1. Christ’s Church Part 8 – Practices of the Church
Christian Love, a Monolithic Body, and Summary

2. Christ’s Church – Christian love
In order for a congregation to be recognized by Christ as belonging to Him, the members must practice Christian love
Read John 13:34,35
Jesus wasn’t content with giving us a command to love one another
He gave us a personal example which He expects us to follow
We must love one another as He loved us
Christ’s Church – Christian love

3. Christ’s Church – Christian love
Jesus said, “If any one wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up His cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24)
We don’t exhibit Christian love until we begin to crucify ourselves on the cross of service for others
Until the needs of others become more important than our needs, we have not yet denied ourselves
Christ’s Church – Christian love

4. Christ’s Church – Christian love
Read Matthew 25:31-46
Jesus said it is important to:
Feed the hungry
Provide drink for the thirsty
House strangers
Clothe the naked
Visit the sick and prisoners
Those who do such things inherit the kingdom of God for eternity
Those who don’t do those things inherit eternal punishment
Christ’s Church – Christian love

5. Christ’s Church – Christian love
John states it this way: “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen” (1 John 4:20)
The great need of our time is to restore the New Testament love to the practice of those congregations which truly follow Christ
Christ’s Church – Christian love

6. Christ’s Church – a monolithic body
In a democratic body, everything is done by a majority vote
The devil likes majority vote – he can either control the majority, or throw a monkey wrench through a vocal minority
Companies and armies are not run by majority rule
Jobs have to get done
Men at the top have the energy and ability to see that these jobs get done
Christ’s Church – a monolithic body

7. Christ’s Church – a monolithic body
So the church is a monolithic body
It is one huge, unsplinterable chunk
That is what Jesus meant when He said, “Upon this rock I will build My church” (Matthew 16:18)
Jesus is the head of the church – Ephesians 1:22,23
The church is to be subject to Christ – see Ephesians 5:23,24
Christ’s Church – a monolithic body

8. Christ’s Church – a monolithic body
Christ has delegated authority to elders and the church is to be subject to them – 1 Peter 5:1-5
The church is not a democracy at all
When trouble does come, the solution for these problems are found in the Scriptures
Christ’s Church – a monolithic body

9. Christ’s Church – a monolithic body
In Matthew 18:15-18, Jesus outlines a four step plan of dealing with errant souls
Reprove your brother in private
If he refuses to listen, take two or three witnesses
If he still refuses to listen, take it to the church
If he still refuses to listen, put him out of the church fellowship
Christ’s Church – a monolithic body

10. Christ’s Church – a monolithic body
In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul instructed the church at Corinth to deliver a very immoral man over “to Satan for the destruction of the flesh”
The goal was “that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (1 Corinthians 5:5)
Evidently when the body was disintegrated, there was hope that he would come to his senses
Christ’s Church – a monolithic body

11. Christ’s Church – a monolithic body
In 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15, those who wouldn’t work were to be put away from the fellowship of the saints
The saints were to welcome them back with open arms when they returned to the straight and narrow way
The principle still holds: “If anyone will not work, neither let him eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10)
Christ’s Church – a monolithic body

12. Christ’s Church – a monolithic body
In Galatians 5:9, the churches are warned that those who preach false doctrines are to be removed from the fellowship
“A little leaven leavens the whole lump”
Read Romans 16:17,18
It is very important that the local congregation practice God’s program of keeping the devil out
Christ’s Church – a monolithic body

13. Christ’s Church – Practices Summary
The church of the Lord carries on distinctive practices as dictated by King Jesus Himself
These practices include:
Purpose of evangelism
Worship of the One who raised Jesus
Acting Christian love
Program for keeping the devil out
Christ’s Church – Practices Summary

14. Christ’s Church – Summary
We have examined:
The purpose and organization of the church
Purpose is to seek and to save the lost. Everything is subjected to that purpose for which Jesus died
The church is to be governed by elders, also called bishops and pastors. They are subject directly to the Holy Spirit
Elders are to be paid, and are appointed by evangelists
Christ’s Church – Summary

15. Christ’s Church – Summary
We have examined:
The nature of the church
The church is the kingdom of God
God describes the church in various descriptive terms to bring out characteristics in Christians
The church as the body of Christ
The church as those who are being saved
The church as a family
The church as an assembly or congregation
The church as the bride of Christ
Christ’s Church – Summary

16. Christ’s Church – Summary
We have examined:
The practices of the church which God has dictated in the New Testament
The church must practice evangelism
The church must worship in spirit and truth
Christians must love as Jesus loved
The church must keep the devil out
Christ’s Church – Summary

17. Christ’s Church – Summary
The overall purpose of this study has been to examine the relationship of Christians to the church
The prayer of Christ that we would all be one has been uppermost in our mind
In each of the specifics, the word of God has been carefully examined to find His counsel
If we return to Biblical practices, the Lord’s plea for unity will be answered
Let’s go – “preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 8:12)
Christ’s Church – Summary

18. Part 9 – A special study – the Sabbath
Christ’s Church
Part 9 – A special study – the Sabbath