Eph 3:10-1110 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The ChurchThat Belongs to Christ

I. The Church Foretold II. The Church Founded

FACTS LEARNED FROM ACTS 2

#1 Jesus Only Built One Church!

#2 The One Church Is Made Up of People!

#3 The People Who Make Up the Church Are Those Who Have Believed, Repented and Been Bap-tized!

The ChurchThat Belongs to Christ

THE DEVIL IS CRAFTY

The ChurchThat Belongs to Christ

THE DEVIL IS CRAFTY

The ChurchThat Belongs to Christ

The ChurchThat Belongs to ChristI. The Church Foretold

II. The Church FoundedIII. The Church Formatted

Made Up Of All the Saved

EldersDeaconsSaints

(Phil. 1:1)

The ChurchThat Belongs to Christ

The ChurchThat Belongs to ChristI. The Church Foretold

II. The Church FoundedIII. The Church Formatted

Made Up Of All the Saved

EldersDeaconsSaints

(Phil. 1:1)

Christians who have a-

greed to work together in a

specific, geographical

location

The ChurchThat Belongs to ChristI. The Church Foretold

The Church FoundedThe Church Formatted

Made Up Of All the Saved

EldersDeaconsSaints

(Phil. 1:1)

Christians who have a-

greed to work together in a

specific, geographical

location

Called “churches of Christ (Rom. 16:16)

Always a plurality (Acts 14:23; Acts 20:17)

Only shepherd the flock among them (1 Pet. 5:2)

I. The Church ForetoldII. The Church FoundedIII. The Church Formatted

Made Up Of All the Saved

EldersDeaconsSaints

(Phil. 1:1)

The ChurchThat Belongs to Christ

Universal Church? No!

Local Church? No!

In-Between?

I. The Church ForetoldII. The Church FoundedIII. The Church Formatted

LocalChurc

h

LocalChurc

h

LocalChurc

h

LocalChurc

h

LocalChurc

hLocalChurc

h

LocalChurc

h

Unscriptural

Anti-scriptural

The ChurchThat Belongs to Christ

I. The Church ForetoldII. The Church FoundedIII. The Church Formatted

Made Up Of All the Saved

EldersDeaconsSaints

(Phil. 1:1)

The ChurchThat Belongs to Christ

The ChurchThat Belongs to ChristIV. The Church Functioning

The Work of the Local Church

What makes something the work of a local church?Something Planned, Provided and Participated in by

the LOCAL CHURCH

WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE DISTRIBUTIVE WORK OR ACTIONS OF THE INDIVIDUAL, BUT RATH-ER THE COLLECTIVE WORK OF THE LOCAL CHURCH

The ChurchThat Belongs to ChristIV. The Church Functioning

The Work of the Local ChurchThere Is A Difference Between the

Individual and the Church

“There are those who try to distinguish between the work of the church and the work of Christians, indicating one to be divine, the other human. This is fallacious reasoning. The church is composed of Christians; what the church does, Christians do; what Christians do, the church does, generally speaking. We cannot separate the Christian’s work from the work of the church” (V.E. Howard, tract: Institutionalism Orphan Homes and Church Cooperation, p. 5).

The ChurchThat Belongs to ChristIV. The Church Functioning

The Work of the Local ChurchThere Is A Difference Between the

Individual and the Church

“Consciously or otherwise we make a distinction between the church and Christians, and much of our reasoning is based upon this unproved assumption” (O.H. Tallman, “Churches – individuals – Institutions,” The Gospel Guardian, Feb. 15, 1951, p. 8).

The ChurchThat Belongs to ChristIV. The Church Functioning

The Work of the Local ChurchThere Is A Difference Between the

Individual and the Church

1 Tim 5:1616 If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.

Individual Christian Local Church

The ChurchThat Belongs to ChristIV. The Church Functioning

The Work of the Local Church

What the Work of the Church Is Not

We Must Do All Things

According to the Pattern

Not to Bring about a Social Reformation

Not to Provide Recreation (basketball, movies, aerobics, etc.)

Not to Provide Education (build colleges, pre-schools, etc.)

The ChurchThat Belongs to ChristIV. The Church Functioning

The Work of the Local Church

What the Work of the Church Is Not

What’s Wrong with the Social Gospel? It distorts the mission of Christ.

It devalues the power of the gospel.

It diverts the attention of man from the cross to carnality.

The ChurchThat Belongs to ChristIV. The Church Functioning

The Work of the Local Church

What the Work of the Church Is Not

What’s Wrong with the Social Gospel?

True Bethel Baptist Church:This Buffalo, New York church demonstrates that man shall not live by Hearty Italian bread alone. Reverend Darius Pridgen opened a subway restaurant at his church in 2003.

The ChurchThat Belongs to ChristIV. The Church Functioning

The Work of the Local Church

What the Work of the Church Is Not

What’s Wrong with the Social Gospel?

Brentwood Baptist Church:The church is the first to have a McDonald’s franchise on its grounds. It is located inside the church’s new $7 million Lifelong Learning Center. The 75,000-square-foot building houses a basketball court, an aerobics studio, a computer center, an arcade, a banquet hall, more than 60 classrooms, and the McDonald’s, which has become a hit with the church’s more than 10,000 active members.

The ChurchThat Belongs to ChristIV. The Church Functioning

The Work of the Local Church

What the Work of the Church Is Not

What’s Wrong with the Social Gospel?

The Bridge, Michigan Church:A Michigan church has a very unusual ministry outreach – a tattoo parlor housed in its church building. Steve Bentley founded The Bridge in 2008 for "people who have never felt comfortable at a traditional house of worship," the Flint Journal reports. In addition to the tattoo parlor, the church offers space for wrestling and auto repair.

The ChurchThat Belongs to ChristIV. The Church Functioning

The Work of the Local Church

What the Work of the Church Is Not

What’s Wrong with the Social Gospel?

Highland Vineyard ChurchLast Sunday the church held the second of its Sunday Nights on Tap at Flanagan’s. Like the first, it drew about 35-40 people ranging in age from early 20s to late 50s…For now, the church will be holding these beer bar revivals only once a month, but if successful, who knows? It’s nice to see not every religion is against beer.

The ChurchThat Belongs to ChristIV. The Church Functioning

The Work of the Local Church

What the Work of the Church Is Not

What’s Wrong with the Social Gospel?

Covenant Presbyterian ChurchRev. Tom Eggebeen of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles, faced with an aging and declining congregation, started a service for both people and dogs, “Canines at Covenant.” “He would turn God’s house into a doghouse by offering a 30-minute service complete with individual doggie beds, canine prayers and an offering of dog treats.”

The ChurchThat Belongs to ChristIV. The Church Functioning

The Work of the Local Church

What the Work of the Church Is Not

What’s Wrong with the Social Gospel?

A religion professor at Southwestern University in Texas, recently conducted a survey that revealed more than 500 churches that conduct blessing services for pets and six that go so far as to offer pet worship services like the “Canines at Covenant” service. One church near Boston offers a “Woof ‘n Worship” service. The professor sees “pet-centric” services as a growing trend.

The ChurchThat Belongs to ChristIV. The Church Functioning

The Work of the Local Church

What the Work of the Church Is

Eph 4:11-1311 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;

The ChurchThat Belongs to ChristIV. The Church Functioning

The Work of the Local Church

What the Work of the Church Is

Eph 4:11-1311 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;

Edification

The ChurchThat Belongs to ChristIV. The Church Functioning

The Work of the Local Church

What the Work of the Church Is

Eph 4:11-1311 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;

EdificationBenevolenc

e

The ChurchThat Belongs to ChristIV. The Church Functioning

The Work of the Local Church

What the Work of the Church Is

Eph 4:11-1311 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;

EdificationBenevolenc

e Evangelism

The ChurchThat Belongs to ChristIV. The Church Functioning

The Work of the Local Church

What the Work of the Church Is

Evangelism

Edification

Benevolence

Do All Things According to the Pattern!!!

Where does fun and frolic fit?

Where does recreation & entertainment fit?

Where does secular education fit?

The ChurchThat Belongs to ChristIV. The Church Functioning.

Work and Worship

I. The Work of the Church.

Evangelism, Edification and Benevolence

Col 3:1717 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Whatever is preached

Whatever is practiced

IV. The Church FunctioningWork and Worship

I. The Work of the Church.

II. The Worship of the Church.

Preaching, Praying, Giving, Singing, the Lord’s Supper

The ChurchThat Belongs to Christ

IV. The Church FunctioningWork and Worship

I. The Work of the Church.

II. The Worship of the Church.

Preaching, Praying, Giving, Singing, the Lord’s Supper

What did they teach? The apostles’ doctrine

The ChurchThat Belongs to Christ

IV. The Church FunctioningWork and Worship

I. The Work of the Church.

II. The Worship of the Church.

Preaching, Praying, Giving, Singing, the Lord’s Supper

What did they teach? The apostles’ doctrine

How did they pray? To the Father, in the name of Jesus

The ChurchThat Belongs to Christ

IV. The Church FunctioningWork and Worship

I. The Work of the Church.

II. The Worship of the Church.

Preaching, Praying, Giving, Singing, the Lord’s Supper

What did they teach? The apostles’ doctrine

How did they pray? To the Father, in the name of Jesus

When & How did they give? 1st day of week, as they prospered

The ChurchThat Belongs to Christ

IV. The Church FunctioningWork and Worship

I. The Work of the Church.

II. The Worship of the Church.

Preaching, Praying, Giving, Singing, the Lord’s Supper

What did they teach? The apostles’ doctrine

How did they pray? To the Father, in the name of Jesus

When & How did they give? 1st day of week, as they prospered

How did they sing?With their hearts (No musical instruments)

The ChurchThat Belongs to Christ

IV. The Church FunctioningWork and Worship

I. The Work of the Church.

II. The Worship of the Church.

Preaching, Praying, Giving, Singing, the Lord’s Supper

What did they teach? The apostles’ doctrine

How did they pray? To the Father, in the name of Jesus

When & How did they give? 1st day of week, as they prospered

How did they sing? With their hearts (No musical instruments)

When did they observed the Lord’s Supper? 1st day of week

The ChurchThat Belongs to Christ

IV. The Church FunctioningWork and Worship

I. The Work of the Church.

II. The Worship of the Church.

Preaching, Praying, Giving, Singing, the Lord’s Supper

What did they teach? The apostles’ doctrine

How did they pray? To the Father, in the name of Jesus

When & How did they give? 1st day of week, as they prospered

How did they sing? With their hearts (No musical instruments)

When did they observed the Lord’s Supper? 1st day of week

John 4:24 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

The ChurchThat Belongs to Christ