God has always wanted his people to be

God has always wanted his people to be distinctive • Deut. 7 – A Separate People ü v. 2 – make no covenant ü v. 3 – do not marry ü v. 4 – danger of intermingling ü v. 6 – holy people, chosen for Himself, a special treasure • Deut 14: 2 – Holy People – Special Treasure • 1 Pet. 2: 9 – Chosen Generation – Royal Priesthood – Holy Nation – Own Special People

Man Has A Desire To Be Like Rest of the World 1 Sam. 8: 5 – “Now make for us a king to judge us like all the nations” Rom. 12: 2 – “And do not be conformed to this world…”

The Church is Losing Its Identity Progressives / Liberal ü Some are now using instrument (Nashville area) ü Some now have women taking leading roles (Birmingham / Franklin) ü Lipscomb University – Have professors on Bible faculty that deny inerrancy of Bible ü Abilene (ACU) had a speaker who defended homosexuality / Evolution

The Church is Losing Its Identity Progressives / Liberal Non-Institutional ü Some removing “Church of Christ” from the sign ü House church (some using instrument – some deny baptism essential) ü Joint services with denominations ü Unity in diversity – fellowship doc. error ü Live like world (dress, talk, things see, etc)

The Distinctive People of God

The Distinctive People of God I. The Gospel is a Distinctive Message

The Gospel is a Distinctive Message A. The Truth is Contrasted to Error 1. 2. 3. 4. 1 John 4: 1, 6 2 Thess. 2: 10 -12 2 Tim. 4: 2 -5 2 Pet. 2: 1 -2

The Gospel is a Distinctive Message A. The Truth is Contrasted to Error B. Message Proclaimed – Gospel Truth 1. 2. 3. 2 Tim. 4 : 2 – Preach word! 1 Pet. 4: 11 – Speak as oracles of God To do so – give book, chapter & verse

The Gospel is a Distinctive Message A. The Truth is Contrasted to Error B. Message Proclaimed – Gospel Truth C. This is a Distinctive Message 1. 2. 3. Filled with Scripture – not ideas of men Will show difference in truth & error Contain a message – will not hear from others: • What to do to be saved • Nature of the church • Bible authority • Pattern for worship • The one way (Eph. 4) • What is wrong with errors of men 4. Demonstrate that people are lost (Acts 2: 23)

The Distinctive People of God I. The Gospel is a Distinctive Message II. The Church is a Distinctive Body

The Church is a Distinctive Body A. There is Just One Body 1. 1 Cor. 12: 13 2. Eph. 4: 4 “There is one body” (Eph. 4: 4) Body = Church (Eph. 1: 22 -23) Thus: One Church

The Church is a Distinctive Body A. There is Just One Body B. The Church is not Just Another Denomination

Denominationalism God’s People (The Saved) Adventist Nazarene Presb. Catholic Ch. Of Christ Ch. Of God Baptist Methodist

The Church is a Distinctive Body A. There is Just One Body B. The Church is not Just Another Denomination 1. Not found in the Bible (1 Pet. 4: 11) 2. Contrary to plea for unity (John 17: 20 -21; 1 Cor. 1: 10) 3. It makes a difference what one believes (2 Thess. 2: 10 -12) 4. Contrary to the idea of one body (Eph. 4: 4)

The Church is a Distinctive Body A. There is Just One Body B. The Church is not Just Another Denomination C. The Church is the Saved 1. 2. 3. Acts 2: 47 Eph. 5: 23 Eph. 2: 16

The Distinctive People of God I. The Gospel is a Distinctive Message II. The Church is a Distinctive Body III. Our Speech is a Distinctive Speech

Our Speech is a Distinctive Speech A. Our Speech Needs to Harmonize With Word 1. Titus 2: 8 – Sound speech 2. 1 Pet. 4: 11 – speak as oracles of God 3. Call Bible things by Bible names…

Our Speech is a Distinctive Speech A. Our Speech Needs to Harmonize With Word B. Do not Use the Language of Men 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. “Reverend” to refer to preacher (Psa. 111: 9) “Pastor” to refer to preacher (Eph. 4: 11) “Father” to refer to leaders (Matt. 23: 1 -2) “Join the church” (Acts 2: 47) “Other denominations” (Eph. 4: 4) “Our faith” / “our tradition” (Eph. 4: 5)

The Distinctive People of God I. The Gospel is a Distinctive Message II. The Church is a Distinctive Body III. Our Speech is a Distinctive Speech IV. The Plan of Salvation is a Distinctive Plan

The Plan of Salvation is a Distinctive Plan A. Only One Way to Be Saved 1. Jesus is the way (John 14: 6) 2. No other name by which saved (Acts 4: 12) 3. If saved in different ways – God is a respecter of persons (Rom. 2: 11)

A. Only One Way to Be Saved The Plan of Salvation is a Distinctive Plan B. Distinctive Plan Involves: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Not by faith alone (Jas. 2: 24) Not by prayer – “sinner’s prayer” Repentance is required (Acts 17: 30 -31) Confession is required (Rom. 10: 9 -10) Baptism is required (Mark. 16: 16) Baptism is immersion (Rom. 6: 3 -4) Baptism puts one into one body (1 Cor. 12: 13)

The Distinctive People of God I. The Gospel is a Distinctive Message II. The Church is a Distinctive Body III. Our Speech is a Distinctive Speech IV. The Plan of Salvation is a Distinctive Plan V. The Worship is a Distinctive Service

The Worship is a Distinctive Service A. Worship Follows the Pattern of God 1. When don’t – rejected of God (Gen. 3: 3 -4) 2. Cannot offered unauthorized worship (Lev. 10: 1 -2) 3. Must worship according to truth (John 4: 24)

The Worship is a Distinctive Service A. Worship Follows the Pattern of God B. Distinctive Nature of Worship 1. Sing without mechanical instruments • Eph. 5: 19 • Col. 3: 16 • No authority for instrument (Col. 3: 17) 2. Lord’s Supper on first day • Only on that day (Acts 20: 7) • Every first day (Acts 20: 7) 3. Contribution only on the first day (1 Cor. 16: 1 -2)

The Distinctive People of God I. The Gospel is a Distinctive Message II. The Church is a Distinctive Body III. Our Speech is a Distinctive Speech IV. The Plan of Salvation is a Distinctive Plan V. The Worship is a Distinctive Service VI. The Christian Life is a Distinctive Life

The Christian Life is a Distinctive Life A. The Christian Lives Separate From World 1. 2 Cor. 6: 14 – 7: 1 - Come out from among them and be separate 2. 1 John 3: 4 – Christian has a law by which he lives

The Christian Life is a Distinctive Life A. The Christian Lives Separate From World B. How is the Christian Different? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Watches is language (Eph. 5: 4) Doesn’t drink (1 Pet. 4: 3) Don’t dance (Gal. 5: 19 -21) Dresses modestly (1 Tim. 2: 9 -10) Careful about what he contributes to (Eph. 5: 11)

The Distinctive People of God I. The Gospel is a Distinctive Message II. The Church is a Distinctive Body III. Our Speech is a Distinctive Speech IV. The Plan of Salvation is a Distinctive Plan V. The Worship is a Distinctive Service VI. The Christian Life is a Distinctive Life