We believe that the recovery of New Testament church life and practice is possibly the most important issue facing Christians today. When Jesus said, “…I will build my church…” (Matthew 16v18), He had very clear ideas as to how He wanted to do it and what churches ought to be like in actual practice. Indeed, He has given us a clear blueprint for this through the work and teaching of the Apostles, as recorded in the pages of the New Testament. We recommend that each section of what follows be read in the order in which it appears, like chapters of a book, as it constitutes a logical sequence with each part building on the one before.
We firstly demonstrate that the apostles of Jesus, at His direction, established and set up churches to function and operate in a particular way. Further, it is shown that this pattern, or blueprint, was intended to be universal, and that all churches should be fundamentally the same when it comes to how they meet and are organised.
We then proceed to address the reasons as to why churches are so different from the biblical pattern, and examine the historical influences which overruled and replaced the teaching of the New Testament, eventually becoming the Christian Church’s ultimate authority. We believe that the ground we cover here will truly amaze you!
Section 1: The Apostles’ Tradition – The Heart of the Matter!
In this section we will demonstrate that the apostles of Jesus, at His direction, established and set up churches to function and operate in a particular way. Further, we will make clear that this pattern, or blueprint, was intended to be universal, and that all churches should be fundamentally the same when it comes to how they meet and how they are organized.
Part 2 A Thoroughly Biblical Church
The Traditions of the Early Church Fathers – The Heart of the Problem!
We now turn to the reason why churches have been, and are, so different from the way in which Jesus instructed the apostles to establish them. In order to properly do this we shall examine the main historical influences which overruled and usurped the authority of the New Testament, and which became the acknowledged final authority for the Christian Church. So fasten your seat belts, this is going to be some ride!
Part 1 Will the Bad Guys Please Stand Up?
Part 2 The Foundational Error!
Part 3 The Great Baptism Fiasco!