November 14, 2021 Sunday School

All right. We are talkin about Bible Warfare and Tony and I have decided to imitate or model are lessons Behind these glasses that have been developed by Mike mazzalongo, who is a Church of Christ preacher and a retired Professor from Oklahoma. Christian University, which is a pretty big Church of Christ School in Oklahoma City also is a minister. One of the Evangelist at the Choctaw Church of Christ in Oklahoma. Alright, and so, what if my life is that, he provides power points, but have a nice work for us. So please understand, is that there has never ever been. This is well where we just take what somebody else said and and use that is why we do not do that. We we we we That we have our own studies, but we don't like we take out. All right, and we do that a lot if it's somebody I was somebody like this. We have a lot of common ground and he's he's he's right in line with how we teaching here at Brookfield as well, which is another reason why we are like using these lessons that we can access Mike mazzalongo. Absolutely and it is also bibletalk TV is also something. I would like to see us model our media Ministry after You can get this anywhere almost. Now. It's it is the second largest content provider on Amazon Prime.

Stop being. So if you have Amazon Prime at home on your TV, you can watch any of his Bible school lessons sermons. He has some great series on here. Just very, very good, Tony.

That is one of the most sound creatures, true that I've come across. So we encourage you to check it out as well. But this is, certainly a very, very good resource for like Tony says, there's an app. You can get them on YouTube. You got a Facebook page Instagram, you name it website and then there are several other churches that help support this ministry is because it's that big and that worldwide and very, very professionally. Well. I have another thing that I personally like, I believe when you put a stick figure up there, and it looks like you put your time into something. It just gets people's at. People pay more attention to it, but they know that you put some effort into it and he has certainly done that. All right. So what we're going to talk about today is what makes the Church of Christ unique. All right, what makes the Church of Christ you need? And what we're doing with these theories of license is required learning how to defend our faith. The last couple Sundays. We talked about baptism and forgiveness. All right, and we talked about the questions that come up about baptism and forgiveness, and we've been using the Bible where that's concerned and want to continue to remind. You is about the rule because if we're defending our favorite chocolate with somebody that has questions about our faith or we ourselves have questions about our faith. So, just want you to remember that whole idea of always respect the other person, right? That's dumb. Number one. People are sincere in their beliefs. And so just respect the fact that they are sincere. Sincerity does not equal, correct. Alright, you can be sincere and wrong a man. And so we want to make sure do however that we are respecting them to remain engaged in this discussion. Right? And you might learn something from them as well. Are we also want to be patient? Right? I like this little for me or how he put what we've been talkin about together. So if people have been leaving them, believing something for a long time, you know, the chances of me talking to somebody that's well. I'm preaching. So maybe it's a little bit different but somebody that's no 16, 17, 18 years old who hasn't had time to be ingrained in the belief that they have enjoyed talking to older people. Right? Like I said, last week as well to what those people have been believing what they be. For a lifetime. And so my meeting with them for 30 minutes is not going to change their lifetime of beliefs, right? So we're going to have to be patient where that is concerned as far as as long as I'm putting a rock in their shoe. If you're putting putting something in there that, that, that causes them to confront the scripture, not me, but to confront the scripture, then that can always be a fruitful conversation. All right, and then the third thing is, we always want to refer to what The Bible everything is based on the scripture. As a matter of fact, there's a statement that we should have in our minds that we should always used. And that is I believe that the Bible teaches and then whatever it is that you're disgusting because I do not have discussions with people. Are you saying I think practice is not about what you think it is all about what the Bible says if we always want to party with, you know, I was told that the Bible's, I believe that the Bible teaches and then you backed that up with what the Bible, which scripture always add a fourth one, and that is don't give up on these things. But when you have respect for people with your patient with them and all of that is founded by It's on top of the Bible. That is what equals personal work. Okay, evangelism. When we do those things, we use the Bible. We don't give up. That's personally magic. That's personal work Katy.

Love to be up there to absolutely we can we can add that in there. Also will put it right next to respect love and respect. Remember to keep saying that cuz I like that love and respect. All right. So where I left it is concerned. This is the question that were kind of looking at. This is the defending, our faith part of the Bible Warfare because we might have this question of myself and we certainly would have this question that would come from other people as well. All right, and that is what's the difference between the Church of Christ and whatever, Google. Show of hands have ever had that question that what that question. That question is 1/4 over what? We've all been there, done, that right is going to be about, it's going to talk about what makes the Church of Christ unique. What's the difference between the Church of Christ and Catholics or Catholicism? Right, that would be a big one. This part of this lesson will help with that. What's the difference between the Church of Christ and Jehovah Witnesses? We will be able to be able concisely. Say what those differences are. What's the difference between a Church of Christ and the Baptist was a Methodist. So there are a lot of different religions out there, right? A ticket, a lot of different religions who will claim to be Christian. Is that not right? Okay, and so it would be good for us to know, or isn't a Christian, just a question. Right? And so, what's the difference between the Church of Christ and whatever it is that you can fill in the blank that right? Okay.

Officine watch is asleep. So fast over there, right? Oh, hell yeah, everybody was about to well and and there's some some truth to that and we'll see what's the difference. Even if that even when you say, we're all the same. We're not in the lotto Christian denomination, say they use the Bible but they use the Bible in different ways and we will discuss that as well. What what is the difference between, how they use the Bible and how we use the Bible? All right, but just for a concise answer because a lot of people just give me to talk to people can just say yes or no yes or no, right? To have a concise respond here, his 1 in its simplest and his purest terms we and that would be the Church of Christ. Right? We are consciously striving to be a New Testament Church. And the other phase that you might be discussing or they would just say they and they are not. All right. Y'all should be writing it down to be writing that down. You should be putting in your head to answer for other people because a lot of people say it doesn't matter. What church you. Go to write. Well, it does because there's a difference between Church's. There's a difference between even Christian so-called Christian churches. There's a difference between Methodist and Baptist. That's why one is called Methodist and I don't call because there's a difference between them. So it matters what those differences are. And whether Churches of Christ are concerned. We are consciously striving to be what kind of church. So we are not trying to be an Old Testament Church, right? We are not trying to be a modern Church. Play New Age church, right? We are trying to be a New Testament Church by the SE.

That makes me feel like it's more like you want to do something. Not, we'll see you in a minute. We'll see you in a minute because other religions might say, well we're trying a new testament Church to, okay, but I'll submit to you most don't even have the wherewithal to be able to say that some do and out. Those are bees. All that might have a little bit of Bible knowledge. But if you said this is somebody, most people would probably say to you most probably say to you. What's the New Testament? We are living in a biblically illiterate world. All right, biblically illiterate. We are living in an age where you have to help Church of Christ members. Find things in the Bible, you have to tell them where James is in the, in the Bible. All right, and so I just have to stand by the answer, but you'll see the difference. What makes it you need for the Church of Christ as weak. This lesson on folds Dan.

Right. We are free denominational, nomination. Oh, okay. Just remember and is pure simplest form. What makes the Church of Christ unique. We are striving to be a New Testament Church that has already caused different responses to that statement. That lets me know. This is a good statement because when you say that when you respond, if somebody says, what makes the Church of Christ unique and you say to them, well, the Church of Christ is consciously trying to become a New Testament Church. Then that automatically prompts another question, doesn't it? And what would that question be? What is it, but I'm glad you asked I guess where you go to answer that question.

To the new testament, which is in the end and the start off on lesson. If we're doing personal work. We're doing this, right? So I'm respecting the fact that they don't know. What a New Testament Church is. I'm going to be patient with them to break this down and I'm going to break it down for them in the Bible that will make for a very good study again.

I was what would be a good response for that? Cuz that's a good one. Very easy to answer. There you go. Play. Well. We're not trying to be an Old Testament Church. We're trying to be a New Testament Church. Okay.

I'll talk to you.

My mother loves me to death, but she would come up with the most ridiculous argument every time. My father.

but after a while, I was just kind of Yeah, yeah that if that's where to find out a personal work, no matter what? Okay, where did the idea of that? We're New Testament? Church is something that we want to stick with that? Church of Christ in description.

We are the church.

Absolutely. I think that that would be premature to try to bring that into discussion at this point. I think the idea that we are New Testament churches enough to go with it for right now. I will it. Sometimes we have a problem of mudding up the waters way too early, way too early. And then when you do that you allow people many Avenues to escape your personal evangelism, but if you just stick with just one idea, the time and get that nail down, then they'll become less avenues for people to escape from tip to leave out from. Not be engaged from right. Right now. We just want to deal with the idea of New Testament Church. We don't want to deal with the idea what a church is and all that kind of stuff. At this point that you asked me. What makes the Church of Christ unique. And I'm telling you, we're trying to be a new testament church, right? And then we build from that time. Not only should we tell them that the Ten Commandments are in the Old Testament, but we should also tell them that she has to be there cuz I'll be at I'm in a space for that as well.

So that helps us understand where Jesus came from what he said, there's now there's only two, don't go down rabbit holes. I'm just suggesting that, I mean, this is a different things. But what I'm telling you is, when you talk about people that do not have your understanding one idea, the time is best. Isis more left is a lot more surrounding Antarctica.

We will at some point. I just don't think I should be at the beginning. I'm making everything you guys are saying is true. And in the Bible, right? I'm just saying there's a time and a place for everything, right? As you are doing your personal word, one idea of the time is the best way to go. Tony and then Zach.

I talked with, on Monday.

Directions Alice's mm dealing with once saved. Always saved, all kinds of things. So, how can I get this person where I am? Keeping is state state for state in the Bible and allow them to God allows them to do a lot of reflecting on the Bible First. They know what their beliefs are. They have them sincerely. You said, sticking with the Bible, in one idea, allows them the opportunity and the ability to measure those things that they bleed with that. That one idea that you were giving them the Bible. Okay, trials. That then shower.

No matter how big or small. You got to start with a foundation. You have to put more energy almost into designing and building that structure before you make any further. Step after that. You can't immediately start building that structure on that Foundation until it's secured. Absolutely. Sometimes just taking your analogy. When you look at those buildings, it seems like they're taking a long time. But once that Foundation is so the next thing you're saying is, can they put that building up quick? Because the proper Foundation study will pick up momentum. All right, because you, you, you settled one issue at a time and I don't allow them to go back down the stairs to that issue. Does not settle job.

With all the stuff that we can be overwhelming. And that's also another reason why people turn us all to. We want to impress them with our Bible. Knowledge. I did not end up not into how smart we are out for the Bible. Okay. I so taking a lot of what you said it and and trying to help with this one idea day. And like I said, you know, more than one New Testament Church. There the idea is that all other religions, don't really practice New Testament Christianity. They they do not. All right. And so to teach them, new testament Christianity, there are two ways to go about, okay. The first is a theological and when we say theological, we mean all things, the study of God, all things. Are the study of God where the Bible is concerned? Cuz if someone asks or what then is the New Testament Church, the answer to that question, these two parts, this lesson will deal mostly with the illogical. The next lesson will be a little more historical. The New Testament Church is like the Church of Christ are different theologically than others because of our approach to the Bible. Everybody does not have the same approach to the Bible. For some, the Bible is just a source. Now she's listening to Tony preach for any length of time. I said something very important a source. So if it's a source, what does that mean? Is one of many that there are other sources and all the other save that we are discussing and considering I'm most of them, if not all of them, most of them use the Bible as a source to automatically was speaking to the uniqueness of the Church of Christ right away because we use the Bible as what store and what is B Tony that's a definite Article, 1 of 1, there's only one. So when we say we're trying to be a new testament church and our approach to the Bible is unique than other denominations. Is that in order to be a new Testament Church, we only used the Bible.

Okay. Okay. No, we are not.

Where is if you take the nominations? It's okay. Denomination. Nomination. Okay, so, Nations. Use the Bible as a source. All right, and we the Churches of Christ use the Bible as the source. Okay, cuz the question that we're dealing with it is what day it is, a new testament church because we already dealt with the first question. And what are you doing personal work? That's what you're that's what you're doing. Right? This question, gets an answer which leads to another question. Right? So we said we are consciously striving to become a New Testament Church. So now there's another question after that, what? Then is a new testament church and then we stay well. A New Testament Church, there's theological and historical answer to that. I like to start off with the theological first. And that is the approach to the Bible. I approach to the Bible in Churches of Christ. Is that there? It is. The only source for all things life and godliness where our religion is concerned, right? Where are the denominations, use the Bible as a source and they use other materials or other things, as a means of the coming, when they will call A New Testament Church. Right. So we're Catholics are concerned. They were, they would use the Bible. They were Church tradition and they would use the pope. They have a three-legged of foundation for Catholicism. Okay, and we would not do not add anything to the Bible, if I understand that Katie. Just because I know a lot of people that grew up one.

Got, you know, you apart of church, history of our church history on a three-legged Foundation, the Bible Church history, and church history of those things that have come about from different meetings and catechisms where they have voted on things and over history. Those things has stopped. All right, and so they call that there, their church history and then they have the pole, his papal teachings. And and they have created a doctrine of that is called papal infallibility, which means whenever the pope speaks ex cathedra or meaning from the chair, from Peter's chair. They want to call Peter their folks first pope, then anything that he teaches on faith and morals is invalid. K. And I didn't think about that is through church history, you had other popes denounced, previous post. And things that they have taught. Well, how could that be up there? Well, they would say Well church history proved that. That Pope was wrong.

And he was infallible. So, those, those things don't go together, right? These are some obvious discrepancy that can be easily brought out a life at a later point in time. Okay, so dealing with the theological. We want to say to our approach to theology is different than others into face. The first one is that we believe that the Bible is completely inspired by God, and is the only & Final, Write a tortie in spiritual matters. Okay, we believe that the Bible is completely inspired and is the only and final Authority. In spiritual matters are questions about what makes us unique and it it will start paying a different stores them as well to because they've not been living your life and not been living there. Live with the Bible, as their complete Authority, have final Authority, right? So in whatever we do religiously, we only have one place. We go to determine whether we should be doing that. And how to do that. Is that all right? What? What is that Source? The Bible. So I love polishing the pulpit. Absolutely love it. But we don't go there to determine to take a boat to church the Christ, don't go to Pasha to Forfeit to take a vote on how all other churches of Christ. I supposed to.

Conduct himself. Thank you, brother. You understand what I'm saying?

Denominations. Zaire again, denominations do. They have meetings.

Where they get to wear their academics, those people that they believe have studied those things have from digit credentials are concerned credentials that they gave themselves. Right, they vote. On what how their denomination is supposed to conduct themselves?

If I understand the difference, we don't do that. Do that and end. The world is a sounded. They literally all the world is absolutely astounded. How? The Church of Christ can be one church because we have no ecclesiastical system. What's an ecclesiastical system? Haha, it's a hierarchy. So I do not report. To anybody. Except the Lord.

Never any good. Does the Baptist preacher down the road? He can I say that? Do you have to report to somebody? The offerings that they give, they have to be sent to headquarters. Right. There's a directive on their offerings on how much goes to whatever ecclesiastical group they belong to. Because you know what, what Baptists have done as soon as a certain group of Baptist believe something different than the whole they come up with a different name to distinguish themselves, and then, they come up with different rules because they didn't like, what the previous group was doing, but that's how you get First Baptist. Second Baptist Third Baptist. Fourth Baptist, that's how you get Missionary Baptist Church. That's how you get New Missionary Baptist Church, right? And you can only get that if the Bible is a source. For what type of church is going to be. But if the Bible is be source. Did you got to do what the Bible say? That's the strength of our Unity. That's the strength of the unity of the Church of Christ. Is that for those Churches of Christ? Because there are some in name but not in faith.

I'll say it again in. There are some in name but not in faith, because they've gone out. And why are they not in faith? Because they've gone outside of the definite article of the Bible. And they decided to add something to the Bible because it's become more important for attendance to improve. Van for Spiritual understanding to improve.

What are we human beings? Don't get is too to get better spiritual understanding you had to go through Peaks and valleys. Right, you got to go through good times and bad times. You got to go through a lot of attendance and not a lot of attendance.

So, that's why people. That's what makes us unique. We have the Bible as our only source for matters of life and religion.

Who have the healthy a losing his America?

My mother has been going to an LLC.

So I learned it really thoroughly, and then I learned so much that I begin to question it.

Doing what?

Teachers week, we can go to the Bible, 2nd Timothy 3 and 16. What's the Bible say? There's somebody read it?

How much scriptures? The earlier we were talking about trying to make sure people understood the difference between Old Testament and New Testament, all that kind of stuff. And I tried to intimated don't go down the rabbit hole yet, and I'll be fine for that. This scripture deals with that.

This scripture deals with the breakdown for them early on the difference, between the old and the New Testament scripture deals with that.

For training and all righteousness. Yeah, right verse 17. Yeah. And so, what we want right now is that all scripture is inspired. That's why we used the Bible only cuz we believe the Bible is inspired, right? It is, it is God's word and we have everything that we need in that word. Okay. Now we might want to look. A difference is readily seen. When you consider the Roman Catholic Church for answers. We already talked about it. They believe the pope Church Edition has equal authority to the Bible.

And I would argue that they believe the pope has more Authority than the Bible. Right.

In the Bible to put. Put in that place, absolutely. And maybe they might argue that tradition has more Authority because tradition with correct erroneous hopes that once again, we don't even need to go there, right? So we just trying to show the different. You asked me what the difference is between the Church of Christ. I'm telling you is that we're trying to be a New Testament Church. What's a New Testament Church? A New Testament Church is a church that follows Bible only. That being said, in my personal work. Could it be sent? I believe. That's what the Bible teaches. I just showed you 2nd. Timothy. 3:16. So, based on what the Bible says, is the Catholic Church a New Testament Church. And why, why isn't the Roman Catholic Church? A New Testament Church?

They have other sources for their face and their conduct sources that are outside of scripture tradition. Like, you know, the history of man, can correct the Bible. And the pope one man, decorate the Bible. Okay. So on the other hand, some Protestants don't accept all the Bible as inspired and include the teachings of their founders. Methodist would include the teachings of Calvin Lutheran's would include the teachings of Luther Luther, did not believe that. All the writings of Paul inspired.

And in the end of the book of James, Tony didn't even know. He doesn't even take the Book of James should be in the Canon. They do not work with dead being alone.

So they so they are there are denominations that include other sources outside of the Bible and not only that they will include the teachings of their Founders such as Calvin and Luther, and they will consider their teaching authoritative just like to buy. Okay. Evangelicals for the most part, agree with us on the inspiration of scripture. However, the inspiration of scripture for them is subjective and not objective, right? And what's playing?

all of us in the

fire.

And I'm really later, probably will I make a point where you believe God can do the impossible or you don't? And it has nothing to do with. Whether they believe it's partially inspired or what they just believe that. Some of it is not actual fact.

Police has a breakdown of these other of these denominations.

We talked about post about Protestant Bible prop, partially inspired if the evangelicals for the most part. The Bible is inspired. All right, and, and sex would be groups like Jehovah Witnesses Latter Day Saints and the light who include other writings next to the Bible with their Founders as authoritative in their sex. All right. So this once again goes back to answer the question. What what makes the Church of Christ so you need y'all ain't no more different. Anybody else different.

And we just talked about that. We're trying to be a New Testament. Church. Well, New Testament is found in the Bible. And we believe Bible alone is inspire. These other face believe there are other inspired riding or other inspire people who stand alongside the authority of the scriptures. That makes them different. Right. And and so we should be working in our students minds or in our discussion is what really is, but you know, what really is by the Bible in their heart of hearts. They understand the Bible is inspired in the heart of hard to understand that God's word is authoritative. I thought you don't have to spend a lot of time making that point just make the point that it is authoritative. They already understand it is and the pain the more we go through this lesson will build on that without trying to get cuz it short-circuited short-circuiting the process we want to at any point want to say, okay?

Not there yet? Not there yet. We're still building the foundation. Our time is up.

I'll be in with this statement and we'll start with this is controversial, and then I'll even put it on the Internet. It's a different beliefs about the inspiration and authority of the Bible produce different teachings and practices and homosexuality and the use of instruments in worship and how churches are organized, are the big three. There's a reason why we do what we do and is different than everybody else. Because what we do, we can find in the Bible. What they do, they found in their meetings by voting. They found in their Founders by their teachings. They found in their wanting to have big attendance.

But they didn't find it in the Bible.

90 Church of Christ members don't like all the Church of Christ. That's all right. If it's God's word that that God be right. And man, be wrong. A man.

We don't understand. I would love to all people.

Always love you. You will always have that in my teacher that is off. We always have responsibility to love and I'm not saying we hate people that use instruments in their worship. Not saying that we hate people, whose are churches on organized differently than the Bible. Organizes them. Right? I'm not saying that we hate homosexualit homosexual. The word homosexual, not even in the Box. It but it's the the phrase is in the Bible. Men sleeping with other men as old as you would a woman. And then the Bible condemns that I even have to use the word homosexuality. I can just use the actions that the Bible speaks against. Not even using the turn cuz I know the term is going to be right away. Even those watching it home or maybe even still here right now. Already turned off, just leaves at work.

Church of Christ is not the Church of Christ because we have a stand against homosexuality.

Do you know what God is the one with that stand? We have to decide where we stand. Is that what God? Are we staying with somebody else or something else? And if we're not believe the Bible in the Bible, only, that's what we got to go with. We got the find the loving way, like Harvest day to get, we sold to see that's all responsibility, acceptance, that's on the individual. So, if you want to go to Heaven by adding different things in the Bible, then that's on you.

I won't close right there on that next week. So all right, I'll dance because it's out with a word of Prayer.

Play music.

Amen, amen.