The Undenominational Church -2

TEXTActs 24:10-15

INTRODUCTION:

A.      MANY HAVE THE SAME VIEW OF THE CHURCH THAT THE JEWS HAD –

          THAT IT IS A SECT OR SECTARIAN IN NATURE.

B.      AS THE WORLD EMERGED FROM THE DARK AGES ATTEMPTS WERE

          MADE TO REFORM THE CATHOLIC CHURCH – REFORMATION.

          1.       The Catholic Church was not reformed.

          2.       The result rather was 100s of splinter groups or sects.

I.      DENOMINATIONALISM IS WRONG AND SINFUL.

A.      BECAUSE THE NT TEACHES THERE IS ONE CHURCH (Eph. 4:4;  2:16;  1:22-23).

B.      THE NT TEACHES RELIGIOUS DIVISION IS WRONG (1 Cor. 1:10).

C.      JESUS PRAYED FOR UNITY (John 17:20-21).

D.      IT IS ALWAYS THE RESULT OF SIN (1 Cor. 4:6;  Gal. 1:6-9;  2 John 9)..

II.     IN APOSTOLIC TIMES:

A.      ONE SEED WAS PLANTED (Luke 8:11) – ONE CROP GREW.

B.      IF WE ACCEPT THAT SEED, WE’LL BE THE SAME AS OTHERS WHO HAVE.

C.      OUR OBJECT:  TO BE ONE WITH THEM BY BEING LIKE THEM.

III.    CHARACTERISTICS OF THE UNDENOMINATIONAL CHURCH.

A.      NO DENOMINATIONAL FOUNDER (Psa. 127:1;  Matt. 16:18).

B.      NO DENOMINATIONAL HEAD.

          1.       Jesus is the head (Eph. 1:22-23)

          2.       He has all authority (Matt. 28:18;  Col. 3:17).

C.      NO DENOMINATIONAL CREED.

          1.       Creed, credo, “I believe.”

          2.       Our statement of faith (2 Tim. 3:16-17) – The Bible!

D.      NO DENOMINATIONAL NAME.

          1.       The church was called (Col. 1:18;  Gal. 1:13;  Acts 20:28;  Rom. 16:16).

The expressions NOT denominationalized!

          2.       Members called Christians (Acts 11:26;  1 Pet. 4:15-16).

E.      NO DENOMINATIONAL ORGANIZATION.

          1.       No councils, conventions, synods, wards, diocese, sponsoring churches.

          2.       No popes, cardinals, arch-bishops, presidents – no clergy/laity distinctions.

          3.       Each church is completely autonomous, having its own officers.

                   a.       Elders (Acts 14:23;  20:28).

                   b.       Deacons (Phil. 1:1).

F.      NO DENOMINATIONAL WORSHIP.

          1.       Worship defined in the scriptures (John 4:24).

          2.       Hearts must be in it, must not be in accord with man’s precepts (Matt. 15:9).

          3.       Bible teaches singing, praying, Lord’s supper, Bible study, contribution.

G.      NO DENOMINATIONAL WORK PROGRAM.

          1.       The church’s work in a nutshell (Eph. 4:11-12).

          2.       Not recreation, medicine, social, secular education.

H.      NO DENOMINATIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR MEMBERSHIP.

          1.       We only ask what was asked in the NT – that will make Christians only.

          2.       What was true at Pentecost is true today (Acts 2:38).

          3.       Those who received the word that Peter spoke (Acts 2:41).

CONCLUSION:

A.      ARE YOU A MEMBER OF THE LORD’S CHURCH OR

          ARE YOU A MEMBER OF A DENOMINATION?

B.      HAVE YOU RECEIVED THE WORD AND OBEYED ITS COMMANDS?