God’s people have always had a single house of salvation at any given time.

• One ark - Genesis 6

  • Genesis 7:21-222 – Everything outside the ark perished. Any that wanted to could have entered.

• One tabernacle – Exodus 25:8-9

  • Leviticus 17:1-9

• One house for Rahab’s family – Joshua 21:1-19

• One temple – Deuteronomy 12:6-14; 14:23-26

  • I Kings 9:1-8; 11:37-38; 12:30

• One church – Matthew 6:18-19; I Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 1:22-23

  • Matthew 16:8 – Jesus would build His church. He succeeded!

  • I Corinthians 1:2; Romans 16:16

In Christ, His body, His church, there is:

• Triumph – II Corinthians 2:14

• Reconciliation – Ephesians 2:14-16

  • Ephesians 1:23

• Life and light – John 1:14

• Completeness – Colossians 2:10

• Sonship – Galatians 3:26-27

• All spiritual blessings – Ephesians 1:3

The teaching and practice of the church of Christ started in Jerusalem in AD 33.

Ephesians 1:22

Does God want us to worship Him with music? Yes.

What kind of music? Under the Old Covenant or New?

II Chronicles 29:25; Psalm 150 – Instrumental music was authorized under the Old Covenant.

What about under the New Covenant?

• Romans 15:9; I Corinthians 14:15; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 2:12; James 5:13 – Singing is the only type of music authorized under the New Covenant.

Under the Old Covenant, God told His people to use instruments in worship. In the New Covenant, He authorizes only singing.

Answering possible objections:

• Ephesians 5:19 – The word “psallo” never authorized the use of a musical instrument. It expresses an action, but the object must be specified. In the New Testament, the heart is specified as the object. See Hebrews 9:10.

• Revelation 14:2-3 – The voices in Heaven were described as thunderous and melodious as instruments, but it was still singing. Also, this is highly figurative language and not to be taken literally.

• Use of songbooks

  • Songbooks are simply a way to coordinate worship. They do not add a new act of music.

• The Bible doesn’t say not to.

  • The Bible doesn’t expressly say not to use instruments to worship under the New Covenant, but it comes pretty close. See Exodus 17:6; Numbers 20:12. The Old Testament gives us an example of this reasoning. New Covenant Christians are commanded to sing. Playing an instrument is surely going beyond this command.

• Having instruments at home

  • Having instruments in the home is not a reason to use them in worship.

Historically, instruments were added to worship by Catholics in 670 A.D. and strenuously objected to by many at the time.

II John 1:9 – To use instruments of music in worship is to go beyond God’s command.

Ecclesiastes 12:7

What do you think your favorite thing will be?

• Being in the presence of God.

  • Matthew 25:34, 41, 46

  • Matthew 7:23

  • I John 3:1-3 – We will see God as He is!

  • I Thessalonians 4:17-18

• Being with other saints

  • I Thessalonians 4:15-17

  • Revelation 6:9-11 – This seems to imply that those in the afterlife remembered their lives on earth.

• No more troubles

  • Luke 16:19-26 – All physical problems will be gone in heaven!

  • Hebrews 4:8-11 – God gave the Israelites rest in the sense of Canaan, but there is a greater rest waiting for God’s people.

  • Matthew 5:11-12

  • Romans 8:18

  • Philippians 3:20-21 – Sin and temptation will be left behind!

Myths about Heaven

• It will be boring.

  • James 1:17-18

  • God created everything we enjoy on earth. How much better will Heaven be?

• It’s not an actual place.

  • Acts 1:9-11; I Thessalonians 4:16 – Heaven is always described as an actual place.

What all of this means right now.

• I should be living like a citizen of Heaven!

  • Philippians 3:20-21, 19

  • Colossians 3:2

  • Matthew 6:19

• Appreciate what Jesus did!

  • Philippians 2:5-11

  • John 17:5

Matthew 22:37-39

This love comes from my decision to follow Heaven’s example.

• John 13:34-35; 15:12 – Jesus is the example!

• Romans 5:6-8 – It was God’s decision for Jesus to die for us, even in our sins.

• Titus 3:3-7 – God decided to love us.

• It’s my decision when to love others. We certainly would not want God to show love for us only if or when we deserved it!

• “This person has an eternal soul.”

  • John 5:28-29

• “God is watching how well I love others.”

  • Matthew 6:14-15; 7:2; 25:40

• “I want to become an expert at love – just like my Father.”

  • I John 4:7

I must prove to be a neighbor.

• Luke 10:25-37 – Parable of the good Samaritan.

• Matthew 5:43-48 – Our job is to love our neighbor. We should be a neighbor to all we come in contact with.

Love must be the foundation of my behavior toward all others.

• Romans 13:7

• Galatians 5:13

• James 2:1, 8 – Fulfill the royal law!

• I John 3:16-18 – We need to capitalize on opportunities to show love for others.

• Acts 26:24-29 – Paul showed love for others even in chains.