Welcome to the Sayre Church of Christ
"Reaching out to Beckham County and the world, with Christ and His Love!"
What Is The Church Of Christ?
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE CHURCH OF CHRIST
I. IT BELONGS TO CHRIST BECAUSE:
A. It was built by Christ himself——— Matt. 16:18; Psa. 127:1
B. He purchased it with his own blood————Acts 20:28.
C. He gave himself for it ——Eph. 5:25.
1. There is only ONE body ———Eph. 4:4
2. He is the head of the body———Col. 1:18.
D. He is the head of the church ———Eph. 1:22-23.
E. He is the Savior of the church ——— Eph. 5:23.
II. THE CHURCH IS CALLED:
A. The temple of God——I Cor. 3:16.
B The church of God.——I Cor. 1:2; Acts 20:27-28.
C. The house of God——— I Tim. 3:15.
D. The kingdom of God——Col. 1:13; Matt. 16:18-19; Rom. 14:17.
E. The church ———Eph. 3:10.
F. The church of the first born———Heb. 12:23.
G. The church of the Lord———Acts 20:28
H. The body of Christ———Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:24.
I. The bride of Christ—— Eph. 5:22-32.
J. The churches of Christ——Rom. 16:16.
III. THE CHURCH WAS ESTABLISHED ON THE FIRST PENTECOST AFTER THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST.
A. The church/kingdom was to come with power——Mark 9:1.
B. The power was to come when the Holy Spirit came———Acts 1:8.
C. The Holy Spirit came on that Jewish feast day (Pentecost) ——Acts 2:1-4.
1. Therefore, the church was established on that day.
2. The Lord added the saved to it.———Acts 2:47.
IV. HOW DOES ONE BECOME A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH?
A. First, one must be forgiven of their past sins.
1. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ——Heb. 11:6; Acts 16:31.
2. Repent (turn from) of your past sins——Acts 2:38; Lk. 13:3; Acts 17:30.
3. Confess one's faith in Christ——-Matt. 10:32-33; Rom. 10:10.
4. Be buried in baptism for the remission (doing away) of sins
——Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; Mark 16:16; Rom. 6:3-4; I Pet. 3:21.
B. When the people in Acts two did these things, they were added to
the church by the Lord. —— Acts 2:47.
1. Notice in this verse that the Lord added them to the church, but they did
not join the church.
C. Baptism requires:
1. Water——Acts 8:36; Acts 10:47; (much water—John 3:23)
2. Going to water ——Acts 8:36; Mat. 3:5-6.
3. Going into the water ——Acts 8:38.
4. Buried——Rom. 6:4.
5. Planted—— Rom. 6:5.
6. Washed——Acts 22:16.
V. THOSE WHO MAKE UP THE CHURCH ARE:
A. Members——I Cor. 12:20, 27.
B. Disciples——Acts 6:1.
C. Saints——Acts 9:13; Rom. 1:7; Phil. 1:1.
D. The saved——Acts 2:47.
E. Priests—— I Per. 2:9; Rev. 1:6.
F. Children of God——I John 3:1-2.
G. Christians———Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28-29; I Pet 4:16.
VI. THE CHURCH IN WORSHIP:
(It is to be done in Spirit and in Truth John 4:24)
A. Christians should partake (eat) the Lord's Supper on the first day of the
week. — Acts 20:7; I Cor. 10:16-17; I Cor. 11:20-30.
B. Christians should sing and make melody in their heart—Eph. 5:19; Col.
3:16.
C. Christians should be a praying people——Luke 18:1; I Thess. 5:17.
D. Christians should teach others the Gospel——Acts 2:42; Mat 28:19-20.
E. Christians should give of their means on the first Day of the week
according as they have been prospered—— I Cor, 16:1-2.
VII. THE CHURCH IS TO HAVE ELDERS IN EACH CONGREGATION.
A. Ordained of God that there should be elders in every church—Acts 14:23;
Titus 1:5.
1. However, these men must be qualified before being appointed
——I Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-13.
2. Elders are to be overseers of the congregation——Acts 20:28.
3. They have the oversight——I Per. 5:2.
B. Deacons also work with the church——Acts 6:1-2; I Tim. 3:1; v. 8; Phil.
1:1.
VIII. THE TEACHINGS OF THE CHURCH ARE SIMPLE:
A. The church is to teach the teachings of Christ ——Matt. 28:19-20
B. The church is to teach the Gospel of Christ——Gal. 1:6-9; Rom. 1:16.
C. The church is to teach the Holy Scriptures——II Tim. 3:16-17.
D. The church realizes that they cannot change God's commandments or
instructions— Gal. 1:8-9; Rev. 22:18-19.
IX. THE WORK OF THE CHURCH:
A. Preaching the Gospel——I Thess. 1:8; II Tim. 4:1-2.
B. Teaching the Gospel——II Tim. 2: 1-2; Eph. 3:10.
C. Visiting the sick——Matt. 25:34-40.
D. Feeding the hungry— Acts 6:1-5; James 1:27.
E. Caring for the fatherless and widows——Jas. 1:27.
F. Edifying one another——I Cor 14:15-27
X. THE CHURCH IS ESSENTIAL:
A. One must be in the church to be saved——II Tim. 2:10; I John 5:11.
B. The church is the body of Christ——Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18.
C. Christ has only ONE body———Eph. 4:4; I Cor. 12:13, 20.
D. Christ is the Savior of the body, (which is the church)
——Eph. 5:23; Eph. 5:26-27.
E. The Lord adds the saved to the church (which is his body)
—Acts 2:47; Eph. 1:22-23.