• Patterns / blue prints are important (ie. Houses, dresses, furniture, etc.)

• If several houses are constructed according to the pattern, without alteration, they will all be alike...

• We must build according to a pattern, that we might be what God would have us be...

DIVINE PATTERNS ARE TO BE FOLLOWED

• Moses had to build the tabernacle according to the pattern (Ex 25:8-9, 40).

• Solomon had to build the temple according to the pattern (1 Chr 28:11-19)

DISOBEDIENCE OF DIVINE PATTERNS BRINGS JUDGMENT

• Disobedience over the tabernacle and its service (Lev 10:1-3; 1 Chr 13:7-10)

• Disobedience over the temple and its service (2 Chr 26:16-20; 33:1-11)

THE CHURCH MUST BE BUILT 'ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN'

• God’s pattern is not open to man’s changes (Heb 8:4-5)

• Moses could not alter anything, but was instructed to build according to the pattern. How much less can we alter the pattern God has ordained for the church.

• If the church is established according to the pattern, then it will recognize the importance of sound doctrine (Ac 2:42; Ro 16:17-18; 2 Thes 3:6), and use only the seed of the kingdom (Lk 8:11; 1 Pe 1:23; Gen 1:11-12)

BUILDING ACCORDING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT PATTERN

• Name......................................Ac 11:26; Ro 16:16

• Foundation.............................1 Cor 3:11; Mt 16:18

• Law........................................1 Cor 14:37; 2 Tim 3:16-17

• Membership...........................Ac 2:38, 41, 47; Gal 3:26-27

• Organization..........................Ac 14:23; Php 1:1; Eph 4:11

• Worship.................................Ac 2:42; Eph 5:19; Ac 20:7

• Discipline..............................Mt 18:17; 1 Cor 5:4-5; 2 Thes 3:14-15

THINGS THAT ARE NOT ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN (1 Cor 4:6; 2 Jn 9)

• Many religious bodies...........Eph 4:4; Jn 17:20-21; 1 Cor 1:10

• Instrumental music................Eph 5:19; Col 3:16

• Terms of admission...............Ac 2:21; Ro 10:13 / Mt 7:21; Ac 22:16

• Social/recreational................ie. kitchens, family life center, etc.

• Extra-church organization.....ie. Missionary societies; benevolent association, etc..

DISOBEDIENCE OF GOD'S PATTERN HAS ALWAYS BEEN PUNISHED

• Refer section B.

• New Testament violations will likewise be punished (Mt 7:22-23; Gal 1:6-9)

• We are not permitted to add/subtract (Rev 22:18-19; Deut 4:2; 12:32)

Build according to the pattern, and we will be just like the church Jesus built. To have things which are not in the pattern excludes us from being identical (Ps 127:1; Mt 15:13)

Click here for this week's Answering The Atheist
Where was Jesus three days after his baptism? Do Mark 1:12 andJohn 1:35 contradict?