C H u r c h ( 123 RELATED words and PHRASES ) |
The word Church appears 25,801 times in the published writings of EGW -- See page on the original site
+ The Church is . . . ( 649 ) > The Church is asleep
> The Church is God's appointed agency
> The Church is the property of God ( 3 )
> The Church is very precious in God's sight
+ Afflict the church ( 2 ) > afflict the just ( 2 )
+ Against the church ( 47 ) > against the church of Christ
+ Backslidden Church ( 17 ) ► Backsliding Church ( 4 )
+ Build up the church ( 25 ) > Build up the churches ( 17 )
> New convert ( 11 ) > New converts ( 123 )
+ Church affairs ( 2 ) > Church matters ( 11 )
+ church and state ( ) ► union of church and state ( 6 )
+ Church books ( 115 ) > removed from the church books ( 4 )
> registered on the church books
+ Church Discipline ( ) > See Discipline
+ Church fellowship ( ) > unworthy of church fellowship ( see Favorites below )
+ Church militant ( 90 ) > the church is militant ( ) See Church Triumphant
+ Church officers ( 54 ) Church officers to be free from prejudice ( 2 )
► Officers in the Church ( 4 ) >
+ the church on earth ( )
+ Church sanctity ( 2 )
+ the church today ( 64 ) > present truth for the church today ( 4 ) 
> in the church today ( )
► the church of today ( 35 ) > the church of the last generation ( )
+ Cleanse the Church ( ) > separate from the church ( 3 ) > turned out of the church ( 4 )
+ the Early Church ( 97 ) > Early Christian Church
► apostolic church ( 18 ) > church of apostolic times ( 2 )
> history of the early church > primitive church ( 8 )
+ fallen church ( 11 ) > fallen churches ( 24 )
+ Grow the church ( )
+ Into the Church ( 350 ) > creeping into the church ( ) > gathered into one church ( 5 )
+ Large Church ( 41 ) > Large churches ( 41 ) > Larger churches ( 16 )
+ Living Church ( )
+ Purify the church ( 16 ) > purification of the church ( 17 )
> purifying the church ( ) > He will purify the church ( )
+ Remnant church ( 114 ) > God's remnant church ( 7 )
+ Separate from the church ( 1 ) > Separate him from the church ( 1 ) > separated from the church ( 31 )
+ Sanctioned by the church ( 9 )
+ Success of a church ( 2 ) > success of the church ( 15 )
+ Tell it to the church ( ) [ see Matthew 18: 17 ]
+ True Church ( 58 ) > Sign of the true church ( )
+ upon the church ( ) + has fallen upon the church ( 9 ) > has fallen upon it ( 2 )
| "Not one cloud has fallen upon the church that God has not prepared for, not one opposing force has risen to counterwork the work of God but He has foreseen. All has taken place as He has predicted through His prophets" (2SM 108).
|
+ Within the church ( 18 ) > come from within the church ( 4 )
| . . . in the Church ( 2,271 ) See separate page with 19 phrases containing . . . in the church
|
► In His Church ( 70 ) > the manifestation of Himself in His Church
+ perfect unity in the church ( 6 )
| . . . of the Church ( 3,382 ) See separate page with 30 phrases containing . . . of the church
|
► out of the church ( )
Seventh-day Adventists
+ the seventh-day Adventist church ( 153 )
+ . . . that have made us Seventh-day Adventists ( 3 ) . . . that has made us Seventh-day Adventists ( 2 )
+ Nominal Adventists ( 25 ) > nominal Adventists charged me with fanaticism
+ Unconsecrated members ( 9 )
> church members who have never been converted ( 5 )
T H E c h u r c h o f g o d
|
+ The Church of God ( ) ► God's Church ( see below )
+ The Church of Christ ( 314 ) > Christ's church ( )
+ The Church on earth ( 116 ) > God's church on earth ( ) > His church on earth ( 32 )
+ The Church of God above ( 5 ) ► The Church of God below ( 2 )
Related Phrases: God's People + God's Church ( 45 ) >
In every age there is some special truth that separates God's church from the world .-- "Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth," was the prayer of Christ for His disciples. In every age God has committed to His people some special truth which is directly opposed to the desires and purposes of the human heart, and which tends to separate His church from the world; and it has been the duty of His ministers to proclaim this truth, whether men would hear or forbear.-- ST Jan. 28, 1886. {PaM 27.1}
+ History of God's Church ( )
+ His Church ( 1,115 ) > His Church on earth ( 32 )
- - Members of God's Church ( 10 )
My personal favorites
| The work which the church has failed to do in a time of peace and prosperity, she will have to do in a terrible crisis, under most discouraging, forbidding, circumstances. The warnings that worldly conformity has silenced or withheld, must be given under the fiercest opposition from enemies of the faith. And at that time the superficial, conservative class, whose influence has steadily retarded the progress of the work, will renounce the faith, and take their stand with its avowed enemies, toward whom their sympathies have long been tending. These apostates will then manifest the most bitter enmity, doing all in their power to oppress and malign their former brethren, and to excite indignation against them. This day is just before us. The members of the church will individually be tested and proved. They will be placed in circumstances where they will be forced to bear witness for the truth. Many will be called to speak before councils and in courts of justice, perhaps separately and alone. The experience which would have helped them in this emergency they have neglected to obtain, and their souls are burdened with remorse for wasted opportunities and neglected privileges.-- Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 463. {ChS 158.1}
|
| It is by sinful indulgence that men give Satan access to their minds, and they go from one stage of wickedness to another. The rejection of light darkens the mind and hardens the heart, so that it is easier for them to take the next step in sin, and to reject still clearer light, until at last their habits of wrongdoing become fixed. Sin ceases to appear sinful to them. He who faithfully preaches God's word, thereby condemning their sins, too often incurs their hatred. Unwilling to endure the pain and sacrifice necessary to reform, they turn upon the Lord's servant, and denounce his reproofs as uncalled for and severe. Like Korah, they declare that the people are not at fault; it is the reprover that causes all the trouble. And soothing their consciences with this deception, the jealous and disaffected combine to sow discord in the church, and weaken the hands of those who would build it up. {RH, November 12, 1903 par. 38}
|
|
Why are believers formed into a church? Because by this means Christ would increase their usefulness in the world and strengthen their personal influence for good. In the church there is to be maintained a discipline which guards the rights of all and increases the sense of mutual dependence. God never designed that one man's mind and judgment should be a controlling power. He never designed that one man should rule and plan and devise without the careful and prayerful consideration of the whole body, in order that all may move in a sound, thorough, harmonious manner. {3SM 16.3}
|
| Let none speak lightly of the duty of the church to administer censure and rebuke; neither let them criticize the action of the church when this painful task becomes necessary. Christ has given plain instruction regarding the duty of the church toward those who, while professing to be loyal members, are bringing dishonor to the cause of God by their course of action. “Every plant, which my Heavenly Father hath not planted,” he says, “shall be rooted up.” God has commanded that those who prove themselves unworthy of church-fellowship shall be separated from his body. Those who speak against the exercise of this authority, speak against the authority of Christ. { RH March 19, 1908, par. 15 }
|
Not one cloud has fallen upon the church that God has not prepared for; not one opposing force has risen to counterwork the work of God but He has foreseen. All has taken place as He has predicted through His prophets. He has not left His church in darkness, forsaken, but has traced in prophetic declarations what would occur, and through His providence, acting in its appointed place in the world's history, He has brought about that which His Holy Spirit inspired the prophets to foretell. All His purposes will be fulfilled and established. His law is linked with His throne, and satanic agencies combined with human agencies cannot destroy it. Truth is inspired and guarded by God; it will live, and will succeed, although it may appear at times to be overshadowed. The gospel of Christ is the law exemplified in character. The deceptions practiced against it, every device for vindicating falsehood, every error forged by satanic agencies, will eventually be eternally broken, and the triumph of truth will be like the appearing of the sun at noonday. The Sun of Righteousness shall shine forth with healing in His wings, and the whole earth shall be filled with His glory. {2SM 108.2}
But never should it be forgotten that influence is no less a power for evil. To lose one's own soul is a terrible thing; but to cause the loss of other souls is still more terrible. That our influence should be a savor of death unto death is a fearful thought; yet this is possible. Many who profess to gather with Christ are scattering from Him. This is why the church is so weak. Many indulge freely in criticism and accusing. By giving expression to suspicion, jealousy, and discontent, they yield themselves as instruments to Satan. Before they realize what they are doing, the adversary has through them accomplished his purpose. The impression of evil has been made, the shadow has been cast, the arrows of Satan have found their mark. Distrust, unbelief, and downright infidelity have fastened upon those who otherwise might have accepted Christ. Meanwhile the workers for Satan look complacently upon those whom they have driven to skepticism, and who are now hardened against reproof and entreaty. They flatter themselves that in comparison with these souls they are virtuous and righteous. They do not realize that these sad wrecks of character are the work of their own unbridled tongues and rebellious hearts. It is through their influence that these tempted ones have fallen. {COL 340.3}
Soon after the encampment at Sinai, Moses was called up into the mountain to meet with God. Alone he climbed the steep and rugged path, and drew near to the cloud that marked the place of Jehovah's presence. Israel was now to be taken into a close and peculiar relation to the Most High -- to be incorporated as a church and a nation under the government of God. The message to Moses for the people was . . . Patriarchs and Prophets, page 303.1
The church cannot measure herself by the world nor by the opinion of men nor by what she once was. Her faith and her position in the world as they now are must be compared with what they would have been if her course had been continually onward and upward. The church will be weighed in the balances of the sanctuary. If her moral character and spiritual state do not correspond with the benefits and blessings God has conferred upon her, she will be found wanting. The light has been shining clear and definite upon her pathway, and the light of 1882 calls her to an account. If her talents are unimproved, if her fruit is not perfect before God, if her light has become darkness, she is indeed found wanting. The knowledge of our state as God views it, seems to be hidden from us. We see, but perceive not; we hear, but do not understand; and we rest as unconcerned as if the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, rested upon our sanctuary. We profess to know God, and to believe the truth, but in works deny Him. Our deeds are directly adverse to the principles of truth and righteousness, by which we profess to be governed. {5T 83.2}
Christ had foretold that deceivers would arise, through whose influence "iniquity" should "abound," and "the love of many" should "wax cold." Matthew 24:12. He had warned the disciples that the church would be in more danger from this evil than from the persecution of her enemies. Again and again Paul warned the believers against these false teachers. This peril, above all others, they must guard against; for by receiving false teachers, they would open the door to errors by which the enemy would dim the spiritual perceptions and shake the confidence of those newly come to the faith of the gospel. Christ was the standard by which they were to test the doctrines presented. All that was not in harmony with His teachings they were to reject. Christ crucified for sin, Christ risen from the dead, Christ ascended on high--this was the science of salvation that they were to learn and teach. {AA 473.3}
We see the churches of our day encouraging feasting, gluttony, and dissipation, by the suppers, fairs, dances, and festivals gotten up for the purpose of gathering means into the church treasury. Here is a method invented by carnal minds to secure means without sacrificing. {CS 201.1}
Such an example makes an impression upon the minds of youth. They notice that lotteries and fairs and games are sanctioned by the church, and they think there is something fascinating in this way of obtaining means. A youth is surrounded by temptations. He enters the bowling alley, the gambling saloon, to see the sport. He sees the money taken by the one who wins. This looks enticing. It seems an easier way of obtaining money than by earnest work, which requires persevering energy and strict economy. He imagines there can be no harm in this; for similar games have been resorted to in order to obtain means for the benefit of the church. Then why should he not help himself in this way? {CS 201.2}
He has a little means, which he ventures to invest, thinking it may bring in quite a sum. Whether he gains or loses, he is in the downward road to ruin. But it was the example of the church that led him into the false path. {CS 201.3}
“Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25. Though the ministration was to be removed from the earthly to the heavenly temple; though the sanctuary and our great high priest would be invisible to human sight, yet the disciples were to suffer no loss thereby. They would realize no break in their communion, and no diminution of power because of the Saviour’s absence. While Jesus ministers in the sanctuary above, He is still by His Spirit the minister of the church on earth. He is withdrawn from the eye of sense, but His parting promise is fulfilled, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20. While He delegates His power to inferior ministers, His energizing presence is still with His church. { DA 166.2}
The reason why the churches are weak and sickly and ready to die, is that the enemy has brought influences of a discouraging nature to bear upon trembling souls. He has sought to shut Jesus from their view as the Comforter, as one who reproves, who warns, who admonishes them, saying, “This is the way, walk ye in it.” Christ has all power in heaven and in earth, and he can strengthen the wavering, and set right the erring. He can inspire with confidence, with hope in God; and confidence in God always results in creating confidence in one another. { RH August 26, 1890, par. 10 }
Numbers shown in ( ) is the ( number of texts ) containing this phrase
Return to Selected Quotations by EGW page
