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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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