Scriptural Church Organization

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Scriptural Church Organization

• The Apostles Prophets Laying The Foundation

INTRODUCTION
O The church in the beginning had apostles and
prophets -I Cor. 1228 O The apostles
and prophets were responsible for laying the
foundation of the church -Eph. 219-20
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Scriptural Church Organization

• The Apostles Prophets Laying The Foundation

INTRODUCTION
O There are many who claim to have apostles
and prophets today O Others question why the
church has failed to have apostles and prophets
today O The real questions are -What
purpose did these individuals serve? -Do we
need them today?
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Scriptural Church Organization

• The Apostles Prophets Laying The Foundation

APOSTLES
O The word apostle means one sent and is
used in several different ways in the
NT -Jesus was called an apostle -Heb. 31
John 173 -Those sent by the Lord to preach
were called apostles -Matthew
101-5 -Messengers of churches were sent as
apostles -II Cor. 823 Phil. 225
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Scriptural Church Organization

• The Apostles Prophets Laying The Foundation

THE APOSTLES OF JESUS
O The apostles of Jesus were named in
scripture -Jesus called them Himself -Matt.
102-4 -After Judas died, others were chosen
-Acts 126 1414 -Paul was the last
apostle to be called -Galatians 11
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Scriptural Church Organization

• The Apostles Prophets Laying The Foundation

THE QUALIFICATION OF AN APOSTLE OF CHRIST
O These men were selected under
guidelines -Must be with Christ through His
ministry -John 1526-27 Acts 121-22 I
Cor. 158 -Must see the Lord after resurrection
-Matt. 2632 287 Acts 122 2616 I
Cor. 91 155-8 -Must be chosen by the Lord
-Acts 12 Matthew 101-5 Acts 124 Gal 11
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Scriptural Church Organization

• The Apostles Prophets Laying The Foundation

THE AUTHORITY OF AN APOSTLE OF CHRIST
O Christ gave the apostles authority and
power -The apostles had power over devils and
diseases -Luke 91 -The apostles could bind
or loose things on earth Matthew 1619
1818 -The apostles were given power after the
Holy Spirit was poured out -Acts 18
21-4 II Cor. 1128
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Scriptural Church Organization

• The Apostles Prophets Laying The Foundation

THE SIGNS OF AN APOSTLE OF CHRIST
O There were distinctive marks in an
apostle -The apostles of Christ would work
signs wonders and mighty deeds -II Cor.
1212 -These signs distinguished true
apostles from false apostles -II Cor.
1113
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Scriptural Church Organization

• The Apostles Prophets Laying The Foundation

THE WORK OF AN APOSTLE OF CHRIST
O The apostles were laying the ground work for
the church -The apostles were called
ambassadors for Christ -II Cor. 520 Eph.
620 -To reject or receive their message, was
to do the same to God -Luke 1016 John
1320
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Scriptural Church Organization

• The Apostles Prophets Laying The Foundation

THE WORK OF AN APOSTLE OF CHRIST
O The apostles were laying the ground work for
the church -The apostles revealed the will of
God to mankind -Gal. 115-16 -The apostles
are judging through the word revealed -Matt.
1928
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Scriptural Church Organization

• The Apostles Prophets Laying The Foundation

PROPHET
O Prophets were those who spoke
forth -Prophets were a well respected group
with regards to revelation -Eph 411 I
Cor. 1228 Eph. 220 35 -God spoke
through these prophets as they spoke by Him.
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Scriptural Church Organization

• The Apostles Prophets Laying The Foundation

THE SELECTION OF NEW TESTAMENT PROPHETS
O Prophets were chosen by the Lord -They
were chosen among both sexes -Acts 217-18
218-10 I Cor. 114-5 -One could only
be a prophet by Divine appointment
(Acts 217-18) Apostles laying on of
hands (Acts 196-7)
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Scriptural Church Organization

• The Apostles Prophets Laying The Foundation

THE FUNCTION OF NEW TESTAMENT PROPHETS
O The prophets laid the ground work -The
prophets predicted future events -Acts
1127-28 2110-11 -They revealed the will of
the Father -Eph. 34-5 I Cor. 27-16 -The
prophets confirmed the churches by preserving
the pure doctrine -I Cor. 1437, 3, 31 23-24
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Scriptural Church Organization

• The Apostles Prophets Laying The Foundation

THE DURATION OF NEW TESTAMENT PROPHETS
O The prophetic work was temporary -This
office fell away when that which was perfect
had come -I Cor. 138-13 -James reveals that
the word of God is the Perfect law -James
125 -God was revealing truth in the midst of
false prophets -Acts 136 II Pet 21
I John 41
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Scriptural Church Organization

• The Apostles Prophets Laying The Foundation

APPLICATION
O The apostles and prophets were needed to lay
the foundation of the church O During their
time, gifts were used in this process as well
-Eph 49-16 O These foundational offices in the
church ended when the one faith of the gospel
was fully revealed - Jude 3
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Scriptural Church Organization

• The Apostles Prophets Laying The Foundation

WILL YOU HEED THE REVEALED SCRIPTURE?
O HEAR Rom. 1017 O BELIEVE Acts 1630 O
REPENT Acts 1730 O CONFESS Acts 837 O
BAPTIZED Acts 238 O FAITHFUL I Cor. 1558