What KIND of a church issues this call?

Since we are often unable to evaluate ourselves objectively, God places brothers and sisters from our local church in our lives to play this role.

We have seen that it is the responsibility of the local church to test, train, affirm, and install those pursuing gospel ministry.

MAIN IDEA...

We are seeking to answer this question? What kind of a local church gives this affirmation to called men?

DIGGING IN...

There is no perfect church, but in a local church striving to function the way God desires, fertile ground exists for the seeds of faithfulness and health to take root and grow.

This morning we’ll consider four areas of faithfulness, which are essential, for a local church to grow in if she desires to be effective in giving an external call:

Centrality of Scripture

Faithful Shepherding

Regenerate Church Membership

Church Discipline

A Local Church Whose Central Focus & Practice Are Determined By Scripture.

In a time when entertainment and pragmatism drive much of the evangelical church, only a local church whose unshakable foundation for its faith and practice is God’s Word will be equipped to test, train, affirm, and install.

only a local church whose unshakable foundation for its faith and practice is

God’s Word will be equipped to test, train, affirm, and install.

{FIRST}The first area to evaluate and identify is how we preach and teach God’s Word.

1. Look up & read at your tables ; ; ; .

How do these verse come to bear on our church practice of preaching and teaching?

What is

Expositional preaching is the most effective way to centralize God’s Word in a sermon and service. Expositional preaching is that preaching which takes for the point of a sermon the point of a particular passage of Scripture ().

Expositional preaching is that preaching which takes for the point of a sermon the point of a particular passage of Scripture (Neh. 8:1-8).

{SECOND} The second area in which to recognize this commitment is in the structure of the church. Scripture gives a template that is undeniably clear. The New Testament speaks of:

o Pastors/elders () who are entrusted with preaching and teaching God’s Word and shepherding God’s people ().

What must the elders in the church be able to do? () ________________

What three words define pastoral ministry from ?

a. ________________________

b. ________________________

c. ________________________

o Deacons () serve in particular and practical ministries of the church.

o Deacons () serve in particular and practical ministries of the church ().

What is spoken about deacons who serve well? () ______________________

o The congregation also plays a role within the biblical structure of the church, as seen most clearly in passages dealing with church discipline (; ).

o The congregation also plays a role within the biblical structure of the church, as seen most clearly in passages dealing with church discipline (; ).

What actions is the congregation to take towards unrepentant members of the church?

() __________________________

() ______________________________________________________________________________

{THIRD} The third area that reveals this commitment to Scripture is the kind of ministry in which the local church engages. The question does not pertain to whether a church is doing discipleship, evangelism, mercy ministry, visiting the sick, or caring for widows, but rather WHY it is doing so. The focus of the answer will be a strong indicator of how dependent the church is upon God’s Word.

What does Peter say about those who speak God’s Word in the church? (1 Pet. 4:11)

A Local Church With Pastors That Shepherd & Care For God’s People

A Local Church With A “Regenerate” Church Membership

A Local Church That Practices Church Discipline