Why We Need The Church Of Christ

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                             "WHY WE NEED"

                          The Church Of Christ

INTRODUCTION

1. It is not uncommon today to hear people disparage the church...
   a. People who say in effect, "Christ, yes; the church, no."
   b. Professing they love Jesus, they have no need for "the church"

2. In this series, I have endeavored to show why we need...
   a. God               d. The Holy Spirit
   b. The Bible         e. The Gospel of Christ
   c. Jesus Christ      f. Baptism into Christ

[Now I would like to show why we need the Church of Christ, both in the
universal sense and in the local sense.  Let's begin with...]

I. THE CHURCH OF CHRIST - UNIVERSAL

   A. WHAT I MEAN BY CHURCH UNIVERSAL...
      1. Not as envisioned by many today:
         a. Made up of all the denominations (denominational view)
         b. Made up of all churches that wear just one scriptural name
            (sectarian view)
      2. But as unveiled in the Scriptures:
         a. The universal assembly (ekklesia) that Jesus said He would
            build - Mt 16:18
         b. The body of Christ, made up of saved members - Ep 1:22-23;
            4:4; 5:23; Ro 12:5
         c. The household or family of God - 1Ti 3:15
         d. The temple or dwelling place of God - Ep 2:19-22; 1Co 3:16
         e. The kingdom of Christ - Col 1:13; Re 1:9
      -- The church universal is the body of all believers redeemed by
         the blood of Christ, who submit to His authority as Lord

   B. WHY WE NEED THE CHURCH UNIVERSAL...
      1. Jesus is the Savior of the body (church) - Ep 5:23
      2. Jesus loves the church - Ep 5:25
      3. Jesus gave Himself for the church - Ep 5:25
      4. Jesus purchased the church with His own blood - Ac 20:28
      5. Jesus has sanctified and cleansed the church with the washing
         of water by the word - Ep 5:26; cf. Jn 3:5; Ac 22:16; Tit 3:5-7;
         He 10:22; 1Pe 3:21
      6. Jesus will present to Himself a glorious church, holy and
         without blemish - Ep 5:27
      7. Jesus nourishes and cherishes the church - Ep 5:29
      8. Jesus is head over all things to the church (for the benefit of
         the church) - Ep 1:22
      9. The church is the fullness of Jesus who fills all in all - Ep
         1:23
     10. Jesus adds those who are saved to His church - Ac 2:41,47
      -- If we desire to be saved, nourished and cherished by Jesus, we
         must be in His church!

[In view of the Lord's love for His church, how can we not need it?  But
in love for the church, Jesus has not just established the church
universal, He also provides for our benefit...]

II. THE CHURCH OF CHRIST - LOCAL

   A. WHAT I MEAN BY CHURCH LOCAL...
      1. Not as envisioned by many today:
         a. Every local congregation that deems itself a church
            (denominational view)
         b. Every local congregation that calls itself a "Church of
            Christ" (sectarian view)
      2. But as unveiled in the Scriptures:
         a. Congregations made up of Christians in a geographical area
            that assemble together to work and worship - Ac 11:26; 13:1;
            Ro 16:16
         b. Congregations that continue steadfastly in the apostles'
            doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayers - Ac 2:
            42
         c. Congregations that assemble weekly to break bread, i.e., to
            observe the Lord's Supper - Ac 20:7; cf. 1Co 11:20-34
         d. Congregations that seek to be organized just as local
            churches were in days of the apostles - Ac 14:23; cf. Ph
            1:1; Tit 1:5-9; 1Ti 3:1-13
         e. Congregations where members care for one another - 1Co 12:
            25-26
         f. Congregation with members who are of one mind, one judgment
            - 1Co 1:10
      -- Such local congregations are truly the "churches of Christ"

   B. WHY WE NEED THE CHURCH LOCAL...
      1. For fellowship with other Christians - Ac 2:42
      2. For assemblies designed to stimulate love and good works - He
         10:24-25
      3. For growth that comes from all members doing their part - Ep 4:
         11-16
      4. For encouragement to remain faithful - He 3:12-15
      5. For comfort in difficult times - 2Co 1:3-5; 1Th 4:18; 5:11
      -- The Lord intended the local church to provide much of the
         support and encouragement we need as His disciples

CONCLUSION

1. To put it most simply...
   a. We need the church of Christ universal in order to be saved
   b. We need the church of Christ local in order to stay saved

2. How do we become part of the church of Christ universal...?
   a. By responding to the gospel of Christ - Mk 16:15-16; Ac 2:36-39
   b. For as we are saved, Jesus Himself adds us to His church - Ac 2:
      41,47

3. How do we become part of a church of Christ local...?
   a. By finding a local congregation of Christians abiding in the
      apostles' doctrine - Ac 2:42
   b. Then joining ourselves with such a congregation - e.g., Ac 9:26-28

If we value the church of Christ as Jesus Himself does, then we will
readily confess our need for both the church universal and the church
local...

Note:  For a more indepth study of the church, check out the series,
"The Church Jesus Built"
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