Commands, Traditions, Expedients, Innovations

Four Questions for Our Assemblies: Why do we do what we do in the assembly? … Commands — NT pattern, what has been revealed How do we do it? … Traditions — custom Is there a way we can do it better? … Expedients — improve what we do to be more effective Are there […]

“I Will Build My Church”

Text: Matthew 16:18 I Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16) He is our Savior (2 Timothy 1:10), King (John 18:36-37), and is Deity (John 1:1) This is important because Jesus’ identity would be the foundation of His church (Matthew 16:18) Will Indicates a future time when His plan would […]

What Makes Churches of Christ Different Than Denominations?

Text: Romans 16:16 Note: This is not intended to endorse every congregation that wears the name “church of Christ.” For the purpose of this outline, the “churches of Christ” are those who are faithfully following the New Testament pattern. Not Based on Our Name Many churches of Christ do not follow the NT pattern (Revelation […]

Instructions About the Local Church

Text: 1 Corinthians 11:16-34 Churches of God (v. 16) Similar to Paul’s mention of the “churches of Christ” (Romans 16:16) Can we do anything we want as long as the congregation agrees to it? … No — we’re still accountable to God/Christ Required to act by His authority (Colossians 3:17) This is why sound churches […]

Three Branches of Government

Text: Isaiah 33:22 Judicial Branch — “The Lord is our judge” Christ will judge each of us (2 Corinthians 5:10) He is fit to be our judge — unbiased (Acts 10:34-35), knows & understands the law (John 1:14) He has the exclusive right to judge us (Colossians 2:16-17,20-22) Legislative Branch — “The Lord is our […]

Singing Only?

Text: Ephesians 5:19 What About Instrumental Music? Not authorized (Colossians 3:16-17) “But it’s not condemned” — principle of silence (Hebrews 7:14) We only read of the 1st century church singing (Matthew 26:30; Acts 16:25; 1 Corinthians 14:15) Four Ways God Shows What Has Been Authorized — command, statement, example, implication Singing commanded (James 5:13) — […]

God Will Be Sanctified

Text: Leviticus 10:1-7 The Setting — Israelites were in the wilderness Had been delivered from Egypt, God was providing for them, He had given His law to them Aaron and his sons were offerings sacrifices to God (Leviticus 9:1-2,7-9,12) — according to what God commanded (Leviticus 9:7,16; 8:36) The Sin of Nadab & Abihu Offered […]