Some Things We Know About the Church (Deuteronomy 29:29)
Introduction:
1. In this verse Moses contrasted "secret things" and "things which are revealed." 2. Concerning "secret things,": a. they belong to God b. they do not belong to us. 3. Concerning "things which are revealed,": a. they belong to us b. they enable us to do God's will. 4. We read how God revealed His will in 1 Corinthians 2:9-13. 5. To know God's will on any subject, we need to rightly divide His Word. 6. In our lesson we are concentrating on "some things we know about the church." a. These are not secret things. b. They are clearly revealed in God's Word. Discussion: I. WE KNOW THAT CHRIST IS THE BUILDER OF HIS CHURCH
A. This is revealed in Matthew 16:13-19. B. On this occasion,: 1. Peter identified Jesus as "the Christ, the Son of the living God" (vs.16) 2. Jesus said He would build His church upon "this rock" (vs.18a) 3. Jesus said that "the gates of Hades" would not prevent His church from being built (vs.18b) 4. Jesus spoke about His church and "the kingdom of heaven" interchangeably. C. To be the church that Christ built, we must follow His pattern for the church. II. WE KNOW THAT CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF HIS CHURCH
A. This is revealed in Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:23; Colossians 1:18. B. To be the church that Christ is the head of, we must submit to His authority (Colossians 3:16-17). III. WE KNOW THAT THE CHURCH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST
A. This is revealed in Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18. B. We have seen that Christ is the head of the body. C. In addition to having a head, a body must have members -- Christ adds those who are saved to His body (Acts 2:47, 37-41). D. To be the body of Christ, we must comply with His plan for being added to it. IV. WE KNOW THAT "CHURCH OF CHRIST" IS A SCRIPTURAL DESIGNATION FOR THE CHURCH
A. This is revealed in Romans 16:16. B. The church is also referred to as: 1. "the church of God" (1 Corinthians 1:1-2) 2. "the church of the living God" (1 Timothy 3:15) 3. "the church of the firstborn" (Hebrews 12:23). C. "Churches of Christ" draws special attention to the builder and head of the church, rather than some man or a particular practice. V. WE KNOW THAT THE LORD'S CHURCH HAS A SPECIAL DESTINY
A. This is revealed in 1 Corinthians 15:24-26. B. John described heaven as a beautiful place (Revelation 21:1-4; 22:1-5). C. Jesus also revealed the destiny of every plant that the Father has not planted (Matthew 15:13). Conclusion:
1. We have examined 5 things that we know about the church. 2. We know these things because God has revealed them to us. 3. Let us appreciate the words that Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 29:29.
