What does the Biblesay about “the

Church”?Matt. 16:16-20

How many churches did Jesuspromise to build?

Why do we have some 2,000 different churches in existence today?

How many churches did Jesus promise To build? Matt. 16:18,19

Jesus promised to Build Hischurch.

Matt. 16:16-18 “Upon this Rock I will Build My church”

The church belongs to Jesus!

The Bible Tells usthat Jesus promised to Build ONE Paul affirms that is what Jesus built… Eph. 4:4-6 “There is One Body” Col. 1:18 “He is the head of the body, the church…. Eph. 1:22,23 God hath put all things under his feet and given Him to be Head over all things to the church, which is His body,

the fullness of Him that filleth all in all.

Is the church reallyimportant to Jesus?Sometimes people say:

I can be saved without being a member

Of any church?

Acts 2:47 -- And the Lord added to the

Church daily, such as should be saved.

People were added to the church!!

1. Acts 2:41…the same day there were added unto them about 3,000 souls…

2. Acts 4:4 ..Howbeit, many of them which heard the word believed, and the number of the men was about 5,000.

3. Acts 5:14 And believers were the more Added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and

Women.

4. Acts 6:1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied…

People were added to the church by The Lord. All those who were being Saved!

What should the church bebusy doing?

Spreading the Gospel of Christ, God’s power to save!

Mark. 16:15-16 Go and preach the gospel. Matt. 28:18-20 Go ye therefore and teach

all nations….

Preaching…. I Cor. 1:18 “For the preaching of the cross

is to them that perish, foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God”

Why? I Cor. 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness

Of preaching to save them that believe.

What did I Cor. 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified ,

unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; v.24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.”

Paul preach?

But some will say:

But the church is outdated…it is not Relevant unto us today?

God’s Word does not change. His Church does not change.

The Church is designed for thegood of all its members…

Romans 14:17

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Early disciples met to worshipand serve God together. Acts 20:7 “Upon the first day of the week,

when the disciples came together to break bread….

Heb. 10:25 Don’t forsake that….you Deprieve yourself of the spiritual food That comes as a result of worshipping Together.

God does not want His church divided….…. I Cor. 1:11 For it hath been declared unto

me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas, and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

How can you become a member ofthe church that belongs to Christ…

Hear. Rom. 10:17

Believe. John 8:24

Repent. Acts 2:38

Confess. Matt. 10:32-33

Be baptized Mk. 16:15-16 I Pet. 3:21 Acts 18:8

Erring Brethren…. What should they do? James 5:19,20 I John 1:9 I John 2:1-2 I Cor. 15:58