Lesson 7 Church
The Local Church
Key Objective: To understand God’s plan for the church.
See the Additional Study on the 1st Century Church below at the end of this page.
2 Corinthians 11:4,15.
Remember, Satan has another Jesus, another spirit, another gospel, and his own disciples.
Satan’s churches teach many false things like “works for salvation.” The Bible is not one authority, plus many more lies. It is our only authority.
Bible Believing churches started from our Lord’s disciples. Bible Believing churches never “protested” from within any religion. We are not Protestants. Disciples from Bible Believing churches have made disciples and started other Baptist (though not always known by that name) churches since Christ’s first disciples.
What the Local Church is Not
It is not just a building. Although we may meet in a building, we worship God in spirit and truth.
It is not to be connected to governments. It is to be self-governing and obey laws that do not conflict with the Word of God. We call this church an autonomous church.
It is not to be controlled by other churches. However, we may cooperate with other Baptist churches to start churches.
It is neither to be isolated from the world, nor should it imitate the world. Rather, the church should be involved in evangelism and discipleship. The motivating factor for this is the understanding that we will give an account to God for our lives.
It is not to make schools or other good things its priority, but rather teaching and preaching the Word of God.
It is not to save the world from destruction. Although the church is to promote all that is good, and the church is to care for its own in time of need, the greatest need is for the Gospel because it tells all how to escape the coming judgment.
What is the Local Church?
A true New Testament Bible-believing local church is a group of saved and discipled men and women who assemble together for worship and ministry with the leaders God has given them under the Word of God.
What does the Bible say about church leaders who stop following the Word of God?
1 Timothy 6:3-5
If any man teach otherwise. . . from such withdraw thyself.
What are the qualifications for pastors?
1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1: 5-9
How should you regard your church leaders?
Hebrews 13:17 Obey and Submit
Who is the Chief Pastor of your Church?
1 Peter 2:25; 5:4 Jesus Christ
What does the Bible call the church in relation to its pastor?
1 Peter 5:2-3 A Flock
What is the purpose of the church leadership?
Ephesians 2:20
Apostles (Christ’s first disciples) and prophets (men who spoke as God gave them the words to say) were in local churches until the Bible was completed around 90 A.D. Then, they were no longer needed.
Ephesians 4:11
There are two responsibilities in the local church for the leader to fill today. “Pastors” are the shepherds of the local church. “Teachers” are also Disciplers. You are training for this position in your local church!
Ephesians 4:12
The Leadership of the local church is to “perfect the saints, for the work of the ministry.” Saints are believers. The work of the ministry is making disciples. “Perfect the saints for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ.” To edify is to mature or build up. The leadership of the local church is to mature you to make disciples.
Pastors and Church Leaders:
How do I find the local church God wants me to be in?
What are the distinctives of a Bible Believing Church?
Separation of church and government
The church is not separated from the state (she is active as a voice in policy-making decisions and should vote, etc.). The state is separated from the church (the state has no power to enforce unbiblical statutes upon the church nor does she have the right to have a state-sponsored church).
Do you have a good thought or idea you have used for this section? Email it to worldreach@aol.com
Key Objective: To understand God’s plan for the church.
See the Additional Study on the 1st Century Church below at the end of this page.
2 Corinthians 11:4,15.
Remember, Satan has another Jesus, another spirit, another gospel, and his own disciples.
Satan’s churches teach many false things like “works for salvation.” The Bible is not one authority, plus many more lies. It is our only authority.
Bible Believing churches started from our Lord’s disciples. Bible Believing churches never “protested” from within any religion. We are not Protestants. Disciples from Bible Believing churches have made disciples and started other Baptist (though not always known by that name) churches since Christ’s first disciples.
What the Local Church is Not
It is not just a building. Although we may meet in a building, we worship God in spirit and truth.
It is not to be connected to governments. It is to be self-governing and obey laws that do not conflict with the Word of God. We call this church an autonomous church.
It is not to be controlled by other churches. However, we may cooperate with other Baptist churches to start churches.
It is neither to be isolated from the world, nor should it imitate the world. Rather, the church should be involved in evangelism and discipleship. The motivating factor for this is the understanding that we will give an account to God for our lives.
It is not to make schools or other good things its priority, but rather teaching and preaching the Word of God.
It is not to save the world from destruction. Although the church is to promote all that is good, and the church is to care for its own in time of need, the greatest need is for the Gospel because it tells all how to escape the coming judgment.
What is the Local Church?
A true New Testament Bible-believing local church is a group of saved and discipled men and women who assemble together for worship and ministry with the leaders God has given them under the Word of God.
What does the Bible say about church leaders who stop following the Word of God?
1 Timothy 6:3-5
If any man teach otherwise. . . from such withdraw thyself.
What are the qualifications for pastors?
1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1: 5-9
How should you regard your church leaders?
Hebrews 13:17 Obey and Submit
Who is the Chief Pastor of your Church?
1 Peter 2:25; 5:4 Jesus Christ
What does the Bible call the church in relation to its pastor?
1 Peter 5:2-3 A Flock
What is the purpose of the church leadership?
Ephesians 2:20
Apostles (Christ’s first disciples) and prophets (men who spoke as God gave them the words to say) were in local churches until the Bible was completed around 90 A.D. Then, they were no longer needed.
Ephesians 4:11
There are two responsibilities in the local church for the leader to fill today. “Pastors” are the shepherds of the local church. “Teachers” are also Disciplers. You are training for this position in your local church!
Ephesians 4:12
The Leadership of the local church is to “perfect the saints, for the work of the ministry.” Saints are believers. The work of the ministry is making disciples. “Perfect the saints for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ.” To edify is to mature or build up. The leadership of the local church is to mature you to make disciples.
Pastors and Church Leaders:
- Inspire people to have a heart for God.
- Include people in a loving church family.
- Instruct the people from the Word of God. (Discipleship)
- Involve the people in the ministries of the local church.
- Impact a region with the Gospel.
How do I find the local church God wants me to be in?
- Pray
- Observe the church and see if it obeys the Word of God.
- Do they teach what the Bible says?
- Does it fulfill God’s Mission of making disciples?
What are the distinctives of a Bible Believing Church?
- The Bible is our final authority
- We are not bound by tradition, board decisions, papal decrees, or any other extra-biblical books (book of Mormon, Watchtower publications, etc.)
- The autonomy of the local church
- Each church is self-governing and self-propagating. The church answers directly to Christ, the Head of the Church.
- The priesthood of each individual believer
- Each believer has access directly to God. There is only one Mediator he must go through – Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5).
- Two ordinances (the Lord’s Supper and baptism)
- We do not practice sacraments (something that conveys saving grace).
- Saved membership only
- We do not place infants on our roll. Each member, regardless of age, must give a testimony of salvation (a conversion experience).
- Two officers (the pastor and deacon)
- We do not have separate elders, bishops, or other officers for church government.
Separation of church and government
The church is not separated from the state (she is active as a voice in policy-making decisions and should vote, etc.). The state is separated from the church (the state has no power to enforce unbiblical statutes upon the church nor does she have the right to have a state-sponsored church).
Do you have a good thought or idea you have used for this section? Email it to worldreach@aol.com
