What’s Wrong With The Church of Christ?
A. TWO CHURCHES CRITICIZED SEVERELY.
1. Nearly all the epistles deal with problems in the churches addressed.
2. What’s wrong with the church that it should have so many problemsl?
B THE CHURCH IS A TWO SIDED INSTITUTION.
1. There is the divine side – dependent on the character of God.
2. There is the human side – People are not perfect.
A. AN EXPRESSION OF GOD’S WISDOM AND WILL (Isa. 55:8-9).
B. GIVEN A BLUEPRINT (Heb. 8:5; 2 Tim. 1:13).
C. WHAT ABOUT THE DIVINE SIDE.
1. Origin in the mind of God (Eph. 3:8-11). His Eternal Purpose.
2. The founder is Jesus (Matt. 16:18).
Men have founded many churches. Which one is best?
3. The foundation is Jesus (Matt. 16:18).
Peter – Petros, a small stone often used to demark a boundary.
Rock – Petra, a boulder suitable for a cornerstone, difficult to move.
Jesus the foundation rock, Peter, a stone in the wall (1 Pet. 2:4-5; 1 Cor. 3:11).
4. Jesus is the head (Eph. 1:20-23: Col. 3:17; Eph. 4:5).
5. Its organization (Phil. 1:1-2; Acts 14:23).
a. The local congregation is the only organization (Rom. 12:4-5).
b. Autonomous – Elders jurisdiction defined (Acts 20:28).
6. It has a law – doctrines that are binding (Acts 2:42; John 8:31; 2 Tim. 3:16-17;
2 John 9; 2 Pet. 1:3; James 1:25; 2:12; John 12:48-49).
7. Worship.
a. In Spirit (John 4:23-24).
b. By the pattern (Mark 7:6-8).
8. Mission.
a. 1 Thess. 1:8; Phil. 1:3-5. Evangelism.
b. Eph. 4:11-15. Edification.
c. Relief of needy saints (1 Cor. 16:1-2).
D. CAN WE IMPROVE ON THIS?
A. CHRISTIANS ARE ENCOURAGED AND INSTRUCTED IN A BETTER WAY TO LIVE.
B. MOST REALLY TRY HARD AND ARE BETTER PEOPLE.
C. BUT IF THE CHURCH HAS ANY FAILINGS, THEY ARE HERE.
1. Now and then members (Heb. 10:25). The problem (vs. 29). A bad message!
2. Non supporting members (Rom. 12:4-8; Eph. 4:16).
3. Uninformed members (Hos. 4:6; Eph. 4:14; 2 Tim. 2:15; Heb. 5:12).
4. Spectators (Eph. 2:10).
5. Worldliness in members (1 John 2:15; Matt. 6:19-24; 13:22).
6. Factious members (Titus 3:10-11).
D. CAN WE IMPROVE ON THIS?
A. IF THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CHURCH, IT IS NOT
ON THE DIVINE SIDE!
B. CAN WE DO BETTER?