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What is the church of Christ?

In Matthew 16:18, Jesus promised to build a church. In Acts 2:47, Luke tells us that people were being added to that church. Thus, we can conclude that Jesus built His church sometime between His promise in Matthew 16 and Luke’s statement in Acts 2. Indeed, a closer study of the events in Acts 2 reveals that the Lord’s church was established on that first day of Pentecost following the Lord’s resurrection when Peter preached the first gospel sermon. That church is the church of Christ.

A common misconception about the church of Christ is that “The Church of Christ” is its name. It is not. The “church of Christ” is its description. The church of Christ is the church that belongs to Christ, that was established by Christ, that was built by Christ, and that was bought by Christ. It is not our church; it is His church, the Lord’s church. We are not voted into the church by men, and we do not join a church the way some might join a country club. Instead, God adds us to His church when we obey His gospel.

Are those in the church of Christ the only people who are going to be saved? Of course they are! God adds people to His church when they are saved. If you are not in the Lord’s church, then you are not saved. If you are saved, then you are in the Lord’s church. To be saved outside of the church of Christ is to be saved outside of the body of Christ – and that can never happen. Jesus is not just a way to the Father; he is the way to the Father. As Jesus said in John 14:6, “ I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Thus, the real question is not what is the church of Christ, but is rather how do you become a part of the church of Christ? That question was asked in the first century as it is asked today, and the answer remains the same. We are saved and added to the Lord’s church when we obey the gospel of Jesus Christ. Like the Apostle Paul, we are saved when our sins are washed away at our baptism.

There is one church of Christ. If you are a member of something else or something more or something less, then you are not serving God according to His plan or according to His will. He wants you to be a Christian and only a Christian, wearing only the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, who is the head and the savior of the church, His body.

Want to know more? Here are 10 things everyone should understand about the church, here are some common misconceptions about the church , and here is how God views the church.

What Must I Do?

What must I do? That same question was asked in Acts 2:37 at the end of the very first gospel sermon ever preached. Before we look at Peter’s answer in verse 38, let’s look at some answers Peter did NOT give.

What must I do? John Calvin answers, “Nothing!” According to Calvin, there is nothing we must do and nothing we can do. Each of us has already been personally predestined to Heaven or Hell without regard to anything we do on Earth, and so, logically, according to Calvin, the only answer to the question in Acts 2:37 is “Nothing.” But that is NOT how Peter answered that question.

What must I do? Many preachers today answer, “You must make Jesus the Lord of your life.” But that answer makes absolutely no sense then or now! Peter had just said in Acts 2:36 that “God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Jesus was already Lord of their lives! Jesus is Lord of lords and King of kings, which means he is your Lord and your King whether or not you obey him or believe him. We obey Jesus because he is Lord and King – not to make him Lord and King.

What must I do? Many preachers today answer, “You must pray the sinner’s prayer and invite the Lord Jesus into you heart.” But no one in the Bible was ever told to do that. In fact, Paul prayed after he saw Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:11), and yet Paul was still in his sins when Ananias met him three days later (Acts 22:16). Cornelius prayed to God always (Acts 10:2), and yet there remained something he still had to do after calling for Peter (Acts 10:6). If praying the sinner’s prayer was all that Paul and Cornelius needed to do, then why were Ananias and Peter needed?

What must I do? Listen as Peter answers that question: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38) That answer has not changed one bit in the intervening 2000 years. If your preacher is telling you something different, then you need a new preacher! “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” (Acts 22:16)

Want to know more? Here is God's Plan of Salvation.

Preparing to Teach: Lesson 3 Class Notes

What is Teaching

Christ taught in a variety of situations: one-on-one teaching (personal interaction, John 4:1–42); small group learning (the disciples alone with Christ, Luke 22:14–38); large groups of people (the multitudes heard Him, Matt. 23:1–39). Believers today are responsible to continue the Lord's teaching ministry in all situations. The fourth part of the great commission given to the disciples is "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:20). This is the most unglamorous and the most neglected part of the commission. This part of the commission will not fit into adding machines. It is difficult to put this part of the commission into statistical reports. We can report how many people have been baptized and how many have placed membership, but it is difficult to report the results of Bible Study in terms of statistics. And if a ministry cannot be reported in statistics, many congregations neglect it. It is hard to boast without statistics, leading some to conclude that if you can't count it, it is "no count." Furthermore, the disinterest in teaching is also seen in the fact that teaching is generally a thankless task. It involves a great deal of work and with few people being interested in being taught, not many folk want to get involved in the task of teaching.

What Are the Characteristics of Teaching?

Teaching is a science and is therefore governed by laws. E. L. Thorndike postulated three laws of learning:

  • The law of readiness: When one is ready to act to do so is pleasant, and not to do so is annoying.
  • The law of effect, satisfaction: When an act is pleasant, we tend to repeat it until it becomes a habit. If unpleasant, we tend to quit.
  • The law of exercise: An act once performed tends to be more easily performed again, while neglect makes an act more difficult.

Teaching is an art and is therefore governed by technique. (Lessons will follow on the tools of teaching and the technique of presentation.)

Teaching is a social act and therefore requires good inter-personal relationship between the teacher and the taught.

  • The teacher's attitude toward his pupils.

    • He is not a dictator issuing decrees, but a guide offering leadership.
    • He is stimulating the growth of pupils by setting them an example.
    • The teacher grows through the self-discipline he expects of the pupils.
    • The learning teacher glows with enthusiasm.
    • The learning teacher enjoys learning, and so do many of his pupils.

  • The right relationship between teacher and student enables the teacher to:

    • Take his pupil with him because he has learned to talk their language.
    • Bring a personal God to real persons.
    • Bring the Bible to right where the pupils live.
    • Encourage pupils to understand themselves because someone else understands them.

Teaching is a complex activity and therefore must be carried out according to purposeful plans and governed and guided by meaningful aims.

  • The importance of plans.

    • Anything that is not planned is "planless"; anything that is "planless" will likely fail to accomplish its purpose.
    • Just as any intelligent person demands detailed plans, specifications, and estimates of cost before proceeding to the building of a house, so teaching needs to be planned before it is carried into practice.

  • The value of purposeful plans.

    • It makes more likely the attainment of the inclusive aims of teaching.
    • A lesson plan helps to clarify objectives and to make them definite.
    • It provides for suitable transition from previous experiences to contemplated ones.
    • It makes for better selection and organization of content, material, procedures, and activities.
    • It tends to use of better methods of teaching.
    • Lesson planning gives confidence to inexperienced teachers and develops in them ability to improve more rapidly.
    • It serves as an incentive to the teacher to make adequate preparation.
    • It enables the teacher to teach with greater freedom.
    • It leads to elimination of many difficulties by anticipating them and by planning how to avoid or minimize them.
    • Reflective thinking done beforehand makes for better unity in lesson development than is possible from spontaneous planning done on the spur of the moment.
    • It stimulates the teacher to have ready pivotal questions and appropriate illustrations.

  • The importance and function of aims.

    • An aim implies activity directed in an orderly manner toward the accomplishment of some end. A bow shot into the air has a result, but not an end. An end is more than a result.
    • An aim is the major influence in controlling procedure in any great undertaking.

  • The function of aims in teaching.

    • Gives direction.
    • Makes for orderly continuity.
    • Provides a basis for selection of materials.
    • Provides a sound basis for measurement.

  • Inclusive aims of the Christian teacher.

    • To lead pupils to a knowledge of God's will. Note that this is different from imparting Bible knowledge.
    • To lead the pupil to follow or obey God's will.
    • Develop Christian character expressed through worship, right living, and efficient service.

Teaching is a simple act that can and will be accomplished by those who desire to do so. Only one step is required at a time. Anyone who possesses common sense and the love for the work, who studies the Scriptures and prays for wisdom, should have no difficulty.  

There is no chance, no destiny, no fate,

Can circumvent, or hinder or control

The firm resolve of a determined soul.

Gifts count for little; will alone is great.

No man can place a limit on thy strength.

All heights are thine, if thou wilt but believe

In thy Creator and thy self. At length

Some feet must tread some heights now unattained.

Why not thine own. Achieve!

God's Plan of Salvation

You must hear the gospel and then understand and recognize that you are lost without Jesus Christ no matter who you are and no matter what your background is. The Bible tells us that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Before you can be saved, you must understand that you are lost and that the only way to be saved is by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:8) Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
You must believe and have faith in God because “without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) But neither belief alone nor faith alone is sufficient to save. (James 2:19; James 2:24; Matthew 7:21)
You must repent of your sins. (Acts 3:19) But repentance alone is not enough. The so-called “Sinner’s Prayer” that you hear so much about today from denominational preachers does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Indeed, nowhere in the Bible was anyone ever told to pray the “Sinner’s Prayer” to be saved. By contrast, there are numerous examples showing that prayer alone does not save. Saul, for example, prayed following his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:11), but Saul was still in his sins when Ananias met him three days later (Acts 22:16). Cornelius prayed to God always, and yet there was something else he needed to do to be saved (Acts 10:2, 6, 33, 48). If prayer alone did not save Saul or Cornelius, prayer alone will not save you. You must obey the gospel. (2 Thess. 1:8)
You must confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (Romans 10:9-10) Note that you do NOT need to make Jesus “Lord of your life.” Why? Because Jesus is already Lord of your life whether or not you have obeyed his gospel. Indeed, we obey him, not to make him Lord, but because he already is Lord. (Acts 2:36) Also, no one in the Bible was ever told to just “accept Jesus as your personal savior.” We must confess that Jesus is the Son of God, but, as with faith and repentance, confession alone does not save. (Matthew 7:21)
Having believed, repented, and confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, you must be baptized for the remission of your sins. (Acts 2:38) It is at this point (and not before) that your sins are forgiven. (Acts 22:16) It is impossible to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ without teaching the absolute necessity of baptism for salvation. (Acts 8:35-36; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Peter 3:21) Anyone who responds to the question in Acts 2:37 with an answer that contradicts Acts 2:38 is NOT proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Once you are saved, God adds you to his church and writes your name in the Book of Life. (Acts 2:47; Philippians 4:3) To continue in God’s grace, you must continue to serve God faithfully until death. Unless they remain faithful, those who are in God’s grace will fall from grace, and those whose names are in the Book of Life will have their names blotted out of that book. (Revelation 2:10; Revelation 3:5; Galatians 5:4)

Preparing to Teach

Why do some Sunday Schools grow while others in the same area struggle and falter? A survey of churches with growing Sunday Schools revealed that the churches with the fastest growing Sunday Schools had implemented 9 of 10 practices they had in common. The most common practice -- 98% of the churches involved their teachers in training. The least used practice was still used by 78% of the churches. The purpose of this class is to help our teachers and those who would be teachers learn about class preparation, presentation, and programs that will help our Sunday School Classes grow.

Baptism in the Bible

Matthew 28:19

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Mark 16:16

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Acts 2:38

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 8:36

And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

Acts 22:16

And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Romans 6:3

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

Romans 6:4

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

1 Corinthians 12:13

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Galatians 3:27

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Ephesians 4:5

One Lord, one faith, one baptism.

Colossians 2:12

Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

1 Peter 3:21

The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Want to Know More?

Please read this lesson on baptism from our series of lessons on Thought Provoking Questions.

Class Notes

On this web site, you will find 1000's of pages of detailed class notes and 100's of hours of audio lessons on a variety of Bible books and Bible subjects. Recent classes include 13 lessons on how to teach the Bible and 4 lessons on Matthew (all with video).

Our class on Revelation provides a detailed verse-by-verse treatment of that beautiful book in 25 lessons. Is Revelation all about Heaven and the end of the world as so many believe? Revelation promises a blessing to those who read and heed what it says, which means that the book is meant to be understood and that it can be understood. But to understand Revelation we must read it through first century eyes, and we must study it in light of the Old Testament.

We have 7 lessons on the prophecies of Daniel. How is Daniel related to Revelation? What are the 70 weeks? What is the abomination of desolation?

We have 25 lessons on the book of Isaiah. What can we learn about the Lord's church from the book of Isaiah? What was the history of that time? These lessons are also available in video format.

We also have 24 lessons on First Corinthians. In this epistle, Paul deals with many current issues facing the church both then and now: immorality, divorce and remarriage, the role of women, spiritual gifts, the importance of love, and the resurrection of the body.

We have 25 lessons on Second Corinthians. In this epistle, Paul continues to deal with problems facing the church in Corinth, which now include an influx of false apostles who are belittling Paul and demeaning his apostolic authority.

We have 13 lessons on the books of First & Second Peter. Were those books written by Peter? Was Peter the first pope? Why were those books written? Are false teachers still a problem today?

We also have 23 lessons on the book of Romans. These lessons take you on a verse by verse study of what many consider to be the most beautiful book in the Bible.

We have 25 lessons on the book of Ezekiel. These lessons take you on a verse by verse study of this fascinating but often neglected book from the Old Testament.

We have 11 lessons about Elijah and Elisha. These notes provide a verse by verse study of 1 Kings 16 through 2 Kings 13, as well as a lesson about the role of Elijah in the New Testament.

We have 13 lessons on James and Jude, the two letters written by the earthly (half)-brothers of Christ. They have much to tell us about the Christian life and how we are to contend for the faith in a godless world.

We have 25 lessons on Thought Provoking Questions with over 500 pages of detailed class notes and special handouts. Topics include: Marriage & Divorce, Baptism, The Role of Women in the Church, End Times, Mormonism, Social Drinking & Gambling, Instrumental Music, The Lord's Church, Evolution & Intelligent Design, Forgiveness, the Holy Spirit, the Afterlife, Secular Humanism, Premillennialism and the Rapture, The Restoration Movement, Alleged Contradictions in the Bible, The Christian and the Law, Time and Chance, The New Hermeneutic, God and Politics, Jehovah's Witnesses, Islam, and Muhammad.