It makes a difference what you believe you cannot afford to be mistaken! The BIBLE holds the answer unlock the door — see for yourself
Take the The Personal Test – Answer the questions in RED at the end of each section.
Marks That Matter
1. Founder
- Foundation
- Beginning
- Designation
- Membership
- Worship
- Work
- Doctrine
- Organization
- Government
- Message
- Unity
- Life
- Destiny
Founder … Started by man or God?
ITS FOUNDER — CHRIST
He is purchaser, Acts 20:28 He is builder, Matt. 16:18 He is head, Eph. 5:23
He is lawgiver, Acts 2:36 He is savior, Eph. 5:23
DID JESUS CHRIST ESTABLISH YOUR CHURCH?
Below is a list of some prominent religious bodies:
TIME | PLACE | FOUNDER | CHURCH |
606 A.D. | Rome | Boniface III | Roman Catholic |
1520 A.D. | Germany | Martin Luther | Lutheran |
1534 A.D. | England | Henry VIII | Episcopalian |
1536 A.D. | Switzerland | John Calvin | Presbyterian |
1550 A.D. | England | Robert Browne | Congregational |
1607 A.D. | Holland | John Smythe | Baptist |
1739 A.D. | England | John Wesley | Methodist |
1830 A.D. | America | Joseph Smith | Latter Day Saints (Mormon) |
1830 A.D. | America | William Miller | Adventists |
1866 A.D. | America | Mary Baker Eddy | Christian Scientist |
1872 A.D. | America | Charles T. Russell | Jehovah’s Witnesses |
Foundation … Upon what does it stand?
ITS FOUNDATION — THE SON OF GOD
“This rock — the Christ of God,” Matt. 16:18 The “laid foundation,” I. Cor. 3:11
The “tried” foundation, Isa. 28:16 The apostolic foundation, Eph. 2:20
IS CHRIST OR MAN THE FOUNDATION OF YOUR CHURCH?
Beginning … When did it begin?
ITS ORIGIN — A.D. 33 IN JERUSALEM
After Hades tried but failed to hold its builder, Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:31 While apostles lived, Mark 9:1
When Holy Spirit and power came, Mark 9:1;Acts 1:8; 2:1-4
When the “word of the Lord” went “forth from Jerusalem.” Isa. 2:2, 3; Luke 24:49
Designation … What is it called?
ITS DESIGNATIONS — BY APOSTOLIC AUTHORITY
Christ called it:
“My church,” Matt. 16:18
“My kingdom,” Luke 22:30; John 3:5; Luke 22:16 Apostles called it:
“The church,” Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22; 3:10;5:23-32 “The church of the Lord,” Acts 20:28
“The church of God,” I Cor. 1:2; Gal 1:13
“Churches of Christ” (Singular – “church of Christ”), Rom. 16:16 “The house of God,” I Tim. 3:15
“The household of God,” Eph. 2:19 “The household of faith,” Gal. 6:10 “The Kingdom of God,” Acts 28:23, 31
“The Kingdom of God’s dear Son,” Col. 1:13
“A Kingdom which cannot be shaken,” Heb. 12:28
IS YOUR CHURCH MENTIONED BY THE APOSTLES?
Membership … Conditions of belonging?
ITS MEMBERSHIP — PERSONS WHO:
Hear the word of the gospel, Rom. 10:17; Acts 18:8 Believe the gospel, Acts 18:8; I Cor. 1:2
Repent of their sins, Acts 2:38, 47 Confess the Christ, Acts 8:37; Rom. 10:10 Are baptized:
Buried, Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12
In water, Acts 8:36-39; 10:47, 48 To wash away sins, Acts 22:16 For remission of sins, Acts 2:38 To be saved, I Peter 3:21
Into Christ, Gal. 3:27
Into the one body, the church, I Cor. 12:13
Worship … What act occur??
ITS WORSHIP — “IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH”
Communion, I. Cor. 10:16; 11:20-30; Acts 20:7 Singing, Eph. 5:18, 19; Col. 3:16
Praying, Acts 2:42; I Thess. 5:17 Giving, I Cor. 16:1, 2; II Cor. 9:7 Teaching, Acts 2:42; I Tim. 3:15
DOES YOUR CHURCH WORSHIP ONLY THESE ACTS?
Work … By what does it propagate?
ITS WORK — SAVING SOULS
Preaching the gospel, I. Thess. 1:8; II Cor. 11:8; Phil. 4:14-18 Providing for its poor, Acts 4:34, 35; 6:1-7; I Tim. 5:16 Edifying itself, Eph. 4:11-16
IS YOUR CHURCH WORKING THE WORKS OF GOD OR MEN?
Doctrine … What does it believe?
ITS DOCTRINE — THE NEW TESTAMENT
Christ is the Lawgiver, Eph. 4:7-16; 5:24
The Holy Spirit is the Revealer, I Cor. 2:13; Eph. 3:1-6 The apostles’ teaching is its manual, Acts 2:42; Eph. 2:20
Organization … How is it structured?
ITS ORGANIZATION — CONGREGATIONAL
Organically independent of every other local church
Self-governing under Christ, the heavenly bishop, Acts 14:23; I Peter 5:4; 2:25; Phil. 1:1
With bishops (elders, pastors, presbyters) who feed, tend, oversee, and rule the flock among them, Acts 20:17, 28; I Peter 5:2-4; I Tim. 3:1-7; Heb. 13:17
With the evangelist (preacher) who appoints elders and sets in order those things that are wanting, Eph: 4:11, II Tim 4:5, Titus 1:5
With deacons to serve, I Tim. 3:8-13
With members who minister in word and deed, I Cor. 12:24-27
DOES YOUR CHURCH HAVE ANY ORGANIZATION GREATER THAN A LOCALIZED ARRANGEMENT?
Government … Who controls it?
ITS GOVERNMENT — AN ABSOLUTE MONARCHY
In heaven is its head, Eph. 1:19-21; 4:8-10
From heaven came its law, Eph. 1:22;4:11-16; Rom. 8:2 Under heaven it serves, Eph. 5:23, 24
Toward heaven it worships, John 4:24; Acts 12:5
Message … What does it teach?
ITS MESSAGE — THE GOSPEL
Facts to believe:
Death of Christ, I Cor. 15:1-3 Burial of Christ, I Cor. 15:4
Resurrection of Christ and its evidence, I Cor. 15:4-9 Commands to obey:
Believe in Christ, Mark 16:16; Acts 16:31 Repent of sins, Acts 17:31; 2:38
Be baptized, Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; I Peter 3:21 Promises to enjoy:
Remission of sins, Acts 2:38; 3:19 Communion of the Holy Spirit, II Cor. 13:14 Eternal life, Rev. 2:10; 22:14
DOES YOUR CHURCH PREACH THE PURE GOSPEL?
Unity … Is it divided?
ITS UNITY — UNDENOMINATIONAL
The Savior prayed for it, John 17:20, 21 The apostles pled for it, I Cor. 1:10
The apostles present the plan of it, Eph. 4:4-6
ONE body — unity in organism (parts), Rom. 12:4, 5; I Cor. 12:12-27 ONE Spirit — unity in life, I Cor. 1:10; Gal. 5:22-24
ONE hope — unity in trust, I Thess. 4:13-18; I Peter 1:3, 4 ONE Lord — unity in authority, I Cor. 8:5, 6
ONE faith — unity in message, Gal. 1:6-12 ONE baptism — unity in practice
As regards subjects — believers, Acts 8:12
As regards action — a burial, Col. 2:12; Rom 6:4 As regards design — salvation, I Peter 3:21
ONE God — unity in worship, I Cor. 8:5, 6 The faithful perpetuate it, Eph. 4:1-3
IS YOUR CHURCH A DENOMINATION? ITS UNIVERSALITY — ALL NATIONS
The commission of its heralds is world-wide, Matt. 28:18-20
Its scope involves every race, color, and tongue, Mark 16:15, 16 Its invitation is to all, Rev. 22:17
Its duration is age lasting, I Cor. 15:23-26 Its fellowship is for the obedient, I John 1:7
Its benefits are eternal, II Peter 1:10, 11; Rev. 22:2
IS YOUR CHURCH UNIVERSAL IN TIME AND MEMBERSHIP?
Life … To what devoted?
ITS LIFE — DEVOTION
To the word of Christ
As the eternal word, Matt. 24:35; I Peter 1:25 As the inspired word, II Tim. 3:16; I Cor. 2:13 As the life giving word, Matt. 4:4
As the infallible word, Psalms 119:160 As the saving word, James 1:21
As the complete word, II Tim. 3:16, 17 As the sufficient word, II Tim. 3:16, 17
As the powerful word, Heb. 4:12; Rom. 1:16 As the comforting word, I Thess. 4:14-18
To the example of Christ, I Peter 2:21
Toward His family, Luke 2:51; John 19:26, 27
Toward His heavenly Father, John 5:30; 6:38; 8:29; Luke 22:42 Toward civil government, Matt. 22:15-22
Toward His enemies, Matt. 5:43-48; Luke 23:34 Toward lost men, Matt. 18:11; Luke 15 Toward the church itself, Eph. 5:25
IS YOUR CHURCH DEVOTED TO THE WORD AND EXAMPLE OF CHRIST?
Destiny … Is it eternal?
ITS DESTINY — HEAVEN
By heaven’s wisdom it was purposed, Eph. 3:10, 11
By heaven’s love it was purchased, Eph. 5:25; Acts 20:28 By heaven’s grace it is kept, Rom. 5:2; Eph. 1:7; Heb. 4:16
For heaven’s glory it hopes, II Tim. 2:10; Heb. 2:10; I Peter 5:1, 10 To heaven it will go, I Peter 1:4; Col. 1:5
In heaven it will remain, I Thess. 4:17; I Cor. 15:24 In heaven it shall rest, Heb. 4:8-11