Things You Should Know
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 first-born (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; 1 Corinthians 12:27; Romans 12:4-5)
• Disciples of Christ (Acts 6:1,7; Acts 11:26)
• Believers (Acts 5:14; 2 Corinthians 6:15)
• Saints (Acts 9:13; Romans 1:7; Philippians 1:1)
• Priests (1 Peter 2:5,9; Revelation 1:6)
• Children of God (Galatians 3:26-27; 1 John 3:1-2)
• Christians (Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16)
You should know that the local church has:
• Elders (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)
• Deacons, who serve the church (1 Timothy 3:8-13; Philippians 1:1)
• Evangelists (preachers, ministers) who teach and proclaim the word of God (Ephesians 4:11; 1 Timothy 4:13-16; 2 Timothy 4:1-5)
• 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 (Acts 2:47)
• Is the head of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 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; Isaiah 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, to enter the church, you must:
• Believe in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 11:6; John 8:24; Acts 16:31)
• Repent of your sins (Turn away from your sins) (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19; Acts 17:30)
• Confess faith in Jesus (Matthew 10:32; Acts 8:37; Romans 10:9-10)
• Be baptized into the saving blood of Jesus Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 10:48; Acts 22:16)
You should know that baptism requires:
• Much water (John 3:23; Acts 10:47)
• Going down into the water (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; Hebrews 10:22; 1 Peter 3:21)
• You enter into 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 the 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; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8)
You should know, that in 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 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:4)
• One bride of Christ (Romans 7:1-7; Ephesians 5:22-23)
• One church of Christ (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:4-6)
You 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 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; 1 Corinthians 10:12; Galatians 5:4; Hebrews 3:12-19)
• But is given a law of pardon (Acts 8:22; James 5:16)
• Is constantly cleansed by the blood of Christ as he walks in the light of God (1 Peter 2:9-10; 1 John 1:5-10)
