Category: CHURCH

City of Nazareth


Matthew 2:19-22 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:

Joseph had to move many times to keep his son safe, always led by dreams from GOD. These travels were probably paid for with the gifts they had received from the Magi. Remember Joseph and Mary were not wealthy.
And finally, they came to the city of Nazareth.
Matthew 2:23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

Judges 13:5 For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.

From Galilee to Bethlehem to Egypt to Land of Israel to Nazareth.

A fulfilment of Prophecy … So that Jesus would be called a Nazarene.

All this was prophesied in the Old Testament.
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

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Thanksgiving Part 2

Forget not all His benefits. 

Psalm 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Forgiveness Psalm 103:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
Redemption Psalm 103:4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; …
Kindness, Mercy Psalm 103:4 … who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
Satisfies Psalm 103:5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; …
Righteousness Psalm 103:6 The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
Merciful, Gracious Psalm 103:8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

Psalm 65 Count your many Blessings
Forgiveness Psalm 65:3 Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.
Blessed Psalm 65:4 Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, …

God takes care of the Earth and all that dwell thereon:
Psalm 65:9-13 Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it. Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof. Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness. They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side. The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.
WE have many, many things to be thankful for.

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Church Leaders Part 4

How to Read the Acts of the Apostles – St. Paul Center

Apostles: The majority of the time the word APOSTLES appears in the Scriptures, it refers to the 12 Apostles:

Matthew 10:2; Mark 6:30; Luke 6:13 9:10 17:5 22:14 24:10; (not in John) Acts 1:2,26 2:37,42,43 4:35,36,37 5:2,12,18,29,34,40 6:6 8:1,14,18 9:27,11:1 14:4,14 15:2,4,6,22,23,33 16:4; I Corinthians 4:9 9:5,12:28,29 15:7-9; II Corinthians 11:5 12:11; Galatians 1:17,19; Ephesians 2:20 3:5 4:11; I Thessalonians 2:6 Jude 1:17; Revelation 2:2 18:20 21:14; (Revelation 21:14 is the Last reference to 12 Apostles)

Now a text that appears to address others (other than the original twelve, Matthias (the ELECTED not SELECTED), and Paul (the Chosen) as APOSTLES.

Romans 16:7 Salute Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. 

Does this mean Andronicus and Junias were Apostles or apostles?

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Church Leaders Part 3

Bishop (5x) Greek EPISKOPOS  Superintendent, Overseer
      I Peter 2:25      …Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. (Christ)
      Titus 1:7         …bishop must be blameless…
      I Timothy 3:2     …bishop must be blameless…
Bishop (1x) Greek EPISKOPE  (I Timothy 3:1) Office of bishop
Bishop s (1x)      Greek EPISKOPOS  Superintendent, Overseer
     Philippians 1:1 …with the bishops and deacon.

Elder(s) (65x) Greek PRESBUTEROS  Senior, Older
Elder(s) (2x) Greek PRESBUTERION  Presbytery, estate of elder,
Luke 22:66;Acts 22:5
      I Timothy 5:15 “…Let the elders that rule well…”
      Titus 1:5 “…and ordain elders…”
     I Peter 5:1 “…the elders … I exhort, am also an elder…”
     I Peter 5:5 “…ye younger, submit …unto the elder…”
      2 John 1:1; 3 John 1:1  “The elder (John) unto…”

A study of elders in the book of Acts gives a better understanding.
Acts 4:5  “…their rulers, and elders and scribes…”
4:8  “…and elders of Israel…”
6:12 “…the chief priest and elders…”
22:5  “…all the estate of the elders; from whom also I received…”
23:14 “…came to the chief priests and elders, and said…”
24:1  “…the high priest, descended with the elders, and with…”
25:15 “…the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me…”
(Above refers to Temple (Jews) – Below refers to Church (Christians))
      11:30 “…sent it to the elders…”
      15:2  “…unto the apostles and elders about this question.”
      15:4  “…received by the church, and the apostles and elders…”
      15:6  “And the apostles and elders came together to consider…”
      15:22 “it pleased the apostles and elders…”
      15:23 “…The apostles and elders and brethren sent greetings…”
      16:4  “…that were ordained of the apostles and elders…”
      20:17 “…and called the elders of the church.”
     21:18 “…and all the elders were present.”

It would appear that the office of elder was a carry over (by the Jews) from the Temple to the Church. The office is still in some churches today. Some are preachers, some are above deacons and some replace deacons.

Deacon (2x) Greek DIAKONEO  wait upon, serve, minister (unto) (the act)
     I Timothy 3:10,13 …use office of deacon…  …used the office of a deacon…Deacons (3x) Greek DIAKONOS  an attendant, minister, servant (the person)
Philippians 1:1   …with the bishops and deacons.
I Timothy 3:8,12  …deacons must be grave …deacons … husband of one wife

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Church Leaders Part 2

Pastors (1x)    Greek POIMEN Shepherd,
Pastor        Ephesians 4:11
      (Pastor (1x) Jeremiah 17:16 Old Testament Hebrew)
Teacher (4x) Greek DIDASKALOS    Instructor: Doctor, Teacher, Master
      (Greek DIDACHE       Doctrine    Greek DIDACHO To Teach)
John 3:2    … that thou (Jesus) art a teacher from God…
Romans 2:20 … a teacher of babes…
I Timothy 2:7     …a teacher (Paul) of the gentiles in faith…
II Timothy 1:11   … (Paul) a teacher of the gentiles…
Teachers (6x) Acts 13:1 …certain … teachers as Barnabus and Symeon
 I Corinthians 12:28,29  …God hath set some in the church
 Ephesians 4:11    …and some teachers…
 II Timothy 4:3    …heap to themselves teachers…
 Hebrews 5:12      …ye ought to be teachers…
 I Timothy 1:7 Greek NOMODIDASKALOS      …teachers of the Law…
 Titus 2:3 Greek KALODIDASKALOS    …teachers of good things…
 I Peter 2:1 Greek PSEUDODIDASKALOS       …False Teachers…
Preacher (1x) Greek KERUSSO Proclaimer, Publisher
Romans 10:14; How shall they hear without a Preacher?
Preacher (3x) Greek KERUX Heralder, of divine truth
 I Timothy 2:7 “… I (Paul)…ordained a preacher…apostle…teacher”|
II Timothy 1:11 “…I (Paul)…appointed a preacher…apostle…teacher…”
II Peter 2:5 ‘’…Noah, the eight person, a preacher…”.  

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A Good Church (Part 2)

Is One that also Preaches:

HEAVEN AND HELL:
Heaven: Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Colossians 1:5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Revelation 21:1-2 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Hell: James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
2 Peter 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Revelation 6:8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
Revelation 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death

If the Church you are attending is not Preaching/Teaching about these, then it’s time to look for a new Church.

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A Good Church

Is One that Preaches:

The True Gospel: 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;…, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Lost and Saved :
Lost: Matthew 18:11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
2 Corinthians 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
Saved: Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Good and Evil:
Good: Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Galatians 6:6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
Galatians 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Romans 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Romans 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
1 Corinthians 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

Evil: Romans 2:9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
1 Corinthians 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
1 Corinthians 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
2 Corinthians 13:7 Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; …
Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

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What is the Work of the Church?

I. An interesting story of Babe Ruth is often told “his team was losing and the Babe was up to bat with men on base. The manager told him to bunt, but ignoring the order, he lashed out at the next pitch and hit a home run. He came trotting into the dugout after rounding the bases and said ‘Wasn’t that great?” The manager replied “It was great alright, but not what I told you to do and I am fining you $50.00”.

II. I wonder how many of us are going to be fined* by God for not following orders? Now, there’s some great work going on, and some of the work is very effective and very successful, but I still wonder how many of them are following the orders from God.

III. Let’s compile a list of what the “CHURCH” is doing:
Marriage Funerals Communion Baptizing Confirmations
Bible Study Preaching Support Missions Dedication of Children
Praying Visitation (widows, orphans, sick, afflicted, unsaved)
Dinners Take care of needy Fund Raisers Education
Sunday School Mid-Week services

IV. Let’s look at our text and see what Peter has to say … 1 Peter 1
1-2 Introduction to the epistle
3-5 Peter reminds us of our great salvation all from God through
Christ’s death and resurrection
6-9 It’s not so easy, this life of a believer. Heaviness, Trial
of faith BUT Glory at His appearing
10-11 Salvation, hidden for centuries, but not made manifest
12 Now here’s what the Church is to be doing:
Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

*fined by God – (1 Corinthians 3:13-15 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.)
Not fined but a loss of rewards.

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Church Part 4

And finally from Revelation
Revelation 1:4,11,20; 2:1,7,8,11,12,17,18,23,29; 3:1,6,7,13,14,22
Refers to the seven Jewish assemblies which are in Asia.
Revelation 22:16 I, Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. Could refer to the 7 Churches or ALL Churches.

The CHURCH has been referred to as LOCAL, VISIBLE, TRUE CHURCH.

The TRUE Church – Many assemblies call themselves a Church. But as we study the Scripture, we find there can only be ONE TRUE CHURCH. It can only be made up of believer’s of Christ Jesus, in His death burial and reserrection.
All Believer’s, alive and those who have already joined Christ in Heaven.

The VISIBLE Church – This would be the ALIVE Believer’s still serving and awaiting to Join with Christ in Heaven.

The LOCAL Church – The believer’s that meet in a particular place.

AND WHEN DID THE CHURCH START?

Can it be concluded that the Church started with the 120 disciples in the upper room on the day of Pentecost (Even though they were unaware of it.)? Or did the Church begin as the Apostle Paul went to the Gentiles?

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What is the Church?


What is the CHURCH? When did it begin? Where did the Church start?
It is never mentioned in the Old Testament.
Church or Churches is found 115x in the New Testament.
114x Greek word ‘ekklesia’ which means a calling out/a religious congregation/assembly/church.
1x Greek word ‘hierosulos’ and should have been translated temple. Acts 19:37
WHAT IS THE CHURCH?
By definition and practice it’s an assembly of people to worship (a) God.
A CHRISTIAN Church is an assembly to worship Christ.
• Only mentioned 3x in the Gospels:
Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
This is a prophecy of Christ founding the Church.
Matthew 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell [it] unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
(Could/Should have been translated Temple)
Not mentioned in Mark, Luke or John
1st mention of CHURCH is in Acts 2:47, CHURCHES in Acts 9:31.
SO WHERE DID THE CHURCH BEGIN?
Reading Acts 2:47; 5:11,42 We see that the Church began in Jerusalem, consisting of Believing Jews, meeting in the Temple and different houses.
Saul (Acts 8:1-3) was able to carry on a persecution against the Church (Believing Jews) when they met in the Temple or houses. And because of him the Church grew and spread. And proof of growth is in Acts 9:31, where we read “Then had the CHURCHES rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria …”
Looking at all the references in Scripture will help us define the Church.
Acts 7:38 Should NOT have been translated CHURCH. This is just the ASSEMBLY of the Children of Israel lead by Moses out of Egypt.

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