The Doctrine of the Church

THE DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH Johnathan Bass

Acts 20:28 10/12/21

INTRODUCTION

Warren Wiersbe wrote concerning Acts 20:28: “Never underestimate the great importance of the church. The church is important to God the Father because His name is on it—“the church of God.” It is important to the Son because He shed His blood for it; and it is important to the Holy Spirit because He is calling and equipping people to minister to the church.” The Book of Acts has a great purpose to show us how God works in this world through His church. Believers cannot exist in this world in spiritual health without the strength, ministry, support, and help of a local church family.

1-THE MEANING OF THE CHURCH

The word “church”; the Greek word, ekklesia in the New Testament, means, “called out ones.” It is used to describe two different things concerning the “called out ones.”

A-The Body of Christ

Ephesians 1:22 “22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,”

The Church, the Body of Christ is made up of Jews and Gentiles who have placed their faith in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. These are all the saved people.

No matter the local assembly, we all make up the Church, the Body of Christ.

Matthew 16:18 “18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

The Holy Spirit baptizes into the “body of Christ.”

1 Corinthians 12:12-14 “12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many.”

B-The Local Church

A group of believers that meet regularly and are organized Biblically to do the will of God.

Romans 16:1-3 “1 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: 2 That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also. 3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:”

Romans 16:5 “5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.”

Romans 16:14-16 “14 Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them. 15 Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them. 16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.”

The local church is where the body of believers can apply the spiritual gifts talked about in 1 Corinthians 12; encouraging, teaching, and building one another up in the knowledge and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:12-13 “12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”

2-THE MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH

Acts 2:42, “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

A-For the Teaching Bible Doctrine

Ephesians 4:14 “14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;”

The church is to teach biblical doctrine so we can be grounded in faith.

B-For the Fellowship of the believer

Hebrews 10:25 “25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

The assembling of ourselves (church) is where we encourage and uplift one another in fellowship.

C-For the breaking of bread

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 “23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.”

The church is to be a place where believers can observe the Lord’s Supper, remembering Christ’s death and shed blood on our behalf.

D-For advancing the cause of Christ

Matthew 28:18-20 “18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Jesus, Who has all authority, directs the disciples to make disciples of all nations, instructs them to teach all that he has commanded them, and charges them to do so “alway...unto the end of the world.”

3-THE MAKE-UP (STRUCTURE) OF THE CHURCH

A-Membership

Acts 2:47 “47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

When someone becomes a Christian, they are baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ. This is the universal church, however, the person should go and unite with the family, which would be done through a local church.

Only regenerated people, believers, should be members of the local church.

B-Leadership

Pastors - An overseer; the pastor is charged with leadership. The Pastor oversees the overall ministry of the church, giving direction as he seeks direction from God’s Word.

Acts 20:28 “28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”

Jeremiah 3:15 “15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.”

Deacons - The Greek word translated deacon was used to describe a household servant. The role of deacons is to take care of physical ministry. They support the ministry of the Pastor.

Acts 6:1-6 “1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. 3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: 6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.”

CONCLUSION

When a person is saved, the Holy Spirit joins us spiritually to Christ. In doing this, He joins us with other believers too. We need the church; the church is where we grow as believers, where we encourage one another, where we join together for the cause of Christ. The doctrine of the church is extremely important. When people define “church” anymore, there’s no telling what they will come up with as the definition. We need to understand the Biblical definition of the church along with how the church operates according to Scripture.