Does It Make Any Difference? Part 2 Is the NT church identifiable?

Organizations ARE Different and Identifiable / Robt. Baden-Powell / England Boy Scouts 1863 / Gustave Moynier / Geneva, Switz / Clara Barton / Washington D.C. International Red Cross

Churches are Different and Identifiable Roman Catholic606ADRomeBoniface III Lutheran1520GermanyMartin Luther Episcopalian1534England`Henry VIII Presbyterian1536SwitzerlandJohn Calvin Congregational1550EnglandR. Brown Baptist1607HollandJohn Smythe Methodist1739EnglandJohn Wesley LDS, Mormons1830AmericaJoseph Smith 7th Day Advent.1830AmericaMary B.G.P. Eddy Christian Science1866AmericaCharles Taze Russell Jehovah’s Witt.1872AmericaR. Allen Ch. Of God, MO1871AmericaS. Munford Ch. Of God, IN 1880AmericaD.S. Warner

Matthew 16: Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” … 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Peter’s confession was the foundation Jesus was going to build His church/kingdom

Mark 9:1 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.” The kingdom/church was coming w/power It was coming in their lifetime

Acts 1:4, 5, 8 …he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” …you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, Disciples told to wait in Jerusalem for promise Were to be baptized with the Spirit/power

Acts 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 2:33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. Peter confirmed that this was the promise of the Spirit

Fulfilling Promises and Prophecies The kingdom/church was established in 33 AD, by Jesus Christ, in Jerusalem In 34 AD, how many churches were there?

Ephesians 1:22-23 the church, 23 which is his body And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Ephesians 4:4-6 There is one body 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Get Out Your Pencils For A Pop Quiz How many churches did Christ build? How many existed 20 years later? Is Christ’s church the same as all the others on the chart?

Churches are Different and Identifiable Ch. Of Christ33ADJerusalemJesus Christ Roman Catholic606ADRomeBoniface III Lutheran1520GermanyMartin Luther Episcopalian1534England`Henry VIII Presbyterian1536SwitzerlandJohn Calvin Congregational1550EnglandR. Brown Baptist1607HollandJohn Smythe Methodist1739EnglandJohn Wesley LDS, Mormons1830AmericaJoseph Smith 7th Day Advent.1830AmericaMary B.G.P. Eddy Christian Science1866AmericaCharles Taze Russell Jehovah’s Witt.1872AmericaR. Allen Ch. Of God, MO1871AmericaS. Munford Ch. Of God, IN 1880AmericaD.S. Warner

Ephesians 4:3-6 unity …maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Men declare UNION instead of UNITY UNITY of the Spirit based on these Truths

Organizations ARE Different and Identifiable We can choose, UNION or UNITY We can choose, a DESIRE to be one or the TRUTH of unity Are you part of the New Testament church?