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THE CHURCH

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Title: THE CHURCH


1
THE CHURCH
2
ATTRIBUTES OF THE CHURCH
  • ONE
  • HOLY
  • APOSTOLIC
  • CATHOLIC CHURCH

3
CHURCH IS ONE
  • For Roman Catholics
  • Unity consists in relationship with the Apostolic
    See
  • This is better than the traditional institutional
    model of unity
  • For the Reformed
  • Unity is primarily of an internal, spiritual
    character
  • One Lord, one faith, one baptism, doctrinal
    unity
  • The Unity of the invisible church is no
    substitute for unity in the visible church
  • Multiformity (or, pluriformity) of the churches
    is part of Gods providential unfolding of
    history
  • Biblical Unitygrounded in Truth, John 1717

4
CHURCH IS HOLY
  • For many Roman Catholics, this has been
    interpreted in external terms
  • At times, this affirmation, in light of the
    reality of the Churchs mixed character, has led
    to schismatic groups, such as Novationists,
    Donatists, Montanists, Cathari, etc. separating
    from the Church
  • Fundamentally, the affirmation of holiness is
  • An assertion of objective righteousness, i.e.,
    the Church in Christ Jesus
  • Secondarily, it is an affirmation that God who
    sanctifies individuals is also at work purifying
    (sanctifying) his Church

5
CHURCH IS HOLY
  • The gap between these affirmations and the
    reality of present ecclesiastical life is a
    reminder
  • The wheat/tares grow together till the end of
    the age
  • It is often difficult to distinguish them
  • Church Discipline- a necessary element for
    maintaining holiness in the Church
  • The Standard of Holiness is Gods moral law
  • The dangers of Antinomianism and Legalism are
    never far away

6
CHURCH IS APOSTOLIC
  • For Roman Catholics, affirmations of apostolicity
    are intertwined with notions of apostolic
    succession
  • For the Reformed, apostolicity is continuity with
    the doctrines and principles of the apostolic
    church
  • I Cor. 151-4, according to the Scriptures
  • Jude 3, faith, once for all delivered
  • The church is apostolic because it is founded on
    apostolic teaching. Ed Clowney, The Church, 77

7
CHURCH IS CATHOLIC
  • For Roman Catholics, catholicity (universality)
    is often equated with institutional unity with
    Rome
  • For the Reformed, catholicity may refer either to
    the invisible church when referring to all true
    believers, or the visible church when referring
    to all who profess the true religion
  • Catholicity has a temporal axis (i.e., its
    relation to the church of the ages) as well as a
    horizontal axis
  • Catholicity and Heresy Heresy-hunting, A Lost
    Art in need of recovery

8
MARKS OF THE CHURCH
  • Augsburg Confession Article 7 (see Calvin, ICR,
    4.2.9)
  • The Gospel is rightly taught
  • The Sacraments are rightly administered. Of
    course, this implies church discipline (for
    Calvin at least)
  • The Proper Exercise of Discipline is added in the
    Belgic Confession, Art. 29

9
MARKS OF THE CHURCH
  • Ultimately, all three marks may be summarized
    as the Word. Whether taught, sacramentally
    received, or practiced, it is the Word that is
    the ultimate mark (Nota) of the Church
  • The issue of schism or separation
  • Brought to the fore by the lack of faithfulness
    in many churches to maintain these three marks
  • This was the dilemma of the twentieth century- a
    century in which unbelief was no longer outside
    the cathedral door, but often in the chancery,
    the pulpit, and the confessional

10
THE CHURCHS PURPOSE
  • The Purpose of the Church Per Wayne Grudem,
    Systematic Theology, 867ff
  • Ministry to God Worship
  • Ministry to Believers Nurture
  • Ministry to the World Evangelism and Mercy
  • All three purposes of the church are commanded
    by the Lord in Scripture therefore all three are
    important and none can be neglected. Grudem, ST,
    868

11
THE CHURCHS PURPOSE
  • Per David Smith, All Gods People, 341
  • Martyria, or Witness
  • Diakonia, or Service
  • Koinonia, or Fellowship
  • Leitourgia, or Worship

12
CHURCH AND POLITY
  • Extraordinary Officers in the Church
  • Apostles
  • Mark 314, And he appointed twelve (whom he also
    named apostles) so that they might be with him
    and he might send them out to preach
  • Luke 613, And when day came, he called his
    disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he
    named apostles
  • Gal. 11, Paul, an apostle- not from men nor
    through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the
    Father, who raised him from the dead
  • Acts 121, So one of the men who have
    accompanied us during all the time that the Lord
    Jesus went in and out among us

13
CHURCH AND POLITY
  • Extraordinary Officers in the Church
  • Prophets
  • Acts 1128, And one of them named Agabus stood
    up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be
    a great famine over all the world (this took
    place in the days of Claudius).
  • Acts 131,2, Now there were in the church at
    Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon
    who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a
    member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and
    Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and
    fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Set apart for me
    Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have
    called them.

14
CHURCH AND POLITY
  • Extraordinary Officers in the Church
  • Prophets
  • I Cor. 1210, to another the working of
    miracles, to another prophecy, to another the
    ability to distinguish between spirits, to
    another various kinds of tongues, to another the
    interpretation of tongues.
  • I Cor. 132, And if I have prophetic powers, and
    understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and
    if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains,
    but have not love, I am nothing.
  • Eph. 220, built on the foundation of the
    apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being
    the cornerstone

15
CHURCH AND POLITY
  • Extraordinary Officers in the Church
  • Prophets
  • Eph. 35, which was not made known to the sons
    of men in other generations as it has now been
    revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the
    Spirit.
  • Eph. 411, And he gave the apostles, the
    prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and
    teachers

16
CHURCH AND POLITY
  • Extraordinary Officers- or Ordinary?
  • Evangelists
  • Acts 218, crying out, Men of Israel, help!
    This is the man who is teaching everyone
    everywhere against the people and the law and
    this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into
    the temple and has defiled this holy place.
  • Eph. 411, And he gave the apostles, the
    prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and
    teachers
  • II Tim. 45, As for you, always be sober-minded,
    endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist,
    fulfill your ministry.

17
CHURCH AND POLITY
  • Ordinary Officers
  • Elders, presbyteroi,
  • Acts 2017,28, Now from Miletus he sent to
    Ephesus and called the elders of the church to
    come to him. . . . Pay careful attention to
    yourselves and to all the flock, in which the
    Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for
    the church of God, which he obtained with his own
    blood.
  • I Tim. 31, The saying is trustworthy If anyone
    aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a
    noble task.
  • I Tim. 414, Do not neglect the gift you have,
    which was given you by prophecy when the council
    of elders laid their hands on you.

18
CHURCH AND POLITY
  • Ordinary Officers
  • Elders, presbyteroi,
  • I Tim. 517,9, Let the elders who rule well be
    considered worthy of double honor, especially
    those who labor in preaching and teaching. . . .
    Do not admit a charge against an elder except on
    the evidence of two or three witnesses.
  • Titus 15,7, This is why I left you in Crete, so
    that you might put what remained into order, and
    appoint elders in every town as I directed you .
    . . For an overseer, as God's steward, must be
    above reproach. He must not be arrogant or
    quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy
    for gain

19
CHURCH AND POLITY
  • Ordinary Officers
  • Elders, presbyteroi,
  • I Peter 51,2, So I exhort the elders among you,
    as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings
    of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory
    that is going to be revealed shepherd the flock
    of God that is among you, exercising oversight,
    not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would
    have you not for shameful gain, but eagerly

20
CHURCH AND POLITY
  • Ordinary Officers
  • Teachers, didaskaloi,
  • Eph. 411, and he gave the apostles, the
    prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and
    teachers
  • I Tim. 517, Let the elders who rule well be
    considered worthy of double honor, especially
    those who labor in preaching and teaching

21
CHURCH AND POLITY
  • II Tim. 22, and what you have heard from me in
    the presence of many witnesses entrust to
    faithful men who will be able to teach others
    also.
  • Titus 19, He must hold firm to the trustworthy
    word as taught, so that he may be able to give
    instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke
    those who contradict it

22
CHURCH AND POLITY
  • Deacons, diakonoi,
  • Phil. 11, Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ
    Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are
    at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons
  • I Tim. 38-10,12, Deacons likewise must be
    dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to
    much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They
    must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear
    conscience. And let them also be tested first
    then let them serve as deacons if they prove
    themselves blameless. . . . Let deacons each be
    the husband of one wife, managing their children
    and their own households well

23
CHURCH AND POLITY
  • Deacons, diakonoi,
  • Acts 61-6, Now in these days when the disciples
    were increasing in number, a complaint by the
    Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because
    their widows were being neglected in the daily
    distribution. And the twelve summoned the full
    number of the disciples and said, It is not
    right that we should give up preaching the word
    of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick
    out from among you seven men of good repute, full
    of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint
    to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to
    prayer and to the ministry of the word. And what
    they said pleased the whole gathering, and they
    chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the
    Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and
    Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a
    proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the
    apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on
    them.

24
CHURCH GOVERNMENT
  • Current Options
  • Episcopal, in which oversight is vested in
    Bishops
  • Congregational, in which oversight is vested in
    the congregation
  • Presbyterial, in which oversight is vested in the
    elders of the Church

25
CHURCH GOVERNMENT Principles
  • The Office-bearers were chosen by the people
  • Acts 113-26, And when they had entered, they
    went up to the upper room, where they were
    staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew,
    Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James
    the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and
    Judas the son of James. All these with one accord
    were devoting themselves to prayer, together with
    the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his
    brothers. In those days Peter stood up among the
    brothers (the company of persons was in all about
    120) and said, Brothers, the Scripture had to
    be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke
    beforehand by the mouth of David concerning
    Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested
    Jesus. For he was numbered among us and was
    allotted his share in this ministry.

26
CHURCH GOVERNMENT Principles
  • (Now this man bought a field with the reward of
    his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst
    open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.
    And it became known to all the inhabitants of
    Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their
    own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)
    For it is written in the Book of Psalms, May
    his camp become desolate, and let there be no one
    to dwell in it and Let another take his
    office. So one of the men who have accompanied
    us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went
    in and out among us, beginning from the baptism
    of John until the day when he was taken up from
    us- one of these men must become with us a
    witness to his resurrection.

27
CHURCH GOVERNMENT Principles
  • And they put forward two, Joseph called
    Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and
    Matthias. And they prayed and said, You, Lord,
    who know the hearts of all, show which one of
    these two you have chosen to take the place in
    this ministry and apostleship from which Judas
    turned aside to go to his own place. And they
    cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias,
    and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

28
CHURCH GOVERNMENT Principles
  • Acts 65-6, And what they said pleased the whole
    gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of
    faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and
    Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas,
    and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they
    set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid
    their hands on them.

29
CHURCH GOVERNMENT Principles
  • The titles Bishop and Elder appear to distinguish
    the same office and the same order of persons
  • Acts 2017,28, Now from Miletus he sent to
    Ephesus and called the elders of the church to
    come to him. . . . Pay careful attention to
    yourselves and to all the flock, in which the
    Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for
    the church of God, which he obtained with his own
    blood.
  • I Tim. 31, The saying is trustworthy If anyone
    aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a
    noble task.
  • I Tim. 517, Let the elders who rule well be
    considered worthy of double honor, especially
    those who labor in preaching and teaching.

30
CHURCH GOVERNMENT Principles
  • The titles Bishop and Elder appear to distinguish
    the same office and the same order of persons
  • Titus 15,7, This is why I left you in Crete, so
    that you might put what remained into order, and
    appoint elders in every town as I directed you .
    . . For an overseer, as God's steward, must be
    above reproach. He must not be arrogant or
    quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy
    for gain,
  • Phil. 11, Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ
    Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are
    at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons
  • James 514, Is anyone among you sick? Let him
    call for the elders of the church, and let them
    pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name
    of the Lord.

31
CHURCH GOVERNMENT Principles
  • In each church there was a plurality of Elders
  • Acts 1423, And when they had appointed elders
    for them in every church, with prayer and fasting
    they committed them to the Lord in whom they had
    believed.
  • Acts 2017, Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus
    and called the elders of the church to come to
    him.

32
COMPETENT LEADERSHIP
  • Competent Leaders exercise authority to
    accomplish the Good
  • Competent Leaders need to define what is
    (Reality) and declare what will be (Future)
  • Competent Leaders do not simply respond to
    crisis, but also determine how you go about
    mission

33
COMPETENT LEADERSHIP
  • Competent Leaders do what God sent them to do
  • Competent Leaders are effective in giving a
    witness in the 21st century, in a time of
    denominational change, cultural shifts, and
    institutional turmoil
  • Competent Leaders define excellence in the moment
  • Competent Leaders define systems that will serve
    us well

34
COMPETENT LEADERSHIP
  • Competent Leaders display the whole love of God,
    the affective and the effective, making use of
    all faculties (the whole person), all persons,
    and all gifts
  • Competent Leaders keep direction by intention
    in the midst of whitewater
  • Competent Leaders rely upon Christs efficacy,
    not their own effort
  • From Gordon-Conwell Roundtable III

35
THE CHURCH
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