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Question:. What was your reaction to the video you just saw? Was it along the lines of: “How in the world did a ‘Church of Christ’ ever get to that point?” Or was it more like: (and God help us if so!) “Wow, that was cool- why can’t our church be like that?”

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  1. Question: What was your reaction to the video you just saw? Was it along the lines of: “How in the world did a ‘Church of Christ’ ever get to that point?” Or was it more like: (and God help us if so!) “Wow, that was cool- why can’t our church be like that?” Though related, the reactive answers to this question are somewhat different- let’s see if we can answer the first one this morning, and the second one this evening.

  2. “How in the world did a ‘Church of Christ’ ever get to this point?” • Departure from the Lord’s way almost always begins with the wrong fetish, fear, and faith. • When mainstream denominationalism began to use entertainment to attract and hold membership, it was only a matter of time until some in the church followed suit. Why? • Note 1Sam.8:5c. God’s people wanted to be “like all the nations.” • They said their desire stemmed from Samuel’s age, v.5a; and • From the unfaithfulness of Samuel’s sons, cf.vv.1-5b. • But the real reasons had to do with fear andlack of faith/trust: • They feared being ‘conquered’ by kingly nations, cf. v.20and12:12; and • They didn’t have enough faith to trust God, vv.6-8. So, • Their fetish (object of desire) became misplaced, v.5c. • Does this seem familiar?

  3. “How in the world did a ‘Church of Christ’ ever get to this point?” • The pattern of departure from the Lord’s way in the church followed Israel’s pattern of the wrong fetish, fear, and faith. • The church, like Israel of old, desiredto be like the peoplearound them (Israel regarding form of government- the church in regarding the form of worship; i.e. in the use of entertainment for evangelism and edification). Why? • They fearedthat God’s way would no longer work. • They said “The world is changing, and we must change with it or be overrun.” • Such might be true if: • The church worshipped the world instead of God, Phil.3:19. • God changed as the world changed- but He doesn’t, Mal.3:6; Heb.6:17. • The church changed when its faith was insufficient for it to trustGod and His ways, and it began to fear failure by man’s standards more than by God’s standards.

  4. “How in the world did a ‘Church of Christ’ ever get to this point?” • The church also got to this point by raising a couple of generations on their felt needs rather than “the whole message of this life.” • When preachers/elders (myself included) begin to cater the lessons and direction of the congregation to the felt needs of the people, rather than the “whole message of this life” (Acts 5:20), departures from the faith are inevitable. Why? • Jer.10:23, Man’s wayand stepsare not within him; • Isa.53:8-9, God’s thoughtsand ways are far above ours; • Therefore, when we cater to our ownfelt/perceived needs, we invariably miss the mark of pleasing God (cf. Eph.5:10). • Doing what we want (or feel we need), and then calling it “worshipping God” is hypocritical and foolish, Rom.1:22-23. • Congregations are built, and built up, on “the word of His grace,” not the felt needs of the people, Acts 20:32; John 6:15,26. • We the people- in the pews and in the pulpit, must resist the desire and temptation to have our ears tickled, 2Tim.4:1-5.

  5. “How in the world did a ‘Church of Christ’ ever get to this point?” • Some churches first scoffed at, then belittled, and ultimately denied the authority of the New Testament “pattern.” • “Pattern” authority asserts that the church of first century (as recorded in the N.T.) worshipped and worked according to “the pattern” given by the inspired Apostles of Jesus Christ, Phil.3:15-17. • The apostles were guided “in all things” by the Holy Spirit, John 14:26. • These men, in turn, spoke and wrote by revelation what the Spirit gave them to the churches, Eph.3:3-5; 1Cor.14:37. • Thus, when churches in the N.T. functioned under the control and oversight of this inspired instruction, it constitutes a “pattern” which should be followed by churches today who seek to please God, cf. 1Cor.4:17 7:17 14:33 16:1. • By eliminating the authority of this “pattern,” the church was no longer bound to worship as the early church worshipped, Eph.5:19; Acts 20:7; or evangelize and edify they way the early church evangelized and edified, Acts 8:4; 11:19; Eph.4:15-16. • Thus, food, fun, instrumental music, praise teams, praise dancers, and dramatic presentations replaced God’s way.

  6. “How in the world did a ‘Church of Christ’ ever get to this point?” • Conclusions: • Remaining faithful to the Lord requires that we fear failing Him more than we fear failing our own standards and felt needs, Prov.1:7; Eph.5:10. • Remaining faithful to the Lord requires that we rely on “the power of the gospel” rather than the methods and manipulations of men to save souls and build up the church, Rom.1:16; Acts 20:32. • Remaining faithful to the Lord requires that we recognize and require N.T. authority for every belief and practice, Luke 10:25; Matt.21:23-24; Col.3:17.

  7. We began this morning with a video, followed by a question: What was your reaction to the video you just saw? Was it along the lines of: “How in the world did a ‘Church of Christ’ ever get to that point?” Or was it more like: (and God help us if so!) “Wow, that was cool- why can’t our church be like that?” We spent this morning’s lesson seeking answers to the question produced by the first reaction; and Said we would try to answer the second one tonight. So...

  8. “Why can’t our church be like that?” • The easy and accurate answer would be to say, “For all the reasons that were given this morning: • We’re not trying to be ‘like all the (denominational) nations around us.” 1Sam.8:5; Matt.5:20; 2Cor.6:17; 1Pet.2:9-12 • We fear displeasing God more than displeasing men.” Eph.5:10; Gal.1:10; 1Thess.2:3-4. • We want to preach, teach, and live ‘the whole message of life.’” Acts 5:20; 2Tim.3:14 - 4:1-5; Gal.1:6-8; Rev.22:18-19. • We want to have Book, Chapter, and Verse Authority for what we believe, preach, teach, and practice.” Col.3:17; Rom.1:16; 1Cor.1:17-24; 2Pet.1:12-21

  9. “Why can’t our church be like that?” • But we also need to include that: • We understand that this is just a “church”- • Not a recreation/fitness center, 1Tim.4:7-8; • Not a restaurant, 1Cor.11:22,34; • Not a social center for Christian singles, teens, or senior citizens, Eph.3:10; • Not a support group for drug rehab, widow/widowers, financial recovery, self-improvement, or etc. etc. etc. 1Tim.3:15; *(obviously, the gospel has guidance for these situations, and we should preach and teach its message while loving and encouraging one another, Gal.6:2; Rom.12:9-15) • Not a day-care or a school, Eph.6:4; • But a “church” in all the glory and honor the name should bring to our spiritual Husband, Eph.5:23,27!

  10. “Why can’t our church be like that?” • But we also need to include that: • We understand that this is just a “church”; • Which is a spiritual entity, Eph.1:22; • Built on a spiritual foundation,Eph.2:19-22; • Based on spiritual relationship(s),Eph.5:25-32; • With a spiritual mission, Luke 19:10; Eph.3:10; 1Pet.2:9. • Now, if “the church” is, and is supposed to be, all of these spiritual and holy things, why would we want to turn it into all those carnal and secular other things? Because we’re more concerned with pleasing ourselves rather than God? 1Cor.3:17-20 I surely hope not!

  11. “Why can’t our church be like that?” • Conclusion: The overall answer to the title question is: Because being like that (a men-pleasingchurch) glorifies, serves, and worships men and notGod!

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