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Conway Church of Christ

Sermon from May 4, 2008
Brother Joseph Barr

Acts 20:29-30 “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.:

I want to talk about a very important subject, so please pay attention. I want to appeal to your sense of history. This country has a vast history and all of us here are taking part in this. HBO had a documentary on John Adams, one of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence. He was also the 2nd president. History is very important. In 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed. That was not an easy task but it got done. What I’m concerned about now is the history of the church.
Where did this modern denominationalism start? Look at our community. There’s a Baptist church 2 miles on your left and go the other way and see another Baptist church, a Methodist church and a Presbyterian church. Kingdom Hall of Jehovah Witness is down there on 16th Ave. So there are all kinds of modern religions in the world. But in our yard, the sign says, “Church of Christ.” As you look at all these churches, you wonder, “How did it all start? Are they all right? Does it matter? Which group should I belong to?”

Whose idea was it to start a church anyway? I believe it was God’s idea. Jesus says in 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.” So it’s HIS church. So in Acts, on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit landed on each of the apostles as a cloven tongue of fire. They began to speak and the Gentiles said, “They’re speaking about the wonders of God.” All the Jews had descended on Jerusalem and they all heard the gospel preached in their own language. Peter said, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” So all saved people were added to the church and I know they were added to the church that Jesus built.

As we go through the Bible and we read the word of God, let’s look at Acts 8:5-7: “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.” (Remember, Philip didn’t have a Bible. All he had was his mouth. So God had to help him bear witness. God certified him by means of miracles.) Vs. 8-13: “And there was great joy in that city. 9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: 10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. 11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. 12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.” They heard Philip preach and when they heard, they saw the miracles and believed the word. They already had a fraud so they saw the difference. And why were they baptized? For the remission of their sins. And then what? Can’t we suppose a church of the Lord now arose in Samaria? Paul, in Acts 20:28 said, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” That’s how it got to be His church. He bought it with His blood. John Wesley didn’t buy NO church! John Smith didn’t buy NO church! Read on in vs. 29, “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.” It started in the elderships of the Churches of Christ. Instead of teaching the truth, they wanted to change it. Paul wrote letters, for example Romans, Corinthians, Ephesians, but because of the pride of men, some of them began to write letters too. Go to II Thessalonians 2:2: “That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. “ Did you get that? He said “Don’t let them shake you up! Don’t be fooled!” Look at vs. 3, “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first…” Paul said there’d be a falling away. Why? Because of these letters. And as we look around today, that’s what has happened. Continue…”and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” Who does that sound like? Where is Peter’s Cathedral? Rome. Who sits in it? The Pope. What happens when he comes to town? People bow down and kiss his ring. And what do they call him? Holy Father. If an angel can come down and say, “Don’t worship me”, than how can the Pope let it go on? Verses 5-7 say, “Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.”

Pride. Men trying to act like apostles. And lo and behold we have it in our way today. Even the president said, “Holy Father, we are glad to have you here today.” Holy Father?!?!?! Who is that?
In Matthew 23 Jesus said, “Call no man upon the earth Father.” The same pride that started it is the pride that sustains it. There’s even men who want to be called “Reverend.” Look in Psalms 111:9, “He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.” Reverend is HIS name, the Bible says. Why, when you learn that it’s a sin to be called Reverend, why won’t you stop? Because of pride.

If you want to be saved, you’ve got to humble yourself. You’ve got to repent, confess Jesus and be baptized. And not Brother Barr or Brother Ramdeo is going to save you…only the Lord can do that. Lord, I am so glad to be in your church, because you put me in and there’s NO man that can take me out.

For more information:
Conway Church of Christ
Email: bobcon@sccoast.net

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