What Is The Church Of Christ

1
What Is TheChurch Of Christ

• Some concluding thoughts on our series.

2
What is the Church of Christ?

• As I understand and use the phrase...
• It is not a denomination among other
  denominations
• It is not some sect identified by one exclusive
  name
• It is the Lord's church, as defined and revealed
  in the New Testament

3
The Lord's church is thus spoken of in the Bible
primarily in two ways...

• The Church "Universal" Composed of all Christians
  
• There is just one
• Began on the Day of Pentecost
• Enter only by being added by the Lord.
• The Lord keeps the books of members.
• Consists of all the saved
• Must be in this to be saved
• Has no earthly organization
• Can't be divided
• Death doesn't affect membership
• Does not have one scriptural name.

• The Church "Local
• Composed of Christians in one location
• There are many
• Begins when people join together
• Enter by joining ourselves
• Enrolled by human judgment membership
• Consists of both saved and lost
• Do not have to be in this to be saved
• Has earthly organization
• Can be divided
• Death does affect membership
• May use different scriptural name.

4
Properly understood, the Church of Christ is...

• The one Body of Christ, the church - Ephesians
  44 cf. 122-23
• Made up of disciples, called Christians - Acts
  1126 1 Corinthians 1227
• Who work and worship together in local churches -
  Romans 1616
• Abiding in the apostles' doctrine - Acts 242
  cf. 1 Corinthians 417
• Honoring Jesus' prayer for unity - John 1720-21
• Deploring religious division in all its forms,
  including denominationalism - 1 Corinthians
  110-13

5
Questions We Sometimes Are Asked

• "Are you Church of Christ?"
• "Are you a Church of Christ preacher?"
• "Are you a member of the Church of Christ?"
• We should respond...
• "I am not 'Church of Christ', as that reflects a
  denominational concept."
• "I am a preacher of the gospel of Christ, an
  evangelist."
• "I am a Christian, a disciple of Jesus Christ,
  and member of His body, the church you read about
  in the New Testament."

6
Denominationalism

• Is wrong because
• It is against the Bible teaching of unity.
• It is against the Bible in doctrines.
• It is against the Bible in practices.
• Participation in it is against Gods will.

7
History of Denominationalism

• The apostasy of the early church.
• AD 606. Bishop of Rome claims world headship of
  the church.
• AD 14-1500s
• The age of enlightenment because the scriptures
  given to the common man.
• Printing press.

8
History of Denominationalism

• Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, and others
  tried to reform the church.
• That failed so they pulled away from it.
• King of England started his own church.
• Episcopalian and Presbyterian grew out of the
  Anglican church of England.
• Many continued pulling away from Catholic church,
  and started many churches and doctrines.

9
How did we get to the Church of Christ?

• After the reformers failed, and started their own
  groups,
• Some people started the idea that one could
  follow the Bible only and it would produce a
  Christian only, and not something else.
• Many worked toward this concept and our faith
  heritage emerged.

10
The Church of Christ

• Since our group came out of denominationalism,
  why do we not consider ourselves such?
• The principle of procreation is found here.
• Since plants and animals bear after their kind,
  if we follow the pattern found in the Bible, we
  will produce true NT Christians.

11
Conclusion

• We work and worship with a nondenominational
  congregation of Christians, known as the Eastside
  Church of Christ in Ranger, Texas."
• I strive to serve and follow Jesus without
  denominationalism.
• In view of His prayer for unity (John 1720-21),
  and Paul's condemnation of religious division (1
  Corinthians 110-13),
• I pray that you will too...