fromthepreacherspc

WHY I AM A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST #6

INTRODUCTION
A. In previous lessons we have noticed that I am a member of the church of Christ because:
1. It was founded by the scriptural builder – Christ
2. It was founded on THE scriptural foundation
3. It was founded at the scriptural place – Jerusalem
4. Christ is the founder of only one church – His church
5. It is scriptural in name.
6. It is scriptural in organization.
B. Today will notice that I am a member of the church of Christ because it has the Bible as its only creed, confession of faith or church manual; and because it believes the Bible is a book to be rightly divided.
DISCUSSION
A. I COULD NEVER BE A MEMBER OF A RELIGION WHICH HAS A HUMAN CREED
This is my conviction for several reasons:
1. In the time of the apostles and for the first three centuries the Bible was the only creed.
a. Why not use the same creed today?
b. I do not care to have a church manual similar to the one that existed in the first century, I want to have the same one
c. For this to be possible, I must have the Bible only!
2. The Bible completely furnishes us unto every good work.
a. 2 Peter 1:3
b. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
c. Since the Bible contains all that we need, we need nothing else to make us pleasing in the sight of God.
3. Human creeds are revised every few years because of their imperfection.
a. No disciple of a human creed knows what his doctrine will be ten years down the road.
b. Creeds are constantly being changed and revised.
c. This alone places upon human creeds the stigma of weakness and imperfection.
4. Human creeds cannot be defended.
a. First, any creed containing more than the Bible is objectionable, because it contains more than the Bible.
b. Second, any creed containing less than the Bible is objectionable, because it contains less than the Bible.
c. Third, any creed differing from the Bible is objectionable, because it does differ from the Bible.
d. Fourthly, any creed precisely like the Bible is useless, because we have the Bible.
e. This covers the whole ground. There can be no other thought of. A creed must contain more than the Bible, less than the Bible, differ from it, or be precisely like it.
f. No man can defend his creed on these grounds; and thus, human creeds cannot be justly defended.
5. Those who have pledged allegiance to humanly written creeds are unable to defend the Bible.
a. The fact that many religious organizations have creeds shows that they lack faith in the Bible.
b. The infidel would say, “Preacher, explain to me why you have some other creed than the Bible, if the Bible be true.”
c. Illustration … Campbell – Owen Debate

Over a 100 years ago, Robert Dale Owens of Scotland, the Goliath of infidelity, came to America. He did as the Goliath of the Philistines in the long ago; he defied the people of God; he begged the followers of Christ to send forth a man to engage him in polemic combat as to the truth of the Bible. The denominational preachers trembled at the sound of his challenge. Why? They knew their position was hopelessly defenseless! They knew Owen would ask them to justify creeds other than the Bible; explain why they wore names not mentioned in the Bible; and make plain why they were members of churches foreign to the Bible. They trembled!

But a David arose to accept the challenge. He was a Christian only, just a member of Christ’s church and it alone, and had no creed but the Bible. The battle for truth was fought in Cincinnati, beginning April 13, 1829, and lasted for eight days. Mr. Owen, the Goliath of infidelity, was unable to use his favorite weapon: the inconsistency of those professing to believe the Bible and being at variance with it. His challenger was a member of no denomination, wore no human name and had no human creed. The infidel went down.

It was a great victory for the Bible and Christian people were jubilant. This defender of the faith was Alexander Campbell. Many preachers could have done the same thing, if it had not been or their defenseless positions. Men cannot defend the Bible when they have pledged their support to the creeds written by uninspired men. ©

6. Human creeds are divisive
a. Creeds keep religious people divided into parties and sects.
b. Each creed serves as a wall to include and enclose its own adherents and to exclude all others.
c. When human creeds are abolished, denominational barriers will begin to weaken and a divided people will be on the road to unity.

B. I AM A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST BECAUSE IT BELIEVES THE BIBLE TO BE A BOOK TO BE RIGHTLY DIVIDED
1. 2 Timothy 2:15 – “rightly dividing…”
a. Many today have little or no true conception of the Bible.
b. Many do not know what it means to rightly divide heaven’s message.
c. Many are just as apt to go to the Psalms to learn of conversion as to the book of Acts.
2. Many do not know, or ignore, that there are three dispensations in the Bible.
a. Patriarchal Dispensation
1) Patriarch means father, and under this system the father or patriarch was prophet, priest and ruler.
2) God directed the family both religiously and politically through the head of the family.
3) What was commanded for one family made not have obligatory for another family (e.g. Noah and the ark)
4) It was not a written law, it was an oral law
5) This law was for all mankind until the giving of the law Moses, and then was just for the Gentiles.
b. Jewish Dispensation
1) This was man’s first written system of religion
2) Instead of a family religion, it was a national system of religion
3) The Jewish Dispensation had a variety of purposes:
a) To keep the Jewish nation a distinct race until Christ should come (Gal. 3:16-19) … it was called the “middle wall of partition” because it separated Jew and Gentile (Eph. 2:14)
b) It was a shadow of good things to come (Heb. 10:1)
c) It was a school master or tutor to bring us to Christ (Gal. 3:24)
d) It was not intended to be used for man’s salvation … Hebrews 10:1-4
e) It was intended to be only temporary. It was to last only “till the seed should come to whom the promise hath been made” (Gal. 3:19), and that “seed” is Jesus (Gal. 3:16)
c. Christian Dispensation
1) This was the new covenant of which Jeremiah spoke … Jeremiah 31:31-33 … Paul declared this was fulfilled (Heb. 8:6-13).
2) The change of priesthoods necessitated the change of laws … Hebrews 7:12
a) Jesus is the high priest under the new priesthood (Heb. 9:11), and every Christian is a priest (1 Pt. 2:5).
b) And since the priesthood was changed the law had to be changed as well.
3) Jesus came to take “away the first, that he may establish the second” (Heb. 10:9)
4) Jesus took away the law of Moses nailing it to the cross (Col. 2:14).
5) The New Testament did not become operative until after the death of Christ … Hebrews 9:16-17
3. Thus, while we are studying the will of God trying to ascertain His will for us today we must realize what covenant we are under and under what covenant a certain commandant was given or a certain thing allowed.
a. This is a major problem with many in the religious world
b. Remember … Hebrews 1:1-2
CONCLUSION
A. Thus as we have seen in this lesson, I am a member of the church of Christ because:
1. It has the Bible as its only creed, confession of faith or church manual;
2. And, it believes the Bible is a book to be rightly divided

Tom Moore
P. O. Box 107
Hamilton, Texas 76531
http://www.harrisandmoore.org
http://www.fromthepreacherspc.org
http://www.parkheightscoc.com

WHY I AM A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST #5

INTRODUCTION
A. In previous lessons we have that noticed that I am a member of the church of Christ because:
1. It was founded by the scriptural builder – Christ
2. It was founded on THE scriptural foundation
3. It was founded at the scriptural place – Jerusalem
4. Christ is the founder of only one church – His church
5. It is scriptural in name.
B. This morning we will notice that I am a member of the church of Christ because it is scriptural in organization.
DISCUSSION
A. ECCLESIASTICISMS
1. The denominations of our world today are ruled by their ecclesiastical forms of government.
a. They have ignored the head of the church and have assumed the right of self-government.
b. They confess with the mouth that Christ has “all authority” but their heart is far from it – and is set on a denominational form of government.
c. Therefore, we hear much of synods, presbyteries, councils, general assemblies and conferences.
d. In these delegations men legislate rules and laws to govern their various denominations.
2. Of course this power to legislate was never given to any group of uninspired men.
a. Man does not have the right to change God’s law concerning salvation, worship, homosexuality, etc.
b. Any who would do such is in rebellion against Jesus
B. A MONARCHY
1. The Lord’s church is a monarchy
a. Colossians 1:18
b. Ephesians 1:22-23
c. At the transfiguration… Matthew 17:5
d. Jesus said… Matthew 28:18
2. Jesus, then, promised to send the apostles the Holy Spirit, Who was to teach them all things, and bring all that Jesus had taught them to their remembrance
a. John. 14:26
b. John 16:13
3. Thus, the authority in the church lay at the feet of Jesus and His apostles, and Jesus never delegated this authority to any than the apostles.
C. THE AUTONOMY OF THE CHURCH
1. In speaking of the autonomy of the church we mean the autonomy of the local church or congregation.
a. Autonomy is defined as “right of self-government; self-governing state; an independent body”
1) In the first century each congregation was such.
2) Each was independent of one another
3) No local congregation had control or authority over another
b. Each congregation was free and independent, under the teaching of Jesus and the apostles, to govern itself, carry on its own work, and manage its own affairs.
c. All congregations had the same head, foundation, and mission; each preached the same gospel, and constituted one body.
d. BUT each was independent to direct its own work.
2. There is great wisdom seen in this arrangement for the Lord’s church
a. If one becomes corrupted in doctrine or affected by evil practices, other churches would not be so effected.
b. If a window is made up of one large pane, a break injures the entire pane.
1) But if a window is made up of several panes, it is no so bad to break one.
2) And so it is that the independence of the churches is a protection for each one.
3. This simple, organization, however, failed to satisfy many.
a. Hence, they made changes whereby their unchristian aspirations for ecclesiastical lordship could be realized.
b. History records that the first great departure from the truth came in the system of church government
D. CHURCH GOVERNMENT
1. You look around in the denominational world today and you will see nothing resembling scriptural church government.
a. The Bible clearly states that the church is to be governed by the elders of the local church.
b. Deacons are to help and serve in this work
2. The Bible teaches very plainly that elders are to be ordain in every church… Titus 1:5
a. These men are also spoken of as bishops, overseers, shepherds, and pastors.
b. It is the duty of the elders to:
1) Take heed unto themselves and the church, and to feed the church (Acts 20:28)
2) Help the weak (Acts 20:35)
3) Exhort in sound doctrine and to convict those who are not sound in doctrine (Tit. 1:9)
4) Encourage the faint hearted and be longsuffering (1 Th. 5:14)
5) Exercise the oversight without out lording over the flock (1 Pt. 5:2)
6) Be examples to the flock (1 Pt. 5:3)
7) Visit the sick (Jam. 5:14)
8) Watch in behalf of the souls of the members (Heb.13:17).
c. When these duties are preformed the church will prosper, but when they are not preformed the church suffers.
d. In all of this it is a must to remember that the elders DO NOT have the authority to change God’s laws, but to enforce them.
e. The qualifications of an elder are found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9.
f. The congregation has an obligation to the elders.The local congregation is to:
1) Know them… become well acquainted with them (1 Th. 5:12).
2) Esteem them because of the work (1 Th. 5:13)
3) Count them worthy of double honor (1 Tim. 5:17)
4) Obey them and submit to them (Heb. 13:17)
5) Receive not an accusation except by two or three witnesses (1 Tim. 5:19).
g. It is just as essential for a congregation to perform its duties to the elders as it is for the elders to perform its duties to the congregation.
3. The Bible also plainly teaches that a local congregation should have deacons.
a. The qualifications of a deacon are found in 1 Timothy 3:8-13.
b. Deacons are to be servants, they are not mini elders, and do not have the authority of elders.
1) Any authority they may have has been delegated to them by the elders
2) The elders do not need the deacons approval for their decisions
c. Deacons are to help the elders, maybe give them counsel at times, and are to encourage them.
d. Deacons must be the elders’ right hand men.
CONCLUSION
A. When you look around the denominational world today you do not see scriptural organization, you see men doing things the way they want to do them!
B. I am a member of the church of Christ because:
1. It was founded by the scriptural builder – Christ
2. It was founded on THE scriptural foundation
3. It was founded at the scriptural place – Jerusalem
4. Christ is the founder of only one church – His church
5. It is scriptural in name.
6. And as we have seen today, it is scriptural in organization.

Tom Moore
P. O. Box 107
Hamilton, Texas 76531
http://www.harrisandmoore.org
http://www.fromthepreacherspc.org
http://www.parkheightscoc.com

WHY I AM A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST #4

INTRODUCTION
A. Again, let me ask you this morning why you are a member of the church of Christ? – Or, Why are you a member of the religious group that you are?
1. Is it because it is the one you were raised in?
2. Is it because it is the one where your friends go?
3. Is it because they have a lot of young people?
B. Many today believe that one church is a good as another.
1. Is one doctor as good as another? … No!
2. Is one auto mechanic as good as another? … No!
3. Is one medicine as good as another? … No!
4. And one church is not as good as another.
C. In our series we have seen that I am a member of the church of Christ because:
1. It was founded by the scriptural builder – Christ
2. It was founded on THE scriptural foundation
3. It was founded at the scriptural place – Jerusalem
4. And, Christ is the founder of only one church – His church
D. Today, we are going to notice that I am a member of the church of Christ because it is scriptural in name.
DISCUSSION
A. IS THERE ANYTHING IN A NAME?
1. The idea that there is nothing in a name is a prevalent and popular doctrine, BUT this idea is not in keeping with Scripture nor reason.
2. There is so much in a name that God named Adam and Eve (Gen. 5:2).
3. If there is nothing in a name explain why God changed Abram’s name to Abraham? (Gen. 17:5).
4. If there is nothing in a name, why did Paul condemn divisive names in 1 Corinthians 1:13-15?
5. If there is nothing in a name why not name your son Fido?
a. If there is nothing in a name, why not call your daughter Jezebel, or why not name her Rover?
b. You see, there is something in a name!
B. WHAT DOES THE NEW TESTAMENT CALL THE CHURCH?
1. “My church” (Mt. 16:18). Jesus said this, therefore it is Christ’s church.
2. “The church” (Acts 8:1), meaning a group of called out people, and the Lord has but one such group.
3. “Church of God” (1 Cor. 1:2). This shows ownership
4. “Churches of Christ” (Rom. 16:16).
a. Here Paul speaks of various local congregations.
b. This designates them as belonging to Christ.
5. “The body of Christ” (Eph. 4:12). The body belonging to Christ.
6. “The church of the living God” (1 Tim. 3:15).
7. “Church of the firstborn” (Heb. 12:23). The church made up of the firstborn, Christians.
8. The members of the church of Christ speak of the church in Scriptural terms.
a. What about other religious groups?
b. It is strange that people who claim to belong to Christ will be a member of a religious group whose name is foreign to the Bible.
c. This is a dishonor to the Father and the Son
C. WHAT DOES THE NEW TESTAMENT CALL MEMBERS OF THE LORD’S CHURCH?
1. “Disciples” (Acts 20:7). This has reference to learners or followers of Christ.
2. “Saints” (1 Cor. 1:2). We are called this because we saved from our past sins, are holy, and set apart by the Gospel.
3. “Beloved of God” (Rom. 1:7).
4. “Brethren” (1 Cor. 15:6). Shows the relationship we have one with another.
5. “Sons of God” (Rom. 8:14). This shows our relationship with the Father.
6. “Children of God” (1 Jn. 3:1). Again, shows our relationship to the Father.
7. “Heirs of God” (Rom. 8:17). This shows we are to inherit from God.
8. “Priests” (1 Pt. 2:9). This shows we may offer acceptable worship to God.
9. “Christians” (Acts 11:26). This expresses our relationship to Jesus.
D. WE MUST WEAR ONLY THE NAMES THE BIBLE USES TO DESIGNATES GOD’S PEOPLE
1. I am not a Baptist, because the Bible never refers to God’s people as such.
2. I am not a Methodist, because the Bible never refers to God’s people in this manner.
3. I am not a Episcopalian, because the Bible never refers to God’s people in that way.
4. I am not a Lutheran, because the Bible never refers to God’s people in such terms.
5. I am a member of the church of Christ because it sticks with what the Bible calls God’s people – JUST CHRISTIANS!

E. A TESTIMONY FROM SPURGEON AND LUTHER
1. Listen to the language of Charles Spurgeon, the most recognized and talented Baptist preacher that ever lived:
“I say of the Baptist name, let is perish, but let Christ’s name last forever. I look forward with pleasure, to the day when there will not be a baptist living … I hope the Baptist name will soon perish; but let Christ’s name endure forever.” – (Spurgeon, Memorial Library, Vol. 1, p. 168).
2. Hear the words of Martin Luther, a man in whose name many glory:
“I pray you to leave my name alone, and call not yourselves Lutherans, but Christians. Who is Luther? … I have not been crucified for anyone…let us call ourselves only Christians after him from whom our doctrine comes.” (The Life of Luther, by Stork, p. 289).
F. WHAT ABOUT RELIGIOUS TITLES?
1. In the long ago the Jews corrupted their speech by using “half the speech of Ashdod” (Neh. 13:23-24).
a. Figuratively speaking, we have much of the language of Ashdod in the world today.
b. Many exalting titles are now being used in opposition to the teachings of the Bible.
2. One of the self-exalting titles is “Reverend”
a. First let us note that the English word “reverend” is found only once in our Bibles
1) Psalm 111:9
2) The only time it is used, it is used in reference to God!
b. Isn’t it interesting that there is no mention in the Scriptures of “Reverend Paul,” “Right Reverend James,” or “The Right Reverend Peter”?
1) Many preachers speak of Paul as just plain Paul, Peter as just plain Peter, and John as just plain John.
2) BUT to themselves as “Reverend So-and-So.”
3) This would be comical if it were not so tragic.
c. How did the apostles refer to themselves? – as a servant
3. Many today wrongfully use the word “pastor” to refer to the preacher of a local congregation.
a. The Bible says that a pastor is an elder of the church (1 Tim. 3; Acts 14:23)
b. That the pastor and preacher are not the same is clearly seen in Ephesians 4:11.
4. The word “father” is another word often used as a religious title in direct opposition to the teaching of Christ.
a. Matthew 23:9
b. Isn’t strange that millions will use a title that is positively forbidden by the Lord?
CONCLUSION
A. The church of Christ is scriptural in name and language.
1. This cannot be truthfully denied.
2. The church of Christ calls Bible things by Bible names.
3. “Hold the pattern of sound words” (2 Tim. 1:13)
4. Job 32:21-22
B. I am a member of the church of Christ because it is scriptural in name.

Tom Moore
P. O. Box 107
Hamilton, Texas 76531
http://www.harrisandmoore.org
http://www.fromthepreacherspc.org
http://www.parkheightscoc.com

WHY I AM A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST #3

INTRODUCTION
A. If your friend were to ask you why you are a member of the church of Christ, would you:
1. Know how to answer them? … Paul said:
a. Be “prepared for every good work” (2 Tim 2:21)
b. “Be ready to every good work” (Tit. 3:1)
c. And, Peter said … 1 Peter 3:15
2. Or, Would we be ashamed or afraid to answer them?
a. Romans 1:16
b. Luke 9:26
c. “Do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord” (2 Tim 1:8).
B. In previous lessons we have noted that I am a member of the church of Christ because:
1. It was founded by the scriptural builder – Christ
2. It was founded on THE scriptural foundation – Christ
3. It was founded at the scriptural place – Jerusalem
DISCUSSION
A. I AM A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST BECAUSE CHRIST IS THE FOUNDER OF ONLY ONE CHURCH – HIS CHURCH
1. He who has ALL authority in heaven and earth said, “Upon this rock I will build my church…” (Mt. 16:18).
a. Jesus did not say that He would build a church, or His churches, nor one of His churches.
b. He said, “I will build my church.”
c. Let me spell it for you: C-H-U-R-C-H … that is how many Jesus promised to build.
d. Everyone who knows anything about the English language as to whether nouns are singular or plural knows that the word “church” is singular and means one.
e. It is hard for many good people, in view of the present conditions, to be convinced of the oneness of the church; but the multiplicity of churches about us has no power to alter the words of Christ.
f. Jesus declares, “My words will by no means pass away” (Mt. 24:35).
2. The apostle Paul teaches that there is one body
a. Ephesians 4:4
b. Romans 12:4-5
c. “But now they are many members, but one body” (1 Cor. 12:20).
d. We can see that Paul taught time and time again the oneness of the body.
1) But does the body mean the church?
2) We shall see… Ephesians 1:22-23
3) Colossians 1:18
e. Thus, the church is the body and the body is the church
1) Therefore there is ONE CHURCH
2) This agrees perfectly with Jesus’ promise, “I will build my church” (Mt. 16:18).
3. The oneness of the church is also seen in the figure of a vineyard, with God the husbandman… John 15:1
a. We do not see the picture of many vineyards, being worked by the vinedresser in a way as to conflict with the welfare and growth of each.
b. Today there are thousands of religious vineyards “claiming” God as their vinedresser.
c. This is what you see when you lift up your eyes in the world, but this is not what you see when you look into the Bible.
d. In the Bible we see ONE vineyard – ON husbandman!
4. This idea of one church is further portrayed in the figure of the vine and the branches.
a. John 15:1-8
b. Christ here is pictured as the true vine and each redeemed person, each Christian, as a branch in the vine.
c. We do not see Christ as a plurality of vines with many branches in each vine, and each vine and its branches growing in such a way as to conflict with the growth of the others. This is not what we see at all!!!
d. What we see is one great and beautiful vine, Jesus Christ, with every saved person as a branch in Him, saved by Him and bearing fruit to His glory.
e. Man in his desperate attempt to justify denominationalism has tried to tell us that the vine is the original and true church and all the branches are the different denominations of the world.
1) This is their number-one argument in behalf of denominationalism
2) A little logical thinking will show this to be false:
a) Christ was speaking to His disciples, and not denominations (Jn. 15:5)
b) Christ said to abide in ME, in the vine, thus if you are abiding in a branch you are in error
c) Jesus plainly taught that a branch was a person (Jn. 15:6; a man – ASV), not a denomination!
d) It does injury to the parable. It is preposterous and ridiculous to think that on the true vine can grow a grape, a pumpkin, a squash, and etc. We would not accept this in the physical world, why accept it in the spiritual world???
5. The oneness of the church is also presented in the figure of a house or a family.
a. Paul tells us that the church is the house or family of God (1 Tim. 3:15).
b. That we are God’s family is clearly seen in Romans 8:16-17
c. We do not see pictured in the Bible thousands of different families, each more or less conflicting with all the others each with a distinct government of its own, each wearing its own name, and claiming to have the same Father.
d. This would be bigamy!
1) Men ought not by word or deed to cast such a poor reflection upon God.
2) The divine picture is one great united family with God as the Father, Jesus as the Elder Brother, and all members working together for the good of the family.
6. The oneness of the church is also portrayed in the figure of the one fold and one shepherd.
a. “There will be one fold, and one shepherd” (Jn. 10:16).
b. We must look into the world and not the Bible to see many flocks, each claiming to have the same shepherd.
c. God does not picture thousands of flocks, each with its peculiar kind of sheep, and each more or less at variance with one another.
d. God says, “ONE flock, ONE shepherd!!!!”
e. There are no more true flocks than there are shepherds!
7. The oneness of the church is further taught in our Lord’s prayer to the Father.
a. John 17:20-21
b. Jesus prayed that all who believe on Him might be one.
c. This prayer is a cutting rebuke to the plurality of churches in our world today.
d. We know that Jesus did not pray for oneness and turning right around and establish many church conflicting in doctrine with one another
e. Such would be fickle and hypocrisy.
f. Every time a man says that Jesus is the author of many churches and doctrines he accuses the Lord of hypocrisy.
g. How many times have you heard of denominational preachers falling to their knees and thanking God for all the many different denominations in the world today.
1) This is not what Jesus prayed for!!!
2) Thus many have drifted far from the spirit of Christ
CONCLUSION
A. I am a member of the church of Christ because:
1. It was founded by the scriptural builder – Christ
2. It was founded on THE scriptural foundation – Christ
3. It was founded at the scriptural place – Jerusalem
4. And, Christ is the founder of only one church – His church

Tom Moore
P. O. Box 107
Hamilton, Texas 76531
http://www.harrisandmoore.org
http://www.fromthepreacherspc.org
http://www.parkheightscoc.com