Our handbook is the Bible, the inspired Word of God.
		The New Testament is our final authority for Christian worship & living.
		We are autonomous, there is no central authority on earth - Jesus Christ is Head.
		Each congregation has: Elders (also known as bishops, overseers, or pastors), Evangelists (also known as preachers or ministers), Deacons & Members.
		Our worship is simple & directed by the examples & precedents found in the New Testament.
		Our worship is heart-felt in spirit & in truth.
		Our primary mission is to spread the message of salvation that is through our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ.

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You should know that, in Bible times, the church is called -   The temple of God - 1 Corinthians 3:16 The bride of Christ - Ephesians 5:22-32 The body of Christ - Colossians 1:18, 24; Ephesians 1:22-23 The kingdom of God's Son - Colossians 1:13 The house of God - 1 Timothy 3:15 The church of God - 1 Corinthians 1:2 The church of the firstborn - Hebrews 12:23 The church of the Lord - Acts 20:28 The churches of Christ - Romans 16:16

You should know that the church is -   Built by Jesus Christ - Matthew 16:13-18 Purchased by the blood of Christ - Acts 20:28 Built on Jesus Christ as the only foundation - 1 Corinthians 3:11 Not built on Peter, Paul or any other man - 1 Corinthians 1:12-13 Composed of the saved, who are added to it by the Lord who saves them - Acts 2:47

You should know that members of the church are called -   Members of Christ - 1 Corinthians 6:15,12:27; Romans 12:4-5 Disciples of Christ - Acts 6:1, 6:7, 11:26 Believers - Acts 5:14; 2 Corinthians 6:15 Saints - Acts 9:13; Romans 1:7, Philippians 1:1 Priests - 1 Peter 2:5, 2:9; Revelation 1:6 Children of God - Galatians 3:26-27; 1 John 3:1-2 Christians - Acts 11:26, 26:28

You should know that the local church has -   Elders (Greek = PRESBUTEROS = those who preside over the church; also called bishops and pastors) who oversee and tend the flock - 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4 Evangelists (also called preachers and ministers) who teach and proclaim the word of God - Ephesians 4:11; 1 Timothy 4:13-16; 2 Timothy 4:1-5 Deacons, who serve the church - 1 Timothy 3:8-13; Philippians 1:1 Members, who love the Lord and each other - Philippians 2:1-5 Autonomy, and is bound to other local churches only by the common faith shared - Jude 3; Galatians 5:1

You should know that the Lord Jesus Christ -   Loved the church - Ephesians 5:25 Shed His blood for the church - Acts 20:28 Established the church - Matthew 16:18 Added saved people to the church - Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:23 Is the head of the church - Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:23 Will save the church - Acts 2:47; Ephesians 5:23

You should know that man did NOT -   Purpose the church - Ephesians 3:10-11 Purchase the church - Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:25 Name its members - Isaiah 56:5, 62:2; Acts 11:26; 1 Peter 4:16 Add people to the church - Acts 2:47; 1 Corinthians 12:18 Give the church its doctrine - Galatians 1:8-11; 2 John 9-11

You should know that, to enter the church, you must -   Believe in Jesus Christ - Hebrews 11:6; John 3:16, 8:24; Acts 16:31 Repent of your sins - Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38, 3:19, 17:30 Confess faith in Jesus - Matthew 10:32; Acts 8:37; Romans 10:9-10 Be baptized - Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38, 10:48, 22:16

You should know that BAPTISM requires -   Much water - John 3:23; Acts 10:47 Going down into the water (Greek = BAPTIZO = to plunge, or immerse) - Acts 8:36-38 A burial in water - Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12 A resurrection - Acts 8:39; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12 A birth - John 3:3-5; Romans 6:3-6 A washing - Acts 22:16; Hebrews 10:22

You should know that by BAPTISM -   You are saved from sins - Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21 You have remission of sins - Acts 2:38 Sins are washed away by the blood of Christ - Acts 22:16; Hebrews 9:22, 10:22; 1 Peter 3:21 You enter into the body of Christ, the church - 1 Corinthians 12:13; Acts 2:41,47 You enter into Christ - Galatians 3:26-27; Romans 6:3-4 You put on Christ and become a child of God - Galatians 3:26-27 You are born again, a new creature - Romans 6:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:17 You walk in newness of life - Romans 6:3-6 You obey Christ - Mark 16:15-16; Acts 10:48; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9

You should know that the faithful church will -   Worship in spirit and in truth - John 4:23-24 Meet on the first day of the week - Acts 20:7; Hebrews 10:25 Pray - James 5:16; Acts 2:42; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Sing, making melody with the heart - Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16 Eat the Lord's supper on the first day of each week - Acts 2:42, 20:7; Matthew 26:26-30; 1 Corinthians 11:20-32 Give, liberally and cheerfully - 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5, 9:6-8

You should know that, New Testament times there was -   One family of God - Ephesians 3:15; 1 Timothy 3:15 One kingdom of Christ - Matthew 16:18-19; Colossians 1:13-14 One body of Christ - Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:22-32, 4:4 One bride of Christ - Romans 7:1-7; Ephesians 5:22-32 One church of Christ - Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 1:22-23, 4:4-6

You should know that the same church today -   Is guided by the same word - 1 Peter 1:22-25; 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Contends for the one faith - Jude 3; Ephesians 4:5 Pleads for unity of all believers - John 17:20-21; Ephesians 4:4-6 Is not a denomination - 1 Corinthians 1:10-13; Ephesians 4:1-6 Is faithful to Christ - Luke 6:46; Revelation 2:10; Mark 8:38 Wears the name of Christ - Romans 16:16; Acts 11:26; 1 Peter 4:16

You should know that you can be a member of this church -   By doing what people did 1900 years ago - Acts 2:36-47 Without being in any denomination - Acts 2:47; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13

You should know that a child of God -   Can be lost - 1 Corinthians 9:27, 10:12; Galatians 5:4; Hebrews 3:12-19 But is given a law of pardon - Acts 8:22; James 5:16 Is consistantly cleansed by the blood of Christ as he walks in the light of God - 1 Peter 2:9-10; 1 John 1:5-10

 

"Some Things You Should Know" is from a tract by Gospel Minutes,
PO Box 50007,Fort Worth, TX 76105-0007
Linked Scripture references are credited and provided by Bible Gateway

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