You should know that, in Bible times, the church is called—

• The temple of God. (1 Cor. 3:16)

• The bride of Christ. (Eph. 5:22-32)

• The body of Christ. (Col. 1:18, 24; Eph. 1:22-23)

• The kingdom of God’s Son. (Col. 1:13)

• The house of God. (1 Tim. 3:15)

• The church of God. (1 Cor. 1:2)

• The church of the firstborn. (Heb. 12:23)

• The church of the Lord. (Acts 20:28)

• The churches of Christ. (Rom. 16:16)

You should know that the church is—

• Built by Jesus Christ. (Matt. 16:13-18)

• Purchased by the blood of Christ. (Acts 20:28)

• Built on Jesus Christ as the only foundation. (1 Cor. 3:11)

• Not built on Peter, Paul or any other man. (1 Cor. 1:12-13)

• Composed of the saved, who are added to it by the Lord who saves them. (Acts 2:47)

You should know that members of the church are called—

• Members of Christ. (1 Cor. 12:27; 6:15; Rom. 12:4-5)

• Disciples of Christ. (Acts 6:1, 7; 11:26)

• Believers. (Acts 5:14; 2 Cor. 6:15)

• Saints. (Acts 9:13; Rom. 1:7; Phil. 1:1)

• Priests. (1 Pet. 2:5, 9; Rev. 1:6)

• Children of God. (Gal. 3:26-27; 1 Jno. 3:1-2)

• Christians. (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16)

You should know that the local church has—

• Elders (also called bishops and pastors) who oversee and tend the flock. (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Pet. 5:1-4)

• Deacons, who serve the church. (1 Tim. 3:8-13; Phil. 1:1)

• Evangelists (preachers, ministers), who teach and proclaim the word of God. (Eph. 4:11; 1 Tim. 4:13-16; 2 Tim. 4:1-5)

• Members, who love the Lord and each other. (Phil. 2:1-5)

• Autonomy, and is bound to other local churches only by the common faith shared. (Jude 3; Gal. 5:1)

You should know that the Lord Jesus Christ—

• Loved the church. (Eph. 5:25)

• Shed His blood for the church. (Acts 20:28)

• Established the church. (Matt. 16:18)

• Added saved people to the church. (Acts 2:47)

• Is the head of the church. (Eph. 1:22-23; 5:23)

• Will save the church. (Acts 2:47; Eph. 5:23)

You should know that man did not—

• Purpose the church. (Eph. 3:10-11)

• Purchase the church. (Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:25)

• Name its members. (Isa. 56:5; 62:2; Acts 11:26; 1 Pet. 4:16)

• Add people to the church. (Acts 2:47; 1 Cor. 12:18)

• Give the church its doctrine. (Gal. 1:8-11; 2 John 9-11)

You should know that, to enter the church, you must—

• Believe in Jesus Christ. (Heb. 11:6; Jno. 8:24; Acts 16:31)

• Repent of your sins. (Lk. 13:3; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30)

• Confess faith in Christ. (Matt. 10:32; Acts 8:37; Rom. 10:9-10)

• Be baptized. (Matt. 28:19; Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38; 10:48; 22:16)

You should know that baptism requires—

• Much water. (Jno. 3:23; Acts 10:47)

• Going down into the water. (Acts 8:36-38)

• A burial in water. (Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:12)

• A resurrection. (Acts 8:39; Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12)

• A birth. (Jno. 3:3-5; Rom. 6:3-6)

• A washing. (Acts 22:16; Heb. 10:22)

You should know that by baptism—

• You are saved from sins. (Mk. 16:16; 1 Pet. 3:21)

• You have remission of sins. (Acts 2:38)

• Sins are washed away by the blood of Christ. (Acts 22:16; Heb. 9:22; 10:22; 1 Pet. 3:21)

• You enter the church. (1 Cor. 12:13; Acts 2:41,47)

• You enter into Christ. (Gal. 3:26-27; Rom. 6:3-4)

• You put on Christ and become a child of God. (Gal. 3:26-27)

• You are born again, a new creature. (Rom. 6:3-4; 2 Cor. 5:17)

• You walk in newness of life. (Rom. 6:3-6)

• You obey Christ. (Mk. 16:15-16; Acts 10:48; 2 Thes. 1:7-9)

You should know that the faithful church will—

• Worship in spirit and in truth. (Jno. 4:23-24)

• Meet on the first day of the week. (Acts 20:7; Heb. 10:2)

• Pray. (Jas. 5:16; Acts 2:42; 1 Tim. 2:1-2; 1 Thes. 5:17)

• Sing, making melody with the heart. (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16)

• Eat the Lord’s supper on the first day of each week. (Acts 2:42; Acts 20:7; Matt. 26:26-30; 1 Cor. 11:20-32)

• Give, liberally and cheerfully. (1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 8:1-5; 9:6-8)

You should know that, in New Testament times there was—

• One family of God. (Eph. 3:15; 1 Tim. 3:15)

• One kingdom of Christ. (Matt. 16:18-19; Col. 1:13-14)

• One body of Christ. (Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22-23; 4:4)

• One bride of Christ. (Rom. 7:1-7; Eph. 5:22-32)

• One church of Christ. (Matt. 16:18; Eph. 1:22-23; 4:4-6)

You should know that the same church today—

• Is guided by the same word. (1 Pet. 1:22-25; 2 Tim. 3:16-17)

• Contends for the one faith. (Jude 3; Eph. 4:5)

• Pleads for unity of all believers. (Jno. 17:20-21; Eph. 4:4-6)

• Is not a denomination. (1 Cor. 1:10-13; Eph. 4:1-6)

• Is faithful to Christ. (Lk. 6:46; Rev. 2:10; Mk. 8:38)

• Wears the name of Christ. (Rom. 16:16; Acts 11:26; 1 Pet. 4:16)

You should know that you can be a member of this church—

• By doing what people did 1900 years ago. (Acts 2:36-47)

• Without being in any denomination. (Acts 2:47; 1 Cor. 1:10-13)

You should know that a child of God—

• Can be lost. (1 Cor. 9:27; 10:12; Gal. 5:4; Heb. 3:12-19)

• But is given a law of pardon. (Acts 8:22; Jas. 5:16)

• Is constantly cleansed by the blood of Christ as he walks in the light of God. (1 Pet. 2:9-10; 1 Jno. 1:5-10)