Prove It!

Introduction:

A. A few years ago I counselled out at L.B.B.C.

    1. I had the priveledge of teaching.

    2. Part of our Bible study was more of a discussion,

        and question session.

    3. Whenever the students would say something...

        a. Something they had been taught.

        b. Something they believed (religiously).

        c. Something that was Biblical, and true.

        ...I would say "prove it!"

    4. I wanted them to show me: book, chapter, and verse

        where the Bible said what they believed.  Prove it!

B. We have been told to "prove all things, and hold fast that

     which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21).

     1. We need to examine anything anybody teaches us, or

         what we hear preached, and examine it by the Bible.

     2. You might think of it this way...would you want...

         a. Real money...or counterfeit?

         b. Real food.......of fake?

         c. Real doctor....or an imposter?

     3. We will not accept counterfeits in real life, why would

         we accept anything less than the truth in religion?

Therefore we need to examine the things that we believe, and

do, and see if they are true, or counterfeit.

  I. We believe there is only one church.

A. It is no secret that there are 100's of "churches."

          1. Baptist.

          2. Methodist.

          3. Catholic.

          4. Presbyterian.

          5. Lutheran.

     B. But, we believe there is only 1-church.  PROVE IT!

          1. Matthew 16:18 = I will build my church (singular).

          2. Ephesians 4:4        = 1-body.

              Ephesians 1:22-23 = body is the church.

                                               = 1-church.

         3. I Corinthians 1:10 = command.

              "..speak the same thing; no divisions among you;

              perfectly joined together in the same mind and in

              the same judgement."

     C. That Biblically proves that there is only 1-church.

          1. Are we going to accept what the Bible says, or

              are we going to accept a counterfeit?

          2. Are we going to accept the fact that there is only

              1-church, or are we going to accept the counterfeit

              teaching of the world that there are many churches?

 II. We believe we need authority for all we do and say.

     A. This is totally foriegn to the worlds thinking.

          1. The world does many things...

              a. Because it is tradition = celebrate christmas.

              b. Because they like it    = instrumental music in

                                                          worship to God.

              c. Because it is popular = drama in worship.

          2. If you ask most people where their authority is for

              doing these things they...

              a. Might look at you like you are crazy.

              b. Might look at you puzzled, because they have not

                  thought about the need for authority in religion.

    B. But, the Bible teaches us we need authority. Prove it!

         1. Jesus has all authority - Matthew 28:18-20.

             a. And, we are to do all things He has commanded.

             b. If we love Him = no problem - John 14:15.

         2. We need authority for all we do & say - Col.3:17.

             a. "In the name..." = means according to His authority.

             b. So, we need His authority in all we do, or say.

             c. He has revealed all those things He has authorized

                 in His word (the N.T.).

    C. We have proved that the Bible says we need authority

         for all that we do or say.

         1. Therefore we should only do those things that He has

             authorized.

         2. We should only be a part of His church that only does

              those things He has authorized.

         3. To accept anything else is to accept a counterfeit.

III. We believe He has given us authorized ways of...

     A. Worshipping.  Prove it!

         1. Singing.

             a. Ephesians 5:19.

             b. Colossians 3:16.

         2. Giving.

             a. I Corinthians 16:1-2.

             b. II Corinthians 8:1-6.

         3. Praying.

             a. Acts 2:42.

             b. Ephesians 5:20.

         4. Preaching, and the Lord's Supper (Acts 20:7).

             a. Lord's Supper (also I Corinthians 11:25).

             b. Preached until midnight.

         5. To worship in any other way is to add to, and take

             from God's word, and to rebel against the authority

             of Jesus Christ.

     B. Obeying the gospel that we might be saved. Prove it!

          1. Believe - Mark 16:16.

          2. Repent - Acts 2:38; Acts 17:30.

          3. Confess - Romans 10:10; Acts 8:37.

          4. Baptized - Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; I Peter 3:21.

          5. There are counterfeit methods taught:

              a. Faith only.

              b. Infant baptism.

              c. Need to speak in tongues to be saved.

Conclusion:

A. Do we want the real or the counterfeit?

B. You would talk me into accepting counterfeit money before

     you would talk me into accepting...

     1. A counterfeit church.

     2. Counterfeit doctrine.

     3. A counterfeit salvation.

C. I hope you will not accept a counterfeit either.