"Prove all things... Hold fast to that which is good..." ( I Thessalonians 5:21.) READ: Matthew 16:13-28; 1 Timothy 3:14-15; 1 Peter 4:8
1. When was the church established?
Some say in the days of Adam, Abraham, Moses, or John the Baptist. (Isaiah 2:2-4; Matthew 3:1-2, 4:17, 10:7; Luke 10:9)
Some say in the years that Jesus walked upon the earth. (Luke 24:44-49; Mark 9:1; Matthew 16:28)
The Bible shows that the promise of Jesus to build the church was fulfilled on the first day of Pentecost after Christ's resurrection. (Matthew 16:13-19; Acts 1 & 2)
2. To whom does the church belong?
Jesus the Christ. (Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 12:28, 15:24; 1Timothy 4:16; 1 Peter 1:19, 5.2; Hebrews 9:14)
3. What are the specifications of the church?
John 10.16; Ephesians 4;4-6; 1;22-23; Colossians 1:9-20
4. Does the church that Jesus built exist today?
YES! (Matthew 16:18)
What was the rock upon which the church was built? (Matthew 16:16; Acts 8:37; 1 Corinthians 3:11; Ephesians 2:20)
What was the foundation that was used by Paul? (1 Corinthians 3:10; 15:1-4)
Who is the source of all authority? (Matthew 28:18-20; John 20:22-23; Colossians 1:18)
How many heads and bodies does the church have? (Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18)
What of the churches built by men? (Acts 5:33-39; 1 Corinthians 1:11-12, 3:1-7; Galations 1:6-13)
5. What was the church called in the New Testament?
The church. (Ephesians 3:10 and 108 other passages)
The church of God. (I Corinthians 1:2; 15:9; Acts 20:28; 1 Timothy 3:5)
The church of the firstborn. (Hebrews 12:23)
The body. (Ephesians 1:23; Colossians 1:18)
The body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:27)
The household of God. (Ephesians 2:19)
The household of faith. (Galatians 6:10)
The churches of Christ. (Romans 16:16)
The bride of Christ. (John 3:29; Revelation 21:2-9; 22.17)
6. What were members of the church called in the New Testament?
Disciples. (Acts 6:1, 2, 7; 11:26; 20:7)
Brethren. (Acts 9:30; 10:23; 15:22; 22:5)
Believers. (Acts 5:14)
Saints. (Acts 9:13, 32, 41; 26:10)
Priests . (1 Peter 2:5; Revelation 1:6)
People of God. (Hebrews 4:9)
Children of God. (1 John 3:1-2)
Christians. ( Acts 11:26; 1 Peter 4:16)
7. What were the conditions of membership in the church that Jesus built?
How were the 3,000 saved? (Acts 2:14-41)
What did the Smaritans do? (Acts 8:5-6, 12)
What did the eunuch do? (Acts 8:35-39)
What did Saul of Tarsus do? (Acts 9:16; 22:14-16)
What did Cornelius and his household do? (Acts 10:34-38)
What did Lydia and her household do? (Acts 16:14-15)
What did the jailor do? (Acts 16:31-33)
What did the Corinthians do? (Acts 18:8)
When you hear the Gospel, believe and obey it, to what are you added? (Acts 2:37-47)
8. How is the church to grow?
In what must we continue? (Acts 2:42)
For what do we meet upon the first day of the week? (Acts 20:6-9; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34, 16:1-2)
Should we support the work of the church financially? (Acts 15:26; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 8:4, 9:6-7)
Should Christians pray in the assembly? (Acts 12:12; 1 Corinthians 14:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:17)
How do Christians praise God? (Acts 2:47; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16)
Should we assemble only upon the first day of the week? (Hebrews 10:24-25)
What is the first day of the week called in the New Testament? (Revelation 1:10)
9. How is the church to be organized?
The word "church" is used four ways in the New Testament:
(1) The saved from the beginning to the end of the Christian age. (Colossians 1:18; Hebrews 1:1);
(2) The saved in one geographical area. (2 Thessalonians 1:1; Acts 9:31);
(3) One congregation. (Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 1:2); and,
(4) Independent bodies of Christians. (2 Corinthians 16:1).
There were two classes of inspired men:
(1) Apostles. (Acts 10:41; 13:31; 2 Peter 1:16; John 20:22-23);
(2) Prophets, i.e., inspired teachers. (Acts 11:27; 13:12; Ephesians 4:11);
(3) Apostles and prophets ceased . (1 Corinthians 13:8).
There are three classes of officers today:
(1) Elders, bishops, pastors, overseers, presbyters, shepherds -- All refer to the same office. (Titus 8:5-9; 1Timothy 3:1-7; Acts 3:28, 1 Peter 5:34);
(2) Deacons. (Acts 6:1-6; 1Timothy 3:8-13); and,
(3) Evangelists or preachers or ministers. (Acts 21:8; Ephesians 4:11; 2 Timothy 4:5).
10. What is the fruit of the church?
Should Christians grow? (Matthew 28:19-20; Hebrews 5:12; 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 1:5-8; 3:18)
Is Christian liberality a fruit? (Acts 2:42; 11:29-30; Philippians 1:3-5; 4:13-17)
How do we glorify the Father? (John 15:8)
What should be the most burning desire of the members of the church? (Acts 8:4; 11:19-21; 19:10; 20:20-21; Philippians 4:9; 2 Timothy 2:2)