• Mark 14:22-25
• Is it wrong to have the Lord’s Supper on Sunday evening since we are supposed to “wait for one another?”
  • I Corinthians 11:33
  • I don’t believe so. That phrase simply addresses a specific problem in Corinth. I Corinthians 11:18-33; Acts 20:7
  • We have general authority to take the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week.
  • We do not have specific authority to meet at a particular time or to take the Lord’s Supper and do other things as part of the same assembly, but that does not mean that we cannot do different combinations of those things.
• Is it wrong to have the Lord’s Supper on Sunday evening since only one person (or a few) partake?
  • I don’t believe so. The communion is with Christ and is not invalidated if others are not partaking correctly (or at all). I Corinthians 10:14-22; Matthew 26:29; Leviticus 7:5-6, 15; 21:6
    • I Corinthians 10:14-22:
      • Christian (I Corinthians 10:16-17)⇒ Cup/table of the Lord⇒ Christ
      • Israel (I Corinthians 10:18)⇒ Eat sacrifices⇒ God
      • Gentiles (I Corinthians 10:19-22)⇒ Cup/table of demons⇒ Idols/demons
  • We have communion (sharing, fellowship, participation) with Christ! Matthew 26:29
• Why do we even have these kinds of studies?
  • We are responsible for making sure we are worshiping correctly!

• God’s plan of salvation
  • Introduction
    • Romans 3:23; Luke 19:10
  • Learn the truth
    • Throughout the New Testament, there is a strong emphasis on teaching.
    • Matthew 18:19-20
    • Romans 10:17
    • The first step toward salvation is to learn what the Bible says. Acts 17:2-4, 11
  • Believe and confess that Jesus is Lord and Christ, the Son of God.
    • Our faith should never be a blind faith.
    • Acts 2 – Peter pointed out the prophecies made about that day. Compare Acts 8:35; 9:22; 17:2-4, 11-12; 18:28
    • Romans 10:9-10 – Confession is required.
      • Matthew 26:63-64; Acts 2:36; 9:20; I John 4:15
    • Acts 8:37 – This particular verse is in doubt. It does not appear in the earliest manuscripts. Removing this verse does not negate the need for confession, though. Other verses teach the same thing regarding confession.
    • Matthew 10:32-33 – This could be referring specifically to the teaching job the apostles were about to do. It may not be referring to confession of faith in general.
  • Repent
    • Acts 2:37-38; 17:30
    • The word repent means, “the change the mind.”
    • Hebrews 6:1; Acts 20:21
    • Matthew 12:41 – Jesus calls what the people of Ninevah did repentance. Jonah 3:4-10
    • II Corinthians 7:8-10 – Repentance is more than just being sorry.
      • Matthew 27:3-5 – Judas was sorry but did not repent.
      • Acts 9:3-6, 11, 18-20 – Paul repented and turned his life around.
    • Be baptized
      • Baptism means to be immersed or submerged.
      • Matthew 18:18-20; Mark 16:15-16 – Jesus commissioned the apostles to teach and baptize.
      • Acts 2:38, 41; 10:47-48
      • Acts 8:12, 35-39 – Philip
      • Acts 9:18; 22:16; 9:3-6 – Paul is baptized
      • Acts 16:15, 27-34; 19:1-5 – Paul baptizing others
        • Ephesians 4:5 – Only one baptism today
      • Romans 6:1-4

Jesus (Physical)

Me (Spiritual)

Death

Dead to sin

Burial

Buried in baptism

Resurrection

Walk in newness of life

• • • • I Corinthians 12:13 - Colossians 1:18 - Galatians 3:27 - Colossians 2:12 - I Peter 3:18-22 – Like Noah, when we obey, we are saved. The power was not in Noah’s boat-building ability or the water itself. - People hurried to get baptized! Acts 2:41; 8:36; 9:18; 16:33

What does baptism do?

Mark 16:16; I Peter 3:21

it saves us

Acts 2:38

it is for the forgiveness of sins

Acts 22:16

it washes away sins

Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12

it makes us partakers of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection

I Corinthians 12:13

it adds us into the “body” (the “church,” Colossians 1:18)

Galatians 3:27

it clothes us with Christ

• • Are you ready to be a new person? - Romans 6:4, 6

• Matthew 5:33-48
• Matthew 5:33-37 – This is an extended not-but It is not a blanket prohibition on making any sort of oath. If all swearing is wrong, God Himself did wrong in Hebrews 6:18. Verse 37 is the point – we should speak truth and keep our word.
• Matthew 5:38-39 – Compare John 18:22-23; Acts 23:2-3. Both Jesus and Paul disobeyed this verse if we are never to defend ourselves. Romans 12:18-21. He was simply saying to not repay evil in kind, but return good instead.
• Matthew 5:43-48 – See John 8:39-44. We are children of God when we imitate Him.

• Three basic kinds of church government (plus a hybrid fourth form). All can’t be right!
• Universal concept
  • Local churches (or parishes) joined together under universal oversight with a universal treasury doing universal work.
  • Prime example is the Catholic church, headed by the Pope.
• Brotherhood concept
  • Local churches joined together under brotherhood oversight with a brotherhood treasury doing brotherhood work.
  • Example: Southern Methodist Conference
• Local concept
  • Autonomous local churches. Individual Christians are part of the universal church with Christ as the head.
  • Local oversight
    • Acts 14:23 – Elders commanded to oversee local churches
    • I Peter 5:1-4 – Elders are to oversee their own flock – not other churches.
  • Local treasury
    • I Corinthians 16:1-2
  • Local work
  • This is the only structure authorized by God.
• Brotherhood + local church concept
  • Local churches under the guidance of the ruling convention. Much looser than the brotherhood concept.
  • They claim only local oversight, treasury, and work, but they also have brotherhood oversight, treasury, and work in some cases.
    • Baptist Hour
    • Buckner Children’s Home
  • “Churches of Christ”
    • Local churches joined together in a loose denominational structure.
    • They claim only local oversight, treasury, and work, but also have elements of brotherhood oversight, treasury, and work.
      • Herald of Truth – Radio program run by a church in Abilene. Many churches sent money to support the work.
      • Boles Children’s Home

• “Evil and suffering prove that either God is not good or He doesn’t exist.”
• Let’s talk about real evil and suffering in this study.
• A lot of evil and suffering come about because God created us with the ability to choose.
  • Ecclesiastes 12:14
• Acts 17:30-31
• Galatians 1:3-5
• First of all, God cares about our suffering!
  • Exodus 2:23-25
  • Genesis 4:10
  • Hebrews 12:1; 2:14, 17-18
• God is wiser than we are.
  • Isaiah 55:8-9
  • God knows and understands more than us. He may be bringing about good through suffering.
  • Genesis 50:20
  • Job 38:1-7; 40:1-9; 42:1
• Earthly suffering increases our desire for Heavenly blessings.
  • James 1:2-4
  • II Corinthians 12:7
  • Good and bad things on earth are tiny samples of heaven and hell.
  • John 4:13-14
• We’re on God’s timetable.
  • Romans 8:18; II Corinthians 4:17
  • II Peter 3:8
• Psalms 31:24