Cambridge Gospel Hall 4th Annual Bible Study Conference Assembly Truth March 2-4, 2018
Schedule Friday 7:30 p.m.: Prayer Meeting (Ministry - J. Meekin) Saturday 10:00: Bible Study: Origin (M. Penfold) 12:00: Lunch 1:30: Bible Study: Headship (J. Meekin) 3:00: Break 3:30: Bible Study: Leadership (M. Penfold) 5:00: Supper 6:15: Prayer Meeting 6:45: Gospel Meeting 8:15: Sing Sunday 10:30: Breaking of Bread 12:00: Lunch 1:30: Ministry (M. Penfold, J. Meekin) 3:00: Break 3:30: Ministry (M. Penfold, J. Meekin) 5:00: Supper 6:05: Prayer Meeting 6:30: Gospel Meeting
Origin of the Assembly Passages for Study: Matthew18:20, Acts 2:41-42, 9:26-28, Romans 16:1-2, 1 Corinthians 5:3-7a, 11-13 1. Matthew 18 - Constitution - the Principle of gathering What does gathering to the name of the Lord Jesus mean? Are all Christians gathered to the Lord s name? Is the church in this passage the same as the church in Matt 16:18? 2. Acts 2, 9 - Commencement, Continuation and Commitment - the Pattern for gathering How does a New Testament assembly commence? Why is Acts 2 a good place to discover the answer to this question? What are the three basic steps in Acts 2:41? What are the 4 things they continued in in Acts 2:42? Why does doctrine come first in the list? What s the difference between an assembly privilege and an assembly responsibility? What is the significance of the word join in Acts 9:26? What does coming in and going out signify in Acts 9:28? 3. Romans 16, 1 Cor 5 - Reception, Commendation and Excommunication - the Practice of gathering Why do we use letters of commendation? Are visitors commended and received to the breaking of bread or to the assembly? What s the difference between reception in Rom 15:7 and Rom 16:2? How does 1 Cor 5 show that it is possible to be outside of a local assembly but still in the body of Christ? Notes:
Passages for Study: 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 Headship The fact of headship: The teaching of headship is revealed in both testaments. Some questions for discussion are: What is headship? Does it only impact believers? How does it differ from Lordship? The forms of headship: There are a number of forms of Headship. We use the word head in a number of different ways, some of these are: - Per head of population - - An aptitude for something - i.e. she had a good head for business: - Physical or organic - (1 Corinthians 11:4-5) - Administrative - (Isaiah 7:8), i.e. the head of a school. Authority that leads to administrative order. What aspect or aspects of headship are we considering in these passages? The facets of headship: Various aspects are mentioned. We will need to delineate and consider some of these before proceeding with our study. - God as head - 1 Corinthians 11:3: - Christ as head: Head of the corner - Acts 4:11; 1 Peter 2:7: Head over every man - 1 Corinthians 11:3: Head of the Church - Ephesians 4:15; 5:23; Colossians 1:18; 2:19: Head of principalities and powers - Colossians 2:10: Head of all things - Ephesians 1:22: - Adam as head - Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:22; Hebrews 2:6-8:
- Man as head - 1 Corinthians 11:3: - The husband as head - Ephesians 5:23: The features of headship: (1 Corinthians 11:1-16) - The revelation of headship (1-3) - The responsibility of headship (v4-6) - The roles in headship (v7-8) - The recognition of headship (v9-10) - The reliance in headship (v11-12) - The recompense of headship (v13-15) - The reception of headship (v16) The fundamentals of headship: Headship is not something that is personal, cultural, legal, or traditional; it is something that is Scriptural. In 1 Corinthians 11:16, Paul clearly intimates that this teaching is seen and demonstrated in all the churches of God. On five occasions in this book he shows that what he is teaching is not just for the church in Corinth (1:2; 4:17; 7:17; 11:16; 14:33-34). This truth is for all assemblies, in every location, throughout the dispensation of grace. This principle is also seen in 1 Timothy 2:8-15; the roles of male and female are demarcated and their distinct responsibilities in assembly life clearly taught. In verse 8 Paul reminds us I will therefore ; this is not based on his personal preferences but is an apostolic directive which is to be passed on to the church of God (1 Timothy 1:3,18; 4:11; 5:7; 6:17). The fidelity to headship: Headship is part of the stewardship of truth entrusted to us. The word employed in the New Testament for stewardship is oikonomos (1 Corinthians 9:17) it implies order, authority and administration. It is made up of two Greek words oikos meaning house and nomos meaning law. This brings into our focus 1 Timothy 3:15, where Paul reminds us that the assembly is God s house, therefore His rights and authority apply there. This means we cannot and dare not do what we want. We
are however stewards of the truth and of the teaching committed to us and in this we are required to be faithful(1 Corinthians 4:1). Notes:
Oversight of the Assembly Passages for Study: Acts 20:17, 28, 1 Timothy 3:1-13, 1 Peter 5:1-2, Hebrews 13:17 1. Concept of elders 2. Call of elders 3. Care by elders 4. Charge concerning elders 5. Crowns for elders How do we know an assembly should be led by a plurality of locally raised up elders? What s the difference between an overseer and an elder? How is an elder qualified? What s the difference between an elder and a deacon? If eldership is a work, not an office, what are its responsibilities? How should elders be viewed and treated by the assembly? How will elders be assessed at the judgment seat? Notes:
Sunday Ministry Notes: