Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 2 Tim. 2:15 (NASU)

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 2 Tim. 2:15 (NASU) lit., "to cut straight" (orthos, "straight," temno, "to cut"), is found in 2 Tim 2:15, KJV, "rightly dividing," RV, "handling aright" (the word of truth); the meaning passed from the idea of cutting or "dividing," to the more general sense of "rightly dealing with a thing." What is intended here is not "dividing" Scripture from Scripture, but teaching Scripture accurately. Vine’s Dictionary

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 2 Tim. 2:15 (NASU) In our teaching the word of truth, we need to be as accurate as possible:  Words/phrases: vehicles that convey correct thoughts  Visual illustrations: accurate representations of concepts

Upon this rock I will build my church Matthew 16:18 What did Jesus establish? Because of what is said about it in the NT, it is vital that our concept of this church be as accurate as possible and that we speak of it and visually illustrated it in terms that are scripturally accurate.

Upon this rock I will build my church Matthew 16:18 What did Jesus establish? The church that Jesus built: What it is NOT

Upon this rock I will build my church Matthew 16:18 What did Jesus establish? NOT some “institution” into which the lost are placed. The Church of Christ lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost

Upon this rock I will build my church Matthew 16:18 What did Jesus establish? NOT some “institution” into which the lost are placed. The Church of Christ lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost lost

Upon this rock I will build my church Matthew 16:18 What did Jesus establish? NOT some “institution” into which the lost are placed. The Church of Christ saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved saved This concept makes “the church” some “thing” other than the saved and is an unscriptural concept. This is not an accurate illustration of what the word of truth teaches about the church.

Upon this rock I will build my church Matthew 16:18 What did Jesus establish? NOT something that, once established, apostatized/ceased to exist, and was later restored. Mormons The gospel revealed by the Holy Spirit became corrupted in the past and needed restored. Joseph Smith was God’s restoration agent

Upon this rock I will build my church Matthew 16:18 What did Jesus establish? NOT something that, once established, apostatized/ceased to exist, and was later restored. Joseph Smith didn’t restore the gospel because nothing ever happened to it that caused it to need to be restored and Mormons who claim it needed restored are wrong.

Upon this rock I will build my church Matthew 16:18 What did Jesus establish? NOT something that, once established, apostatized/ceased to exist, and was later restored. Some “church of Christ people” The church Jesus built apostatized in the past and needed restored. Alexander Campbell was God’s restoration agent

Upon this rock I will build my church Matthew 16:18 What did Jesus establish? NOT something that, once established, apostatized/ceased to exist, and was later restored. “For about two hundred years the church was true to apostolic teaching. But the church of the first century began to drift into apostasy... Centuries of ignorance and superstition led to the birth of the apostate church…

Upon this rock I will build my church Matthew 16:18 What did Jesus establish? NOT something that, once established, apostatized/ceased to exist, and was later restored. …men like Alexander Campbell, Barton W. Stone, and John Smith. The aim of these men, and others like them, was to do things just as the Apostles had taught,…These restorers held up the Bible as their only guide in religious matters and restored the church of Christ.”

Upon this rock I will build my church Matthew 16:18 What did Jesus establish? NOT something that, once established, apostatized/ceased to exist, and was later restored. Alexander Campbell didn’t restore the church because nothing ever happened to it that caused it to need to be restored and “Church of Christ people” who claim it apostatized and needed restored are just as wrong as the Mormons. “The apostasy and restoration of the church” does not reflect accurate understanding of the church Jesus built

Upon this rock I will build my church Matthew 16:18 What did Jesus establish? NOT some “institution” that is composed of local churches The Church of Christ Local church We aren’t handling the word of truth accurately when we think and speak about “congregations of the Church of Christ”/“sister congregations”

Upon this rock I will build my church Matthew 16:18 What did Jesus establish? NOT some religious organization On Facebook we’ve got “Church of Christ radio” on which we have “Church of Christ preachers” where we can listen to “Church of Christ radio music” and “Church of Christ radio sermons”. This language reflects denominational thinking; it is not reflective of anything found in the word of truth

Upon this rock I will build my church Matthew 16:18 What did Jesus establish? NOT some religious organization Was Paul a “Church of Christ preacher”? Did he go on “Church of Christ preaching/missionary tours” in Acts? Were his letters “Church of Christ epistles”? Did he appoint “Church of Christ elders”? Were the various sermons in Acts, “Church of Christ sermons”? Did Peter preach a “Church of Christ sermon” on Pentecost? Did Paul help to start “Church of Christ churches”?

Upon this rock I will build my church Matthew 16:18 What did Jesus establish? The church that Jesus built: What it IS

Ephesians 2:11 Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called " Uncircumcision" by the so-called " Circumcision," which is performed in the flesh by human hands— Upon this rock I will build my church Matthew 16:18 What did Jesus establish?

Ephesians 2:12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. Upon this rock I will build my church Matthew 16:18 What did Jesus establish? GOD The Father The Son The Holy Spirit G E N T I L E S J E W S SinSin

Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Upon this rock I will build my church Matthew 16:18 What did Jesus establish? GOD The Father The Son The Holy Spirit G E N T I L E S J E W S SinSin

Ephesians 2:14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, GOD The Father The Son The Holy Spirit G E N T I L E S J E W S Law Upon this rock I will build my church Matthew 16:18 What did Jesus establish?

Ephesians 2:15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, GOD The Father The Son The Holy Spirit G E N T I L E S J E W S Law Upon this rock I will build my church Matthew 16:18 What did Jesus establish?

Ephesians 2:15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, GOD The Father The Son The Holy Spirit G E J N T E I W L S E S Upon this rock I will build my church Matthew 16:18 What did Jesus establish?

Ephesians 2:15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, GOD The Father The Son The Holy Spirit G E J N T E I W L S E S Upon this rock I will build my church Matthew 16:18 What did Jesus establish?

Ephesians 2:16-17 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. 17 AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR; GOD The Father The Son The Holy Spirit G E J N T E I W L S E S Upon this rock I will build my church Matthew 16:18 What did Jesus establish?

Ephesians 2:18-19 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, GOD The Father The Son The Holy Spirit G E J N T E I W L S E S Upon this rock I will build my church Matthew 16:18 What did Jesus establish?

Ephesians 2:20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, GOD The Father The Son The Holy Spirit G E J N T E I W L S E S Upon this rock I will build my church Matthew 16:18 What did Jesus establish?

Ephesians 2:21-22 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. GOD The Father The Son The Holy Spirit G E J N T E I W L S E S Upon this rock I will build my church Matthew 16:18 What did Jesus establish?

He established a relationship in which it is possible for all men of whatever race to have fellowship with Him as their sins are forgiven in obedience to His will. Upon this rock I will build my church Matthew 16:18 What did Jesus establish? GOD The Father The Son The Holy Spirit G E J N T E I W L S E S

Heb.12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, GOD The Father The Son The Holy Spirit G E J N T E I W L S E S Upon this rock I will build my church Matthew 16:18 What did Jesus establish?

Heb.12:23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, GOD The Father The Son The Holy Spirit G E J N T E I W L S E S Upon this rock I will build my church Matthew 16:18 What did Jesus establish?

Heb.12:23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, GOD The Father The Son The Holy Spirit G E J N T E I W L S E S Upon this rock I will build my church Matthew 16:18 Are you in fellowship with God?