1. Lesson #44 The 3 rd Article The Visible Christian Church

3. Denominations ELCA Episcopalian Presbyterian LCMS

5. Why does God want us to join a church?  Hebrews 10:24-25 “spur one another on…encourage one another” How? “meeting together” Worship  Acts 1:14 When? Who? Early Christian church & believers “joined together…in prayer” Prayer  Proverbs 22:6 “train a child in the way he should go” Which way? God’s ways Christian Education

6. Why does God want us to join a church?  Acts 1:14 When? Who? Early Christian church & believers “joined together…in prayer” Prayer  Proverbs 22:6 “train a child in the way he should go” Which way? God’s ways Christian Education  2 Timothy 3:15-17 “you have known the Holy Scriptures” “make you wise for salvation” Study God’s Word

7. Why does God want us to join a church?  Proverbs 22:6 “train a child in the way he should go” Which way? God’s ways Christian Education  2 Timothy 3:15-17 “you have known the Holy Scriptures” “make you wise for salvation” Study God’s Word  Mark 16:15 “preach the good news” Do that on your own Do mission work So that we can worship, pray, grow in our faith and do mission work with fellow Christians.

8. What’s the most important step in deciding which church to join?  1 Thessalonians 5:21 “test everything” Test it For what?  John 8:31 True disciples of Jesus do what? “hold to my teachings” Holds completely to God’s Word

9. Truth of God’s Word Statements of Belief (Confessions) Statements of Belief (Confessions) Test It!

10. What’s the most important step in deciding which church to join?  1 Thessalonians 5:21 “test everything” Test it For what?  John 8:31 True disciples of Jesus do what? “hold to my teachings” Holds completely to God’s Word  Revelation 22:18-19 What does God warn against? “if anyone adds anything…” “if anyone takes words away…” Not adding or subtracting To see if it holds COMPLETELY to God’s Word or not.

11. What does God want us to do when we find a church not doing that?  Romans 16:17 “obstacles…contrary to the teachings you have learned” “Keep away from them.” Keep away from such churches  Titus 3:10 “warn…once…warn…twice” then what? “have nothing to do with them” Stay away  2 Corinthians 6:14 “do not be yoked together with unbelievers” Separate from them

12. What does God want us to do when we find a church not doing that?  Titus 3:10 “warn…once…warn…twice” then what? “have nothing to do with them” Stay away  2 Corinthians 6:14 “do not be yoked together with unbelievers” Separate from them  2 John 1:10,11 “does not bring this teaching” response? “do not…welcome him” Do not welcome them Don’t Drink the Water! Stay away!

13. Why does God tell us to do that?  2 Corinthians 13:8 “only for the truth” Love Jesus Love the truth of his Word  Galatians 5:9 “a little yeast…whole batch” False teaching grows  2 Corinthians 11:3 Instead of pure devotion to Christ, what? “your minds may somehow be led astray” Led astray

14. Why does God tell us to do that?  Galatians 5:9 “a little yeast…whole batch” False teaching grows  2 Corinthians 11:3 Instead of pure devotion to Christ, what? “your minds may somehow be led astray” Led astray  James 5:19,20 “turns a sinner from error” “save him from death” What will staying away show? Seriousness of error Warn them of error Love of God’s Word, love for our souls, love for the souls of others.

15. FAIT H False teachings ruin true ones False teachings destroy faith Warn people in the false church What’s the danger of false teachings?

16. I want to join a church that completely teaches God’s Word.

17. For Next Time  Memory Work Hebrews 10:25 (#1173b) Romans 16:17 (#1198) Galatians 5:9 (#1209)  Definitions Grace Sanctify Humiliation Exaltation

18. For Next Time  Questions Who belongs to the holy Christian Church? Give four reasons God wants us to join a church. What is the most important step in choosing a church? What does God want us to do if we find a church that doesn’t hold completely to God’s Word? Why does God want us to do that? What are the dangers of false teaching?

19. Lesson 45