The Plea of the Church

The Plea of the Church

Introduction
This message sets forth the plea of the church: Christ, Scripture, authorized worship, ordered fellowship, and heaven’s hope—spoken as the oracles of God and done in Christ’s name (1 Peter 4:11; Colossians 3:17).

Why This Plea Matters
Faithful voices have urged the church to cherish what Christ founded, revealed, and sustains. Their writings and examples point us back to Scripture. The plea of the churches of Christ arises from that same devotion: a sincere affirmation of truths God has made plain in His word. The church belongs to Christ, was purchased by His blood, and receives direction from His teaching. The world needs this plea because Christ saves sinners, forms a holy people, and leads them toward an imperishable hope.

Our Plea Begins with Christ
The church confesses Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God. He is truly divine, the anointed One, our Prophet, Priest, and King (John 4:42; Hebrews 1:1–3). He rewards those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). He judges in righteousness, and His word will stand in the last day. Faith is personal, obedient, and centered in Him.

Our Sole Book Is the Bible
The apostles taught the church to “continue steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42). Scripture is God-breathed and equips for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16–17). God’s word is perfect and converts the soul (Psalm 19:7); it is forever settled in heaven (Psalm 119:89). Jesus alone is Lawgiver (James 4:12). The church therefore learns, believes, and practices by Scripture, speaking where God speaks and yielding where God has spoken.

The Lord’s Church
Christ promised, “I will build My church” (Matthew 16:18). He is Head over all things to the church, which is His body; He is its Savior (Ephesians 1:22–23; 5:23). On Pentecost, those who believed and were baptized were added, and the Lord continued to add the saved to the church (Acts 2:41, 47). The church began in the first century under Christ’s reign and continues under His unchanging authority.

Authorized Worship
In worship, disciples act “in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17). Scripture authorizes congregational singing that teaches and admonishes (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16), prayers offered together (Acts 2:42), proclamation of the word (Acts 20:7), the Lord’s Supper each Lord’s Day with unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine in remembrance of Christ (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26), and the giving of our means for the saints and the work God assigns (1 Corinthians 16:1–2). The church seeks nothing beyond the Lord’s revealed pattern, trusting His wisdom and honoring His will.

Authorized Organization
Christ is the church’s only universal Head, reigning from heaven (Acts 1:9–11; Ephesians 1:22–23). Local congregations are ordered with evangelists, a plurality of qualified elders, and deacons, along with all members working in love (Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:1–13; Titus 1:5–9). Each congregation answers to Christ and tends the flock among them, guarding sound doctrine and holy living.

Our Mission
The Lord came to seek and save the lost, and He sends His people with the gospel (Luke 19:10; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:18–20). Evangelism proclaims Christ; benevolence does good to all, especially the household of faith (Galatians 6:10); edification stirs love and good works as we assemble and encourage one another (Hebrews 10:24–25). These labors display the grace of God and the order of His house.

Entrance into the Kingdom
Entrance follows the new birth. Jesus declared, “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). He joined belief and baptism in the promise of salvation (Mark 16:16). In Acts, believers repented and were baptized for the remission of sins, and the Lord added them to His church (Acts 2:38, 41, 47). This is the path of obedient faith for every generation.

Our Vocabulary
God calls His people to speak as the oracles of God (1 Peter 4:11). Bible names and Bible ways keep teaching clear: the Lord’s Supper or communion; elders, deacons, evangelists; the church or body of Christ; disciples, saints, brethren. Clear speech so shaped by Scripture promotes unity and understanding (1 Corinthians 1:10).

Our Hope
Disciples are called in one hope (Ephesians 4:4). That hope is laid up in heaven (Colossians 1:5), promised by the God who cannot lie (Titus 1:2). Christ’s kingdom cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:28). The church lives now by faith, love, and holiness, and looks forward to the fullness of eternal life.

The Plea of the Church Sermon Outline:

• Introduction

  • Theme and primary texts (1 Peter 4:11; Colossians 3:17).

• I. Our Plea Begins with Christ

  • Confession of Jesus as Christ and Son of God; His roles (John 4:42; Hebrews 1:1–3; 11:6).

• II. Our Sole Book Is the Bible

  • Steadfast continuance in apostolic doctrine; sufficiency of Scripture (Acts 2:42; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; Psalm 19:7; 119:89; James 4:12).

• III. The Lord’s Church

  • Promise, purchase, headship, and beginning; the Lord adds the saved (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 1:22–23; 5:23; Acts 2:41, 47).

• IV. Authorized Worship

  • Singing, prayer, preaching, weekly Supper, giving—done by Christ’s authority (Colossians 3:17; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26; 16:1–2).

• V. Authorized Organization

  • Christ’s sole headship; local autonomy with elders, deacons, evangelists, and members (Acts 1:9–11; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:1–13; Titus 1:5–9).

• VI. Our Mission

  • Evangelism, benevolence, edification (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:18–20; Galatians 6:10; Hebrews 10:24–25).

• VII. Entrance into the Kingdom

  • New birth; belief, repentance, baptism; added to the church (John 3:5; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38, 41, 47).

• VIII. Our Vocabulary

  • Speak as Scripture speaks; promote unity (1 Peter 4:11; 1 Corinthians 1:10).

• IX. Our Hope

  • One hope laid up in heaven; an unshakable kingdom (Ephesians 4:4; Colossians 1:5; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 12:28).

Call to Action
Confess Jesus as Lord, submit to His word, and enter His kingdom through obedient faith. Embrace the worship and order He authorizes. Commit to the mission He assigns. Speak with Scripture’s clarity. Live toward the hope of heaven. If you need to obey the gospel—believe, repent, confess Christ, and be baptized—or if you need restoration through repentance and prayer, respond while the Lord graciously calls.

Key Takeaways

• Christ is the church’s center and sovereign (John 4:42; Hebrews 1:1–3; 11:6).

• Scripture alone equips and governs (Acts 2:42; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; Psalm 19:7; 119:89; James 4:12).

• The church is Christ’s body; He adds the saved (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 1:22–23; 5:23; Acts 2:41, 47).

• Worship follows the Lord’s revealed pattern (Colossians 3:17; Ephesians 5:19; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26; 16:1–2).

• Congregations are ordered with elders, deacons, evangelists, and members under Christ (Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:1–13; Titus 1:5–9).

• The church’s mission includes evangelism, benevolence, and edification (Mark 16:15; Galatians 6:10; Hebrews 10:24–25).

• Entrance is the new birth—belief, repentance, baptism—by which the Lord adds to His church (John 3:5; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38, 41, 47).

• God calls us to speak as the oracles of God (1 Peter 4:11; 1 Corinthians 1:10).

• The church lives in one hope and receives an unshakable kingdom (Ephesians 4:4; Colossians 1:5; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 12:28).

Scripture Reference List

• John 4:42 – Confession of Jesus as the Christ, Savior of the world.

• Hebrews 1:1–3 – Christ’s roles and divine nature.

• Hebrews 11:6 – The Lord rewards those who seek Him.

• Acts 2:42 – Steadfast continuance in apostolic doctrine and prayers.

• 2 Timothy 3:16–17 – Scripture’s sufficiency.

• Psalm 19:7 – The law of the Lord converts the soul.

• Psalm 119:89 – God’s word is settled in heaven.

• James 4:12 – One Lawgiver.

• Matthew 16:18 – Christ will build His church.

• Ephesians 1:22–23 – Christ is Head of the church, His body.

• Ephesians 5:23 – Christ is Savior of the body.

• Acts 2:41, 47 – Baptized believers added; the Lord adds the saved.

• Colossians 3:17 – Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.

• Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16 – Singing in worship.

• Acts 20:7 – Assembly on the first day; preaching; Lord’s Supper context.

• 1 Corinthians 11:23–26 – Institution and meaning of the Supper.

• 1 Corinthians 16:1–2 – Giving on the first day for the saints.

• Philippians 1:1 – Saints with bishops and deacons.

• 1 Timothy 3:1–13; Titus 1:5–9 – Qualifications for elders and deacons.

• Acts 1:9–11 – Christ’s ascension and heavenly reign.

• Mark 16:15–16 – Preach the gospel; belief and baptism.

• Matthew 28:18–20 – Make disciples by baptizing and teaching.

• Galatians 6:10 – Do good to all, especially the household of faith.

• Hebrews 10:24–25 – Assemble to stir up love and good works.

• John 3:5 – Born of water and the Spirit to enter the kingdom.

• 1 Peter 4:11 – Speak as the oracles of God.

• 1 Corinthians 1:10 – Plea for unity.

• Ephesians 4:4 – One hope of our calling.

• Colossians 1:5 – Hope laid up in heaven.

• Titus 1:2 – Hope of eternal life.

• Hebrews 12:28 – The unshakable kingdom.

Prepared by Bobby Stafford of the church of Christ at Granby, MO