The Church and The Kingdom
PART 8 - Is There a Right Way To Do 'Church'?
Dr. Frank Parrish/ www.world-map.com

1. THE FORM OF THE LOCAL CHURCH

A. Form follows

.

B. It does not matter if the church meets in

or groups.

2. 7 NON-NEGOTIABLE PRINCIPLES (CHARACTERISTICS) OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH

A.

does not matter.

B. How you plan your worship, run sheet and your service times does not matter as much as the following -

“And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, ‘Be saved from this perverse generation.’ Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” ACTS 2:40-47

1)

“Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them” ACTS 2:41

Baptism =

2)

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine…” ACTS 2:42

All the apostolic doctrine and teaching you will ever need is in the

.

Study the Scriptures for yourself. You have the

, you have the .

If God is speaking to you, it will always be in

with His written Word, the Bible.

3)

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship…” ACTS 2:42

ONE

/ ONE / ONE

4)

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of (the) bread…” ACTS 2:42

We are called by Jesus to come together and celebrate what

.

“‘… Take, eat; this is My body.’ Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins…’” MATTHEW 26:26-30
Let us

what Jesus has done for us.

5)

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers…” ACTS 2:42

There are 3 ways that we minister.

I. We minister to the

.

II. We minister to

.

III. We minister to the

.

6) COMMUNITY OF

, AND

“Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need” ACTS 2:44-45

We will begin to be

by that which we worship.

PSALM 115 & 135

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” JOHN 3:16

7)

“So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart” ACTS 2:46

A commUNITY that is based on love, service, devotion and it is all centered around one

.

These 7 principles (characteristics) are non-negotiable for the church. They are

and .

1) WATER BAPTISM

2) APOSTOLIC DOCTRINE

3) FELLOWSHIP

4) BREAKING BREAD

5) PRAYERS

6) A COMMUNITY OF LOVE, SHARING AND SACRIFICE

7) UNITY

ASK: “LORD, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO THAT WILL HELP US BECOME THE CHURCH
YOU WANT US TO BE?”

THE CHURCH BELONGS TO JESUS CHRIST