Radio Transcript

Broadcast Date – January 13, 2002 on KCXY (Y95) - 95.3 FM

The neighborhood where I lived while growing up was located below the flight path of a naval air station. I remember watching the airplanes as they would fly over our house. With every circle the airplanes made, they came from the same direction, flew over our house at the same location, and returned to their same starting point. It was not uncommon to hear people talk about the path of the airplanes as the flight pattern.

According to Webster’s Dictionary, a pattern is "a form or model proposed for imitation, something designed or used as a model for making things." We use patterns in many areas of our lives. An architect draws a pattern, or blueprint, to be used in the construction of a building. Tailors and seamstresses use patterns to make articles of clothing. If the same pattern is used and properly followed, the same article will be produced every time.

Friends, one reason I am a member of the church of Christ is because it adheres to the pattern given by God. Every time God wanted something built, he gave man a pattern. God gave Noah a pattern as to how the ark was to be built. Consider the following, from Genesis 6:13-16: "And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it." Notice further in verse twenty-two: "Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he." The idea has often been expressed that if Noah had not strictly followed the pattern given him, the ark would have sunk. Friends, I’m convinced the ark would never have floated to begin with!

When God wanted the tabernacle built, he gave Moses a pattern. Consider the following from Exodus 25:9: "According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it." Also notice verse forty, from the same chapter: "And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount." The writer of the book of Hebrews wrote: "Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount" (Hebrews 8:5).

When God wanted the temple built, he gave Solomon a pattern. Listen to the following, from I Chronicles28:11-12: "Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat. And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the Lord, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things." Also notice verse nineteen and twenty: "All this, said David, the Lord made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern. And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord."

Friends, just as God gave a pattern for the ark, the tabernacle, and the temple, God has given us a pattern for the church. For example, there is a specific form, or pattern, of doctrine that a person must obey in order to be saved. Consider the following words, written by the apostle Paul: "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness" (Romans 6:16-18). Paul taught the same doctrine everywhere, in every church. "For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church" (I Corinthians 4:17). Also notice Paul’s words to Timothy: "As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine" (I Timothy 1:3). Also notice Paul’s words, recorded in II Timothy 1:13: "Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus."

Friends, the New Testament is the pattern for Christ’s church today. Notice how God’s word stands in stark contrast to the words of men! God’s word is inspired, literally meaning, "God breathed." "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (II Timothy 3:16-17). Unlike man’s word, God’s word is inerrant. That is, God’s word is free from error. Paul wrote: "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began" (Titus 1:3). God’s word is unchanging. "For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven" (Psalm 119:89). God’s word is eternal, or everlasting. Jesus said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away" (Matthew 24:35).

God’s word is the standard by which we will all one day be judged. Jesus said: "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John 12:48).

Friends, in order for a church to be the church we read about in the Bible, it must conform to the pattern given by God. The church must not teach another gospel. Paul wrote: "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:6-9). We must abide in the doctrine of Christ. "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds" (II John 9-11). We must earnestly contend for the faith. Jude wrote: "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3). We must not add to or take away from the teachings of God’s word.

Friends, there are literally hundreds, perhaps thousands, of denominations in existence today. Amidst all the confusion, it’s only natural to wonder, "Is it really possible for the church that Jesus built to exist today?" Yes friends, the church that Jesus built has been restored and does exist today.

The majority of denominations in existence today are products of the Reformation Movement of the sixteenth century. No doubt the men of the Reformation Movement had noble intentions. But reformation is not the same as restoration. Webster’s Dictionary defines reform as "to amend or improve by change of form or removal of faults or abuses." The desire of the Protestant Reformation was to reform the Roman Catholic Church by correcting the many abuses found therein. In contrast, to restore means "to bring back or to put back into a former or original state." We can restore the New Testament church by following the pattern given to us in the New Testament.

Unfortunately, many people offer resistance, rather than submission, to God’s pattern. Certain men want to deny the inspiration of the Bible. But friends, the fulfilled prophecies found within the Bible, the indestructibility of the Bible, the scientific accuracy of the Bible, and the literary unity of the bible all attest to its inspiration.

Other men deny the relevancy of the Bible, arguing that the Bible is outdated. These men often argue that the Bible may have served a purpose at one time but modern man with all his knowledge has outgrown the Bible. But friends, the Bible is as relevant today as it ever was. Sin has not changed. The consequences of sin have not changed. And the solution to sin has not changed.

Others offer resistance to God’s pattern for the church by arguing that the Bible is simply too strict. Surely, they say, God would not object to altering the pattern "just a little." But friends, when the New Testament pattern is altered, it is no longer a pattern.

Friends, rather than resist the pattern for the church, we ought to submit to the pattern. We have been given a pattern for the church concerning its organization. Individual congregations of the Lord’s church are to be self-governing. Qualified men are to serve as elders in every congregation (Acts 14:23). Qualified men are to be appointed as deacons in every congregation (Philippians 1:1).

We have been given a pattern for the church concerning the worship it offers to God. The church is to observe the Lord’s Supper on the first day of every week. "And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow" (Acts 20:7). We are to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:19). "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" (Colossians 3:16). This singing is to be done without the use of mechanical instruments of music. Such instruments cannot be found anywhere in the pattern for the Lord’s church.

Friends, does Christ’s church exist today? It most certainly does! How can you identify Christ’s church? By going to the pattern given in the New Testament.

[Return to Radio Transcripts]