A Study of How the Church Began

With all of the newly found religions, teachings, cults, etc, it can be tricky to distinguish amongst them all. Which one is real? Which one will only leave me bankrupt and feeling empty inside? Which will take me to heaven and to a mountain of blessings?

A series of questions follow about how to distinguish the real thing from another fake church. The questions are answered with biblical reference and in red. Not only do the questions answer the who, what, where, how and when of the church, they also refute all other possibilities.

WHO?: The church was not started by the pope, Martin Luther, Joseph Smith, or anyone else besides Christ Jesus.
WHAT?: The church is not an edifice and is indestructable.
WHERE?: The church did not begin in Rome, England or Mecca. It began in Jerusalem.
HOW?: No revelation was ever revealed to an ordinary man who was to start a church in that ordinary man's name.
WHEN?: The church did not begin in the 600s, 1400s, or even 1900s.

  1. Who is the Founder?
    Jesus said, "on this rock I will build my church (Matthew 16:18)."
  2. What is the Church?
    In the Bible, the church refers to a body of people, not an edifice. The church was not the place where people were meeting in Christ; it was the people in Christ who were meeting in a place. "Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church (Colossians 1:24)."
  3. Where did the Church begin?
    "In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.' The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:2-3)."
  4. Who were its first Preachers?
    The apostles preached the first sermon into Christ's church to men from many different countries. However, the apostles didn't speak of their own knowledge or planned words. The Holy Spirit told them everything they were to say.
    "each one heard them (the apostles) speaking in his own language" (Acts 2:6)
    HOWEVER
    "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (John 14:26)
  5. When did the church begin?
    The church began around 50 days after the death of Christ, which is believed to have been around 33 A.D. According to Acts 2, the Church began on the day of Pentecost. "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved (Acts 2:47, KJV)."
  6. What was the result of the first sermon?
    After learning they had crucified the Son of God, many were pricked in their hearts and asked, "What shall we do (Acts 2:37)?" They were told that they must repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins. (Acts 2:38) "Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about 3,000 were added to their number that day (Acts 2:41)."
  7. How fast did the church grow at first?
    "But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about 5,000 (Acts 4:4)."
history of Sugar Creek Church of Christ?
What is the Church of Christ?
the 'ONE' Baptism
What Must I Do to be Saved?
Does Every Person Have a Right to His Own Belief?