Outline:
I. Description of the Church
A. Definition of the word, “ekklesia”
B. Universal and local churches defined
1. Universal church
2. Local church
C. Biblical terminology for the church
1. Body
2. Household/house
3. Temple
4. Dwelling
5. Bride
6. Field
7. Priesthood
8. Flock
D. The difference between Israel and the church
1. Their births
a. Israel
b. Church
2. Their characteristics
a. Israel
b. Church
3. Their futures
a. Israel
b. Church
II. Leadership in the church
A. Elder, deacon and deaconess
1. Their roles
a. The elder
b. The deacon
c. The deaconess
2. Their spiritual qualifications
a. Qualifications of an elder
b. Qualifications of a deacon
c. Qualifications of a deaconess
3. Their function
a. Function of an elder
b. Function of a deacon
c. Function of a deaconess
B. Evangelist and pastor
1. The evangelist
2. The pastor
III. Purpose of the Church
A. Glorification
B. Evangelism
C. Edification discipleship
D. Fellowship
E. Worship
IV. Function of the Church
A. Ministering the Word of God
B. Ordinances
1. Baptism
a. Spiritual baptism
1. Significance
2. Recipients
3. Mode
4. Spiritual baptism from the Book of Acts
b. Water baptism
1. Significance
2. Recipients (Believers, not infants)
3. Mode
2. Lord’s Supper
a. Significance
b. Recipients
c. Mode
C. Giving
1. Principle of giving
2. Frequency of giving
3. Attitudes of giving:
4. Ultimate issue of giving
D. Serving/gifts
1. Examples of our Savior
2. Attitudes of service in the body
3. Spiritual gifts and the body of Christ
E. Church discipline
1. Purpose of discipline:
2. Process for believers to deal with discipline
3. Ways for the church to deal with discipline
F. Relationships in the church (“One another” statements)
1. Colossians 3:12-17
2. Responsibilities to “one another” in the body of Christ
3. Things we are to do to strengthen the church (total of 7)
4. Things we are not to do in order to strengthen the church (total of 6)
V. Goals of the Church
A. Manifesting faith
1. The definition of faith — Heb 11:1-3
2. The kind of faith that pleases God — Heb 11:6; 10:37-39
3. The kind of faith that is our foundation for living — 2 Cor. 5:7; Jude 20
B. Manifesting hope
1. The definition of hope — 1 Cor. 9:10-11; Eph. 2:11-12
2. The reason we can have hope — 1 Peter 1:3
3. The focus of our hope — 1 Tim. 1:1; Col. 1:3-5
C. Manifesting love
1. The definition of love
2. The consequences of not having love
3. The strength of love
4. The necessity of love
D. Manifesting unity
1. The definition of unity
2. The importance of unity in the body
3. The necessity of unity
VI. Organization/administration of the church
A. Necessity for organization — Exodus 18:13-27
B. Necessity of administration — Acts 6:1-6
VII. Being an effective Church
A. Being a culturally-relevant church
B. Being a church that manifests the truths from this study
VIII. Congregations’ responsibility to their leaders
BODY:
III. Purpose of the Church
A. Glorification — 1 Cor. 10:31
“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the
glory of God.”
B. Evangelism
1. Our command — Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8
a. We are to make disciples wherever God sends us (cf. Acts
14:21) — Matt. 28:19; Acts 1:8
b. They are to be baptized — Matt. 28:19
c. They are to be taught — Matt. 28:19
d. They are to make disciples (cf. Acts 14:21) — Matt. 28:19;
Acts 1:8
2. Our commission — 2 Cor. 5:20
We are ambassadors for Christ
3. Our message — 1 Cor. 15:1-4; Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 6.23; John 1:11-
12; Acts 20:21; 26:20; 1 John 5:11-13
a. They need to know that Christ died, was buried, rose again —
1 Cor. 15:1-4
b. They need to know salvation cannot be earned — Eph. 2:8-9
c. They need to understand salvation is a free gift — Rom. 6:23
d. They must receive Christ and repent — John 1:11-12; Acts
20:21; 26:20
e. They can know they have eternal life — 1 John 5:11-13
4. Our heart — Rom. 9:1-3; 10:1
We must have a heart for the lost.
5. Our approach — Col. 4:5-6
a. Conduct ourselves with wisdom
b. Making the most of each opportunity
c. Speech seasoned with grace (with salt)
d. Knowing how we should respond to each person differently
6. Our result — 2 Cor. 5:17
They become new creatures in Christ
7. Our proof — John 13:34-35; 17:21-23
Proof of our salvation to the world will be:
a. Our love for one another — John 13:34-35
b. Our unity in the body — John 17:21-23
C. Edification (discipleship) — Eph. 4:11-16; 2 Tim. 2:2
1. Instructors of — vs. 11
Pastors and elders are to instruct their flock
2. Purpose of — vs. 12; 2 Tim. 2:2
For the equipping of the saints — the building up of the body
3. Goal of — vs. 13
Maturity
4. Result of — vss. 14-16
a. No longer tossed here and there doctrinally
b. Speaking the truth in love
c. Mature in Christ
d. Working together as a body
D. Fellowship
1. Fellowship is with — 1 John 1:3
a. Other believers
b. The Father
c. The Son
2. Fellowship is not to be forsaken — Heb. 10:25
3. Fellowship is important to evangelism — Acts 2:46-47
E. Worship
1. We are to worship the Lord — Psa. 29:2
2. We are to be humble in our worship — Psa. 95:6
IV. Function of the Church
A. Ministering the Word of God — Eph. 4:11-15
B. Ordinances
CRITERIA:
* Commanded by Christ
* Addressed to the whole church
* Practiced by the early church
1. Baptism
a. Spiritual baptism
1. Significance
a. It signifies our spiritual death and future
resurrection with Christ — Romans 6:1-9
b. It signifies our changed life — 1 Peter 3:21
2. Recipients
a. Believers in Jesus Christ — 1 Corinthians 12:13
b. Not unbelievers — Romans 8:9
3. Mode
a. Was not a choice — 1 Corinthians 12:13
b. Was given to the believer — Titus 3:4-7;
2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 1:13-14
4. Spiritual baptism from the Book of Acts — Acts 8:14-
15,17; 19:1-7
Acts is a transitional book where we see the giving of the
Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands as a sign of unity
in the body of Christ across the various people groups.
b. Water baptism
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy
Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and
lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:19)
“So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and
there were added that day about three thousand souls.” (Acts
2:41)
1. Significance
a. Identification with Jesus –Acts 2:38
b. Identification with the body of Christ — Acts 2:41
2. Recipients (Believers, not infants)
a. Those who could receive the Word — Acts 2:41
b. One who is capable of believing — Acts 8:35-38
3. Mode (baptizo — to dip repeatedly, to immerse, submerge)
a. Jesus came up out of the water — Matt. 3:16
b. Water baptism represents the spiritual aspects of
salvation — Rom. 6:3-5
2. Lord’s Supper
“And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it,
and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body which is given for
you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ And in the same way He took
the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup which is poured
out for you is the new covenant in My blood.’ (Luke 22:19)
a. Significance
1. In remembrance, and the proclamation of Christ’s death —
1 Cor. 11:24-26
b. Recipients
1. The church: believers — 1 Cor. 11:18,20
2. Those that have examined themselves — 1 Cor. 11:27-34
c. Mode
1. Believers gathered together — Acts 2:44,46
2. As often as a church determines (no set pattern) — Acts
2:46; 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:26
NOTE: Can unbaptized individuals partake in the Lord’s Supper.
See 1 Corinthians 11:17-22,28-32. (Not prohibited, though
implied (Matt. 28:19)).
C. Giving
1. Principle of giving — 2 Cor. 9:6-7
2. Frequency of giving — 1 Cor. 16:2
3. Attitudes of giving:
a. We are to give to God — Matt. 6:1-4
b. We are to honor God — Pro. 3:9-10
c. We are to give cheerfully — 2 Cor. 9:7
d. We are to give sacrificially — Luke 21:1-4; 2 Cor. 8:1-5
e. We are to give to help others — Acts 2:44; 4:32-35; 1 Cor.
9:12; Gal. 6:9-10
f. We are to give generously — 2 Cor. 9:6,8-9; Pro. 22:9; 1 Tim.
6:17-18
4. Ultimate issue of giving — Matt. 6:19-21,24
D. Serving/gifts
1. Examples of our Savior
a. He came to serve — Mark 10:45
b. He washed His disciples’ feet — John 13:3-5,12-15
2. Attitudes of service in the body
a. We are not to be self-serving — 2 Cor. 4:5
b. We are to have a willingness to serve — 1 Pet. 4:10
c. We are to serve with all that we have — 1 Pet. 4:11
3. Spiritual gifts and the body of Christ — 1 Cor. 12:1-7,12 (cf.
Rom. 12:3-8)
a. The body is not to be unaware concerning spiritual gifts —
vss. 1-3
b. The body is endowed with a variety of gifts — vs. 4
c. The body is to use their various gifts in a variety of
ministries — vs. 5
d. The body using their various gifts in various ministries will
result in various effects — vs. 6
e. The body is given gifts individually for the common good of
the body — vs. 7
f. The body is made up of many members — vs. 12a (cf. 12:14-19)
g. The body, though it has many members is one body — vs. 12b
(cf. 12:20-30)
E. Church discipline
1. Purpose of discipline:
a. Restoration — Matt. 18:15; Gal. 6:1
b. Purity in the church — 1 Cor. 5:7
c. Preventing others from sinning — 1 Tim. 5:20
2. Process for believers to deal with discipline — Matt. 18:15-17
a. Go to your brother in private and reprove him
b. Go to your brother with two witnesses if he did not listen to
you the first time
c. Go before the church with your brother if he did not listen to
you before the witnesses
d. Put him out of the church if he does not listen to the church
3. Ways for the church to deal with discipline:
a. Elders are to try and restore the one in sin — Gal. 6:1
b. Elders are to put the unrepentant one out of the church — 1 Cor. 5
c. Elders are to warn the divisive man one or two times — Titus
3:10-11
F. Relationships in the church (“One another” statements)
1. Colossians 3:12-17
a. Put on a heart of compassion
b. Put on a heart of kindness
c. Put on a heart of humility
d. Put on a heart of gentleness
e. Put on a heart of patience
f. Bering with one another
g. Forgiving each other
h. Putting on love
i. Letting the peace of Christ rule in our hearts
j. Letting the word of Christ richly dwell within us
k. Teaching and admonishing one another in song
l. Doing all that we do for Jesus
2. Responsibilities to “one another” in the body of Christ
Mark 9:50 “Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with
what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be
at peace with one another.”
John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love
one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one
another. {35} “By this all men will know that you are My
disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 15:12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another,
just as I have loved you.”
John 15:17 “This I command you, that you love one another.”
Romans 12:10 “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give
preference to one another in honor;”
Romans 12:16 “Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be
haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in
your own estimation.”
Romans 13:8 “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another;
for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.”
Romans 14:13 “Therefore let us not judge one another anymore,
but rather determine this– not to put an obstacle or a stumbling
block in a brother’s way.”
Romans 14:19 “So then let us pursue the things which make for
peace and the building up of one another.”
Romans 15:5 “Now may the God who gives perseverance and
encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another
according to Christ Jesus;”
Romans 15:7 “Wherefore, accept one another, just as Christ also
accepted us to the glory of God.”
Romans 15:14 “And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am
convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with
all knowledge, and able also to admonish one another.”
Romans 16:16 “Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the
churches of Christ greet you.”
1 Corinthians 12:25 “that there should be no division in the
body, but that the members should have the same care for one
another.”
1 Corinthians 16:20 “All the brethren greet you. Greet one
another with a holy kiss.”
2 Corinthians 13:12 “Greet one another with a holy kiss.”
Galatians 5:13 “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only
do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but
through love serve one another.”
Galatians 5:26 “Let us not become boastful, challenging one
another, envying one another.”
Ephesians 4:2 “with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
showing forbearance to one another in love,”
Ephesians 4:32 “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted,
forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven
you.”
Ephesians 5:19 “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the
Lord;”
Ephesians 5:21 “and be subject to one another in the fear of
Christ.”
Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit,
but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as
more important than himself;”
Colossians 3:9 “Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside
the old self with its evil practices,”
Colossians 3:13 “bearing with one another, and forgiving each
other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord
forgave you, so also should you.”
Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you,
with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms
and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your
hearts to God.”
1 Thessalonians 3:12 “and may the Lord cause you to increase and
abound in love for one another, and for all men, just as we also
do for you;”
1 Thessalonians 4:9 “Now as to the love of the brethren, you
have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are
taught by God to love one another;”
1 Thessalonians 4:18 “Therefore comfort one another with these
words.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another, and build
up one another, just as you also are doing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:13 “and that you esteem them very highly in
love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.”
1 Thessalonians 5:15 “See that no one repays another with evil
for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one
another and for all men.”
Hebrews 3:13 “But encourage one another day after day, as long
as it is still called “Today,” lest any one of you be hardened by
the deceitfulness of sin.”
Hebrews 10:24-25 “and let us consider how to stimulate one
another to love and good deeds, {25} not forsaking our own
assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one
another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.”
James 4:11 “Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who
speaks against a brother, or judges his brother, speaks against
the law, and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are
not a doer of the law, but a judge of it.”
James 5:9 “Do not complain, brethren, against one another, that
you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing
right at the door.”
James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and
pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective
prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”
1 Peter 1:22 “Since you have in obedience to the truth purified
your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one
another from the heart,”
1 Peter 4:8-10 “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one
another, because love covers a multitude of sins. {9} Be
hospitable to one another without complaint. {10} As each one has
received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as
good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
1 Peter 5:5 “You younger men, likewise, be subject to your
elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward
one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO
THE HUMBLE.”
1 Peter 5:14 “Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to
you all who are in Christ.”
1 John 1:7 “but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the
light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of
Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
1 John 3:11 “For this is the message which you have heard from
the beginning, that we should love one another;”
1 John 3:23 “And this is His commandment, that we believe in the
name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He
commanded us.”
1 John 4:7 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from
God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.”
1 John 4:11 “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love
one another.”
2 John 1:5 “And now I ask you, lady, not as writing to you a new
commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning,
that we love one another.”
SUMMARIZE THE “ONE ANOTHER” STATEMENTS AND THEN CATEGORIZE THEM UNDER
MAJOR HEADINGS, LISTING THEM IN ORDER OF PRIORITY ACCORDING TO THE
NUMBER OF TIMES THE SAME OR SIMILAR COMMAND IS LISTED:
SUMMARY OF STATEMENTS:
Be at peace with — Mark 9:50; Rom. 14:19; 1 Thes. 5:13
Love (10x) — John 13:34-35 (3x); 15:12,17; 1 Thes 4:9; 1 John 3:11;
1 John 3:23; 4:7; 2 John 1:5
Be devoted — Rom. 12:10
Give preference in honor — Rom. 12:10
Same mind toward — Rom. 12:16; 15:5
Owe nothing but love — Rom. 13:8
Build up — Rom. 14:19; 1 Thes. 5:11
Accept — Rom. 15:7
Admonish — Rom. 15:14
Greet — Rom. 16:16; 1 Cor. 16:20; 2 Cor. 13:12; 1 Pet. 5:14
Care for — 1 Cor. 12:25
Serve — Gal. 5:13; 1 Pet. 4:10
Showing forbearance in love — Eph. 4:2; Col. 3:13
Be kind to — Eph. 4:32
Be tenderhearted to — Eph. 4:32
Be forgiving — Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13
Speaking (teaching) in song — Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16
Be subject to — Eph. 5:21
In humility regard others as more important — Php. 2:3; 1 Pet. 5:5
Abound in love — 1 Thes. 3:12
Comfort — 1 Thes. 4:18
Encourage — 1 Thes. 5:11; Heb. 3:13; Heb. 10:25
Seek that which is good for — 1 Thes. 5:15
Stimulate others to love — Heb. 10:24
Stimulate others to good deeds — Heb 10:24
Confess your sins to — James 5:16
Fervently love — 1 Pet. 1:22; 4:8
Be hospitable to — 1 Pet. 4:9
Fellowship with — 1 John 1:7
The “Do Not” one another statements:
Do not judge others’ opinions (personal convictions) — Rom. 14:13
Do not challenge — Gal. 5:26
Do not envy — Gal. 5:26
Do not lie — Col. 3:9
Do not speak against — James 4:11
Do not complain against — James 5:9
PRIORITIZATION OF STATEMENTS:
1. We are to love one another (total of 14)
Love (10x) — John 13:34-35 (3x); 15:12,17; 1 Thes 4:9; 1 John
3:11; 1 John 3:23; 4:7; 2 John 1:5
Fervently love from the heart (2x) — 1 Pet. 1:22; 4:8
Owe nothing but love — Rom. 13:8
Abound in love — 1 Thes. 3:12
2. Ways we are to express our love to one another (total of 28)
Greet (4x) — Rom. 16:16; 1 Cor. 16:20; 2 Cor. 13:12; 1 Pet. 5:14
Encourage (3x) — 1 Thes. 5:11; Heb. 3:13; Heb. 10:25
Build up (2x) — Rom. 14:19; 1 Thes. 5:11
Serve (2x) — Gal. 5:13; 1 Pet. 4:10
Showing forbearance in love (2x) — Eph. 4:2; Col. 3:13
Be forgiving (2x) — Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13
In humility regard others as more important (2x) — Php. 2:3;
1 Pet. 5:5
Be devoted — Rom. 12:10
Give preference in honor — Rom. 12:10
Accept — Rom. 15:7
Admonish — Rom. 15:14
Care for — 1 Cor. 12:25
Be kind to — Eph. 4:32
Be tenderhearted to — Eph. 4:32
Comfort — 1 Thes. 4:18
Seek that which is good for — 1 Thes. 5:15
Be hospitable to — 1 Pet. 4:9
Fellowship with — 1 John 1:7
3. Things we are to do to strengthen the church (total of 7)
Same mind toward (2x) — Rom. 12:16; 15:5
Speaking (teaching) in song (2x) — Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16
Stimulate others to love — Heb. 10:24
Stimulate others to good deeds — Heb 10:24
Confess your sins to — James 5:16
4. Things we are not to do in order to strengthen the church (total
of 6)
Do not judge others’ opinions (personal convictions) — Rom. 14:13
Do not challenge — Gal. 5:26
Do not envy — Gal. 5:26
Do not lie — Col. 3:9
Do not speak against — James 4:11
Do not complain against — James 5:9
Love reigns supreme and the ways we are to express love to each other
is next. If we expect to have a strong church, we need to be focusing
on these “one another” statements and making sure people, especially
we as pastors, are living these out in the body.