A. THE LAW OF FIRST REFERENCE – FIRST MENTION OF THE CHURCH.
“I will build my church” (Matt. 16:18)
B. WHAT MAKES A GROUP OF CHRISTIANS INTO A CHURCH?
1. Ekklesia: a group of called-out ones.
a. Called from their former life.
b. Called for a purpose.
2. Definition: A church may be described as, “an assembly of professing believers in whom Christ dwells, organized to carry out the Great Commission, administer the ordinances, and reflect spiritual gifts under the discipline of the Scriptures.”
3. Function: Described using the acrostic WIFE.
a. Worship
b. Instruction
c. Fellowship
d. Evangelism
4. Expressions: The church met in smaller cells to accomplish ministry (Acts 12:12), and larger gatherings for celebration (Acts 3:11).
C. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH?
1. The Great Commission. (Matt. 28:19-20).
a. The task of making disciples (Matt. 28:19) is evangelism.
b. The task of baptism results in bonding or identification.
c. The task of teaching results in new believers being trained.
D. WHAT DOES CHURCH MEMBERSHIP INVOLVE?
1. Every Christian is “baptized into one body” (Eph. 4:6).
2. Demonstrate outwardly what has already happened inwardly.
3. Church membership was related to four conditions.
a. No one joined a church until they had first received Christ as Savior.
b. Christians were baptized as a profession of their faith (Acts 2:41).
c. Christians remained members of a church only as long as they remained in agreement with thechurch’s doctrinal beliefs (Titus 3:10).
d. Church members were responsible to live moral lives (I Cor. 6:9-11).
E. HOW DO I RESPOND TO CHURCH LEADERSHIP?
1. The leader of the church is the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Christ has appointed certain pastors to provide spiritual leadership in the church.
3. God also established deacons in the church.
4. The church congregation itself is the final authority.
5. The church is a theocracy under the Lordship of Christ.
F. EXPRESSIONS OF THE CHURCH.
1. Evangelistic. The outreach objective is to win the lost (Matt. 28:19).
2. Bible exposition. The instructional objective is to ground believers in the Scriptures (Matt. 28:20).
3. Renewal. The spiritual purpose of a church service is “to touch God and be touched by Him” (Psalm 100).
4. Body Life. This church thrives in small groups where people relate to one another. “Every part of the body ministers to every other part of the body” (Eph. 4:16 ELT).
5. Worship/liturgy. This church centers itself around worship to God. “The Father seeketh such to worship Him” (John 4:23).
6. Congregational. This is a church of the people, for the people and by the people.
*For a complete study of contemporary worship models see Worship Wars by Elmer Towns, Broadman Holman Publishers, 1998. The complete text can be found on www.elmertowns.com.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God. Please contact me at eltowns@liberty.edu and tell us about your salvation experience so that we can rejoice with you.
