I.    DOES THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH EXIST TODAY? 
          1.    Gates of Hell have not prevailed against it. Mt. 16:18. 
          2.    Could not be destroyed. Da. 2:44; Isa. 9:6, 7; Lu. 1:30-33. 
          3.    Could not be shaken. Heb. 12:28 
          4.    There are over six hundred religious bodies in the world. They cannot all be 
                 right.   Some must be counterfeit. The presence of the counterfeit always 
                 argues that some where there is a genuine. 

  II. ONLY ONE RELIGIOUS BODY CAN BE IDENTICAL WITH
                 THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH. 
        1.    Every religious body bears one or more points of resemblance to the New 
               Testament  church. 
        2.    One point of dissimilarity brands a religious body as a counterfeit. 
        3.    The church of Christ is identical with the New Testament church in every
               respect. 

III. HOW CAN THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH BE IDENTIFIED? 
          1.    By its name. Things are identified by name. 
          2.    By complete description of it in New Testament. 
          3.    By certain distinctive marks revealed in New Testament. 
          4.    By the fruit it bears. Matt. 7:13-20. 

  IV.    ITS IDENTITY. 
          1.    Christ is the ONLY Head. Eph. 1:22, 23; Col. 1:18. 
          2.    It is named for Christ. Eph. 3:15; Act. 20:28; Ro. 16:16. 
          3.    Its members wear but one name. Acts 11:26. 
          4.    It began at Jerusalem. Acts 1:8; 2:5, 14. 
          5.    Its origin dates from Pentecost, A. D. 33. Acts 2:1. 
          6.    Its "charter members" were Jews. Any church founded by Gentiles is not the 
                 New Testament church. 
          7.    The New Testament is its ONLY rule of faith and practice. 
          8.    It has congregational form of government. 
          9.    It observes weekly communion, partaking of the Lord's Supper every Lord's 
                 day. Acts. 20:7. 
          10.    It sings without instrumental accompaniment. Col. 3:16. 
          11.    Supported by weekly contribution from members. 
          12.    Must preach same gospel the apostles preached. Mk. 16:15, 16; Acts 2:38;
                   Gal. 1:6-9.

Sermon Outline by George William Butterfield 
 

May be reproducted for non-commercial purposes at no cost to others.