Things You Should Know

Hartley Bridge Road church of Christ in Macon, Georgia - Things You Should KnowYou should know that in Bible times, the church is called—

  • The temple of God. 1 Cor. 3:16
  • The bride of Christ. Eph. 5:22-32
  • The body of Christ. Col. 1:18, 24; Eph. 1:22-23
  • The kingdom of God’s Son. Col. 1:13
  • The house of God. 1 Tim. 3:15
  • The church of God 1 Cor. 1:2
  • The church of the firstborn. Heb. 12:23
  • The church of the Lord. Acts 20:28
  • The churches of Christ. Rom. 16:16.

You should know that the church is—

  • Built by Jesus Christ. Matt. 16:13-18
  • Purchased by the blood of Christ. Acts 20:28
  • Built on Jesus Christ as the only foundation. 1 Cor. 3:11
  • Not built on Peter, Paul, or any other man. 1 Cor. 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 Cor. 12:27; 6:15; Rom. 12:4-5
  • Disciples of Christ. Acts 6:1, 7; 11:26
  • Believers. Acts 5:14; 2 Cor. 6:15
  • Saints. Acts 9:13; Rom. 1:7; Phil. 1:1
  • Priests. 1 Pet. 2:5, 9; Rev. 1:6
  • Children of God. Gal. 3:26-27; 1 John 3:1-2
  • Christians. Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16
  • Brethren. Romans 10:1; Colossians 1:2; 1 Corinthians 1:10; 2:1; Philippians 1:14; 3:1, 13; James 5:19.

You should know that the local church has—

  • Elders (also called bishops and pastors) who oversee and tend the flock. 1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Pet. 5:1-4
  • Deacons, who serve the church. 1 Tim. 3:8-13; Phil. 1:1
  • Evangelists (preachers, ministers), who teach and proclaim the word of God. Eph. 4:11; 1 Tim. 4:13-16; 2 Tim. 4:1-5
  • Members, who love the Lord and each other; and who serve Jesus. Phil. 2:1-4
  • Autonomy, and is bound to other local churches only by the common faith they shared. Jude 3; Gal. 5:1.

You should know that the Lord Jesus Christ—

  • Loved the church. Eph. 5:25
  • Shed His blood for the church. Acts 20:28
  • Established the church. Matt. 16:18
  • Added saved people to the church. Acts 2:47
  • Is the head of the church. Eph. 1:22-23; 5:23
  • Will save the church. Acts 2:47; Eph. 5:23.

You should know that man did not—

  • Purpose or plan the church. Eph. 3:10-11
  • Purchase the church. Acts 20:2; Eph. 5:25
  • Name its members. Isa. 56:5; 62:2; Ac. 11:26; 1 Pet. 4:16
  • Add people to the church. Acts 2:47
  • Give the church its doctrine. Gal. 1:8-11; 2 John 9-11.

You should know that, to enter the church, you must—

  • Hear the word of God, the gospel. Rom. 10:17; John 8:47; Luke 8:18, 21; Acts 3:22-23
  • Believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Heb. 11:6; John 8:24; Acts 16:31
  • Repent of your sins. Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30
  • Confess your faith in Jesus (that Jesus is the son of God). Rom. 10:9-10; Matt. 10:32; Acts 8:37
  • Be baptized. Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21.

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. Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:12
  • A resurrection. Acts 8:39; Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12
  • A birth. John 3:3-5; Rom. 6:3-6
  • A washing. Acts 22:16; Heb. 10:22.

You should know that by (through the process of) baptism—

  • You are saved from sins. Mark 16:16; 1 Pet. 3:21
  • You have remission of sins. Acts 2:38
  • Sins are washed away by the blood of Christ. Acts 22:16; Heb. 9:22; 10:22; 1 Pet. 3:21
  • You enter into the church. 1 Cor. 12:13; Acts 2:41, 47
  • You enter into Christ. Gal. 3:26-27; Rom. 6:3-4
  • You put on Christ and become a child of God. Gal. 3:26-27
  • You are born again, a new creature. Rom. 6:3-4; 2 Cor. 5:17
  • You walk in newness of life. Rom. 6:3-4
  • You obey Christ. Mark 16:15-16; Acts 10:48; 2 Thess. 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; Heb. 10:25
  • Pray. James 5:16; Acts 2:42; 1 Tim. 2:1-2; 1 Thes. 5:17
  • Sing, make melody with the heart. Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16
  • Eat the Lord’s Supper on the first day of each week. Acts 2:42; 20:7; Matt. 26:26-30; 1 Cor. 11:20-32
  • Give, liberally and cheerfully. 1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 8:1-5; 9:6-8.

You should know that in New Testament times there was—

  • One family (house) of God. Eph. 3:15; 1 Tim. 3:15
  • One kingdom of Christ. Matt. 16:18-19; Col. 1:13-14
  • One body of Christ. Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22-23; 4:4
  • One bride of Christ. Rom. 7:1-7; Eph. 5:23-32
  • One church of Christ. Matt. 16:18; Eph. 1:2-23; 4:4-6.

You should know that the same church today—

  • Is guided by the same word of God. 1 Pet. 1:22-25; 2 Tim. 3:16-17
  • Contends for the one faith. Jude 3; Eph. 4:5
  • Pleads for unity of all believers. John 17:20-21; Eph. 4:4-6
  • Is not a denomination. 1 Cor. 1:10-13; Eph. 4:1-6
  • Is faithful to Christ. Luke 6:46; Rev. 2:10; Mark 8:38
  • Wears the name of Christ. Rom. 16:16; Acts 11:26; 1 Pet. 4:16.

You should know that you can be a member of this church—

  • By doing what people did 2000 years ago. Acts 2:36-47
  • Without being in any denomination. Acts 2:47; 1 Cor. 1:10-13.

You should know that a child of God—

  • Can be lost. 1 Cor. 9:27; 10:12; Gal. 5:4; Heb. 3:12-19; James 5:19-20
  • 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 Pet. 2:9-10; 1 John 1:5-10.