Topical Sermons - Executable Outlines

What Is The Church Of Christ?
Mark A. Copeland
INTRODUCTION
1. Occasionally I am asked questions like these...
a. “Are you Church of Christ?”
b. “Are you a Church of Christ preacher?”
c. “Are you a member of the Church of Christ?”
2. Rarely do I reply without some hesitation...
a. Not that I wish to be evasive
b. But the inquiry comes from a mindset that precludes an easy answer
c. If I offer a simple response, the inquirer will likely be left with the wrong impression
3. The difficulty revolves around this question, “What is the Church of Christ?”...
a. The phrase “Church of Christ” means different things to different people
b. The term “Church of Christ” must be understood alike to avoid misunderstanding
[To illustrate the challenge we face in talking to others about the “Church of Christ”, let’s review three
different “views”...]
I. THE DENOMINATIONAL VIEW
A. EXPLANATION OF THIS VIEW...
1. The Church of Christ is made up of those churches with the name “Church of Christ”
2. The “Church of Christ” (as such) is but one denomination among many
3. Together with other denominations, they constitute the universal church, the Body of Christ
B. THOSE WHO MAY HOLD THIS VIEW...
1. Those in other denominations
a. E.g., Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, etc.
b. Understandably so, because of their denominational mindset in which they view their
own “church” (denomination) as but a part of the Body of Christ
2. Many in the “mainstream” churches of Christ
a. I.e., the majority of congregations with the name “Church of Christ”
b. Especially members who came from denominations
1) Bringing their denominational mindset with them
2) Perhaps thinking they simply left one denomination for a “better” one
c. Including liberal preachers and elders in such congregations
1) Perhaps reacting against a “sectarian” view (see below) held in the past
2) Perhaps weary of trying to maintain an nondenominational view of the church
[In a religious environment where denominationalism is presumed to be the only option, most people
have a denominational view of the Church of Christ which is reflected in their questions. There is
another view that some may have...]
II. THE SECTARIAN VIEW
Topical Sermons 376