Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ - 8-29-04 1 Why be concerned about “Church...
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Transcript of 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
1
• 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?
Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ - 8-29-04
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•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
Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ - 8-29-04
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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
Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ - 8-29-04
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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?
Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ - 8-29-04
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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)
Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ - 8-29-04
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Compile all
references to the subject
including direct
statements,
approved actions,
and necessary implicatio
ns.
Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ - 8-29-04
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Compile all
references to the subject
including direct
statements,
approved actions,
and necessary implicatio
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
Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ - 8-29-04
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Compile all
references to the subject
including direct
statements,
approved actions,
and necessary implicatio
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
singular (cf. Gal 3:16)
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
singular (cf. Gal 3:16)
(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
singular (cf. Gal 3:16)
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
Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ - 8-29-04
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St. Stephanus Lutheran Church: Organization Chart
Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ - 8-29-04
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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
singular (cf. Gal 3:16)
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...
Elders Elders Elders Elders
Speaks through the apostles in the New Testament
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.
Elders Elders Elders Elders
Speaks through the apostles in the New Testament
Jesus(The Head)