Church, continued:Practices of local churches in the New Testament, continued:Sounded forth the WordI Thessalonians 1:8Philippians 1:3-5; 4:15-16; I Corinthians 9:1-18; II Corinthians 11:7-9New Testament churches were not offering products or services to the public. They were simply sharing God’s word. Churches today need to stay focused on that mission.They used resources to care for needy Christians.They early churches would pool their money together and use it to help needy Christians. (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-35; 6:1-3; 11:27-30; Romans 15:25-26; I Corinthians 16:1-3; II Corinthians 8-9; I Timothy 5:3-16)Family members were to take care of their own before churches stepped in (I Timothy 5:16), but when special circumstances occurred, brethren took care of their own.Heaven and hellAll of us have become guilty of sin.Many people only want to talk about positive things in religion, but it’s important to deal with the facts so that the positives make sense.Mark 10:17-33“One thing you lack” (Mark 10:21)
“treasure in Heaven” (Mark 10:21)
“Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2:37)
“repent … baptized … forgiveness” (Acts 2:38)
“you disowned … put to death” Jesus (Acts 3:14-15)
“sins may be wiped away” (Acts 3:19)
“rejected by you” (Acts 4:11)
“chief corner stone … salvation” (Acts 4:12)
“darkness … dominion of Satan” (Acts 26:18)
“light … God … repent” (Acts 26:18-23)
Jesus and the apostles loved people enough to tell them the painful truth: all of us have become guilty of sin! (Romans 3:23)
Described as “Gehenna” (valley of filth and fire)
Described as a city made by God
Outer darkness, away from God
Fellowship with Christ and the saved
Worse than any suffering on Earth
Worth any suffering on earth
