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Why the
Church of Christ is Unique
Introduction
In nearly every town, large or small, there are many religious
groups with differing names, teachings, and practices. The Yellow
Pages or an online search will reveal an almost endless variety. But
in the broadest sense, there are only two kinds of churches: those
created by men to please men, and the one church built by the Lord
to please Him. This distinction is vital because the church Jesus
built is unlike any other—it is unique, one-of-a-kind, and divinely
established. Matthew 16:18 records Jesus’ promise: “I will build My
church.” He did not promise to build many churches, each with its
own beliefs and practices. He promised one church, purchased with
His blood (Acts 20:28), over which He alone is the Head (Ephesians
1:22). The New Testament is clear: there is one body, one family,
one house of God, and a divine pattern for His people to follow.
Because it is unique, the Lord’s church faces questions and
challenges other churches do not. Understanding and embracing this
uniqueness is part of our responsibility as disciples.
The Nature
of Man-Made Churches
Churches founded by men inevitably reflect human priorities. If a
group begins with a human founder, its ultimate concern will not be
God’s approval but human satisfaction. When leaders reject the full
authority of Scripture, they will feel free to disregard its
teachings whenever they wish. If a church exists primarily to
entertain or provide social activities, its focus will shift away
from doctrine and worship to personal enjoyment. Churches chasing
the latest fads will see God’s Word as outdated rather than as
timeless truth. Groups obsessed with numerical growth or social
prestige will measure success by attendance, money, and influence
rather than by faithfulness to Christ. In each case, the pattern is
the same: man’s preferences outweigh God’s commands.
The Church
Jesus Built
The Lord’s church is fundamentally different. It exists to please
the Head, Jesus Christ, not to win the approval of men. First Peter
3:15 instructs Christians to be ready to give an answer to anyone
who asks about the hope within them. That means knowing why we
believe what we believe and why we practice what we practice. Why
meet every first day of the week instead of once a month? Why
partake of the Lord’s Supper every Sunday rather than twice a year?
Why sing without mechanical instruments? These questions matter
because they touch on obedience to the Head of the church. Ephesians
1:22 makes it plain that Christ is the head of the body, and
therefore His will takes priority over public opinion or
convenience.
Abiding in
the Doctrine of Christ
Second John 9 warns that whoever does not abide in the doctrine of
Christ “does not have God.” Our obligation is to remain within the
teachings of Christ in all things. That is why the form of music in
worship matters—God authorized vocal praise, not instrumental music.
That is why the roles of men and women in the assembly matter—God
established these roles for His church. The world sees such concerns
as foolish, but 1 Corinthians 1:18 reminds us that the preaching of
the cross is foolishness to the world. What matters to God must
matter to us.
Examples of
Uniqueness
The Lord’s Supper is a prime example. Instituted by Christ Himself,
it is a memorial of His sacrifice, observed by the church every
Sunday, and only on Sunday, as recorded in the New Testament. To
change its frequency or its elements is to alter what the Head has
commanded. The qualifications for elders in passages like 1 Timothy
3 and Titus 1 are another example. The world sees these as
unnecessary restrictions; God sees them as essential safeguards for
His flock. Even the way we refer to church leaders matters—we avoid
unscriptural titles like “Reverend” because they do not reflect
biblical usage.
The Eternal
Standard
Revelation 20 describes the final judgment where all will stand
before Christ, judged by the things written in the books. Our
eternal destiny will be based not on human traditions or popular
opinion, but on whether we have obeyed God’s Word. Salvation
requires more than belief—it demands repentance, confession, and
baptism for the forgiveness of sins. At baptism, God washes away
sins, not by our power but through faith in His promise. In the end,
the question will be whether we sought to please Christ, the Head of
the church, or men. There is only one church that belongs to Him.
Are you part of it?
Why the Church
of Christ is Unique — Sermon Outline
Introduction
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Vast number of
churches exist in the world today, each with different names,
doctrines, and practices.
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Broadly
speaking, there are only two categories:
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Churches
created by men, for men, to please men.
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The one
church built by Christ, to please Him.
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Scripture
reveals that Christ built only
one church
(Matthew 16:18), purchased it with His blood (Acts 20:28), and
serves as its Head (Ephesians 1:22).
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The New
Testament sets forth a single divine pattern for faith and
practice (2 Timothy 1:13).
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Because the
Lord’s church is unique, it faces questions and issues other
churches do not.
I. The Nature
of Man-Made Churches
A. Man-centered
origin and purpose
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Founded by
human authority, not divine authority.
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Aim to satisfy
human preferences rather than God’s will.
B. Disregard for
the authority of Scripture
C. Focus on
worldly aims
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Entertainment and social services prioritized over doctrinal
soundness.
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Chasing the
latest fads and trends.
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Pursuit of
numerical growth, public recognition, and influence over
biblical faithfulness.
D. Measuring
success by worldly standards
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Attendance
numbers, financial contributions, social prestige, and
acceptance by the world take precedence over pleasing God.
II. The
Church Jesus Built
A. Purpose: To
please Christ
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Exists
solely to carry out the will of its Head, Jesus Christ
(Ephesians 1:22-23).
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Not governed
by public opinion or cultural trends.
B. Obligation to
know and defend the truth
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1 Peter 3:15
— Christians must be ready to give an answer for their hope.
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We must
understand and explain why we meet every first day of the week,
partake of the Lord’s Supper weekly, and sing without mechanical
instruments.
C. Pattern and
authority
III.
Abiding in the Doctrine of Christ
A. Music in
worship
B. Roles of men
and women in the church
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God-given
roles outlined in passages like 1 Timothy 2:11-12 and 1
Corinthians 14:34-35.
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The world
may reject these, but our concern is obedience to God.
C. The Lord’s
Supper
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Instituted
by Christ as a memorial of His death (Matthew 26:26-29).
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Observed on
the first day of the week, every week (Acts 20:7).
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Frequency
and elements matter because God specified them.
D.
Qualifications for elders
E. Scriptural
titles
IV. The
Eternal Standard
A. Final
judgment based on God’s Word
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Revelation
20:12 — All will be judged by the things written in the books.
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God’s Word,
not human tradition or opinion, will determine our eternal
destiny.
B. Conditions of
salvation
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Belief and
faith are essential (John 8:24; Hebrews 11:6).
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Faith must
lead to repentance (Acts 17:30), confession (Romans 10:9-10),
and baptism for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38).
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At baptism,
God washes away sins (Acts 22:16).
C. The question
of loyalty
V.
Conclusion
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The church
of Christ is unique because it belongs to Christ, follows His
Word, and is governed by His authority.
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What matters
to God must matter to us.
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Every
Christian must be prepared to explain and defend the uniqueness
of the Lord’s church.
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The call is
to remain faithful, abide in Christ’s doctrine, and seek only to
please Him.
Call to
Action
Christ is the Head of one body, the church. To be part of it is to
submit to His authority in all matters of faith and practice. Do not
measure your spiritual life by what others think or by what is
popular. Measure it by the Word of God. If you are not yet a member
of the Lord’s church, respond to the gospel in faith—repenting of
your sins, confessing Christ, and being baptized for the forgiveness
of your sins. If you are a Christian who has drifted from the
pattern, return to the Lord in repentance and prayer. Eternity
depends on whether you have sought to please the Lord of the church.
Key
Takeaways
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The church
Jesus built is unique and divinely established (Matthew 16:18;
Acts 20:28).
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Man-made
churches prioritize human desires over God’s commands
(Colossians 2:22).
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God expects
His people to abide in Christ’s doctrine in all matters (2 John
9).
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Worship,
leadership, and practice must follow biblical authority
(Ephesians 1:22; Acts 20:7).
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Judgment
will be according to God’s Word, not human opinion (Revelation
20:12).
Scripture
Reference List
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Matthew
16:18 – Jesus promises to build
His church.
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Acts
20:28 – Christ purchased the
church with His blood.
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Ephesians 1:22 – Christ is the
Head of the church.
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1
Timothy 3:15 – The church is the
house of God.
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1 Peter
3:15 – Be ready to give an answer
for your hope.
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2 John
9 – Abide in the doctrine of
Christ to have God.
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1
Corinthians 1:18 – The world sees
God’s truth as foolishness.
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Acts
20:7 – The church observed the
Lord’s Supper every Sunday.
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1
Timothy 3; Titus 1 –
Qualifications for elders.
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Revelation 20:12 – Final judgment
based on God’s Word.
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Mark
16:16; Acts 2:38 – Conditions for
salvation.
Prepared by
Bobby Stafford of the church of Christ at Granby, MO
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The
church of Christ
