THE CHURCH THAT CHRIST BUILT

Prepared by David Wardrup  ORIGINALLY: June 30 2009, RENEWED 3/16/25

Text: Matthew 16:13-18 I. The church Jesus built is revealed in His Word, the Bible.

A. Jesus has all authority in His church – Matt. 28:18; Phil. 2:5-11.

1. He built his church – Matt. 16:18; Acts 2
2. Jesus is the church’s foundation – Matt. 16:16-18; 1 Cor. 3:11; Eph. 2:20
3. Jesus is the only head of His church – Eph. 1:22-23; Eph 5:23-24; Col 1:18.
4. Jesus paid for the church with his blood. Acts 20:28 Eph. 1:7; I John 1:7; Eph. 5:23-27

B. Jesus’ church has a distinctive pattern in the New Testament – Phil. 3:17 (see also: Heb. 9:23, KJV; Ex. 25:9, 40).

1. A pattern of organization
a. Elders – I Tim. 3:1-7

     b. Deacons- I Tim. 3:8-13

     c. Evangelist, Ministers, Preachers, Teachers- Eph. 4:11-12

     d. ALL members as servants, ( and leaders) Rom. 6:16-22.

2. A pattern of Autonomy among congregations

1. Titus 1:5 Elders in every city
2. Rev. 1:20 7 individual churches; Rev. 2, 3 Addresses each separately.

3. A pattern of Worship when the church meets each Lord’s day- Acts 20:7.

1. Lord’s Supper/Communion – I Corinthians 11:20-28,
2. Prayer – I Cor. 7:5; Eph. 6:18; Jas. 5:15-16
3. Singing – Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19; I Cor. 14:15
4. Giving – Acts 20:35; 2 Cor. 9:7
5. Preaching the Word of God – Acts 20:7; 2 Tim. 2:4; Acts 8:40; I Cor. 1:21.

4. A pattern of Fellowship – I John 1:3.

5. A pattern of Submission to God and Jesus Christ.

6. A pattern of Unity in Christ- Gal. 3:28; I Cor. 12:12-14.

7. A pattern of love – I John 4:16-21; I Cor. 13; John 17:24-26.

8. A pattern of Membership.

a. Obedience to God – Heb. 5:8-9; Rom. 6:17; 10:16

9. A pattern of seeking and teaching truth – Mark 16:20; 2 Tim. 2:15; Eph. 6:14. “and they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them…”

BIBLE INSTRUCTIONS: WHAT TO DO TO BE SAVED

• Hear – Rom. 10:14-15, 17
• Believe – Rom. 10:9,11; Mark 16:15-16
• Repent-Acts 2:38
• Confess – Rom. 10:9-10
• Be scripturally baptized- Acts 2:38-41; 1 Pet. 3:20-21
• Baptized into Christ’s body, the church – I Cor. 12:13; Col. 1:18.

b. The Lord will add you to His church – Acts 2:41, 47.

c. Be faithful until death – Rev. 2:10.