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Wrong Attitudes About the Lords Church

• Or despise ye the church of God 1
  Corinthians 1122

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Church Attitudes Past and Present

• Right attitudes toward the Lords church (people)
  exist in the beginning when Christians are
  committed (see Acts 2-20)
• Later, when the same Christians lose their
  commitment, wrong attitudes take over (see Rev.
  2-3)
• What attitude do you have toward the Lords
  church (Acts 83 121 1 Cor.
  1122 3 Jn.9)?

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1 Taking the Lords church for granted

• A _____ generation Christian (or younger
  Christian) can take the Lords church for granted
  because he/she did not have to give up much to be
  converted
• Taking the Lords church for granted can lead
  some Christians to traditionalism or apathy (Rev.
  24)
• We must develop our own faith, each must
  sacrifice, each must appreciate the Lords church
  (Acts 511 931 2028 Rom.
  161 1 Tim. 31,5)

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2 Assuming everyone understands the significance
of the Lords church

• Many in the world know very little of the Lords
  church dont assume they know its significance
• Assuming this can lead some Christians to not
  share the gospel
• We must set the right example (1 Pet. 115
  29-12), tell people who we are (1 Pet. 411,16),
  and why we are that way (1 Pet.
  315) tell others about the Lords church (Acts
  1126 Eph. 38-10)

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3 Being ashamed of the Lords church

• Because of many different religions, and
  family/friends in these religions, a Christian
  can be ashamed of the Lords church
• Being ashamed causes some Christians to remove
  church of Christ (Rom. 1616) some will not
  condemn error, or stand for truth some have more
  allegiance to the things of this life
• We must be bold and uphold the truth in the
  church (1 Tim. 315)

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4 Treating the Lords church as denomination

• Because some want to be like the religious world
  around them, they often treat the Lords church
  like a denomination
• Treating the Lords church this way leads some
  Christians to accept denominational
  doctrines/practices, have unity with
  denominations, etc. (1 Cor. 417 717 1433)
• We must preach the undenominational nature of the
  Lords church (Mt. 1618 Acts 247 1 Cor. 311
  Eph. 122-23 44-6 Col. 118,24)

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5 Believing one can be saved outside the Lords
church

• Many believe that they can be good and be saved
  without being a member of the Lords church
• Believing this causes many to refuse to study the
  Bible or attend a church service some Christians
  no longer invite
• We must be born again we must be part of the the
  church of the firstborn (Heb. 1223) glory to
  God is in the church (Eph. 321) Jesus saves
  only those who are in his body, his church (Eph.
  523-32)