CHRIST'S CHURCH #3 1. There is a great work that the ladies in the church do. In Romans 16:1 it is stated, "I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea." Her service was helping people have food, clothing, and lodging who need it. She reminds us of Dorcas of Acts 9:36-41. She made coats and garments for widows. Also Lois and Eunice the grandmother and mother of Timothy taught him the scriptures from his youth (2 Timothy 1:5, 3:15). 2. The church often met in peoples' houses. Priscilla and Aquilla evidently had a congregation meeting in their house which is referred to in Romans 16:5. 3. Christ's church is referred to as "churches of Christ"in Romans 16:16. The congregations in Achaia, Macedonia, and Asia saluted the church in Rome. If many congregations were "churches of Christ" then one congregation would be a "church of Christ. The churches are warned to mark and avoid dividers (Romans 16:17). 4. Congregations of Christ's church often times need correcting. The church of God at Corinth was exhorted to all "speak the same things, and that there be no divisions among them (I Corinthians 1:10). The cure for divisions is to realize that Christ was crucified for us and that we are baptized in the name of Christ. Therefore we should just follow Christ instead of some man (I Corinthians 1:13-17). If everyone who names the name of Christ did this there would be no more divisions. 5. Christ's church was careful to worship decently and in order. (I Corinthians 14;33, 40). If someone spoke to an assembly with a foreign language he was to have an interpreter so the message could be understood. (I Corinthians 14:27, 28). Paul said of himself, "I will pray with the spirit, and 1 will pray with the understanding also; I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also." (1 Corinthians 14:15). Everyone is to understand what is prayed and what is sung so they can say "amen" to it (I Corinthians 14:16). Only Singing in worship is authorized by the Lord. "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." (Colossians 3:16). Teaching God's Word is a part of the worship also. Acts 11:26 states, "And it came to pass, that whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." Also a very sober partaking of the Lord's Supper was to be done in memory of the death of Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 11 :23-26). Instructions were given to "Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord." (I Corinthians 11:27, 29). The first day of the week was when the disciples came together to break the bread which is to partake of the Lord's Supper. (Acts 20:7). First day of the week worship came into being the day Christ arose from the dead (John 20:19-23; John 20:26). The Lord's Supper was partaken of on that day and also the command to give of what God prospered was to be done on the first day of the week. Public worship is a thing that should be carefully planned and executed in an orderly and decent way. 6. The book of Ephesians shows many things about Christ's church. REVIEW QUESTIONS 2. Did the church ever meet in a person's house? 3. What were congregations of Christ's church called? 4. How must worship in the church be carried on? 5. Should people pray and sing so as to be understood? 6. If one spoke in a foreign language to an assembly how is it to be done? 7. Is singing authorized in worship? 8. How should one partake of the Lord's Supper? 9. When did first day of the week worship begin? 10 What 2 items of worship were commanded to be observed on the first day of the week? 11. Give 6 things said about Christ's church in Ephesians. |
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