Transcript The Church has a Divine Side

"But we desire to hear from you what you think;
for concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken
against everywhere.“ Acts 28:22 NKJV
Church is criticized
Human side - often make mistakes = Sin
Acts 5 - Ananias and Sapphira
Corinth - false apostles
Diotrephes - 3 John 9
The Church has a Divine Side
Planned - purpose = To save mankind
Eph. 3:11 “eternal purpose”
Jesus came to earth for this purpose
Luke 19:19 “to seek and to save”
Heb. 2:9 “taste death for every man”
Built His Church
“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my church; and the
gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Mt. 16:18
The Church has a Divine Side
It is not a denomination
Denomination = denominational name, faith
The Church is not a part or section of something
In 1st century all taught and practiced the same
No denominations in the Bible
Gospel does not create denominations
The Moral and Ethical Standards of the Church
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye
separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean
thing; and I will receive you,” 2 Cor. 6:17
Different from the World !
We are children of God !
Church = “The called out ones”
The Moral and Ethical Standards of the Church
Our Language
Matt. 12:36-37 = justified or condemned
Where we Go
“abstain from all appearance of evil” 1 Thes.5:22
How we Dress
1 Tim. 2:9-10 = Modest apparel
Rev. 3:18 “that the shame of thy nakedness do
not appear”
The Moral and Ethical Standards of the Church
Sanctity of life
Many abortions
Murder is wrong - “Thou shalt not kill” Rom.13:9
Our Thinking
Not like the world - filled with trash
Phil. 4:8 “Think on these things”
True, honest, just, pure, lovely, good report
Prov. 23:7 “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:”
Scripturally organized
2 Elders
5 Deacons
Worship is scriptural
John 4:24
Singing
Praying
Giving
Lord’s Supper
Preaching / Teaching
Unity prevails
Some churches have discord / divisions
Rom. 14:19 “follow after the things which make
for peace”
Eph. 4:2-3 “unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”
Ps. 133:1 “Behold, how good and pleasant it is for
brethren to dwell together in unity.”
Educational Program
Members with great Talents and ability
James Andrews - Caribbean, Europe, Russia,
South America
David Henry - Jamaica
Jim Waldron - India, Schools of Preaching
Feroze Baksh - Guyana
Tim Shoulders - Seymour, Tennessee
Sean O’Brien - Durham, North Carolina
Jimmy Aaron - Louisville, Georgia
Matt Shelton - Thomson, Georgia
Ron Nelson - Savannah, Georgia
In Search of The Lord’s Way - TV program
The Voice of Truth – Worldwide book publications
Raintree Village - Children’s Home
Valdosta, Georgia
Agape of Georgia – Child Placing
Agency - Atlanta
Several who are able and willing
Need more people involved
We are often too quick to point out the flaws of the
church.
There are many things about the church that are good,
that are right, that are outstanding.
Phil. 3:13-14 “Brethren, I count not myself to have
apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those
things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those
things which are before, I press toward the mark for the
prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
Sermon by Arthur Pigman
Evans Church of Christ
515 Gibbs Road
Evans, Ga. 30809
706-855-1249
[email protected]
www.evansgachurchofchrist.org
Sunday Evening December 23, 2012