Secular View of the Church Do some Good, But Not Essential Join One That Fits Your Lifestyle Day Care, Secular School, Recreation Hospitals, Homes for Aged & Unwed Mothers Xmas & Easter Programs, Youth Activities Marriage Counseling, Divorce Recovery Feed the Homeless, Hurricane Relief

Relationship Between Christ and the Church Builder “And I say unto you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18).

Christ and the Church Owner “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” (Acts 20:28).

Christ and the Church Head and Savior “For the husband is the head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.” (Ephesians 5:23).

Denominational & Catholic View of Christ as Head Many Bodies One Head One Body – Two Heads Christ Pope Christ Denominational Catholic

Christ and the Church Loved & Sacrificed for the Church “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.” (Ephesians 5:25).

Is the Church Important to God? Planned and built the church! Bought it with His own blood! Head of the church, His body! Savior of the church! Loves the church! Sacrificed Himself for the church! Could We Call the Church Nice, But Not Essential?

The Church Began in the 1st Century – Acts 2:47; 8:1 Only One in the 1st Century – Eph. 4:4 Existed Ever Since 1st Century – Dan. 2:44 Baptized Into Only 1 Body – 1 Cor. 12:13 Translated Into Only 1 Body – Col. 1:13 All Christians in 1st Century were taught the same doctrine – 1 Cor. 4:17; 16:1 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church. (1 Cor. 4:17) Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also. (1 Cor. 16:1) …And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:47) Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem…(Acts 8:1) There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling…(Eph. 4:4) And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (Eph. 1:22-23) And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. (Daniel 2:44) For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Cor.12:13) He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. (Col.1:13-14)

Apostasy Foretold The Church 2 Thess. 2:3-4; Acts 20:29-31 Catholic Church Denom. Churches The Church “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.” (1 Tim. 4:1). Sects

ONE CHURCH—ONE HEAD Time Place Founder Church Pentecost Jerusalem Christ Church of Christ 606 A.D. Rome, Italy Boniface III Roman Catholic 1520 Germany Martin Luther Lutheran 1534 England King Henry VIII Church of England 1536 Switzerland John Calvin Presbyterian 1607 Holland John Smythe Baptist 1739 John Wesley Methodist 1830 United States Joseph Smith Latter Day Saints William Miller 7th Day Adventists 1866 Mary Baker Eddy Christian Scientist 1872 Charles Russell Jehovah Witnesses

A Name Means Something People Saved in Christ are referred to as the Church, the Way, the Kingdom, the Body, and House. Church = Called Out of the World Kingdom = Rule, Reign of Christ in the Heart House = Family & Care for One Another Body = Whole Unit; Unity; Working Together Way = Only One Way to Heaven

Thousands Saved Before Denominations Ever Existed 3,000 on Pentecost – Acts 2:41 5,000 – Acts 4:4 Multiplying – Acts 6:1 Multitudes in Samaria – Acts 8:6 Ethiopian – Acts 8:26-39 Cornelius & Family – Acts 10 Christians in Antioch – Acts 11:26 Philippians – Acts 16 Corinthians – Acts 18:8 Ephesians – Acts 19 Were these people saved? Were these people Christians? What church were they members of? Were these people “unchurched?” “And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47).

What Did These People Do? Can We Do This Today? What Did These People Do? Assembled together in local churches referred to as “churches of Christ” (Rom. 16:16). Assembled to edify one another & worship God (Heb. 10:23-25). Partook of Lord’s Supper on 1st Day of Week (Acts 20:7). Sang & Prayed (1 Cor. 14:15). Gave on 1st Day of Week (1 Cor. 16:1-2). Continued in Apostles’ Doctrine (Acts 2:42).

Why Belong To A Denomination? People Saved & Worshipped Before Any Denomination Ever Existed! Contrary to the Will of Christ – Jn. 17:20-21! Contrary to the Command of Christ through His Apostles – 1 Cor. 1:10! A Work of the Flesh – Gal. 5:20-21! No Saved Person Was Ever Added To A Denomination – Acts 2:47!

Did God Plant Denominational Churches? “Every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.” (Matt. 15:13-14).

Be Saved Tonight! “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’ Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins’…Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about 3,000 souls were added to them” (Acts 2:36-41).

The Church Began in the 1st Century – Acts 2:47; 8:1 Only One in the 1st Century – Eph. 4:4 Existed Ever Since 1st Century – Dan. 2:44 Baptized Into Only 1 Body – 1 Cor. 12:13 Translated Into Only 1 Body – Col. 1:13 All Christians in 1st Century were taught the same doctrine – 1 Cor. 4:17; 16:1