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God has always wanted his people to be distinctive

Explore the importance of maintaining a distinctive identity in the gospel, church, and people. Highlight contrast with worldly ideals and emphasize the unique messages, body, speech, salvation plan, and worship.

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God has always wanted his people to be distinctive

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  1. God has always wanted his people to be distinctive • Deut. 7 – A Separate People • v. 2 – make no covenant • v. 3 – do not marry • v. 4 – danger of intermingling • v. 6 – holy people, chosen for Himself, a special treasure • Deut 14: 2 – Holy People – Special Treasure • 1 Pet. 2:9 – Chosen Generation – Royal Priesthood – Holy Nation – Own Special People

  2. Man Has A Desire To Be Like Rest of the World 1 Sam. 8:5– “Now make for us a king to judge us like all the nations” Rom. 12:2– “And do not be conformed to this world…”

  3. The Church is Losing Its Identity Progressives / Liberal • Some are not using instrument (Nashville – Murfreesboro) • Some now have women taking leading roles (Birmingham) • Lipscomb University – had a speaker who endorses instrument in worship • Abilene (ACU) had a speaker who defended homosexuality

  4. The Church is Losing Its Identity Non-Institutional Progressives / Liberal • Some removing “Church of Christ” from the sign • House church (some using instrument – some deny baptism essential) • Joint services with denominations • Unity in diversity – fellowship doc. error • Live like world (dress, talk, things see, etc)

  5. A Distinctive People

  6. A Distinctive People The Gospel is a Distinctive Message

  7. The Truth is Contrasted to Error • 1 John 4:1, 6 • 2 Thess. 2:10-12 • 2 Tim. 4:2-5 • 2 Pet. 2:1-2 The Gospel is a Distinctive Message

  8. The Truth is Contrasted to Error • Message Proclaimed – Gospel Truth • 2 Tim. 4 :2 – Preach word! • 1 Pet. 4:11 – Speak as oracles of God • To do so – give book, chapter & verse The Gospel is a Distinctive Message

  9. The Truth is Contrasted to Error • Message Proclaimed – Gospel Truth • This is a Distinctive Message • Filled with Scripture – not ideas of men • Will show difference in truth & error • Contain a message – will not hear from others: • What to do to be saved • Nature of the church • Bible authority • Pattern for worship • The one way (Eph. 4) • What is wrong with errors of men • Demonstrate that people are lost (Acts 2:23) The Gospel is a Distinctive Message

  10. A Distinctive People The Gospel is a Distinctive Message The Church is a Distinctive Body

  11. There is Just One Body • 1 Cor. 12:13 • Eph. 4:4 “There is one body” (Eph. 4:4) Body = Church (Eph. 1:22-23) Thus: One Church The Church is a Distinctive Body

  12. There is Just One Body The Church is not Just Another Denomination The Church is a Distinctive Body

  13. Denominationalism God’s People (The Saved) Adventist Presb. Catholic Nazarene Ch. Of Christ Ch. Of God Methodist Baptist

  14. There is Just One Body • The Church is not Just Another Denomination • Not found in the Bible (1 Pet. 4:11) • Contrary to plea for unity (John 17:20-21; 1 Cor. 1:10) • It makes a difference what one believes (2 Thess. 2:10-12) • Contrary to the idea of one body (Eph. 4:4) The Church is a Distinctive Body

  15. There is Just One Body • The Church is not Just Another Denomination • The Church is the Saved • Acts 2:47 • Eph. 5:23 • Eph. 2:16 The Church is a Distinctive Body

  16. A Distinctive People The Gospel is a Distinctive Message The Church is a Distinctive Body Our Speech is a Distinctive Speech

  17. Our Speech Need to Harmonize With Word • Titus 2: 8 – Sound speech • 1 Pet. 4:11 – speak as oracles of God • Call Bible things by Bible names… Our Speech is a Distinctive Speech

  18. Our Speech Need to Harmonize With Word • Do not Use the Language of Men • “Reverend” to refer to preacher (Psa. 111:9) • “Pastor” to refer to preacher (Eph. 4:11) • “Father” to refer to leaders (Matt. 23:1-2) • “Join the church” (Acts 2:47) • “Other denominations” (Eph. 4:4) • “Our faith” / “our tradition” (Eph. 4:5) Our Speech is a Distinctive Speech

  19. A Distinctive People The Gospel is a Distinctive Message The Church is a Distinctive Body Our Speech is a Distinctive Speech The Plan of Salvation is a Distinctive Plan

  20. Only One Way to Be Saved • Jesus is the way (John 14:6) • No other name by which saved (Acts 4:12) • If saved in different ways – God is a respecter of persons (Rom. 2:11) The Plan of Salvation is a Distinctive Plan

  21. Only One Way to Be Saved • Distinctive Plan Involves: • Not by faith alone (Jas. 2:24) • Not by prayer – “sinner’s prayer” • Repentance is required (Acts 17:30-31) • Confession is required (Rom. 10:9-10) • Baptism is required (Mark. 16:16) • Baptism is immersion (Rom. 6:3-4) • Baptism puts one into one body (1 Cor. 12:13) The Plan of Salvation is a Distinctive Plan

  22. A Distinctive People The Gospel is a Distinctive Message The Church is a Distinctive Body Our Speech is a Distinctive Speech The Plan of Salvation is a Distinctive Plan The Worship is a Distinctive Service

  23. Worship Follows the Pattern of God • When don’t – rejected of God (Gen. 3:3-4) • Cannot offered unauthorized worship (Lev. 10:1-2) • Must worship according to truth (John 4:24) The Worship is a Distinctive Service

  24. Worship Follows the Pattern of God • Distinctive Nature of Worship • Sing without mechanical instruments • Eph. 5:19 • Col. 3:16 • No authority for instrument (Col. 3:17) • Lord’s Supper on first day • Only on that day (Acts 20:7) • Every first day (Acts 20:7) • Contribution only on the first day (1 Cor. 16:1-2) The Worship is a Distinctive Service

  25. A Distinctive People The Gospel is a Distinctive Message The Church is a Distinctive Body Our Speech is a Distinctive Speech The Plan of Salvation is a Distinctive Plan The Worship is a Distinctive Service The Christian Life is a Distinctive Life

  26. The Christian Lives Separate From World • 2 Cor. 6:14 – 7:1 - Come out from among them and be separate • 1 John 3:4 – Christian as a law by which he lives The Christian Life is a Distinctive Life

  27. The Christian Lives Separate From World • How is the Christian Different? • Watches is language (Eph. 5:4) • Doesn’t drink (1 Pet. 4:3) • Don’t dance (Gal. 5:19-21) • Dresses modestly (1 Tim. 2:9-10) • Careful about what he contributes to (Eph. 5:11) The Christian Life is a Distinctive Life

  28. A Distinctive People The Gospel is a Distinctive Message The Church is a Distinctive Body Our Speech is a Distinctive Speech The Plan of Salvation is a Distinctive Plan The Worship is a Distinctive Service The Christian Life is a Distinctive Life

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