Discovering God’s House

Discovering God’s Church

Discovering True Worship

1.The Disciple’s Mandate

2.The Church the Body

3.God’s House in the Past

4.The House Today

5.Conditions of the House

6.God’s Building Work

7.Church

8.The Design of God’s Churches

9.Keeping to the Pattern

10. Keeping to the Pattern (continued)

11.True Worship

12. Putting it into Practice

“The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was

taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given

commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive

after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by

them during forty days and speaking of the things

pertaining to the kingdom of God.”Acts 1:1-3

Galilee

The Lord spent 40 days after His resurrection

instructing His apostles.

These apostles were to play the

pivotal role in the kingdom of God.

Matthew 28:18-20

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority

has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go

therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing

them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of

the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I

have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to

the end of the age."

Making disciples includes baptizing them

and teaching them.

They were to teach them ALL things that He had

commanded them. It was a complete doctrine.

It was applicable for this whole dispensation of time

(until His return).

Commands of the Commands of the LordLord

The apostles’ The apostles’ teaching (doctrine)teaching (doctrine)

The faithThe faith

Acts 2:41,42

“Then those who gladly received his word were

baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were

added to them.”…

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the

breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

We’re not told what the Lord

taught, but we can deduce it from what happened

thereafter.

The response to Peter’s message, after the Holy Spirit

had come, was a series of individual and then collective actions that resulted in two

things existing: (a) the church the Body of Christ; and (b) the

church of God in Jerusalem.

This set a pattern for

what followed.

“God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from

the heart that form of doctrine to which you were

delivered.”

“contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”

Romans 6:17; Jude v.3

These things apply directly to us today; they are not just a

historical account of the first century.

These things apply directly to us today; they are not just a

historical account of the first century

What the Lord taught the apostles, and they taught to other

disciples, became a “form” (mold).

FROM: one church in Jerusalem

TO: a community of interdependent churches

FROM: only Jewish disciples

TO: all nationalities without distinction

FROM: governance by the 12 apostlesTO: collective governance by a united

elderhood

FROM: oral teaching, authenticated by miracles

TO: the written New Testament scriptures FROM: the commands of the Lord

TO: the apostles’ doctrine

TO: “the faith” fully delivered

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to

their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for

themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be

turned aside to fables.”

1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 4:3,4

(14 centuries)

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will

depart from the faith”

The Remembrance – TO: “The Mass”

Disciples’ baptism – TO: sprinkling infants

The faith – TO: the 7 sacraments

With Christ at death – TO: purgatory & worship of Mary

United elderhood - TO: Pope & clergy

Supremacy of scripture – TO: Bible banned

Spiritual service – TO: crucifixes & relics

“in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some

for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will

be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.”

Romans 1:17; 2 Timothy 2:20,21

“As it is written, The just shall live by faith."

Martin Luther

Salvation by grace & faith – at the Reformation

The absolute authority of Scripture – at the Reformation

Disciples’ baptism by immersion (17th Century)

Elderhood (presbytery) – 16th Century

The Remembrance – 19th Century

Evangelism – 19th Century

“sola scriptura”

1. The house of God is the same as the church the Body of Christ

2. All churches of believers are scriptural churches of God

3. God comes down to us for our spiritual worship

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their

word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may

believe that You sent Me.”

“…till we all come to the unity of the faith”

John 17:20,21; Ephesians 4:3,13

“…endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit”

God is ‘one’ – He desires unity among His people

It is not by compromise, but by common adherence to the faith

It requires the work of the Holy Spirit

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God,

a worker who does not need to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.”  

2 Timothy 2:15; Matthew 15:6

“You have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.”  

NKJV“And they continued

steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and

fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and

in prayers.”

“you are the the temple of God”

“you are the body of Christ”

Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 12:27

Original

“And they continued steadfastly in the

apostles' doctrine and the fellowship, in the

breaking of bread, and in the prayers.”

“you are temple of God”

“you are body of Christ”

“Jesus said…

"If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." 

John 8:31,32