About The Church
(Based on the Book "The New Testament Church" by Roy Cogdill)
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The Nature of the Church
Many descriptive phrases are applied to the Church in the New Testament scriptures. These phrases give emphasis to various features of the Church and set forth its nature. The first six lessons of this series concern these descriptive phrases applied to the Church and therefore constitute a study of The Nature of the Church. They should be studied with this idea in mind.
¤ The Distinctive Nature of the Church
¤ Distinctive Nature Concerning It's Head
¤ What Is The Church of Christ? By Alan Turner
¤ What Is The Church? - By Wayne Jackson
¤ Identifying The Church of The New Testament - By Wayne Jackson
The Origing of the Church
The next three lessons deal with the origin of the Church from the viewpoints of (1)time, and (2) authority. That is, when did the Church begin and by Whose authority was it built? Whose authority controls it? All need to learn well the answers to these important questions. Particular stressshould be given to the distinction to be made between Old and New Testament authority and the purposes Old Testament scriptures serve today in the Church of God.
¤ The Establishment of the Church of Christ
¤ The Origin of Christianity
The Mission of the Church
The next four lessons are given to a discussion and study of the mission of the church. It should be remembered that as a divine institution the church has a divine mission. It is neither political, nor social, but altogether spiritual in its design. Its concern is not the entertainment of people but the saving of souls. The primary mission of the New Testament Church is to "evangelize" the world. The word "evangelism" comes from a Greek word meaning "good news"; the "evangelist," therefore, is a proclaimer of good news.
¤The Work of the Church
¤The Distinctive Mission of the Church
Church Membership
The succeeding five lessons are devoted to "What it Means to Be a Member of the Church." The Church of God does not occupy the place in the hearts of men that it should occupy until they realize that by staying on the outside of the Church they rob themselves of life‘s greatest blessings and of the hope of etemal life. The Church is incomparably greater than all human institutions, sectarian or fraternal.
¤Bible Baptism Vs. Baptist Baptism
Church Government
We undenake a study in the next four lessons of the divine plan for the organization of the Church. The scriptures furnish us unto a plan of church government as Well as a plan of worship and work. To believe in and accept God‘s Word as divinely inspired and therefore all-sufficient then requires recognition of the completeness and perfection of the organization of the Church. To improve upon the Church by reorganization, adding to, or failing to respect God's arrangement for it is to express dissatisfaction with Gods ways. We should be moved by the spirit of faith to be satisfied with doing God‘s work in God's Way. The Church of God is able to do all that God wants done upon the earth.
Unity of the New Testament Church
Five lessons are devoted to the study of the important theme of unity. It is of supreme importance because demanded by the Lord. The basis upon which it is to be accomplished has been given and is the only plan or platform that meets God's approval. Division in the religious world at large, or in the congregation, is condemned as contrary to the Spirit and Will of our Lord and destructive to the Church and the souls of men. Unity must become the prayer and effort of the individual who would be pleasing unto God.
The Identity of the Church
Lessons XXVIII to XXXV deal with the identity of the Church. The Church of Christ is not only singular in the fact of its oneness but also in its distinction and separateness from every human institution on earth. Built by a divine pattern which must not be corrupted, it is not human in any of its characteristics, but stands out from the World and all human organizations in Name, Worship, Doctrine, Work, and Organization.
The adoption of human names, creeds, practices, or organizations will denominationalize the Church and bring upon those participating therein the displeasure of God. It is the obligation of every Christian to maintain and preserve the separate and distinct character of God‘s Church not only apart from the institutions of men but also in protecting the purity of its character from contamination with ungodliness and worldliness.
¤ Identity of the Church
¤ When Was Church Called ''Church of Christ''?
Worship of the New Testament Church
Item by item we are to make a special study of the worship of the Church of God. In its worship as in all other matters the church must be governed by divine authority. We must worship according to truth if We would Worship acceptably.
In every item our practice should be carefully examined to be sure that there is a "thus saith the Lord" for it and that We are not, therefore, exceeding divine authority. "Prove all things, hold fast unto that which is good."
¤ Musical Worship Teams: Why They Are Wrong
¤ History of Instrumental Music (External Link)
¤ Music In The Lord's Church Must Be Vocal
¤ Instrumental Music In Worship (External Link)
¤ Scriptural Perspective On Instrumental Music
¤ Devil Worship and Instrumental Music(External Link)
Churches of the New Testament Era
The remaining lessons in this series have been given to a study of the Churches of the New Testament Era. In the first forty-two lessons we have studied the Nature, Origin, Organization, Mission, Unity and Identity of the Church as set forth in the scriptures. In the remaining ten lessons we see
the application of these pnnciples of divine tmth conceming the Church to the congregations of the New Testament Era. They were commended for their righteousness and reproved for their failures and faults.
The historical records given in the New Testament scriptures concerning these various congregations afford us much opportunity to view in practical demonstration the plan and program of Christianity through the Church.
The Nature of the Church
Many descriptive phrases are applied to the Church in the New Testament scriptures. These phrases give emphasis to various features of the Church and set forth its nature. The first six lessons of this series concern these descriptive phrases applied to the Church and therefore constitute a study of The Nature of the Church. They should be studied with this idea in mind.
- LESSON #1 - THE CALLED OUT BODY
- LESSON #2 - THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD
- LESSON #3 - THE KINGDOM OF GOD
- LESSON #4 - THE BODY OF CHRIST
- LESSON #5 - THE TEMPLE OF GOD
- LESSON #6 - THE VINEYARD OF THE LORD
¤ The Distinctive Nature of the Church
¤ Distinctive Nature Concerning It's Head
¤ What Is The Church of Christ? By Alan Turner
¤ What Is The Church? - By Wayne Jackson
¤ Identifying The Church of The New Testament - By Wayne Jackson
The Origing of the Church
The next three lessons deal with the origin of the Church from the viewpoints of (1)time, and (2) authority. That is, when did the Church begin and by Whose authority was it built? Whose authority controls it? All need to learn well the answers to these important questions. Particular stressshould be given to the distinction to be made between Old and New Testament authority and the purposes Old Testament scriptures serve today in the Church of God.
- LESSON #7 - ORIGIN OF THE CHURCH
- LESSON #8 - AUTHORITY OF THE CHURCH
- LESSON #9 - USE OF OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES
¤ The Establishment of the Church of Christ
¤ The Origin of Christianity
The Mission of the Church
The next four lessons are given to a discussion and study of the mission of the church. It should be remembered that as a divine institution the church has a divine mission. It is neither political, nor social, but altogether spiritual in its design. Its concern is not the entertainment of people but the saving of souls. The primary mission of the New Testament Church is to "evangelize" the world. The word "evangelism" comes from a Greek word meaning "good news"; the "evangelist," therefore, is a proclaimer of good news.
- LESSON #10 - EVANGELISM
- LESSON #11 - PERSONAL EVANGELISM
- LESSON #12 - EDIFICATION
- LESSON #13 - MINISTRY TO THE POOR
¤The Work of the Church
¤The Distinctive Mission of the Church
Church Membership
The succeeding five lessons are devoted to "What it Means to Be a Member of the Church." The Church of God does not occupy the place in the hearts of men that it should occupy until they realize that by staying on the outside of the Church they rob themselves of life‘s greatest blessings and of the hope of etemal life. The Church is incomparably greater than all human institutions, sectarian or fraternal.
- LESSON #14 - GLORY OF THE CHURCH
- LESSON #15 - WHAT MEMBERSHIP MEANS
- LESSON #16 - MEMBERSHIP--IT'S RESPONSIBILITIES
- LESSON #17 - SALVATION AND MEMBERSHIP
- LESSON #18 - HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER
¤Bible Baptism Vs. Baptist Baptism
Church Government
We undenake a study in the next four lessons of the divine plan for the organization of the Church. The scriptures furnish us unto a plan of church government as Well as a plan of worship and work. To believe in and accept God‘s Word as divinely inspired and therefore all-sufficient then requires recognition of the completeness and perfection of the organization of the Church. To improve upon the Church by reorganization, adding to, or failing to respect God's arrangement for it is to express dissatisfaction with Gods ways. We should be moved by the spirit of faith to be satisfied with doing God‘s work in God's Way. The Church of God is able to do all that God wants done upon the earth.
- LESSON XIX - ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH
- LESSON XX - THE ELDERSHIP
- LESSON XXI - DEACONS
- LESSON XXII - EVANGELISTS
Unity of the New Testament Church
Five lessons are devoted to the study of the important theme of unity. It is of supreme importance because demanded by the Lord. The basis upon which it is to be accomplished has been given and is the only plan or platform that meets God's approval. Division in the religious world at large, or in the congregation, is condemned as contrary to the Spirit and Will of our Lord and destructive to the Church and the souls of men. Unity must become the prayer and effort of the individual who would be pleasing unto God.
- LESSON XXIII - THE IMPORTANCE OF UNITY
- LESSON XXIV - UNDENOMINATIONAL CHARACTER
- LESSON XXV - THE SIN OF DIVISION
- LESSON XXVI - GOD'S PLAN FOR UNITY
- LESSON XXVII - UNITY, AN INDIVIDUAL OBLIGATION
The Identity of the Church
Lessons XXVIII to XXXV deal with the identity of the Church. The Church of Christ is not only singular in the fact of its oneness but also in its distinction and separateness from every human institution on earth. Built by a divine pattern which must not be corrupted, it is not human in any of its characteristics, but stands out from the World and all human organizations in Name, Worship, Doctrine, Work, and Organization.
The adoption of human names, creeds, practices, or organizations will denominationalize the Church and bring upon those participating therein the displeasure of God. It is the obligation of every Christian to maintain and preserve the separate and distinct character of God‘s Church not only apart from the institutions of men but also in protecting the purity of its character from contamination with ungodliness and worldliness.
- LESSON XXVIII - THE IDENTITY OF THE CHURCH
- LESSON XXIX - A SCRIPTURAL NAME
- LESSON XXX - SCRIPTURAL WORSHIP
- LESSON XXXI - SCRIPTURAL TEACHING
- LESSON XXXII - SCRIPTURAL TEACHING
- LESSON XXXIII - THE PURITY OF THE CHURCH
- LESSON XXXIV - THE CHURCH AND WORLDLINESS
- LESSON XXXV - THE DISCIPLINE OF THE CHURCH
¤ Identity of the Church
¤ When Was Church Called ''Church of Christ''?
Worship of the New Testament Church
Item by item we are to make a special study of the worship of the Church of God. In its worship as in all other matters the church must be governed by divine authority. We must worship according to truth if We would Worship acceptably.
In every item our practice should be carefully examined to be sure that there is a "thus saith the Lord" for it and that We are not, therefore, exceeding divine authority. "Prove all things, hold fast unto that which is good."
- LESSON XXXVI - THE LORD'S DAY
- LESSON XXXVII - THE LORD'S SUPPER
- LESSON XXXVIII - MUSIC IN THE WORSHIP
- LESSON XXXIX -INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
- LESSON XL - CHURCH FINANCES
- LESSON XLI - CHURCH FINANCES
- LESSON XLII - CHURCH FINANCES
¤ Musical Worship Teams: Why They Are Wrong
¤ History of Instrumental Music (External Link)
¤ Music In The Lord's Church Must Be Vocal
¤ Instrumental Music In Worship (External Link)
¤ Scriptural Perspective On Instrumental Music
¤ Devil Worship and Instrumental Music(External Link)
Churches of the New Testament Era
The remaining lessons in this series have been given to a study of the Churches of the New Testament Era. In the first forty-two lessons we have studied the Nature, Origin, Organization, Mission, Unity and Identity of the Church as set forth in the scriptures. In the remaining ten lessons we see
the application of these pnnciples of divine tmth conceming the Church to the congregations of the New Testament Era. They were commended for their righteousness and reproved for their failures and faults.
The historical records given in the New Testament scriptures concerning these various congregations afford us much opportunity to view in practical demonstration the plan and program of Christianity through the Church.
- LESSON XLIII - THE CHURCH AT JERUSALEM
- LESSON XLIV - THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH
- LESSON XLV - THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH
- LESSON XLVI - THE CHURCH AT PHILIPPI
- LESSON XLVII - CHURCH AT EPHESUS
- LESSON XLVIII - CHURCH AT THESSALONICA
- LESSON XLIX - THE CHURCH AT ROME
- LESSONS L, LI, LII - THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF ASIA
