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Don't Blame The Church

Glenn Blankenship
01/08/17 - Sunday

What is the church?
*Ekklesia - Mt 16:18; Mt 18:17
"A called out gathering of people"
A) The whole body of followers of Christ
B) A local assembly of Christians
This lesson will address the church as a whole, not a local body.
Rev. 2&3; Acts 11:22;
*Universal Church Rom 12:4-5
>Eph 2
v19 Household of God
V21 Holy Temple
V22 Dwelling Place for God
*Christ's Body Eph 5:23-27

Don't Blame the Church for the Actions of One Person or a Certain group of people
We should expect this:
-False Teaching 2 Peter 2:1
-Hypocrisy Gal 2: 12-13
-Favoritism Eph 6:9, James 2:1, 9
-Bad Attitudes 2 Tim 1:19-20; 3 Jn 1:9
>Remember: These things are not the fault of The Church (universal)
Don't Blame the Church for Teachings you don't like
>Adultery/Fornication
-Society's view is not in line with God's view Heb 13:4
-Divorce can lead to Adultery, w/one exception Mt 5:32; Lk 16:18
>Discipline
-Clear Bible Teachings Tit 3:10; 1 Cor 5; Mt 18:15; 1 Tim 1:20; 2 Thess 3:6
-Disagreement justified due to "Hard" Teachings & "Fake" Love
*anything realized as wrong in one's life, pointed out, according to God such as immodesty, gossip

If you have problems with people in the church:
1)Go to the person
2) Open the Bible with them
3) Humble Yourself - you could be WRONG!
4) Study with other older, wiser, godly people, who will be objective
5) Study privately with sincere prayer, asking for God's guidance and wisdom
We must make sure we are glorifying God in all we do.
We must be careful how we speak of "HIS CHURCH".
We don't want to damage it's reputation.