The Church of The Church of Christ Is DifferentChrist Is Different

IntroductionIntroduction

Your concept of the church?Your concept of the church? Just another denomination?Just another denomination? Challenge—erase that concept from mind.Challenge—erase that concept from mind. How’d you like to be part of something How’d you like to be part of something

different? Peculiar? Distinct? Standing different? Peculiar? Distinct? Standing apart from others? Purchased?apart from others? Purchased?

A principle! Ex. 19:5; Deut. 14:2; I Pet. 2:9A principle! Ex. 19:5; Deut. 14:2; I Pet. 2:9 A different people.A different people.

The Church of Christ The Church of Christ Is Different From:Is Different From:

Paganism:Paganism: By its faith in one God. Deut. 6:4; Isa. By its faith in one God. Deut. 6:4; Isa.

44:6,844:6,8• Great problem through Bible history.Great problem through Bible history.• Much of society today reflects paganism.Much of society today reflects paganism.• Paul’s answer to paganism. Acts 14:8-18; Paul’s answer to paganism. Acts 14:8-18;

17:21-2817:21-28

The Church of Christ The Church of Christ Is Different From:Is Different From:

Judaism:Judaism: By its faith in Christ as the Son of God.By its faith in Christ as the Son of God.

• Most Jews rejected Christ. Jn. 5:39, 46; Most Jews rejected Christ. Jn. 5:39, 46; Acts 17:5ffActs 17:5ff

• Bribed soldiers to lie about the resurrection. Bribed soldiers to lie about the resurrection. Mat. 28:11-15Mat. 28:11-15

The Church of Christ The Church of Christ Is Different From:Is Different From:

Catholicism:Catholicism: By faith in sufficiency of Christ and His By faith in sufficiency of Christ and His

word.word.• Sufficient as head. Eph. 1:22-23Sufficient as head. Eph. 1:22-23• Word sufficient as rule of faith and practice. Word sufficient as rule of faith and practice.

2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:3; Jude 32 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:3; Jude 3

The Church of Christ The Church of Christ Is Different From:Is Different From:

Protestant Denominationalism:Protestant Denominationalism: By faith in authority of Christ.By faith in authority of Christ.

• Assertions of 2 Tim. 3:16-17—Inspiration, Assertions of 2 Tim. 3:16-17—Inspiration, Authority, and Sufficiency. Authority, and Sufficiency.

• Many now question both the authority and Many now question both the authority and inspiration of Scripture.inspiration of Scripture.

The Church of Christ The Church of Christ Is Different From:Is Different From:

The Irreligious:The Irreligious: By faith in the life of Christ. Gal. 2:20; By faith in the life of Christ. Gal. 2:20;

I Pet. 2:21-22 I Pet. 2:21-22 Example to be followed. Rom. 8:29; 2 Example to be followed. Rom. 8:29; 2

Cor. 3:18Cor. 3:18

Why the Church of Christ Why the Church of Christ Is DifferentIs Different

Respect God’s pattern for the church.Respect God’s pattern for the church. God’s pattern for all His great institutions:God’s pattern for all His great institutions:

Ark. Gen. 6Ark. Gen. 6 Tabernacle. Ex. 25:9,40Tabernacle. Ex. 25:9,40 Temple. I Chron. 28:9-13, 19Temple. I Chron. 28:9-13, 19 The church. Heb. 8:4-5 (Shadow / Substance)The church. Heb. 8:4-5 (Shadow / Substance)

Warnings & rebukes of NT indicate a pattern. Cf. Warnings & rebukes of NT indicate a pattern. Cf. I Cor. 11:27I Cor. 11:27

“Where there isno order, there

can be no disorder.”

Alexander Campbell

Why the Church of Christ Why the Church of Christ Is DifferentIs Different

Must judge every item of faith and Must judge every item of faith and practice by God’s pattern.practice by God’s pattern. Results in concern about matters “silly” Results in concern about matters “silly”

to denominations: to denominations: • Action of baptismAction of baptism• Purpose of baptismPurpose of baptism• Mechanical instruments of music in worship Mechanical instruments of music in worship • Local church independence and workLocal church independence and work

Why the Church of Christ Why the Church of Christ Is DifferentIs Different

Must judge every item of faith and Must judge every item of faith and practice by God’s pattern.practice by God’s pattern. Suppose a contractor ADDS to blue Suppose a contractor ADDS to blue

print for a buildingprint for a building Restoration ideal rests upon concept Restoration ideal rests upon concept

that God has a pattern—the NT is the that God has a pattern—the NT is the church’s blueprint. church’s blueprint.

Our Plea: Our Plea: Keep the Church DifferentKeep the Church Different

Distinctive preaching—contend for Distinctive preaching—contend for the faith. Jude 3the faith. Jude 3

Practices must be scriptural—not Practices must be scriptural—not denominational. denominational.

Faith unmarred by modern ideologyFaith unmarred by modern ideology Plead for return to NT authority in all Plead for return to NT authority in all

things religious. things religious.

Conclusion:Conclusion:

God has a pattern. Must be followed.God has a pattern. Must be followed. If we’re robbed of this conviction, we If we’re robbed of this conviction, we

become just like others. Lose become just like others. Lose distinctiveness.distinctiveness.

Faith in deity and other fundamentals Faith in deity and other fundamentals cannot long survive.cannot long survive.

A pattern demands we speak where Bible A pattern demands we speak where Bible speaks…speaks…

Conclusion:Conclusion:

A pattern demands we speak where Bible A pattern demands we speak where Bible speaks…and respect its silence.speaks…and respect its silence.

If NT is not a pattern, then it matters little If NT is not a pattern, then it matters little what we speak…..what we speak…..

OR WHETHER WE SPEAK AT ALL.OR WHETHER WE SPEAK AT ALL.