1. Jesus Establishes a Church
Objectives:
Review
Memorize Matthew 16
Explain why Mt. 16 is important
Prove that Jesus founded a Church

2. Thus Far I. God Exists Proofs from cause and effect
Proofs from the human being
Proofs from history

3. Revelation II. Christians claim that God has visited His people
Jesus fulfills all messianic prophecies
Backs up this claim w/ miracles
The greatest was His own resurrection from the dead

4. The Resurrection III. The tomb was empty Easter Sunday morning
Even the enemies of Christ and the Church admit this
What explanations?
Apostles stole the body
Jesus wasn’t dead = Swoon Theory
He is risen!!!

5. Did Jesus Establish a Church?
Visible society
With authority

6. Evidence for the Establishment of A Church
Matthew 18:15-17
"If your brother 12 sins (against you), go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. 16
13 If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that 'every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.' 17
If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. 14 If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.

7. Matthew 16:15-20 16
Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." 17
Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. 18
And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. 19
I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

8. Matthew 28:16-20 18
Then Jesus approached and said to them, "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, 20
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."

9. 1 Tim 3:15
But if I should be delayed, you should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth.