Some think of a building Some think of a denomination

Some think of a building Some think of a denomination Some think of a hierarchy or government

Roman Catholic Church Protestant Denomination God The Saved People

Roman Catholic Church Protestant Denomination God The Saved People

Roman Catholic Church Protestant Denomination God The Saved People

Roman Catholic Church Protestant Denomination God The Church is the Saved People

The Church – A look at two uses in the Bible THE UNIVERSAL ASSEMBLY (church) THE LOCAL ASSEMBLY (church) If we don’t learn to make the proper distinction between these two uses for the people of God – we will tend to think in a denominational sense In last week’s lesson – we looked at how the UNIVERSAL and LOCAL church are different. This week – we will try to look at some important lessons we can learn.

The Church: Universal and Local The Universal Church And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (Matthew 16:18 NIV) ALL PEOPLE SAVED BY JESUS

The Church: Universal and Local The Universal Church The Local Church To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ-- their Lord and ours: (1 Corinthians 1:2 NIV) Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: (Philippians 1:1 NIV)

The Church: Universal and Local The Universal Church The Local Church Christians who meet at 9498 Anhawa in Longmont

Distinction between Universal and Local Church Distinction in Fellowship Distinction in Manner of Entry Distinction in Enrollment Distinction in Effect of Death Distinction in Beginning Distinction in Number Distinction in Earthly Organization Distinction in Shepherds Distinction in Composition Distinction in Necessity of Belonging Distinction in Assembling Distinction in Founder

What is your view of the Universal Church? The most popular view in recent times is that the universal church is made up of all the denominations Christ Church of Christ Lutheran Presbyterian Catholic Methodist Baptist 7th Day Adventist Jehovah Witness Universal Church

This divided state is against the will of God "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (John 17:20-21 NIV) A prayer of Jesus Christ:

Presbyterian Catholic Baptist Church of Christ Methodist 7 th Day Adventist Lutheran Jehovah Witness C H I R T S “I am the Vine and you are the Branches” (John 15:5) According to this view A Branch is a DENOMINATION

Presbyterian Catholic Baptist Church of Christ Methodist 7 th Day Adventist Lutheran Jehovah Witness C H I R T S “I am the Vine and you are the Branches” (John 15:5) Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. (John 15:4-6 NIV) A branch is not a denomination, but individual Christians

Peter Tom Ben Laura Paul Harry Mary June C H I R T S “I am the Vine and you are the Branches” (John 15:5) Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. (John 15:4-6 NIV) A branch is not a denomination, but individual Christians

What is your view of the Universal Church? Another View is that the UNIVERSAL CHURCH is made up of all “faithful or sound” local congregations Christ Central Huffman College Eastside Limon Main Street Boulder County North Street Universal Church

A Comparison of Local churches with the Saved The Universal Church Contains all the Saved Some in Local Churches are lost So Local Churches are not the building blocks for the universal church (the saved) Paul Diotrephes

The Units of the Universal Church The members of Christ’s body are people Christ’s sheepfold is made up of sheep God’s army is made up of Christian soldiers God’s church (assembly) is composed of individuals God’s kingdom is made up of citizens God’s temple is made up of living stones you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5 NIV)

What is your view of the Universal Church? Another View is that the UNIVERSAL CHURCH is made up of all “faithful” local congregations Christ Central Huffman College Eastside Limon Main Street Boulder County North Street Universal Church This view sees the universal church is made up of many local churches

Main Street Limon Boulder County Huffman College Central Eastside C H I R T S “I am the Vine and you are the Branches” (John 15:5) According to this view A Branch is a LOCAL CHURCH North Street

Main Street Boulder County Huffman Central College Main Street Eastside Limon C H I R T S “I am the Vine and you are the Branches” (John 15:5) Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. (John 15:4-6 NIV) A branch is not a local church, but individual Christians

Alexander Campbell A leader of what is known in religious history as the Restoration Movement ( ) The church is not one congregation or assembly, but the congregation of Christ, composed of all the individual congregations on earth. (Millenial Harbenger, July 1834) Every individual church on earth stands to the whole church of Christ as one individual man to one particular church (Millenial Harbinger, June, 1853)

Robert Milligan A leader of what is known in religious history as the Restoration Movement (1868) For the sake of Order, convenience, and efficiency, this one body may be divided into as many churches or congregations as may be thought necessary; each one of which, when fully organized should have its own corps of elders, and deacons (Scheme of Redemption, Nashville, Gospel Advocate Co., p 509)

The Basic Issue is This --- A Church of Churches? Or A Church of individuals? The Universal Church ALL PEOPLE SAVED BY JESUS

The Body of Christ The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-- whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-- and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13 NIV) Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (1 Corinthians 12:27 NIV) The Body is not composed of Denominations or congregations Christ ALL PEOPLE SAVED BY JESUS

The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches Central Huffman College Eastside Limon Main Street Boulder County North Street Universal Church A Collection of Congregations=A Denomination

The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches A Collection of Congregations=A Denomination Main Street East Side Boulder County North Street Central What ties these groups together National Headquarters

The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches A Collection of Congregations=A Denomination Main Street East Side Boulder County North Street Central What ties these groups together National or State Convention

The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches A Collection of Congregations=A Denomination Main Street East Side Boulder County North Street Central What ties these groups together Publishing House

The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches A Collection of Congregations=A Denomination Main Street East Side Boulder County North Street Central What ties these groups together Seminary – College Training of Preachers

The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches A Collection of Congregations=A Denomination Main Street East Side Boulder County North Street Central What ties these groups together Charities They Jointly Fund Raise for

The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches A Collection of Congregations=A Denomination Main Street East Side Boulder County North Street Central What ties these groups together Staff Writers of a Magazine

The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches A Collection of Congregations=A Denomination Main Street East Side Boulder County North Street Central What ties these groups together A Few Distinct Doctrines They Share

The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches A Collection of Congregations=A Denomination Main Street East Side Boulder County North Street Central What ties these groups together “Soundness” on a particular divisive issue

The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches Central Huffman College Eastside Limon Main Street Boulder County North Street Universal Church A Collection of Congregations=A Denomination To denominate means “to name” so………

- The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches Central Huffman College Eastside Limon Main Street Boulder County North Street Universal Church Each Collection of CongregationsTakes a “name” Lutheran Southern Bap. American Bap. Church of God This last designation makes a good “scriptural name” but God never intended for his people to wear an exclusive name that “denominates” it from others. Church of Christ

The Basic Issue is This --- The Universal Church Does not have one name or description ALL PEOPLE SAVED BY JESUS church of God church of the firstborn body of Christ church of Christ kingdom of God

The Danger of thinking that the Church is made up of churches Central Huffman College Eastside Limon Main Street Boulder County North Street Universal Church Group of Congregations takes the name Church of Christ Church of God Are you a member of the “Church of God”? Some say “NO”

Jule Miller Film Strip Does not have one name or description church of God church of the firstborn body of Christ church of Christ kingdom of God “God’s names for his church and her members were selected by God Himself. Most people are surprised to learn that God never chose one exclusive name for His church. However, when the scriptures refer to the church, God has chosen descriptive phrases which set forth some of the most distinctive characteristics of the Church.” (Lesson Three, page 18)

Jule Miller Film Strip Does not have one name or description church of God church of the firstborn body of Christ church of Christ kingdom of God “God’s names for his church and her members were selected by God Himself. Most people are surprised to learn that God never chose one exclusive name for His church. However, when the scriptures refer to the church, God has chosen descriptive phrases which set forth some of the most distinctive characteristics of the Church.” (Lesson Three, page 18) Big question at age 19: Why did every congregation that used these booklets use only one exclusive name? Why did they all wear the SAME exclusive name?

- Why did these congregations all use the same exclusive name to the neglect of other scriptural descriptions Central Huffman College Eastside Limon Main Street Boulder County North Street Universal Church Each Collection of CongregationsTakes a “name” The answer is not difficult to find – but hard to accept Church of Christ They wanted denominational conformity for a collection of congregations These congregations associated the name with doctrines and forms that made them distinct from others

The undenominational denomination Started with an appeal for unity among all believers Unity based on dropping all denominational names, creeds, and organizations Individual disciples used the name Christian, disciples of Christ Going by the Bible local churches went by Christians, Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, Church of Christ However, after doctrinal differences … collections of congregations began to wear distinctive names to emphasize these differences

Central Huffman College Eastside Limon Main Street Boulder County North Street A Collection of Congregations=A Denomination Church of Christ Christian Church Disciples of Christ

The Basic Issue is This --- A Church of Denominations? Or A Church of individuals? The Universal Church Church of Christ Lutheran Presbyterian Catholic Methodist Baptist 7th Day Adventist Jehovah Witness I am not a member of this I want to belong only to CHRIST Darrell I am a Christian

Central Huffman College Eastside Limon Main Street Boulder County North Street The Basic Issue is This --- A Church of congregations? Or A Church of individuals? The Universal Church I want to belong only to CHRIST Darrell I am not a member of this I am a Christian

Dangers of being a member of a collection of congregations The tendency to conform in order to be accepted by the collection of churches Pressure to conform to a uniform name A tendency to reject all others not in this collection of congregations The one or two doctrinal issues that make you want to be a part of such a group – force you to overlook the many things you have in common with other believers Keeps you busy deciding “which congregations” belongs in your “sound” collection of churches