We Believe

The purpose of 1 & 2 PETER are to help Christians understand their suffering in

light of Christ’s suffering.

Crucifixion of Peter, Michelangelo, Sistine Chapel

The purpose of 1, 2, & 3 JOHN is to urge love for God and

others in light of eternal life.

The purpose of JUDE is to warn about false teachers.

An epistle being read by early Christians

The purpose of REVELATION is to prepare Christians for the end times by focusing on the worthiness of Christ and

the sovereignty of God.

The Adoration of the Lamb by Jan Van Eyck

Introductory ThoughtsWhat is a

Denomination?Is it Possible To Be Truly Non-Denominational?

What Is the Value or Importance of Denominations?

Is there a Biblical Model for Denominations?

1. What Are The

Denominations?

The main denominations within Christianity are:

• Roman Catholic• Anglican • Protestantism• Eastern Orthodoxy

Some Distinguishing Differences (as seen by the response to the

building on fire)• Methodists gather in the corner

& pray• Quakers quietly praise God for

blessings that fire brings• Lutherans posted a notice on

the door declaring fire was evil• Roman Catholics passed the

plate to cover the damages• Jews posted symbols on the

doors hoping the fire would pass

Some Distinguishing Differences (as seen by the response to the

building on fire)• Congregationalists shouted

“every man for himself!”• Baptists cry, “where’s the water”• Fundamentalists proclaimed

“It’s God’s vengeance!”• Episcopalians formed a

procession & marched out• Christian Scientists concluded

that the fire would burn itself out

Some Distinguishing Differences (as seen by the response to the

building on fire)• Presbyterians appointed a

chairperson, who was to appoint a committee to look into the matter and submit a written report

•Some atheists in attendance didn’t believe there was fire

•The secretary grabbed the fire extinguisher and put the fire out

•AND… the Mormons, having arrived 15 minutes late, missed the fire completely!

2. Why So Many

Denominations?

Some Distinguishing Differences (for real)

• Sacred Texts• Purgatory• Free Will• Works• Perseverance Once Saved/once saved-

always• Practices (marriage of clergy,

ordination of women, baptism, tongues, etc.)

• Ethics (marriage, divorce, abortion, suicide, war, contraception, etc.)

Some Real Differences…Many:• Baptists emphasize baptism• Presbyterians baptize children & have a

particular form of government• Methodists believe you can lose your

salvation• Brethren do not believe in having church

pastor• Lutherans & Episcopalians believe do not

believe the Bible is reliable• Quakers believe in non-violence• Church of Christ do not believe in using

musical instruments• Mennonites believe women’s heads

should be covered• Catholics believe you can pray to saints…

What are the distinguishing characteristics

of SPC?

SPC Vision/Priorities 

• Worship Focused – We come together for corporate times of worship that are rich times of celebration because our individual lives are characterized by a hunger and thirst to know God. As a result, our worship is God-centered and the focus is on Him rather than labeled as a particular style or reduced to entertainment of the audience.

• Community Building – We come together with an intentional commitment to biblical relationships and a desire to preserve the unity of the body. We will be “known by our love” and practice habits of submission, encouragement, and exhortation.

• Discipleship Developing – We demonstrate our commitment to personal growth and maturity in our Christian walk. We are “people of the Book” able to feed ourselves from the Word, practice the spiritual disciplines, and characterized by faith and obedience.

• Ministry Equipping – We actively demonstrate our faith through service as an overflow of our relationship with God. Our gifts are identified, developed, and utilized effectively through programs flowing out of our priorities.

• Outreach Oriented – We maintain an outward focus toward our community and our world (both as the church gathered and the church dispersed) so that God’s kingdom is enlarged as people come to know Him.

*** Historically we have seen ourselves as a “building-sending” church

GET A GLIMPSE

GATHER WITH PURPOSE

GROW “THE FAMILY”

GIVE IT AWAYGIVE IT AWAY

SOUTH PARK CHURCH EXISTS TO DRAW PEOPLE INTO A

GROWING RELATIONSHIP WITH

JESUS

GOAL/”WIN”: CHANGED LIVES… EVERYONE TAKING THE NEXT STEP

Why So Many Denominations?1.Sin & Conflict (hurts- not

feeling heard or understood)

2.Doctrine Bound Thinking3.Political Power4.Governmental Structures

3. What Is The Church?

What Is The Church?The Christian church can be seen in two

ways:  the visible and the invisible.  The visible church is comprised of all who claim the name of Christian and who gather together for worship.  The visible church contains both believers and non-believers; that is, there are people in the visible church who are not really saved. 

     The members of the invisible Church are the actual body of believers.  They are the ones who are truly regenerate and have trusted, by faith, in the true Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  The true Christian is indwelt by the Lord Jesus (John 14:23) through the Holy Spirit.  Therefore, the Christian church is figuratively said to be the body of Christ.

Catholic Lutheran Anglican/Episcopalian

Methodist/ Wesleyan

Baptist

"The sole Church of Christ which in the Creed we profess to be one, holy, catholic, and apostolic, subsists in the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the bishops in communion with him." (Catech 870)

  Church consists of baptized people who have received Christ as the Son of God and Savior of the world. (ELCA)

Church made of "all those who have despaired of their own righteousness before God and believe that God forgives their sins for Christ's sake." (LCMS)

  "The visible Church of Christ is a congregation of faithful men, in which the pure Word of God is preached, and the Sacraments be duly ministered according to Christ's ordinance, in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same." (Article 19)

"The visible church of Christ is a congregation of faithful men in which the pure Word of God is preached, and the Sacraments duly administered." (UMC)

"The church includes both those believers who have gone to be with the Lord and those who remain on the earth." (WC 240)

"A New Testament church is an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers." (SBC)

"The Church is a gathered fellowship of regenerated believers, a sign of the coming universal reign of God." (ABC)

What Is The Church?

4. Why Go To Church?

Why Go To Church?1.USE OF SPIRITUAL

GIFTS 2.MUTUAL MINISTRY 3.ACCOUNTABILITY 4.FELLOWSHIP/SUPPORT5.WORSHIP• Others?

5. Why Do (Some)

Churches Have

Trouble?

Why do so many churches

have troubles?1.Sin- humans “living” with each other

2.Doctrinal bound thinking… stuck in “right” thinking

3.Difficulty with change4.Governmental Structures

Notable quotes"It appears likely that there was no

normative pattern of church government in the apostolic age, and that the organizational structure of the church is no essential element in the theology of the church." George Eldon Ladd

"It is not as much as hinted in the New Testament that the church would ever need — or indeed should ever want or tolerate — any other local leadership than that of the eldership group." J. Alec Motyer

Governmental Structures

1. Episcopal (The polity of the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, and (some) Lutheran Churches)

A CENTRALIZED form of church government is where a central council has much authority over the running and ordinances of the local congregation. This is typical of denominational mainline churches where the pastor is appointed and regulated by the directions and rules of the central council. This kind is usually one with a long history and has established branches.

2. Presbyterian… the local church is governed by a board of elders which has final authority over every aspect of the church, including the appointment and work of the pastor (Common in Presbyterian and Reformed churches)

3. Congregational• Single elder/pastor led… one is in

authority, with the board or elders or deacons in the advisory and co-laboring capacity (Common in some Baptist and Congregational churches)

• Democratic congregational (Common in Baptist, Congregational and Lutheran churches)

• Plural elder-led… the majority rules, the democracy style of government where the people vote to elect their pastor and the church board to administer the affairs of the church. It is usually an independent church (Common in Evangelical Free churches and some Baptist churches)

Potential Problems With Each Form of Church Government

•Episcopal/Centralized?•Presbyterian?•Congregational?

–Pastor led?–Democratic?–Plural/Elder led?

What Type of Government Does SPC Have?

Congregational …where the majority rules, the democracy style of government where the people vote to elect their pastor and the church board to administer the affairs of the church.

• Democratic congregational?Common in Baptist, Congregational and

Lutheran churches.

• Plural elder-led?Common in Evangelical Free churches and

some Baptist churches.