022. Church, How the, Is Misrepresented

022. Church, How the, Is Misrepresented

22 HOW THE CHURCH IS MISREPRESENTED Matthew 5:11;Acts 28:22

INTRODUCTION Effects of evil reports; how sinful to circulate them! No honest man will continue to circulate a false report after it has been corrected .

I. MISREPRESENTATIONS 1. That Alexander Campbell founded "our" church .

2. That we are narrow-minded-selfish.

3. That we monopolize the name "Christian."

4. Don ’t believe in "heartfelt religion."

5. Don ’t believe in "change of he art."

6. Don’t believe in work of Holy Spirit in conversion.

7. That we believe in water salvation.

II. THE TRUTH 1. He founded no church-I belong to the church of God.

2. Creeds and denominations are narrow-we have no creed but the Bible.

3. We want everyone to wear the name Christian only and to be worthy of it.

4. What is the heart? Religion affects the whole man.

5. How changed? (Acts 15:9; 1 Peter 1:22; James 4:8.) 6. No conversion without the Holy Spirit. (John 15:8.) 7. Bible teaches. (Mark 16:16; John 3:5; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21.) III. THE HEART, WHAT IS IT?

1. It thinks . (Matthew 9:4 .) 2. It Understands. (Matthew 13:15.) 3. It believes. (Romans 10:10.) 4. Loves with it. (Matthew 22:37.) 5. Obey from the heart. (Romans 6:17.)