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each week. These lessons are from my personal notes or used by permission from licensing agreements to
redeliver orally and not for profit and I encourage you to look up the Bible passages. Make sure that you
read everything and make your own opinion about the Bible Study lesson that is being presented to you.
Please keep it in the context of The Holy Bible. The only way to understand what God's Message is saying
is for you to know the Bible. Open your mind to God's Message. Back to Bible Study Home
Download this Bible Study "A Significant Crisis" in MP3 or PodCast format
ASignificantCrisis.mp3 from God's Message on the Web
Among the common struggles we experience is our struggle for identity. That struggle begins very early in
our lives. When we are quite young, our identity is commonly formed by our perception of our Mom and
Dad. When we are a child at home before starting to school, we commonly exaggerate and embellish the
images of our parents to fill our own needs for significance.
Then we begin our long journey through school. Constantly, we are trying to determine who we are. Do I
determine my identity in terms of what I have? In terms of what I wear? In terms of who are my friends? In
terms of what activity I am a part of? In terms of my skills (what I can do?) In terms of my interests?
In high school we get a degree in peer pressure. In college we get a graduate degree in peer pressure. If we are
not very careful, in careers or jobs, peer pressure can determine what we buy, our priorities, and what we
do. It takes a wise person to distinguish between peer pressure and personal interests.
Not only do we struggle with a sense of identity as a person, but we also struggle with a sense of identity in
our institutions. That is ONE (just one) of the reasons some people do not like change within an institution.
Being a part of the institution contributes to the person's sense of identity. When change occurs that affects
the institution in what the person regards as significant, they feel threatened.
Today, the church tends to be an "institution" in most of our thinking. We speak of "membership" in the
concept of being an acknowledged member of a particular organization. The "membership" is determined by
people who say a person is "in" or "out." Our common concept of membership often is in conflict with
Acts 2:47 and the Lord adding to their number daily those being saved.
Christians tend to get more upset by the way worship is done than how people behave in their daily lives.
"Where does the prayer come? Is there too much or too little prayer? Who leads the prayers? How many
songs should we have? When should we sing? How old are the songs? Who leads the songs? Should songs be
on a screen or in a book? Who can preach? What are the acceptable subjects? How often should he preach on
a subject? Are his sermons too long or too short? When should we have communion? Who can serve it?
How should it be done?" Thus, if the right things are done in the right way at the right time by the right
people within the right time frame, it is a good worship and therefore a good congregation with good elders
and a good preacher. The institution is good. If it is institutionally correct, the church is sound, the truth is
taught, and our personal identity is intact. We have done "Church of Christ" things in "Church of Christ"
ways and my identity is intact because I have declared, "I am Church of Christ."
If I regard the institution as sound, then I can know I am sound because I am a member in a sound church.
How does that concept fit with the fact that the congregation in Sardis was dying, desperately needing to
repent, but they had a few worthy people who had not soiled their white garments (Revelation 3:1-4)?
Worthy Christians in an "unsound congregation"? How can that be?
I. The first thing I want to call to your attention is the fact that their evangelistic lessons focused on
Jesus the Christ as Savior.
A. First, direct your attention to the lessons in Acts and note how often people are called to the Savior.
1. In Acts 2 Peter spoke to a Jewish audience after Jesus died and was resurrected.
a. In verses 22-24, Peter focused his lesson on Jesus:
Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and
wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know—this
Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the
hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of
death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.
b. After Peter used proofs that his Jewish audience understood, he said in verse 36:
Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this
Jesus whom you crucified.”
2. In Acts 3 when Peter and John went to the temple to pray and healed the lame man, Peter utilized his
opportunity to teach by focusing their attention on Jesus:
Acts 3:12-16, But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at
this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you
delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. But you disowned the
Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, but put to death the Prince of life,
the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses. And on the basis of faith in His
name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which
comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.
3. When Peter and John were arrested for their miracle and for teaching about Jesus, a part of their
explanation to the court included this:
Acts 4:8-12 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people, if we are
on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, let it be known to all
of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified,
whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health. He is the
stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. And there is
salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which
we must be saved.”
4. When all the apostles were arrested by the Jerusalem Sanhedrin, consider Gameliel's “guh-mey-lee-uh
“advice to the counsel and the apostles' reaction.
Acts 5:38-42, So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this
plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or
else you may even be found fighting against God.” They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in,
they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. So they went
on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer
shame for His name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and
preaching Jesus as the Christ.
B. The same was true when the message was spoken to the gentiles.
1. Consider part of Peter's message to Cornelius and those he assembled.
Acts 10:34-43, Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to
show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him. The
word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)—you
yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism
which John proclaimed. You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and
with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God
was with Him. We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They
also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He
become visible, not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us
who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He ordered us to preach to the people, and
solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead.
Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives
forgiveness of sins.”
2. Consider Paul's message to the Jewish synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia with gentiles in attendance.
• Acts 13:32-39, And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers, that God has
fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm,
‘You are My Son; today I have begotten You.’ As for the fact that He raised Him up from the dead, no
longer to return to decay, He has spoken in this way: ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’
Therefore He also says in another Psalm, ‘You will not allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.’ For David,
after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers and
underwent decay; but He whom God raised did not undergo decay. Therefore let it be known to you,
brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him everyone who
believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.
• Acts 13:44-49, The next Sabbath nearly the whole city assembled to hear the word of the Lord. But
when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things spoken by
Paul, and were blaspheming. Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word
of God be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold,
we are turning to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I have placed You as a light for the
Gentiles, That You may bring salvation to the end of the earth.’” When the Gentiles heard this, they began
rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
And the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region.
II. Throughout Acts the church is spoken of as the ekklesia, "the called out," God's people who have
been called out of an idolatrous world to enter Jesus Christ.
A. Consider the fact that the church was a saved people.
1. It experienced "great fear" (Acts 5:11).
2. It could be persecuted (Acts 8:1).
3. It could experience havoc (Acts 8:3).
4. It could experience rest (Acts 9:31).
5. It had ears (Acts 11:32).
6. It could be mistreated or vexed (Acts 12:1).
7. It could pray fervently (Acts 12:5).
8. It could be gathered (Acts 14:27).
9. It could bring people on their way (Acts 15:3) and receive them (Acts 15:4).
10. It could be confirmed (Acts 15:41).
11. It could be fed (Acts 20:28).
B. Paul writings confirmed that the church was people who entered Christ.
1. Most of his letters were addressed to the church at a specific place, even if it was as troubled as the
church of Corinth.
2. It was not to be "offended" (1 Corinthians 10:32).
3. It could be persecuted (Galatians 1:13).
4. It could be nourished and cherished (Ephesians 5:29).
5. It can be saluted (Colossians 4:15) and hear a reading (Colossians 4:46).
III. My point is not that Jesus and his church can be or should be separated; my point is that we should
not reverse the roles served by Jesus and the church, thus making the church something it was not in the
New Testament.
A. Jesus is the Savior.
1. He and he alone can extend salvation.
As Peter said in Acts 4:8-12, Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the
people, if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, let it
be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom
you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good
health. He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone.
And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men
by which we must be saved.”
2. It is his blood that cleanses us of our sins and his resurrection that gives us the expectation of life
after we die.
B. The church is those who are saved by the Savior.
1. It does not have the power or the mission of saving.
2. The church is the saved who are excited about what they have found, received in their Savior, Jesus.
C. People are not converted to the church, but to Jesus.
1. They are converted to the Savior to be part of the saved.
2. They are not converted to be Saviors but to call people to the Savior.
3. They allow Jesus to change their behavior so they can give glory to God, be Jesus' disciples, and live
as a contrast to godless lives in this world.
Then what is the crisis? It is the crises produced when we preach the church as an institution instead of
people, when we deliberately create the impression that the church saves rather than Jesus, and when we
assume people know Jesus. The result of this crisis is that people feel "spiritually safe" if they are a part of
"the right" institution and exhibit very little faith in Jesus, or desire to change their behavior, or desire to
involve their time and lives in God. This crisis commonly exists when people want "to belong" rather than
serve. Rather than living lives of faith, we are convinced that all we have to do is conform to the demands of
the institution.
Download this Bible Study "A Significant Crisis" in MP3 or PodCast format
ASignificantCrisis.mp3 from God's Message on the Web
Used with permission from David Chadwell, West-Ark Church of Christ
Visit God's Message Blog to comment on this Bible Study Lesson
http://godsmessageontheweb.blogspot.com/2007/10/significant-crisis.html
Last updated on October 19th 2007 God's Message on the Web
ASignificantCrisis.mp3 from God's Message on the Web
Among the common struggles we experience is our struggle for identity. That struggle begins very early in
our lives. When we are quite young, our identity is commonly formed by our perception of our Mom and
Dad. When we are a child at home before starting to school, we commonly exaggerate and embellish the
images of our parents to fill our own needs for significance.
Then we begin our long journey through school. Constantly, we are trying to determine who we are. Do I
determine my identity in terms of what I have? In terms of what I wear? In terms of who are my friends? In
terms of what activity I am a part of? In terms of my skills (what I can do?) In terms of my interests?
In high school we get a degree in peer pressure. In college we get a graduate degree in peer pressure. If we are
not very careful, in careers or jobs, peer pressure can determine what we buy, our priorities, and what we
do. It takes a wise person to distinguish between peer pressure and personal interests.
Not only do we struggle with a sense of identity as a person, but we also struggle with a sense of identity in
our institutions. That is ONE (just one) of the reasons some people do not like change within an institution.
Being a part of the institution contributes to the person's sense of identity. When change occurs that affects
the institution in what the person regards as significant, they feel threatened.
Today, the church tends to be an "institution" in most of our thinking. We speak of "membership" in the
concept of being an acknowledged member of a particular organization. The "membership" is determined by
people who say a person is "in" or "out." Our common concept of membership often is in conflict with
Acts 2:47 and the Lord adding to their number daily those being saved.
Christians tend to get more upset by the way worship is done than how people behave in their daily lives.
"Where does the prayer come? Is there too much or too little prayer? Who leads the prayers? How many
songs should we have? When should we sing? How old are the songs? Who leads the songs? Should songs be
on a screen or in a book? Who can preach? What are the acceptable subjects? How often should he preach on
a subject? Are his sermons too long or too short? When should we have communion? Who can serve it?
How should it be done?" Thus, if the right things are done in the right way at the right time by the right
people within the right time frame, it is a good worship and therefore a good congregation with good elders
and a good preacher. The institution is good. If it is institutionally correct, the church is sound, the truth is
taught, and our personal identity is intact. We have done "Church of Christ" things in "Church of Christ"
ways and my identity is intact because I have declared, "I am Church of Christ."
If I regard the institution as sound, then I can know I am sound because I am a member in a sound church.
How does that concept fit with the fact that the congregation in Sardis was dying, desperately needing to
repent, but they had a few worthy people who had not soiled their white garments (Revelation 3:1-4)?
Worthy Christians in an "unsound congregation"? How can that be?
I. The first thing I want to call to your attention is the fact that their evangelistic lessons focused on
Jesus the Christ as Savior.
A. First, direct your attention to the lessons in Acts and note how often people are called to the Savior.
1. In Acts 2 Peter spoke to a Jewish audience after Jesus died and was resurrected.
a. In verses 22-24, Peter focused his lesson on Jesus:
Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and
wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know—this
Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the
hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of
death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.
b. After Peter used proofs that his Jewish audience understood, he said in verse 36:
Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this
Jesus whom you crucified.”
2. In Acts 3 when Peter and John went to the temple to pray and healed the lame man, Peter utilized his
opportunity to teach by focusing their attention on Jesus:
Acts 3:12-16, But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at
this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you
delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. But you disowned the
Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, but put to death the Prince of life,
the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses. And on the basis of faith in His
name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which
comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.
3. When Peter and John were arrested for their miracle and for teaching about Jesus, a part of their
explanation to the court included this:
Acts 4:8-12 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people, if we are
on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, let it be known to all
of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified,
whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health. He is the
stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. And there is
salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which
we must be saved.”
4. When all the apostles were arrested by the Jerusalem Sanhedrin, consider Gameliel's “guh-mey-lee-uh
“advice to the counsel and the apostles' reaction.
Acts 5:38-42, So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this
plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or
else you may even be found fighting against God.” They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in,
they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. So they went
on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer
shame for His name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and
preaching Jesus as the Christ.
B. The same was true when the message was spoken to the gentiles.
1. Consider part of Peter's message to Cornelius and those he assembled.
Acts 10:34-43, Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to
show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him. The
word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)—you
yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism
which John proclaimed. You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and
with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God
was with Him. We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They
also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He
become visible, not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us
who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He ordered us to preach to the people, and
solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead.
Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives
forgiveness of sins.”
2. Consider Paul's message to the Jewish synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia with gentiles in attendance.
• Acts 13:32-39, And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers, that God has
fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm,
‘You are My Son; today I have begotten You.’ As for the fact that He raised Him up from the dead, no
longer to return to decay, He has spoken in this way: ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’
Therefore He also says in another Psalm, ‘You will not allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.’ For David,
after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers and
underwent decay; but He whom God raised did not undergo decay. Therefore let it be known to you,
brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him everyone who
believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.
• Acts 13:44-49, The next Sabbath nearly the whole city assembled to hear the word of the Lord. But
when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things spoken by
Paul, and were blaspheming. Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word
of God be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold,
we are turning to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I have placed You as a light for the
Gentiles, That You may bring salvation to the end of the earth.’” When the Gentiles heard this, they began
rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
And the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region.
II. Throughout Acts the church is spoken of as the ekklesia, "the called out," God's people who have
been called out of an idolatrous world to enter Jesus Christ.
A. Consider the fact that the church was a saved people.
1. It experienced "great fear" (Acts 5:11).
2. It could be persecuted (Acts 8:1).
3. It could experience havoc (Acts 8:3).
4. It could experience rest (Acts 9:31).
5. It had ears (Acts 11:32).
6. It could be mistreated or vexed (Acts 12:1).
7. It could pray fervently (Acts 12:5).
8. It could be gathered (Acts 14:27).
9. It could bring people on their way (Acts 15:3) and receive them (Acts 15:4).
10. It could be confirmed (Acts 15:41).
11. It could be fed (Acts 20:28).
B. Paul writings confirmed that the church was people who entered Christ.
1. Most of his letters were addressed to the church at a specific place, even if it was as troubled as the
church of Corinth.
2. It was not to be "offended" (1 Corinthians 10:32).
3. It could be persecuted (Galatians 1:13).
4. It could be nourished and cherished (Ephesians 5:29).
5. It can be saluted (Colossians 4:15) and hear a reading (Colossians 4:46).
III. My point is not that Jesus and his church can be or should be separated; my point is that we should
not reverse the roles served by Jesus and the church, thus making the church something it was not in the
New Testament.
A. Jesus is the Savior.
1. He and he alone can extend salvation.
As Peter said in Acts 4:8-12, Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the
people, if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, let it
be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom
you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good
health. He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone.
And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men
by which we must be saved.”
2. It is his blood that cleanses us of our sins and his resurrection that gives us the expectation of life
after we die.
B. The church is those who are saved by the Savior.
1. It does not have the power or the mission of saving.
2. The church is the saved who are excited about what they have found, received in their Savior, Jesus.
C. People are not converted to the church, but to Jesus.
1. They are converted to the Savior to be part of the saved.
2. They are not converted to be Saviors but to call people to the Savior.
3. They allow Jesus to change their behavior so they can give glory to God, be Jesus' disciples, and live
as a contrast to godless lives in this world.
Then what is the crisis? It is the crises produced when we preach the church as an institution instead of
people, when we deliberately create the impression that the church saves rather than Jesus, and when we
assume people know Jesus. The result of this crisis is that people feel "spiritually safe" if they are a part of
"the right" institution and exhibit very little faith in Jesus, or desire to change their behavior, or desire to
involve their time and lives in God. This crisis commonly exists when people want "to belong" rather than
serve. Rather than living lives of faith, we are convinced that all we have to do is conform to the demands of
the institution.
Download this Bible Study "A Significant Crisis" in MP3 or PodCast format
ASignificantCrisis.mp3 from God's Message on the Web
Used with permission from David Chadwell, West-Ark Church of Christ
Visit God's Message Blog to comment on this Bible Study Lesson
http://godsmessageontheweb.blogspot.com/2007/10/significant-crisis.html
Last updated on October 19th 2007 God's Message on the Web
