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Basic Discipleship
Written by Dr. Lester Hutson

This material is copyrighted c2002 and may not be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of the Berean Baptist Church.

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PHASE 3      CHURCH ORIENTATION AND EDIFICATION

 SESSION 2

 

THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF YOUR CHURCH

 

You are now a church member.  Just as your natural body is quite complex even so this “body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:27) is “fitly framed together” (Ephesians 2:21) and more intricate that it might first appear.

It is both an organization and an organism.  It is a living body of baptized believers covenanted together under the authority of the Bible for the purpose of carrying out Christ’s great commission (Matthew 28:19-20) and keeping the ordinances that He gave.  The church is not the building(s) or other property; it is the people.  Peter spoke of members of a church and said, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5).

As each member of a natural body has a function and responsibility to the whole, likewise as a church member God has given you a function and made you personally responsible for the welfare of the whole body (church).  Ephesians 4:16 says it.  “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”

It is possible that you do not have a church background.  Even if you have been around a church most of your life, it is unlikely that you have looked very seriously into its makeup.  This exercise is designed to help you better understand the government of your church, its system of operation, its officers and their God-given job descriptions and how God expects you to fit into “his body,which is the church” (Colossians 1:24).


THE GOVERNMENT OF YOUR CHURCH

 

        Look up the word government in your dictionary. Which of the following definitions is incorrect?

___Control or rule as over a country, city, etc.

 

X  The president of a nation.

 

X  The capital city of a country or state.

 

___A system of ruling or controlling.

 

X  The house where the chief ruler of a nation, state or city lives.

 

___All the people who control the affairs of a country, city, etc.

 

In your own words explain what is meant by church government.

That system by which a church is controlled or governed.

 

THE CHURCH AS AN ORGANIZATION 
IN NEED OF GOVERNMENT

Since the Bible is the authority for what a church is and for how it is to exist, match the following scriptures and answers to see the Biblical basis for organization within a church.

 

          1. Philippians 1:1        (  3 )  Ordinances 

          2. Matthew 28:19-20        (  1 )  Officers 

          3. Acts 2:41        (  2 )  Qualifications for membership 

          4. Acts 1:23-26        (  8 )  Contributions 

          5.1 Corinthians 5:4-5,13        (  6 )  Stated meetings 

          6. Acts 20:7         (  7 )  Uniform customs 

          7. 1 Corinthians 11:16         (  9 )  Designation of ministers 

          8. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2        (10 )  Letters of commendation 

          9. Acts 20:17,28        (  5 )  Discipline of members

        10. Acts 18:27        (11 )  Qualified leaders 

        11. Hebrews 13:7. 1 Timothy 5:17 (  4 )  Elections 

        12. 1 Timothy 3:1-13        (12 )  Qualifications for leaders 

       

THREE KINDS OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT

 

        There are three basic kinds of church government. Any church that professes to be Christian will be governed by one of these systems of government. The following table will help you better understand the three types.

 

Kind Congregational  Presbyterian Episcopalian
Philosophy: Democratic Representative Monarchy
Authority: People Board Man
Decisions: Church body decides A board decides One man decides
Final authority: Rests in church body Rests in the board Rests in one man

 

Sometimes congregational-governed churches lack direction, particularly when the ministerial leadership is poor or when some dominant member seeks to impose his will on the whole.  The Bible calls for humility and submission within a church. Read Romans 15:1-3.  What is the chief spirit advocated in this passage? Submission

What words or phrases in the following verses suggest that the government of the churches in the Bible was congregational? 

Acts 6:2                         “the multitude of disciples” 

Acts 6:3                        “look ye out among you” 

Acts 14:23                    “they ordained them elders in every church” 

Matthew 18:17             “tell it unto the church” 

Matthew 16:19         “whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth” 

           In the Bible, churches had leaders to whom they granted much administrative authority, yet ultimate authority always rested in the body or membership as a whole.

 

CHURCH OFFICERS

          Two and only two permanent church offices are listed in the Bible.

Read 1 Timothy 3:1-13 to discover what they are.  List the two offices in the spaces below.

Bishops                              Deacons     

 

THE OFFICE OF BISHOP

          The chief officer in a church is listed in the scriptures by seven specific titles. Read the following verses to discover what they are. A clue is listed beside each correct answer to help you better understand the significance of each term.

 

Scripture reference              Clue                                                 Title

1 Timothy 3:1                       The office of oversight                         Bishop 

Ephesians 4:11                        Shepherding/watch-care                   Pastor 

Acts 14:23                                Rank/maturity                                      Elder 

Romans 10:14                      Public proclaimer                                  Preacher 

Colossians 1:23-25           Servant to the church                        Minister 

Acts 13:1                                        Explainer of scripture                          Teacher 

Revelation 2:1                          Messenger                            Angel

         

          Consider these seven titles as God’s way through scripture of communicating the profile of the office commonly known as pastor of the church. Taken together, these titles also communicate the job description for this office.

 

Read 1 Timothy 3:1-7,  then answer the following questions regarding pastors.

 

Can a female qualify to be a pastor?               No 

Can one without experience qualify to be a pastor?         No 

Can one with two living wives qualify to be a pastor?         No 

The children of a pastor must be in “subjection.”        Yes

Will material greed disqualify a pastor?         Yes 

Should the character of a pastor be exemplary?      Yes 

How does patience impact a pastor?  He must be patient

 

Explain “hospitality”     Generosity

                                  Cordiality

                                  Warm reception

 

          2 Timothy is called a Pastoral Epistle because it, along with 1 Timothy, Titus and Philemon were written to pastors.  Read 2 Timothy 4:2.  Compare Acts 20:28.  What is the chief function of a pastor?  Preach the Word.

 

Pastor, Respect & Authority

 Connect the following ideas with the correct verses.

 

1. “Rebuke not an elder”                                        ( 2 ) Hebrews 13:17

 

2. “Obey them that have the rule over you”          ( 3 ) 1 Timothy 5:17

 

3. “Count them worthy of “double honor”          ( 5 ) 1 Timothy 5:19

 

4. “ Whose faith follow”                            ( 1 ) 1 Timothy 5:1

 

5. “Against an elder receive not an accusation”        ( 4 ) Hebrews 13:7

 

THE OFFICE OF DEACON

          Read 1 Timothy 3:8-13, then answer these questions.

 

Compare the qualifications for a deacon with those of a pastor. Very similar 

Do you think the role of peacemaker is inherent in the office of deacon? Yes 

Is the office of deacon an office of great honor with God? Yes         

          “Deacon” is translated into the English language from the Greek word diakoneo. (dee-ak-on-eh'-o).  It literally means “to be an attendant, i.e. wait upon.”  The origin of the office of deacon is seen in Acts 6:1-6.  Read these verses, then answer these questions.

1.     What problem in the Jerusalem church prompted the need for deacons? A dissention in the church between two factions over material needs. 

2.     Since no standing job description is given here (or elsewhere in scriptures) for deacons, how were they to know what assignments to attend? They worked directly under the supervision of the pastors.  From Verse 3, name three qualities necessary in those to be chosen for this office.

·         “Men of honest report”

·         “Full of the Holy Ghost”

·         “Full of wisdom”

4.     From Verse 4, it is evident that the work of deacons would enable the pastors to give themselves more fully to two of their primary responsibilities. What are they?

·         “To prayer”

·         “To the ministry of the word” 

                God takes the government and administration of His churches very seriously.  A church is designed for the protection, edifying and welfare of every member.  Love and mutual support should prevail at all levels.  After all, the church is the body of Christ. Colossians 1:24.

 

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"