1) Couple of weeks ago, we began a ("first principles") study titled "The Church"
A) In it we concluded there is a True Church! -- & the way we go about identifying it is by looking to scripture & properly interpreting what we read.
1) Since Jesus Christ is the "head over all things to the church" (Eph. 1:22)
2) Since He is the "Cornerstone" & His Apostles & Prophets the "Foundation". (Eph. 2:20)
a) Then we must listen to What He & His Spokesmen say if we are to become part of the True Church.
But why would someone care if they are part of the true church? -- What difference does it make?
2) Hopefully we answered these types of questions by asking "Why study about the Church?" (What's so important about it?)
A) First it is important because God planned it "from the beginning of the ages, and it is throu the church the Manifold wisdom of God is made known." (Eph. 3:8-12)
B) Second, Christ died for the church & Gave himself for her, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy & w/o blemish. (Eph. 5:25-27)
C) Third, Eph. 5:23, He is the Savior of the body. (therefore we understand, if we are not in this body then Jesus is not our Savior.)
So why is the church so important? -- & Why should someone care if they are a part of it? Because it is the only organization of which Jesus is the savior...
a) He's not the Savior of the "Sam's Wholesale club"
b) or the "investors Club"
c) or the "Lion's Club"
d) He not the savior of your local "Insurance group"
c) And friends as much as some despise it: He is not the savior of some religious man made organization.... But the only thing He is the Savior of is HIS CHURCH.
As stated: The church is not the savior... Christ is.... But Christ makes clear He will not save us, if we are not part of His Body, (i.e.. His Church.)
And indeed we see that from the religious people Jesus prophecies of in Mt.7:21 21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
When Jesus fulfilled the promise, "I will build my church" (Mt. 16:18) He meant what He said.... and this foretelling is of those who fail to Remember, Believe , or listen. (Perhaps they just don't know...) But at any rate:
1) Our proper understanding & application of Truth regarding the Church Jesus Built, is ALL important... (Having to do w/ our very salvation.)
[IN this lesson, we want to Briefly examine the pattern of the N.T. Church, regarding it's organization.
Q: Why? (Why Be concerned about "Church Organization") Sounds awful boring... & the only people really concerned w/ such things are priests and Pastors and so on... you know.... "clergy"
(Many are surprised to find that most of them are NOT concerned about such topics as the True Church or they would not use some of the titles & abide by some of their Creeds which we commonly see among most in the religious world. -- it's their lack of care about the True Church that cause them to go off into error.)
Such a comment concerning one's disinterest... would certainly indicate a terrible need for study on this very topic. -- for it is anything but boring if the Lord put so much emphasis on it in Scripture.
A) Why Be concerned about Church Organization? Because Organization reveals Purpose...
1) When God creates something.... He has a purpose in mind.
a) When He created man and woman... He gave them a brain, a backbone, arms legs, feet... etc. All for fulfilling a purpose for which He crated them....
1) He didn't give them a mission they could not complete w/o the necessary organization abilities of mind & body. (he made & organized us perfectly that we might perform & complete the duties He had in mind.)
b) So it is in the Church, He designs His creation (the church) w/ the organization to accomplish the purpose for which it was created.
2) And so in seeing the Proper organization of the church we become better
equipped to see her purpose. (this will especially be helpful in latter lessons as we look @ the Biblical work of the church).
B) In fact, when you look @ the beginnings of Apostasy from the True church one quickly sees it begins w/ Changes in Organization....
1) If I have a company, & I want to change my product from a cloths manufacture, to a Heavy Equipment production... I'm more than likely going to have to change the organizational structure of my company... Clothes makers & executives prob. don't know the first thing about Manufacturing Heavy equipment... & vice versa.
a) Point: Many times in order to change the purpose & work of the church (the Efforts or Production of the church) men must first change it's organizational structure.
Let's not take lightly our study.... Keep in mind, keeping proper organization as God designed it, will insure proper ability to carry out the Work as God would have it.
A) When we look briefly @ the N.T. church organization what we see is that Each Local church had Elders to oversee it.
1) A congregation, once fully developed, would have elders.
If it did not (or does not) have elders then it is not fully developed.
Just as we see in Ax. 14:23, "So when they [Paul & Barnabas] had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed."
Presbyter / Elder
Ax. 14:23; 20:17; 1Tim. 5:17; Titus 1:5; Pet. 5:1
Epsicopos/ Overseer/ Bishop
Ax. 20:28; Pet. 5:2; Titus 1:7; 1Tim. 3:1; Phil. 1:1
Poimon/Pastor/ Shepherd
Ax. 20:28; Pet.5:2; Eph. 4:11 Likewise in Tit. 1:5 Titus was instructed: "For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you-- " & then the text goes on to give the qualities that can be seen in a man & thereby make him a consideration for entering this role w/ in the Lord's church.
But then notice he goes on to say, v. 7, "For the bishop (litt. overseer) must be blameless as God's steward --"
2) & So, These elders were also called Bishops or overseers.
3) But these terms are also used synonymously w/ the word "Pastor" (which is lit. the word "Shepherd")
A) Just as Paul instructed in Ax. 20:17, Text says, "From Miletus he (Paul), sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.
& He begins to teach them regarding their responsibilities.... then
down in VRS. 28-29
"Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers (Bishops), to shepherd (Lit. Pastor) the church of God which He purchased with His own blood."
B) and so here in Ax. 20 we have all three of these terms being used to describe the same men. (Point: Not 3 distinct offices, but different ways to describe the men and their work)
To what degree does the work of the Elders Extend? --- Only to the degree that the Lord Instructed!
No less -- and no more
1) Notice again Ax. 20:28.... Where was their work to be done?
They were to shepherd the flock of God "Among which the H.S." had made them overseers.
2) In Pet. 5:2 they were told "Shepherd the flock of God which is among you"
a) In the True Church of Christ, no elder or group of elders ever had any authority beyond the oversight of the Local group of Christians among them.
3) And it's also clear that their work consisted of ALL that pertained to the Local group of Christians of which they were Shepherds.
What ever that local body needed they were to assist in supplying.
That's why the apostles command "Shepherd the flock" -- take heed to yourselves and to All the flock among you. (i.e.. tend it; care for it; nurture it; build it up; strengthen it for better service to God.)
II) Likewise, the office of the deacons were created for much of the same purpose. To upbuild strengthen, and serve the flock -- only their service does not extend to the oversight of the flock.
A) They are described (by the very work "Deacon") as Servants or ministers.... not as Overseers (bishops) or shepherds. (Pastors).
1) But like the Pastors / elders, ... they must meet certain qualities which are designed to help them fulfill their work in Close connection w/ the elders. Those qualities are recorded by the Lord in 1Tim. 3:8-13
B) V. 13 ends, by saying this work "For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus."
1) Some would believe all deacons are to fulfill under the sight of the Elders is Manual labor.... I would suggest to you one does not attain to "Great Boldness in the faith" by only seeing to the physical needs of the church building or even the physical needs of the Brethren... food, clothing, et. (the'some of their work may include those things.)
a) But it's by Spiritual things that one is Spiritually built.
(Maybe that's why every one of our deacons (like the elders) are teachers... As deacons they realize their is more to do in their position than take care of only Physical needs. (that's commendable)!
It no doubt describes the kind of work the deacons performed during the 1st Cent.
III) W/in every local church we also find those described as the Sheep. they are also described in Scripture as: "Holy ones", "Saints", Priests, & Brethren, etc.
A) They made up the "general Populous" of the church.
1) Out of this Populous... there were disciples who were called "Evangelists" and "Teachers"
Both of which "proclaim the Gospel" , But one has emphasis on the lost & the other on the saved.
2) And as we see in 2Tim. 4:5 & 2:2, Some apparently did the work of both evangelist and teacher.
a) 2 Tim 4:4-5 "But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."
2 Tim 4:2 "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching."
3) But whether they serve as an Evangelist, Teacher, Preacher or Minister (or all of these at once) they still are not to take the oversight of & make decisions on behalf of the church... they are still under the oversight of the Elders as the entire congregation is.
So when we read in places like Phil. 1:1, "To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi w/ the Bishops & Deacons." We better understand the full organization of the church & what that involved.
THERE IS NO OTHER SCRIPTURAL ORGANIZATION... AND WHEN THERE IS SEVERAL PROBLEMS OCCUR (even as we see in most religious bodies today.)
1) First A Change in Attitude must Occur w/ regard toward Scripture. Someone must (at some point) decide they are going to Structure the church to be either larger or smaller in Organization than what the Lord prescribed in Scripture... so scripture must first be disregarded in this area if one is to stop being part of a Biblically sound church.
2) Change in organization also results in an upset of "Balance" as God designed w/ in His church.
a) Other than the authority give the inspired apostles, no man or group of men were given more authority in the church, than the elders of a local church.
b) But even their authority was limited to the church where they were, and was to be founded upon Biblical principles & stipulations Dictated by Christ who is the Head of the body.
c) But then changes in organization group occurred...
1) It became possible for a of men to control a group of churches.
2) Which led to, One man to oversee one church... rather than a plurality of Pastors.... (& finally one man to oversee many churches) -- which is common in the religious world in our day.
Change in organization also leads to Denominationalism. -- Whenever you have an organizational structure that extends beyond what we have just seen from Scripture, .... the potential for error to spread more effectively is
present. When a congregation part of an elaborate Business like structure, w/ a hierarchy (or headquarters,) What is dictated to teach, (by that headquarters) will spread throu'out the entire organization. -- But God shows great wisdom is organizing his Body so that each local congregation would work independently (autonomous) from other local congregations... thereby benefiting the Lord's body (not just locally) but the world over.
Concl:
Even a brief study of Church history quickly illustrates the danger of making changes in the Organization of the True Church as it's seen from Scripture.
When Jesus said, "I will build My church", I believe he know the best way to do it!
A) The N.T. reveals all there is concerning the Proper Pattern for the Structure of
the True Church.
B) To the Obvious dislike of some who are religious, it's a simplistic pattern where no one (save Christ)... is to be looked upon as better than others. But as only greater degrees of servitude.
There is no clergy, there is no hierarchy in the true Church... But just Christians seeing to fulfill their given duties of Service.
If we are to "Continue steadfastly in the apostles' Doctrine" (As the true church in Jerusalem is said to have done... Ax. 2:42)... Then we will make sure that we are part of that organization for which Jesus died. Perhaps you see the benefit of becoming Part of an organization like we see in Scripture.
Do you know how to be added to the Body (or Church) of Jesus?
No differently than those we read of in Scripture.
"Repent & be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the HS".... (Ax. 2:38)
V. 47 - "The Lord added to the Church daily those who were being saved."
Then seek to join yourself to a congregation who follows the Pattern Christ established --- Just as Paul did as he traveled. -- in Ax. 9:26 "sought to join himself to the church @ Jerusalem."
This morn. Both of these opportunities are open to you. -- Not only can you become saved throu' Christ, & be added to the Universal church, but you can also join yourself to a faithful local congregation.
