"ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE CHURCH" |
LESSON 3 |
| INTRODUCTION: |
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A. |
Lesson one deals with the two covenants and that we are under the New Covenant. |
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B. |
Lesson two deals with some of the basic teachings about the church. |
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C. |
This lesson deals with the Bible teaching concerning church Organization. |
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| DISCUSSION: |
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| I. |
JESUS IS THE HEAD (Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:15; Colossians 1:18) |
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Jesus has "all" authority (Matthew 28:18-20; John 17:2). |
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B. |
Jesus is our prophet, priest, and king. |
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Prophet — Deuteronomy 18:15; Acts 3:22-23. |
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2. |
Priest — Hebrews 7:17, 21, 28. |
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3. |
King — Revelation 17:14. |
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| II. |
ELDERS FEED, TEND, AND OVERSEE THE CHURCH, KEEPING THE WORK GOING PROPERLY |
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A. |
Number of elders. |
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1. |
Plurality, i.e., more than one. Acts 14:23; 15:2, 4-6; Titus 1:5. |
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Governs only one congregation, i.e. "the flock." I Peter 5:2; Acts 20:28. |
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3. |
The elders outreach to govern. Acts 20:17, 28. |
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B. |
Their work. |
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1. |
Watch. Hebrews 13:17, as Ezekiel 3:16-21. |
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2. |
Cause Christians to mature and the church to grow. Ephesians 4:11-16. |
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3. |
Discipline the congregation. I Thessalonians 5:12-14. |
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4. |
Shepherd the church, as a shepherd tends a flock (I Peter 5:1-3; Acts 20:28). The word "feed" is from the Greek word for shepherd. |
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5. |
Pray for the sick and those in need of forgiveness (James 5:13-18). |
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C. |
The members responsibility to the elders. |
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Esteem them (I Thessalonians 5:12-14). |
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2. |
Be subject to them (Hebrews 13:17). |
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| III. |
DEACONS (SERVANTS LEADING OTHERS IN THE WORK OF THE CHURCH) |
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A. |
They are appointed (Acts 6:3). |
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B. |
Must have certain qualities (Acts 6:3, 5; I Timothy 3:8-13). |
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They are to be busy at their task and have a record of working (I Timothy 3:10). |
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| IV. |
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS |
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A. |
Responsible to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). |
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B. |
Be united in the work of the Lord (Acts 2:44). |
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C. |
Obey them that have the rule over you (Hebrews 13:17). |
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D. |
Not forsake the assembling of the saints (Hebrews 10:25). |
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E. |
Live a faithful life and be an example for Christ. |
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| V. |
CONCLUSION |
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A. |
The church is not a democracy — that is, the people do not vote on and thereby select what they want to believe. The church is a monarchy — Christ is the ONE KING. |
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B. |
The church is as a flock of sheep. Christ is the Chief Shepherd with local elders as under-shepherds overseeing and leading by example in doing His work (I Peter 5:4). |
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C. |
The church recognizes and exists according to these organizational principles, NOT: |
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latter day revelations as the Mormons do. |
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under one man's edicts as the Catholics do. |
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according to what pleases man as all denominations do. |
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| QUESTIONS FROM LESSON THREE |
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1. |
Who is the head of the church? |
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2. |
What does being the head of the church mean to you? |
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3. |
Who are elders? |
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4. |
What is the work of the elders? |
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5. |
Which congregation is to be overseen by the eldership? |
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6. |
What does democracy mean? Is the church a democracy? |
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Why? |
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2) |
What problems would there be if the church were a democracy? |