The Neo Social Gospel

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NewandImproved
Social
The
Gospel
The True Gospel
Romans 115-17
The Neo Social Gospel
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Understanding the Social Gospel

• Has at its core a desire for popularity.
• Seeks to make the message more attractive to man.
• Minimizes or eliminates the parts of truth which
  offend or are unpopular.
• Maximizes or adds elements which meet the current
  desires of people.
• Adds non-biblical elements of popular appeal.
• Success or failure judged by the numbers
  attracted to participate.

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But What About The Church The True Gospel?
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The Church Has Spiritual Mission Proclaim the
Truth of the Gospel

• The equipping of the church shows the nature of
  its mission Ephesians 411-16
• The description of the church shows its purpose
  1 Timothy 315
• The record from book of Acts confirms this
  spiritual work was the central focus of first
  century churchs purpose

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Romans 115-17

• 15 So, for my part, I am eager to preach the
  gospel to you also who are in Rome.
• 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is
  the power of God for salvation to everyone who
  believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
• 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed
  from faith to faith as it is written, "BUT THE
  RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."

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Romans 115-17

• 15 So, for my part, I am eager to preach the
  gospel to you also who are in Rome.
• 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is
  the power of God for salvation to everyone who
  believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
• 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed
  from faith to faith as it is written, "BUT THE
  RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."

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Romans 115-17

• 15 So, for my part, I am eager to preach the
  gospel to you also who are in Rome.
• 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is
  the power of God for salvation to everyone who
  believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
• 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed
  from faith to faith as it is written, "BUT THE
  RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."

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Romans 115-17

• 15 So, for my part, I am eager to preach the
  gospel to you also who are in Rome.
• 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is
  the power of God for salvation to everyone who
  believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
• 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed
  from faith to faith as it is written, "BUT THE
  RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."

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What Gospel Was Taught In The First Century?
Romans 115-17

• Pauls coming to Rome was advertised on the basis
  of preaching the gospel
• Paul kept this focus of attraction because he was
  not ashamed of gospel
• The gospel seen as Gods power to salvation
• Those who are attracted to gospel are drawn by
  the righteousness of God revealed
• What is the drawing power of another focus?

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1 Corinthians 118-25

• 118 For the word of the cross is foolishness to
  those who are perishing, but to us who are being
  saved it is the power of God.
• 119 For it is written, "I WILL DESTROY THE
  WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE
  CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE."
• 120 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe?
  Where is the debater of this age? Has not God
  made foolish the wisdom of the world?

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1 Corinthians 118-25

• 118 For the word of the cross is foolishness to
  those who are perishing, but to us who are being
  saved it is the power of God.
• 119 For it is written, "I WILL DESTROY THE
  WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE
  CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE."
• 120 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe?
  Where is the debater of this age? Has not God
  made foolish the wisdom of the world?

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1 Corinthians 118-25

• 121 For since in the wisdom of God the world
  through its wisdom did not come to know God, God
  was well-pleased through the foolishness of the
  message preached to save those who believe.
• 122 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks
  search for wisdom
• 123 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a
  stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,
• 124 but to those who are the called, both Jews
  and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the
  wisdom of God.

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1 Corinthians 118-25

• 121 For since in the wisdom of God the world
  through its wisdom did not come to know God, God
  was well-pleased through the foolishness of the
  message preached to save those who believe.
• 122 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks
  search for wisdom
• 123 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a
  stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,
• 124 but to those who are the called, both Jews
  and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the
  wisdom of God.

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1 Corinthians 118-25

• 121 For since in the wisdom of God the world
  through its wisdom did not come to know God, God
  was well-pleased through the foolishness of the
  message preached to save those who believe.
• 122 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks
  search for wisdom
• 123 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a
  stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,
• 124 but to those who are the called, both Jews
  and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the
  wisdom of God.

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1 Corinthians 118-25

• 125 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than
  men, and the weakness of God is stronger than
  men.
• 126 For consider your calling, brethren, that
  there were not many wise according to the flesh,
  not many mighty, not many noble
• 127 but God has chosen the foolish things of the
  world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the
  weak things of the world to shame the things
  which are strong,

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1 Corinthians 118-25

• 128 and the base things of the world and the
  despised God has chosen, the things that are not,
  so that He may nullify the things that are,
• 129 so that no man may boast before God.
• 130 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus,
  who became to us wisdom from God, and
  righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,
• 131 so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO
  BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD."

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1 Corinthians 118-25

• 21 And when I came to you, brethren, I did not
  come with superiority of speech or of wisdom,
  proclaiming to you the testimony of God.
• 22 For I determined to know nothing among you
  except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
• 23 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in
  much trembling,
• 24 and my message and my preaching were not in
  persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration
  of the Spirit and of power,
• 25 so that your faith would not rest on the
  wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

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1 Corinthians 118-25

• 21 And when I came to you, brethren, I did not
  come with superiority of speech or of wisdom,
  proclaiming to you the testimony of God.
• 22 For I determined to know nothing among you
  except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
• 23 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in
  much trembling,
• 24 and my message and my preaching were not in
  persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration
  of the Spirit and of power,
• 25 so that your faith would not rest on the
  wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

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1 Corinthians 118-25

• 21 And when I came to you, brethren, I did not
  come with superiority of speech or of wisdom,
  proclaiming to you the testimony of God.
• 22 For I determined to know nothing among you
  except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
• 23 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in
  much trembling,
• 24 and my message and my preaching were not in
  persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration
  of the Spirit and of power,
• 25 so that your faith would not rest on the
  wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

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1 Corinthians 118-25

• 21 And when I came to you, brethren, I did not
  come with superiority of speech or of wisdom,
  proclaiming to you the testimony of God.
• 22 For I determined to know nothing among you
  except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
• 23 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in
  much trembling,
• 24 and my message and my preaching were not in
  persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration
  of the Spirit and of power,
• 25 so that your faith would not rest on the
  wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

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1 Corinthians 118-25

• 21 And when I came to you, brethren, I did not
  come with superiority of speech or of wisdom,
  proclaiming to you the testimony of God.
• 22 For I determined to know nothing among you
  except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
• 23 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in
  much trembling,
• 24 and my message and my preaching were not in
  persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration
  of the Spirit and of power,
• 25 so that your faith would not rest on the
  wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

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What Gospel Was Taught In The First Century? 1
Corinthians 118 - 25

• Paul acknowledged most would reject gospel
  message when it was the focus
• The gospel was the power of God
• The gospel was the wisdom of God
• When presenting the gospel, the power of gospel
  was stressed, not an appeal to man
• The gospel not changed to enhance appeal

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2 Corinthians 41-5

• 1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we
  received mercy, we do not lose heart,
• 2 but we have renounced the things hidden because
  of shame, not walking in craftiness or
  adulterating the word of God, but by the
  manifestation of truth commending ourselves to
  every man's conscience in the sight of God.

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2 Corinthians 41-5

• 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled
  to those who are perishing,
• 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded
  the minds of the unbelieving so that they might
  not see the light of the gospel of the glory of
  Christ, who is the image of God.
• 5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus
  as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for
  Jesus' sake.

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What Gospel Was Taught In The First Century?2
Corinthians 41-5

• As Paul had obtained mercy though the gospel,
  even so he continued declaring it
• Renounced crafty or deceitful handling of the
  word of God
• He did not handle it in a way to deceive
  listeners
• He did not draw with one substitute another
• He did not use bait switch tactics of
  advertising
• If gospel veiled, image of God not seen
• Attraction not in a man, but in
• THE GOSPEL

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Gospel Has Offensive Elements

• Condemns immorality (1 Cor. 69-10)
• Convicts all of sin (Rom. 323)
• Speaks of eternal punishment of wicked in hell
  (Matt. 2541- 46 Rev. 218)
• Warns of false doctrine and false teachers (Gal.
  18-9 2 Jn. 9-11 2 Tim. 215-18)
• Many elements of the Gospel message were and are
  offensive to those in the world

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Nevertheless, The Pure Gospel Must Be Preached In
Its Entirety

• Example of Paul in Ephesus affirms such (Acts
  2020-27)
• Charge to Timothy confirms the same thing (2
  Timothy 41-5)
• Why were those teaching first century Gospel
  persecuted if message could be altered to avoid
  offense?

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Gospel Preached to Thessalonians

• Historical account Acts 172-4
• Pauls recounting of his preaching
• 1 Thessalonians 13-10
• 1 Thessalonians 23-6, 9, 13
• 1 Thessalonians 31-13
• 1 Thessalonians 41-8
• 2 Thessalonians 213-15

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History of Social Gospel

• Darwins theories affected elite clergy
• Faith lost in spiritual mission of church
• Had institution seeking another purpose
• Became place to address social ills
• Had to attract large numbers to succeed
• Done by entertainment popular appeal of message
  (P.M.A. Movement)
• Attracted people with popular methods replaced
  the Bible as focus of appeal

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Denominational Entertainment

• Stryper "We are rock-n-roll evangelists.
  Stryper is a modern-day John the Baptist crying
  in the world of rock for those who don't have the
  life of Christ to turn on the light switch."
• Mylon Broken Heart concert promoted as action
  packed event with explosive light show and
  58,000 watts of state of the art digital sound
  reinforcement by Peavey.

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Denominational Entertainment

• Greg Fast (program director for a "gospel pop and
  rock" radio station) "We don't play trashy
  lyrics or tell dirty jokes. We give you fun and
  good clean songs without hitting you over the
  head with the Bible.
• Steve Taylor (Gospel rock artist) "The people
  who buy my records like danceable, modern music,
  but they don't want to feel guilty supporting
  music with trashy lyrics.
• Rock music in, psalms spiritual songs out

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Examples of the Social Gospel Among Institutional
Churches
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Johnson Street - Alvin, TX

• Flyer says they are endeavoring to follow the
  pattern and teaching of the original church built
  by Jesus Christ almost 2000 years ago. What is
  included in pattern?
• Pacesetters - senior citizen activity group
• Social activities for the youth group
• First Place Christian Weight Control
• Lil Lambs Lollipops Preschool program

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Los Angeles Area Churches

• A.C.U. Alumni Association, Camarillo Church of
  Christ Los Angeles area churches present
• SOUL LIFT WEST YOUTH RALLY
• At Six Flags Magic Mountain
• 17 admission (15 if under 4 feet)
• Excitement Youll Flip Over!

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Twickenham Church of Christ

• Community Class Series free to public
• October 20 Woodcarving Window Treatments
• October 27 Wallpapering
• November 3 Basket Making
• For Men Only! Featuring Dr. James Flatt Fun
  Facts About Your Prostate

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Southwest Central Church(Houston, Texas)
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Southwest Central Church(Houston, Texas)
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Southwest Central Church(Houston, Texas)
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Southwest Central Church(Houston, Texas)
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Southwest Central Church(Houston, Texas)
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Bering Drive - Houston, TX

• YOUTH ALIVE IN JULY
• July 14-16 Whitewater Rafting Trip Retreat
  (45 per person)
• July 22 City Wide Sports Day (softball,
  football, track, soccer volleyball)
• July 29 Concert with Chris Christian
• 1977 Grammy winner
• performed on American Bandstand

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Bering Drive - Houston, TX
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An Expression of Concern

• In the late 1980s, about 200 institutional
  preachers signed published joint statement
• We are deeply disturbed over the liberalism that
  is so evident in the brotherhood today.
• The typical emphasis of the denominational world
  on recreation, entertainment, solving the
  social ills of society has been incorporated into
  the thinking and programs of many congregations,
  supplanting the God-given work of meeting the
  desperate spiritual needs of those within
  without the body of Christ.

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Dont Like Liberal 300 Foot Hot Dog! But they
liked it fine as a 6 inch hot dog in their church
kitchen or fellowship hall
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Trends Among Non-Institutional Brethren
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Meeting in Kirkland, WA
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Youth Lectureship West Side Church Irving, Texas
MTV Style Video Clip Advertisement
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Rock Music An Expedient?

• Justifications from the preacher who designed it
• Music videos are very popular today -- we chose
  that format because it speaks to young people.
• Why rock music? Because it gets young people's
  attention. It helps us get the lectures noticed.
• So I am going to argue that the music in the clip
  is an authorized expedient. I do believe it helps
  us to preach the gospel because it sets the stage
  for the clip, makes it have the look and feel
  (and sound) we want it to so that young people
  will pay attention to it.
• Liberal brethren make same argument for their
  gyms kitchens -- expedient gets them there

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ALSO Please Join Us For a Reception
ALSO Please Join Us For A Potluck
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• DYNAMIC
• Of or relating to energy or to objects in motion
• Characterized by continuous change, activity, or
  progress

WE SHOULD EMPHASIZE THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST! 1 Cor.
21-5 Romans 116 Hebrews 412 2 Timothy 42 2
Corinthians 45 1 Thess. 23-6
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The Social Gospel
NewandImproved
Non-Institutional BrethrenGenerally Know That

• Local Churches Are Authorized To Finance
• Evangelism (1 Tim. 314-15 1 Thess. 18 Acts
  131-3 Eph. 412)
• Edification (Eph. 412 Acts 1126)
• Benevolence (Rom. 1525-27)
• Worship (1 Cor. 1123-29 1415,16,26 161)

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The Social Gospel
NewandImproved
Non-Institutional BrethrenGenerally Know That

• Local Churches Are Unauthorized To Finance
• Institutions Like Orphanages Widowages (Jas.
  126-27), Hospitals and Collegesetc
• Benevolence to Non-Saints (Gal. 610 Acts
  244-45 432 61-4 1128-30 Rom. 1524-26 2
  Cor. 84,14 912-14)

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The Social Gospel
NewandImproved
Non-Institutional BrethrenGenerally Know That

• Local Churches Are Unauthorized To Finance
• Whole Person Ministries
• Gymnasiums and Summer Camps
• Family Life Centers
• Sports and Entertainment
• Games and Recreation
• Secular Education Training

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The Social Gospel
NewandImproved
HOWEVER
The New and Improved Social Gospel Has Become,
Among Conservatives,AN ACCEPTABLE FORM OF THE
ORIGINALSOCIAL GOSPEL!
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The Social Gospel
NewandImproved
The Difference

• No Money Is Taken From Local Church Treasuries To
  Fund Frivolous Activities
• Individuals Are Encouraged To Finance and House
  The Very Same Activities As Financed and Housed
  By Liberal Churches!

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The Social Gospel
NewandImproved
The Similarity

• The Same Results Are Produced
• Sports, Games, Food, Entertainment, Recreation
  Are Encouraged
• Same Attitude Generated Towards Social and
  Recreational Events!
• People Converted By Hotdogs

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Old Social Gospel
New Social Gospel
Church Pays for facilities Food Fun frolic
Individual members Pay for facilities Food Fun fr
olic
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What Must We Do?

• Preach the pure gospel of Christ
• Practice that first authorized by Scripture
• Do not change gospel for popular appeal
• Do not change the work of the church away from
  the spiritual towards the social
• Keep focus on the real need of all SALVATION
  FROM SIN
• Live in a way which shows our focus the
  importance of the gospel to us

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Identifying Marks of the New Testament Church

• The churches of Christ greet you
• Romans 1616

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Our Quest

• Is it possible to find simple and pure New
  Testament Christianity in a religious world
  filled with conflict, confusion, and division?
• Does the church that Christ established still
  exist today? Can it be identified?
• The answer to these questions is a resounding
  Yes!

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Our Confidence

• The church of Jesus Christ was established
  according to the eternal purpose of God -
  Ephesians 38-11. The kingdom of God will stand
  for - Daniel 244 Hebrews 1228.
• From a Biblical standpoint, the church and the
  kingdom are synonymous - Matthew 1618-19
  Colossians 113-14, 18.
• Therefore, we can be confident that the church of
  our Lord still exists today!

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Our Challenge

• Yet, the question remains, How can the Lords
  church be identified? By studying the divine
  pattern!
• Let us, therefore, search the Scriptures for
  those identifying characteristics of the New
  Testament church. The church that conforms itself
  to this divine pattern is the church that Christ
  will accept as his own.

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The New Testament Church

• Its Establishment
• Its Designations
• Its Rule Of Faith
• Its Worship

• Its Work
• Its Organization
• Its Membership
• Its Discipline

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Its Establishment

• The New Testament Church was founded by Christ -
  Matthew 1616-18 Acts 2028 in Jerusalem -
  Isaiah 21-3 Luke 2446-49 on the first
  Pentecost after the resurrection of Jesus - Acts
  14-9 21-4, 14-17, 32, 36-41, 47.

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Its Designations

• The New Testament Church was called by the
  following names
• The church of God 1 Corinthians 12
• The churches of Christ Romans 1616
• The kingdom of his dear Son - Colossians 113-14
• The body of Christ - Ephesians 122-23
• The temple of God - Ephesians 219-21
• The bride of Christ - Ephesians 522-33
• The household of God - 1 Timothy 315
• The vineyard of the Lord - Matthew 201-2.

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Its Rule Of Faith

• The church that is pleasing to God will follow
  the New Testament as its only rule of faith and
  practice - Romans 116-17 2 Timothy 314-17 1
  Peter 411. Faithful disciples of Christ will not
  add to, diminish from, or change Gods
  commandments in any way - Matthew 157-9
  Galatians 16-9 2 John 9 Revelation 2218-19.

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Its Worship

• Early disciples partook of the Lords Supper on
  each Sunday - Acts 207 1 Corinthians 1124-25.
• They also generously contributed of their means -
  1 Corinthians 161-2 2Co 96-7.
• They lifted their voices in songs of praise -
  Ephesians 518-19 Colossians 316.
• They offered up prayers and supplications unto
  God - Philippians 46-7 1 Timothy 28.
• They were devoted to the apostles doctrine - Acts
  242 2 Timothy 22.

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Its Work

• Evangelism. The church must preach the gospel to
  a lost and dying world - Matthew 2818-20 Acts
  84 1 Timothy 315.
• Edification. The church must help its members
  grow and develop spiritually - Ephesians 411-16
  Hebrews 1023-25 1 Peter 21-2
• Benevolence. The church must provide for needy
  saints in their time of affliction - Acts
  434-35 1127-30 1 Timothy 53-16.

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Its Universal Organization

• Christ occupies a position of supreme authority
  over the church - Matthew 1615-18 2818-20
  Ephesians 120-23. From a universal standpoint,
  each congregation is directly subject to Christ.
  The only functional unit of the church is the
  local congregation - 1 Corinthians 12
  Philippians 11. Each is independent and
  autonomous - Acts 1423.

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Its Local Organization

• Local congregations must be arranged after the
  Biblical pattern. Elders are to oversee and rule
  the flock - Acts 2028 1 Peter 52-3. Deacons
  should minister to the physical needs of the
  members - Acts 61-6 Philippians 11.
  Evangelists proclaim the gospel of Christ - 1
  Timothy 46, 11-12 2 Timothy 41-5. Members
  actively encourage one another and reach out to
  the lost - Hebrews 512 1024-25.

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Its Membership

• Have heard Gods word - John 644-45 Romans
  1017,
• They believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God
  - John 824 Hebrews 116,
• Have repented of their sins - Luke 133 Acts
  1730,
• Confessed their faith - Matthew 1032 Romans
  109-10,
• Have been baptized for the remission of sins -
  Mark 1616 Acts 238 2216.
• Baptized believers are committed to a life of
  faithful service - 1 Corinthians 1558
  Revelation 210.

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Its Discipline

• The NT Church was submissive to divine discipline
  - 2 Timothy 314-17 Hebrews 125-11. Instructive
  discipline involves teaching and training that
  regulates character and conduct. Corrective
  discipline is reserved for those who rebel
  against Gods word, serving to reprove and
  restore the sinner - 1 Timothy 118-20. It also
  purifies and purges the church of evil - 1
  Corinthians 57-13.

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Conclusion

• The church we read of in the Bible has certain
  identifying characteristics. Gods Word sets
  forth its origin, names, rule of faith, work,
  worship, organization, and terms of membership.
• Any church today that conforms itself to this
  divine pattern is the church that the Lord will
  accept. It is right and cannot be wrong.

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Invitation

• Some would argue, It doesnt matter what you
  believe or practice, so long as you are sincere.
  Others say, All roads lead to heaven.
• However, this simply is not so - Matthew 721-23
  Luke 646. Denominationalism, and all the
  division it brings, is contrary to the Bibles
  plea for unity - John 1720-21 1 Corinthians
  110. Let us strive to pattern ourselves after
  the NT order - Isaiah 21-3 Matthew 2818-20
  Colossians 317.