Do you know why you do the things that you do? Well? Do you?

1. WHY? Do you know why you do the things that you do? Well? Do you? 1 Peter 3:15

2. 1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.

3. Why do we go only to the New Testament for our authority? We make our appeal to the New Testament and it alone because it contains the mind of Christ, our Lord. Hebrews 1:1-4; Galatians 5:4-6

4. Hebrews 1:1-4 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

5. Galatians 5:4-6 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

6. Why do we go only to the New Testament for our authority? We make our appeal to the New Testament and it alone because it contains the mind of Christ, our Lord. Hebrews 1:1-4; Galatians 5:4-6 Why do you seek to be justified in your religious practices by appealing to God’s covenant with the Jews?

7. Why do we sing a cappella in Worship to God? We sing without musical accompaniment because that is the way Christians in the first century worshipped God. Ephesians 5:19-20; Colossians 3:16-17

8. Ephesians 5:19-20 Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9. Colossians 3:16-17 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

10. Why do we sing a cappella in Worship to God? We sing without musical accompaniment because that is the way Christians in the first century worshipped God. Ephesians 5:19-20; Colossians 3:16-17 Why do you use mechanical instruments of music to worship God in your worship assemblies?

11. Why do we believe that Baptism is necessary for salvation? We believe this because this is what Jesus and the apostles taught in the New Testament. Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38

12. Mark 16:15-16 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

13. Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

14. Why do we believe that Baptism is necessary for salvation? We believe this because this is what Jesus and the apostles taught in the New Testament. Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38 Why do you believe that one is saved when he prays“the sinner’s prayer”?

15. Why do we have a plurality of older men serving as elders? We have older, qualified men serving as elders of our congregation because that is the pattern found in the New Testament. 1 Timothy 3:2-7; Titus 1:5

16. 1 Timothy 3:2-7 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

17. Titus 1:5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you.

18. Why do we have a plurality of older men serving as elders? We have older, qualified men serving as elders of our congregation because that is the pattern found in the New Testament. 1 Timothy 3:2-7; Titus 1:5 Why do you have a single “Pastor” who often does not possess the quali-fications listed in Timothy & Titus?

19. Why do we give free will offerings in accord with our means? We give liberally and cheerfully on the first day of the week because this is commanded of all Christians. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 9:7

20. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.

21. 2 Corinthians 9:7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

22. Why do we give free will offerings in accord with our means? We give liberally and cheerfully on the first day of the week because this is commanded of all Christians. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 9:7 Why do you tithe? And, why do you raise money through raffles, rummage sales and other fund raisers?

23. That’s Why! We do the things we do because they are authorized by God! Do you know why you do the things that you do? Well? Do you?