YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT THE CHURCH WAS
--
Built by Jesus Christ. Mt.
16:13-18
Purchased by Christs blood. Acts
20:28
Built on Christ as the only
foundation. 1 Cor. 3:11
Not built upon any man. 1 Cor.
1:12-13
Fully established on the first
Pentecost after Christ arose from the dead. Lk. 24:49; Acts 1:8; Mk. 9:1; Acts
2
YOU
SHOULD KNOW THAT, IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, THE CHURCH IS CALLED --
The
The bride of Christ. Eph.
5:31,32
The church. Eph. 3:10
The
The body of Christ. Col. 1:24; Eph.
1:22,23
The church of the firstborn. Heb.
12:23
The church of the Lord. Acts
20:28
The churches of Christ. Rom.
16:16
YOU
SHOULD KNOW THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH ARE CALLED --
Believers. Acts 5:14; 2 Cor.
6:15 Children.
1 Jn. 1:1-3
Saints. Acts 9:13;
Christians. Acts 11:26;28:29; 1 Pet.
4:16 Disciples.
Acts 6:1
YOU
SHOULD KNOW THAT THE FOUR CLASSES OF SERVANTS IN THE CHURCH ARE --
Elders, who are bishops, overseers
or pastors. Their duty is to oversee and feed the flock. Acts 20:28; 1 Tim.
3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Pet. 5:1-4
Deacons to serve the church. Acts
6:1-6; 1 Tim. 3:8-13
Evangelists to teach and preach
Gods word. For their work and qualifications see Eph. 4:11; 1 Tim.; 2 Tim.; and
Titus.
Members who work and worship under
the direction and oversight of the elders. Heb. 13:17
YOU
SHOULD KNOW THAT MAN DID NOT --
Purpose the church. Eph.
3:10,11
Purchase the church. Acts 20:28
Build the church. Mt. 16:18
Add to the church. Acts 2:47
Name its people. Acts 11:26; Isa.
62:2
Give the church its doctrine. 2 Jn.
9-11; Gal. 1:11
YOU
SHOULD KNOW THAT CHRIST HIMSELF --
Established the church. Mt.
16:18
Called the church His. Mt. 16:18
Bled for the church. Acts 20:28
Loved the church. Eph. 5:25
Is the head of the church. Eph.
5:23 Will save the
church. Eph. 5:23
YOU
SHOULD KNOW THAT IN ORDER TO GET IN THE CHURCH YOU MUST --
Believe in Christ. Jn. 8:24; Acts
16:31; Heb. 11:6
Repent of your sins. Lk. 13:3; Acts
2:38; 3:19; 17:30
Confess your faith in Christ. Mt.
10:32,33; Rom. 10:10; Acts 8:37,38
Be baptized. Mt. 28:19; Mk. 16:16;
Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21
YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT IN NEW
TESTAMENT TIMES THERE WAS --
One body of Christ. Eph. 1:22,23;
4:4
One bride of Christ.
One
One family of God. Eph.
3:15
YOU
SHOULD KNOW THAT BAPTISM REQUIRES --
Water. Acts
10:47
Much water. Jn.
3:23
Going to the water and into the
water. Acts 8:36; Mt. 3:5,6
A burial. Col.
2:12
A planting. Rom.
6:5
A washing. Acts
22:16
A birth. Jn.
3:5
A raising out of the water. Col.
2:12
A coming out of the water. Acts
8:39
YOU
SHOULD KNOW THAT THE
Must worship in spirit and truth.
Jn. 4:23,24
Must meet upon the first day of the
week. Acts 20:7; Heb. 10:25
Must sing (not play). Eph. 5:19;
Col. 3:16; 1 Cor. 14:15
Must pray. Acts 2:42; 1 Tim. 2:1,2;
1 Thess. 5:17
Must edify one another. 1 Cor.
14:15-27
Must take the Lords Supper on the
first day of the week. Acts 20:7; Heb. 10:26; 1 Cor.
11:23-29
Must give of their means. 1 Cor.
16:1,2; 2 Cor. 9:6,7; 2 Cor. 8:1-5
YOU
SHOULD KNOW THAT EACH
Had its own elders and deacons.
Acts 14:23; 20:17; Phil. 1:1
Elders ruled over or had oversight
only over the local church of which they had been appointed elders. 1 Pet.
5:1-4
Was sufficient to accomplish the
work which God gave the church to do. Eph. 1:22,23;
3:10,11
YOU
SHOULD KNOW THAT THE SAME CHURCH TODAY --
Is in your community -- It is not a
denomination in any sense.
CHURCH PROBLEMS
We can state categorically that every church has problems. This has been
true ever since Pentecost. There's plenty of information in the New Testament
about a host of problems that plagued the first century churches. Congregations
today still struggle with a variety of problems. What should we do when these
problems arise? Here are some suggestions:
1) Seriously analyze the situation. Don't
just grumble and complain. Don't engage in sinful gossip and tale bearing.
Really try to understand the problem. And, never forget that there are always
two sides to every story! Be sure to get all of the facts before jumping to a
conclusion.
2) Determine the proper solution to the
problem:
- Is it a matter of
doctrine? Is something false being taught or practiced? Are there specific
individuals who are not behaving properly? If so, then go to the source and
address the issue directly (Mall. 18:15-17). If you fail to do this you are
compounding the problem and actually sinning by disobeying the commands of God.
In other words, you become a part of a bigger
problem!
- Or, is this problem a
simple matter of judgment? If so, then it may be best to simply submit to the
judgment of others (1 Peter 5:5) so that peace and unity can be preserved (Eph.
4:1-3).
3) Give your brethren "the benefit of the
doubt." True brotherly love requires this (1 Cor.
13:4-7)
4) Pray. Faithful servants of God have
always relied upon the power of prayer to deal with serious problems. Let's
imitate their pattern.
Yes, there will be problems. The real question is - will we handle them according to God's will?
---Greg
Gwin