THE CHURCH--GOD'S TEMPLE TODAY
        I COR. 3:16; I TIM. 3:15; EPH. 2:19-22; I PET. 2:5

INTRODUCTION:
     A.  The word "temple" in the ancient languages was a word which spoke of the
           house, or abiding place of deity.
          1.  Such places were common among the pagans.
     2.  Even under the Old Law--God's presence was associated with a physical
           structure--tabernacle, Solomon's Temple.
     B.  The truth of the matter today - Acts 7:24,25.
     C.  Passages of text declare church is the temple--we are the stones!
     D.  To help us better understand this subject I want us to see how the OT temple
           was a type of the church--it being the Anti-type.

I.  BOTH WERE BUILT BY A DIVINE PATTERN.
     A.  Solomon's Temple - I Chron. 28:10-19.
     B.  Christ's Church - Mt. 16:18; Eph. 3:10.

II.  BOTH WERE BUILT AFTER A PERIOD OF PREPARATION.
     A.  Solomon's Temple - I Kg. 5:4.
     B.  Christ's Church - Mk. 1:2,3.

III.  BOTH WERE BUILT AFTER ADVERSARIES HAD BEEN CONQUERED.
     A.  Solomon's Temple - I Kg. 5:2-4.
     B.  Christ's Church - Heb. 2:14; Col. 2:15.

IV.  BOTH WERE BUILT AFTER SON WAS ON THE THRONE.
     A.  Solomon's Temple - I Kg. 5:4,5.
     B.  Christ's Church - Acts 2:30-36.

V.  BOTH WERE BUILT FROM MATERIAL WHICH CAME FROM ANOTHER 
      KINGDOM.
     A.  Solomon's Temple - I Kg. 5:8,9.
     B.  Christ's Church - Col. 1:13; Eph. 2:19.

VI.  BOTH WERE BUILT FROM MATERIAL PAID FOR WHILE YET IN ANOTHER
      KINGDOM.
     A.  Solomon's Temple - I Kg. 5:10,11.
     B.  Christ's Church - I Pet. 1:18,19; Heb. 2:9; Rom. 5:8.

VII.  BOTH WERE BUILT FROM MATERIAL PREPARED WHILE YET IN 
      ANOTHER KINGDOM.
     A.  Solomon's Temple - I Kg. 5:18; 6:17.
     B.  Christ's Church - Acts 16:31; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:37.

VIII.  BOTH WERE BUILT FROM MATERIAL WHICH CAME ACROSS WATER.
     A.  Solomon's Temple - I Kg. 5:8.
     B.  Christ's Church - Jn. 3:5; Gal. 3:26,27; Acts 2:38,47.

IX.  BOTH WERE THE ONLY PLACE GOD'S NAME WAS RECORDED AND IN
      WHICH SERVICE TO GOD COULD BE RENDERED.
     A.  Solomon's Temple - I Kg. 9:1-3.
     B.  Christ's Church - Eph. 3:21; I Pet. 2:5; Acts 2:41,47.

X.  BOTH CAME UNDER THE ATTACK OF BABYLON & HAD TO BE RESTORED.
     A.  Solomon's Temple - II Kg. 25; Jer. 52:12,13; Ezra 6:3.
     B.  Christ's Church - II Tim. 4:1-3; II Thess. 2:3,4; Rev. 11:2; 12:6,13-15; 17:5.

CONCLUSION:
     A.  There are even those today who would go from Jerusalem to another mount
           like the ten northern tribes.  (Unfaithfulness or substitution and rejection)
     B.  If you would serve God acceptably--then you must do it in the God-appointed
           place--the church of His beloved Son.  Jn. 4:23,24.