Prayer Request

Leaders

V     STRUCTURE OF THE CHURCH

    The structure of the church of Christ is unique in religious institutions. 

      The church has One Head—Jesus Christ himself. 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 

      Colossians 1:18: And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.”

       There is no earthly head, such as a Pope or Convention President 

      Jesus is also the High Priest of the New Covenant  Hebrews 8:1-13 

      He is the only mediator between God and man 1 Timothy 2:5: For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time. 

       The church of Christ is One Body 

      It is composed of all saved Christians

      1 Corinthians 12:13

      Ephesians 4:25

      Ephesians 5:30

      Colossians 1:24  

        The New Testament pattern shows churches or congregations being established in different cities as the gospel spread Acts 11:19-30. 

      Each of these congregations was autonomous self governing 

      Not even subject to the large Jerusalem congregation 

      The New Testament pattern shows leaders to oversee the flock the congregation being set up in every congregation 

         Instructions given to elders of the church of Ephesus Acts 20:28

         Titus left in Crete to ordain elders in every city Titus 1:5

         These men were called Elders, Shepherds, Overseers, Pastors

        There were never only one man always a plurality of elders or pastors

        These men are to be godly men with wisdom, proven records, and love

        Their qualifications are given in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9 

      This produces a highly horizontal organizational structure with Christ as the head of the church and each congregations elders responsible directly to him.  

      This structure is highly efficient with less over-all organizational risk; many American businesses have adapted more horizontal structures in recent years for the same reason 

      The congregation in Jerusalem needed to free the Apostles from administering to material needs and established deacons (servants) to handle specific work areas. 

      We know this was Holy Spirit inspired because the qualifications of these godly men are given in 1 Timothy 3:8-13.   

        Preachers 

      These men work with the congregation, preaching the gospel and helping strengthen the members. 

      They are typically called ministers if working with a single congregation. 

      They are typically called evangelists if working to establish new congregations and spreading the gospel. 

      These men are blessings from God; they dedicate their lives for their work and are invaluable to the congregation they work with.  

      Romans 10:13-15:  Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.  How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them.  And how can they preach unless they are sent.  As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news 

      2 Timothy 4:1-5  In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:  Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.  For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.  Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.  But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. 

        Teachers 

      Men who are able to teach classes on the Bible and the gospel doctrine 

      Their work is fundamental to a strong body 

      Hebrews 5:12-14  In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again.  You need milk, not solid food.  Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.  But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. 

        Members 

      All Christians are priests        1 Peter 2:9  But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 

      Each member has responsibilities to God and responsibilities of conduct, not only in the assembly but also in their daily lives as Christians. 

      Throughout history men and women have had roles in life

         From the creation, we see that God designed men to be fathers and women to be mothers—wonderfully different roles

        From 1 Timothy 5, the church is a family and all members are to treat

        Older men as fathers and younger men as brothers

        Older women as mothers and younger women as sisters

         From Colossians 4:1-6, In the role of employer, we are to treat

       All employees (men or women) with respect and honor

       Paying them a fair wage for their work

       Not belittling them or being harsh to them

       ..so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders… 1 Thessalonians 4:12.

         From  1 Timothy 6:1-2 and Colossians 3:22-25, in the role of employee or slave, we are to

       Give honor to your employers (masters)

       Get to work on time and don’t leave early

       Work do your job and don’t make fun of the boss

       Don’t steal from her or expose her business secrets

       It’s an attitude Ecclesiastes 9:10

        In the role of parents and children, we see

        That children are to be subject to parents Ephesians 6:1-3, Colossians 3:20

        That parents especially fathers are to love, train and instruct children in the Lord   Ephesians 6:4, Colossians 3:21

        We see in our own society that when these God ordained roles are abandoned, calamity follows 2 Timothy 3:1-5

         In salvation, the roles of men and women are the same

       That is, each receives salvation the same way

        Galatians 3:28

        In the exercise of authority, the roles of men and women are different

       Leadership and authority in the New Testament requires a specific attitude from both men and women.

       ..whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave..  Matthew 20:26-27

       The proper role is to serve not be served Matthew 20:28

       The proper role is to serve in love not lord it over 1 Peter 5:3

       Worshipping is about focusing on God, not about self-gratification, displaying our own natural abilities, or working our special agenda Matthew 23:11-12

        The role of men

       Spiritual leadership

        Spiritual leaders of the family

        This means a man is responsible for  leading the spiritual life of himself, his wife, and his children

       For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church.. Ephesians 5:23

        Being the head of the wife does not mean lording it over, making all the decisions, barking out orders, and critically inspecting.

        Ephesians 5:25 tells us “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church..”  Husbands remember that Christ died for the church. 

        The husband must create a loving, godly environment where a wife can feel and be submissive 1 Peter 3:7

        The husband and father must be the example worthy of respect.

         Spiritual leaders of the church

       This means you are responsible for the spiritual life of the congregation

        Men provide leadership in the general assembly by leading prayer, leading singing, serving on the Lord’s Table, preaching, reading scriptures, and making announcements

       Men provide leadership in general Bible study by teaching and participating

        Men provide leadership examples by faithful attendance and seeing that their family is faithful in attendance

        Men must do these acts of leadership in a loving, godly manner so all members can feel the love of God and be submissive to Him

       A model worthy of respect as a father and brother in Christ

         Respect is earned Titus 2:2

        The role of women:  submissive example to the world and the church

      Submissive example for the family

         Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.  Ephesians 5:22

        Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.  Ephesians 5:24

         This does not mean wives are to be mindless slaves without initiative, spontaneity, self-will or fulfillment.

      Eve was created in the image of God just like Adam Genesis 1:26-27

        Eve was created as a “helper” not as property Genesis 2:18 and Genesis 2:20-24

         Proverbs 31:10-31 describes a wife that puts the modern career woman to shame.  The description is from a mother advising her son, the king, about women, specifically about a Wife of Noble Character:

       It is a story of a woman in love with her husband.  Her devotion to him results in his confidence in her beginning of the story, his respect by the community middle, and his jointing their children in praising her at the end of the story. 

       She is a shrewd shopper, clothing and feeding her family in the best

       She takes care of her employees in a caring manner

       She helps the poor and needy

       She is a commodities trade making profit on wise investments

       She is a real estate developer making long term investments that adds to the wealth of the family

       She is hard working, tends to every detail, and is not lazy

       She is a model of wisdom and dignity, and teaches her family continually

       The source of her energy and strength is in respect for the Lord

      She is a trophy wife but her beauty is a beauty of character, an internal beauty that only gets better with age

       She is respected by the whole community

       She is worth more than fine rubies

        Nor does it mean that women should allow themselves to be abused—physically, emotionally, or spiritually.  Enabling wrong actions is not the will of God.

        This means that even in the most “oneness” of a loving marriage there will be honest and sincere disagreement on what course the family should take.  A time will come when a family decision has to be made.  God made the husband the head of the family, and it is his decision to make. Ephesians 5:23.  As a good follower, the role of the wife is to support that discussion.  When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, Eve sinned first, but God went to Adam first because he was the head of the family and responsible.  Genesis 3:9

         Submissive example for the church

     For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.  As in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the churches.  They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says.  If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.  1 Corinthians 14:33-35

        A woman should learn in quietness and full submission.  I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. 1 Timothy 2:12

        This does not mean that women are not to be active in church work or Christianity

       Women are commanded to do certain types of  teaching

        Other women Titus 2:3-5

         Children 2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14-15

         Their husbands 1 Peter3:1-6

         Even men privately Acts 18:24-26 wise and gentle correction in private built a young preacher to great works instead of destroying his confidence in public correction

       Women can be a servant of the church as Phoebe Romans 16:1

       Women can be noted for their good deeds and risking their lives for the cause of Christ as Priscilla and her husband Aquila Romans 16:3-4

       The list is long of the good and wonderful works a woman can do for Christ including

        Showing his nature through humility Matthew 11:29; James 4:6; James 4:10

        Demonstrating divine love 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; 1 Peter 4:8

        This means women should not serve as elders, deacons, preachers, song leaders, and teachers of mixed adult classes, nor should they lead prayer when capable men are present or lead the Lord’s Table services.  

        Apostles 

      The work of Apostles was completed in the first century.  

      1 Corinthians 13:8-10 Love never fails.  But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 

      The writings of the Apostles lead to the assembly of the New Testament (the perfect).  Prophesying, speaking in different languages, healing, and special knowledge to convince the unbeliever was replaced with a better system, the Bible.  The Bible tells God’s story the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow to those who choose to listen.