The Generic Church

THE GENERIC CHURCH

Generic is good, right? It’s everything the original patented products are, but cheaper, right? It may be a different color, have a different taste or come in a different bottle – but it does the same thing. Drugs, motorcycles, and blue jeans are made as knockoffs, cheaper imitations. Even religion is susceptible.

I. “THE CHURCH…”

A. To the media means Roman Catholic

B. To most people means an ambiguous, unclear, unformed, bland, generic entity

1. Not sure about “brand name” original, but generic is just as good...right?

II. THE GC HAS NO SPECIAL ORGANIZATION

A. Pastor systems, popes & cardinals, presidents, apostles, lead evangelists, women leadership

1. rearely local autonomy, parishes, state-national- international organizations

2. Conferences, synods, assemblies, boards

B. brand name church of the N.T. was fixed in organization

1. Matt 16:18; Phil. 1:1; Tit. 1:5; 1 Tim. 3:2

2. Wasn’t organized to suit us – 1 Tim. 3:15; Eph. 3:21

III. THE GC HAS NO SPECIAL DOCTRINE

A. “Doesn’t matter what you bel./prac. as long as sincere

1. Just believe in God & Jesus – all else unimportant

B. The brand name orig. church clung steadfastly to “truth”

1. Matt. 7:21-23– Sincere not enough; Lk. 6:46; Jn. 8:31-32

2. Acts 2:42; 2 Jn. 9; Heb. 5:9

3. How can we know “truth”? Jn. 17:17; 2 Tim. 3:16

IV. THE GC HAS NO SPECIAL WORK

A. Fund social work, recreation, meals, benev. org.,

youth org., day care, schooling

1. Yard sales, raffles, bingo, car washes, selling candy,

solicitation, govt. help.

a. not by scriptural instruction - 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:7

2. Ignoring Rom. 14:17

B. The original name brand church had a mission!

1. Lk. 19:10; 1 Pet. 2:21b; 1 Tim. 3:15; 1 Pet. 2:9

2. They accepted Matt. 28:19-20 (Lk. 6:40)

V. THESE ARE SERIOUS OBSERVATIONS

A. The generic church has no special…

1. Organization, doctrine, or mission

2. Yet the original church of the new covenant did! Matt. 16:18

B. Christ is the savior of the church – Eph. 5:23

C. The church will be delivered to God – 1 Cor. 15:24

D. Do you believe that this will be the generic church?

1. Have you taken a stand? 1 Cor. 12:13

THE GENERIC CHURCH

Generic is good, right? It’s everything the original patented products are, but cheaper. It may be a different color, have a different taste or come in a different bottle, but it does the same thing. Even religion is susceptible.

I. “THE CHURCH…”

A. To most people means an ambiguous, unclear, unformed, bland, ______entity

II. THE GENERIC CHURCH HAS NO SPECIAL ______

A. brand name church of the N.T. was fixed in ______

1. Matthew 16:18; Philippians 1:1; Titus 1:5; 1 Timothy. 3:2

2. Wasn’t organized to suit us – 1 Timothy 3:15; Ephesians 3:21

III. THE GENERIC CHURCH HAS NO SPECIAL ______

A. “Doesn’t matter what you believe or practice as long as you’re ______”

B. The brand name original church clung steadfastly to “______”

1. Matthew 7:21-23 – ______not enough; Luke 6:46; John 8:31-32

2. Acts 2:42; 2 John 9; Hebrews. 5:9, How can we know “truth”? John 17:17; 2 Tim. 3:16

IV. THE GENERIC CHURCH HAS NO SPECIAL ______

A. Yard sales, raffles, bingo, car washes, selling candy,solicitation, gov’t. help.

1. not by scriptural instruction - 1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:7, Ignoring Romans 14:17

B. The original name brand church had a ______!

1. Lk. 19:10; 1 Pet. 2:21b; 1 Tim. 3:15; 1 Pet. 2:9,,They accepted Matt. 28:19-20 (Lk. 6:40)

V. THESE ARE SERIOUS OBSERVATIONS

A. The generic church has no special ______, ______, or ______

1. Yet the original church of the new covenant did! Matthew 16:18

B. Christ is the savior of the ______– Ephesians 5:23

C. The ______will be delivered up to God – 1 Corinthians 15:24

D. Do you believe that this will be the generic church? 1 Corinthians 12:13