Fundatin Series Bk 4 Cmpiled by E.M. Gregri XXV. WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS LESSON TWENTY-FIVE...ABOUT DIVINE ORDER FOR CHURCH GOVERNMENT INTRODUCTION The Scriptures teach us that Gd is a Gd f rder. That His ways are nt always ur ways. That He has a way f ding things which des nt leave things t chance. If we are t enjy the full blessings f ur Father Gd, then it is necessary that we let Gd's gvernment (His way f ding things) be the rule and standard which gverns each ne f us individually, and the ekklesia (Church - Bdy f Christ) crprately. In 1 Crinthians 14:33,40 the Apstle Paul reminds us that "...Gd is nt the authr f cnfusin,but f peace, as in all churches f the saints...let all things be dne decently (prperly)and in rder." Therefre, in-rder that His church be nt in cnfusin and disrder, ur Father Gd has established an rder f gvernment and authrity fr the churches cllectively and individually. DIVINE ORDER OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT Frm the fllwing Scriptures what is the DIVINE ORDER OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT, that is t say, the line f authrity r leadership in the Bdy f Christ? Ephesians 1:22 Clssians 1:18 1 Peter 2:6-8 Ephesians 4:8,11 Titus 1:5 1 Timthy 3:8 1 Crinthians 12:28g 1 Crinthians l2:28h Cnclusins: We wuld nte frm the abve Scriptures the Divine Order f Church Gvernment is accrding t the fllwing ministries/servant psitins. Head - Christ Five gifts f Christ - Apstles, Prphets, Evangelist, Pastrs and Teachers Tw aninted church ministries - Elders & Deacns 6
Fundatin Series Bk 4 Cmpiled by E.M. Gregri Tw additinal church ministries - Helps & Gvernment Nte: The relatinship f these ministries t the Church is seen in Matthew 20:25-28. But Jesus called them unt him, and said, Ye knw that the princes f the Gentiles exercise dminin ver them, and they that are great exercise authrity upn them. But it shall nt be s amng yu: but whsever will be GREAT amng yu, let him be yur minister (SERVANT); And whsever will be CHIEF amng yu, let him be yur servant (SLAVE): Even as the Sn f man came nt t be ministered unt, but t minister, and TO GIVE HIS LIFE A RANSOM FOR MANY. MINISTRY DESCRIPTIONS 1. FIVE GIFTS OF CHRIST TO THE CHURCH Of the five gifts f Christ t the church, knwn als, as the five fld ministry, the ministry f apstles, prphets, evangelists and teachers is nt just fr ne lcal church but is t a number f churches, specifically thse churches which are submitted t their ministry. MINISTRY OF APOSTLES Ephesians 2:20 Ephesians 3:2-9 Titus 1:5 Acts 14:23 1 Crinthians 9:1-2 2 Crinthians 11:22-23 2 Crinthians 12:12 Cnclusins: We wuld nte frm the abve Scriptures that the Apstlic Ministry cnsists: (1) f laying fundatin truths in the lcal Churches, (2) establishing/raising up new assembles, churches and (3) having a wide range f ministry in the pwer f the spiritual gifts. MINISTRY OF PROPHETS Ephesians 2:20 Ephesians 3:3-5 Acts 11:27-28 Acts 15:32 Acts 21:10-11 Cnclusins: We wuld nte frm the abve Scriptures that the Ministry f the New Testament Prphet includes (1) alng with the Apstles, laying fundatin truths in the Churches, (2)fre-telling future events, (3)frthtelling, that is t say, speaking frth wrds f exhrtatin (warnings and encuragements frm the Wrd)t cnfirm the Believers in the Faith,(4) cnfirm- ing Gd's Wrd cncerning events, directin, r etc. spken t ther believers. 7
Fundatin Series Bk 4 Cmpiled by E.M. Gregri MINISTRY OF EVANGELISTS Nte: The English wrd evangelist is nt a translatin, but is a transliteratin f the nun frm f euaggeliz, prnunced "y-angghelee-n." This Greek wrd has the meaning f "a messenger f gd" (eu - well, angels - a messenger). Euaggeliz in its verb frm is mst ften translated preaching, preached, preach in the Bk f Acts, chapter 8, verses 4,12,25,35,40. In each f these verses they were preaching the gd news f the Gspel f Jesus Christ. Preached, in verse 5 is nt a translatin f eauggeliz but rather f keruss which is a general term fr prclaim, the message may either be gd r bad news. An Evangelist then,is ne wh preaches, prclaims, annunces the gd news f the Gspel, "... that Gd was in Christ, recnciling the wrld unt himself, nt imputing their trespasses unt them; and hath cmmitted unt us the wrd f recnciliatin." 2 Crinthians 5:19. Fr Gd s lved the wrld, that he gave his nly begtten Sn, that whsever believeth in him shuld nt perish, but have everlasting life. Jhn 3:16. An Evangelist then is a "gd news messenger." The Ministry f an Evangelist is best seen in Philip's ministry in Acts, chapter 8. Acts 8:5-8,12,26-40 Mst ften their ministry is cnfirmed with signs fllwing Mark 16:20 MINISTRY OF PASTORS Ezekiel 34:12-16 Revelatin 2:2 Jhn 10 Ezekiel 34:1-11 Jeremiah 23:1 Cnclusins: We wuld nte frm the abve Scriptures that the pastr is the shepherd f the lcal Bdy f Christ. A shepherd is ne wh cares fr, is cncerned abut and gives his atten-tin t the needs f the sheep placed in his care. THE MINISTRY OF TEACHERS Matthew 28:19-20 2 Timthy 2:2 8
Fundatin Series Bk 4 Cmpiled by E.M. Gregri Cnclusins: We wuld nte frm the abve Scriptures that the ministry f the teacher is (1) t teach believers t bserve t d all that Jesus cmmanded, and (2) t instruct thers in the truth f Gd's Wrd, s that, they may teach thers. 2. TWO ANOINTED LOCAL CHURCH OFFICES (MINISTRIES) ELDERS Qualificatin f Elders 1 Timthy 3:1-7 Titus 1:4-9 Cnclusins: We wuld nte frm the abve Scriptures that an Elder must be: blameless, having n accusatin against him; the husband f ne wife; vigilant, that is watchful, wide awake, alert; sber, having a sund. disciplined mind; temperate. having self under cntrl; f gd behavir; hly, being mdest, chaste, nt cnceited; given t hspitality, that is generus, nt a miser, r selfish, liberal; apt t teach, that is t tend, rule, guide and lead the Flck f Gd int the green pastures f the Wrd; nt given t wine; nt a striker, nt ne wh hits back, r gets even revengeful),r strikes the sheep, r whips with the Wrd; nt after mney, nt a hireling; patient with Gd and with the sheep - impatience breed disasters in the Church; nt a brawler; des nt fight fr himself r fr his psitin; nt cvetus; having ungdly/unlawful lusts; 9
Fundatin Series Bk 4 Cmpiled by E.M. Gregri must rule his wn huse and family well; his hmerder is a type f the Church-rder; Gd's huse; nt a nvice; nt ne newly cme t The Faith; must have a gd reprt f utsiders. Ministry f Elders Acts 20:27-35 1 Peter 5:1-4 Hebrews 13:7 Hebrews 13:17 1 Thessalnians 5:12 Cnclusins: We wuld nte frm the abve Scriptures that the ministry f Elders includes: taking heed f his wn life, that is t say, t carefully watch ver and rule his sul life; taking heed t the Flck f Gd, that is t say, t carefully take ntice f Flck, ruling, tending and shepherding the Flck; ministry f the Wrd. Nte: Elders is always used in the plural in relatin t the lcal New Testament Churches; nt a dictatrship, r lrdship, r ne-man rule, but the Eldership (Presbytery) - hwever, it is nt a c-equal Eldership. Acts 14:23 (elders) Titus 1:5 (elders) Acts 15:13-22 (James makes final judgment) DEACONS The qualificatins f a deacn are very similar t that f the elders, as in 1 Timthy 3:1-7. Cmpare verse 8, "likewise" and verse 10, "als". The Ministry f a Deacn Acts 6:1-4 Thugh the wrd "deacn" is nt specifically used here in these verses frm Acts, it is clearly implied in the use f the Greek wrds in verses 1 and 2. Verse 1. The Greek wrd "diaknia" is used fr "ministratin". verse 2. The Greek wrd"diaknea" is used fr "serve". The Greek wrd fr "deacn" is "diaknas".this Greek wrd "diaknas" is translated in the New Testament as fllws: 10
Fundatin Series Bk 4 Cmpiled by E.M. Gregri Deacn, 5 times Servant, 7 times Minister, 20 times The wrd essentially means, "A servant, ne called t serve, t wait (a waiter, ne wh serves tables), r an attendant." A Deacn is: A servant f Christ. A servant t the Church. A servant t the Ministry. Cnclusins: In the lcal church the ministry f deacns is a ministry f serving - especially taking care f the physical needs f the church as seen in Acts 6:2,3. The qualificatins f a deacn are fund in 1 Timthy 3:8-13. 3. TWO ADDITIONAL MINISTRIES OF THE LOCAL CHURCH MINISTRY OF HELPS 1 Crinthians 12:28 Rmans 12:8 Exdus 17:12 Cnclusins: Helps is the supprting ministry f the lcal church - every ne in the lcal church has a ministry f helps. This ministry includes but is nt limited t, the ministry f prayer, intercessin, music ministry, giving, church cleanup, and etc. GOVERNMENTS (lesser gvernments) 1 Crinthians 12:28 Cnclusins: This ministry includes such ministries as leaders in the men's grups, wmen's grups, Bible class teachers, teachers and leaders in the yuth and children's ministry, and etc. RESPONSE TO THE TRUTH 1 Thessalnians 5:12-13 sums up fr us the Gdly respnse t Gd's rder f church gvernment. "We beseech yu, brethren, TO KNOW them which labur amng yu, and are ver yu in the Lrd, and admnish yu; And TO ESTEEM THEM VERY HIGHLY IN LOVE FOR THEIR WORKS SAKE. And be at peace amng yurselves." 11