First Century Church (3-21-1986)

Introduction

Thank you, Brother Hinely, and certainly a pleasant good evening to every one of you. I have not had opportunities yet to shake the hands of each one because we came a little bit later than we anticipated. We were staying a little farther away, I think, than we realized. But then many of you, I shook hands and rather quickly introduced myself and even those I have met for the first time tonight, I probably couldn’t call your name again. But I hope after we dismiss that we’ll get to visit with each of you and know you much better. I appreciate the good things and kind things Brother Hindley had to say about us. And I would have to say, as he started, but little did I think two weeks ago that I’d be can be standing before you tonight and considering the work because when he first asked me, I said, Well, I’m certainly not looking for a place to move.

We’ve been in Nacodochis, that’s the way to say it.

We’ve been there for some nine years, and it is home. And if any of you have moved uh recently, or even in the last few years, you know that’s not easy to do, either physically or emotionally. But I’m quite impressed, having uh spent some time with uh your elders. I’m impressed with their care for you as a flock of God and for their care for the Lord’s work, the goals and the plans that they have to carry out those goals are certainly impressive. And they’ve had some good things to say about you, and I’ve looked forward to this occasion to get to meet you. And uh we will give much prayer and thought, and I’d be very happy for your feedback as well. But the Lord will, Lord’s will being done, whether we come or not.

I’m convinced that with the kind of leadership that you have, that the work here uh has a good future. And uh I certainly hope and pray that that will be the case. Um but I asked me if I wanted to introduce Arlene and have her stand, and I said no, because now she can be mad at him rather than mad at me, because that embarrassed her good.

But I’m glad you can get to meet her and speak to her privately, you’ll find out that she’s by far the better half, as the old saying goes, it is true in this case. I want to talk tonight about the spirit and character of the first century church. We often are heard to say, Let us restore New Testament Christianity. I believe my brethren have a unique plea in the religious world today in a time where there is so much division, and people are confused as to what is the truth, and many people who would like to know the Lord’s will seem somewhat afraid even to do much searching for fear that it sort of makes a commitment, and there are a lot of cults and wild and fancied ideas, and so they don’t know which way to turn.

But I believe that when we make the plea, let us speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent. Let us do Bible things in Bible ways, that that is not outworn, that in fact that is a very unique and a very needed plea in our day. And when we say let us restore New Testament Christianity, that it is a plea that needs to be made. Often when we explain the meaning of that plea, though, we emphasize the characteristics of the church, more visible characteristics, that is. Because we’ll preach that we ought to wear the name that they did, be described as they were as a congregation, and that we ought to have the same kind of organization. Christ as the only head in local congregations with elders as overseers.

And we emphasize that we should have no creed but the Bible. And therefore, following it, we’ll have no worship other than that which was designed by Christ, practiced by the disciples. And as we worship, we’ll do just as they did on the first day of the week, partaking of the Lord’s Supper each time the first day of the week comes, and singing as they did in the first century and abstaining from any change or addition to that kind of music. And we’ll go through the line and we’ll talk about these specific characteristics of the church. We’ll talk about the mission of the church, being spiritual, and how to become a member of the church by faith, repentance, and confession and baptism. And those subjects need to be preached.

They are distinct. They need to be set forth. Many people are not familiar with them. But while we preach a lot of those lessons, I sometimes wonder if perhaps we have overlooked another part of restoring New Testament Christianity. That some, even of my own brethren, have rather grown tired of preaching these first principles when we shouldn’t be tired of them. That sometimes my own brethren have gotten into a form that when we come together, we we just ought to know, yes, it’s it’s Sunday, and we ought to worship, and we are going to protect the Lord’s Supper, and we’re going to sing these two songs and have a prayer and another song and have our sermon and go home and we worship God. And I think some Christians have become bored, and they’ve lost sight of what New Testament Christianity really is all about.

We may assemble every time the doors are open and never worship God acceptably. I want to say to you tonight, I appreciate your coming. I know it is a Friday night, and I know it isn’t the best time to gather a crowd, and I think we have a fine audience. I wish that I could have come at a time where maybe even others could have been here. We all live in a fast lane these days, and it isn’t that some wouldn’t want to come, it’s just that there are other obligations, especially on this short of notice. I appreciate your interest and for your coming. But you probably know as well as I that there are some that probably wouldn’t have come unless it was convenient. I mean, even a Sunday wouldn’t have come.

1. Disciples Who Were Wholehearted

We’ve kind of gotten into a form. Many people have. Restoring New Testament Christianity, though, means more than just being here on Sunday. It means more than just partaking of the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week and singing and praying. The character and attitude of first century Christians need to be stressed in our own generation of time. I’d like for you to go with me and let’s just take a little survey. What do you think the character of the first century Christian was like? You were describing the attitude of those apostles and early disciples. What do you think they were? I expect every one of us will agree that they were disciples who were wholehearted. That one word fits the attitude of these Christians.

In Acts chapter 4 and verse 32, and there’s so many verses that could have sustained this point, but in Acts 4 and verse 32, the scripture says the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul. Neither said any of them that all of the things which he possessed was his own. But they had all things common.

That what they possessed was not their own. It’s the attitude, what’s mine is yours. What’s yours is mine. The only way you could find disciples with that concept or that attitude is that they were totally committed to Christ. They were wholeheartedly involved. It wasn’t just a pastime or a part time. It wasn’t just the sort of on the outer fringes of their life, but serving Christ was the whole of their life. It was the center of their activities. They were totally committed. Can you imagine Peter forsaking a period of worship to go fishing? Could you imagine the disciples knowing that there is a time that they would regularly gather and they have a choice about coming or not coming, and the disciples saying, Oh my, I’m just too tired, and I believe I’ll stay home and visit with some friends or do something else.

2. Disciples Who Opposed Error

Can you imagine them with that concept of being bored at a service? I’m certain that you cannot. Because when we view those first century Christians, we think of them as being totally involved. They were committed to the to the service of the Lord Jesus Christ. Furthermore, when we describe those first century Christians, I expect you would agree with me that they were disciples who opposed error. They knew what they believed, and they knew what they believe.

We never the idea of difference. What one believes. Now that’s a common and a popular statement today in the denominational world. But you know what I know, the first century Christians didn’t practice by that. In fact, even in Revelation 2, when the Lord addressed the church at Ephesus, and though he had some things to say against it because he said they’d left their first love, yet he commended that church because he said, I know thy works and thy labor and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil. And I has tried them, which say they are apostles and are not, and has found them liars. That was a compliment. You stand up for truth. Here is a church that knew what it believed, and it was not afraid to be distinct about preaching the truth, and they opposed others and found them liars.

Galatians chapter 1. Paul wrote the churches of Galatians. Verses 6 through 8. He said, I marveled that you are so soon removed from him that calls you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel. That you’ve been removed to something else. But he said, that is not another gospel. But there are some that troubled you and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we are an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel than that which we preached unto you, let him be accursed. That certainly does not sound that Paul was saying it makes no difference, does it? In fact, what he was teaching is that it makes a difference what we believe. And therefore, if it makes a difference, know why you believe what you believe and stand firm for it.

3. Their Lives Were Changed

And that means opposing error. I’m sure we’d all agree that the spirit and character, those first century Christians also was that their lives were changed. When you talk about those first century Christians, you recognize that there was a difference in their way of living. And they knew that to be in Christ meant a change of their conduct. Sometimes we short sell the gospel. Sometimes we uh think in terms of, well, you know, this person over here has been a member of a religious body, and uh boy’s parents before him were like that, and it just probably wouldn’t do any good to go invite them. You’re having a gospel meeting starting, I understand, a Sunday week. Have you ever gone through the thought process of saying, well, I’ve got a neighbor over here, I’d like to come, but you know, oh, they’ve been a member of that particular denomination for years, and it just wouldn’t do any good.

I don’t believe I’ll ask him anymore. I’ll just quit wasting. Do that. Probably all of us have sort of short. I mean, we think of it as no good to try to invite some people. Or perhaps sometimes we think about certain individuals and we think, well, you know, they live, they live on the other side of the tracks. They live an immoral life or an ungodly life, and it just wouldn’t do much good to try, it’d just be too much to try to bring them out of what they’re living in. And we don’t try. But in New Testament times, those first century Christians were men and women who were converted. And that means they were changed. Or read the description of Paul in 1 Thessalonians chapter 1 and verse 9, when he writes back to the church at Thessalonica, he says, they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had them to you, and how you turn to God from idols to serve the living and true God.

They turned from idols to serve the living and true God of God. That’s quite a change. Here’s the power of the gospel. When he comes into Thessalonica, he didn’t look around and say, Well, it won’t do any good to teach them. They’re idol worshippers. No. Here were the apostle and others with him who spoke, and there were disciples, men and women who were converted. And in 1 Corinthians chapter 6, verses 9 through 11. To the church at Corinth, he said, Know ye not, or don’t you know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God. It’s true, the wicked won’t. Be not deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves of mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners shall inherit them of God.

And such were some of you. But ye are washed. But ye’re sanctified. But ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. You were like that, but the gospel had the power to change. Here were men and women who were different. It wasn’t a matter of here’s the way they did live, and they were dipped in water, and they got up and they continued to talk like that and continued to dress like that and continue to act like that. There was a change. You were adulterers, you were effeminate, you were thieves, but you’ve changed. You were washed, you were sanctified. The power of the gospel can change the lives of men. The well of the whole need not a position.

4. Men and Women Who Had One Faith

He came to seek and to save the lost. And when we reach out with a gospel, the power of God and the salvation, we need to go to all. That’s what the early Christians did, wasn’t it? To all, because anyone can be changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ. I’m sure you would also agree with me that those first century Christians were men and women who had one faith. And they worked to keep the unity of that faith. As in Ephesians chapter 4, verses 3 to 5, the apostle said, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one spirit, even as your call and one hope of your calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in you all.

And we need to preach that message today in a world that’s divided religiously, and we’re hearing the statement made often that, well, it really doesn’t matter, you know, we have Catholic and we have Jews, and we have Protestant, and we’re all trying to go to the same place, and we all serve the same God. And this kind of philosophy sounds good.

Those first century Christians realized it made a difference. And they endeavored to keep the unity.

And we don’t understand, we have no problem understanding how many lords there are. We have no problem understanding how many spirits there are. There’s one. But that same text that describes the number of gods says that’s how many bodies there are. The body being the church of the Lord. And that’s how many, that’s many hopes there are. That’s how many faiths there are. That’s how many baptisms there are. They endeavored to keep the unity of the Spirit. And they worked toward that unity, speaking the same thing, being in the same mind, and the same judgment. 1 Corinthians 1 and verse 10. But when we say that their spirit and character was to have one faith, it was also with an attitude. Attitudes described like in Philippians chapter 1 and verse 26.

Where Paul said, Only let your conversation or manner of life be as it becometh the gospel of Christ. And whether I come and see you or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. With one mind, you’re with one spirit striving for the faith of the gospel. Sometimes my own brethren have presented discouragement to people of the world. I say that kindly and pointedly.

And separate and divide, and you hear fussing and backbiting and division. It’s a sad time we’re living when in many places you’re hearing of divisions, and you ask, Well, what caused it? But what doctrinal problem did they divide over? Sometimes you find brethren who divide over doctrine. That’s in New Testament types. The apostle said in 1 Timothy 4 1, some shall depart from the faith. And in 2 Timothy 4, he told Timothy, Preach the Word, because some will not endure sound doctrine. There will sometimes be divisions over matters of truth, matters of doctrine. But then when I hear brethren say, Well, they didn’t really divide over doctrine. They just had personality problems. I get very, very discouraged. Something’s wrong. If brethren are dividing over personality problems, then something’s wrong with their faith.

Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory. But in lowliness of mind, let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. It says, care for brethren. Don’t put yourself, Father. You don’t have to have my way, or else it’ll be no way. Don’t have the that selfish people have, but rather he said, Count others better than self. You put others ahead of yourself. He said, Look not on your own things but on the things of others. Count others better than self. That doesn’t mean if a man cannot read and you can, you have to say, Oh, well, you know, he’s a better reader than I am. Don’t lie about it.

You know, there’s some things. Some people have talents that others don’t have. But even the man who can read and looking at a man who cannot read doesn’t have to look down his nose at him and say, I’m smarter than you, so it’s going to be my way. He doesn’t take that attitude either. What he does is understanding the needs of the other brother, he puts him forward first. He who walks in his shoes and cares for him has empathy and sympathy. When brethren have this kind of concept with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, we will not have personality problems causing divisions. We’ll work out some problems. We’ll work out and have one faith. That’s the spirit and character of the first century church.

5. They Sought Converts

Furthermore, I’m sure you would agree with me that those first century Christians sought converts. They were a group of people who were busy teaching and seeking others to obey the gospel of Jesus Christ. They went out. Say it in verse 4. They went out preaching. When the disciples were scattered or boss, they went everywhere preaching the word. Isn’t it thrilling to read in the New Testament about the rapid growth of the first century church? I know all of us wish we were members of a church that grow that quickly. Why to read in Acts chapter 2 or two of themselves? 3,000 obeyed the gospel. They received the word with readiness of mind, and they were baptized, baptized here, wouldn’t you? I’m sure you would. But in reality, there should have been many more on that day.

Because the Jews for 1,500 years, at least through Moses and since Moses, had looked forward to the coming of the Christ. They had the scriptures, they had the oracles of God. And really every Jew in Jerusalem should have been baptized that day. Every one of them. So that’s really a minority when you think of 3,000. A minority of the scripture says many of them which heard the word believed, and the number of the disciples was about 5,000. And then in Acts chapter 6 and in verse 7, the word of God increased, and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly, and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. The disciples multiplied. Now you know multiplying is rapid growth. Two times two is four, times two is eight, times two is sixteen.

It doesn’t take long if you’re using the word multiply, but the adverb here is they multiplied greatly. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if this church could multiply greatly? Oh, it’d be thrilling, wouldn’t you? They went out seeking converts.

6. An Ideal Picture, Not the Whole Story

I’m sure you would all agree that what I’ve said thus far is true of the first century Christians. And you’d probably agree I really hurried over it. Because every one of these points could have been elaborated on much more. But I hurried over it because, to be honest with you, this is a bit of an ideal picture. It’s not the whole story. To say that they were wholehearted is true, but that isn’t all there is to it. And if we want to have the spirit and character of first century Christians, we must be wholehearted. But let’s also recognize that to be wholehearted also will sometimes mean that we are going to be extremist in the eyes of the world. We’re going to be sacrificial. Why? I hear some people saying, I want to serve the Lord, but I don’t want to be fanatical about it.

I want to serve the Lord, but I don’t want to go overboard about it. What do you mean? Saying that you just sort of want to be on the outer fringes and just you know barely get to heaven. If you can get to heaven, don’t want to get too over involved in it. When you think of that first century Christian, you have to remember him as a man who knew what he believed and why he believed, and that made him a world extreme. Militant, in fact. You all remember the scripture in Acts chapter 4, when Peter and John after he killed the lame man and they were threatened by the council, don’t you speak at all the name of Jesus? What’d the answer? Peter said, whether it be right in the Sabbath, God judge ye, for we cannot but speak the things we’ve seen and heard.

They defied the law of the land. And they went right out and preached again, didn’t they? And they were brought back before the council again, weren’t they? And in Acts chapter 5, when the council said, Why? Didn’t we straightly command you to not teach in the name? And behold, you filled Jerusalem with your doctrine. And you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. Peter said, We ought to obey God rather than man.

But that’s the kind of courage of convictions that first century Christians have.

Unafrage to stand up and be distinct. And to say, here is the truth. And I’ll, if it even cost me imprisonment, or if it cost me my life, if I lost everyone who called himself my friend, for the cause of Christ, I’m willing to stand for it and preach it. It’s true. Oh, yes, they they seem rather fanatical, even in their sacrifice. Why you remember in the early chapters of the book of Acts, like Acts 4, 34 and 5, they were of one heart, one soul, and one mind, neither said all of the things they possessed was their own, and they proved it, because neither was there any among them that as many as were possessors of lands or houses, sold them, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

It’s easy to sit in the comfortable building and among friends and you know to bow our uplift the spirit. But it’s something else to be so convicted be willing to sell my house or my land and bring the money and lay it at the apostle’s feet. Well, it says it’s easy to pat our chest close to our heart. But hip really gives an indication of where our heart is. Some of us have a hard time. There are some people who wouldn’t want to be that fanatical. I’ll tell you, brethren, it’s something we ought to consider. I’m thankful that we don’t live in these hard times that they did of Acts 2, 4, and 6, and 11. I’m I’m thankful we’re not in those times right now.

But if brethren that you know came in need and you knew about it, would you be willing to sell what you have in order to make distribution? Wholehearted commitment. You talk about wholeheartedness. It’s one thing to say it, it’s something else to really do as they did. The whole truth is they opposed error because they knew what they believed and why they believed it, but they also had some problems.

And we ought to be happy and have a smile on our face. But we are mistaken if we think love never warrants. We are mistaken if we think that love never. Love sometimes causes some problems. If you were about to fall over a cliff, if I loved you, would I say, go on and do what you want to do? We love you and let you die. You know that wouldn’t be love. If you were about to fall over a cliff and you didn’t realize the danger in front of you, if one loved you, he’d say, Come back, come back. That’s that’s the wrong way. That’s love. That’s true love. Sometimes doctrinally, we must have that spirit and disposition. But whenever you oppose error and you begin to point out the wrongs of false teachers, it sometimes makes men and women unhappy.

It certainly makes the devil unhappy. And he’s gonna fight you. And I’ll tell you, the New Testament church had some problems within as well as persecuted from without sorely. But they had problems within, too. Why you remember after they began after Cornelius was converted and they began to preach to other Gentiles, Paul and Barnabas on that first preaching journey, and when they returned, there arose quite a discussion among the early brethren as to what to do with these Gentiles. Because they needed to be circumcised after the law, after the manner of Moses. And in Acts 15, 1 and 2, the scripture says, when there arose no small, that’s a pretty big one, is what it’s saying. There arose no small dissension and disputation. They had some disagreements about it and some arguments about it.

You mean the Lord’s church had some problems? Yes. They had some arguments, we’d probably say it. They had some debates about it. They didn’t just divide and go off into separate groups and look at each other as second class citizens and say we’ll have nothing to do with you anymore because you don’t agree. That isn’t the way they solved it. What they did do, though, was come together to discuss the matter. What is the Lord’s will about it? You see, they came together at Jerusalem, and there the apostles and elders began to discuss the matter. Peter stood up and explained and reminded them about the vision for Cornelius and the occurrence there. Paul and Barnabas explained to them how that God had shown by the many miracles and signs his approval of the Gentiles.

And James stood up and quoted out that the tabernacle of David, when it was restored, that indeed this very thing would occur, and by the revelation of God, they had God’s approval. They knew how better solve it. What does God say about it? That’s their question. And that’s when brethren how brethren today ought to solve problems, but let’s recognize there’ll be problems. I’ve seen some say, whoo! Well, you mean you mean y’all get into discussions and you have some disagreements? I’ve seen some who talk about love, and what they mean is let’s bury our head in the sin if there’s ever any problem doctrinally. Well, those of you who are very old certainly recognize for the last few years there have been some problems. The church of the Lord has been divided.

And it’s been hard times in many places. I mean divided over doctrinal issues. Well, I remember uh I just preached in my first year of preaching, and I heard the debate and left in between Brother Gate or Tan and E. R. Harper concerning uh the Herald of Truth and orphans homes. I was a 16 year old lad at the time, and I you know, I went home sort of discouraged. And and I remember many times the thought, and I think it really the days that Brother Marshall Patton was at Holden Heights, he’s the one that really kind of helped me through that time. I said, You know, I’d hate to preach most of my life, and as I get older to find I don’t have the courage to stand, or I’ve changed, and I found out I’ve wasted many years.

He said, Well, passage in 1 Corinthians 11 and verse 19. For the scripture says, there must be heresies among you, that they which are approved might be made manifest. There have always been and always shall be false doctrine. The devil will not because you’re a Christian. In fact, after you become a Christian, he’ll probably work harder to win you back. And he’s had false teachers within the church as well as without. And he’s trying to work from among your own selves. He warned the elders in Acts 20, shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them. A generation ago, there may have been a problem over premillennialism. In our generation, there may be over institutionalism and the social gospel. In the next generation, there’ll be another problem.

As long as men live on this earth, the devil.

What they’ll do is they’ll say, Let’s see what the scripture says about it. Thus said the Lord. And they determine the truth, and then they have the courage and character to stand for it. That’s the kind of attitude we need to have today. We’re going to grow and be a strong church. Furthermore, I’m sure you recognize that while the gospel had the power to change their lives, the real truth is it also upset former ties. It wasn’t easy to obey the gospel. It isn’t today. For many people.

He that loveth father or mother not worthy of me. What’s he say? Sometimes when you stand for the gospel of Christ, it’s like a sword will separate. Family reunions rather than being seasons of joy, become times of grief and sorrow. Some who are closest to you become separated over the gospel. Oh, yes. It may change your life morally and spiritually. It now puts you in a relationship with the Lord, but you’re going to have to keep your sight ever viewing where you’re headed. You’re going to have to keep your hope clear and strong. Because there’ll be tests to your faith. It may come from your family, it may come from things of this world. It may come from former friends. But those ties you formerly had, like Peter said in 1 Peter 4 and verse 4, they may think it’s strange that you run a lot of the same excess of riot with them.

And you may be looked upon as fanatical, and you may be looked upon and ridiculed. But those times it won’t be the first time it’ll ever happen. Those first century Christians also had to make some choices, choose between similar doctrines. Arlene and I and our three oldest children at the time, our oldest was just five years old, moved to Australia. That was in 1967. We lived there a little over two years. While we were there, I never shall forget one woman with whom we’d been studying, called me. And she said, You know, Bob said, sometimes I just wish I lived in the first century. Why is that? She said, Well, I find it so hard sometimes to try to determine what truth is. She said, I talked to you, and said you give me scripture, and it sounds like that’s right, that’s the truth.

But said, then I, you know, I talked to my Christadelphian friends, and they’re very much like Jehovah’s Witnesses, if you’re not familiar with them, but their doctrine’s similar. She said, I talked to the Christadelphians and they give me a lot of scripture. And you know Jehovah’s Witnesses do that too, don’t they? She said, I just get confused. And she said, They’re friends and they give me scripture. And said, I just get so confused as what the truth is. I just wish I’d lived in the first century, then I wouldn’t have had that problem. I explained, I understood where she’s coming from, and it did sound. Sorry that we’re in a generation of time where there are so many churches and so many different doctrines, and that only aids the devil’s cause.

But had she been in the first century, it really wouldn’t have been that much better. Well, when you in chapter 2, the church at Pergamus, he spoke in verse 14 about some who held the doctrine of Balaam. And in verse 15 about those who held the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. And then to the church at Thyatara and chapter 2 and verse 20 of Revelation, he talked about Jezebel, who called herself a prophetess, who would teach and seduce my servants to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed on the idols. The truth is the first century church had to know what they believed and why they believed it, and had to make a choice between some false doctrines. And in fact, the warnings in these letters are you put those false teachers out from among you.

Or I’m going to come and remove the candlestick. The devil works from within as well as without.

To know for yourself what you believe. Bring your Bibles. Keep them open and study. You test whoever stands before you to preach, or whoever stands before you to teach. And you find it not just a time to be entertained, but rather a time to learn, so that you may in turn teach others. But all the while, test it and make sure. 1 John 4 and verse 1, beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they be of God. For many false prophets are gone into the world. Be one who knows what you believe and why. Because you’ve got an open mind, you’ve got an open Bible, and you’re ever trying it and testing it.

What is the truth? And stand firm for that. Finally, to say that they went out seeking converse and that church grew rapidly, that is true. That is true. I want to make a play on words here, though. They sought converts members. Now I know in one sense we use the term how many members you have here, and we’ll use it in the good way, but I’m going to use it a little differently here. Because there’s a difference between the convert who is zealously involved and the member who just sits on the pew. There’s a difference between the convert who wants truth and the member who just wants a peaceful fellowship and goes home with an uplifted spirit.

But the member sometimes can get easily offended, easily discouraged, and he can quit on the Lord and blame all those hypocrites. But he’ll go to hell if they’re all with all the hypocrites too. You see, you can get members pretty easily. Even in our generation of time, if you’ll just always have enough entertainment, enough fun, food and frolic, and you got enough promotional things, you can pack this building and the overflowing with members. But if you want converts, you can have those too. But they’ll come a little differently.

You see, Jesus, Jesus said, if you if you renounce how, you cannot be my disciple. Luke 14 33. That’s pretty strong. If you come into me and you hate not your father and your mother and your wife and your sister or brother or children, you cannot be my disciple.

Was get your priorities straight. Converts have their priorities in order. They know who they’re serving. They know why they’re serving him because they want to go to heaven above every other thing. Now, converts obey the gospel, not men. Members, members can be driven away pretty easily. Why in John chapter 6, after he’d fed the 5,000 with the five loaves and two fishes, he had in John 6 26, he said, Ye, you follow me. Not for the miracles, but for the fishes and loaves.

In fact, he cut at the root of their attitudes that were wrong. In fact, when he went on and began to teach them his flesh and drinking his blood, and saying that that’s the way to live.

Do you find Jesus Jesus saying, Boy, we may we’ll have a better dinner next time. Is that what he did? Did he say that’s we didn’t mean that you misunderstood us? We don’t mean to offend anybody. That isn’t what he did. Sometimes Jesus drove away people. Not that he wanted to, but people who are not willing to obey the Lord. People who do not have their priorities straight, who love the wrong things, will not walk with him. You see, they went out seeking converts. People who would have the attitude to be wholeheartedly involved, even in the radical. They went out to believe and why they believe it and to stand firm and opposing all error, even though there may be some problems in the doing of it.

Conclusion

Their spirit that while they obeyed the gospel, it made drastic changes in their lives, even upsetting former ties, and go continue to do so and to lie for the one faith in doctrine and in attitude toward brethren.

Even when it meant doctrines, and even when it meant yielding their way for the ways of others, they work for unity.

Now, brethren, a church will grow.

That has this character and attitude.

They won’t sit back and wait for the preacher to do the work for them. They won’t work. But you see, every member to the fullest ability that he will be doing what he can. With love, but with conviction and firmness.

But speaking distinctly. And there’ll be converts when we go out in byways. And people will be brought in. And Christ will be glorified. And his church would be a big. I believe we’re living in hard times spiritually. I know that we’re in a generation of time where a lot of people knocking the door down to get into a building. I know that the church where we’ve got so many things to try to determine and sort out the what’s body. We’re living in hard times spiritually. So it’ll always be.