The The OriginOrigin, , NatureNature and and MissionMission of of Christ and the Church have been Christ and the Church have been and are misunderstood by many.and are misunderstood by many.

The carpenter’s son – “Is this not the The carpenter’s son – “Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother carpenter’s son? Is not His mother

called Mary? And His brothers James, called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon and Judas? And His Joses, Simon and Judas? And His

sisters, are they not all with us? Where sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things” then did this Man get all these things”

(Mt. 13:55,56; 1:25; Gen. 4:1).(Mt. 13:55,56; 1:25; Gen. 4:1).A prophet – “So they said, Some say A prophet – “So they said, Some say

John the Baptist, some Elijah, and John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the others Jeremiah or one of the

prophets” (Mt. 16:14).prophets” (Mt. 16:14).

Mt. 16:16 - “And Simon Peter answered Mt. 16:16 - “And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son and said, You are the Christ, the Son

of the living God.”of the living God.”

Jn. 5:17,18 - He called God His FatherJn. 5:17,18 - He called God His Father

Jn. 8:53-59 - He was before AbrahamJn. 8:53-59 - He was before Abraham

Rev. 1:7-18 - The Alpha and Omega – Rev. 1:7-18 - The Alpha and Omega – He had no beginning (Is. 9:6).He had no beginning (Is. 9:6).

A sect of the Jews’ religion – Acts 5:17; A sect of the Jews’ religion – Acts 5:17; 15:5; 24:5,14; 28:22,2315:5; 24:5,14; 28:22,23

Began in Restoration MovementBegan in Restoration MovementThe truth?The truth?

In God’s eternal purpose, Eph. 3:8-11In God’s eternal purpose, Eph. 3:8-11Built by Christ, Mt. 16:18Built by Christ, Mt. 16:18

Product of the word, Mt. 13:19; Lk. 8:11 Product of the word, Mt. 13:19; Lk. 8:11 Follow the same pattern – same productFollow the same pattern – same product

A good man – “And there was much A good man – “And there was much murmuring among the people murmuring among the people

concerning Him. Some said, He is good; concerning Him. Some said, He is good; others said No, on the contrary, He others said No, on the contrary, He

deceives the people” (Jn. 7:12).deceives the people” (Jn. 7:12).The God-man – “Behold, a virgin shall The God-man – “Behold, a virgin shall

bear a Son, and they shall call His name bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, God with Immanuel, which is translated, God with

us” (Mt. 1:23). us” (Mt. 1:23). Lk. 22:66-71Lk. 22:66-71

The Divine Side:The Divine Side:

A perfect builder – Mt. 16:18 and pattern, A perfect builder – Mt. 16:18 and pattern, Jas. 1:25.Jas. 1:25.

The Human Side:The Human Side:

Imperfect humans, 1 Pet. 2:1,2; Gal. 2:11-14; Imperfect humans, 1 Pet. 2:1,2; Gal. 2:11-14; 1 Cor. 3:1-61 Cor. 3:1-6

Perfection is not essential to membership,Perfection is not essential to membership,

1 Cor. 8:4-9; Rom. 14:1-4; 15:1,2; Rev. 2,31 Cor. 8:4-9; Rom. 14:1-4; 15:1,2; Rev. 2,3

He was not:He was not:A political leader, Jn. 18:36A political leader, Jn. 18:36

A social reformer, Lk. 12:13-15A social reformer, Lk. 12:13-15He was the Savior:He was the Savior:

““For the Son of Man has come to seek For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Lk. and to save that which was lost” (Lk. 19:10). “And she shall bring forth a 19:10). “And she shall bring forth a

Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their for He will save His people from their

sins” (Mt. 1:21).sins” (Mt. 1:21).

Not a Social Club, 1 Cor. 11:20-22,33,34Not a Social Club, 1 Cor. 11:20-22,33,34Some say “do not eat during worship,” Some say “do not eat during worship,”

or “if you can’t wait for the poor to arrive, or “if you can’t wait for the poor to arrive, eat something before you come eat something before you come

together.”together.”It has a spiritual mission: entered by a It has a spiritual mission: entered by a

spiritual birth (Jn. 3:3-5), spiritual spiritual birth (Jn. 3:3-5), spiritual worship (Jn. 4:24), engages in spiritualworship (Jn. 4:24), engages in spiritual

work (Eph. 4:11,12).work (Eph. 4:11,12).

God Gave:God Gave: – ApostlesApostles– ProphetsProphets– EvangelistsEvangelists– PastorsPastors– TeachersTeachers– Eph. 4:11,12Eph. 4:11,12

God did not Give:God did not Give:– Actors – theaterActors – theater– Coaches – gymCoaches – gym– Cooks – kitchenCooks – kitchen– Business managers –Business managers –

Farms, stores, fishing, Farms, stores, fishing, etc. (Fellowship is etc. (Fellowship is never used of social never used of social meals, but is used of meals, but is used of fishing, Lk. 5:10) fishing, Lk. 5:10)

The rodeo takes place in the (Colbert The rodeo takes place in the (Colbert County) church’s recently completed arena, County) church’s recently completed arena,

a place of a place of fellowshipfellowship for church members for church members and an and an outreach tooloutreach tool for the community. If for the community. If

they come out there for the rodeo, there’s a they come out there for the rodeo, there’s a possibility that they will come for the service possibility that they will come for the service

and see what else is fun at the church. and see what else is fun at the church. Times DailyTimes Daily, Aug. 29, 2009, Aug. 29, 2009

They spoke briefly about what they wanted to pray They spoke briefly about what they wanted to pray about and then bowed their heads. Once they about and then bowed their heads. Once they

finished with prayer requests, the young students finished with prayer requests, the young students got down to the business at hand – learning ballet. got down to the business at hand – learning ballet.

Harvest Baptist also offers private lessons in Harvest Baptist also offers private lessons in voice, piano, guitar, drums and violin. The idea is voice, piano, guitar, drums and violin. The idea is to provide youth and adults to provide youth and adults a Christian settinga Christian setting to to

learn music and dance and that nurtures their learn music and dance and that nurtures their faith. Covenant United Methodist also offers music faith. Covenant United Methodist also offers music

and dance lessons, which gives a comfort level and dance lessons, which gives a comfort level when it takes place in when it takes place in a Christian environmenta Christian environment (Dothan, Al., via (Dothan, Al., via Times DailyTimes Daily, Sept. 7, 2009)., Sept. 7, 2009).

The same arguments - for kitchens and gyms!The same arguments - for kitchens and gyms!

Misunderstanding comes from failure to Misunderstanding comes from failure to understand Bible authority, use of human understand Bible authority, use of human

reasoning, and desire to be like the nations reasoning, and desire to be like the nations (1 Sam. 8:5).(1 Sam. 8:5).

The fact that many misunderstand the The fact that many misunderstand the origin, nature and mission of Christ – does not origin, nature and mission of Christ – does not

excuse my misunderstanding.excuse my misunderstanding.The fact that many misunderstand the origin, The fact that many misunderstand the origin, nature and mission of the Church – does not nature and mission of the Church – does not

excuse my misunderstanding. excuse my misunderstanding.