SERMON
OUTLINE OF THE WEEK
JOHN D. ARNOLD, Minister
PHONE 386-362-5953
1476 PEARL AVENUE
LIVE OAK, FLORIDA 32064-4223
YOU CAN BE SURE WHICH CHURCH IS THE
LORD'S CHURCH
TEXT: MATTHEW 16:3-19
PURPOSE: To identify the church of the New Testament.
Introduction:
1) As one looks about sees many different churches.
(a) Hundreds of churches, different names, different doctrines,
all claiming to be from Christ.
(b) The serious minded inquisitor asks - "How can this be?"
2) Various reasons why people are what they are religiously. (Parents,
friends, popular church, etc.)
3) The text shows Christ has a church. Can it be found??
4) How to find the Lord's church:
I. ITS BUILDER.
1) Not looking for a church built by man.
2) Jesus built His ________. (Mat. 16:18).
(a) Not churches - "church"
(b) "will build" - future; shows not build by Abraham,
John the Baptist, etc.
II. TIME AND PLACE OF ITS ESTABLISHMENT.
1) Time: Isaiah says the "Lord's house" will be built
in the ______ days.
2) Place: The Word of God says the Lord's house would be built
in _____
3) Any church established any other time or any other place can
not be the
_________ _________.
III. ITS NAMES.
1) The church in the Bible is known by various designations:
(a) church of _________. (I Cor. 1:2)
(b) "My church" Mat. 16:18
(c) "churches of ___________ (Rom. 16:16)
2) All Scriptural designations give glory and ownership to God.
3) There were no denominational names in Bible times. Cf. I Peter
4:11
IV. WORSHIP
1) All types of __________ offered today. (Much in way of entertainment)
2) Worship must be in __________ and in __________ (John 4:24)
3) Five acts of worship: Preaching (Acts 20:7), Giving (I Cor.
16:1-2),
Singing (Eph. 5:19), The Lord's Supper (Acts 20:7), Praying (I
Thess. 5:17).
V. ITS ORGANIZATION.
1) Denominations have large organizations with earthly headquarters.
2) Organization of the Lord's church is much simpler.
(a) Jesus is the __________ of the body (church) Eph. 1:22-23
(b) Elders (Acts 14:23)
(c) Deacons (I Tim. 3)
(d) Other members including the evangelist.
VI. TERMS OF ENTRANCE
1) Denominations teach "faith only" and / or "grace
only"
2) Must be "_________ again" (John 3:3-5)
3) Five steps in becoming a Christian:
a) Hear the Gospel. Rom. 10:17 b) Believe in Christ. John 8:24
(c) Repent of sins. Luke 13:3 (4) Confess Christ. Acts 8:37
(d) Baptized into Christ. Acts 2:38, Rom. 6:3-4
CONCLUSION:
1) A person can know which church is the ___________ church.
2) Are you in Christ's church? 1 Cor. 12:13
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