Does It Make Any Difference?

Part 2

Is the NT church identifiable?

Organizations ARE Different and Identifiable

• 1907-08 / Robt. Baden-Powell / England

Boy Scouts• 1863 / Gustave Moynier / Geneva, Switz.• 1881 / Clara Barton / Washington D.C.

International Red Cross

Churches are Different and Identifiable

Roman Catholic 606AD Rome Boniface III

Lutheran 1520 Germany Martin Luther

Episcopalian 1534 England`Henry VIII

Presbyterian 1536 Switzerland John Calvin

Congregational 1550 England R. Brown

Baptist 1607 Holland John Smythe

Methodist 1739 England John Wesley

LDS, Mormons 1830 America Joseph Smith

7th Day Advent. 1830 America Mary B.G.P. Eddy

Christian Science 1866 America Charles Taze

Russell

Jehovah’s Witt. 1872 America R. Allen

Ch. Of God, MO 1871 America S. Munford

Ch. Of God, IN 1880 America D.S. Warner

Matthew 16:16-18

16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” …

18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell  shall not prevail against it.

Peter’s confession was the foundation

Jesus was going to build His church/kingdom

Mark 9:1

And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not

taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”

The kingdom/church was coming w/power

It was coming in their lifetime

Acts 1:4, 5, 8

…he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise

of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with

water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,

Disciples told to wait in Jerusalem for promise

Were to be baptized with the Spirit/power

Acts 2:1-4

 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And

suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire

appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with

the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them

utterance.

Acts 2:33

Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit,

he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.

Peter confirmed that this was the promise of the Spirit

Fulfilling Promises and Prophecies

The kingdom/church was established in 33 AD, by Jesus Christ, in

Jerusalem

In 34 AD, how many churches

were there?

Ephesians 1:22-23

And he put all things under his feet and

gave him as head over all things to the the

church, church, 23 23 which is his bodywhich is his body, the

fullness of him who fills all in all.

Ephesians 4:4-6

4 There is one bodyThere is one body and one Spirit—just

as you were called to the one hope that

belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one

faith, one baptism, 6 one God and

Father of all, who is over all and

through all and in all.

Get Out Your Pencils For A Pop Quiz

• How many churches did Christ build?

• How many existed 20 years later?

• Is Christ’s church the same as all the others on the chart?

Churches are Different and Identifiable

Ch. Of Christ 33AD Jerusalem Jesus Christ

Roman Catholic 606AD Rome Boniface III

Lutheran 1520 Germany Martin Luther

Episcopalian 1534 England`Henry VIII

Presbyterian 1536 Switzerland John Calvin

Congregational 1550 England R. Brown

Baptist 1607 Holland John Smythe

Methodist 1739 England John Wesley

LDS, Mormons 1830 America Joseph Smith

7th Day Advent. 1830 America Mary B.G.P. Eddy

Christian Science 1866 America Charles Taze

Russell

Jehovah’s Witt. 1872 America R. Allen

Ch. Of God, MO 1871 America S. Munford

Ch. Of God, IN 1880 America D.S. Warner

Ephesians 4:3-6

…maintain the unityunity of the Spirit in the

bond of peace. 4 There is one body and

one Spirit—just as you were called to

the one hope that belongs to your call—

5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

6 one God and Father of all, who is over

all and through all and in all.Men declare UNION instead of UNITYMen declare UNION instead of UNITY

UNITY of the Spirit based on these UNITY of the Spirit based on these TruthsTruths

Organizations ARE Different and Identifiable

• We can choose, UNION or UNITY• We can choose, a DESIRE to be one

or the TRUTH of unity

Are you part of the New Testament church?