The Church

We are trying to be

We are trying to be the church you read about in the Bible

We are trying to be the church you read about in the Bible

Philippians 3:12-17 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. 17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

The reason this is the church we are trying to be is because we believe the only trustworthy pattern for identifying the New Testament church is the Bible.

It is altogether a mistake to rely on human devices to decide what kind of church one should be. It is

not what…

Seems right (Prov. 14:12)Looks like a good blind guess (Mt. 15:14)Seems like a better substitution (Mt. 15:13)Seems more modern (Jere. 6:16)Seems to fit tradition (Mk. 7:9)Is deem right by any human organization (Psa. 127:1)One of the biggest mistakes people make is, in failing to

recognize that there is a divinely appointed church in the Bible and it does make a difference whether one is in a church built by the Lord or one started by man.

Look at the Bible. Look at the church presented in the Bible,

and see the church we are trying to be.

The church of the New Testament…

Had one founder and headCol. 1:18; Mt. 28:18; Heb. 5:9Each congregation in the New Testament was local in scope and independent; organized with elders; with Christ as the only head and heaven it only headquarters

Had scriptural authority for everything it followed in faith and practice (Col. 3:17; Jude 3)

Worship that pleased God (Jn. 4:24)Taught the gospel plan of salvation (Heb.

11:6; Jn. 8:24; Rom. 10:17; Rom. 10:10; Acts 2:36ff)

We do not claim to be the church of Christ because of our own

attainment, but when people accept the Divine plan that makes them

apart of the church that Jesus built.