The Church That Christ Built Matthew 16:18 I. Introduction. A. Read and comment on Matthew 16:18. B. Surely--we believe what Christ stated. C. Since Christ always keeps His word--it happened.(Acts 2) D. Does this church of Christ have an identity...characteristics...peculiarities...etc.? Is it reproducible in our age? E. Only the New Testament reveals the nature, the work, and the worship of the church that Christ built. F. It has existed since Pentecost, AD 33. II. Body. When we look for the church Christ built, we need to examine the.... A. Foundation. 1. Christ as the chief cornerstone: Ephesians 2:20. 2. Emphasize the importance of a solid foundation(essential to basic structure). 3. Who else could be the chief means of support? 4. Jesus lesson on foundations: Luke 6:48. 5. There is only one foundation--all building takes place on it! B. Structure. 1. Jesus is the head: Ephesians 1:22-23. a. Refers to the universal(whole) body. b. Each Christian has Christ as head. c. Relationship: not a functioning entity.(no universal organization) 2. Local churches: Galatians 1:2. a. Elders, deacons, saints: I Timothy 3:1-13. b. Each functioned independently of all others(wisdom of God). c. Were never bound together through some organization and/or activity. C. Worship. 1. Singing: Ephesians 5:19; Matthew 26:30. 2. Praying: Acts 12:12. 3. Teaching: Acts 20:7. 4. Giving: I Corinthians 16:2. 5. Partaking: Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 11:26. 6. The above has been the pattern for 2000 years. 7. Any change causes a congregation to cease to belong to Christ. 8. A simple, effective means of praising God(Can be done in any area of the world). 9. Absence of many practices found even among "churches of Christ" at present. 10. The purity of the worship must be maintained to remain true to the Lord. D. Work(simple and effective) 1. Preaching the gospel to the world. a. Note: I Thessalonians 1:8. b. Jesus charge: Mark 16:15. c. The early church heavily involved: Acts 2:42. 2. Edifying the saints. a. After conversion, need to be strengthened. b. Note: I Corinthians 14:26. c. Paul said: II Corinthians 12:19. d. Why we have classes, preaching, services, more than one time, etc.(to grow: take advantage) 3. Caring for scripturally qualified needy. a. The church was not(and is not) a relief organization for the world. b. Benevolence is fundamentally a responsibility of the individual(explain James 1:27). c. Restriction: I Corinthians 16:1. d. What about: Acts 3:6. e. When individual does his/her work and congregation does her work: all the needy for whom God's people are responsible will be relieved. III. Conclusion. A. Those who are members of the church that Christ built can give scripture for everything believed, taught, and practiced. B. The early saints were to: Jude 3. -James L. Yopp