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“I’m looking for a church…”

// March 4th, 2010 // Bible Study, Mark's stuff

By David Watson

Benchley, February 21, 2010

[This outline is taken from David's handout for the sermon.  Thanks, Dave!]

• There is much religious diversity today.  Which church is right?  Look for a church which…
• Depends upon God’s grace.
  • If God had not decided to extend His grace, then we would be utterly lost and without hope (Titus 2:11, Ephesians 1:7, 2:4-9, I Peter 1:13).
  • Look for a church which gives God the credit, depending on His grace for salvation.
• Honors God above man.
  • The church belongs to and is subject to Jesus Christ.  He is its Head and Savior (Acts 20:28, Ephesians 5:23-24).
  • Why is it that in many churches more attention is given to the people, and maybe the preacher, than to the Savior?  A church ought to be busy giving glory to God by worshiping Him in spirit and truth and obeying His word (Romans 16:27).
  • Jesus and Paul honored God above men (John 8:29, 6:66, Galatians 1:10).
  • Churches should get back to the NT pattern of preaching of the gospel (Philippians 4:15), worshiping (I Corinthians 14), and helping needy members (Acts 6).
• Encourages questions and independent study.
  • A church should encourage its members to follow the objective standard of God’s Word, the Bible (John 12:48).
  • All sources (preachers, churches) ought to be compared to God’s Word and either accepted or rejected based upon whether or not they harmonize with it (Acts 17:10-12).
• Accepts the Bible as the sole authority.
  • There is “one faith” given “once for all” (Ephesians 4:5, Jude 3, Galatians 1:6-9).
  • Churches should follow the New Covenant of Christ, and not the Old Covenant of Moses (Hebrews 8:6-13, Matthew 5:17-18, Galatians 3:24-26).  The NC involves singing (Ephesians 5:19), partaking of the Lord’s Supper (I Corinthians 11:26), praying (I Thessalonians 5:17), preaching the gospel (I Thessalonians 1:8), pooling money together on the first day of the week (I Corinthians 16:1-2), etc.
• Is not ashamed to teach that “man is justified by works and not by faith alone.”
  • This is not a popular doctrine.  Some churches vigorously teach against this.
  • What does the Bible say?  James 2:14-26 (see also Matt. 7:21, II Cor. 5:10, Hebrews 5:9).
• Teaches the whole story of salvation.
  • What is required for a person to be saved?  God’s grace!  (Ephesians 2:5)
  • But God Himself says there is more.  We must believe (John 8:24), repent (Acts 17:30), confess (Romans 10:10), be baptized for forgiveness of sins (I Peter 3:21), and stay faithful (Hebrews 4:11).  These are required and connected to salvation.
  • Different churches stop at various points along the line.  Some say grace only, some say grace+belief only, etc.
  • Does any religious group have the right to edit the Bible?  Which one of these can we omit?  I encourage you to look for a church which teaches the whole story of salvation.

• There are certainly more points we could consider.  I appeal to you in all sincerity to read the Bible text for yourself and see what it requires.