The Cross Centered Church Mike Mazzalongo BibleTalk.tv

St. Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal

Insight #1 The church comes from the Bible Not The Bible comes from the church

Insight #1 God is the one who inspired the Bible Not the church

Insight #2 Why Am I A Member of The Church of Christ?

Insight #2 Many groups claim that they are the “True Church”.

Ecumenism tries to reconcile all the different groups within Christianity.

Problems with Ecumenism: 1.Not Biblical- Eph. 4:15-16

Problems with Ecumenism: 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. Eph. 4:15-16

Problems with Ecumenism: 1.Not Biblical- Eph. 4: Not the “Unity” Jesus prayed for- …Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are. John 17:11b

Problems with Ecumenism: The major tenet of our movement is the restoration of the church as it is described in the New Testament.

Gyrocompass

The “Restoration” idea is our Spiritual Gyrocompass

Jude 3 3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.

6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; Galatians 1:6

Restoration is a Necessary Biblical Principle.

The Church of Christ is the Most Successful Restorationist Church.

Insight #3 Restoring the cross to the center of church life is very important.

Restoring The Cross To The Center 1.Restore cross-centered preaching -Rom. 1:16

Restoring The Cross To The Center 1.Restore cross-centered preaching 2.Restore cross centered teaching -Acts 2:42

Restoring The Cross To The Center 1.Restore cross-centered preaching 2.Restore cross centered teaching 3.Restore cross centered living -Rom. 8:13

Restoring The Cross To The Center 21 “ Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Matt. 7:21

Restoring The Cross To The Center 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ Matt. 7:22

Restoring The Cross To The Center 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM M E, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’ Matt. 7:23

Restoring The Cross To The Center It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him II Tim. 2:11-12a

Summary 1.Keep the cross at the center: Keep cross centered preaching as our message to the world

Summary Promote cross-centered teaching to build true N.T. churches

Summary Persevere in cross-centered living that we may be found faithful when He comes.

Summary 1.Keep the cross at the center. 2.Pass on the “Restoration” principle to the next generation.