INTRODUCTION:<\/p>\n
A. In previous lessons we have that noticed that I am a member of the church of Christ because:<\/p>\n
1. It was founded by the scriptural builder – Christ<\/p>\n
2. It was founded on THE scriptural foundation<\/p>\n
3. It was founded at the scriptural place – Jerusalem<\/p>\n
4. Christ is the founder of only one church – His church<\/p>\n
5. It is scriptural in name.<\/p>\n
B. This morning we will notice that I am a member of the church of Christ because it is scriptural in organization.<\/p>\n
DISCUSSION:<\/p>\n
A. ECCLESIASTICISMS<\/p>\n
1. The denominations of our world today are ruled by their ecclesiastical forms of government.<\/p>\n
a. They have ignored the head of the church and have assumed the right of self-government.<\/p>\n
b. They confess with the mouth that Christ has all authority but their heart is far from it – and is set on a denominational form of government.<\/p>\n
c. Therefore, we hear much of synods, presbyteries, councils, general assemblies and conferences.<\/p>\n
d. In these delegations men legislate rules and laws to govern their various denominations.<\/p>\n
2. Of course this power to legislate was never given to any group of uninspired men.<\/p>\n
a. Man does not have the right to change God’s law concerning salvation, worship, homosexuality, etc.<\/p>\n
b. Any who would do such is in rebellion against Jesus<\/p>\n
B. A MONARCHY<\/p>\n
1. The Lord’s church is a monarchy<\/p>\n
a. Colossians 1:18<\/p>\n
b. Ephesians 1:22-23<\/p>\n
c. At the transfiguration… Matthew 17:5<\/p>\n
d. Jesus said… Matthew 28:18<\/p>\n
2. Jesus, then, promised to send the apostles the Holy Spirit, Who was to teach them all things, and bring all that Jesus had taught them to their remembrance<\/p>\n
a. John. 14:26<\/p>\n
b. John 16:13<\/p>\n
3. Thus, the authority in the church lay at the feet of Jesus and His apostles, and Jesus never delegated this authority to any than the apostles.<\/p>\n
C. THE AUTONOMY OF THE CHURCH<\/p>\n
1. In speaking of the autonomy of the church we mean the autonomy of the local church or congregation.<\/p>\n
a. Autonomy is defined as right of self-government; a self-governing state; an independent body<\/p>\n
1) In the first century each congregation was such.<\/p>\n
2) Each was independent of one another<\/p>\n
3) No local congregation had control or authority over another<\/p>\n
b. Each congregation was free and independent, under the teaching of Jesus and the apostles, to govern itself, carry on its own work, and manage its own affairs.<\/p>\n
c. All congregations had the same head, foundation, and mission; each preached the same gospel, and constituted one body.<\/p>\n
d. BUT each was independent to direct its own work.<\/p>\n
2. There is great wisdom seen in this arrangement for the Lord’s church<\/p>\n
a. If one becomes corrupted in doctrine or affected by evil practices, other churches would not be so effected.<\/p>\n
b. If a window is made up of one large pane, a break injures the entire pane.<\/p>\n
1) But if a window is made up of several panes, it is no so bad to break one.<\/p>\n
2) And so it is that the independence of the churches is a protection for each one.<\/p>\n
3. This simple organization, however, failed to satisfy many.<\/p>\n
a. Hence, they made changes whereby their unchristian aspirations for ecclesiastical lordship could be realized.<\/p>\n
b. History records that the first great departure from the truth came in the system of church government<\/p>\n
D. CHURCH GOVERNMENT<\/p>\n
1. You look around in the denominational world today and you will see nothing resembling scriptural church government.<\/p>\n
a. The Bible clearly states that the church is to be governed by the elders of the local church.<\/p>\n
b. Deacons are to help and serve in this work<\/p>\n
2. The Bible teaches very plainly that elders are to be ordain in every church- Titus 1:5<\/p>\n
a. These men are also spoken of as bishops, overseers, shepherds, and pastors.<\/p>\n
b. It is the duty of the elders to:<\/p>\n
1) Take heed unto themselves and the church, and to feed the church (Acts 20:28)<\/p>\n
2) Help the weak (Acts 20:35)<\/p>\n
3) Exhort in sound doctrine and to convict those who are not sound in doctrine (Tit. 1:9)<\/p>\n
4) Encourage the faint hearted and be longsuffering (1 Th. 5:14)<\/p>\n
5) Exercise the oversight without out lording over the flock (1 Pt. 5:2)<\/p>\n
6) Be examples to the flock (1 Pt. 5:3)<\/p>\n
7) Visit the sick (Jam. 5:14)<\/p>\n
8) Watch in behalf of the souls of the members (Heb. 13:17).<\/p>\n
c. When these duties are preformed the church will prosper, but when they are not preformed the church suffers.<\/p>\n
d. In all of this it is a must to remember that the elders DO NOT have the authority to change God’s laws, but to enforce them.<\/p>\n
e. The qualifications of an elder are found in – 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9.<\/p>\n
f. The congregation has an obligation to the elders. The local congregation is to:<\/p>\n
1) Know them … become well acquainted with them (1 Th. 5:12).<\/p>\n
2) Esteem them because of the work (1 Th. 5:13)<\/p>\n
3) Count them worthy of double honor (1 Tim. 5:17)<\/p>\n
4) Obey them and submit to them (Heb. 13:17)<\/p>\n
5) Receive not an accusation except by two or three witnesses (1 Tim. 5:19).<\/p>\n
g. It is just as essential for a congregation to perform its duties to the elders as it is for the elders to perform its duties to the congregation.<\/p>\n
3. The Bible also plainly teaches that a local congregation should have deacons.<\/p>\n
a. The qualifications of a deacon are found in 1 Timothy 3:8-13.<\/p>\n
b. Deacons are to be servants, they are not mini elders, and do not have the authority of elders.<\/p>\n
1) Any authority they may have has been delegated to them by the elders<\/p>\n
2) The elders do not need the deacons approval for their decisions<\/p>\n
c. Deacons are to help the elders, maybe give them counsel at times, and are to encourage them.<\/p>\n
d. Deacons must be the elders right hand men.<\/p>\n
CONCLUSION:<\/p>\n
A. When you look around the denominational world today you do not see scriptural organization, you see men doing things the way they want to do them!<\/p>\n
B. I am a member of the church of Christ because:<\/p>\n
1. It was founded by the scriptural builder – Christ<\/p>\n
2. It was founded on THE scriptural foundation<\/p>\n
3. It was founded at the scriptural place – Jerusalem<\/p>\n
4. Christ is the founder of only one church – His church<\/p>\n
5. It is scriptural in name.<\/p>\n
6. And as we have seen today, it is scriptural in organization.<\/p>\n
C. Invitation<\/p>\n
*Outlined from Leroy Brownlow’s book “Why I Am A Member of The Church Of Christ”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Sermon on the Organization of the Church INTRODUCTION: A. In previous lessons we have that noticed that I am a member of the church of Christ because: 1. It was founded by the scriptural builder – Christ 2. It was founded on THE scriptural foundation 3. It was founded at the scriptural place – Jerusalem … Continue reading “Why I Am a Member of the Church of Christ #5* – Bible Outlines”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43720","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermons"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43720","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43720"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43720\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43720"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43720"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43720"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}