2. Joining a Church How does the Lord want us to go about deciding which Church to join?

3. Question #1 Why does God want us to join a church? Why does God want us to join a church?

4. Hebrews 10:24-25 John 8:31 Key Point #1 Revelation 22:18-19 Romans 16:17 2 Corinthians 11:3 Ephesians 3:16-19 Key Point #2 Key Point #3 encourage one another as we worship and pray together work together to spread God’s Word in the world because false teaching ruins more and more of God’s Word adds to or subtracts from the Bible teaches only what the Bible teaches so the devil can’t harm our faith with poisoned “food” Mark 16:15 study the Bible together, young and old, growing in God’s Word Key Point #4 to warn people in these churches about the poison they are “eating

5. Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

6. John 8:31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.

7. James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

8. Revelation 22:18-19 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

9. Romans 16:17 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.

10. Ephesians 3:16-19 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

11. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:3

12. Mark 16:15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.

13. God wants us to join a ______ so that we can join _______ with others (________) in _______, ______, _________, __________, and _______ _____. Key Point #1 church together fellowship worship prayereducation evangelismmission work

14. Question #2 What is the most important test God wants us to use in deciding which church to join.

15. The ____ God wants us to use in _______ which ______ to join is whether that church holds _________ to his _____. Key Point #2 test deciding church completely Word

16. Question #3 What does God tell us to do if we find that a church is adding something to or subtracting something from God’s Word?

17. 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.

18. 1 John 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

19. Key Point #3 God tells us to keep ____ from, to ________ ourselves from, and not to _______ or have ________ to do with such a ______. away separate welcome anything church

20. Question #4 Why does God tell us to keep ourselves separate from any church that adds anything to or subtracts anything from his Word?

21. Key Point #4 God tells us to keep ourselves _______ in order to keep our _____ from being ______ and to ____ members of that ______ of the ______ to their _____. separate soulsharmed warn church danger souls

22. What I’ve Learned God wants me to make the decision about which church to join by testing whether it teaches the pure word of God. God wants me to make the decision about which church to join by testing whether it teaches the pure word of God.

23. End of Slides…