The New Testament Church(Grace Church)

A FELLOWSHIP OF BELIEVERS.

Matthew 18:20
King James Version (KJV)
 20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Here God’s word is read, spoken, and the word of God is preached.
Accept the Bible alone as their authority.
Believers are free to share their testimonies, and encourage one another.
God has ordained the leadership of the Church.
In the hands of Elders.
More than one elder.
Need not be full- time workers.
Acts 14:23
New International Version (NIV)
23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders[a] for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
Titus 1:5-6
New King James Version (NKJV)
Qualified Elders
5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you— 6 if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination.




ALL BELIEVERS HAVE FREEDOM TO SHARE GOD’S WORD.
Main emphasis is to preach the Word of God.
If it is inspired by the Holy Spirit you will find that it comforts, challenges, and build up and exposes “ the secrets of men’s hearts. Compelling people to acknowledge that God is speaking.
1 Corinthians 14:3
New King James Version (NKJV)
3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
READ 1 CORINTHIAN 14 24-31




MAIN THRUST OF A NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH. Matt 28 19-20
Matthew 28:19-20
King James Version (KJV)
 19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.


LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER.
JOHN 15 34 & 35
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye alove one another; as I have loved you, that ye also blove one another.
 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have alove one to another.
A church where the Word is spoken powerfully and where the love of God reigns.
That is where the presence of the Lord can be sensed.
The importance of fellowship.
No man is an island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."
This is a quotation from John Donne (1572-1631)
If we try to live together in loving fellowship with others we will find how much we need to deny ourselves and take up the cross everyday, if we want to maintain fellowship.
SATAN’S STRATEGIES.
Always busy driving wedges between God’s children.
If we are mature we will always be alert to prevent those wedges from being driven in between us and others.
If Satan can get one person to divide the Church he has succeeded.
There is great loss when fellowship is broken in Christ’s Body. –both to God and to us.
THERE IS POWER IN UNITY.
There is a tremendous power in unity in the Church.
Satan can be overcome only by a united Church.
Matthew 18:18-20
New International Version (NIV)
   18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be[a] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[b] loosed in heaven.
   19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

SATAN BRINGS DIVISION AMONG BELIEVERS.

Satan form cliques and groups in a Church.
Satan wants to preserve his own kingdom from being attacked by a united Church.
Christians must be alert to Satan’s schemes and not be ignorant of them.
Just think what limitations there would been in Christ’s physical body if His limbs had been unable to work together.
This is the limitations that Christ faces today as Head of His spiritual Body, the Church when believers are divided.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN YOU ARE LONE RANGER?

If you cut yourself off from even one of God’s children you deprive yourself of something of God’s riches that could have come to you only through the other child of God..
Ephesians 3:17-19
King James Version (KJV)
 17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
 18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
 19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.