The Glorious Church of Christ - Ephesians 5:26

Keeping Ichabod out of the House of God - 1 Samuel 4:21-22


  1. Why is the Glory of the Church diminished?
    1. DIVISION among religious bodies
      1. John 17:20-21
      2. 1 Corinthians 1:10
    2. DISPARITY among religionists' lives between . . .
      1. what is PREACHED & what is PRACTICED - Mt 23:2-5
      2. the life of CHRIST & the lives of CHRISTIANS - Ph 2:5-8
    3. Christians fail to recognize the importance of the small, but necessary tasks required in maintaining the local body such as: trash pick-up; Maywood cabin clean-up; cleaning the building; mowing the lawn; etc.


  1. Why is the Church of Christ a glorious institution?

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  1. Because of her ORIGIN - Ephesians 3:8-11
  2. Because of her FOUNDATION:
    1. Matthew 16:15-18
    2. 1 Corinthians 3:11
  3. Because of her BEGINNING
    1. Mark 9:1 - it was to come with POWER
    2. Acts 1:8 - 2:4 the apostles were promised & received POWER
    3. Acts 2:42-47 - the power of CHANGE LIVES
  4. Because of her UNIVERSAL Nature
    1. John 3:16
    2. Acts 10:34-35
  5. Because of her WORK:
    1. Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16
    2. Ephesians 3:9-10
  6. Because of her SIMPLICITY
  7. Because of her RELATIONSHIPS:
    1. With GOD:
      1. Romans 8:14-16
      2. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18
    2. With JESUS:
      1. Romans 8:17 we are JOINT-HEIRS with Christ
      2. Ephesians 1:22-23 we are the BODY of Christ
      3. Ephesians 5:23-32 we are the BRIDE of Christ
    3. With the HOLY SPIRIT - Romans 8:1-9
    4. With ONE ANOTHER - 1 John 1:3-5
  8. Because of her DESTINY
    1. Ephesians 5:23
    2. John 14:1-3