church not a denomination

I. All Denominations Follow After Ways of Men.

1CORINTHIANS 3:3. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among
you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

Denominations are called many names by men, 1 COR 3:4; MATT 16:13-14.
And in such confusion they even call the true church a sect, ACTS 24:14.
(See 9-page list of denominations in Frank Mead’s Handbook of
Denominations.) Denominations change the plan of salvation to please men,
GAL 1:10; ACTS 15:1; PROV 14:12. Denominations corrupt worship to
elevate men, COL 3:18,23; MATT 23:5-7ff.

II. The Church of Christ Follows Only Christ.

JOHN 10:4-5. And when He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth forth
before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know His voice. And a
stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the
voice of strangers.

Only one church is named by Christ, MATT 16:18; EPH 2:19-20; COL 1:18.

God promised salvation only in Christ’s church, AC 4:12; 1 COR 3:11; 1
TM 2:4,5. Christ wrote the book on true worship, GN 1:26; 4:4-5; LEV 10:1-
3; JN 4:23-24. In the church of Christ, members are not to think above that
which is written (1COR 4:6).

III. Therefore, Church of Christ Is Not A Denomination

1 CORINTHIANS 1:10. Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no
divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same
mind and in the same judgment.

Denominations - church of Christ
Denominations have creed book	church takes God at His word, 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Denominations give tip of tongue answer	church gives a scripture answer, 1 Peter 3:15
Denominations may worship to impress world	church offers worship to glorify word of God, Colossians 3:17
Denominations may say many ways are right	church of Christ not ashamed to contend for one church, and that they are of it, Ephesians 4:4; 1 Corinth. 12:12-13; Colossians 1:24

Definition. The church is not a denomination. Among worldly religions “denomination” refers to a
class or sect that is named by men; it is not from heaven but it is “of men” (Matthew 21:25); it is
vain (Matthew 15:7-9), and salvation is not in it (Acts 4:12). Satan's many religions are heresies,
denominations, sects, cults, etc., but they are not “churches.” The church, however, is according
to God's word, as are Christians in it (Matt. 16:18; Isa. 62:2; Acts 11:26; Acts 20:28). Holy
Scripture has designations and metaphors including: church, kingdom, vineyard, one body,
general assembly, household of faith, church of the firstborn, and others. In Romans 16:16 the
“churches of Christ” refers to scattered local congregations. Such congregations are of the one
church body in the world, with the one Head being Jesus Christ (1 Corinth. 12:12-13,20; Eph. 1:
22-23; Col. 1:18). The church of Christ is from heaven and shown in the scripture. -- Click here to
go to lesson #13 on the church, general and local.