Discovering God’s House
Discovering God’s Church
Discovering True Worship
1.The Disciple’s Mandate
2.The Church the Body
3.God’s House in the Past
4.The House Today
5.Conditions of the House
6.God’s Building Work
7.Church
8.The Design of God’s Churches
9.Keeping to the Pattern
10. Keeping to the Pattern (continued)
11.True Worship
12. Putting it into Practice
“The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was
taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given
commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive
after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by
them during forty days and speaking of the things
pertaining to the kingdom of God.”Acts 1:1-3
Galilee
The Lord spent 40 days after His resurrection
instructing His apostles.
These apostles were to play the
pivotal role in the kingdom of God.
Matthew 28:18-20
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority
has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go
therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I
have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to
the end of the age."
Making disciples includes baptizing them
and teaching them.
They were to teach them ALL things that He had
commanded them. It was a complete doctrine.
It was applicable for this whole dispensation of time
(until His return).
Commands of the Commands of the LordLord
The apostles’ The apostles’ teaching (doctrine)teaching (doctrine)
The faithThe faith
Acts 2:41,42
“Then those who gladly received his word were
baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were
added to them.”…
“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the
breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
We’re not told what the Lord
taught, but we can deduce it from what happened
thereafter.
The response to Peter’s message, after the Holy Spirit
had come, was a series of individual and then collective actions that resulted in two
things existing: (a) the church the Body of Christ; and (b) the
church of God in Jerusalem.
This set a pattern for
what followed.
“God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from
the heart that form of doctrine to which you were
delivered.”
“contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”
Romans 6:17; Jude v.3
These things apply directly to us today; they are not just a
historical account of the first century.
These things apply directly to us today; they are not just a
historical account of the first century
What the Lord taught the apostles, and they taught to other
disciples, became a “form” (mold).
FROM: one church in Jerusalem
TO: a community of interdependent churches
FROM: only Jewish disciples
TO: all nationalities without distinction
FROM: governance by the 12 apostlesTO: collective governance by a united
elderhood
FROM: oral teaching, authenticated by miracles
TO: the written New Testament scriptures FROM: the commands of the Lord
TO: the apostles’ doctrine
TO: “the faith” fully delivered
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to
their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for
themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be
turned aside to fables.”
1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 4:3,4
(14 centuries)
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will
depart from the faith”
The Remembrance – TO: “The Mass”
Disciples’ baptism – TO: sprinkling infants
The faith – TO: the 7 sacraments
With Christ at death – TO: purgatory & worship of Mary
United elderhood - TO: Pope & clergy
Supremacy of scripture – TO: Bible banned
Spiritual service – TO: crucifixes & relics
“in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some
for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will
be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.”
Romans 1:17; 2 Timothy 2:20,21
“As it is written, The just shall live by faith."
Martin Luther
Salvation by grace & faith – at the Reformation
The absolute authority of Scripture – at the Reformation
Disciples’ baptism by immersion (17th Century)
Elderhood (presbytery) – 16th Century
The Remembrance – 19th Century
Evangelism – 19th Century
“sola scriptura”
1. The house of God is the same as the church the Body of Christ
2. All churches of believers are scriptural churches of God
3. God comes down to us for our spiritual worship
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their
word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may
believe that You sent Me.”
“…till we all come to the unity of the faith”
John 17:20,21; Ephesians 4:3,13
“…endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit”
God is ‘one’ – He desires unity among His people
It is not by compromise, but by common adherence to the faith
It requires the work of the Holy Spirit
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God,
a worker who does not need to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15; Matthew 15:6
“You have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.”
NKJV“And they continued
steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and
fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and
in prayers.”
“you are the the temple of God”
“you are the body of Christ”
Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 12:27
Original
“And they continued steadfastly in the
apostles' doctrine and the fellowship, in the
breaking of bread, and in the prayers.”
“you are temple of God”
“you are body of Christ”
“Jesus said…
"If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
John 8:31,32