The Church that
Jesus Was Going to Build
Introduction:
Jesus made a great statement that is recorded in
Matthew 16:18. “And I also say to you that you are Peter,
and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades
shall not prevail against it.” NKJV But what was this
church Jesus was talking about that He was going to build? How
can we identify it today among all the different churches that
we see?
Body:
I.
Its Origin
·
The church started in Jerusalem. (Isaiah
2:1-3) “The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning
Judah and Jerusalem. Now it shall come to pass in the latter
days That the mountain of the Lord’s house Shall be established
on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the
hills; And all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come
and say, ‘Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To
the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we
shall walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth the
law, And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” NKJV (Acts
2:5) “And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men,
from every nation under heaven.” NKJV
· The
church began in the 1st Century. (Daniel 2:44) “And in the
days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom
which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be
left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all
these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” NKJV (Acts
2:47) “praising God and having favor with all the people. And
the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
NKJV
II.
Descriptions of
the Church
(Ephesians 3:15) “from whom the whole family in heaven and earth
is named,” NKJV
·
Body of Christ
(Ephesians 1:22-23) “And He put all things under His feet, and
gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His
body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”
NKJV
·
Church of God
(I Corinthians 1:2) “To the church of God which is at Corinth,
to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be
saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus
Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:”
NKJV
·
Bride of Christ
(Revelation 21:9) “Then one of the seven angels who had the
seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and
talked with me, saying, ‘Come, I will show you the bride, the
Lamb’s wife.’ ”
NKJV
·
Church of the
Firstborn (Hebrews 12:23) “to the general assembly and
church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the
Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,”
NKJV
·
Churches of
Christ (Romans 16:16) “Greet one another with a holy kiss.
The churches of Christ greet you.”
NKJV
III.
Names of Its Members
·
Saints (Romans 1:7) “To all who are in Rome, beloved of
God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” NKJV
·
Disciples
(John 15:8) “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much
fruit; so you will be My disciples.”
NKJV
·
Brethren (Matthew 23:8) “But you, do not be called Rabbi;
for One is your Teacher, the Christ and you are all brethren.”
NKJV
·
Children of God
(I John 3:2) “Beloved now we are children of God; and it has not
yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is
revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”
NKJV
·
Christians (Acts 11:25-26) “Then Barnabas departed for
Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him
to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with
the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples
were first called Christians in Antioch.”
NKJV
IV.
Its Rule of Faith and Worship
·
Word of God
(II Timothy 3:16-17) “All Scripture is given by inspiration of
God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of
God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
NKJV
·
Worship
(John 4:24) “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must
worship in spirit and truth.”
NKJV
o
Sing
(Ephesians 5:19) “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns
and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to
the Lord.”
NKJV
o
Pray (Acts
2:42) “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine
and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
NKJV
o
Teach/Preach
(Acts 20:7) “Now on the first day of the week, when the
disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart
the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until
midnight.”
NKJV
o
Partake of the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7a) “Now on the
first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break
bread,” NKJV
(I Corinthians 11:23-26) “For I received from the Lord that
which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same
night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given
thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat: this is My body which
is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same
manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is
the new covenant in My blood. This do as often as you drink it,
in remembrance of Me.’ For as often aa you eat this bread and
drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” NKJV
o
Contribute
(I Corinthians 16:1-2) “Now concerning the collection for the
saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so
you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of
you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that
there be no collections when I come.”
NKJV
Conclusion:
We have seen from
Scripture itself what the church was that Jesus built and of
which He is the head. Does this describe the church to which
you belong?
Bobby Stafford
August 27, 2017
The
church of Christ
