1
TRENDS

• What are we allowing to influence us?
• Are brethren seeking to change how we do
  things?
• Does God have a pattern?
• Is it important to follow it?

2
Gods Pattern for the New Testament Church
3
Gods Simple Pattern

• The purpose of the church simply stated
• The pillar and ground of truth 1 Tim. 315

4
Gods Simple Pattern

• Her work Evangelism, limited benevolence,
  edification and worship
• Her organization Independent and autonomous
• Her worship John 424

Is Gods Pattern Adequate?
5
God Planned the Church

• Ephesians 310-11 According to His eternal
  purpose
• Prophesied Isaiah 22-4, Daniel 244

6
God Planned the Church

• Hebrews 81-5The tabernacle a pattern for the
  church
• The kingdom at handMatt. 32, 417, 1618
• Began Acts 2

Are Gods Plans Adequate?
7
Gods Divine Purpose

• Ephesians 310-11The manifold wisdom of God
• The church supports the truth 1 Tim. 315

8
Gods Divine Purpose

• The church IS the saved Acts 247
• Spiritual in nature John 1836 Romans 1417
  Luke 1721

Is Gods Purpose Adequate?
9
Gods Divine Revelation

• God says ALL that we need 2 Tim. 316-17
• The faith once for all delivered Jude 3
• 2 Peter 13 All things that pertain to life and
  godliness

10
Gods Divine Revelation

• We have NO right to change His word! Galatians
  16-9, 1 Corinthians 46
• Even apostles realized this Galatians
  110-12,cf. Acts 1528

Is Gods Revelation Adequate?
11
Gods Divine Supervision

• Why called the church of Christ? Because it
  is! Matt. 1618, Eph. 122-23
• We are the body, directed by the Head 1 Cor.
  1227Ephesians 522-24

12
Gods Divine Supervision

• Christ has all authority Matt. 2818-20
• He is the ONLY foundation upon which we can
  build!1 Corinthians 39-11

Is Gods Supervision Adequate?
13
When We Reject His Pattern

• We are saying it is NOT adequate!
• Will ANYONE dare deny that Gods way is best?
• Jeremiah 1023Proverbs 1625

14
When We Reject His Pattern

• We are saying it is flawed!
• To see need for change is to say just that!
• Isaiah 558-91 Corinthians 125

Does God know what He is doing? YES!!!!!
15
When We Reject His Pattern

• We REJECT divine instructions
• Too many today will not accept Gods word as
  their final SOURCE of authority!
• Mark 76-9

16
When We Reject His Pattern

• We put mans desires above what God desires
• Innovations inevitably are introduced to please
  men!
• Man changes Gods plan to please himself! 2 Tim.
  42-4

17
May we always resolve to keep His church - HIS
CHURCH!