A Book of Bible Doctrines by Toby Cribbs - HTML preview

BOOK 8

THE CHURCH

First of all, we want to see what a CHRUCH is. We get our English word Church from the Greek word Ecclesia. The word Ecclesia means a called-out assembly.

John the Baptist was a man sent from God to prepare the people to accept Jesus. (John 1:6-9, 23) (Matthew 3:1-3) John the Baptist through his preaching later had many disciples. (John 1:35) (Andrew) (Matthew 9:14)

Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brethren Simon called Peter and Andrew and as He walked, He saw James and John. These He called (Ecclesia) to follow him and later they were named Apostles along with the other eight. In Matthew, we see Jesus calling Matthew. (Matthew 4:18-22; Matthew 9:9; Matthew 10:1-4; Luke 6:12-16) In the Book of I Corinthians 12:28, we see God had set the Apostles first in the church. So, we see that Jesus was the Founder of the Church on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

Jesus said He would build His Church and not anyone else. Some believe Peter to be the founder of the Church. A careful study of Matthew 16:13-19 shows that Jesus is the founder of the church (V:18 I will build MY CHURCH). The words I WILL BUILD in the Greek means to build up, enlarge, expand. Jesus is the ROCK (PETRA) a large boulder, solid rock, mass of rock, Peter is a (PETROS) a pebble or little stone. Jesus founded the Church during His personal ministry before the day of Pentecost. In Ephesians 5:23, we see Jesus is the HEAD of the Church. Also, Jesus paid for the CHURCH with His own blood, (Acts 20:28). The CHURCH is HIS.

The Nature of the Church is that it is local and visible, not universal, and invisible. There are over 100 Scriptures that shows this. (I Corinthians 1:2; I Corinthians 16:1,19; Philemon 2; Revelation 1:4; Romans 16:1,16; I Corinthians 4:17; 6:4; 7:17; 10:32 any many more.

The Church that Jesus founded was a Missionary church. We see the Church sending out Missionaries.

First Jesus sent his church out to proclaim the gospel, (Matthew 4:18-22) make you fishers of men, (Matthew 10:44) Jesus sending the 12 Apostles out, and then the Great Commission to the church in Matthew 28:18-20. They were to go, teach, baptize, and teach them all things. We see in Acts 1:8

He told the church they would be witnesses into all the world. (Mark 3:14; John 20:21) Then in Acts the church sent out Barnabas (Acts 11:19-22) to Antioch. And in Acts 13:1-4 the church sent out Saul (Paul) and Barnabas to the work God had called them to.

Jesus said the gates of hell will not prevail against His church, Matthew 16:18. This means the church the Jesus founded will be here till He comes again. Ephesians 3:21

Conclusion:

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1.

Jesus is the Founder the church.

2.

A true church must have the right Founder.

3.

He founded it before the day of Pentecost.

4.

Jesus is the Head of the church.

5.

It is a Missionary Church.

6.

The church is local and visible.

7.

Jesus is the Rock the church was built on.

8.

Church will be here till Jesus comes again.

9.

He paid for the church.

10.

A church is a group of called out believers that will carry out the Great commission.

1.

John 1:6-9, 23 Who was the man sent from God to prepare the people for Christ?

2.

Matt.4:18-22 Who did Jesus call to be fishers of men?

3.

Matthew 9:9 Who did Jesus call to follow Him?

4.

I Corinthians 12:28 Who did God set first in the church?

5.

Ephesians 5:23 Who is the head of the church?

6.

Matthew 4:18-22; Matthew 10:1-4 Did Jesus send them out to preach and teach the gospel?

7.

Acts 11:19-22; Acts 13:1-4 Who did the church send out?

8.

Acts 20:28 Did Jesus pay for the church and how?

9.

What does the words (I Will Build) mean in the Greek?

10.

Is the church local and visible is so give scriptures.

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CHURCH COVENANT

Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, we do now in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ.

We engage therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church, in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality to sustain its worship, ordinance, discipline, and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel through all nations.

We also engage to maintain family and secret devotion; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances, to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling backbit-ing, and excessive anger; to abstain from sale and use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage, and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the Kingdom of our Saviour.

We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense; but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Saviour to secure it without delay.

We moreover engage that when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.

It is the Spirit of God that draws one to Jesus for salvation. (John. 6:44) The Spirit is the one that quickeneth and reproves. (John 6:63; John 16:8) Those that resist the calling of the Spirit for salvation cannot be saved.

When a person believes and accepts Jesus, He becomes our Saviour. We must make a profession of our faith (declare) that we believe in Jesus as Saviour and make open confession of Jesus.

After a person is saved, they should be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

As a member of that church, they are to help in the advancement of that church, live a holy life, attend regularly, give regularly, sustain the doctrines and to help spread the gospel to all nations.

A Christian family should maintain family and secret devotion, educate their children in the Lord, walk upright in the world, deal with each other fairly, abstain from use of strong drink.

We should care and help each other and have brotherly love toward each other, pray for each other, live a life pleasing to Jesus.

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When one moves from where they live they should unite with some other church of like faith where they can carry out this covenant.

1.

John 6:44 Does the Father have to draw to be saved ?

2.

John 6:63 Who quickeneth us?

3.

John 16:8 What will the Spirit do to the believer?

4.

John 3:36 If we believe on the Son, what do we have?

5.

Romans 10:9 How is a person saved?

6.

Matthew 10:32 Who should we confess Jesus before?

7.

Matthew 28:19 Whose name are the saved baptized in?

8.

Romans 6:4 Baptism is a type of what?

9.

Romans 6:5 We are planted in the likeness of what?

10.

Ephesians 3:21 How does God receive glory?

11.

Acts 2:41 After they receive the word what took place?

12.

John 13:34 Should we love one another?

13.

John 13:35 How does one know if you are one of Jesus disciples?

14.

I Peter 2:21 In whose steps should we follow in?

15.

Luke 14:23 How are we to try to fill the house of the Lord?

16.

Romans 16:1 Should we be a servant to the church?

17.

II Timothy 2:15 How does one show themselves approved of God?

18.

II Peter 3:18 What should we grow in?

19.

I Peter 1:15 Should we be holy in our conversation?

20.

I Peter 1:16 Why should we be holy?

21.

II Corinthians 1:3 The Father is a Father of what?

22.

John 14:15 If we love God (Jesus) what should we do?

23.

Romans 15:1 We that are strong

26.

Hebrews 10:25 Should we assemble

should do what?

together?

24.

Acts 1:8 Where should we be a wit-

27.

I Peter 3:21 What does baptism show?

ness?

28.

II Corinthians 9:7 How should a per-

25.

Galatians 5:25 Walk should we walk

son give unto the Lord?

in?

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