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The Lords ChurchThrough the Ages

• Part 1
• The New Testament Church

Presented by Chris Reeves Rocky Point church of
Christ Gospel Meeting November 17, 2011
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The Lords Church Through the AgesWhere Are We?
The New Testament Church Post-Apostolic Period Medieval Period Reformation Period Restoration Period The Lords Church Today
A.D. 33 - 100 100 - 600 600 - 1300 1300 - 1700 1700 - 1900 1900 - 2011
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Why This Study?

• A study of history is profitable for learning
  valuable lessons (1 Corinthians 1011-12)
• A study of the New Testament church is profitable
  for several reasons
• The church as the Lord intended it
• The church distinguished from other religions
• The church is warned of the dangers of apostasy

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Understanding Some Terms

• Church from the Greek word ekklesia, means a
  called out people (never a building). These
  people are called out from sin, to salvation, by
  God, and in obedience through the gospel (2
  Thess. 214 see Mt. 1618 1817 Acts 247
  511 81,3 etc.). In these series of lessons,
  church is used to refer to the Lords church in
  any age and Church is used to refer to the
  human religions started by men. Church History
  is used to refer to human Churches (religions
  related to Christianity) as they come in contact
  with the Lords church (people).

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Understanding Some Terms

• Apostasy is from the Greek apostasia and means
  to fall away (apo) from a fixed spot (stasia),
  to leave, or to forsake (see Acts 2121 2
  Thess. 23). When one leaves or forsakes the
  fixed realm of New Testament teaching he has
  apostatized.

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The New Testament Church Established

• The NT church was planned by God (Eph. 310-11)
• The NT church was promised by the prophets
  (Isa. 2 Dan. 2 Joel 2 Acts 2)
• The NT church was prepared for by John the
  Baptist (Mt. 31ff 1110)
• The NT church was purchased by Jesus Christ
  (Acts 2028)
• The NT church was preached by the Apostles
  (1 Cor. 123 22)

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The New Testament Church

• Founder
• Head
• Beginning
• Membership
• Nature Work
• Worship
• Organization
• Doctrine

• Conduct
• Name
• Unity
• Persecution
• Problems
• Growth
• Universality
• Destiny

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Apostasy in the First Century

• Philosophies Judaism, Gnosticism,
  false teachings
• Individuals Hymenaeus, Alexander, Philetus
• Local churches Corinth, Ephesus, Pergamum,
  Thyatira, Laodicea
• Personal conduct hypocrisy, sexual immorality,
  preeminence

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Apostasy Now and In the Future

• Apostasy in leadership (Acts 2028-30)
• Apostasy in attitude (2 Thess. 23-11)
• Apostasy in teaching (1 Tim. 41-3 2 Pet. 21-2
  1 Jn. 41-6)
• Apostasy in living (2 Tim. 31-5 42-4)

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Lessons Learned

• The NT church is recorded for a pattern
• The NT church is distinct
• The NT church demonstrates Gods wisdom
• The NT church is in real danger of apostasy
• The NT church can and does exist today

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The Lords Church Through the Ages

• Let us strive to be Christians only and members
  of the Lords church
• Let us work to avoid apostasy which is rooted in
  a lack of respect for divine authority
• Let us be the faithful remnant of the Lords
  church today