Worship of Church a Mark of Identity

Introduction:
 I. The importance of the identifying the church.
    A. We have noted the oneness of the New Testament 
       church.
       1. Ephesians 1:22-23
       2. Colossians 1:18
       3. Ephesians 4:4
    B. This one church is the one to which all New 
       Testament Christians were added.
       1. Acts 2:47
       2. Citizenship in heaven
       3. Enrolled in heaven – Hebrews 12:23
       4. Names written in Book of Life.
    C. This is the church to which we want to be added. 
       Acts 2:47
    D. Hence, it is necessary that we know the 
       characteristics of the New Testament church.

II. We have already noted two marks by which we can 
    identify the church.
    A. Time, place, and manner of its establishment.
       a. Pentecost – A. D. 33
       b. Any religious group having its beginning after 
          that time could not be the church of Christ.
    B. The name by which the church was called.
       1. Church of God; church of Lord; church of 
          firstborn; Kingdom; Body; church of Christ

Body:
I. We can identify the New Testament church by the worship 
   of the New Testament Church.
   A. Teaching.
      1. Church to be fed – Acts 20:28.
      2. Paul taught the assembled church – Acts 20:7
      3. Correction of misuse of spiritual gifts shows that 
         the church was to be edified. 1 Corinthians 14:23-
         26
   B. Praying
      1. Acts 2:42
      2. 1 Thessalonians 5:17
      3. Luke 18:1
      4. 1 Corinthians 14:15
   C. Contribute of our means.
      1. 1 Corinthians 16:2
      2. 2 Corinthians 9:7
      3. This is God’s divine plan for financing the 
         church.
      4. Since God has specified this arrangement for thus 
         excludes all other methods of financing the 
         church.
      5. God made no provision for:
         a. Church suppers
         b. pie suppers
         c. rummage sales
         d. house to house solicitation
      6. There is nothing more unethical than to ask and 
         expect individuals to contribute to religious 
         organizations in which they do not believe.
      7. Christians are not to bid them Godspeed.
   D. Partake the Lord’s Supper each first day of the week.
      1. Acts 20:7
      2. Approved example – Apostles directed by spirit.
      3. “Remember the Sabbath day”
         a. Jews knew and understood that it meant every 
            Sabbath.
      4. That disciples met on “the first day of the week”
         a. a deadly parallel.
      5. Voices of secular history
   E. Christians are to sing
      1. Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16
      2. God specifies singing – a specific kind of music, 
         hence eliminating instrumental music
      3. Nadab and Abihu – Leviticus 10:1-3
         a. used that which God commanded not
      4. God has not commanded instrumental music – pie 
         suppers, etc.
      5. Instrument of music a cause of division.
      6. Why not follow God’s plan.

Conclusion:
1. When one deviates from God’s commands and adds the 
   commands of men it constitutes vain worship. Matthew 
   15:9
2. A religious organization which does not practice these 
   things in worship is not the church that Christ 
   established.
3. Every plant which the heavenly father hath not planted 
   shall be rooted up. Matthew 15:13