Churches in the Shape of Scripture

Churches in the Shape of Scripture
Series by Robert Prater
Spring of 2015

Part 1
We in churches of Christ are a very unique group of people. Our beliefs and practices seem very strange to some. This sermon is the beginning of a new sermon series entitled, “Churches in the Shape of Scripture.” It is our hope that these lessons will help us have a renewed conviction that being a New Testament-shaped church is a goal worth pursing, and that doing things God’s way really does matter. These lessons will be a great opportunity to invite others who might have questions surrounding what churches of Christ teach.


Part 2
Last week we began a new sermon series titled, “Churches in the Shape of Scripture.” We introduced the principle that churches of Christ are all about restoration. We looked at this notion from the Old Testament. In this second sermon in the series, we’ll take this idea of restoration over to the New Testament and focus our attention on the church.


Part 3
This is the third sermon in the series titled, “Churches in the Shape of Scripture.” We’re talking about who we are in churches of Christ. We’ve introduced the series talking about how we are a people concerned about restoring the beliefs and practices of the New Testament church. This sermon will be on “Salvation in the Shape of the New Testament” This is one of the most important differences you’ll find between churches of Christ and most other religious groups.


Part 4
Last week we started looking at “Salvation in the Shape of the New Testament.” This sermon continues looking at this issue by noting how our belief that baptism is necessary for salvation was actually the unanimous belief of Christianity for its first 1,500 years. We’ll also see the connection in the New Testament between salvation and baptism.

Click here for the Francis Chan video that Robert showed in his sermon.


Part 5
This is a continuation of our special sermon series titled “Churches in the Shape of Scripture.” This sermon discusses some of our beliefs and practices that distinguish us in churches of Christ from most other churches, particularly at our belief that baptism is a necessary condition for receiving salvation.


Part 6
This sermon is about “The Lord’s Day and the Lord’s Supper in the Shape of the New Testament.” This is another distinction we have in churches of Christ: we believe eating the Lord’s Supper every Sunday is an important part of God’s plan for the church.


Part 7
This is the second part of last week’s sermon about “The Lord’s Day and the Lord’s Supper in the Shape of the New Testament.” In this lesson, we’ll explore and contemplate what this weekly activity is all about. We’ll look at some of the terms which are associated with it in the New Testament.


Part 8
In this sermon, we’ll begin looking at “Church Organization & Leadership in the Shape of the New Testament.” This is another difference between churches of Christ and most other church groups. That difference is how the church is organized and governed. And we believe this is an important part of God’s plan for His church.


Part 9
This sermon is the second part of the previous sermon in our “Churches in the Shape of Scripture” series. We’ll continue to look at “Church Organization & Leadership in the Shape of the New Testament.” This is another difference between churches of Christ and most other church groups. That difference is how the church is organized and governed. And we believe this is an important part of God’s plan for His church.


Part 10
This sermon titled “Musical Praise in the Assembly” looks at what is probably the most obvious difference between us and many of our Bible believing friends. We’re talking about why we in churches of Christ in our worship assemblies practice vocal only praise. We’ll begin by walking through the Bible to see how we and most Christians throughout history, came to the conclusion that Christian worship was instrument-free for most of its history.


Part 11
This is the second part of last week’s sermon called “Musical Praise in the Assembly”, which looks at what is probably the most obvious difference between us and many of our Bible believing friends. We’re talking about why we in churches of Christ in our worship assemblies practice vocal only praise. We’ll begin by walking through the Bible to see how we and most Christians throughout history, came to the conclusion that Christian worship was instrument-free for most of its history.


Part 12
This sermon is a continuation of our special sermon series titled “Churches in the Shape of Scripture.” Is our practice of male leadership in our assemblies an out-of-date, sexist, chauvinistic mindset? Does the New Testament really teach what we practice? In this lesson we’ll look at the bigger picture of what the Bible says about men and women.


Part 13
This is the final sermon in the “Churches in the Shape of Scripture” series. In the last lesson we left off stating that we believe God has called men to lead in the worship assembly to serve as a visual expression of His will for male spiritual leadership in the church. This lesson focuses on Paul’s instructions regarding the roles in the assembly found in 1 Timothy 2:8-15.