God’s Design

Text: Genesis 1:31 Home – Matthew 19:4-6; Genesis 2:18; Ephesians 5:22-6:4 Government – Romans 13:1-4; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; Acts 22:24-25 Church – Philippians 1:1; Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Timothy 3:15

The Pearl of Great Value

Text: Matthew 13:45-46 What is the Kingdom? – John 18:36; Matthew 16:18-19 The Importance of “Seeking” – Matthew 7:7; Hebrews 11:6 How Do we Know when we’ve Found It? Universally – those who are saved Locally – name, organization, worship, work The Value of the Kingdom – Acts 20:28 What We Need to Give Up […]

Unity in the Local Church

Text: Psalm 133:1 God desires unity – John 17:20-21; 1 Corinthians 1:10 Proper type of unity – Ephesians 4:4-6; 5:11 Threats to unity in the local church Sin – 1 Corinthians 5 Error – Romans 16:17 Pride – Acts 20:29-30 Grudges – Ephesians 4:25-27 Human loyalty – 1 Corinthians 1:10-13

“Preach Christ, Not the Church”

There is one true church – Matthew 16:18; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 1:22-23 Many believe one church is as good as another – Therefore, “preach Christ, not the church” To preach Christ, one must also preach the church – Acts 8:5,12 Unintended consequences (“preach Christ, not the church”) In order to survive, a church must attract […]

Identifying the One True Church

Text: Matthew 16:18 Origin – Matthew 16:18; Acts 2 Work – 1 Timothy 3:15; Ephesians 4:12 Assemblies – Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 1 Corinthians 14:15,24,26,31 Organization – Philippians 1:1 Message – Acts 20:27; 1 Peter 4:11 Membership Requirements – Acts 9:26-27; 2 Thessalonians 3:6,14-15

The All-Sufficiency of the Church

What Makes the Church All-Sufficient? Divine origin – Matthew 16:18 Part of God’s eternal plan – Ephesians 3:10-11 Christ is the head – Ephesians 1:22-23 Belongs to Him – Acts 20:28 What is the Church All-Sufficient to Do? Evangelism – 1 Timothy 3:15 Edification – Ephesians 4:12,16 Benevolence – Acts 4:32-35 How is the Church […]

Descriptors of God’s People

Church – Matthew 16:18; ekklesia, called out Kingdom – Matthew 16:19; under the rule of Christ Body – Ephesians 1:22-23; follows direction of the head, works together Field – 1 Corinthians 3:9; bear fruit Building – 1 Corinthians 3:9; houses something (1 Corinthians 3:16) Race – 1 Peter 2:9; common ancestry/heritage Priesthood – 1 Peter […]