Church Governement
God and Government • Sermon • Submitted
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Biblical Model of Government
Biblical Model of Government
Sovereignty
(Legitimacy to Rule)
Representation
(Accountability to the rule of another)
Law
(A moral code by which to rule)
Jurisdiction
(Authority to enforce sanctions in the name of the ruler)
Continuity
(Stability and longevity of government)
Church Sovereignty
Church Sovereignty
a. Jesus Christ is the sovereign ruler of the church (Matt 16:18)
b. Elders are given delegated authority to rule over Churches (Heb 13:17)
c. The rule of the elders should look more like servanthood rather than the exercise of sheer authority. (Matt 20:25-28)
And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Church Representation
Church Representation
a. Protestant Tradition generally maintains that there 2 broadly defined governmental roles within each individual Church. Elders (Teaching/Ruling) & Deacons (Ministry of Mercy). (Acts 6:1-4, Acts 14:23, 1 Pet 5:1, 1 Tim 3:1-13, Tit 1:5-9)
Elder, Overseer, Presbyter, Bishop
b. Paul tells us that women are not to rule over men in the Church, however, he often commends the service of women in the diaconal or mercy ministires. (1 Tim 2:12-15, Rom 16:1-2)
b. Members of a church are called to submit to the rule of the elders. (Heb 13:17)
Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.
Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;
but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
Church Law
Church Law
a. Keep the Church pure from sinful behavior (1 Cor 5:1-2)
b. Keep the Church pure from doctrinal error (1 Tim 4:6)
c. Help offenders realize their need of repentance (Matt 18:15)
d. Help resolve disputes between members of the church (1 Cor 6:1-6)
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife!
And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you.
If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.
“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.
Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?
Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?
If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge?
I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren?
But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!
Church Jurisdiction
Church Jurisdiction
a. The Goal of Church Discipline must always be to restore the guilty party if and when he truly repents (Similar to Family Government) (Matt 18:15-20)
b. If repentance is not forthcoming then the offender must be removed from the Church’s midst (1 Cor 5:1-5)
c. Even with excommunication the ultimate goal is restoration (1 Cor 6:9-11, 2 Cor 2:5-8)
“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.
But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’
And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.
“Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.
For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife!
And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you.
For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed.
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,
nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you.
For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough,
so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him.
Church Continuity
Church Continuity
Administration of the Sacraments
Think Carpenter Series 301
Evangelism
The Church should be a voluntary welfare operation to care for the needs of its members. (Acts 2:43-47)
Mercy Ministry