Practical Ecclesiology (2)

Intro to Practical Ecclesiology Class 2

Satan’s attack throughout history

Paul warns its readers to be aware of the “ fiery darts of the wicked one, and the wiles of the devil .

Eph 6:11 “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

Eph 6:16 “above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.”

this idea of the “full armor” may stem from Paul being tied to a Roman soldier while in prison awaiting trail . ( Acts 28:16,20 )

Wiles - methodia , same word for method, schemings , technique

without the armor of God believers will fall victim of schemes which satan has been using for thousands of years.

Paul is urging believers to stand. Believers are not made to advance against the devil or try to devise a plot to beat the devil . but to put on the the armor of God .

I was talking to one gentlemen who would always try to do things to stop sinning . He was put on this blocker on his phone there was a work around .

Satan has always attacked the work and God’s workers throughout the centuries.

Satan battle with Jesus started at the garden of Eden and continued throughout the course of the Bible Gen 3:15 .

Continued with the advent of Christ, his death , burial, resurrection and ascension . and the intensity of the struggle increased 1,000 fold .

During the first few centuries of church history the devil attacked the doctrine of the Deity of Christ.

Then after satans defeat at the first council of Nicaea 325 AD, satan attacked justification by faith .

But he didn’t take into account the actions of Martin Luther and the reformation .

Then satan lashed out on the inspiration of scriptures , this reached a high point during the final years of the nineteenth century and early years of the 20th century . The God raised up great Christian institutions, like Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and other Bible centers .

Satan goes for one more final blow which is the church . Satan boldly and brazenly declared all out war on the Bride of Christ. The most disturbing part about all of this is that the devil has been successful in deceiving a number of both professing and possessing Christians into joining his ranks .

If I were the Devil i would viciously attack those four divine institutions so graciously given by God to man, namely, the institutions of marriage , human government , the nation Israel , and the church.

Concerning the church , I would continue to attack it from the outside ( just to keep in practice ), but would concentrate the bulk of my evil efforts from within. “ The church is dead” would become my creed and cry. If I were the devil I would do my upmost to convince professing christians that the local church is finished! Not weak, not ineffective , but dead and decaying ! I would encourage them to dig a hole, carve an epitaph, and bury it as quietly and quickly as possible . If I were the devil! ( Baptist Bulletin 1971)

This is exactly whats happening in the church today .

Theres a movement thats against the organized church/ local church .

You ever hear a person say they don’t like organized religion ?

They believe everyones thoughts are the same and valuable , theres no delegated authority, no structure , everybody shares there thoughts about God . No Pastor teacher

No one wants to be accountable, and no one wants to be vulnerable . Independence isn’t Liberty . Everyone wants to be independent .

Theres a reason why Satan wants to come up against the local church . So there begs the question what is the local church ?

What is the local church?

Paul’s idea of the local church was to organize the many converts into self governing and self propagating groups.

Theres no hierarchy that doesn’t have boots on the ground . You heard of those satellite churches ?

Passages on the local church .

Turn to Acts 11:19-26 “Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were f…”

Who sent our Barnabas ? Jerusalem . another self existing self governing church. A local church, a local church sent out Barnasbas

The mother church Jerusalem sent out Barnabas to go to Antioch , because the number of Christian converts.

Barnabas was a wise choice to go to Antioch

Why was Barnabas a wise choice to go to Antioch?

He was from cyprus , so he was familiar with the people and the place in Antioch . Mind you Antioch was 300 miles from Jerusalem

He was discerning, he was able to see the grace of God and how God was moving in Antioch Acts 11:23

He was generous and therefore thoughtful to others Acts 4:37

He was a gracious gentleman as attested by his nickname ( Son of encouragement ) Acts 4:36

Also Luke’s testimony about him . Acts 11:24 “For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.”

Without the local organized church this expansion would have never happened . And if the expansion would have happened the grow and development wouldn’t have happened .

The Local church defined

It is an assembly of professing believers in Christ who have been baptized and who are organized to carry out God’s will.

Notice the important facets of this definition.

Those who do not make a profession of faith in Christ are excluded from being a church. The profession may not be genuine but it must be made. Why is that important for a profession ?

Without debating the mode of baptism it is clear the NT church knows nothing of unbaptized church member's.

Organization , this word gets a bad rep. People who tell you they don’t like the organized religion. They are essentially saying they prefer disorganized religion. Or not church at all . Its not a church without structure . Acts 14:23 “So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.” Acts 6 - God added organization.

Ordination of Zimbabweans

The church exist for a person to Gods will. This includes a number of things :

Observing ordinances

evangelizing

building up believer

worship

giving

ministering to all age people groups etc.

Should the local church be subject to the authority of a larger governing body?

In other words should the local church have full autonomy ?

There are clear indications that each local church had its own autonomy .

The local church Had its own officers

- Phil 1:1 “Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:” )

- Rev. 1:20 “The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.”

Angels - just means messengers - I believe these 7 angels where Pastors and Jesus through John was addressing these churches and there Pastors in this passage.

2. The local church has its own membership and roll keeper . There isn’t a universal membership

1 Tim 5:9 “Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man,”

Taken into the number . They kept tally .

So they kept roll of the widows and who should get support and who shouldn't get support. ( Acts 6)

3. The local church has the authority to discipline its own members .

( 1 Cor. 5:13 “But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.””)

Even the apostle Paul did not assume to excommunicate a member , but called upon the local church to do so.

4. The local church ordained its own officers ( Acts 6:1-7)

the local church was responsible for picking out there own elected officials .

Acts 6:3 “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;”

As a branch Pastor I’m allowed to ordained anyone God lays on my heart without approval from Baltimore. Its wise I seek out counsel . Paul told timothy to lay hands on no man to quickly . Timothy has automony

5. The local church has the authority to settle its own internal difficulties. Acts 6:1-5

I remember we had a situation with a guy upstairs from our church in Edgewood . He didn’t want us there . He called Baltimore. But Baltimore allowed us to settle it within the Edgewood church . Actually if they would have gotten involved it would had made the situation worst .

6. The local church has the autonomy to extend fellowship to other churches .

- Gal 2:9 “and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.”

The right hand of fellowship : They made an agreement , they where unified in there decision. This is how local churches should be .

7. Local church have the freedom to cooperate with other churches . ( 2 Cor 8:8-19 )

Paul was encouraging the Corinthian church to give “in proportion to what they have” . .( 2 Cor 8:12 ) -

Titus would go between churches and send gifts or love offerings from Macedonia to Jerusalem . Local churches cooperating . And giving to one another .

7. The local church had the authority to guard and administer its own ordinances .

1 Cor 11:23 “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;”

Paul instituted the ordinance of communion to the local church.

8. The Local church sent its own missionary’s .

Acts 13:1-2 “Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.””

The Antioch church prayed and fasted and the Holy Spirit said separate Barnbas and Saul . And they both went to Cypress .

9. The local church bore the responsibility of the culture and tone of the there respective churches .

- Rev. 1-3 Jesus was addressing all 7 churches and corrected them corporately .

10. The local churches are responsible for training and being taught .

- Look at Stephen the first Marytr . Acts 7 , He had atleast 70 OT references in his discourse . He was taught in His local church .

Also the Bereans Acts 17:11 “These were more fair-minded ( noble ) than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”

Compare and contrast Universal and Local churches.

So I am going to give you words or phrases and you are going to tell me if it falls under the universal church or the local church .

Invisible

Answer - The universal church is invisible. But ultimately God knows those who are his . 2 Tim 2:19 “ “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

By contrast the local church is visible . You have a geographical local etc. etc.

Many Churches

Answer- The local church has many church they’re have multiple congregations world wide . Example , the church in Antioch , Jerusalem , Galations, Philippines.

The universal church is one - we are the body of Christ . Matt. 16:18 “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.” church is singular. One body but members in-particular .

An Organization

Answer -Local church . Theres Elders , Deacons , theres order . and structure , ordinances . 1 Cor 14:40 “Let all things be done decently and in order.” Speaking of order in the local church during meetings , and the issue with speaking in tongues.

contrast with a organism which is the universal church .

Saved and lost member's

Answer - Local church , in the local church you will find both . I would at-least hope so .

contrast the universal church strictly born again believers.

Living and dead member's

Answer - the universal church , it consist of those who went home to be with the Lord and those who are currently here on earth .

Contrast with the local church

If you have dead member's in your congregation you have some serious problems.

Whole Body of Christ

Answer- the universal church . Eph 1:22,23 “which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” You cant experience the fullness of Who Christ is apart from His body.

Contrast w/ the local church which is part of the body of Christ . Its very important that you fellowship with other denomations other backgrounds . Other churches it really gives you a deeper apprieation for the church.

Christ is the invisible Head on earth

Answer : The local church doesn’t translate in heaven. Only the universal church . There will be no need for ordinances , or Pastors , or deacons etc.

contrast : Christ will be the visible Head in heaven.

No Elders or Deacons

Answer - The universal church . These offices doesn’t constitute eligibility to be apart of the church at large.

Two ordinances

Answer - the local church Baptism , Communion .

To be apart of the universal church those two aren’t needed.

No denominations

answer : universal church

Destructible

answer - Local church is destructible . Scandals happen and the church falls apart . Members stop coming no more church