The Church of Christ Things Concerning Christ 6

Misunderstanding the Church Contributes to… • Devaluing of the church • Sectarianism • Optional

What is the Church? ekklesia: “to call out of” … “the called out ones”

“Church” is a Collective Noun • Applied geographically, Gal. 1: 2 • Applied of

“CHURCH OF CHRIST” SAVED Universal Matt. 16: 18; Heb. 12: 23 Eph. 1: 22;

“CHURCH OF CHRIST” SAVED Local Universal All the saved ? Congregations of saved ones

To Understand “Church” We Must Think “People”, not “Institution” Acts 2: 47 • •

ORIGINS: When the Church of Christ Began • Built by Jesus on Pentecost, Acts

ORIGINS: When the Church of Christ Began • Did not originate in America in

ORIGINS: When the Church of Christ Began • The seed principle (Gal. 6: 7)

OBSTACLES Faced by the Church of Christ • Threat of Modernism, Judges 21: 25

We Are God’s House! I write so that you may know how you ought

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The Church of Christ Things Concerning Christ (#6)

Misunderstanding the Church Contributes to… • Devaluing of the church • Sectarianism • Optional view of the church The church of Christ is essential to God’s eternal purpose of redemption Ephesians 3: 10 -11 2

What is the Church? ekklesia: “to call out of” … “the called out ones” ASSEMBLY OF SAVED AN ASSEMBLY -Israel, Acts 7: 38 -Gov’t body, Acts 19: 39 -Riot, Acts 19: 32, 41 “Called out” of darkness into glory by God, by gospel, 1 Pet. 2: 9 -10 1 Ths. 2: 12; 2 Ths. 2: 14 The Redeemed Matt. 16: 18 3

“Church” is a Collective Noun • Applied geographically, Gal. 1: 2 • Applied of those who compose it, Rom. 16: 4; Col. 4: 16 • Applied possessively, Matt. 16: 18; 1 Cor. 15: 9; Rom. 16: 16 4

“CHURCH OF CHRIST” SAVED Universal Matt. 16: 18; Heb. 12: 23 Eph. 1: 22; 3: 21; 5: 23 All the saved Local 1 Cor. 1: 2; 1 Ths. 1: 1 Gal. 1: 2; Rom. 16: 16 Congregations of saved ones 610

“CHURCH OF CHRIST” SAVED Local Universal All the saved ? Congregations of saved ones Denomination Less than Universal More than Local 7 10

To Understand “Church” We Must Think “People”, not “Institution” Acts 2: 47 • • • Believers, Acts 5: 14 Disciples, Acts 6: 1, 7 Christians, Acts 11: 26 Those of “the way”, Acts 9: 1 -2 Saints, 1 Corinthians 1: 2 8

ORIGINS: When the Church of Christ Began • Built by Jesus on Pentecost, Acts 2 – Establish a body of called out souls, Matt. 16: 18 – Draw all to himself (salvation), John 12: 31 -33 (Eph. 5: 25) – Great commission, Matt. 28: 18 -20; Acts 1: 8 – Gospel preached, souls saved and church began, Acts 2: 41 • Lord adds souls to His church, Acts 2: 47 9

ORIGINS: When the Church of Christ Began • Did not originate in America in the 1800 s – “Restoration Movement” – A. Campbell (Disciples) and Stone (Christians) “By the early 1830 s the Disciples of Christ had emerged as an independent denomination and, under the capable and energetic leadership of Alexander Campbell, made impressive gains during the decades between 1830 and 1860. ” David Edwin Harrell, Jr. “The Sectional Origins of Churches of Christ” 10

ORIGINS: When the Church of Christ Began • The seed principle (Gal. 6: 7) – Seed: The word of God, Luke 8: 11 – Plant gospel…Christians…churches of Christ, Romans 16: 16 – Plant error…not Christians…not churches of Christ 11

OBSTACLES Faced by the Church of Christ • Threat of Modernism, Judges 21: 25 • Danger of Sectarianism, 1 Cor. 1: 10 • Encroachment of Worldliness, 1 John 2: 15; James 4: 4 12

We Are God’s House! I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (1 Timothy 3: 15) 13