13 “When Jesus came into the coasts of Casesarea Phillipi, he asked his disciples saying, “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” 14 And they said,

WELCOME TO THE WEST NEWTON

CHURCH OF CHRIST

WHY THE

CHURCH OF CHRIST?

MATTHEW 16:13 – 18

13 “When Jesus came into the coasts of Casesarea Phillipi, he asked his disciples saying, “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” 14 And they said, Some say that thou are John the Baptist: some, Elias, and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, “But whom say ye that I am?” 16 And Simon Peter answered and said unto him, Thou are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

MATTHEW 16:13 – 18 (CONT.)

17 “And Jesus answered and said unto him,” “Blessed are thou, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” 18 “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Now Christ says “my” church….not “a” church, ..not “some” church,… not “one of the” churches, but “my” church.

JOHN 14:6

“Jesus saith unto him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.”

I CORINTHIANS 10:4

“And did all drink the same spiritual drink for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.”

HEBREWS 7:12

“For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change of the law.”

HEBREWS 7:24

“But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.”

HEBREWS 8:13

“In that he saith, A new covenant, he have made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish.”

JOHN 19:28 - 30

28 “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, “I thirst”. 29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar; and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished”; and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”

DATE CHURCH FOUNDER

606 AD ROMAN CATHOLIC BONIFACE III(assumed title of Universal bishop)

1520 AD LUTHERAN MARTIN LUTHER

1534 AD EPICOPALIAN HENRY VIII

1536 AD PRESBYTERIAN JOHN CALVIN

1607 AD BAPTIST JOHN SMYTHE

1739 AD METHODIST JOHN WESLEY

1830 AD LATTER DAY SAINTS(Mormon)

JOSEPH SMITH

1860 AD 7TH DAY ADVENTIST JAMES WHITE & ELLEN G. HARMON

1872 AD JEHOVAH’S WITNESS C.T. RUSSELL

1886 AD CHURCH OF GOD 8 INDIVIDUALS

33 A.D.CHURCH OF CHRIST

JESUS CHRIST

ROMANS 16:1

“I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea.”

ROMANS 16:16

“Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.”

ACTS 2:47

“Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

ENCYCLOPEDIC EDITION CONTEMPORARY DICTIONARY

Denomination – A religious sect or group having a specific name.

Sect – A religious denomination, especially a body of dissenters from an established or older form of faith.

ACTS 2:47

“And the Lord added to THE church daily such as should be saved.”

Once again, the Lord says “the” church….not “a” church, ..not “some” church,… not “one of the” churches, but “the” church.

HEAD OF THE CHURCH…

EPHESIANS 1:20 - 23

20 “Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in heavenly places. 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church. 23 Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.”

EPHESIANS 5:23

“For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body.”

COLOSSIANS 1:13 - 20

13 “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son;

14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him, and for him.”

COLOSSIANS 1:13 – 20 (CONT.)

17 “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him all fullness dwell. 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”


THE BIBLE…

2 TIMOTHY 2:15

“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

GENESIS 2:17

“But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

GENESIS 3:4

“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.”

2 TIMOTHY 3:15 - 17

15 “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

I PETER 4:11

“If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever, Amen.”

REVELATIONS 22:18-19

18 “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book. If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book.”

19 “ And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”

2 PETER 1:3

“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.”

2 TIMOTHY 3:15 - 17

15 “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

MATTHEW 15:9

“But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”


THE BIBLE…

BAPTISM…

ACTS 2:38

“Then Peter said unto them, repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

MATTHEW 19:14

“But Jesus said, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

MATTHEW 18:3

“And said,” “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven”.

STRONG’S HEBREW AND GREEK DICTIONARIES

Baptizo – “to make whelmed or fully wet”. Precisely, a derivative of the word “Bapto” which is a primary verb meaning “to whelm, cover wholly with fluid”.

WEBSTER’S ENCYCLOPEDIC EDITION DICTIONARY

Whelm – “to submerge”.

ACTS 8:36 - 39

36 “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down INTO the water, BOTH Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 39 And when they were come UP OUT OF THE WATER, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.”


THE BIBLE…

BAPTISM…

GIVING…

I CORINTHIANS 16:1-2

1 “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given the order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.”

2 CORINTHIANS 9:6 - 8

6 “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.”

THESE TWO SCRIPTURES TELL US:

1. When?

Upon the first day of the week.

2. How much?

“As God hath prospered him” &

“According as he purposeth in this heart.”

3. How are we to give?

“Not grudgingly, or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver.”


THE BIBLE…

BAPTISM…

GIVING…

SINGING & INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC…

MATTHEW 26:30

“And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.”

EPHESIANS 5:19“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”

COLOSSIANS 3:16

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

HEBREWS 2:12“Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.”

PSALMS 150:3 - 5

3 “ Praise him with the sound of the trumpet; praise him with the psaltery and harp. 4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.5 Praise him upon loud cymbals; praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.”

JOHN 21:25

“And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.”

REVELATIONS 22:18 - 19

18 “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book.”

19 “And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”


THE BIBLE…

BAPTISM…

GIVING…


COMMUNION…

ACTS 20:7

“And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.”

I CORINTHIANS 11:24 - 26

24 “And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, “Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.”

25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, “This cup is the new testament in my blood; this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me”. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.”


THE BIBLE…

BAPTISM…

GIVING…


COMMUNION…

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES…

BARNA GROUP STUDY

33%

67%

KIDS 13 - 18

Kids attend-ing youth group activi-ties regularly

Kids not at-tending youth group activities

39%

61%

Adults now in 20's

Adult who now attend church func-tions that at-tended as a teenSame adults who do not attend church functions

ROMANS 14:17

“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

I CORINTHIANS 11:18 - 22

18 “For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you: and I partly believe it. 19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. 20 When you come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper. 21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. 22 What? Have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.”

WEBSTER’S ENCYCLOPEDIC EDITION DICTIONARY

Heresy – 1. A religious or doctrinal belief contrary to those of an established body or authority. 3. Adherence to such belief

I CORINTHIANS 11:34

“And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together into condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.”

WHY NOT SPONSOR SOCIAL ACTIVITIES?

1. It is not authorized by the scripture.

2. We’ve covered the “it doesn’t say not to” approach.

3. It doesn’t work for the intended purpose. Why should God’s money be spent on it?

WHY DO WE SAY THERE IS ONLY ONE CHURCH?

Because the bible says so.

WHY DO WE SAY IS IT IS THE CHURCH OF CHRIST?

Because the bible says Christ founded it and is head of it.

WHY DO WE WORSHIP AS WE DO?

I’ve given you book, chapter, and verse for every issue.

HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THE CHURCH OF CHRIST STILL EXISTS?

Because the bible says the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

MATTHEW 15:10

“And he called the multitude, and said unto them, “Hear, and understand”;

JOHN 3:16

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

I JOHN 5:3

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”

JOHN 15:10

“Jesus answered and said unto him,” “If a man love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”

I JOHN 1:8

“If we say we have not sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

Documents

13 “When Jesus came into the coasts of Casesarea Phillipi, he asked his disciples saying, “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” 14 And they said,