“Church” What images or thoughts does this word conjure in your mind? That it is unfortunately often applied to the “container” (building) rather than the “contents” (people)? That it shouldn’t be capitalized since it isn’t used as a proper noun, and that of the 112 occurrences in the N.T. (NASV), not one of them starts with an upper case? cf. Rom.16:16 That ekklesia really just means congregation or assembly, Acts 7:38; 19:32,39,41? Universal, Matt.16:18? Regional, 1Cor.16:1? Or Local, Rev.1:11? Something else? Think with me about “the” church, and “this” church.

The Church Let’s reason together about The Church in these ways: Origin- The Church is what Jesus built and purchased with His blood, Matt.16:18; Acts 20:28. Organization- The Church is the body over which He is the Head (Executive, Legislative, Judicial), Eph.1: Access- The Church is entered through faith, repentance, and baptism, Acts 2:36-38 > > 47. Composition- The Church is comprised of the saved of all time, Heb.12:23.  Certainly, it began in a sense on Pentecost in 33 A.D. as recorded in Acts 2; but  One must also recognize that Jesus’ sacrifice reached back to save the faithful of the previous dispensations and covenants, Rom.3:25-26; Heb.9:15; 10:12.

This Church Let’s think about This Church in comparable ways: Origin- This Church began in 1957 when the H.D. Stallings, Tony Skinner, Roy Cash, and James Fussell families, along with Pearl Magness, starting a new work in Jacksonville which eventually moved to this present location. The rejection of church-supported institutions was the impetus for beginning this church. Organization- This Church is overseen by three Elders- Eddie Arrington, Mike Terry, and myself; and it is served by six Deacons- Eddie Crain, Dwayne King, Tony McLeroy, Luke Smith, Tim Ross, and Rick Turner. All seek to use the N.T. alone as a guide of faith and practice, Phil.1:1; Acts 20:32. Access- This Church is entered by mutual acceptance and agreement on the basis of common birth, Gal.3:26-29; Acts 2:41- 47; 9:26. The word “associate” (in Acts 9:26) is translated from the Greek word kollao, which literally means to glue, cement, or fasten together; thus, to join one’s self to, or cleave to, cf. Matt.19:5; Acts 17:34. Composition- This Church is comprised of about 130 brethren (members and their children).

Comparisons The Church has Jesus as its Head, therefore: It belongs to Him. He is responsible for its membership, and makes no mistakes either by inclusion or exclusion. It has perfect fellowship, for He is the Head of it. This church has the Men we selected and appointed to lead and serve us in Christ’s way, therefore: It belongs to us in a sense of stewardship, Luke 12: We are responsible for our own membership.  We could include those we shouldn’t, 1Cor.5:1ff; or  We could exclude those we shouldn’t, 3John As a body comprised of imperfect members led by imperfect men, we thus have an imperfect fellowship.

Now, the Point(s) How do you think/feel about this Church? Still committed to the N.T. alone as our guide; that this church is capable of accomplishing God’s assigned work without hiring a third-part institution; to Book, Chapter, and Verse authority for everything we believe and practice? 1Pet.4:11 Committed to submission to the leadership of our Elders, and to working with our Deacons for the betterment of the whole congregation? Heb.13:17 “Glued” and “cleaving” to this family as yours here at Southside? Acts 9:26 > 2:41-47 > 4:32. Responsible as a member in this ship for every success and every failure? 1Cor.12:12-27 The Church belongs to Christ and is His responsibility; this Church has been given to us as stewards, and every one of “us” is responsible for its success, Matt.25:14-30; 1Cor.4:1-2. Are you, as a member, doing your part? 1Pet.4:10