God’s Design For The Local Church God Is The Creator And Designer Of The Local Church. So we should follow HIS plan. We will call this the “mission of the church”.

Introduction God is the Master designer. We need only look at the physical universe to realize this. Psalm 19:1 tells us that, ``The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork.'' The intricate and marvelous design of the creation shows the wisdom of God. ``O LORD, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all...'' (Psalm 104:24).

God’s Design For The Local Church Of course, God's wisdom can be seen in other things He has designed -- like the church. Ephesians 3:10 teaches that the ``manifold wisdom of God'' is made known through the church.” His wisdom is seen in the way the church is designed to work just as it is seen in the way the physical creation is designed to work. Men cannot improve upon God's designs. At our best, we should learn to read the blueprints and follow them.

God’s Design For The Local Church Unfortunately, many fail to recognize this when it comes to the local church. They view the local church as some sort of free- form association of Christians, whose own members are at liberty to determine its form and function -- how it will work and what it will do. The New Testament clearly reveals that local churches are all to follow a single God-given pattern. Paul's first letter to the church at Corinth is an obvious effort to bring that church into compliance with the blueprint God has for every church.

God’s Design For The Local Church Paul told the Corinthian church that he sent Timothy to them to ``remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church'' (1 Corinthians 4:17). Notice that the ``ways'' Timothy would remind the Corinthians of were the same things Paul taught everywhere in every church. Later in this letter, as Paul sets down several rules governing conduct in worship assemblies, he explains that ``God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints'' (1 Corinthians 14:33). The church at Corinth was expected to conform itself to the same standards as every other church.

God’s Design For The Local Church There is plainly a single pattern every church must follow. Call such a view ``narrow'' or ``monolithic'' if you will, but it is what the Scriptures teach. The focus of this lesson is the work God has given local churches to do. What is it that every local church is to do? For what purposes has God designed the local church? What does HE want it to accomplish?

God’s Design For The Local Church Only when we have the correct answers to these questions will we have God's wisdom at work in the local church. Only then will we have a ready answer to questions like: ``Should the church do this?'' or ``Should the church do that?'‘ or “What can the church do locally?” The answer will be, that the church should do its God- given work -- nothing less, nothing more – That work is given to us as instructions and commands in His holy word—the Bible.

God’s Design For The Local Church If we just took the Scriptures and tried to determine what the purpose and mission of the church is, what conclusion would we reach? Notice what the church did or was to do in the following passages: The church supported the truth. 1 Timothy 3:15 speaks of "the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."

God’s Design For The Local Church The church spread the gospel. To the church at Thessalonica Paul wrote, "For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything" (1 Thessalonians 1:8).

God’s Design For The Local Church The church supported preachers to preach the gospel. The apostle Paul commended the Philippian church in Philippians 4:15-16: "Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities." Elsewhere he said that he took "wages" from churches to minister the gospel (2 Corinthians 11:8).

God’s Design For The Local Church The church edified itself (built itself up) through worship and teaching. Ephesians 4:15-16 informs us that when members speak the "truth in love" and do their part in the work, it "causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love." When it comes to the worship assembly, Paul commands in 1 Corinthians 14:26 "Let all things be done for edification." Notice that he didn't mention anything being done for entertainment!

God’s Design For The Local Church The church helped truly needy saints. Clearly the New Testament church was not the worldwide relief organization that modern men have made their churches out to be. The church helped some of its own needy (cf. Romans 15:26), but it was not charged with the mission of helping even all of them. In 1 Timothy 5:16, the Scripture says, "If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows."

God’s Design For The Local Church Can we not see that the church has a mission that is spiritual? Her purpose has been determined by the One who built her and gave His life for her! Yes, Jesus is the head of the church. In Ephesians 1:22-23, God gave Jesus to be “head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all”.

God’s Design For The Local Church The design for the local church comes from God. It is revealed in the word of truth. Here is the pattern for every church! It is simple to understand. There are three major areas which God designed and purposed the local church to do. Each of these has guidelines to follow.

Evangelism Preach the gospel. (Mark 15:16) Preach the word (2 Timothy 4:1-2) Preach Jesus (Acts 8:35) Preach Jesus IS THE SON OF GOD (Acts 9:20) Here is a mission we must not lose sight of! This is what we are limited to preach on. Yet some preach things that have nothing to do with spiritual matters or church matters.

Edification Ephesians 4:16 reads: “from whom the whole body (the local church) being fitted and held together by that which every joint (individual members) supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love”. Ephesians 4:11-12 explains why the Holy Spirit appointed certain positions in the first century. v12 “for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ”.

Benevolence The limitation on the church is to provide ONLY for members of the church. This only if no one else is available to assist them. Individuals have the freedom to assist those who are not members, and they also have a responsibility if they have the ability. All the examples from the Bible indicate that only saints received benevolence from the churches.

Conclusion From the look of things, there is a lot of confusion about what churches should do with their talent and ability. Many focus upon physical things, but the Bible focuses upon spiritual things. This is where need to evaluate ourselves to see if we are doing these things God’s way. Are you doing your part?