Mt. 28:18-20;
2 Tim. 4:1-4
b.
singing - Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16 -
Singing means w/o the aid of musical instruments.
c.
Partake of the Lord's Supper
- Acts 20:; 1 Cor. 11:23-29
d.
Praying & giving thanks
- Jas. 5:16; Lk. 18:1
e.
Giving back to the Lord - 1
Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 9:6-7
B.
Is the worship service of
the church where you attend follow according to this patter and only this pattern?
VII. The Lord's Church has a simple mission.
A.
Churches everywhere today
engage in all sorts of things that have absolutely NO Biblical authority…
1.
parking lot ministry
2.
puppet ministry
3.
social gospel
4.
fellowship halls/gyms/activities that
have nothing to do with the gospel.
B.
What is the work of the Lord's
church?
1.
To preach the truth
a.
Mt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15 - preach the gospel that men are in need of
salvation.
b.
2 Tim. 4:2-4 - preach,
exhort Christians to remain in the gospel of Christ.
2.
Help the poor saints
a.
Notice the church ONLY has
authority to help needy SAINTS - those who are members of the Lord's body!
b.
Acts 11:29-30
c.
1 Tim. 5:3-11
3.
Edify the saints.
a.
Eph. 4:11-12 - we are to be
there for one another.
C.
The work of the church is
simple in nature.
VIII. Conclusion.
A.
Everything about the Lord's
church is simple!
1.
man has really muddied up and
complicated the picture of the "true" church of Jesus Christ.
2.
Remember there is only ONE
church.
3.
There is only ONE way to
become a part of that church and that is to obey the gospel of Jesus Christ.
B.
Are you a part of the Lord's
church? If not why not?
C.
Why not become
a member today? Only those
who are in the Lord's church will be saved.
D. I N V I T A T I O N