This document discusses the early churches of Christ that were established in the 1st century AD according to the book of Acts and epistles. It notes that the first church began in Jerusalem in 33 AD under the preaching of Peter. It then discusses how churches were established in homes in various cities like Rome, Corinth, Ephesus, and others. The document argues that modern denominations commit idolatry by putting human doctrines and desires over God's word in the New Testament.
2. Internet Church of Christ
Scriptural Bible study and worship!
Home churches in New Testament!
Original practice 1st century!
Apostolic example!
Christ’s apostolic approval!
Our home church practice and doctrine
in this 21st century!
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3. Church of Christ in Jerusalem
New Testament church established in
Jerusalem in Acts 2 – 33AD
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4. Church established in 33AD
“37Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their
heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles,
Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized
every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy
Ghost. 39For the promise is unto you, and to your
children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the
Lord our God shall call. 40And with many other words did
he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this
untoward generation. 41Then they that gladly received his
word were baptized: and the same day there were
added unto them about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:37-
41).
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5. Church of Christ in Jerusalem
42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine
and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and
signs were done by the apostles.
44And all that believed were together, and had all things
common;
45And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them
to all men, as every man had need.
46And they, continuing daily with one accord in the
temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat
their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47Praising God, and having favour with all the people.
And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be
saved” (Acts 2:42-47).
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6. Church of Christ in Judea
“5And the saying pleased the whole multitude:
and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and
of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus,
and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and
Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
6Whom they set before the apostles: and when
they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
7And the word of God increased; and the
number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem
greatly; and a great company of the priests
were obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:5-7).
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8. 1st House church in Jerusalem
“36Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly,
that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have
crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their
heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles,
Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized
every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy
Ghost.
39For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to
all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God
shall call” (Acts 2:36-39).
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10. Church of Christ in Samaria
“5Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria,
and preached Christ unto them…12But when
they believed Philip preaching the things
concerning the kingdom of God, and the name
of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men
and women.
13Then Simon himself believed also: and when
he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and
wondered, beholding the miracles and signs
which were done” (Acts 8:5…12-13).
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11. Study And Worship With Us!
Welcome to The Internet church of Christ!
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Visit www.gotomeeting.com/554673589
Learn why Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
belong to Old–not–New Testament.
Learn why NT begins in Acts 2 and not
Matthew 1.
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13. House church of Christ - Rome
“3Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in
Christ Jesus:
4Who have for my life laid down their
own necks: unto whom not only I give
thanks, but also all the churches of the
Gentiles.
5Likewise greet the church that is in
their house” (Romans 16:3-5).
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14. Churches of Christ in Rome
“4Who have for my life laid down their
own necks: unto whom not only I give
thanks, but also all the churches of the
Gentiles. 5Likewise greet the church that
is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved
Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of
Achaia unto Christ. 6Greet Mary, who
bestowed much labour on us” (Romans
16:4-6).
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15. Christians in Rome…
7Salute Andronicus and Junia, my
kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who
are of note among the apostles, who
also were in Christ before me.
8Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord.
9Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and
Stachys my beloved. 10Salute Apelles
approved in Christ. Salute them which
are of Aristobulus’ household” (Romans
16:7-10).
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17. Christians in Rome…
“11Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them
that be of the household of Narcissus, which
are in the Lord.12Salute Tryphena and
Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the
beloved Persis, which laboured much in the
Lord. 13Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and
his mother and mine. 14Salute Asyncritus,
Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the
brethren which are with them” (Romans 16:11-
14).
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18. Christians in Rome…
“15Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus,
and his sister, and Olympas, and all the
saints which are with them.
16Salute one another with an holy kiss.
The churches of Christ salute you”
(Romans 16:15-16).
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19. Churches of Christ
“41And they departed from the presence
of the council, rejoicing that they were
counted worthy to suffer shame for his
name.
42And daily in the temple, and in every
house, they ceased not to teach and
preach Jesus Christ” (Acts 5:46).
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20. House Churches in England
During occupation of Roman Empire
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21. Churches of Christ
Hadrian’s Wall in Northern England
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22. Study And Worship With Us!
Welcome to The Internet church of Christ!
Sundays at 9amcst-5:30pmcst
Wednesdays at 7pmcst
Visit www.gotomeeting.com/554673589
Learn why Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
belong to Old–not–New Testament.
Learn why NT begins in Acts 2 and not
Matthew 1.
Bible Studies by Dan Billingsly 22
25. House Churches in Asia
“19The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila
and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord,
with the church that is in their house.
20All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one
another with an holy kiss. 21The salutation
of me Paul with mine own hand. 22If any man
love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be
Anathema Maranatha. 23The grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ be with you. 24My love be with you
all in Christ Jesus. Amen” (1 Corinthians 16:19-
24).
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26. New Testament Church
“ 6But Christ as a son over his own
house; whose house are we, if we hold
fast the confidence and the rejoicing of
the hope firm unto the end” (Hebrews
3:6).
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30. Diana of the Ephesians
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“26Moreover ye see and hear, that not
alone at Ephesus, but almost
throughout all Asia, this Paul hath
persuaded and turned away much
people, saying that they be no gods,
which are made with hands:
27So that not only this our craft is in
danger to be set at nought; but also that
the temple of the great goddess Diana
should be despised, and her
magnificence should be destroyed,
whom all Asia and the world
worshippeth” (Acts 19:26-27).
33. Ancient IDOLATRY…
“…i-dol'-a-tri (teraphim, "household idols," "idolatry";
eidololatreia): There is ever in the human mind a craving for
visible forms to express religious conceptions, and this
tendency does not disappear with the acceptance, or even with
the constant recognition, of pure spiritual truths (see IMAGES).
Idolatry originally meant the worship of idols, or the worship of
false gods by means of idols, but came to mean among the Old
Testament Hebrews any worship of false gods, whether by
images or otherwise, and finally the worship of Yahweh through
visible symbols (Hos 8:5,6; 10:5); and ultimately in the New
Testament idolatry came to mean, not only the giving to any
creature or human creation the honor or devotion which
belonged to God alone, but the giving to any human desire a
precedence over God's will (1 Cor 10:14; Gal 5:20; Col 3:5; 1
Pet 4:3).
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35. Modern
Denominational Idolatry
“…and ultimately in the New Testament
idolatry came to mean, not only the
giving to any creature or human creation
the honor or devotion which belonged to
God alone, but the giving to any human
desire (doctrine) a precedence over
God's will.”
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“7Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it
is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and
rose up to play.
8Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them
committed, and fell in one day three and twenty
thousand.
9Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also
tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10Neither murmur ye, as some of them also
murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11Now all these things happened unto them for
ensamples: and they are written for our admonition,
upon whom the ends of the world are come”
( 1 Corinthians 10:7-11).
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“19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;
Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife,
seditions, heresies,
21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of
the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past,
that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of
God.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith,
23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the
affections and lusts.
25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians
5:19-25).
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“5Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth;
fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil
concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
6For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the
children of disobedience:
7In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in
them.
8But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice,
blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
9Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old
man with his deeds;
10And have put on the new man, which is renewed in
knowledge after the image of him that created him:
11Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor
uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but
Christ is all, and in all” (Colossians 3:5-11).
40. Study And Worship With Us!
Welcome to The Internet church of Christ!
Sundays at 9amcst-5:30pmcst
Wednesdays at 7pmcst
Visit www.gotomeeting.com/554673589
Learn why Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
belong to Old–not–New Testament.
Learn why NT begins in Acts 2 and not
Matthew 1.
Bible Studies by Dan Billingsly 40
41. TODAY’S IDOLATRY
Every sect and denomination in the
world balks at and rejects the doctrine of
the New Testament of Jesus Christ.
They set forth their desire for human
doctrine, human salvation, human
worship, human hope – over God’s
revealed, preached, recorded, word
in the New Testament. RESULT:
DENOMINATIONAL IDOLATRY!
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42. TRUTH IS NEVER WRONG!
CHRIST IS THE EMBODIMENT OF
DIVINE AND ALL TRUTH!
A LIE IS THE BASIS FOR EVERY
FALSE DOCTRINE!
NO WAY TO BEND THE TRUTH INTO
A LIE OR FALSE DOCTRINE!
NOTHING CAN WASH A BLACK LIE
INTO THE WHITE TRUTH!
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43. A LIE IS NEVER THE TRUTH!
A “WHITE” LIE IS NEVER THE TRUTH!
A “BLACK” LIE IS NEVER THE TRUTH!
“8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and
the abominable, and murderers, and
whoremongers, and sorcerers, and
idolaters, and all liars, shall have their
part in the lake which burneth with fire
and brimstone: which is the second
death” (Revelation 21:8).
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44. What is a lie? Who is a liar?
Every false teacher in religion
Every false professor in college
Every false doctrine is base on a lie
Every denominational catechism,
manual, council, pastor, pope, president
Every denominational sermon, preacher,
origin-establishment is based on a lie
No Christian “hope” - denominational lies
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45. WRONG, WRONG, WRONG
WRONG YESTERDAY
WRONG TODAY
WRONG TOMORROW
WRONG ON EARTH
WRONG IN HELL
WRONG IN HEAVEN!!!
WRONG IS NEVER RIGHT!
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46. WRONG, WRONG, WRONG
DENY GOD’ WORD – AUTHORITY
Is to deny God, Christ, the Holy Spirit,
the apostles, 1st century church!
“1But there were false prophets also among the people,
even as there shall be false teachers among you, who
privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the
Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift
destruction.
2And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason
of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of” (2 Peter
2:1-2).
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47. Study And Worship With Us!
Welcome to The Internet church of Christ!
Sundays at 9amcst-5:30pmcst
Wednesdays at 7pmcst
Visit www.gotomeeting.com/554673589
Learn why Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
belong to Old–not–New Testament.
Learn why NT begins in Acts 2 and not
Matthew 1.
Bible Studies by Dan Billingsly 47