B ASIC BIBLE COURSE Facilitated by S.B. Mdlalose Part 8: Lesson 24, 25, 26 (November 2011) © Buhle Park Church of Christ 2011.

BASIC BIBLE COURSE

Facilitated byS.B. Mdlalose

Part 8: Lesson 24, 25, 26 (November 2011)

© Buhle Park Church of Christ 2011

THE CHURCH OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

LESSON 24: THE CHURCH OF THE N.T.

“Church” -from Greek word EKKLESIA that means “A called out body”

“The Church” is strictly a New

Testament (N.T.) concept of

religion

In the N.T.Jesus Christ Said… I WILL build

my EKKLESIA ( i.e. Church)Mat 16: 18

Through the GOSPEL of Christ

(2 Thes 2:13-14, 1 Cor 1:24, 26)

How are the members of the body

“called out”?Not everyone

responds to the CALL of the

Gospel (Matt 22:14

The calling is according to His

PURPOSE(Rom 8:28, 1 Tim 1:9)

The “called” are SAVED & ADDED to

the church (Act 2:47)

OWNERSHIP OF THE CHURCH

Jesus Christ is the Owner…”I will Build my Church” (Mat 16:18)

He is the Head (Ruler, King, etc) of the Church (Acts 5:23)

He bought the Church with His own Blood (Acts 20:28)

He is the SAVIOR of the Church (Eph 5:25) The Church hears only his voice (doctrine or

Teaching) [John 10:1-16]

THE CHURCH IS…

1. The BODY of Jesus Christ (Eph 1: 20-23) & He being the HEAD

2. The House of God & Bearer of Truth (1 Tim 3:15)

3. The Kingdom of God (Col 1: 10-23, 4:11, 1 Cor 15:24, Rev 1:6 )

4.The Bride of Jesus Christ (Rev 21: 2&9, 22:17)

ONENESS OF THE CHURCH… Jesus Christ & the Church are ONE, cannot

separate them (Acts 9: 2-6) Jesus Christ has ONE BODY (i.e. Church) (Eph

4:4)The Church is set up

locally due to Geographical

reasons (e.g. church in Corinth, Ephesus,

etc) not due to differences in

doctrine

THE CHURCH IS NOT…

1. A Physical Building

But it’s a group of SAVED people (men & women)

[Act 9:2]

A building does not feel fear or get persecuted

but people(Act 5:11, 8:11)

2. A Denomination

A true church of Christ, CANNOT organise itself into groups that have different

NAMES & DOCTRINES of Men (1 Cor 1:10-27)

The Church was given

ONE name…Christ (Act

4:12)

The Church follows the

Doctrine of Christ only (1 Pet 4:11)

And those who do as such are NOT of

Christ/GOD(Mat 7:21-23, Mat 13:24-

30)

A building is merely an area

where the Church assembles

CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN THE 1ST CENTURY

THE CHURCH & GROWTH OF DENOMINATIONS INCL. FALSE DOCTRINES

LESSON 25: WORK & WORSHIP OF THE CHURCH In the N.T., WORK/FUNCTION of

the church is divided into 3 phases

1. Evangelization

2. Edification 3. Glorification

The wisdom & truth of God is to

be made known to all by the Church (Eph 3:8-10, 1 Tim

3:15)

The Gospel of Christ to be

preached to the whole world (all

nations) (Mat 28:19, Col

1:23, Rom 10:18

Those who are saved are to be

taught/edified (Mat 28:20) for the building

up of the Church (Rom 14:19, 1Cor 14:26, 2 Cor 12:19

Purpose of edifying the Church (Eph

4:10-13)•Attain Unity & Knowledge of Christ•Unto perfect (mature) man

Those who are in the Church are to “BEAR

much Fruit (John 15:8), Fruit of the

SPIRIT (Gal 5:22-23) & do Good Works (Mat 5:16). All are

done to GLORIFY GOD

The Church also Glorifies God

through WORSHIP & God is PRAISED

(Acts 2:42-47)

CHRISTIAN WORSHIP AS PRACTICED BY THE CHURCH IN THE N.T.

The Church assembles regularly to WORSHIP God & Edify each other (not only on the 1st day the week)

[Acts 2: 42-27, Heb 10:25] through…

Teaching & Listening to the TEACHINGS of

Christ & Apostles(Acts 2:42, 20:7)

Fellowship (sharing)

with one another(Acts 2:42 & 44,

1John 1:7)

Praying(Acts 2:42, 4:23-

31)

Partaking of the Lord’s Supper (Sunday only)

(Acts 2:42, 20:7, 1 Cor 11:17-23)

Singing(No Instruments, but

voices)(Eph 5:19-20, Col

3:16)

Giving(Acts 2:45, 1 Cor

16:1-2, II Cor 9:6-8)

LESSON 26: GOVERNMENT OF THE CHURCHChrist ordained/appointed these Leaders & Ministers (Eph 4:10-11) in the Church to…

•Govern as STEWARDS or SERVANTS not Owners (Act 20:28, 1 Pet 4:10) •Be FUNCTIONS (as of the body, see 1 Cor 12 & Rom 12: 4-8) not for Positions, Hierarchy, Power, etc. , as all members are equal (all are kings, priests, servants, saints, brethren, etc [1 Pet 2:9, 1 Pet 4:10]

Purpose: Eph 4:11-16-Perfecting of saints unto ministering works-Building up (edification) of the Church-For all to attain unity & knowledge of Jesus Christ (other words to be like Christ)

MINISTERS IN THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST EXISTING UNTIL TODAY/END OF TIME

Elders/Oversees/

Pastors/Bishops

Function as Shepherds or Leaders and they Teach in

the church(Acts 20:28, Heb 13:17, 1 Pet

5:1-5)

Must be qualified Men (I Tim 3:1-7 &

Titus 1)

Evangelist/Preachers

Function as proclaimers of the Gospel of Christ & God’s Truth in

the Church & the world-They are responsible in the

TRAINING of all church members incl potential elders before they are appointed (Titus 1:5, 1 Tim

5:19-21)

Must be qualified Men & Serve under

Elders(2 Tim 4:1-5)

Deacons

Function as ministers/”servants”

especially for physical needs of the Church, e.g. Managers

of finances, benevolence, church building, etc (Acts 6:1-

5)

Must be qualified Men & Serve under Elders

(1 Tim 3:8-13)

Preferable preachers must be full-time, as they train members

at their homes & meetings & Preach

to the world

Therefore young men CANNOT be Pastors, elders must be old enough with children who have been baptised & are strong/ committed believers

URGENCY & NECESSITY OF HAVING ALL THESE MINISTERS

Jesus Christ did not say that some of these ministries are OPTIONAL, but all are required in the church because they serve a specific function (Paul even saw the necessity & urgency see Titus 1:5)

If the church continues ignoring some of the ministries especially Leadership (Elders, Deacons & Full-time ministers) the church WILL NOT GROW but will regress, can a body grow without a head?

Newly established Churches MUST therefore plan & work hard (Vision & Mission minded) through prayers, fasting & teaching to ensure that a church fulfils

Eph 4:11-16