Quantcast
SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY ECCLESIOLOGY PART 3 of 3
AUTHOR: Hillebrand, Randall
PUBLISHED ON: May 4, 2005
DOC SOURCE: www.hillebrandministries.com
PUBLISHED IN: Theology

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

V.  Goals of the Church

     1 Corinthians 13:13:
     “But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these
     is love.”

     These three qualities are the measuring stick that the Apostle Paul used
     to determine the spiritual maturity of a church.  These qualities in      
     conjunction with unity in the body create an environment in the church
     that sets us apart from the rest of the world as disciples of Christ.  We
     will stand out as unique and these will be the backdrop to effective
     evangelism to the lost world around us.

     Faith, hope, love and unity — four qualities that God must see in the
     local church if we expect to please Him and live a meaningful life for Him.

     A.  Manifesting faith
         1.  The definition of faith — Heb 11:1-3
             a.  Definition of faith — vs. 1
                 1.  It is the assurance of things hoped for — vs. 1a
                 2.  The conviction of things not seen — vs. 1b-2
             b.  Example of faith — vs. 3
         2.  The kind of faith that pleases God — Heb 11:6; 10:37-39
             a.  Without faith it is impossible to please God — Heb. 11:6
             b.  Without faith God takes no pleasure in us — Heb. 10:37-39
         3.  The kind of faith that is our foundation for living — 2 Cor. 5:7;
             Jude 20 
             a.  We are to walk by our faith and not our sight — 2 Cor. 5:7
             b.  We are to use our faith as our foundation for living — Jude 20
     B.  Manifesting hope
         1.  The definition of hope — 1 Cor. 9:10-11; Eph. 2:11-12
             a.  Something we look forward to — 1 Cor. 9:10-11
                 1.  Initial definition of hope.
                 2.  Completed definition of hope.
             b.  Something only Christians can have — Eph. 2:11-12
         2.  The reason we can have hope — 1 Peter 1:3
             a.  Because we have been born again.
             b.  Because of the resurrection.
         3.  The focus of our hope — 1 Tim. 1:1; Col. 1:3-5
             a.  Jesus Christ — 1 Tim. 1:1
             b.  Heaven — Col. 1:3-5
     C.  Manifesting love
         1.  The definition of love — vss. 4-6
             a.  What love is
                 1.  Love is patient — vs. 4a
                     Or long-suffering toward those who have wronged you.
                 2.  Love is kind — vs. 4b
                     Or benevolent toward others, goodhearted.
                 3.  Love is not jealous — vs. 4c
                     Or not envious toward others, what they have, their
                     position, etc.
                 4.  Love is not arrogant — vs. 4e
                     Or not haughty or full of pride over one’s position,
                     status or possessions.
                 5.  Love is not provoked — vs. 5c
                     Or is not easily brought to anger by someone or against
                     someone.
                 6.  Love rejoices with the truth — vs. 6b
                     Or is glad with or about the truth and things that are
                     true.
             b.  What love is not
                 1.  Love does not brag — vs. 4d
                     Or does not boast or elevate oneself, their position or
                     possessions.
                 2.  Love does not act unbecomingly — vs. 5a
                     Or does not act rudely toward others.
                 3.  Love does not seek its own — vs. 5b
                     Or does not desire to please only oneself and not others.
                 4.  Love does not take into account a wrong suffered — vs. 5d
                     Or does not keep any record of wrongs.
                 5.  Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness — vs. 6a
                     Or does not rejoice in the sin, evil or wrongdoings of
                     others.
         2.  The consequences of not having love — vss. 1-3
             a.  I am destitute — vs. 1
             b.  I am unimportant — vs. 2
             c.  I am profited nothing — vs. 3
         3.  The strength of love — vss. 7-8a
             a.  Love bears all things — vs. 7a
                 Or to protect or cover others from wrongful things.
             b.  Love believes all things — vs. 7b
                 Or to have faith and trust in others.
             c.  Love hopes all things — vs. 7c
                 Or to have confidence in, thinking and looking for the best in
                 others.
             d.  Love endures all things — vs. 7d
                 Or to stand alongside someone no matter what.
             e.  Love never fails — vs. 8a
                 Or love is never insufficient or lacking in any situation or
                 task.
         4.  The necessity of love
             a.  In our relationship with believers — 1 John 4:7-8
             b.  In our relationship with unbelievers — John 13:34-35
     D.  Manifesting unity
         1.  The definition of unity — Eph. 2:14-18
             a.  Having oneness — vss. 14a, 15b
             b.  Having no barriers or dividing walls — vs. 14b
             c.  Having no enmity — vs. 15a
             d.  Having peace evident — vs. 15c
             e.  Having been reconciled through the cross — vs. 16
             f.  Having cohesion through the Holy Spirit — vss. 17-18
         2.  The importance of unity in the body
             a.  It is to be protected — Eph. 4:3; Titus 3:10-11
             b.  It is foundational to our faith — Eph. 4:4-6
             c.  It is to rule in our hearts — Col. 3:14-15
             d.  It is good and pleasant — Psa. 133
             e.  It is pleasing to God — cf. Pro. 6:16-19
         3.  The necessity of unity
             a.  For believers — Eph. 4:12-13
             b.  For unbelievers — John 17:21-23

     EXAMPLE OF A CHURCH THAT MANIFESTS THESE CHARACTERISTICS:

     Church:  Thessalonian church
     References:  1 Thes. 1:1-10; 3:4-13; 4:9-10,13

     FAITH:
     HOPE:
     LOVE:
     UNITY:

     WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE CHARACTERISTICS IN RELATIONSHIP TO
     EVANGELISM AND COMMUNITY REPUTATION:

     References:  Matt. 5:16; John 13:34-35; 17:21-23; Acts 2:44-47; 2 Cor. 3:1-        6; Eph. 4:1; Php. 1:27; 2:12-16; Col. 1:10; 1 Thes. 2:12

     1.  We are to let our light shine before men in such a way that God will
         be glorified — Matt. 5:16
     2.  We are to love the brethren in such a way that the world will know
         that we are Christ’s disciples — John 13:34-35
     3.  We are to be unified so that the world will know that God sent Jesus
         and we are His — John 17:21-23
     4.  We are to live in the body in such a way that by our relationships
         people desire to come to Christ — Acts 2:44-47
     5.  We are an open letter for all to read — so we need to be careful how
         we live — 2 Cor. 3:1-6
     6.  We are to walk worthy according to our calling — Eph. 4:1
     7.  We are to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel — Php.
         1:27
     8.  We are to live blamelessly and innocently in this perverse world —
         Php. 2:12-16
     9.  We are to walk worthy in all respects to please Him, bear fruit and
         increase in knowledge — Col. 1:10
    10.  We are to walk worthy in a manner of our God who called us — 1 Thes.
         2:12

     SUMMARIZE THE STATEMENTS ABOVE AS THEY RELATE TO EVANGELISM AND
   THE BODY OF CHRIST:

     Christians are to be like fish in a fish bowl for all to admire.  What
     they see in the body is love for each other and unity as well as our faith
     manifested through our good works.  As open letters, all that know us will
     read us and see if our faith is real or phony.  What they should see are
     believers that walk holy, blameless, pleasing to God, bearing much fruit,
     and walking in a manner worthy of our God.  As a result these things
     should draw the unsaved to Christ, not drive them away.

VI.  Organization/administration of the church
      A.  Necessity for organization — Exodus 18:13-27

          ORGANIZATION DEFINED:  A systematized structure of people holding
                various positions for the purpose of carrying out a specific
                goal.
          1.  Original organizational structure — vss. 13-16
          2.  Problem with the original organizational structure — vss. 17-18
          3.  Proposed reorganizational structure — vss. 19-23
          4.  Reorganized organizational structure — vss. 24-26

                   CHURCH ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES

    PASTOR           CONGREGATION           ELDERS              
    OVERSEES          OVERSEES               OVERSEE

          THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CHURCH ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
          1.  To facilitate order in the church — 1 Cor. 14:33,40
          2.  To have people in position to carry out specific functions and
              share the workload — cf. Exo. 18:25-26; Acts 6:3; Heb. 13:17
          3.  To give people within the church a sense of order and stability —
              cf. Acts 6:5
          4.  To facilitate efficiency in accomplishing the organization’s
              goals — cf. Exo. 18:14, 25-26
          5.  To have a structure in place to deal with problems — cf. Exo.
              18:21-22; Acts 15:1-2

     B.  Necessity of administration — Acts 6:1-6

         ADMINISTRATION DEFINED:  The process of planning, supervising,        organizing, controlling, delegating and motivating others to a        specific goal.

         1.  Administrational problem — vs. 1
         2.  Solution to administrational problem — vss. 2-4
         3.  Implementation to correct the administrational problem — vss. 5-6

         THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CHURCH ADMINISTRATION FUNCTION

         1.  To have people and systems in place in order to handle specific
             needs — Acts 6:1,5
         2.  To facilitate planning so that goals and tasks will be
             accomplished — cf. 2 Tim. 2:2
         3.  To oversee the organization so that the organization’s principles,
             goals and purpose are met (Paul’s concern for Timothy) — cf.
             1 Tim. 4:12-16; 2 Tim. 4:1-5; 1 Pet. 5:2-3
         4.  To oversee those in the organization and be there to assist them
             when necessary — cf. Heb. 13:17; Exo. 18:26

VII.  Being an effective Church
      A.  Being a culturally-relevant church (From “Sharpening the Focus of the
          Church,” Getz)

      KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE THINGS THAT ARE:

            FUNCTION                               FORM
   
     THOSE THINGS THAT ARE      THOSE THINGS THAT ARE
     ABSOLUTE AND SUPRA-      NON ABSOLUTE AND CULTURAL
     CULTURAL

      Function or principles or truth        Form or patterns, tradition or 
      from Scripture must be obeyed!         methods that we see in the
      They are absolutes that are            Scriptures accompanying function
      supracultural (above the culture)      — though usually incomplete.

                                                                    They are non absolutes
                                                                        cultural — things that can be
                                                                   changed as needed.

      We need to be able to tell the difference between those things that are
      function and form so that we do not become like the Pharisees, supporting
      non absolutes and not biblical absolutes (cf. Mark 7:1-13).

      WHAT IS FUNCTION AND WHAT IS FORM IN THESE PASSAGES?

                                  FUNCTION                                 FORM

      Acts 6:3             Administration by deacons       Undefined
      1 Cor. 11:23-25 Lord’s Supper                            Undefined
      1 Cor. 16:2          Principle of giving                    Undefined
      1 Thes. 5:17      We are to pray                            Undefined
      1 Tim. 4:13          Ministry of the Word                Undefined
      James 1:22        Application of the Word            Undefined

     B.  Being a church that manifests the truths from this study
         We have looked at many things in this study to apply, and if you do
         that, you will take big strides toward having an effective church.  So
         study these truths and make them a reality in your church.

VIII.  Congregations’ responsibility to their leaders
       A.  They are to pay them for their work — 1 Cor. 9:14
       B.  They are to appreciate and highly esteem them in love — 1 Thes.
           5:12-13
       C.  They are to pray for them — 1 Tim. 2:1-2; 1 Thes. 5:25
       D.  They should pay them well if they are laboring diligently — 1 Tim.
           5:17-18
       E.  They are not to accuse them unless there are two or three witnesses
           — 1 Tim. 5:19
       F.  They are to publicly rebuke them for sin as an example to all —
           1 Tim. 5:20
       G.  They are to obey them and not make their task of overseeing
           difficult — Heb. 13:17

Doc Viewed 23063 times

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating / 5. Vote count:

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.