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BIBLE DOCTRINES

Introduction:

This is the second lesson dealing with the doctrine of the local Church. In our previous lesson we dealt with the first mention of the Church in the New Testament and then went on to consider the fact that the Church of the New Testament is a local Church that Christ began during his earthly ministry and then empowered it on the day of Pentecost. The mission of the Church as given in the Great Commission was considered. With this lesson we want to continue with some practical things that we as Baptists feel are important.

I.         THE SCRIPTURAL DEFINITION OF A LOCAL CHURCH:

It is a group of people who are called out of the world by Christ in that they have accepted Christ as their personal Saviour. They have assembled together in a group that is self governing. The local Church has the authority to make certain rules or laws in accordance with the laws of God as given in the New Testament. The local Church is the point of origin for action by Christians. Scriptural Baptism is the means of entrance into the local Church.

II.       THE OFFICERS OF THE LOCAL CHURCH.

            A.        The Office Of Pastor.

                        1.         This office is referred to by three terms: pastor, elder, and bishop.

                                    a.         These terms refer to the various characteristics of one office.

                                                1)        Pastor: The shepherd aspect of care and feeding.

                                                2)        Elder: The idea of wisdom and spiritual maturity.

                                                3)        Bishop: The duty of overseeing the church.

                                    b.         Acts 20:17-38 is a thorough teaching regarding this office.

                                                1)        They are overseers. 20:28a

                                                2)        They are to feed the church of God. 20:28b

                                                3)        They are to watch out for wolves. 20:29

                        2.         The authority of the pastor.

                                    a.         To preach the Word. 2 Timothy 4:1-2

                                    b.         To set spiritual objectives. Hebrews 13:7,17

                                    c.         To see that the Church follows the Scriptures. 1Peter 5:1-4

                                    d.         To warn of spiritual dangers and false doctrines. Acts 20:28-30

            B.        The Office Of Deacon. Acts 6:1-7

                        1.         The word "deacon" means one who helps or serves. (i.e. They are Spirit filled men who are concerned about the Church fulfilling its commission.)

                        2.         Deacons are appointed or elected by the Church to assist the Pastor where he sees fit to assign them.

                        3.         The office of deacon is not mandatory.

            C.        Extra-Scriptural Offices In The Church.

                        1.         Such offices would be based on the admonition that all things be done decently and in order.

                        2.         Clerk and treasurer are necessary offices not covered in Scripture.

                        3.         Trustees:

                                    a.         They are sometimes a legal necessity for the legal organization of the Church.

                                    b.         In smaller Churches they are often used where there are too few Scripturally qualified men for deacons.

                        4.         Positions needed to meet the needs of the particular local Church.

                                    (Exp: There was a plurality of elders in the New Testament Churches.)

III.      THE AUTHORITY OF THE LOCAL CHURCH.

            A.        The Authority To Appoint Or Call Their Own Pastor.

                        1.         “Pastor” is a gift of Christ and the Holy Spirit.

                                    (Cf. Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 12:28.)

                        2.         God has the right man for each Church and the Church is responsible to seek and follow the Lord's leadership.

            B.        The Authority To Appoint Missionaries. Acts 13:1-3

            C.        The Authority To Discipline And Exclude Members.

                        (Matthew 18:15-17; 1 Corinthians 5:4, 12-13)

IV.      THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE LOCAL CHURCH.

            A.        The Responsibility To Send Forth The Gospel.

            B.        The Responsibility To Support Its Pastor In Love.

            C         The Responsibility To Follow The Pastor’s Leadership.

            D.        The Responsibility To Administer The Ordinances.

                        1.         Baptism as dealt with previously.

                        2.         The Lord's Supper. (Also referred to as The Lord’s Table or Communion)

                                    a.         The Lord's Supper is a memorial to the death, burial, and

                                                resurrection of Christ.

                                    b.         The Lord's Supper anticipates His return when it will be observed with Him.

                                    c.         The Lord's Supper is a local Church ordinance to be observed by that particular body.

IV.      A BRIEF HISTORY OF DENOMINATIONS.

            A.        Baptist.

                        1.         The Church that Jesus built was baptistic in doctrine.

                        2.         There have always been Churches that held to baptistic doctrine though they were not always called Baptists.

                        3.         Baptists are not "Protestants." Protestants are those who protested and left the Roman Catholic church. Baptists were never Catholic.

            B.        Roman Catholic.

                        1.         Began originally from the local Church at Rome which became very powerful. There is nothing in the Bible or secular history to indicate that Peter was ever in Rome.

                        2.         The actual starting date of Roman Catholicism as we know it is difficult to pin point.

                                    a.         The earliest date would be 313 AD when Constantine and Licinius signed the edict of Milan making Christianity legal in the Roman Empire. Christianity was soon made the official state religion.

                                    b.         Leo the Great (440-461) developed theories that strongly advocated papal infallibility.

                                    c.         Gregory I (590-604) was a wealthy man who took charge of the Roman church and put into practice the authority Leo the Great had claimed. He raised armies and paid the expenses of war to strengthen the Roman Empire.

            C.        Greek Catholic. In 1054 it became a separate group from Rome.

            D.        Lutherans. Began with Martin Luther in 1530.

            E.        Presbyterians. Began with John Calvin in 1531.

            F.        Episcopalians. (a.k.a. Church of England) began in 1540 with Henry VIII.

            G.       Methodists. Began in 1732 with John Wesley.

            H.       Church of Christ. Began in 1835 with Alexander Campbell.

            I.         Mormons. Began in 1830 with Joseph Smith.

            J.         Seventh Day Adventist. Began in 1843 with William Miller and Ellen White.

            K.       Jehovah's Witnesses. Began in 1879 with Charles Taze Russell.

            L.        Holiness. These different groups began in 1914.

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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!