History records the time and place of the beginning of the various denominations. We are not particularly interested in these, for Jesus said: “Every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up” (Mt 15:13). Jesus said, “I will build my church” (Mt 16:18). We can identify His church by its date
“We are shopping for a church,” he said when I invited him to worship. With hundreds in Fort Worth, he could “shop” the rest of his life! If anyone is looking for the church Jesus built (Mt 16:18), note these identifying marks. NAME. See Rom 16:16: “The churches of Christ send greetings.” He bought it
“Filthy lucre” is money, but not all money is filthy. The KJV and ASV use this term five times. Other Bible versions translate this “unlawful gain.” Elders in the church must not be “lovers of money” [“filthy lucre,” KJV, I Tim 3:3]. Money is morally neutral, neither good nor bad in itself. There are three
Adding to truth turns it into a lie. Many stern warnings are given in the bible about adding to or taking away from God’s word. Read some of thee solemn warnings in Rev 22:18-19, 1 Cor 4:6; 2 Tim 4:1-4. The true original Christian doctrine and worship is not difficult to understand. As we look
Christ established His church in 33 AD, but soon some were beginning to depart from the faith (forbidding marriage, etc. I Tim 4:1-3). The form of church government was gradually changing by some men who desired preeminence in governing the churches, so they began regarding themselves as successors to the apostle Peter. They called themselves
God instructs about behavior of older men, older women, younger women and also instructions are given to the young men. In his letter to young evangelist Titus, Paul writes: “Encourage the young men to be self-controlled … set an example by doing what is good … in your teaching show integrity, seriousness of speech, so
More people are living to advanced years than ever before. Some folks resent getting old, and others resent old people. In an age that worships the goddess of youth, we need divine guidance to develop proper attitudes toward our retirement years. Moses did his greatest work between ages 80 and 120. John wrote Revelation when
“Membership” is spoken of in Acts 2:47: “The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” The church in Jerusalem began when about 3,000 were “added” by the Lord. “They continued together in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in breaking of bread and prayers” (vs 41f). This act of adding Christians together
Look at all the Bible says on the ABC’s of today’s religions. As we look at the Bible description of the church Jesus built, it’s worship, etc., we are amazed at its simplicity as compared to churches of today. We are warned to “not go beyond what is written” (I Cor 4:6; Mt 15:3-9) and
The church has no higher authority than Jesus and His word. He said “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth” (Mt 28:18). There are no official positions, powers or persons in His church possessing any authority to alter what He said or to order any person to submit to their
