2. Infidels view the church as a plague  Begs money  Oppressive

3. “Believers” view the church as unnecessary  Place for parties  Wholesome entertainment  Social connections  Get way, relax, reflect

5. Part of God’s eternal plan, Eph. 3:9-11  Wisdom of God seen in the church  Eternal purpose of God  Jesus came to build it, Mt. 16:18

6. The Church is the Kingdom of God  Jesus, Mt. 16:18, 19  Paul, Col. 1:13, 18  John, Rev. 1:9

7. Prophecy about the Kingdom  Establishment, Isa. 2:2, 3; Lk. 24:46, 47  Peaceful, Isa. 2:4; Eph. 2:14, 15  Spiritual, Isa. 2:4; Jn. 18:36  Universal, Isa. 2:2, 3; Mt. 28:19, 20  Eternal, Dan. 2:44; Heb. 12:27, 28

8. To reconcile men to God in the church, Eph. 2:16; Col. 3:15  Sin separates, Isa. 59:1, 2, Jas. 4:4  All sin, Rom. 3:23  Reconciled by blood of Christ, 1 Pt. 1:18  Blood purchased the church, Acts 20:28  Church consists of the saved, Acts 2:47

9. For a pillar of truth, 1 Tim. 3:15  Light, Mt. 5:14; Jn. 3:19-21  Spread truth, 2 Cor. 11:8; 1 Thes. 1:7-9

10. “You can be saved without the church”  Hence, many refuse to go to church  No place of peer-accountability

11. “You can be saved without the church”  Implies the church is unnecessary ∙Wasted life & blood, Eph. 5:25 ∙Saved in kingdom of Satan, Col. 1:13, 14 ∙Salvation without reconciliation, Eph. 2:16 ∙Salvation without peace, Col. 3:15 ∙Salvation without salvation, Acts 2:47

12. “One church is as good as another”  Is one God as good as another, Eph. 2:16  Is one cross as good as another, Eph. 2:16  Is one blood as good as another, Acts 20:28  Is one peace as good as another, Col. 3:15  Is one call as good as another, Col. 3:15  Is one Jesus as good as another, 2 Cor. 11:4  Is one gospel as good as another, Gal. 1:6, 7

13. “God is in all the churches”  Then God approves contradictory doctrines  Then God is a hypocrite  Then God causes confusion, 1 Cor. 14:33  Then Jesus is a liar, Mt. 15:13, 14