A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
Transcript of A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
1/37
Last time:
We considered our previous ch experiences and how they
affect us.
We began trying to describe and define the Church and the
church.
We considered membership in various contexts
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
2/37
Are we Cpers or CSErs- planters of local churchesor establishers of church services?
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
3/37
How do we read the Bible to learn what is prescriptive or normative about
leadership and oversight in the local church?
A few examples: 1Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9 and 1 Peter 5:1-4 and Acts
20:17-38, Mark 10:40-45.
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
4/37
It seems that we have to choose from 3 approaches to Scripture and
Church:
How much of what the Bible says about church is prescriptive or normative
for a local church's life, practice and order.
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
5/37
Concerning the local church's life order and practice, the Bible says
1. Only very little that is normative or prescriptive- pragmatism hopefullyprinciple pragmatism...whatever seems wise and best, we are free when it comes to
local church life, practice and order, so long as what we do is consistent with the Word,
which doesn't tell us very much about how to order local church life and practice.
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
6/37
2. Some very important normative or prescriptive things-
Scripture prescribes some essentials for local church life, practice and order, but noteverything is prescribed. What is not prescribed we are free to adapt according to
wisdom and what works best in a culture and context.
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
7/37
3. Everything that is important for local church life, practice andorder is normatively prescribed in Scripture, is clearly prescribed in
Scripture and we have very little freedom to adapt or introduce anything
into the local church life, order and practice which is not prescribed in
Scripture.
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
8/37
Three degrees of relevance for practices from narrative portions like Acts-
1. Prescriptive I Cor. 1:10 , 2 John 10-11.
2 a. Descriptive and not normative
Acts 4:32-35 or 2b. descriptive and possibly/likely normative-
Acts 20:28 with Acts 5 (negatively normative?)
Acts 17:10-12 Bereans (Luke's intent)
3. Representative patterns repeated consistently in Acts 14:23, Titus 1, Acts 20:28
and assumed in Epistles Phil 1:1-2.
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
9/37
Normative-Scriptural texts that are binding upon local churches are normative. Norma=rule
that must be followed.
-
Prescriptive- passages or text that tell us how things are to be in the local church.
-Proscribed-that which according to the Scriptures is forbidden in the local church.
-
Descriptive- Passages describing the NT church but which do not contain commands or
imperatives, but rather report the life and practice of a NT church or churches. (They may or
may not be normative.)
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
10/37
One pattern in Acts is that believers are gathered into
communities...Acts 2:38 gospel is communicated ,41 taught and baptized,
gathered into churches/kingdom communities 42-46
Was this a starter church????
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
11/37
Starter church-
a group of believers gathering regularly with the aim of becoming a true, regular church. A
starter church will not necessarily be ordered according to all the biblical guidelines. Over
time with patient teaching, training, prayer and guidance, a starter church may become a trueand regular church. In a pioneer CP setting, almost all true, regular churches will pass through a
'starter church' phase as it matures, learns and grows. Presumably it was starter churches in Crete
to which Titus was sent by Paul to put things in order.
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
12/37
Recruiting workers from the harvest is a pattern in Acts and the NT andso training and multiplication were integrated into the church-planting
approach! 2 Tim 2:2 confirms the pattern.
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
13/37
We also see interdependence of churches as a pattern in Acts and rest of
NT.
Acts 15, 11, I Cor 16:2, 2 Cor 8, Philippians and Romans, Col 4:16
letters from apostles were shared and read to one another.
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
14/37
Also read for what is implied or assumed or can necessarily be inferred about church life.
I Corinthians 5 assumes/implies some kind of identifiable church membership...we cannotknow our covenant duties to one another if we don't know who is in and who's out in the local
church. Gal, esp to those of household of faith.
Galatians 1:6-9 who has final authority or final responsibility in the local church...? local
church itself.
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
15/37
Lets look at some definitions and place them on theHow much does the Bible say about church?
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
16/37
Maximalist Definitions Minimalist Definitions
Aim for the guidelines...not settle for less than Sound Biblical
Contextual Churches.
Lets look at some definitions and place them on theHow much does the Bible say?
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
17/37
Disagreement is not necessarily opposition!
But let's be willing to learn and adjust according to
Scripture, letting it be our guide.
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
18/37
The church is the gospel made visible.
John 13:34-35.
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
19/37
I believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic church.
4 marks = unity, holiness, universal, Scriptural/Gospel.
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
20/37
Who said/wrote this?
In many ways a church is simply a group of peoplewho are living lives of love.
MED in GMV p. xvii
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
21/37
We believe that a visible Church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers,
associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel ;
observing the ordinances of Christ ; governed by his laws ,
and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by his Word ;
that its only scriptural officers are Bishops, or Pastors, and Deacons,
whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus.
New Hampshire Confession of Faith Of a Gospel Church
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
22/37
A Church is a group of believers in Christ who meet for
biblical worship, learning and mission.
DCPI
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
23/37
A Christian church is an assembly of believers in Christ,
organized into a body, according to the holy scriptures,
for the worship and service of God.
John L Dagg
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
24/37
A local church is a fellowship of believers in Jesus Christ
committed to gathering regularly for biblical purposes under a
recognized spiritual leadership.
Ott /Wilson/Warren Global CP
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
25/37
A local church is a manifestation in time and space of the ultimate, heavenly-eschatological
assembly of Gods redeemed humanity. Each local church represents what it means to be
Gods people by assembling together in one place for worship, encouragement, and
accountability; by being a community shaped by the Scriptures; by observing the symbol-laden
acts of baptism and the Lords supper; by maintaining its purity through church discipline; and
by seeking to make disciples of all nations. All of this is to be done under the leadership of
elders, the service of deacons, and the rule of the congregation.
Grant Gaines
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
26/37
The Belgic Confession chapter 29 on the marks of the church:
The true church can be recognized if it has the following marks: The church engages in
the pure preaching of the gospel; it makes use of the pure administration of thesacraments as Christ instituted them; it practices church discipline for correcting faults.
In short, it governs itself according to the pure Word of God, rejecting all things contrary
to it and holding Jesus Christ as the only Head. By these marks one can be assured of
recognizing the true churchand no one ought to be separated from it.
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
27/37
The church is the fellowship/partnership/koinonia of
people who have accepted Gods rule and reign over them
and entered into that Kingdom Reign of God.
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
28/37
Churches that proclaim the true gospel are true churches; those that do not are
not, but churches that preach the true gospel but order themselves differently
are irregular churches, but true churches nonetheless.
(this matters because not our job to say you are or are not a church if the gospel
is being taught and proclaimed. )
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
29/37
The Lord Jesus is the Head of the Church, which is composed of all his true
disciples, and in Him is invested supremely all power for its government. According
to his commandment, Christians are to associate themselves into particular societies
or churches; and to each of these churches he hath given needful authority for
administering that order, discipline and worship which he hath appointed. The
regular officers of a Church are Bishops or Elders, and Deacons.
JPBAbstract of Principles
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
30/37
New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an autonomous local congregation
of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the
gospel; observing the two ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, exercising the
gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word, and seeking to extend the
gospel to the ends of the earth. Each congregation operates under the Lordship ofChrist through democratic processes. In such a congregation each member is
responsible and accountable to Christ as Lord. Its scriptural officers are pastors and
deacons. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office
of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.
The definition of a local church given in the 2000 edition of theBaptist Faith and Message.
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
31/37
Guidelines on local Church
1. A church is intentional about being a church. Members think of
themselves as a church. They are committed to one another and to God
(associated by covenant) in pursuing all that Scripture requires of a
church.
2. A church has an identifiable membership of baptized believers in JesusChrist.
3. A church practices the baptism of believers only by immersing them in
water.
4. A church observes the Lords Supper on a regular basis.
5. Under the authority of the local church and its leadership, members may
be assigned to carry out the ordinances.
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
32/37
Guidelines on local Church
1. A church submits to the inerrant word of God as the ultimate authority for all that it
believes and does.
2. A church meets regularly for worship, prayer, the study of Gods word, and fellowship.
Members of the church minister to one anothers needs, hold each other accountable, and
exercise church discipline as needed. Members encourage one another and build eachother up in holiness, maturity in Christ, and love.
3. A church embraces its responsibility to fulfill the Great Commission, both locally and
globally, from the beginning of its existence as a church.
4. A church is autonomous and self-governing under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the
authority of His Word.
5. A church has identifiable leaders, who are scrutinized and set apart according to the
qualifications set forth in Scripture. A church recognizes two Biblical offices of church
leadership: pastors/elders/overseers and deacons. While both men and women are gifted
for service in the church, the office of pastor/elder/overseer is limited to men as qualified
by Scripture.
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
33/37
Regular local church- a church whose life, practice and order seems consistent with our guidelines.
Irregular local church- a church whose life, practice and order is not consistent with our guidelineseither because it is immature, ignorant, or intentionally inconsistent because of intentional
ecclesiological differences. (paedobaptism, non-congregational, single elder, not covenanted together,
no membership, doesn't practice church discipline, hasn't celebrated Lord's Supper in years, doesn't
teach or practice one-anothers, no global mission, etc.)
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
34/37
Discussion: looking at definitions and guidelines
1. True and regular,local church (All the essentials PLUS many/all
important),
2. True and irregular local church (All the essentials!), true but unhealthy
church.
3. Not a true church (Missing one or more essentials!)
Often a starter church will be 2. true but irregular but aiming to be true and
regular. It is maturing.
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
35/37
Are we Cpers or CSErs- planters of local churchesor establishers of church services?
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
36/37
Starter church-
a group of believers gathering regularly with the aim of becoming a true, regular church. A
starter church will not necessarily be ordered according to all the biblical guidelines. Over
time with patient teaching, training, prayer and guidance, a starter church may become a trueand regular church. In a pioneer CP setting, almost all true, regular churches will pass through a
'starter church' phase as it matures, learns and grows. Presumably it was starter churches in Crete
to which Titus was sent by Paul to put things in order.
-
7/28/2019 A REC Slides for Eccl Forum Final
37/37
Being and Making Disciples in the Context of Healthy Reproducing Churches
What is the next step for you, your team?
+ Evaluate or change your own approach to churching,
+ help your family or your team understand this better,
+ more to learn about churching with goal of teaching/training others,+ implement this in your local churching, add or subtract appropriately,
+ translate basic concepts and practice using them in your language,
+ explore the Scriptures with local friends looking at what they say about
church, teach them basic interpretive principles....
+