The Church of ChristThings Concerning Christ (#6)

2

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

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

ekklesia: “to call out of” … “the called out ones”

AN ASSEMBLY-Israel, Acts 7:38

-Gov’t body, Acts 19:39

-Riot, Acts 19:32, 41

AN ASSEMBLY-Israel, Acts 7:38

-Gov’t body, Acts 19:39

-Riot, Acts 19:32, 41

ASSEMBLY OF SAVED

“Called out” of darknessinto glory by God,

by gospel, 1 Pet. 2:9-101 Ths. 2:12; 2 Ths. 2:14

The RedeemedMatt. 16:18

ASSEMBLY OF SAVED

“Called out” of darknessinto glory by God,

by gospel, 1 Pet. 2:9-101 Ths. 2:12; 2 Ths. 2:14

The RedeemedMatt. 16:18

3

4

“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

“CHURCH OF CHRIST”

UniversalMatt.16:18; Heb. 12:23Eph. 1:22; 3:21; 5:23

All the saved

UniversalMatt.16:18; Heb. 12:23Eph. 1:22; 3:21; 5:23

All the saved

Local1 Cor. 1:2; 1 Ths. 1:1Gal. 1:2; Rom. 16:16

Congregations of saved ones

Local1 Cor. 1:2; 1 Ths. 1:1Gal. 1:2; Rom. 16:16

Congregations of saved ones

10

SAVEDSAVED

6

“CHURCH OF CHRIST”“CHURCH OF CHRIST”

UniversalAll the savedUniversalAll the saved

LocalCongregations of saved ones

LocalCongregations of saved ones

10

SAVEDSAVED

?DenominationLess than Universal

More than Local

?DenominationLess than Universal

More than Local

7

8

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

9

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

10

ORIGINS:When the Church of Christ Began

• Did not originate in America in the 1800s– “Restoration Movement”– A. Campbell (Disciples) and Stone (Christians)

“By the early 1830s 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”

11

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

12

OBSTACLESFaced 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

13

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)