THE$ORIGIN$AND$ESTABLISHMENT$OF$THE$CHURCH$ • The$Prophets$&$Angels$Wanted$to$Know$About$ the$Kingdom$ – “ Of#this#salva+on#the#prophets#have#inquired#and#searched# carefully,#who#prophesied#of#the#grace#that#would#come#to# you,#searching#what,#or#what#manner#of#+me,#the#Spirit#of# Christ#who#was#in#them#was#indica+ng#when#He#tes+fied# beforehand#the#sufferings#of#Christ#and#the#glories#that# would#follow.#To#them#it#was#revealed#that,#not#to# themselves,#but#to#us#they#were#ministering#the#things# which#now#have#been#reported#to#you#through#those#who# have#preached#the#gospel#to#you#by#the#Holy#Spirit#sent# from#heaven—things#which#angels#desire#to#look#into. ”#( 1$ Peter$1:10–12 )##
THE$ORIGIN$AND$ESTABLISHMENT$OF$THE$CHURCH$ • More$Prophecies$of$the$kingdom$ –#Isa#2,#Daniel#4,# Joel#2#&#Micah#4# • O9en#called#“ Last$Days ”#–#Heb#1:1?2;#Acts#2:16?17# • Nebuchadnezzar’s$Dream # (600#BC) #–#Daniel#2:31?35# • Babylonian$Empire$ (530#BC) #–# Head#of#Gold ! • MedoSPersian$Empire$ (330#BC) #–# Breasts#&#Arms#of#Silver $ • Macedonian/Greek$ (323#BC) #–# Belly#&#Thighs#of#Brass $ • Roman$Empire$ (30#BC) #–# Legs#of#Iron#&#Feet#of#Clay $
THE$ORIGIN$AND$ESTABLISHMENT$OF$THE$CHURCH$ • The$Kingdom$of$God$Established$During$Roman$Empire$ – “ And#in#the#days#of#these#kings#the#God#of#heaven#will#set# up#a#kingdom#which#shall#never#be#destroyed;#and#the# kingdom#shall#not#be#leL#to#other#people;#it#shall#break#in# pieces#and#consume#all#these#kingdoms,#and#it#shall#stand# forever. ”#( Daniel$2:44 )## • “ In#those#days#John#the#Bap+st#came#preaching#in#the# wilderness#of#Judea,#and#saying,#“Repent,#for#the#kingdom#of# heaven#is#at#hand!” ”#( MaVhew$3:1–2 )##
THE$ORIGIN$AND$ESTABLISHMENT$OF$THE$CHURCH$ • The$Kingdom$Established $ – The!kingdom!of!heaven!is!at!hand #–#MaJ#10:7;#Mark#1:15# – Till!they!see!the!kingdom!of!God #–#Mark#9:1## • The$Beginning$ – Kingdom#was#to#begin#in#Jerusalem#–#Isa#2:2?3;#Luke#24:47# – Pentecost#was#called#‘the#beginning’#–#Acts#11:15 # – Kingdom#was#to#come#with#Power#–#Mark#9:1# – Power#was#to#come#with#the#Holy#Spirit#–#Acts#1:8# – The#Holy#Spirit#Came#at#Pentecost#–#Acts#2:1?4# Conclusion:$The$Kingdom$Came$at$Pentecost!$
THE$ORIGIN$AND$ESTABLISHMENT$OF$THE$CHURCH$ • Pentecost$Marks$the$Beginning$ –#Acts#11:15# – of#the# New$Covenant$ –#Heb#8:8;#9:15?17# – of#the# Church #–#Acts#2:47 $ – of#the# Preaching$of$the$Gospel #–#Acts#2# – of#the# Preaching$of$Remission$of$Sin #–#Luke#24:47# • AZer$Pentecost #the#church#is#always#spoken# of#as# IN$EXISTENCE # – Acts#2:47;#5:11;#8:1;#11:22;#13:1;#14:27#
THE%SPIRITUAL%NATURE%OF%THE%CHURCH% • “ Jesus%answered,%“My%kingdom%is%not%of%this%world.%If%My% kingdom%were%of%this%world,%My%servants%would%fight,%so%that%I% should%not%be%delivered%to%the%Jews;%but%now%My%kingdom%is% not%from%here. ”#( John%18:36 )# • Soap,%Soup,%and%Salva3on ## – Today’s#mo.o#for#many#churches # – Many#view#the#church#as#a#physical#ins=tu=on#with#a#li.le# religion#thrown#in#to#make#us#feel#good#about#God# • The%Church%is%…% – God’s#spiritual#heritage#–#Eph#1:11F18# – the#fulfillment#of#the#promise#to#Abraham#–#Acts#3:25F26#
THE%SPIRITUAL%NATURE%OF%THE%CHURCH% • Truth : # The%Conquering%Power%of%His%Kingdom% – “ …%for%this%cause%I%have%come%into%the%world,%that%I% should%bear%witness%to%the%truth.%Everyone%who%is% of%the%truth%hears%My%voice.” ”#( John%18:37 ) # • The#Truth#would#make#one#free#–#John#8:32 # • Jesus#said,#“ I%am%the%truth ”#–#John#14:6 # • The#Word#of#God#is#truth#–#John#17:17 #
THE%SPIRITUAL%NATURE%OF%THE%CHURCH% • Only%Those%in%the%Church%Receive%Spiritual%Blessings% – All#spiritual#blessings#are# in%Christ #–#Eph#1:3# – Those#in#Christ#are#in#the#body#(church)#of#Christ# • “ For%you%are%all%sons%of%God%through%faith%in%Christ%Jesus.%For%as% many%of%you%as%were%bapFzed%into%Christ%have%put%on% Christ. ”#( Gala3ans%3:26–27 )# • “ For%by%one%Spirit%we%were%all%bapFzed%into%one%body—%whether% Jews%or%Greeks,%whether%slaves%or%free—and%have%all%been%made%to% drink%into%one%Spirit. ”#( 1%Corinthians%12:13 )# # – If#all#spiritual#blessings#are#in#the#church,#then#those# outside#the#church#do#not#enjoy#spiritual#blessings#
THE%SPIRITUAL%NATURE%OF%THE%CHURCH% • The%Character%of%the%Church%is%Spiritual% – We#are#born#again#by#a#spiritual#birth#–#John#3:1F7# – We#walk#aVer#the#Spirit#–#Gal#5:16# – We#engage#in#spiritual#worship#–#John#4:23F24# – We#serve#in#the#newness#of#the#spirit#–#Rom#12:1F2# – We#engage#in#spiritual#warfare#–#Eph#6:10F18#–#with# spiritual#weaponry#–#2#Cor#10:4 #
THE%SPIRITUAL%NATURE%OF%THE%CHURCH% • Those%in%the%Church%Receive%Spiritual%Reward% – Our#inheritance#is#incorrup=ble# • “ Blessed%be%the%God%and%Father%of%our%Lord%Jesus%Christ,% who%according%to%His%abundant%mercy%has%begoMen%us% again%to%a%living%hope%through%the%resurrecFon%of%Jesus% Christ%from%the%dead,%to%an%inheritance%incorrupFble% and%undefiled%and%that%does%not%fade%away,%reserved%in% heaven%for%you,%who%are%kept%by%the%power%of%God% through%faith%for%salvaFon%ready%to%be%revealed%in%the% last%Fme. ”#( 1%Peter%1:3–5 )# – We#will#receive#a#spiritual#body#–#1#Cor#15:52F53#
THE$WORK$OF$THE$CHURCH$ • The$Church$of$God$is$a$Place$of$Work$ – “ It#is#like#a#man#going#to#a#far#country,#who#le6#his#house# and#gave#authority#to#his#servants,#and#to#each#his#work,# and#commanded#the#doorkeeper#to#watch. ”#( Mark$13:34 ) # – “God# will#render#to#each#one#according#to#his# deeds” #( Romans$2:6 )# • ‘FighAng$the$Good$Fight$of$Faith’ #–#1#Tim#6:12# – Preaching#the#Gospel# – Teaching#its#own#members# – Caring#for#needy#saints#
THE$WORK$OF$THE$CHURCH$ • The$Church$Must$Have$Authority$ – “ And#whatever#you#do#in#word#or#deed,#do#all#in#the#name# of#the#Lord#Jesus,#giving#thanks#to#God#the#Father#through# Him. ”#( Colossians$3:17 )## • We$Must$Glorify$God$as$the$Church # – “ to#Him#be#glory#in#the#church#by#Christ#Jesus#to#all# generaDons,#forever#and#ever. ”#( Ephesians$3:21 )#
THE$WORK$OF$THE$CHURCH$ • The$Work$of$the$Church$is$ NOT$ – Involved#in#poliDcal#acDon#or#lobbying#groups# – Going#into#business#to#make#money# – To#promote#secular#educaDon#by#building#schools#or# supporDng#them#from#the#church#treasury# – To#provide#recreaDonal#or#family#life#centers# – To#cure#society#of#its#social#ills# • Where$is$the$scripture$for$such$work?$ – “ All#Scripture#is#given#by#inspiraDon#of#God,#and#is# profitable#for#doctrine,#for#reproof,#for#correcDon,#for# instrucDon#in#righteousness,#that#the#man#of#God#may#be# complete,#thoroughly#equipped#for# every$good$work . ”#( 2$ Timothy$3:16–17 )#
THE$WORK$OF$THE$CHURCH$ • The$Work$of$the$Church$is$to$Preach$the$Gospel$ – Preachers#must#be#sent#–#Rom#10:14J15 # – Only#local#congregaDons#were#the#medium# through#which#this#work#was#accomplished# – It#was#their#primary#responsibility # • Macedonia #–#2#Cor#11:8J9 # • Thessalonica$ –#1#Thess#1:2J8 # • Philippi$ –#Phil#4:14J20 #
THE$WORK$OF$THE$CHURCH$ • The$Work$of$the$Church$is$to$Edify$its$Members$ – Churches#were#focused#on#Spiritual#Growth# • PuPng#on#the#Whole#Armor#–#Eph#6:10J18# • “G row#in#the#grace#and#knowledge#of#our#Lord#and# Savior#Jesus#Christ. ”#( 2$Peter$3:18 )# – The#elders#are#charged#with#feeding#the#flock# • Bible#classes,#special#studies,#men’s#classes,#ladies# classes,#teachers#classes,#gospel#meeDngs# • The$Church$Must$Grow # “…#g row#up#in#all#things#into#Him#who#is#the#head— Christ#… ”#( Ephesians$4:12–16 )#
THE$WORK$OF$THE$CHURCH$ • The$Work$of$the$Church$is$to$Minister$to$Poor$Saints$ – The#Greek#Widows $ –#Acts#6:1J3# – Sending#Aid#to#Other#Churches#–#Acts#11:27J30;#Rom# 15:25J27# • The$Church$Can$Only$Aid$Needy$Saints ## – Since#we#have#no#other#example#–#2#Cor#9:1;#Rom#12:13;# 15:25J26;#1#Tim#5:16# – We#sDll#have# individual$obligaAons #to#unbelievers# • “ Let#us#do#good#to# all #…”# ( Gal$6:10 )# • “…# visit#orphans#and#widows#…” #( James$1:27 )#
THE%WORSHIP%OF%THE%CHURCH% What%day%do%we%assemble%for%worship?% – The$Sabbath?$–$ No# • The$Sabbath$was$given$to$the$Jews$–$Deut$5:15$ • God$said$it$would$cease$–$Hosea$2:11$ • When$the$Law$was$nailed$to$the$cross$–$Col$2:13C17$ The%First%Day%of%the%Week%is%the%Lord’s%Day % – The$day$of$His$resurrecGon$–$John$20:1,19;$Luke$ 24:1,7$ – Church$was$established$on$Pentecost$–$Acts$2:1C4,$41$ – Pentecost$was$the$first$day$of$the$week$–$Lev$23:15$ – New$Testament$Churches$worshiped$then$–$Acts$20:7;$ 1$Cor$16:1C2$
THE%WORSHIP%OF%THE%CHURCH% Acts%of%Worship:%The%Lord’s%Supper% • We%Eat%the%Lord’s%Supper%on%the%Lord’s%Day% – ChrisGans$took$it$on$the$first$day$of$the$week$–$Acts$20:7$ – EaGng$of$unleavened$bread$and$fruit$of$the$vine$were$ commanded$by$Jesus$Himself$–$MaW$26:26C29;$1$Cor$11:23$ • Has%a%special%design%and%purpose% – According$to$the$paWern$–$1$Cor$11:24C32$ – Done$in$the$ proper%manner $ • “ But#let#a#man#examine#himself,#and#so#let#him#eat#of# the#bread#and#drink#of#the#cup. ”$( 1%Corinthians%11:28 )$
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