don mcclain w. 65th st church of christ - 8-29-04 1 why be concerned about “church...

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ - 8-29-04

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• Why be concerned about “Church Organization?”

• Establishing the N.T. Pattern . . .

• Examining some ‘unscriptural” forms of organization . . .

• Why be concerned about “Church Organization?”

• Establishing the N.T. Pattern . . .

• Examining some ‘unscriptural” forms of organization . . .

Is a church Is a church organized organized

according to according to the N.T. the N.T. Pattern?Pattern?


2

•The Bible Alone

Mormon

Baptist

Methodist

Christian

“The seed is the Word of God” (Luke 8:11)“The seed is the Word of God” (Luke 8:11)

Denominationalism necessitates different seeds!

•Bible + Methodist Discipline

•Bible + Baptist Manual

•Bible + Book of Mormon


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Elders

Original

Step #1Presiding elder

Step #2Elder – Bishop

distinction

Step #3Metropolitan

Bishops –

Step #4 Diocesan Bishop -

Step #5Arch Bishops –

Elders Elders Elders Elders Elders Elders Elders

Step #6Step #6POPE –POPE –

Boniface IIIBoniface III606 AD606 AD


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Martin Martin Luther – Luther –

(1517)(1517)

John CalvinJohn CalvinPresbyterianPresbyterian

(1560)(1560)

Augsburg Augsburg ConfessionConfession

(1530) (1530)

John SmythJohn SmythBaptistBaptist(1608)(1608)

John Wesley John Wesley MethodistMethodist

(1737)(1737)

Church of Church of EnglandEngland(1534)(1534)

Ellen G. WhiteEllen G. WhiteAdventismAdventism

(1844)(1844)

Joseph Smith Joseph Smith MormonMormon

(1830)(1830)

Over 3,000 mainline churches


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Three Proposed ways to Three Proposed ways to obtain unity:obtain unity:CatholicismCatholicism – – Accept the Accept the

authority of the Roman Catholic authority of the Roman Catholic Church – Church – even though there is even though there is very little resemblance to what very little resemblance to what we find in the NT.we find in the NT.

InterdenominationalismInterdenominationalism – – Unity in the absence of following Unity in the absence of following a divine pattern of organization, a divine pattern of organization, doctrine, and worship.doctrine, and worship.

RestorationRestoration – – Returning to the Returning to the divine pattern revealed in the NT divine pattern revealed in the NT – in organization, doctrine, and – in organization, doctrine, and worship.worship.

Most everyone

is in agreemen

t that such a

state of division is not good!But what can be done

about it?


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• Apostasy often begins Apostasy often begins with changes in with changes in organization...organization...

• We want to be united We want to be united upon the scriptural upon the scriptural pattern.pattern.

• The Organization of a The Organization of a local church is a means local church is a means of identification.of identification.

• Organization reveals Organization reveals purpose...purpose...

Elders Elders Elders Elders

Speaks through the apostles in the New Testament

Jesus(The Head)


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Compile all

references to the subject

including direct

statements,

approved actions,

and necessary implicatio

ns.


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Compile all


including direct

statements,

approved actions,


ns.

Philip. 1:1 (NKJV) Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus

Christ, To all the saints in

Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the

bishops and deacons:

saints

bishops

deacons


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Compile all


including direct

statements,

approved actions,


ns.

Ephes. 4:11 (NKJV) And He Himself

gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some

evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

apostles,

prophets,

evangelists,

pastors,

teachers


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• Each emphasizing a different aspect of the Each emphasizing a different aspect of the work and function pertaining to the office.work and function pertaining to the office.

– ElderElder - [ - [presbuterospresbuteros] denotes age and ] denotes age and seasoned wisdom that belong to its seasoned wisdom that belong to its experiences. Acts 20:17; 1 Pet 5:1experiences. Acts 20:17; 1 Pet 5:1

– BishopBishop – [– [episkoposepiskopos] – Denotes the ] – Denotes the overseeing function – Not legislative, but overseeing function – Not legislative, but leading and enforcing within the Law of leading and enforcing within the Law of God – Acts 20:28; 1 Pet 5:2; (Heb 13:7,17)God – Acts 20:28; 1 Pet 5:2; (Heb 13:7,17)

– Pastor, shepherdPastor, shepherd – [ – [poimenpoimen] – Emphasizes ] – Emphasizes the care, watching and feeding of the flock the care, watching and feeding of the flock of God. – Act 20:28; Ep 4:11; 1 Pet 5:2of God. – Act 20:28; Ep 4:11; 1 Pet 5:2

The terms elder,

bishop & pastor


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The terms elder,

bishop & pastor

The scope of their

authority

1 Peter 5:1-2 (NKJV)

1The elders (presbuteros), who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory

that will be revealed: 2Shepherd (poimen), the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers,

(episkopos),


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Acts 20:28 (NKJV)

Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock,

among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd

the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

(cf. Acts 20:17)

The terms elder,

bishop & pastor

The scope of their

authority


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Acts 14:23 (NKJV) So when they had appointed elders in every church, and

prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

The terms elder,

bishop & pastor

The scope of their

authority

Plural in the

singular (cf. Gal 3:16)


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Titus 1:5 (NKJV) 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--

The terms elder,

bishop & pastor

The scope of their

authority

Plural in the


Those who met the

qualifications (1 Tim

3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9)


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It is implied here that there were It is implied here that there were elders inelders in each churcheach church; that is, that in each church ; that is, that in each church

there was more than one. . . . Titus 1:5, "I there was more than one. . . . Titus 1:5, "I left thee in Crete, that thou shouldest left thee in Crete, that thou shouldest

ordain ordain elders in every cityelders in every city." Acts 20:17, ." Acts 20:17, "And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and "And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called called the elders of the churchthe elders of the church." It could ." It could not mean, therefore, that they appointed a not mean, therefore, that they appointed a singlesingle minister or pastor to each church, minister or pastor to each church,

but they committed the whole affairs of the but they committed the whole affairs of the church to a bench of elders.church to a bench of elders.

The terms elder,

bishop & pastor

The scope of their

authority

Plural in the


(Barnes New Testament Notes on Acts 14:23)(Barnes New Testament Notes on Acts 14:23)


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The terms elder,

bishop & pastor

The scope of their

authority

Plural in the


Elders

Elders

Elders

EldersElders


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There are many

unscriptural forms of church organization today


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Petoskey United Petoskey United Methodist Church Methodist Church


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St. Stephanus Lutheran Church: Organization Chart


20“The Church of Jesus

Christ of Latter-day Saints is organized the same way that Christ organized His Church

in New Testament times.”

• The Church is led by a president and prophet, currently Gordon B. Hinckley.

• The President has two counselors, and these three leaders constitute the First Presidency.

• The First Presidency is assisted by Twelve Apostles, who are special witnesses of Jesus Christ to all the world.

• Leaders called Seventies assist the Twelve Apostles and serve in various locations throughout the world.

• Local congregations are led by bishops.


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Adult Education Perry Greene

Assembly Management Lee Segrest & Greg Bowen

Audio Tape Ministry Steve Clark

Baby Showers Michelle Shell

Barnabas Ministry Kathy Case

Budget & Finance Glen Laird

Children's Ministry Amy Smith

Church Computer Ministry

Church Library Christie McKee

Decoration & Floral Arranging

Drama Ministry Walton Harless

Facilities Ministry (Building Maintenance & Operations)

Ken Boyd

Fellowship Barry Johnson

Finance Committee Chairman Glen Laird

Financial Peace University Scott Martin, Roger Harwell

Greeter Ministry Phyllis Anderson

Grounds Mike Cooke

Hope Network Ministries Eddie Levick

Life Groups Perry Greene

Ladies Bible ClassKatherine Burgess, Michelle

Perry

Sound & Lighting Bob Lewis

Meals on WheelsArranged through Mercy

Ministry

Mercy Ministry Roger Harwell

Missions (Ecuador Children's Home)

Jon Perry, Jay Lightfoot, Jamie Kimbell, James Flatt

(MOPS) Mothers of Preschoolers

Amy Smith

Nursery Leslie Rice

Online Audio Bible Mike Vinson

Praise Team Lincoln Smith

Puppet Ministry Jim Pape

Prayer Ministry Maggie Merryman, Tim Logan

39ers & Friends Roberta Bradley

Youth Ministry Darren Raby

Transportation

Twickenham Travelers Carline Kessel

Young Families Ministry Lincoln Smith

Web Casting Mike Shell

Wedding Showers Judy Holder

Ministry Contact Info


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Work To Be Done

Missionary Society

Work To Be Done

Sponsoring Church

Elders

Elders

Elders

Elders

Elders


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Elders

Scriptural patternPhili 4:15-18

•Direct –

•Does not relinquish oversight of work –

•Does not infringe upon the autonomy of the local church -

•Scriptural –

•It works -


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The terms elder,

bishop & pastor

The scope of their

authority

Plural in the


Elders

Elders

Elders

EldersElders


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Elders

Bishops over a plurality of congregation

’s

Bishop

A Bishop over a

plurality of congregation

’s

EldersElders

Elders

Elders


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Pastor

A single man over a single congregation

Council

A group over a plurality of congregation

’s

EldersElders

Elders

Elders


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• Apostasy often begins Apostasy often begins with changes in with changes in organization...organization...

• We want to be united We want to be united upon the scriptural upon the scriptural pattern.pattern.

• The Organization of a The Organization of a local church is a local church is a means of means of identification.identification.

• Organization reveals Organization reveals purpose...purpose...



Jesus(The Head)


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• A failure to respect the A failure to respect the divine pattern of church divine pattern of church organization:organization:

Reflects our attitude Reflects our attitude toward the Lord & His toward the Lord & His pattern.pattern.

Fails to respect its Fails to respect its divine purposedivine purpose

Opens the door for Opens the door for widespread apostasy.widespread apostasy.



Jesus(The Head)


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don mcclain w. 65th st church of christ - 8-29-04 1 why be concerned about “church...

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