Seats SOM-TOPC-09 Ecclesiology

ECCLESIOLOGY
(THE DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH)
A.R.: Christian Theology, pp. 1025-1049 [24 pp.]

INTRODUCTION
• No matter how briefly or extensively we were to give
our attention to the matter of the church, it would be
incomplete. For that matter, you will spend the rest of
your life working on developing your understanding of
“The Church” and all that it means in your life and
ministry. Just as it is true that you could profitably
spend an entire lifetime studying about Jesus Christ,
so you could spend a lifetime studying about the
Church. But then, why not? The Bridegroom and the
Bride ought to capture our attention.

BCP STATEMENT OF FAITH
• The Statement of Faith of the BCP has the following to
say about the Church:
– “We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of
which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are
members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a
company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptised on a credible
profession of faith and associated for worship, work, and
fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members
of the local church the primary task of giving the gospel of
Jesus Christ to the lost world.”

say about the Ordinances:
– “We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two
ordinances to the local church, baptism and the Lord’s
Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion
of a believer in water into the name of the triune God. We
believe that Christ instituted the Lord’s Supper for
commemoration of His death. We believe that these two
ordinances should be observed and administered until the
return of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

say about Religious Liberty:
– “We believe that every human being has direct relations with
God and is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith;
that each church is independent and must be free from
interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority; that,
therefore, church and state must be kept separate as having
separate functions – each fulfilling its duties, free from
dictation or patronage of the other.”

say about Church Cooperation:
– “We believe that local churches can best promote the cause
of Christ by cooperating with one another in a
denominational organisation. Such an organisation, whether
a regional or district conference, exists and functions by the
will of the churches. Cooperation in a conference is
voluntary and may be terminated at any time. Churches
may likewise cooperate with interdenominational fellowships
on a voluntary independent basis.”

DEFINITION OF THE CHURCH
• Words
– Church.
• The English word “church” comes from a Scottish and
German words (kirk, kirche), which are in turn derived
from the Greek word kuriakon (kuriakon), which means
“belonging to the Lord.”
– Simbahan.
• The Tagalog word simbahan is usually used to describe
an individual, local church as opposed to the church as
society.
– Iglesya.
• The Tagalog word Iglesia is derived from the Spanish and
is usually used to describe the church as a society as
opposed to an individual, local church.

• Words
– The Greek word in Bible that the English word “church”
translates is ekklesia (ekklesia), which is a combination of
two words ek (ek = “out of”) and kalew (kaleo = “to call”).
Ekklesia means, “called out.” However, the nature of the
word ekklesia is that it can be used for both religious
gatherings and regular community gatherings. As such, we
need to examine its usage within the Bible in order to see
what exact meaning it is given by the biblical writers.

• Words
• Scripture. Ekklesia is used 114 times in the New
Testament
• A Political Assembly
• Ac 19:39,41 – “If there is anything further you want to
bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly
(ekklesia) .… After he had said this, he dismissed the
assembly (ekklesia).”
• The Nation of Israel
• Ac 7:38 – “[Moses] was in the assembly (ekklesia) in
the desert, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount
Sinai, and with our fathers; and he received living
words to pass on to us.”

• Words
• Scripture. Ekklesia is used 114 times in the New
Testament.
• The Universal Church (Iglesya)
• Ephesians 1:22-23 – “And God placed all things under
his feet and appointed him to be head over everything
for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him
who fills everything in every way.”
• The Local Church (Simbahan)
• Ro16:5 – “Greet also the church that meets at their
house.”
• Philemon 2 – “… to Apphia our sister, to Archippus
our fellow-soldier and to the church that meets in your
home.”

• Words
• Universal Church (Iglesya)
• DEF – “The universal church is
that total group of born-again
believers from the beginning of the
church to its consummation.”
• KAHULUGAN – “Ang
pangkalahatang Iglesia ay ang
kabuuang grupo ng mga
mananampalataya mula pa sa
simula ng Iglesia hanggang sa
kaganapan nito .”
• CP – (Universal Church) –
Colossians 1:24 – “Now I rejoice in
what was suffered for you, and I fill
up in my flesh what is still lacking
in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for
the sake of his body, which is the
church.”
Iglesya
Simbahan
Simbahan
Simbahan
Simbahan
Simbahan
Simbahan
Fig. 1 Universal & Local Churches

• Words
• Local Church (Simbahan)
• DEF – “A local church is a group
of baptised professing believers
who have organised themselves
for the purpose of remembering
the ordinances and carrying out
the Great Commission.”
• KAHULUGAN – “Ang local church
ay isang grupo ng
mananampalataya na
nabawtismuhan(nabiyagan) at
nagkaisa sa layuning pag-ala-ala
at pagpapalaganap ng mabuting
Balita .”
• CP – (Local Church) -Ro16:3, 5 –
“Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my
fellow-workers in Christ Jesus .…
Greet also the church that meets at
their house.
Iglesya
Simbahan
Simbahan
Simbahan
Simbahan
Simbahan
Simbahan
Fig. 1 Universal & Local Churches

• Words
• Indigenous Church. Because the BCP is interested in
Churchplanting and missions, it is important for us to
understand that for a church to be truly effective in a
community, it must be run by people from that community. To
this end, we present the following definition of the Indigenous
Church:
• DEF – “An indigenous church is a group of believers who live
out their Christian lives in the patterns of the local society, and
for whom any transformation of that society comes out of their
felt needs under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the
Scriptures.”
• KAHULUGAN – “Ang indigenous church ay isang grupo o
pangkat ng mananampalataya na namumuhay ayon sa kultura
o pamumuhay sa lokal na sambayanan o komunidad, at sa
gaby ng Banal na Espiritu at salita ng Diyos ay nakita nila ang

• Words
• Indigenous Church.
Fig. 2 Indigenous & Mission Churches
Culture 2
Indigenous
Church
Mission
Church
Indigenous
Church
Culture 1

PICTURES OF THE CHURCH
• Introduction. There are several different pictures or figures
found in the Bible that help us understand the identity of
functioning of the church. Since God has given us so many
different ways of looking at the church, it should be obvious that
He things it is very important for us to understand what the
church is and what we should be doing as a part of that church.
When we consider that fact that the church is God’s program
for this present age it is obvious that we must understand it if
we are to be pleasing to the One who died to for it.
• Therefore as you work your way through the following notes I
think it is important not only to see the basic things that God is
teaching concerning the church, but also that you continually
ask yourself that question, “How does that help me understand
what God wants me to be and to do as I live my life here on this
earth?”

• The Vine and the Branches
• CP – (The Vine and the Branches) – Jo 15
• The extensive nature of Jo 15 reveals the importance
of this figure. The point of the chapter is “abiding is
necessary to bearing fruit,” and bearing fruit is what
Christ expects of His followers. That reminds one of
the “fruit of the Spirit” and several other sections of
scripture. If you know anything about raising fruit,
particularly growing grapes, this figure immediately
springs to life with many clear, and often convicting,
principles.

• The following are a few points that will help us understand what
the church as the branches of the vine means for us:
• Union. Did you ever see a branch what was not in vital
connection with the vine bear any fruit?
• Communion. You cannot bear fruit in isolation from the vine.
We need to pray. The Bible says that God will grant us
whatever we ask because God wants us to bear fruit.
• Cleansing. Branches do not bear fruit if they are lying down in
the dirt. This is a truth that is often missed in the churches
today. Too many Christians think that their service for Christ is
not directly affected by the cleanness of their lifestyle. The
Word of God cleans our lives by showing us where we are at
fault.

the church as the branches of the vine means for us:
• Dependency. This is not just the concepts of “union” and
“communion” (above), but also the fact that we cannot ear fruit
in our own strength alone. We must be in fellowship with Him,
but we must also be continually conscious that we depend on
God as the strength in which we are to serve Him.
• Zec4:6 – “’Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says
the LORD Almighty.”
• Bearing fruit. This is not just the purpose of this figure but also
the point of the entire Christian life. Too many Christians act
like they believe that their purpose on earth is to either enjoy
life, or to wait for death and heaven. However, God has left us
here for a definite purpose, and this figure speaks to that
purpose. This is not just “winning people to Christ” but is also
using our lives as He wishes to further His Kingdom.

• The Shepherd and the Sheep
• CP – (The Shepherd and the Sheep) – Jo 10
• Ps 23 should have taught us that you cannot understand the
relationship between God and His people without
understanding the shepherd and His sheep. That is also true of
Jo 10 and this picture of the church.
the church as the sheep means for us:
– The Shepherd owns the Sheep;
– The Shepherd trusts the care of the sheep to Under-shepherds;
– This requires leadership ability;
– Shepherding involves the provision of food for the sheep;
– Obedience to the Shepherd is required of the sheep.

• The Stones in the Building
• CP – (The Stones in the Building) – Ephesians 2:19-22 –
“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but
fellow-citizens with God’s people and members of God’s
household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the
whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy
temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together
to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”
• The concept of the church as a building is seen throughout the
New Testament. One of the common factors seen in the
various explanations of this concept emphasises the foundation
that is in Christ Jesus. On that foundation is being built a
building known as the church. The figure helps us understand
the church, but it is also very convicting. As poor material is
reflected in a building, so poorly lived Christianity cannot be
hidden from the sight of those who are watching, and
wondering what this thing called “the church” is all about. What

• The Stones in the Building
• The following are a few points that will help us
understand what the church as a building means for
us:
• Christ is the uniting/determining factor of the building;
• Christ is the foundation of the building;
• The interdependency of the stones within the building.
• The material from which it is built determines the
beauty of the building.

Analogies of Christ and the Church *
CHRIST CHURCH REF. TERMINOLOGY
Head Body
Co
1:18
“And He is the head of the body, the church”
Corner-
stone
Temple
Ep
2:20-
21
“… Christ Jesus Himself as the chief
cornerstone”
Beloved Virgin
2Co
11:2
“I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so
that I might present you as a pure virgin to
him.”
Bride-
groom
Bride
Re
21:9
“Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of
the Lamb.”
Ruler
(Implied)
City
Re
21:9-
10
“he … showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God.”
Owner People Ti 2:14
“… to purify for himself a people that are his
very own.”
* From H. Wayne House, Charts of Christian Theology and Doctrine (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1992), p. 11

Analogies of Christ and the Church *
CHRIST CHURCH REF. TERMINOLOGY
Shepherd Flock
1Pe
5:2-4
“Be shepherds of God's flock …. And when
the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive
the crown.”
Firstborn
House-
hold
Ep 2:19;
Co 1:18
“… members of God's household …”; “… He
is the beginning and the firstborn ….”
Creator New Man Ep 2:15
“His purpose was to create in himself one
new man out of the two ….”
Founder
(Implied)
Chosen
People
1Pe 2:9
“you are a chosen people … a holy nation, a
people belonging to God”
High
Priest
Royal
Priest-
hood
He
4:14;
1Pe 2:9
“… we have a great high priest … Jesus the
Son of God …”; “… a royal priesthood …”
Heir
Inherit-
ance
Ep 1:18 “… His glorious inheritance in the saints.”
* From H. Wayne House, Charts of Christian Theology and Doctrine (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1992), p. 11

THE CHURCH AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD
• Various Aspects of the Kingdom of God
• The Universal Kingdom. One aspect of “kingdom” is seen in a
theme that runs through the Bible that maintains that God will
establish His kingdom and that it will be a universal kingdom.
But what is that kingdom and how does the church relate to it?
Are the terms synonymous?
• Ge 1:26-27 – “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image,
in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and
the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and
over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ So God
created man in his own image, in the image of God he created
him; male and female he created them.”
• 1 Chronicles 29:11 – “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the
power and the glory and the majesty and the splendour, for
everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the
kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.”
• Daniel 2:37 – “You, O king, are the king of kings. The God of

• The Davidic/Messianic Kingdom. One of the things
you must consider in the developing of your theology
is whether or not God will at some time in the future
restore the Davidic Kingdom. If so, what is the relation
of the church to it?
• 2Sa 7:12-16 – “When your days are over and you rest
with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to
succeed you, who will come from your own body, and
I will establish his kingdom …. Your house and your
kingdom shall endure for ever before me; your throne
shall be established for ever.”

• The Mystery form of the Kingdom. Christ did refer to the work
He was doing as a mystery. Paul talked about the “mystery.”
How do you take these concepts and relate them to the
kingdom of God?
• Mt 13:10-11 – “The disciples came to him and asked, ‘Why do
you speak to the people in parables?’ He replied, ‘The
knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been
given to you, but not to them.’”
• Colossians 1:25-27 – “I have become its servant by the
commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in
its fullness-- the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages
and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them
God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the
glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope
of glory.”
• Ephesians 3:3-7 – “… that is, the mystery made known to me

• The Spiritual Kingdom. That there is a spiritual
kingdom of God seems certain. But is hat the only
aspect of the kingdom? Any time you find “kingdom”
in the Bible can you equate it with a spiritual
relationship with God and thus fulfil all that is intended
in a particular passage? How does it relate to the
church?
• Colossians 1:13 – “For he has rescued us from the
dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom
of the Son he loves ….”

• The Church and the Kingdom
• The Spiritual Kingdom. That there is a spiritual kingdom of God
seems certain. But is hat the only aspect of the kingdom? Any
time you find “kingdom” in the Bible can you equate it with a
spiritual relationship with God and thus fulfil all that is intended
in a particular passage? How does it relate to the church?
• George Ladd contends that the kingdom of God is the reign of
God and the church is part of the people under His rule. He
lists five basic points concerning the relationship between the
kingdom of God and the church:
• The church is not the kingdom;
• The kingdom creates the church;
• The church witnesses to the kingdom;
• The church is the instrument of the kingdom;
• The church is the custodian of the kingdom.
“… wherever His will is done.”
Universe
In
Heaven
Angels
On Earth
Israel 
Church
Fig. 2 The Kingdom of God

THE BEGINNING OF THE CHURCH
• The church started at Pentecost. Consider the following:
• The Lord said it was future.
• Mt 16:18 – “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I
will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome
it.”
• The church could not start as a body without a head and that
required the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• Ephesians 1:20 – “which he exerted in Christ when he raised
him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the
heavenly realms ….”
• The church could not be a functioning organism without
possessing the gifts, which were not given until after the
ascension.
• Ephesians 4:7-12 – “But to each one of us grace has been
given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: ‘When he
ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to
men.’ (What does ‘he ascended’ mean except that he also

• The church started at Pentecost. Consider the following:
• The point of the mystery. Paul calls the church “the mystery.”
That means that which was not completely revealed
beforehand. It is the fact that God is taking some out from
among the Jews and some out from among the Gentiles and
putting them together in a new thing--”the church.”
• Ephesians 3:4-6 – “… the mystery of Christ, which was not
made known to men in other generations as it has now been
revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This
mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs
together with Israel, members together of one body, and
sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.”
• Colossians 1:26 – “… the mystery that has been kept hidden for
ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints.”

• The Church and Israel. So what of the fact that in the
Old Testament the people of God were represented by
the children of Israel (and those aliens who chose to
join them)? Does that mean there is forever a
difference between “New Testament Christians” and
“Old Testament Saints”? The Bible doesn’t teach that.
In fact, the Bible speaks of a new people being
formed, made up of those saved in both the Old
Testament and in the New Testament. The Children
of Israel have been united with the nations to form the
church--the body of Christ.

THE ORGANISATION OF THE CHURCH
• Church Government. There have been basically
three different types of church government that have
been developed over the past 2000 years since the
ascension of Christ. Interestingly enough, each of
these views has support in Scripture.

• Church Government.
– Episcopal. This emphasises some form of superior clergy
[Bishop, etc] and entrusts to them the guarding of the truth
and the final authority.
– Presbyterian. This is a position between the episcopal and
the congregational. It sees the authority placed in a group of
selected individuals who make up a governing body,
normally both laymen and clergy, sometimes called the
“synod.“
– Congregational. This believes that the final authority rests in
the local congregation of a given church. The organisational
structure of the early New Testament church is not a clear as
we might like it to be, nor even as we may have a tendency
to maintain that it teaches. This probably is a message from
God that organisation is not the most important thing. Not
that it is unimportant, but that there are other things God also
wants us to be concerned about.

Forms of Church Government
Form Adherents Authority Basis
Episcopal
Roman Catholic
Bishops
Ac 6:6
Orthodox Ac 14:23
Episcopal Ga 1:19
Lutheran Ga 2:9
Methodist
Presbyterian
Presbyterian
Elders
Ac 20:17
Reformed 1Ti 5:17
Ti 1:5
Congregational
Baptist
Congregation
Ac 15:12, 22-25
Mennonite Co 1:18
Evangelical Free 1Pe 2:9
Congregational

• Here are some examples of how the church
functioned in the New Testament:
• Ac The congregation in Jerusalem chose leaders
who were responsible to meet the specific needs of
each ethnic group in the church. However, notice that
it was the apostles who prayed for them.
• Ac 1 The story of how the congregation of the local
church at Antioch chose from their own midst those
who were sent out the preach the gospel to those who
were lost.

• Here are some examples of how the church functioned in the
New Testament:
• 1Co The story of how the local church at Corinth was called
upon by Paul to exercise discipline upon one of its members
who was failing to live a Biblical lifestyle.
• Four Aspects of Congregational Church Government
• Authority. Where does authority lie? Some say, “with the
Lord.” True, but how do you know that? How does that get
implemented in the local assembly? Somebody has to say,
“This is the way the Lord is leading.”
• Do we emphasise prayer and Bible study in preparation for the
decisions that come before the congregation? How do you
determine the will of the Lord? Is there not a responsibility to
members within the local body to be concerned wit, give
encouragement to, and confirm the will of the Lord to another
member o of the body?

New Testament:
• Autonomy. Each local church is “autonomous.” This does not
deny the importance of a fellowship affiliation with other
churches like the Baptist Conference of the Philippines, but it
does say that the “denomination” cannot dictate to the local
church what it must do.
• Delegation. Unless you are going to call a business meeting
every time you need to buy a ballpen how do you handle the
question of autonomy? The local congregation can delegate to
elected and called leadership certain responsibilities. However,
the big question is “How many responsibilities will be

THE ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH
New Testament:
• Fellowship. The importance of fellowship within the local
church is readily recognised, but there is a tendency to discount
the importance of fellowship between churches that are in
agreement. This is why it is right and important for there to be
denominations. While some may say that there should only be
one big, broad fellowship of all existing churches that claim to
be Christian, that fails to recognise differences in belief. It is
important, however, to be joined together with other churches
who believe the same things that you do, for there is strength in
such relationships that cannot be achieved otherwise.

• Church Officers
– Evangelical churches commonly identify only two offices of
the church, namely
• deacon and
• elder. They derive these offices from an examination of
1Ti 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5- However, I think there is
scriptural warrant for proposing a third office, namely that
of
• widow. The passage for this office is 1Ti 5:9-1 We will
examine these offices, and their respective scriptures and
qualifications.

• Church Officers
• Elder/Pastor/Bishop (see Fig. 4, below)
• Words. The New Testament uses two different words
to signify the office of elder, namely presbutevron
(presbuteron) and ejpivskopo" (episkopos). The term
presbutevron is used seventeen times to identify those
who have leadership in the church. ejpivskopo" is
used seven times. These words have been translated
several ways, the most common being “bishop,”
“overseer,” and “elder.” The terms “bishop/overseer”
and “elder” are often equated. It is also important to
notice that while there are two separate forms for
presbutevron (masculine and feminine) there is only
on form for ejpivskopo" (masculine). As a result there
is some possible gender distinction in this office.

• Church Officers
• Their Qualifications. Study the following Scripture
passages and develop a clear understanding of the
qualifications that are declared to be identifying
characteristics of those who are put into this office in
the local church. Remember, the Bible determines
doctrine and the Bible should be the guidebook for
establishing the officers in the local church. They
should not be chosen on the basis of popularity or the
result of “Those who are not willing to say, ‘No.’”

• Church Officers
• The qualifications for elder are laid out in 1Ti 3:1-7 and Titus
1:5- An elder is to “be above reproach, the husband of but one
wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to
teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not
quarrelsome, not a lover of money . . . [able to] manage his own
family well and see that his children obey him with proper
respect . . . not be a recent convert . . . have a good reputation
with outsiders ….” He must also be “not overbearing, not quick-
tempered . . . not pursuing dishonest gain . . . hospitable, one
who loves what is good . . . upright, holy and disciplined. He
must hold firmly to the trustworthy message . . . encourage
others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.”

The Organisation of the Church
Fig. Qualifications for Elder (Pastor, Bishop)
Scripture: 1Ti 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9
Self-controlled Upright. Holy Not Overbearing
Hospitable Disciplined Not Quick Tempered
Able to teach Above Reproach Loves what is Good
Not Violent but Gentle Temperate Children Obey Him
Not Quarrelsome Respectable Not into Dishonest Gain
Husband of One Wife Not a Drunk Holds the Great Truths
Not Lover of Money Good Outside Reputation Not Recent Convert
Good Family Manager

• Church Officers
• As we saw above, elders are also required to be the “husband
of one wife.” There is some debate as to the interpretation of
this phrase; does it mean that he can only be married once (i.e.
not widowed or divorced), that he must be married while he is
serving as elder, or that he must simply be a one-woman man?
The phrase in the Greek is mia'" gunaiko;" a[ndra. This relates to
our discussion in this way: If this office were not gender
restrictive, would Paul have used this phrase to describe
monogamy? In 1Ti 5: 9, where he is describing widows, Paul
says those women who hold the office of widow are also to
have only one husband. Since Paul uses the masculine form in
1Ti 3:2 and the feminine form in 1Ti 5:9, one can argue these
offices are gender restrictive, but require the office holder to
either be married or to have been married at one time.
• CP – 1Ti 3:1-7 – “[T]he overseer must be above reproach, the

• Church Officers
• CP – Titus 1:5-9 – “An elder must be blameless, the
husband of but one wife, a man whose children
believe and are not open to the charge of being wild
and disobedient …. he must be blameless--not
overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to
drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.
Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is
good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and
disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy
message as it has been taught ….”

• Church Officers
• Their Selection. I am not sure that the final word has been said
about the Biblical process of the selection of those who claim
this office. I would suggest that the following must be a part of
what is involved in the life of the person who claims to be a
“pastor.”
• Called of God. The two passages noted above obviously teach
that God is involved in the selection of the person for this office.
But they should also be seen in comparison with Ephesians
4:7-16, with special attention given to verse I also think it is
essential to try to discover the Biblical balance between the
responsibility of human commitment, and the place that
sovereign divine “call” fits into this picture. There is still truth in
the statement of Spurgeon, “If God has called you to preach the
gospel, don’t stoop to be a king.”

• Church Officers
• Personally Responsive. This is reflected in the statements
made above. You cannot escape the responsibility of response
to God’s call. Read Ezekiel 33 in connection with this concern.
• Ezekiel 33 – “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the
house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them
warning from me. When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man,
you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade him
from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will
hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the
wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he
will die for his sin, but you will be saved yourself.”

• Church Officers
• By human choice. Here I am not looking at the human
response of the “officer” so much as the recognition by
others in the church that God has called and that
person is qualified. As Baptists we do not believe in
the Episcopalian form of church government in which
a Bishop makes the choice and sends the pastor to
the local church. What do people who know you think
about your consideration of this office? What does a
local congregation feel about the possibility of your
becoming their pastor?

• Church Officers
• Their Ordination. With the emphasis that is increasingly made
today for the equality of the “clergy and the laity,” there comes
the possibility of missing something the God seems to
emphasise in the Scripture. Ordination is not the imposition of
power by human means, nor it is just a politically wise thing to
do, but it is not unbiblical for there to be human recognition of
what God has done. If it is biblical and right, then work on
understanding how the total ordination experience can be most
meaningful to all who are involved.
• Titus 1:5 – “The reason I left you in Crete was that you might
straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint [ordain]
elders in every town, as I directed you.”

• Church Officers
• Deacons (see Fig. 5, below)
• Having looked at the office of elder, we now move on to the
next office, namely that of deacon.
• Words. The word “deacon” comes from the Greek word
diavkono" and means simply “a servant, waiting man.” It is
important to realise that “deacon” is a gender-neutral word--that
is, there is no warrant for translating it “deacon” and
“deaconess.” It is similar to the English word “teacher.” Thus,
the very word itself does not provide the grounds for any
gender differentiation. Of the thirty-two times this word is used
in the New Testament, twenty-four of them refer to people. Only
eight of these references can be specifically tied to men. All the
rest either refer specifically to women (eight times) or to people
of both genders (seven times). Two times it refers to the office
of ‘deacon.’

• Church Officers
• The qualifications for deacons are laid out in 1Ti 3:8-1
Deacons are to be “men worthy of respect, sincere, not
indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They
must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear
conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is
nothing against them, let them serve as deacons . . . [They
must also be] the husband of but one wife and must manage
[their] children and [their] household[s] well.”
• A quick reading of this passage in English seems to imply that
this office is restricted to men only. Not only does the passage
refer to deacons being the husband of one wife (something
which a woman cannot be), it also seems to refer to the wives
that deacons must have. However, examination of the Greek in
verses 8 and 11 tells us differently.

• Church Officers
• The NIV translates verse 8 in this way: “Deacons, likewise, are
to be men worthy of respect .…” This translation is wrong. The
word ‘man’ is not in the original Greek. Rather, the verse
should read “Deacons in the same way <be> worthy of respect
.…” As can be plainly seen, this verse does not relate gender
with office.
• The NIV translates verse 11 as follows: “In the same way, their
[i.e. deacons’] wives are to be women worthy of respect, not
malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.”
The KJV translates it thus: “Even so must their [i.e. deacons’]
wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.”
Both of these translations are wrong. This verse could be
translated as follows: “Women in the same way <be> worthy of
respect, not slanderous, not intoxicated, <but be> faithful in all
things.” Thus, this verse also does not relate gender with

• Church Officers
• Now that we have corrected these translational errors,
it is plain to see that women were clearly permitted
within the office of deacons. While one qualification
for deacon is being the “husband of one wife,” the
verse that follows also identifies the fact that there
were women who were worthy of the office. However,
even if the inclusion of women in this office is
disallowed, the fact remains that deacons, if they are
male, are to be the “husband[s] of one wife.”
Therefore, a woman does enter the picture by being a
part of the team.

• Church Officers
• Their Qualifications. Study the following Scripture
passages and develop and clear understanding of the
qualifications that are declared to be identifying
characteristics of those who are put into this office in
the local church. Remember, the Bible determines
doctrine and the Bible should be the guidebook for
establishing the officers in the local church. They
should not be chosen on the basis of popularity or the
result of “Those who are not willing to say, ‘No.’”

• Church Officers
• CP – 1Ti 3:8-13 – “Deacons, likewise, are to be men
worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine,
and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold
of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.
They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing
against them, let them serve as deacons. In the same
way, women are to be women worthy of respect, not
malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in
everything. A deacon must be the husband of but one
wife and must manage his children and his household
well. Those who have served well gain an excellent
standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ
Jesus.”

• Church Officers
• Their Selection. Having identified those who are
qualified for the office, how do you “get them into that
office?” The Bible seems to indicate a two-fold
process, seen in two words, selection and
appointment. Carefully study Ac 6:1-7 and you will
see that the choice or selection was the responsibility
of the local congregation, though under the direction of
the leaders. It involved prayer, careful consideration
of qualifications, and then choice.

• Church Officers
• Their Appointment. There seems to be more than just a
change of job responsibilities in the “turn this responsibility over
to” of Ac 6:3 (NIV). It is the same word used in Titus 1:5,
“ordain elders in every city” and He 5:1; 8:3 of the appointment
of the priests to their office. Therefore it seems that there was
some kind of official placement into the office for which they
had been chosen. I think this is one of the things we have a
tendency to miss in the local church today. We have e
business meeting, elect deacons, and then expect them to get
to work, without further recognition, or involvement of the
congregation. I encourage you to give some thought to how
you can implement this “appointment” or “ordaining” to office. It
might make the office more significant both in the minds of the
deacons as well as the congregation.

Church Officers
Deacons (see Fig. 5, below)
Their Responsibility. One thing is very clear in the Ac 6
passage; that is the appointment of the “deacons”
to meet a specific situation. I would translate verse
3 as “whom we will appoint over this specific need.”
There was a particular part of the ministry of the
local church that was not functioning as efficiently
as it should. Therefore, the apostles took steps to
try to see to it that this ministry was also being met.
These first deacons were chosen to minister
specifically in that area. It is therefore important as
we chose deacons for our churches that they also
be chosen to meet specific needs within the
church.

Fig. Qualifications for Deacons
Scripture: 1Ti 3:8-13; Ac 6:3,5
Above Reproach Good Family Manager
Husband of One Wife Children Obey Him
Temperate Not into Dishonest Gain
Respectable Holds the Great Truths
Not a Drunk Sincere
Tested

• Church Officers
• Widows (see Fig. 6, below)
• We have examined the offices of elder and deacon. However,
we have one more office to examine, namely the office of
widow.
• Scripture. There are three passages that describe the role
widows played in the early church.
• Lu 2:36-3 tells the story of Anna, the woman who blessed
Jesus when he was brought to the temple in Jerusalem. Anna
is portrayed as the epitome of the widow--“She never left the
temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying”
(italics added).
• Ac 6: tells us that there were a lot of widows in the early
church--so many that the Apostles had to inaugurate the office
of deacon to take care of the distribution of food to them.

• Church Officers
• 1Ti 5:3-1 By far the most important passage dealing with the
ministry of widows is found in 1Ti 5:3-1 Here we read that there
are two kinds of widows: The one who puts her “hope in God
and continue[s] night and day to pray and to ask God for help”
and the “widow who lives for pleasure.”
• In verse nine Paul begins describing a third office of the
church, namely the office of widows. Paul is saying that there
are certain widows whom the church should help, namely those
who are serving God in some tangible way. Note that the
immediate context supports the fact that ministry roles are
being discussed: the support of elders is described in the
following verses.

• Church Officers
• Qualifications. The qualifications for widows are given
in 1Ti 5:9-1 A widow must be over sixty years of age,
she must have been faithful to her husband, and she
must be well known for good deeds such as “bringing
up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of
the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting
herself to all kinds of good deeds.” She also must not
be young and she must pledge her dedication to God
by vowing not to remarry.
• There is some evidence that the early church
interpreted these passages as pointing to the ministry
women should have in the church.

Qualifications for Widows
Scripture: 1Ti 5:3-16
Over 60 years old Known for Good Deeds:
Was faithful to husband Raising children
Cannot Remarry Showing Hospitality
Not Idle Washing feet of saints
Not a Gossip Helping those in trouble
Not a Busybody Devoted to Good Deeds
Relies on God for help

• Church Officers
• Members
• Membership is a very important issue in the church today.
People want to know, “Do I have to be a member of a local
church?” “Are there any qualifications for membership in a local
church?” and more. While the New Testament does not directly
command membership in a local church, it implies membership
that we should be members in the local church. Look carefully
at the following two verses:
• Ac 2:41,47 – “Those who accepted his message were baptised,
and about three thousand were added to their number that day
.… praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And
the Lord added to their number daily those who were being
saved.”

• Church Officers
• Members
• In verse 41 it says: “three thousand were added to
their number”
• In verse 47 it says: “the Lord added to their number”
• You cannot tell numbers if you do not count. There
was an identified group of people in the early church.
First, 500, then another 3000, and then 5000. The
implication is that this was not just a number of
converts, but that they were recognised as a part of
the church, and it seems to me that was the local
church in Jerusalem, not just the universal church.

• Church Officers
• Members
• Here are a few implications of church membership:
• There are No Indications of Non-members. In fact, the Bible
even tells us that we must meet together for encouragement. It
is important that you build your doctrine on the teaching of
Scripture, not on observation or experience today. We live in a
day when it is popular and acceptable to be a Christian,
participate in the services and ministry of the local church,
without membership in that local church. I do not think that you
can substantiate that biblically. I find no indication in the Bible
that this condition existed anywhere in the local churches.
• He 10:25 – “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are
in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all
the more as you see the Day approaching.”
• Regenerate Church Membership. If Christ died to redeem lost
sinners and those who receive His work on their behalf are a

• Church Officers
• Members
• Immersion Precedes Membership. We will discuss immersion
further below, however, it is important for us to say here that the
New Testament teaches that the new birth is to precede
immersion and that immersion is to precede membership.
• Ac 2:41 – “Those who accepted his message were baptised,
and about three thousand were added to their number that
day.”
• Ac 8:36-38 – “As they travelled along the road, they came to
some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why
shouldn’t I be baptised?" And he gave orders to stop the
chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the
water and Philip baptised him.”

• Church Officers
• Members
• Spiritual Gifts are for the Local Church. Do not let the
“charismatic controversy” keep you from seeing the importance,
identification, and ministry of the gifts that God sovereignly
gives to members of His body. But at this point consider the
fact that the existence of those gifts and the fact that they are to
recognised and exercised in a local church context strongly
implies that the Christian so gifted must be a member of that
local congregation.
• 1Co 12 – “Now about spiritual gifts …. to each one the
manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good …. The
body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though
all its parts are many, they form one body …. For we were all
baptised by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks,
slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Now
the body is not made up of one part but of many …. The eye

• Church Officers
• Members
• Unity of the Church Requires Membership. That God desires
unity among the members of His body cannot be denied.
Certainly, He establishes a unity in the universal church.
Whether or not that can be seen may be debatable, but it
cannot be legislated. That there should be unity in the local
church is also obvious, but you cannot discipline to unity those
who are not members of that local church.
• Ephesians 1:1; 4:1-3,13 – “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by
the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ
Jesus .… As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a
life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely
humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the
bond of peace …. until we all reach unity in the faith and in the
knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to

• Church Officers
• Members
• Church Discipline Demands Local Membership. The
Bible clearly teaches the fact and importance of
discipline in the local church. However, you cannot
discipline those who are not members of the local
church. They are technically not answerable to
anyone except God. The command to discipline
demands an organisational relationship that makes
this possible.

CHURCH PRACTICES
• Pictures of Salvation. The church gathers together to
observe two pictures of salvation – Immersion and the
Lord’s Table.
• Lord’s Table. Christ instituted the Lord’s Table for
commemoration of His death. It is a memorial only –
Christ is not present in the elements either literally or
spiritually. It is to be observed and administered until
the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
• 1Co 11:24,25 – “[W]hen [Jesus] had given thanks, he
broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do
this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after
supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new
covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it,
in remembrance of me.’”

CHURCH PRACTICES
• Pictures of Salvation.
• Immersion. The total immersion of a believer in water in the
name of the triune God pictures the death, burial, and
resurrection of the believer with Christ. Even though immersion
in water has no salvific effect upon the believer, it was the
primary means by which people in the New Testament declared
their repentance.
• Ro6:1-4 – “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning, so
that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how
can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us
who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his
death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into
death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead
through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
• See also Ac 2:38; Ac 8:12,13,16,36-38; 10:47-4

CHURCH PRACTICES
• Ordination. We looked at ordination above. Suffice it
to say, it is the local church’s responsibility to select
and recognise the spirit’s calling upon pastors and
other church leaders. The ultimate form of this
recognition is the ordination service, whereby the
church sets apart certain people for the ministry of
God.

CHURCH PRACTICES
• Cooperation with others. Since each local church is
independent, they also have the ability to cooperate with other
churches in various associations such as conferences and
crusades. This biblically-based practice is one of the best ways
of promoting the cause of Christ because it exhibits the unity of
the family of God. The basis of cooperation should be the
same test as that for spirits in 1 Jo 4:1-3 – “Every spirit that
acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from
God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not
from God.”
• Mk 9:38-41 – “’No-one who does a miracle in my name can in
the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not
against us is for us. I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a
cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will
certainly not lose his reward.”
• 2Co 8:19 – “What is more, he was chosen by the churches to
accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in
order to honour the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to

CHURCH PRACTICES
• Religious Liberty. Every human being has direct relations with
God and is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith – no
mediator other than Jesus is needed. Since humans are
responsible to God alone, they cannot be forced into
Christianity. The call to repentance implies that humans must
be free to change their lives in accordance with God’s law. The
importance of this responsibility is illustrated in an instruction to
those with the gift of prophecy. Not only are prophets to use
self-control when exercising their gift, they are also to realise
that the prophecy does not control them, they control the
prophecy! They are free to prophesy or not, as they alone
decide!
• 1Ti 2:5 – “For there is one God and one mediator between God
and men, the man Christ Jesus ….”
• 1Co 14:32 – “The spirits of prophets are subject to the control
of prophets.”

CHURCH PRACTICES
• Each church must also be independent and must be
free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political
authority. This means that there must be a clear
distinction between Church and State.
• Ac 4:13-20 – “Judge for yourselves whether it is right
in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we
cannot help speaking about what we have seen and
heard.”
• Mt 22:21 – “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to
God what is God’s.”

CHURCH PRACTICES
• Raising Funds. The Scriptural method of raising funds
for the church is by means of the tithe and freewill
offerings.
• Ex 35:5 – “From what you have, take an offering for
the LORD. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the
LORD an offering of gold, silver and bronze ….”
• 1Co 16:2 – “On the first day of every week, each one
of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping
with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no
collections will have to be made.”
• See also Mt 23:23; 2Co 9:6-15; Ac 4:32-37

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