The Bible:

• Is the word of God (2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Corinthians 14:37).
• Is the message of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:3-5; 6:17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
• Is the truth (Psalm 119:160; Revelation 22:6).
• Is our light in a dark world (Psalm 119:105; Isaiah 8:20; 2 Peter 1:19-20).
• Makes us spiritually complete & equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:17).
• Must be studied & handled rightly (2 Timothy 2:15).
• Gives us faith & eternal life (John 20:30-31; Romans 10:17).
• Gives us hope (Romans 15:4).
• Gives us assurance (1 John 5:13).
• Gives us comfort (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
• Gives us joy (1 John 1:4).
• Makes us blessed (Revelation 1:3; 22:7).
• Keeps us humble & obedient (Deuteronomy 17:18-20).
• Is to be loved (Psalm 119:97,113,163).
• Is our life (Deuteronomy 32:46-47).
• Is more persuasive than miracles (Luke 16:27-31).
• Helps us overcome temptation & sin (Matthew 4:4,7,10; 1 John 2:1).
• Allows us to avoid God's wrath (2 Kings 22:13; Hebrews 10:28-31).
• Is our only standard of right & wrong (Romans 3:20; 7:6-7).
• Will judge us on the judgment day (John 12:48; Revelation 20:12).
• Should not be altered or modified (Deuteronomy 4:2; Revelation 22:18-19).

The church is called:

• The body of Christ (Colossians 1:18,24; Ephesians 1:22-23).
• The bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:22-32).
• The house of God (1 Timothy 3:15).
• The kingdom of God’s Son (Colossians 1:13).
• The temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16).
• The church of the firstborn (Hebrews 12:23).
• The church of the Lord/God (Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 1:2).
• The church of Christ (Romans 16:16).

The church is:

• Built by Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:13-18).
• Purchased by the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28).
• Built on Jesus Christ as the only foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11).
• Not built on Peter, Paul, or any other man (1 Corinthians 1:12-13).
• Composed of the saved, who are added to it by the Lord who saves them (Acts 2:47).

Members of the church are called:

• Believers (Acts 5:14; 2 Corinthians 6:15).
• Brethren (Romans 10:1; Colossians 1:2; 1 Corinthians 1:10; 2:1; Philippians 1:14; 3:1,13; James 5:19).
• Children of God (Galatians 3:26-27; 1 John 3:1-2).
• Christians (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16).
• Disciples of Christ (Acts 6:1,7; 11:26).
• Members of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27; 6:15; Romans 12:4-5).
• Priests (1 Peter 2:5,9; Revelation 1:6).
• Saints (Acts 9:13; Romans 1:7; Philippians 1:1).

The local church (congregation) has:

• Elders (also called bishops, pastors, presbyters, and shepherds), who oversee & tend the flock (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Acts 20:17,28).
• Deacons, who serve the church (1 Timothy 3:8-13; Philippians 1:1).
• Evangelists (preachers, ministers), who proclaim & teach the word of God (Ephesians 4:11; 1 Timothy 4:13-16; 2 Timothy 4:1-5).
• Members, who love God & each other and who serve Jesus (1 John 4:7-5:3; Philippians 2:1-4).
• Autonomy, and is bound to other local churches only by the common faith they share (Jude 1:3; Galatians 5:1).

The Lord Jesus Christ:

• Adds saved people to the church (Acts 2:47).
• Established the church (Matthew 16:18).
• Is the head of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:23).
• Loved the church (Ephesians 5:25).
• Shed His blood for the church (Acts 20:28).
• Will save the church (Acts 2:47; Ephesians 5:23).

Man did not:

• Add people to the church (Acts 2:47).
• Give the church its doctrine (Galatians 1:8-11; 2 John 9-11).
• Name its members (Isaiah 56:5; 62:2; Acts 11:26; 1 Peter 4:16).
• Plan or purpose the church (Ephesians 3:10-11).
• Purchase the church (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:25).

To enter the church, you must:

• Hear the word of God, the gospel (Romans 10:17; John 8:47; Luke 8:18,21; Acts 3:22-23).
• Believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God (Hebrews 11:6; John 8:24; Acts 16:31).
• Repent of your sins (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30).
• Confess your faith in Jesus, that He is the Son of God (Romans 10:9-10; Matthew 10:32; Acts 8:37).
• Be baptized (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21).

Baptism requires:

• A birth (John 3:3-5; Romans 6:3-6).
• A burial in water (Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12).
• A resurrection (Acts 8:39; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12).
• A washing (Acts 22:16; Hebrews 10:22).
• Going down into the water (Acts 8:36-38).
• Much water (John 3:23).

By (through the process of) baptism:

• You are born again, a new creature (Romans 6:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:17).
• You are saved from sins (Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21).
• You enter into Christ (Galatians 3:26-27; Romans 6:3-4).
• You enter into the church (1 Corinthians 12:13; Acts 2:41,47).
• You have remission of sins (Acts 2:38).
• You obey Christ (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 10:48; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).
• You put on Christ and become a child of God (Galatians 3:26-27).
• You walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3-4).
• Your sins are washed away by the blood of Christ (Acts 22:16; Hebrews 9:22; 10:22; 1 Peter 3:21).

The faithful church will:

• Assemble on the first day of the week, Sunday (Acts 20:7; Hebrews 10:25).
• Worship in spirit & in truth (John 4:23-24).
• Partake of the Lord’s Supper on the first day (Sunday) of each week (Acts 2:42; 20:7; Matthew 26:26-30; 1 Corinthians 11:20-32).
• Give, liberally & cheerfully (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5; 9:6-8).
• Pray (James 5:16; Acts 2:42; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17).
• Sing, making melody with the heart (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16).

In New Testament times there was:

• One body of Christ (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:4).
• One bride of Christ (Romans 7:1-7; Ephesians 5:23-32).
• One church of Christ (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:4-6).
• One family (house) of God (Ephesians 3:15; 1 Timothy 3:15).
• One kingdom of Christ (Matthew 16:18-19; Colossians 1:13-14).

The same church today:

• Contends for the one faith (Jude 1:3; Ephesians 4:5).
• Is faithful to Christ (Luke 6:46; Revelation 2:10; Mark 8:38).
• Is guided by the same word of God (1 Peter 1:22-25; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
• Is not a denomination (1 Corinthians 1:10-13; Ephesians 4:1-6).
• Pleads for unity of all believers (John 17:20-21; Ephesians 4:4-6).
• Wears the name of Christ (Romans 16:16; Acts 11:26; 1 Peter 4:16).

You can be a member of this church:

• By doing what people did 2,000 years ago (Acts 2:36-47).
• Without being in any denomination (Acts 2:47; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13).

A child of God (Christian):

• Can fall away & be lost (1 Corinthians 9:27; 10:12; Galatians 5:4; Hebrews 3:12-19; James 5:19-20).
• Is given a law of pardon (Acts 8:22; James 5:16).
• Is constantly cleansed by the blood of Christ as he walks in the light of God's word (1 Peter 2:9-10; 1 John 1:5-10; Psalm 119:105).