(The emphasis of this message is not so much on the fact that Christ build the institution of the church as it is toward the point that Christ builds the individuals He places in the institution of the church.)

Acts 2:47 - Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Some pastors have missed the boat when it comes to knowing how to build a strong church.

1. Things that aren't so bad if they are used to teach people how little they are doing, and to show them what they can do.

a. "Homecoming Day" is always popular.

b. "Bring a Friend Day" is another "come on".

c. "Fill Your Pew" is when every family in the church will select a pew that they will fill with visitors.

2. Some pastors continually need a "special emphasis day" to excite the people into attending.

a. Bozo the clown will come in.

b. The preacher will blow a brick off the altar with his breath if we have 150 in Sunday School.

c. The preacher will eat his dinner from the roof of the church if we have 150 in Sunday School.

d. The preacher and deacons will sing a song if we have 150 in Sunday School.

e. We'll give a free hamburger and French fries to every person that brings a visitor in the month of April. You have to buy your own drink.

f. There is no end to the "gimmicks" used to lure people into church.

3. Because of all this trash, churches have lost their respect in the community.

a. Sometimes those churches that don't do all this stuff are looked down on in the community because they are considered too "straight laced".

Acts 12:23 - When Barnabas came to Antioch, he got Paul to help him, and they stayed two years; "exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord."

a. Paul and Barnabas here gives us a vital clue to building a strong church.

b. Every member was exhorted to be faithful.

c. Every member in their own heart was exhorted to cleave unto the Lord.

d. Every member was expected to be faithful to God regardless of what anybody else did.

Acts 14:22 -

a. Confirm doesn't mean to go through a religious exercise which is done once and for all.

1. It means to strengthen, to establish more and more in the faith, to render more firm.

2. The point here is that each person was expected to carry their own load, to be faithful all by themselves, to know for themselves what they believed, and why they believed it.

b. Souls means the breath, the vital source of the life of that individual.

1. It means the seat of the feelings, desires, and affections.

2. Paul is strengthening each individual so they will remain true to God regardless of what anybody else does.

c. Joshua 24:15 - Joshua told Israel, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord".

Each family must be strong.

a. This is true, but each family is only as strong as the individual members.

b. Some people very honestly try to get every family in their church to be strong in the faith, but if every member of every family isn't strong, the church can't be strong.

c. II Tim. 1:5 - The family of Timothy was very strong, both his grandmother and mother.

1. They taught Timothy, who in turn grew strong and was able to teach others.

2. Titus 1:5 - Paul left Timothy in Crete that he might be able to deal with individual men, discovering if they were strong enough to be made elders in the church.

Each person in each family must understand the Doctrines of Christ for themselves, not taking anybody else's word for it.

Compare Matt. 7:28 - The people were astonished at the doctrine of Christ.

Matt. 16:5-12 - Jesus told his disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. He meant they should beware of the doctrine of the Pharisees.

I. There are some people that say doctrine doesn't make any difference. They don't want doctrine. What is doctrine? The word "doctrine" appears some 50 times in the entire Bible (6 times in the Old Testament and 42 times in the New Testament) and means:

A. Old Testament

1. Learning, insight, instruction.

2. Report, news.

3. Discipline, or correction.

B. New Testament

4. What is taught.

5. A word, a speech, uttered by a living voice, embodies a conception or idea.

C. Doctrines are what God teaches in His Word - the Bible.

D. Heb. 6:1,2 - Paul said he would have to leave the doctrines of Christ, in order to teach them some things they should already know.

1. The term "doctrine of Christ" teaches that doctrine is very important.

2. Those people that aren't interested in doctrine aren't interested in learning about Christ.

II. Sometimes there are those that talk about the doctrines of such and such denomination. I am not talking about that, I am talking about Bible doctrine. All our doctrine should "line up" with Bible doctrine. Any doctrine that doesn't "line up" with Bible doctrine is false doctrine, and will lead you astray.

A. What you believe is how you are going to live your life.

1. If you believe the Bible is God's Word, you will probably listen to what He says.

2. If you believe it doesn't hurt to play around with fire, you are going to get burned.

3. If you understand the end consequence of playing around with fire (sin) is to be burned, you won't be as apt to play around with fire (sin).

a. Jeffrey Dolmer just got murdered while he was in prison serving several life terms for killing and mutilating his victims.

b. He remembered the first murder when he picked up a hitchhiker. He said he almost didn't stop to pick him up, which he did with the intention of murdering him.

c. He said if he hadn't picked up the first hitchhiker, he probably wouldn't have murdered the others, and wouldn't be in jail.

d. He stated that his acts of violence got worse and worse, until he was cannibalizing his victims.

e. He said once he got started, he couldn't stop.

4. If husbands (wives) believe the Bible says they ought to love their wives (husbands) and stay away from wicked women (men) they will be more apt to stay away from wicked women (men). Remember the story of Joseph and Potiphar's wife? Also remember the story of King David and Bathsheba?

5. If you believe the Bible teaches we ought to be honest in all your dealings, and there is a consequence to dishonesty, you will be more apt to be honest in all your dealings.

III. The major problem with our society today is that the majority of people have gotten away from the plain teachings of God's Word.

A. Political problems with greed, corruption, lying, cheating are caused by politicians who do not believe the Bible is a book worth following.

B. People who say they say they believe the Bible, but do not follow its precepts make those that want to follow God's Word look like hypocrites.

1. Preachers are included in this book.

2. People that "arrange" circumstances (in their own minds) so they will be able to do what they want to do, and convince themselves they are still staying true to God's Word.

1. The Bible is God's book.

A. II Tim. 3:16, 17 - Given by inspiration. Good to live by.

B. II Peter 1:19-21

1. The New Testament and Old Testament goes together.

2. The prophecy of the Old Testament is revealed in the New Testament.

3. It is not our place to decide what the Bible means.

4. The writers of the Old testament were holy, God fearing men.

C. Prov. 30:5,6 - Every word of God is pure.

1. Don't add or subtract from it.

2. Rev. 22:18,19 - A curse upon those that add or subtract from the words of the prophecy of the book of Revelation.

D. The Bible is the source of our knowledge.

1. Hosea 4:6 - The parents have rejected the knowledge of God, therefore God will reject their children.

2. Other religions have forgotten that church is for worship.

3. Tithes and offerings are to support the Lord's work, not pie suppers, car washes, rummage sales, etc.

E. There are a lot of people who believe the Bible is God's Word, but they never read it.

1. II Tim. 2:15 - Study to show yourselves approved unto God, a workman what needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2. Do you spend more time watching television than you do reading and meditating on the Word of God?