Podcasts about new testament church

Local New Testament Church Structure As It Relates to Missions | Acts 20:13-38 | 22 October 2025 - Wednesday Evening | Dr. Brad Weniger, Pastor

On the day of Pentecost, Jesus sent the promised Holy Spirit in a miraculous way, a great harvest took place, and the New Testament Church was born. The harvest of Pentecost is still happening to this day, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can take part in it today. Pastor David Horner preaches from Acts 2:1-13 in a message titled, "The Birth of the Church (Part 1)".

(This podcast was previously recorded and published on November 11, 2020)   Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ...   A woman in our church group was divorced and went to a pastor to see if she could remarry after divorce.    The pastor told her:  "My sister divorced and remarried.  I don't see anything wrong with that."   A few years ago, the Catholic pope made a televised statement that he didn't see anything wrong about homosexuals.   Neither of these men read the Bible.   So this divorced woman remarried.   A few years later this woman was born again and began reading the Bible.  When I met her and she told me this story, she was really angry at that pastor who told her she could remarry.  By the scriptures she saw she committed adultery when she remarried.   The vast majority of churches today present a freedom to sin by telling the divorced woman she can remarry after divorce.  They ignore what the Bible says and set up another doctrine.  They present to their church groups "another Jesus", another word.   There are several scriptures on this subject of divorce/remarriage and they all agree:   *****   I Corinthians 7:39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.   ***   Romans 7:1-3   1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?   2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.   3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.   This scripture is "inspired by God", as are all scriptures.   Paul wrote this to the New Testament Church as a "law of God" for the women.   Yet churches today explained this scripture away by saying we are not under the law in the church today.   This foolishness in handling scripture is despicable and damning to the church.  There are many "laws of God" in the New Testament Bible including this law in Romans 7.  If you eliminate this concerning the woman being under the law (rule) of her husband, you have to remove most of the New Testament Bible and even some of the Old Testament for God said:  Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.  (Gen. 3:19)   We are not under the Old Testament laws of God concerning sacrifice for sins for Jesus is our sacrifice for sins but that is not the same subject as remarriage after divorce.   Romans 7:1-3 is a valid rule for women in the New Testament church.  And when we consider the following scriptures on this subject, notice they agree with Romans 7.   ***   Paul said the following is the commandment for the Lord in the New Testament Church:   I Corinthians 7:10-11   And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.   ***   Mark 10:6-9  Jesus says:  But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.   11 And HE saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.   12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.   ***    Here is one of the most misused scriptures of all twisted teachings in today's church.   Matthew 5:32  Jesus says, in speaking to the men of the church:  But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.   * If a man divorces a "faithful wife", and that faithful wife remarries, she will commit adultery but her husband will be the cause of her adultery.   * The man who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.   But churches are twisting this scripture and teaching the following:  "If a husband is committing fornication, the wife can divorce that husband and remarry."   This is not correct:  The scripture says if the wife is faithful and her husband divorces her and she remarries she will commit adultery. But her husband will be the cause of her adultery upon her remarriage after divorce.  And the man who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.   ***   If the divorced woman remarries she commits adultery according to the Bible.   Matthew 19   3 The Pharisees also came unto HIM (to Jesus), tempting HIM, and saying unto HIM, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?   4 And HE (Jesus) answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,   5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?   6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.   Paul explains that at the time of sexual intercourse, the two become one flesh:  Even if a man has sex with a prostitute they become "one flesh".   I Corinthians 6:15-16  Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith HE, shall be one flesh.   ***   Matthew 19:7-9  They say unto HIM, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?   8 HE (Jesus) saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.   9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.   If the wife is unfaithful, the husband can divorce that unfaithful wife and remarry.   But the same is not true for the wife with an unfaithful husband because Paul said in I Corinthians 7:10-11, this is the commandment of the Lord for the woman in the New Testament church.  And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:  But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.   ***   So if you are a divorced woman, according to Bible, you are to remain unmarried or return to your husband.   If the woman's husband is dead, she is free to remarry but only in the Lord.   I Corinthians 7:39  The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.   ***   These scriptures are "freedom from sin" to those who follow these instructions.   A woman called me once wanting to discuss with me her mother's second marriage.   God said to me:  "Just focus on the scriptures and what they say."  

Apostle Tim discusses a prophetic vision of a huge wave destroying the “sandcastles” of the enemy, the sounds and frequencies of worldwide revival, the New Testament Church arising, and more! You can connect with Apostle Tim at www.oasiswired.org and www.timsheets.org For more information and to register for the 2026 Israel Tour visit https://elijahstreams.com/events/ Thank you for making the always-free Elijah List Ministries possible! Click here to learn how to partner with us: https://ElijahStreams.com/Donate Prefer to donate by mail? Make your check or money order (US Dollars) payable to: “ElijahStreams” and mail it to: ElijahStreams, 525 2nd Ave SW, Suite 629, Albany, OR 97321 USA

What if I told you that millions of Christians are about to be blindsided by prophecy? They're going to wake up one morning and realize they are living in the middle of Daniel's 70th week — and they won't even know it. The very events they were told would happen “later” will be unfolding right in front of them. And the tragedy is this: they'll be unprepared, unarmed, and unaware, because they were taught to expect an escape that Jesus Himself never promised.Today we're going to deal with one of the most dangerous doctrines in the Church: the Pre-Tribulation rapture. It's a doctrine that boasts about taking the Bible literally, but when it comes to the words of Jesus in John chapter 6, it turns His plain teaching into allegory. Four times Jesus said the resurrection of His people is on the last day. Four times! When something is mentioned once, it's important. But when the Son of God says it four times, to the New Testament Church, it cannot be ignored.

Michael Lodge, Speaking Pastor In this passage Jesus was conditioning the disciples heart to accomplish incredible future work in the New Testament Church. Jesus' call to generosity is the fuel that would make kingdom work possible. How can we find the heart of Jesus that compels us above the normal obligations of tithe that will allow us to go beyond where we have been in the kingdom work He has called us to? Click on the links below for additional Cascade Church resources. Connect Card: https://cascadechurch.org/connect Give Online: https://cascadechurch.org/give  

Sunday, September 28, 2025 - Matthew 23:23 | Does the Bible teach tithing? Is tithing required in the New Testament Church? This sermon purports to answer these questions.

Power Encounters occur when the manifest presence of God becomes tangible to the people of God. This often involves the work of one or more power gifts as defined by Paul in his letters and Luke in the book of Acts. Join us as we discuss what this looks like in the New Testament Church.

Send us a textDr. Randy Davis, Pastor of Zion Word Church USA and founder/overseer of Zion Word Ministries International USA brings a powerful message about the gifts of the Holy Spirit and callings of God.  A real New Testament Church allows the gifts of the Spirit to operate in the services.  If a church does not allow they are not a real New Testament Church. To hear more inspiring messages by Dr. Randy Davis visit and subscribe to:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@zwmiusaTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@zwmiusaRumble:  https://rumble.com/c/ZionWordMinistriesIntUSAPodcasts: https://www.buzzsprout.com/40604Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zion_word/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zionwordministriesint

Sunday evening message from the pulpit of Falls Baptist Church

1 Thessalonians 2:1-4

1 Thessalonians 2:1-4

What if the New Testament you've been reading your whole life has been on shuffle mode?Bestselling author Frank Viola joins the Men's Alliance podcast to unpack his groundbreaking new book "The Untold Story of the New Testament Church". From the shockwaves of Pagan Christianity to his latest work endorsed by top scholars like Craig Keener, Frank reveals the historical and chronological truths that radically change how we understand the Bible.

Send us a textThis time we're talking about contemplation and the contemplative life. What is it and why do we think it's only for monks and hermits?Support the show If you have any questions about the subjects covered in today's episode you can find us on Facebook at the links below or you can shoot me an email at joe@buddywalkwithjesus.com One Stop Shop for all the links Linktr.ee/happydeamedia

By Lud Kiramidjian Jr - Speaker: Lud Kiramidjian Date: 8/16/25 This message begins with a brief description of the apostle Paul's spectacular calling, conversion, and commission during the early New Testament Church. It then highlights his unwavering resolve to fulfil the commission Christ gave him to do during the first

Send us a textThis time we're talking about what it means to find God in the Everything!Support the show If you have any questions about the subjects covered in today's episode you can find us on Facebook at the links below or you can shoot me an email at joe@buddywalkwithjesus.com One Stop Shop for all the links Linktr.ee/happydeamedia

Opposition couldn't stop the New Testament Church. Persecution just made them stronger.

Sunday, August 3, 2025 - Genesis 15-22 | God confirms His covenant with Abraham and subsequently tests Abraham. In being tested, Abraham becomes the standard of faith that carries into the New Testament Church. 

The New Testament Church didn't have a building to meet in so they met in public spaces where everything they did was visible to the world. Non believers were attracted to what they saw in the lives of the believers and wanted to join the family of God.

Few subjects in modern Christianity are as misunderstood—or as misrepresented—as the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the phenomenon of speaking in tongues. These are not just theological curiosities; they are central to the identity and power of the New Testament Church. Yet, in many circles today, people claim to have the Spirit when they do not possess it. As a result, the Church has steadily lost its grasp of what it truly means to receive the genuine Holy Ghost.

Message from Pastor Lynn on July 6, 2025

Last week Brian and Louise Hogan, trainers to church planters and former missionaries to Mongolia, shared about their efforts to plant a church in Mongolia—and the high cost they paid for serving there when their infant son died. This week, listen as they unwrap some of the principles they learned in that process, lessons they are now teaching to pastors and church leaders around the world, including hostile areas and restricted nations where VOM works. Brian, the author of There's a Sheep in My Bathtub and An A-Z of Near-Death Adventures, says that many in Western churches want to “buy a box” and follow a checklist for church planting, skipping the difficult process of seeking the Holy Spirit's wisdom and guidance. He challenges church planters to empty themselves of their own culture and learn the people and culture of where they are church planting, while always keeping in step with the New Testament. “If we don't see it in the New Testament,” Brian says, “then we're not going to institute it on the nations.” Brian and Louise also share how generous and missions-minded the church in Mongolia is. They ask, “What can we do to obey Jesus?” As Brian & Louise train Mongolian missionaries to go out to the nations, these radical church planters know that the core of missions is the church. They are not willing that anyone should be unreached. A nation that once sent out violent conquerors is now sending missionaries committed to conquering hearts with the Prince of Peace. Please pray for Mongolian Christians, and for church planters throughout the world as they work and sacrifice to bring every tribe, tongue, and nation into fellowship with Christ. Listen also for a special testimony from a former prisoner for Christ in Uzbekistan, Dmitry “David” Shestakov. Hear the difference it made when Christians around the world wrote letters to him in prison, then go and write letters to Christians in prison right now at PrisonerAlert.com. You can also hear Shestakov share his story in this episode of VOM Radio. The VOM App for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily for persecuted Christians throughout the year, as well as providing free access to e-books, audiobooks, video content and feature films. Download the VOM App for your iOS or Android device today.

Rich and Doug discuss the scriptures view of the New Testament Church and its relation to Israel in this epic podcast.    What do you think about the episode?  Comment below or email us: http://waw.fm/hello

A lot of Christians are surprised you tell them that what we call the beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount listed in Matthew 5 were not written to the New Testament Church found in the body of Christ. Far from it, the Sermon on the Mount is Jesus telling the Jews about what life will be like in the Millennium when He returns as King to sit on the throne of David and rule over the whole Earth for a thousand years. But even though it was not written to us as doctrine, there is a boatload of doctrinal dynamite contained in these 9 beatitudes given by the Lord, and we would do well to rightly divide and understand them. "And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:1-3 (KJB)The Sermon on the Mount and the 9 beatitudes, or blessings, contained therein are actually the foundational pillars that comprise the 'Constitution of the Kingdom of Heaven' that Jesus will rule and reign over. The blessings mentioned in the Sermon on the Mount constitute what life will be like during that time period, it is a constitution of that kingdom as prophesied in the Old Testament. It is not doctrine for Church Age believers, but a wonderful promise of what is to come when King Jesus is ruling in perfect righteousness.

The New Testament Church Part 5

The New Testament Church Part 4

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The New Testament Church was vested in each other, dedicated to taking care of each other through the ups and downs of life. 

Don't forget to download our app for more from the Riverview Baptist Church. http://onelink.to/rbcapp Find more at https://riverviewbc.com/ Donate through Pushpay https://pushpay.com/pay/riverviewbc

The New Testament Church Part 3

We continue our message series about the beginning of the New Testament Church in Acts 2:44-47, with a conversation about the priority of togetherness. 

We are celebrating Pentecost Sunday, the 50th day after Jesus Christ's resurrection, in an acknowledgment that God is XPANDING and shifting us with fresh empowerment for all that He has for us. When the fire from heaven is present, we are immersed beyond ourselves, and we become one with heaven, while we are still here on earth. Worship connects us to God, and floods us with God Himself! The New Testament Church that was birthed on the Day of Pentecost will continue to pour out our love to Him until the day of His return! He will give us what we need to be His witnesses!

The New Testament Church - Part 2

 When did the Catholic Church start structurally separating from the New Testament Church?  What are the major differences that are worth dividing over? How can we initiate meaningful gospel conversations with Catholics?

In this episode, Dr. Joseph Mattera unpacks the true focus of the New Testament Church and brings clarity to often-confused terms like revival, awakening, and reformation. While many pursue emotional experiences or temporary movements, the early church modeled something far more enduring—kingdom transformation rooted in apostolic vision, disciple-making, and cultural influence. Tune in to learn the distinctions between revival, awakening, and reformation—and why the Church must shift its focus from moments of excitement to movements of lasting change.

Julian and Germ discuss tithing, offering and giving. A conversation on whether tithing is required for the New Testament Church. Also an explanation of the different types of tithes......#tithing #NewTestamentChurch #BiblicalTithing #ChristianGiving #ChurchTithing #Tithe #NewTestamentTeachings  #ChristianStewardship #GivingToTheChurch #BiblicalGiving #TithingInTheBible #StewardshipInTheChurch #NewTestamentGiving #ChurchGiving #AsGodHasPospered #Isrealites #land #poor #crops #money #cheerfulgiver #offering #faith #jesus #donation #gospel #cult #religion #prosperity

Many people have called Pentecost the birthday of the New Testament Church. It has also been called a lot of other things down through the years. It has been called a harvest festival. It’s been called a celebration of the resurrection. It’s a celebration of the Holy Spirit. It’s been called the Feast of Weeks, the Feast of Firstfruits, and the name we generally use—the Feast of Pentecost, itself a curious little Greek word signifying that it is the fiftieth day. In the very beginning, though, Pentecost was a harvest festival. Let’s begin with the very earliest reference to the feast, found in the 23rd chapter of Exodus.Hello everyone and welcome to the Christian Educational Ministries Weekend Bible Study. It is good to be with you and we thank you for being there and allowing us to make this weekly service possible.Over the past few weeks, we’ve followed Ron Dart in taking a closer look at the Passover, the resurrection of Christ, and the beginning of the countdown to the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost. As we find commanded in Leviticus 23:From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks. Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain…a wave offering of firstfruits to the Lord.Leviticus 23:15–17 NIVThis weekend concludes the sixth of those seven weeks, so tonight we’ll join Mr. Dart in examining this time of year and its accompanying harvest—both of grain and of men.

Series: N/AService: SundayType: SermonSpeaker: E.R. Hall, Jr.

Series: N/AService: SundayType: SermonSpeaker: E.R. Hall, Jr.

In this episode, we explore the spiritual landscape of the early church and its approach to demons, darkness, and deliverance. While Jesus's ministry was marked by frequent and visible power encounters with demonic forces, the New Testament Church took a noticeably different approach—rooted in truth, identity, and bold obedience.We'll examine how Jesus's authority shaped the early church's understanding of spiritual warfare, why the apostles didn't obsess over the demonic, and what they focused on instead. We'll also confront the modern church's tendency to over-spiritualize hardship and ask: Are we responding like the early church did—with prayer, boldness, and clarity of mission?Whether you're navigating spiritual pressure, teaching on spiritual warfare, or simply looking to root your theology in New Testament truth, this conversation will bring balance, depth, and direction.

The book of Acts narrates the birth and early history of the church. But this history is presented piecemeal and doesn't include all the drama that the individual churches went through. The Epistles give us one part of the “phone conversation” but plenty is left out. What would it look like to fill in the missing information? In this episode, the guys interview Frank Viola who has just produced a work that attempts to bring out some of these missing details. Check out their discussion about “The Untold Story of the New Testament Church.” https://www.amazon.com/Untold-Testament-Church-Revised-Expanded/dp/0768461626

In this episode we interview Frank Viola about his new book The Untold Story of the New Testament Church (Revised and Expanded). Bio:Frank is a bestselling author, speaker, podcaster, and blogger. He helps serious followers of Jesus know their Lord more deeply so they can experience real transformation and make a lasting impact. His blog – frankviola.org – is regularly ranked in the top 5 of all Christian blogs on the Web and his podcast – Christ is All – has ranked #1 in Canada and #2 in the USA on Apple Podcasts. He and his conversation partners also host The Insurgence Podcast.About the Book:Experience the New Testament Like Never BeforeOne famous scholar said that reading the New Testament letters is like hearing one end of a phone conversation. The Untold Story of the New Testament Church (Revised and Expanded) reconstructs the other end so you can understand virtually every word.Seamlessly weaving the narrative of Acts with the Epistles, you'll discover a coherent story enriched by intriguing details of first-century life. This unique and innovative presentation of the New Testament unlocks its epic story in a way that will leave you breathless and equipped to understand the Bible like never before.Though it's non-fiction, this masterpiece reads like a cinematic experience that will captivate your heart by putting you in the center of the drama. Drawing on the best of contemporary scholarship, Frank Viola includes background information about the people, cities, and places that are mentioned throughout the New Testament, all in an engaging narrative.As you dive into this riveting volume, you will:Gain an intimate glimpse into the lives of apostles Peter, James, John, Paul, and their colleagues.Uncover the events that inspired each New Testament letter, shedding new light on every line from Romans to Revelation.Meet the key figures who shaped the world, like Priscilla, Apollos, Lydia, Luke, John Mark, Phoebe, Aristarchus, and Epaphras.Witness the dynamic tumult of first-century churches, individuals, and events as they unfold vividly before you.Prepare to be ushered into the living, breathing atmosphere of the first century so you can uncover the hidden riches contained in God's Word.Buy the Book: https://a.co/d/cgKpHh6Book Website: www.theuntoldstory.net

(1 Timothy 3:15) The church is not called to do everything—it is commanded to do one thing! His purpose must become ours! Every member must find their place in the wonderful work of God in this world. (0967250317) ----more----   The Mission of the Church We've taken a good bit of time to look at what the Bible says about the church, and here's why. Because this is what God is doing in this world right now. This is present tense. This is where we're living. This is not theory, this is practice. What is God doing in this world through the local New Testament church? And what are we to be doing? What's our mission? Let's begin with one verse today, 1 Timothy 3:15 Paul writes, "But if I tarry long that thou may know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the Church of the Living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." Understanding Our Role in the Church We find something here that's true of the institution, of the church and something that's true for the individual in the church. The truth for the institution is this. We have one mission and that mission as the Church of the Living God, is to be the pillar and ground of the truth, literally to uphold the truth, to lift up the truth in love. We've been given a body of doctrine. And it's our mission, not just to hold it. Did you hear the words, the pillar and ground of the truth? What's the pillar and ground do? That's the foundation. And then the pillars hold it up. It's not just our responsibility to hold the truth, it's our responsibility to uphold the truth. It, in other words, to show it to others, to share it with those around us, to lift it up in the midst of a world that is filled with error. That's the church's mission. Now individually, what's my part in that? The Bible says that we're to know how we're to behave ourself in the house of God. In other words, we're to find our place in that work. We're to find our mission in God's mission. The New Testament Church exists to accomplish Christ's purpose in this world, not our purpose. So when you identify the Lord's mission, you've identified the local church's mission, you've identified your own mission.  The Church's Mission: Unlike Any Other  Churches have not been called on to do everything in this world. Today churches are trying to offer services and programs for every possible need. But could I remind you, the church has been given a mission that no other organization on Earth can fulfill. Ours is eternal work. Ours is not simply to make this world a better place from which to go to hell. Ours is a mission to keep people out of hell. Do you remember when we began our study of what the Bible says about the church? Jesus said of the church, the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. We're to be on the offense. We're to be advancing against the gates of hell we're to be pulling people out of the fire. In the words of Jude we're to be rescuing the perishing. That was Fannie Crosby's famous hymn, rescue the perishing care for the dying. Snatch them in pity from sin in the grave. Our mission is to advance the cause of Jesus Christ in this world and to bring people to the Lord Jesus Christ. Our mission is Christ's mission.  The Church & the Great Commission In Matthew chapter 28, the Lord Jesus gave what is commonly referred to as the Great Commission. Some people have have said that the Great Commission has become the great omission. How true it is that the one thing God left us to do is the one thing we're most failing to do. Listen to the words of Jesus in Matthew 28:18, "All power is given unto me, in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the son and of the Holy Ghost teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you all way, even under the end of the world. Amen." I love this. The same one who founded the church is still with us. The same one that was with that first primitive church. Those first disciples that were the called out assembly is with us now and He is with us. Not so we can simply sit in a building and enjoy a good message, not so we can simply sit around in fellowship and talk to one another and think about how great it is. We're not going to hell, but to carry out his work in this world.  Active Faith and Influence It was Hudson Taylor, the founder of the China Inland Mission that famously said, God is always advancing. I wonder if God's always advancing, are we? Because if we're in step with God, that must mean we're supposed to be on the move, not passive. But active, not simply sitting around waiting on Jesus to come. That was the error of the church at Thessalonica at one point. They thought they'll just sit around and wait on the Lord to show up. When Jesus said, occupy till I come, he did not mean occupy church pew. He meant be busy. Be busy about the Lord's business, the work of the Lord and the tool that we use in this world. Is influence. It's not force. You can't make people believe on Christ. You we're not twisting people's arms to become Christians. Rather, we are giving the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit. That's the work that every church is to be busy with, and that means that's the work every member of the local church is to be busy with. This is how we're to behave ourselves. In the House of God, the Church of the Living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. Personal and Practical Application of the Church's Mission So let's get real, personal and practical today. Are you doing that? What are you doing in and through your local assembly to get the gospel to your community? To reach the lost in your area? To advance the cause of the gospel around the world? That is the mission of every local New Testament church and not simply to belong and not simply to believe. But then to be busy getting the Gospel to other people. In the end, the objective is one thing.  Glorifying God Through the Church It's the glory of God. The church's duty is to carry on the work of Christ, to represent the one true and living God, so that one thing will happen. He will get the glory. And my pastor used to say that the measure of any church. Is one thing. It is its likeness to Jesus Christ. Why did Jesus come to glorify the Father to reveal God again? The measure of any church is not its buildings or its budgets. It's not its programs or the personality of the preacher. The measure of any church is one thing. Is it bringing glory and honor to the Lord Jesus Christ? Is it lifting up the truth in love? Is it pointing people to God? God's mission for the church is that we bring him glory. That's true now, and that's true for all eternity. In Ephesians 3:20, we read these words now, "Unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us." Listen to verse 21, "Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." I hope you'll lend your amen to that unto him. Be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Are you bringing Him glory today? Is your church bringing him glory? If we're not advancing his name, if we're not advancing his calls, if we're not advancing his gospel, then we are not bringing him glory. What do you think we're gonna do? For all eternity? For all eternity, we're gonna bring in glory.  Eternal Glory and Worship In fact, that's how the New Testament ends. In Revelation chapter four, we're given this little snapshot around the throne of the church, and the Bible says in Revelation 4:10, "The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne and worship him that liveth forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne saying, Thou it worthy, oh Lord, to receive glory and honor and power. For thou has created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created." He repeats it in Revelation 5:11, "And the voice of many angels round the throne and the beast and the elders. And the number of them was 10,000 times 10,000 and thousands of thousands." And what are they saying with a loud voice? "Worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing." Friend, that's gonna be a church meeting like you've never been in before. But until we get to that day, we're to be bringing him glory now in every meeting and through every ministry that God has given us. Pray for Your Church Would you pray today for your church? Pray for your pastor. Pray for the deacons, pray for fellow members. Pray for the lost in your area to be saved and pray that you personally will do your part to bring in glory and to get the gospel to others because that my friends, that's what God says in his word. That's what the Bible says about the church.   Outro and Resources Repeating what other people have said about the Bible is not enough. We must know the biblical reason behind what we believe. We hope you will visit us at etj.bible to access our library of Bible teaching resources, including book-by-book studies of scripture. You'll also find studies to watch, listen to, or read. We are so grateful for those who pray for us, who share the biblical content and for those who invest to help us advance this ministry worldwide. Again, thank you for listening, and we hope you'll join us next time on enjoying the Journey.

(1 Corinthians 14:40) The basic structure of the New Testament church is determined by only one person—the Founder of the church, Jesus Christ! God is a God of order and He has plainly left us the order He desires. The measure of any church is its obedience to Christ. (0963250312) ----more----   The Meaning of the Word "Church" Words matter. So why did the Lord Jesus Christ choose the word church to represent his people in this world? The word church itself literally means a called out assembly. Now there's two wonderful parts to that. First, we've been called out, are you glad you've been called out? Peter writes in 1 Peter 2:9 and says that we've been called out of darkness into his marvelous light. I love that. The Lord Jesus when he first came, called his disciples that they should be with him. So we're part of that.  Called Out Assembly: Unity and Gathering We've been called out, but then it's a called out assembly. It presupposes the idea that we're not just supposed to belong, we're to be together. That we would meet, that we would gather, that we would stay connected to one another. A called out assembly. Now, while every person on Earth that has put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal savior belongs to the Lord, that entire group has never met together at one time, no matter how big the meeting may be. And it never will meet together at one time until we all get to glory someday. Won't that be a wonderful assembly? What a day that's gonna be. You've never been in a meeting, like the meeting around. The throne of God at the nail pierced feet of Jesus. That's gonna be a great day.  Local New Testament Churches But my point is this, the overwhelming emphasis in the New Testament regarding the New Testament Church is that the New Testament Church is a local assembly. It's a local group of baptized believers who voluntarily joined themselves together to carry out the great commission. It is, if we might say it this way, a visible manifestation of the body of Christ in every place. For example, acts chapter eight, verse number one. This goes to really the heart of the church and the early stages of the church. Acts chapter eight, verse one says, "And Saul was consenting unto his death." That was the death of Stephen, the first martyr of the church. And the Bible says, and at that time there was a great persecution against the church, which was at Jerusalem. There was a visible group of believers. Assembling together at Jerusalem. If you go over a few pages to Acts chapter 13, verse one. "Now there were in the church that was at Antioch." You hear that it's a reference to the geographical location of each assembly? We could go through the letters of the Apostle Paul, you'd find it again and again. Galatians chapter one, verse number two, one Thessalonians chapter one, verse number one. How about this one? Philippians 1:1, "Paul and Otus, the servants of Jesus Christ to all the saints in Christ Jesus, which are at Philippi with the bishops and deacons." So our spiritual place is in Christ Jesus. We're seated with him in heavenly places. Praise God for that. But physically speaking, geographically circumstantially, we are at Philippi. At Thessalonica in Galacia or wherever your local assembly meets today. So we're dealing with local New Testament churches. Isn't that a simple principle?  The Simplicity of God's Church Structure And a part of this simplicity, it's wonderful, is to see the simple structure of God's amazing work when the Lord Jesus founded his church. He established it in such a way that there was a simplicity to it. There was a simple structure. Let me give you a few thoughts today.  Two Ordinances: Baptism and the Lord's Supper First of all he established two ordinances. That's wonderful. What are the two things he ordered that we do? They are baptism and the Lord's Supper. Matthew chapter 28, before he left the disciples, he told them to go into all the world to teach and then to baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. So He ordered that we would baptize new believers and that baptism would identify those people with Christ and with His church in this world. You've gotta have several things, right? To have the right baptism, you gotta have the right authority. That's the local church. You have to have a right candidate. That's a saved person. They have to believe on Christ first. You have to have the right mode. That's immersion. That's what the word baptism means. It literally means to dip, immerse, or plunge, and so that's God's way. And then you have to have the right method, which is to baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, because that's the way Christ said to do it. He ordered baptism. The second ordinance that he left the church was. What we refer to as the Lord's Supper or the memorial supper. Paul really expounds on this in one Corinthians chapter 11 and it's powerful, all the teaching that is there, but it was established with Christ and his disciples. At that last Passover. He instituted a new supper. It was the first memorial supper on his way to the cross. He said, "I want you to do this in remembrance of me. This bread will represent my body. This fruit of the vine will represent my blood, which was shed for you." It's symbolic and so it's beautiful that the two things Christ ordered that every local church do, baptism and the Lord's Supper both point us to Jesus. Isn't that great? Everything points us not to an institution, but to an individual. It brings us to Christ. It's a reminder that the church's simple mission in this world is to point people to the Lord Jesus Christ. To show his death, to show the resurrection power, to show the fact that he is alive and is coming again. That's what the two ordinances are all about.  Two Offices: Bishops and Deacons Then He not only gave two ordinances, He gave two offices. I just read a moment ago, Philippians chapter one, verse number one with the bishops and deacons, right? There we go. That's the two offices. The bishop, that's the pastor. He has several titles or names ascribed to him in the New Testament. He's referred to as a pastor. That's a shepherd of a flock he's referred to here as a bishop. That word means to oversee, that emphasizes his function. He's also referred to in the New Testament as an elder that emphasizes his office or his place within the body. And so God gives to a local church a pastor, someone to help guide the flock. He is the Lord's under shepherd. There's only one good shepherd, but he's the under shepherd. And he's helping to guide the flock and feed the flock under the Lord Jesus Christ. And then alongside those bishops or pastors God calls or commands rather, that the church would call out deacons. I say it that way because I believe pastors are called to the Lord, deacons or chosen by the church. And so while there may be one pastor of a local assembly, there are many deacons because the word deacon literally means servants. These are people who've come alongside to serve. They started in Acts chapter number six where the apostles had so much to do with the ministry of the word and prayer that the widows were being neglected. So someone had to care for these things. And I just wanna pause and say, praise God for faithful deacons. And their place in the local assembly is just what the title means. It is to serve. It is to serve the Lord, to serve the pastor, to serve the congregation, to be a blessing and help. So there are two ordinances. There are two offices, and what do these tell us about the Lord?  God's Order in the Church They tell us that our God is a God of order. And by the way, we make things so everlasting complicated, don't we? That's what sin does. That's what sinners do. But listen to this principle in one Corinthians chapter 14 and verse number 40, it's powerful. The Bible says, "Let all things be done decently and in order." May I tell you that God is a God of order that's revealed in the Bible from the very beginning of creation, and certainly that's true in his church order is more than organization. It's fulfilling God's purpose. Organization can be of man. Really the only way to organize an organism is to dissect it and that kills it. So it's not mere organization we're after. No. The New Testament church must follow the divine order. God's simple plan for his local New Testament church. And if we'd follow the simple structure of God's amazing work friend, we'd see God work because then we're doing God's work God's way. May the Lord help all of us to help our churches. Because ever become everything that Christ founded them to be.  Outro and Resources Repeating what other people have said about the Bible is not enough. We must know the biblical reason behind what we believe. We hope you will visit us at etj.bible to access our Library of Bible teaching resources, including book-by-book studies of Scripture. You'll also find studies to watch, listen to, or read. We are so grateful for those who pray for us, who share the biblical content, and for those who invest to help us advance this ministry worldwide. Again, thank you for listening and we hope you'll join us next time on enjoying the Journey.

(Matthew 16:16-19) What is the church? Where did it come from? Why is it so important? Today we begin to look at the church that Jesus started. (0961250310) ----more----   The Church: God's Family When a person receives the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal savior, immediately they become a part of the family of God. It is the greatest family on earth. And as soon as possible, that new believer should then unite with a local body of believers, a local assembly of believers who can study the word of God together, fellowship together, encourage one another, and work together to get the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ to other people. This is the importance of the local New Testament church.  The Importance of the Local Church Now, what does the Bible say about the church? We have recently been studying what the Bible says about salvation, and I think it's a very natural progression now to move to the church because the Lord didn't just save you from something. He saved you for something. He saved you for himself. He wants you to be a part of what he is doing in this world, and that is being done through the local New Testament Church.  Jesus' Teachings on the Church The Lord Jesus testified to his own disciples about the church and its work in Matthew chapter 16 in verse number 17. "And Jesus answered and said unto Peter, Blessed Art thou Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood, if not revealed it unto thee, but my father, which is in heaven." He's referencing of course, Peter's confession of faith, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. And he said, that's come by revelation. God's revealed the truth to you. You've responded to that truth, by the way. That's how everybody gets saved. But then notice how he moves from salvation to the work of the church. He says in verse 18, "And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter. And upon this rock, I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever thou shall loose on earth shall be loose." In heaven. Heaven's work is being done on earth through the local New Testament church. So when people say to me I'm a Christian, but I'm just not into church. I always am puzzled by that. Either they're openly disobeying what the scripture says, or they're just ignorant of what the scripture says. And because you cannot divide Christ and his church, the Lord Jesus is the head, the church is the body. So to say you love the head but have nothing to do with the body sounds very abnormal to me. The Lord Jesus intended that his disciples from the very beginning would be connected to what he is doing in this world, and this is powerful. He doesn't call it your church. He calls it my church. You might say, this is my church, but in fact. The church belongs to the Lord. It is his church. It is the Church of the Living God. God's Three Institutions Now, God established three basic institutions that are all represented for us in scripture. First of all he established the home that was the first institution ordained by God. You find it all the way back in the Book of Genesis. It is the basic unit of civilized society. It's my conviction. That's why the devil has done everything he can to try to disrupt the home, because when you break down the family, immediately society civilization begins to crumble. So it begins with a home. Then he establishes civil government. Now why was that second? Why was that necessary? That grew out of the fall of man. Fallen men lash out at other fallen men we're living in a fallen world cursed by sin. And so God had to establish definite laws and a government to oversee that. Otherwise people would just kill each other. Every man doing that, which is right in his own eyes. So he establishes civil government. And I'll remind you that though you may not always like the government. It is right for us to respect government and pray for those in authority over us. The Bible says there is no power but of God. The powers that be are ordained of God. But the third institution established by our God is the local New Testament church. And you find it in the New Testament. The church is not revealed in the Old Testament saints. They didn't understand all about the New Testament church. In fact, it's referred to in scripture as a mystery until you come to the New Testament. It was a sacred secret that would, was revealed by God in his own time. So the church was hidden to Old Testament Saints. I'd be quick to say this too. The church is not the same as Israel. God as a definite plan and purpose in this world and in the future for the nation of Israel, we should pray for the peace of Jerusalem. We should pray that our own country continues to be peaceable towards Jerusalem, because God is not through with His chosen nation, but Israel and the church are not the same thing. The church is something that is revealed first by Jesus Christ. In Matthew chapter 16, listen to the verse again. Matthew 16 verse 18. "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my church. And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." The Foundation of the Church What do we learn about the church in this first mention of the church? We learned something about the foundation of the church. He said, I'm gonna build my church upon a certain rock. Some people have mistakenly thought that rock was referenced to Peter. Let me just be quick to say that there's not a man on earth that can be the foundation of God's perfect work in this world. The only foundation is the Lord Jesus. Remember what Paul would later write. Other foundation can no man lay then that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. When the Lord Jesus said, upon this rock, I will build my church. The rock was not Peter. The rock was Peter's confession of faith. If you back up two verses, listen to Peter. He says it with his own lips. Thou the Christ, the son of the living God. A friend. The church is not about you and me. The church is all about Christ. In our American Christianity modern church, a church has become so much about people getting their felt needs met or their social needs met. But friend, if you wanna go back to the very beginning principle of the New Testament church. It is built upon the person of Jesus Christ. He's the rock. So the foundation of the church is Jesus Christ, who's the builder of that building, that spiritual church. The Bible says, Jesus said, I will build my church. He didn't say he would build your church. He didn't say he wanted you to build his church. He said he would build his own church. So watch this. He's the foundation. He is the builder. And he's the head when all is said and done. He's the capstone. He is. He is the chief cornerstone. Listen to the words again, upon this rock, I will build my church. The church does not belong to us. The church belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ, and we have the glorious privilege of getting in on it, being a part of what God is doing in this world. Isn't it amazing that the greatest organization in your town is not an organization at all? It is actually a living organism. It is a living, breathing, functioning body. It's called the local New Testament Church. And I'm gonna tell you, there's not a civic group. There's not a corporate group, there's not a ball team or a club or a social society on earth that can compare to the Church of the Living God. It is wonderful because it's connected to Christ. The Power and Mission of the Church Listen to the power of this church. He said The gates of hell shall not prevail against it. That presupposes that the church is advancing, that we're going against the gates of hell to rescue sinners out of the fire to bring them to the knowledge of Christ. It's time the church stopped playing defense and get back on the offense. It's time that the Church of the Living God stopped being passive and instead said, it is our business and our duty. I. To do the Lord's work in this world and friend, when we begin to do God's work God's way, let me tell you what Jesus will do. No, let me, let the Lord Jesus speak for himself. Jesus said, I will build my church. I want you just to pause today and thank God for the church. Thank the Lord for the church. He's allowed you to be a part of. And ask the Lord to show you how you can do the work he wants done in and through your local New Testament church. It truly is the greatest work going on in this world. Repeating what other people have said about the Bible is not enough. Outro and Resources We must know the biblical reason behind what we believe. We hope you will visit us at etj.bible to access our Library of Bible teaching resources, including book-by-book studies of scripture. You'll also find studies to watch, listen to, or read. We are so grateful for those who pray for us, who share the biblical content and for those who invest to help us advance this ministry worldwide. Again, thank you for listening, and we hope you'll join us next time on enjoying the Journey.

The Presbyterian Church has a long history rooted in the Protestant Reformation, but what exactly sets Presbyterianism apart from other Christian traditions?Pastor Jeff Cranston sits down with Reverend Bill McCutchen, lead pastor at Hilton Head Presbyterian Church, to explore the key aspects of Presbyterian theology. If you haven't seen part 1 of this conversation, feel free to go back and listen.Here's What We Discussed00:55 - Infant BaptismMany Christian denominations, including Presbyterians, practice infant baptism—but why? The practice is rooted in covenant theology, where God's promises extend to believers and their children. They also baptize older children, teenagers, and adults who come to faith later in life. 03:24 - Covenant Theology and BaptismWhat does it mean to be part of God's covenant? God's promises have always been generational, from Abraham to the New Testament Church. He highlights Peter's sermon at Pentecost, where he says, “The promise is for you and your children” (Acts 2:39). 06:03 - Sprinkling vs. ImmersionPresbyterians typically use sprinkling or pouring. Rev. McCutchen explains that the Old Testament frequently refers to ritual cleansing through sprinkling (Ezekiel 36:25). The Greek word for baptism (baptizo) can mean to immerse, but also to wash or cleanse. While immersion symbolizes death and resurrection, sprinkling and pouring emphasize the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:17). 10:18 - Church Governance in PresbyterianismUnlike some churches that are led by a single pastor or bishop, Presbyterian churches follow a plurality of elders model. McCutchen explains the difference between Teaching Elders and Ruling Elders. As far as allowing women pastors it depends on the denomination. The Presbyterian Church in America holds to a complementarian view; women can serve in many leadership roles but not as ordained pastors or elders. 15:04 - The Core of Reformed Theology: TULIPReformed theology is summarized by the acronym TULIP:Total DepravityUnconditional ElectionLimited Atonement Irresistible Grace Perseverance of the Saints These doctrines were developed in response to Arminian theology and remain foundational to Presbyterian beliefs today.20:14 - Closing ThoughtsReverend McCutchen and Pastor Jeff reflect on the importance of unity in Christ, despite denominational differences. Visit Hilton Head Presbyterian Church: https://www.hiltonheadpca.com/leadership Join the ConversationWe love your feedback! If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review. If you have any questions or comments on today's episode, email me at pastorjeff@lowcountrycc.orgVisit my website https://www.jeffcranston.com and subscribe to my newsletter. Join me on Sunday mornings at LowCountry Community Church. Check-in with us on Facebook or Instagram @pastorjeffcranstonRemember, the real power of theology is not only knowing it but applying it. Thanks for listening!