Hello, I’m Mack Lyon. I’m so very happy to welcome you to our Bible study program, because where else would you find the Lord’s Way to become and to be a Christian, but in the Bible? We pray we’ll both be blessed by our study today.
My heartiest greetings to you, friend! It’s great to have you in our Bible study “In Search of the Lord's Way” to be saved and to live the very best life-style ever known to mankind. Thank you for joining us. Today’s message has been prepared and will be delivered by our friend, Phil Sanders. He’s titled, “The church Jesus Built.” The Bible passage is 1 Corinthians chapter 1, verses 10 to 15. Some people think the church is unimportant. They may be thinking of a building on the corner down the street. Well, some, when they hear the word church think of a denomination. Most Americans believe you can be a good Christian and not be a member of any church. Well, what does the Bible say about that? What difference does it make anyway? Say, I’m glad you have joined us.
If you think you may want a free CD, audio cassette tape or printed copy of this program so you may study it more, you may have it simply by mailing your request to In Search of the Lord's Way; P.O. Box 371; Edmond, OK 73083 or by e-mail to searchtv@searchtv.org. Or you may use our toll-free telephone number, or you may access it on our website as www.searchtv.org. Ken Helterbrand has a hymn he’s going to lead; then Phil Sanders will be here for Bible study and reading of 1 Corinthians chapter 1, verses 10 to 15.
Thank you, Mack! Our reading from God’s Holy Word today comes from 1 Corinthians chapter 1, verses 10 to 15. “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, ‘I am of Paul,’ or ‘I am of Apollos,’ or ‘I am of Cephas,’ or ‘I am of Christ.’ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name.” Our reading comes from the New King James Version. Would you pray with me? O Lord, help us to think as You think, to be of the same mind, and not be divided from one another. Help us, Father, to be committed to Your will always. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
When you mention “church,” some people think of a building down the street. Others think of an institution with a headquarters and officials. Others think of the denomination that they grew up attending. Most Americans think you can be a good Christian and not be a member of any church. Well, we’re asking the question today, “What does the Bible say? What is the church?” Well, the English word “church” comes from the Greek term ekklesia, which refers to an assembly of people who have been called together for a reason. In ancient Greece, a herald would call the privileged citizens of that town to come together to discuss and vote on an important matter. The book of Acts records such a meeting in chapter 19, verse 32. But the New Testament usually means more than merely an assembly when it speaks of the church. The church is more than merely a group of citizens coming together to vote on some matter. The church is made up of God’s people, called together as a family, to worship and to serve the Lord. The church is sometimes pictured in Scripture as a household or family. First Timothy 3 and verse 15 says, “But in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and the support of the truth.” Now each member of the church is a child of God, precious to God. Galatians 3, verses 26 and 27 says, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Just as you and I love our children, so God loves His family, the church.
The church is sometimes pictured as an organization, and in that sense a spiritual kingdom. Paul wrote the church in Colosse and said in Colossians 1, verses 13 and 14, “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” You see, the church is the kingdom. Now He is not going to set it up one day; it is already here. The church is the kingdom of God and Jesus is already the king. The Lord makes the rules as king; the church is not a democracy. The church is also pictured in the scriptures as a temple. In 1 Corinthians 3 and verse 16, the apostle Paul, inspired, said: “Do you not know that you [that is the church at Corinth] are a temple of God and that the Holy Spirit of God dwells in you?” My friend, if the church is a temple, it’s holy, set apart, and sanctified for God’s use.
The church is also pictured in Scripture like a human body with various members and Jesus as its head. Romans 12, verses 4 and 5 says, “For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” Now, each member of Christ’s body is important and has a place and function. Though we may differ in our talents and abilities, we can still belong to the same body. Ephesians 4 and verse 4 points out that there is “one” body, that is “one” church in God’s mind.
The church, as the Bible describes it, is not a collection of denominations with differing doctrines, and practices, names, and organization, creeds, and different worship, and different requirements for entrance. Oh no! It is not that. The church of the Bible is not interdenominational [that is uniting several denominations under one umbrella]. No, the church of the Bible is not that; nor is it nondenominational [that is, it is not aligned with any particular one but having members from several]. Oh, no! The New Testament church is “Undenominational.” By that I mean that the New Testament knows nothing of the whole concept of denominations. The church of the New Testament came into existence long before there was ever any denomination. Well, someone asks, “Phil, what do you mean by Undenominational Christianity?” Well, let me explain it like this. If we could go back in time and we were to see the very first automobile, we wouldn't ask, “Well, what kind of automobile is that?” You know, at that time there were no "brands" of automobile; there was just this first one. Well, the church of the New Testament was merely the church! And it would be absurd to ask, well, what kind of church it is because there were no kinds; there was just the church! And it was never the intention of Jesus that His church be broken up into many groups or brands with different names, or doctrines, or practices, or organizations. The Bible, in fact, condemns the idea of sectarian names, or division, and various doctrines.
The Lord Jesus prayed, you remember, in John chapter 17, verses 20 to 21; He prayed, and this is the Lord speaking to his Father about what He would have; He said: “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” Jesus wanted all of His followers to be one, to be united in following Him. Today there are more than 350 major denominations and thousands of little independent churches; and each of them have their own doctrines, and their own names and their own practices. No wonder Christianity is confusing to many people, and they don’t believe or attend any church! First Corinthians 1, verses 10 to 15 says, “Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus, that you all agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, ‘I am of Paul,’ and ‘I am of Apollos,’ and ‘I am of Cephas,’ and some of you are saying ‘I am of Christ.’ [And then he asks] Has Christ been divided? Paul wasn’t crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? [He explains] I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one would say that you were baptized in my name.”
Now, in just one congregation, the members started forming groups around prominent preachers; some Paul, some Apollos, some Cephas [or Peter]. And Paul rebuked them for that. Jesus Christ is our only Lord! Christ is the one who was crucified for us. And when we are baptized, we are baptized into His name. For Paul the idea that the church would be divided, pulled apart, around men was appalling. To divide the church is to divide Christ himself. The church uniquely belongs to Christ. It doesn’t belong to any man or any group of men. It belongs only to the Lord.
Now, Jesus is the one who built the church. Matthew 16:18 says, “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock [that is the confession that you made] I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” My friend, the church doesn’t belong to us; we can’t do as we please with it. It belongs to the Lord. Jesus is the one who purchased the church. Acts 20 and verse 28 says, “Be on guard for yourselves [that is Paul talking to the elders at Miletus] be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”
Jesus is the Head of the church. Ephesians 1, verses 22 to 23 says, “And He [that is God] put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” God gave Jesus the authority over the church, and no person or group of people can change His teaching and commandments to suit themselves. Jesus is the Savior and husband to the church. You remember, Ephesians 5 and verse 23 says, “For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.” The church is the saved. Jesus loves his church like a groom would love his bride.
Now, more than 80 percent of Americans thinks that you can be a “good” Christian and not be a member of any church. But the Lord Jesus shed His blood to purchase the church, which He regards as His wife, His bride and His body. While the church may not seem important to many people, it is of utmost importance to Jesus Christ. Being a church member is being a member of the body of Christ. Now I am pretty partial to my hands and feet and Jesus is pretty partial to His members. Being a member of the church is being one of the saved, being one of those that Jesus purchased with His blood. Now, if Jesus thought the church was that important, so should we.
The Lord wants His people to follow Him not man-made religion. You remember that Jesus said in Matthew 15, verses 8 and 9, “This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me. But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.” Jesus condemned the Pharisees and their human traditions. The Lord said in Matthew 15, verses 13 and 14 that: “Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be uprooted.” And then He said about the Pharisees: “Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” This means that every human tradition or practice will one day be uprooted by God. The Lord wants us to listen to Him and to practice and believe what He teaches in the Bible, not what men teach. So we have got to ask ourselves: Are the teachings we believe or the things that we practice from God or from men? If they are from God, then we should continue them as I mentioned last week; but if they are from men, we ought to forsake them. Let’s do what we know God asks of us.
Jesus said, you remember, that “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8, verses 31 and 32) Now, true disciples will go to the Word to find out what God desires. They want to please Jesus and to do His will and to do things in the Lord’s way. And so it just makes sense to be what Jesus wants us to be, if we are going to be His church. Now, we become members of the church today the same way that they did in the beginning at Pentecost. Peter, you remember, preached a sermon that Jesus was Christ and Lord to the people in Jerusalem who were responsible for crucifying Him. And they knew that they were guilty, so they cried out, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Well, in Acts 2 and verse 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Verse 41 says, “So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.”
Well, added to what? Well, Acts 2 and verse 47 says, “And the Lord was adding to their number [that is to the church] day by day those who were being saved.” Now, in 2:41, the penitent people who were being baptized were added to the Lord. And here in chapter 2, verse 47 the saved are added. You see the purpose of their repentance and baptism was to receive forgiveness, and to be saved! Baptism, then, of the penitent believer, is the time when a person is saved and added to the church. My friend, we hope and pray that you will consider your life. If you have not been baptized, perhaps today is the day to be saved from sin and to be added to the church.
The Lord was so wise in building the church, because He knew His people would need each other. And the church has certainly blessed my wife Jackie and me. The church has often been our family. There is great value to people of like faith being together to keep each other strong. Hebrews 10:24 and 25 says, “let us consider how to stimulate one another and to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Oh, attending church keeps Christians right with God.
The dearest friends I’ve ever had were fellow members of the church. Jesus intended it that way. And He designed His church to be a family who loves Him and each other. John 13, verses 34 and 5 says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Churches are in the business of helping people go to heaven. They teach and practice love and good works and good morals. They are the Lord’s people.
Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Church is where people take their faith, their souls, and their morals seriously. They are interested in being spiritually correct not politically correct. Of course, not every church member is perfect; but members have each other to help them fight against the moral, spiritual, and worldly challenges of our time. The Lord wants everyone to be a member of His church. And I pray that you will begin thinking of your life and your soul. Obey the Lord, so that He will add you, too, to His church. Let’s pray. O Lord, give us strength to do Your will and to love You with all our hearts and soul. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Oh say friend, Phil has really enhanced our appreciation for the church that Jesus built, hasn’t he? Oh, Jesus must really love His church, the church He built. He gave His life for it. He adds the saved people to His church. He makes no mistake about who is saved and who should be a member of His church.
Oh well, I don’t need to half-sole his message. I just get excited when I think about the church Jesus built. If you would like a free printed copy, a CD or an audio cassette tape of it to re-study or to give to a friend to study, simply address your request for it to “In Search of the Lord's Way;” P.O. Box 371; Edmond, OK 73083, or by e-mail to searchtv@searchtv.org. You may access it and a daily devotional and, oh well, much, much more on our website at www.searchtv.org.
We’re presented on this station by some friends of yours who are members of some churches of Christ in the area served by this station. Say, it would do them good, and us good, and you good if you would visit one of those churches real soon. Will you do that? And tell them “thanks” for the Search program. Another one of our ministries that is very effective is our Bible Correspondence Course; and that is a correspondence course made available to you; you do it in your own home. If you request of us to send you the first two lessons, while you are working on the first one we will enroll you and all, and then when you are working on the second, we will be grading that one and mail it back to you with the third one; so that it is just a continual trip through the Bible. I think you will enjoy it; I think you will be edified by it; you will appreciate it very much, and I hope you will enroll in it. Well, I hope you can be with us again next week, and meanwhile be telling your friends about the Search program. Will you do that? God bless you. We love you.
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