1. Welcome to the assembly of the 160th Ave. Church of Christ!
We gather Sunday at 9 AM (class), 10 AM, 5 PM, & Wednesday at 7 PM
Check the bulletin for various announcements

2. Pray for Ben Calderon (Conway, Arkansas)
Carlos and Priscila Rodriguez; Oct. 1, 2017

3. Pray for Ben Calderon (Conway, Arkansas)

4. Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD! Psalms 27:14 NKJV

5. Why Does God Call His People “Church”?

6. Church was not a new word
Greek “ekklesia” = a calling out (Strong) Not always spiritually-minded people Acts 7:38; 19:41 Differences in OT (Acts 7:38) and NT (Mt. 16:18)
I. “Church” was not a new word when Jesus used it
A. it is a compound word ek (out, from) and kaleo (call) = to call out/from = church
B. sometimes translated assembly or congregation, not always a spiritually-minded group Acts 7:38; 19:41
C. the church/congregation in the NT is completely different than the assembly of the OT.
1. In the OT, God’s congregation was a physical nation Acts 7:38
2. Under Jesus’ leadership (NT), God’s congregation/church is
a. not based in one physical nation Mk. 16:15
b. men saved by Jesus Mt. 16:18
c. His ppl committed to each other Rom. 16:16

7. Church reminds us we are called out and called in 1 Peter 2:9
Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world (Col. 2:20)
Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man to the image of Him who created him (Col. 3:9-10)
II. It reminds us that we are “called out” and called to Him
A. When people assemble, they have been called/invited to leave one place/thing/people for another---the church is people called to and assembled with God.
B. 1 Peter 2:9 “called you out”
1. if you combined “called” and “out” = church
2. God does not call us out of sin and then set us free to roam wherever we want to go—we are called into...
out of darkness and into His marvelous light (1 Pet. 2:9)
out of deceitful persuasive words and into steadfast faith in Christ (Col. 2:4)
out of doctrines and commandments of men and into being with Christ (Col. 2:20-21)
out of fornication, filthy language and into the image of Him (Col. 3:5, 8, 9-10)

8. Church teaches us we are not alone God Rev. 1:12-13, 20
One another Rom. 12:9-13; 16:16
III. It teaches us that we are not alone
A. An assembly of one is not an assembly at all!
B. God is the source of His churches; Jesus and HS watch to encourage or rebuke Rev. 1:12-13, 20; 2:7
1. These churches did not begin because of human councils, teachings, authorities, or traditions
2. These churches had no headquarters in Rome or Salt Lake City
3. Contrary to what we see around us, where rel groups trace their existence and history to human plans and protests, the word “church” in the Bible reminds us of God’s plan against Satan’s protest.
C. one another or together around 100x in 23 books (Acts – 2 Jn.)
1. Rom. 12:9-13 we work with and rely on each other—do you?
2. Rom. 16:16 it is good for any congregation to know that there are others doing the same work.

9. Church teaches us that assembling is important
It is “who we are” and “what we do”
Meeting with each other Heb. 10:24-25
Meeting with God Ex. 23:17; Jn. 4:23-24; Acts 20:7
IV. It teaches us that assembling is important
A. Bakers bake, congregations congregate, assemblies assemble—this is who God says we are, in part, because this is what we do.
B. Important because every assembly is the result of thinking of each other Heb. 10:24-25 God’s idea
1. my presence should be motivated by the desire to stir up love and good works in others (exhort)
2. what motivates my absence makes all the difference between being absent from vs forsaking the assembly
a. when I cannot assemble, my motivation/desire is what v24 says it ought to be, I have not forsaken them
b. when I consider my pleasure, my friends, or my commitment to another group, club, or team more than I consider God’s people, did I consider one another and my commitment to God and them?
C. Important because every public assembly is the result of desiring to meet with God
1. Ex. 23:17 (1 Sam. 1:22)
a. In Israel, they could pray to God anywhere or daily sing songs
b. but coming to the temple was a different way of meeting God
c. Where does that happen now, that we meet God like Isr met God at the temple?
2. Jn. 4:23-24
a. Jesus taught her that soon, no one would have to go to Jerusalem to meet God (worship)
b. His point was not that meeting God together/publicly to worship would end---just not exclusive to Jer
c. Mt. 26:29 Jesus said He would eat with us---where does He meet us to eat and drink?
3. Acts 20:7
a. when the disciples came together---who else was with them as they ate?
b. Did Jesus come only to eat or did He share in the songs, prayers, giving, teaching/hearing of that day?
c. Are the Father and Holy Spirit absent when we approach Them each time we assemble?
d. Do you view our assembly as approaching God, like Israel did at the temple?
e. We can meet the Lord anywhere, but we must meet the Lord as a church
f. How does the Father, Jesus, and Spirit react when they meet with us but some of us decide to meet with someone else---do you view your willful absence from the assembly (tonight) as a decision not to meet w/ God?
--The more I will patiently think about why we are called church, the more I will realize what my part is when the church assembles.

10. Church teaches us to work together
Father, Son, and Spirit work together
1. Plan Eph. 3:11
2. Leadership Jn. 6:38; 15:26
3. Submission Jn. 6:38; Jn. 15:26
4. Participation by all! Mt. 28:19
to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church . . ., according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, (Eph. 3:10-11)
V. It teaches us to work together for a common purpose.
A. Meaningful assemblies rarely happen by accident--require plans, leadership, submission, and participation.
B. God accomplishes His plan by
1. Plans Eph. 3:11 (1 Cor. 2:9)
2. Leadership Jn. 6:38; 15:26
3. Submission Heb. 5:8; Jn. 15:26
4. Participation by all! Mt. 28:19
C. The churches of Christ can only do their work this way, whether in or out of assembly
1. Plans Acts 6:3,5 (Heb. 10:24)
2. Leadership 1 Pet. 5:2, 4-5
3. Submission 1 Pet. 5:5 (1 Tim. 2:12)
4. Participation by all! (Acts 2:42)
"For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. (Jn. 6:38)
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (Mt. 28:19)

11. And they continued steadfastly . . . (Acts 2:42)
Church
teaches us to work together
Father, Son, and Spirit work together
We must work together
1. Plan Acts 6:3, 5
2. Leadership 1 Pet. 5:2
3. Submission 1 Pet. 5:5
4. Participation by all! Acts 2:42
"Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men (Acts 6:3 NKJV)
V. It teaches us to work together for a common purpose.
A. Meaningful assemblies rarely happen by accident--require plans, leadership, submission, and participation.
B. God accomplishes His plan by
1. Plans Eph. 3:11 (1 Cor. 2:9)
2. Leadership Jn. 6:38; 15:26
3. Submission Heb. 5:8; Jn. 15:26
4. Participation by all! Mt. 28:19
C. The churches of Christ can only do their work this way, whether in or out of assembly
1. Plans Acts 6:3,5 (Heb. 10:24)
2. Leadership 1 Pet. 5:2, 4-5
3. Submission 1 Pet. 5:5 (1 Tim. 2:12)
4. Participation by all! (Acts 2:42)
Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly,. . . (1 Peter 5:2)
Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, (1 Peter 5:5)
And they continued steadfastly (Acts 2:42)

12. Why Does God Call His People “Church”?

13. Is your idea of “church” the same as God’s idea?
To whom do you belong?
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Gal. 3:26-27 NKJV)
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 NKJV)