WHAT MAKES A CHURCH A CHURCH OF CHRIST?

1
WHAT MAKES A CHURCH A CHURCH OF CHRIST?

• Does it make a difference?
• Can we tell the difference?
• 1 Peter 315

2
Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in
vain who build it (Psa. 1271) I will build my
churchthe gates of Hades shall not prevail
against it (Matt. 1618) every house is built
by someone, but He who built all things is God
(Heb. 34)
House the Lord Built Church of Christ
3
Christ and His Church

• Who do men say Jesus is? (Matt. 1613-16)
• Prophet of GodGood Moral Teacher
• Who do you say I, the Son of Man, am?
• What do men say His church is? (Matt. 1618)
• Cult Legalists Water Salvationists Antis
  Extremists
• What does the Bible say His church is?

4
Christ and His Church

• In Gods eternal plan (Eph. 310-11)
• God is glorified in the church (Eph. 321)
• Christ is head church is body (Eph. 121-23)
• Christ only has one body (Eph. 44)
• Christ is its chief-cornerstone (Eph. 219-20)
• Christ is its Savior (Eph. 523)
• Christ adds saved to church (Acts 247)

5
CHURCH OF CHRIST
Local 1 Cor. 12 Gal. 12 Romans 1616 -
Congregations -
Universal Mt. 1618 Heb. 1223 Eph. 122 321
523 -All the saved-
6
Christ and His Church

• What makes a church a church of Christ?
• We can be united in truth! Eph. 43-6
• Jesus tells us in His word His truth settles
  the matter!
• Study to be approved, 2 Tim. 215
• Understand, Eph. 33-4 517
• Ready to give an answer, 1 Pet. 315

7
What makes a local church a church that belongs
to Christ?

• Makes a differenceWe can tell the difference!
• Not all agree
• The question arises, however, what if a
  congregation takes on a non-Biblical name, such
  as New Testament Church or Fellowship of
  Christ? Does it then cease to be a church of
  Christ?

8
What makes a local church a church that belongs
to Christ?

• Or in the area of organization, what if a
  Church of Christ follows the Baptist pattern of
  having the deacons run the church? I have known
  of such happening when the elders resigned. Does
  such a church cease to be a church of Christ when
  this happens? If so, does it once again become a
  church of Christ when it again appoints elders?

9
What makes a local church a church that belongs
to Christ?

• These questions relate to what is sometimes
  called the marks of the true church. It is
  commonly taught that for a congregation to be a
  church of Christ it must have the right name,
  worship, organization, teaching, etc. But while
  all these things are important, they are not what
  makes a congregation a church of Christ, either
  individually or collectively. (Bruce Terry)
• What Makes a Congregation a Church of Christ
  (1982)
• http//www.bible.ovc.edu/terry/articles/whatmake.h
  tm
• Firm Foundation, 18May99

10
What Does Not Make a Church a Church
of Christ?
Luke 1323-27

• Past accomplishments, Rev. 22-3, 5 (Heb.
  69-12)
• Continue in diligent perseverance, Rev. 38-11
• Present reputation, Rev. 31
• Lord knows the truth

11
What Does Not Make a Church a Church
of Christ?
Luke 1323-27

• Just saying it is so, Rev. 314-19
  (Prov. 1412)
• A sign that says it is so, Rom. 228-29 (96)
• Not advocating a name change
• Name identifies, Rom. 1616
• Must be faithful to belong to Christ, Rom. 88-9
  (Gal. 54-6)

12
What Makes a Church a Church of Christ?
Hebrews 34

• RIGHT HEAD JESUS
• Submit to Christs authority Eph. 524 Col.
  317 Lk. 646 (Matt. 2818)
• Right head (Christ), Rev. 117-18
• Right heart, Col. 312-16
• Right living, Col. 31-11

13
What Makes a Church a Church of Christ?
Hebrews 34

• TEACHING PRACTICE
• Sound Doctrine (preach practice)
• Whole counsel of God, Acts 2027
• No other, 1 Tim.13 46 63-5
• Hold fast this pattern, 2 Tim. 113 214-16
  42-4
• Fellowship Christ, 2 Jno. 9 Rev.25

GAL 16-10
14
What Makes a Church a Church of Christ?
Hebrews 34

• TEACHING PRACTICE
• Plan of Salvation (Acts 1630)
• Hear gospel, Rom. 1017
• Believe gospel, Mk. 1615-16
• Confess faith, Rom. 109-10
• Repent of sins, Acts 238 1730
• Baptized, Mk. 1616 Acts 238

GAL 16-10
15
What Makes a Church a Church of Christ?
Hebrews 34

• TEACHING PRACTICE
• Worship (Jno. 424 Acts 242)
• Prayer, 1 Cor. 1415-16
• Singing, Eph. 519 Col. 316
• Lords supper, 1 Cor. 1123-26
• Preaching, Acts 207
• Giving, 1 Cor. 162

GAL 16-10
16
What Makes a Church a Church of Christ?
Hebrews 34

• TEACHING PRACTICE
• Organization (Phil. 11 1 Pet. 52)
• Independent
• Autonomous
• Sufficient to do its work
• No adjunct human organizations
• No sponsoring churches

GAL 16-10
17
What Makes a Church a Church of Christ?
Hebrews 34

• TEACHING PRACTICE
• Work (1 Ths. 13)
• Care for needy saints, 1 Tim. 516 Acts 432-35
• Evangelism, Phil. 15-7 415-16
• Edification, Eph. 411-12 1 Cor. 1426

GAL 16-10
18
What Makes a Church a Church of Christ?
Hebrews 34

• TEACHING PRACTICE
• Marriage, divorce remarriage
• Honorable among all, Heb. 134
• Do not put asunder, Matt. 196
• But I say to you, Matt. 199
• Bound by law for life, Rom. 72-3
• Only one exception, Matt. 199

GAL 16-10
19
What Makes a Church a Church of Christ?
Hebrews 34

• TEACHING PRACTICE
• Fellowship (1 Jno. 13-4)
• Receive fellow workers for the truth, 3 Jno. 5-8
• Do not receive those who go beyond the doctrine
  of Christ, 2 Jno. 10-11 (Eph. 511)

GAL 16-10
20
What Makes a Church a Church of Christ?
Hebrews 34

• TEACHING PRACTICE
• Holy living (1 Ths. 43)
• Cease sin, Rom. 62 (Acts 1918-20)
• Living sacrifices, Rom. 121-2
• Bear fruit of the Spirit, Gal. 522-23
• Holy as God is holy, 1 Pet. 115-16

GAL 16-10
21
The Devil Objects!
2 Cor. 113-4, 12-15

• It is certainly not the purpose of this
  article to condone false teaching. But to teach
  that a church must be doing or teaching
  everything exactly right in order to be a church
  of Christ is itself false teaching.
• (Bruce Terry, What Makes aChurch of Christ)

2 TIM 310
22
The Devil Objects!
2 Cor. 113-4, 12-15

• DEMAND IMPOSSIBLE!
• 100 doctrinal conformity, Jno. 832 1717
  Eph. 33-4 517
• Always been divisions, Acts 931
• Well have to agree to disagree Jno.
  1720-21 1 Cor. 110 Eph. 4 1-6 2 Cor.
  614-71

2 TIM 310
23
Christ Commands!
Jude 3

• REMAIN FAITHFUL TO THE FAITH
• Some will depart the faith, 1 Tim. 41
• Truth, words of faith, the good doctrine, 1 Tim.
  43, 6
• Hold fast word of life, Phil. 216

2 TIM 310
24
What Makes a Church a Church of Christ?
Hebrews 34

• FAITHFUL TO DO GODS WILL
• Christians who do not do the Fathers will do not
  go to heaven, Matt. 721-23
• We must hold fast, Heb. 34-6
• Unity in truth is possible commanded, 1 Cor.
  110

2 TIM 310
25
What Makes a Church a Church of Christ?
Hebrews 34

• FAITHFUL TO DO GODS WILL
• Churches that do not do the will of Christ will
  not continue in fellowship with Christ, Rev. 25
  (113, 20)

2 TIM 310
26
A CHURCH OF CHRIST

• Right Head (Christ)
• Right Teaching Practice
• Sound doctrine
• True worship
• Local organization
• Spiritual work
• Holy living

27
Christ is Among the Churches

• He who walks in the midst of the seven golden
  lampstands
• The Lord knows who are His 2 Tim. 219
• Be faithful or Jesus removes the lampstand from
  its place! Rev. 25

REV 21