A Great Church In A Great City

    Antioch in Syria was a great city. If you look at the famous and huge cities in the United States you would see New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. In the Roman Empire you had Alexandria, Rome and then Antioch. Antioch was a prosperous city. It was the capital city of the Roman province of Syria. Antioch was known as a very hedonistic city. When a person is devoted to hedonism they are dedicated to the pursuit of pleasure and self-gratification. Everything is about pleasure; whether it eating, playing, sex, work,…

"I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH"

One of the most profound statements in the Bible is Matthew 16:18. "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." Not many things are as misunderstood as the church. The church in the Bible was never a physical building, nor was it a denomination. The church in the Bible was always people saved by the blood of Jesus.

     The church in the Bible is made up of saved people. The…

JESUS BUILT HIS CHURCH    

          If you have read your Bible you have read about the church of Christ. The church of Christ exists anywhere people follow the Bible and the Bible only. (Acts 2:38-47) Jesus promised to build His church. “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?…

THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH

      Jesus Christ established His church long before anyone ever heard of Catholic, Baptist, Pentecostal, Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian or Jehovah's Witnesses. Today there are hundreds (thousands) of kinds of churches in existence. Men on men’s teaching founded these churches. Our Lord Himself established the New Testament church almost two thousand years ago.

      Jesus promised the New Testament church: "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18)  Acts 2 gives the…

It is possible for people living today to be members of the church that you read about in your New Testament. The Austinville Street Church of Christ is not just another denomination among denominations but is Christ's church in Decatur, Alabama. We accept as our mission the responsibility to glorify God. One way that we give honor to our Creator is to carry out the great commission. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I…

          It is possible for people living today to be members of the church that you read about in your New Testament. The Austinville Church of Christ is not just another denomination among denominations but is Christ's church in Decatur, Alabama. We accept as our mission the responsibility to glorify God in His one church. One way that we give honor to our Creator is to carry out the great commission. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all…

Does 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 Forbid Eating Meals in the

Church Building?

What is the context of the entire book of First Corinthians?  Throughout this epistle Paul dealt with issues that were dividing the Corinthian congregation.

            He addressed divisions caused by respect of persons: “"I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ."” (1:10-17).  Divisions caused by spiritual immaturity were addressed: “for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?” (3:1-23).…

“THE CHURCH” OR DENOMINATIONS

      The church of the New Testament is not denominational. In the first century there was only one church. No denominations existed at that time. It is just this simple, from about AD 33 forward for many years denominations did not exist but the church of Christ existed. The undenominational church of Christ is produced when the gospel of Christ is obeyed. "But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin,…

This is offered in the hope that it may aid your study of the Bible.

This is and will forever be a work in progress.

If you find any errors, and I'm sure there are, please let me know.

Mark H.

The Church Jesus Built

          The church of Christ is not a physical building nor is it a denomination. It is the blood-bought body of Christ.…

Should We Display a Cross in the Church Building?

What Does the Bible Say About the Cross of Christ versus the Body of Christ?
 
The cross of Christ occurs 22 times (tree, 4 times) in the New Testament:
Mat 27:32, 40, 42
Mark 15:21, 30, 32
Luke 23:26
John 19:17, 19, 25, 31
Acts 5:30 (tree); 10:39 (tree); 13:29 (tree)
1 Cor. 1:17, 18
Gal. 5:11; 6:12, 14
Eph. 2:16
Phil. 2:8; 3:18
Col. 1:20; 2:14
Heb. 12:2
1 Pet. 2:24 (tree)

The physical body of Christ occurs 26 times in New Testament:
Mat. 26:12, 26; 27:59
Mark 14:8, 22;…

The Greatness Of The Church

The Undenominational 
Church Of Christ

   The church of the New Testament is not denominational.  In the beginning there was only one church -- no denominations. In the first century denominations did not exist, but the church of Christ did exist. The undenominational church of Christ is produced when…