Introduction:

  1. The title says it all! The church of CHRIST is capable of doing all that God has purposed it to do. We want to look carefully to see "what sayeth the Scriptures" regarding the church's work and its capacity to carry out God plan.
  2. It is impossible to have proper respect for Christ without having proper respect for the church He established.
  3. The work and mission of the church is often distorted. Its nature (a spiritual entity) is misunderstood by many claiming to be followers of Christ.
  4. Let's look at the "All Sufficiency" of the church of CHRIST.

A.    The Work of the Church:

  1. Preach the Gospel to all the world!! - Mt 28:18-20; Mk 16:15-16; Acts 8:4
  2. Christians assembled and participated in the worship of the church. (Heb 10:24-25; Acts 20:7)

(1) Lord's supper- 1 Cor 11:23-26,                             (4) Singing - Col 3:16; Heb 2:12

(2) Collection for the saints - 1 Cor 16:1-2                (5) Edified by preaching - Acts 2:42; Eph 4:16

(3) Prayer - Acts 2:42

  1. Ministering to the needy "saints" (Christians only) - (1) The church assisted the needy Christians in their group - Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-34^(2) The church helped the widows indeed - 1 Tim 5:16, (3) Church helping other churches of CHRIST relieve their needy members - Acts 11:27-30
  2. This is God's "Pattern" for the work and the worship of the church. The Bible teaches that it did accomplish all that God wanted it to do! Yes, the church of CHRIST is "All Sufficient to do just what He wants it to do, nothing more nothing less!

B.     The church "described" in the book of Ephesians. (Paul's essay on the church)

  1. Eight pictures of the church are presented: (1) Fullness of Christ - 1:22-23, (2) New creation of God-2:10, (3) Body of the reconciled-2:11-16, (4) Citizens in the kingdom - 2:19, (5) Household of God-2:19, (6) A holy temple - 2:19-22, (7) God's wisdom - 3:1-13, (8) Bride of Christ-5:23.
  2. Each of these pictures emphasize that the church is a relationship, a fellowship of those who belong to Christ. (Acts 20:28)
  3. All of these views of the church picture God's wisdom. They are the results of His planning.
  4. Since God planned the church, it must be that the church is all sufficient to accomplish the purpose for which God planned it. To deny this is to impeach God's wisdom. (1 Cor 1:25; Acts 15:18; Rom 11:33). To improve on God's plan, man must be wiser than God! (Jer 10:23; 1 Cor 3:19)

C.    To deny the completeness of the church is to deny the completeness of the Bible.

  1. The Bible makes known ALL of God's will concerning man's redemption, nothing lacking! (2 Pet 1:3; 2 Tim 3:16-17)
  2. We can know what pleases God only by what He has revealed. (1 Cor 2:10-13)
  3. The church revealed by the Holy Spirit in this book must be sufficient. If not, then the book is incomplete.

D.    Divine Revelation always sets forth God's Way:

  1. Notice, Mt 28:20 says, "...I have commanded you" (Gal 1:11-12; 1 Cor 4:6)
  2. A perfect revelation cannot set forth imperfect ways, nor can it set forth an imperfect and insufficient institution. God's way revealed in God's Word is SUFFICIENT to ACCOMPLISH GOD'S PURPOSE!

E.     We must be cautious to guard the purity of the church against those who would seek to make changes in God's pattern for the church.

  1. Some objections we must be ready to answer. How would you answer these statements?
  • "Maybe the church is sufficient, but the organization is not"
  • "The church needs an earthly headquarters, so all of the congregations could be more closely
  • united"
  • "A missionary society makes it much more efficient for the church to do its work"
  • "The church is not able to take care of its own benevolent responsibilities; therefore we need another organization to accomplish this."
  • "We find nothing wrong with one congregation overseeing the money and work of several
  • congregations, as long as all agree to it"
  • "Overseers of a local congregation may establish and oversee any organization they find necessary
  • to do the work God gave to the church"
  • "We find nothing wrong with a local congregation being involved in social and recreational
  • activities as long as church leaders are in charge"

Conclusion:

  • God's ways are not only SUFFICIENT, they are ALWAYS BEST! (Jer 10:23; Pro 16:25; Is 55:8-9)
  • When we follow God's way it indicates that we have FAITH and TRUST in Him.
  • Any departure from God's way indicates UNBELIEF on our part.

NewManassas Side

8110 Signal Hill Road | Manassas, Virginia

Members Login

HomeBibleStudy

Bible Study

biblestudysd

Top
                                                                       © 2013 Manassas Church of Christ