CARIBBEAN YOUNG BELIEVERS CONFERENCE 2016 THE TRUTH OF THE ASSEMBLY

Introduction 2Pet 1:13 [NASB] I consider it right, as long as I am in this [earthly] dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder 2Pet 3:1 [NASB] This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder

What is the assembly? The Body of Christ Eph 1:15-23 The House of God Eph 2:11-22 (1 Timothy 3:15) The Bride of Christ Eph 5 : (Rev 21:2)

CHURCH BEGAN ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST Had to have a resurrected Man in heaven to be the HEAD of His Church (Eph.1:22-23 Col 1:18). Had to have the Holy Spirit on earth to indwell and baptize all believers into one body (Jn. 14:17; 1 Cor. 3:16; 12:13). While on earth the Lord had not as yet built His Church (Mt. 16:18). Beginning with Acts 2, something unique happened. The individual disciples were now “added together’ (Acts 2:47) and were ‘one’ (Acts 4:32). Church was a hidden “mystery” in Old Testament, now revealed (Rom. 16:25-26, Eph. 3:3-10).

WHAT’S IN A NAME (1) To most people the word “church” means the Baptists or Lutherans or Roman Catholics, etc. - a particular denomination. Others think of the building. They see a steeple and say, “That’s a Presbyterian Church” NOT THE BIBLE !!! In the Bible the word “church” always speaks of saved peoples - either ALL saved people of this age, or of local gatherings in the local community. The Greek word ‘ekklesia” means the “called out ones”

WHAT’S IN A NAME (2) We are brethren We are not Brethren We are not Plymouth Brethren What’s the difference? Terms like “brethren,” ‘Christians,’ “saints,’ are common to all believers: they don’t divide. Terms like Brethren, Baptist, Roman Catholic, or saying ‘WE are the Church of Christ,’ divides Christians into denominations. Scripture NEVER uses a name to divide Christians. That would be dividing Christ (1 Cor. 1: 10-13)

LOCAL CHURCHES ARE NOT INDEPENDENT Despite much contrary practice, local assemblies (churches) are simply local representatives of the one body of Christ They are to have: - One teaching - One practice and main issues - One discipline - One reception To the church of God which is at Corinth... with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their* and ours’ (1 Cor.1:2) Paul taught the same things and expected the same practice in ALL the local churches (assemblies) (1 Cor.4:17; 7:17; 11:16; 14:33; 16:1). Acts 15:1-33 shows the importance the early Church put on having ONE teaching. In Rev. 2-3 the Lord shows that each of the seven local churches is responsible to Him, but ends each message with instruction for each to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

CHRIST’S NAME IS OUR ONLY GATHERING-CENTER ‘Where two or three are gathered together in (to) My name, I am there in the midst of them’ (Mt. 18:20). ‘When one says, I am of Paul, and another, I am of Apollos, are you not carnal [(fleshly]” (1 Cor.3:4). DENOMINATIONALISM is of the flesh, of man, NOT OF GOD! Stay away from it, even in your mind!

THERE IS NO LITURGY “Liturgy’” describes a form of rites prescribed for public worship. All things are to be orderly (1 Cor.14:40), but the order is to be the Holy Spirit’s order, not man’s. 1 Cor 12 ‘There are diversities of gift, but the same Spirit. (1 Cor. 12:4). ‘The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all’ (1 Cor. 12:7). ‘But one and the same Spirit WORKS all (the gifts)’ (1 Cor.12:11) Be careful of the ‘here’s how to do it’ mentality. Let the Holy Spirit work.

THE PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS Deut 6:1-5 Matthew 4:10 A priest has direct access to God In Old Testament the people needed an intermediary, a priest, to go into God for them. In Christianity we are a ‘kingdom of priest (Rev. 1:6; 5:10) We are HOLY priests so we all can worship - offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God (1 Pet. 2:5). We have access to God in the holiest (Heb. 10:19-22) We are ROYAL priests so we all may serve Him, proclaiming Him to the unsaved (gospel) and to believers (ministry) We don’t need any person to come between ourselves and God!

THERE IS NO CLERGY There ARE elder s in local churches appointed by the Holy Spirit to lead and to oversee ( Acts 20:28; 1 Thes. 5:12-13; 1 Pet. 5:1-3). Always more than one they help ensure that gift in the assembly is free to operate. Not necessarily gifted for ministry, not bosses, but leaders. God DOES call, appoint, train men (Gal 1:15-16; 2 Tim.1:11) and puts them into the ministry (Acts 13:1-4, 1 Tim.1:12) FOR THE WHOLE CHURCH (1 Cor.12:28 Eph. 4:l1-12), without human ordination. Having a gift is God’s ordination to use it as directed by the Holy Spirit (1 Pet.4:10-11). See also Acts 8:4. God’s ministers are SERVANTS of all, not clergy, and not only for one local church.

THERE IS TO BE NO LAITY ‘Laity’ refers to the ‘unskilled’ mass of people as opposed to the ‘skilled’ clergy. BUT Every Christian has a gift (1 Cor.l2:7, 11; Eph.4:7, 16 ). Having a gift is God’s ordination to use it (1 Pet4:10-11) by the Holy Spirit The body of Christ is knit together and grows ‘by what every joint supplies’ - by which ‘every part does its share’ (Eph.4:16). All parts are needed (1 Cor.12:12-27). Get Busy!. Don’t be ‘unskilled’ in working for God. Don’t let yourself become a ‘laity’

MEN & WOMEN ARE TO FILL THEIR GOD-GIVEN ROLES In God’s perfect ways, ‘man’ pictures Christ, while the woman pictures His bride, the Church (Eph5:23-33). God also has an order-of-authority in creation: Christ, man, woman, children (1 Cor. 11:3,8-9 Eph.6:1). Our job is simply to fulfill our roles. Man is to take the public place in the assembly; Christ teaches His Church (Isa. 6:6-9; 1 Cor.12:11; 14:29; 1 Pet. 2:5). Women are not to take the public place in the assembly; the Church does not teach Christ (1 Cor.14:34-37). Woman’s head covering is a sign of her subjection to Christ (1 Cor.11:4-16).

SCRIPTURALLY-DEFINED DISCIPLINE REQUIRED FOR SCRIPTURALLY-DEFINED SIN All discipline is for maintaining the holiness of the house of God with a view towards restoration when sin is forsaken and confessed (2 Cor. 2:6-8) Personal problems ARE to be solved (Mt. 18:15-17). Moral and doctrinal evil to be STOPPED (1 Cor. 5; 15:12 Gal.5: Tim.1:20 2 Tim. 2:16-18). - admonition (2 Thes. 5:14; Tit. 1:13) - warn (1Thes. 5:14) - pastoral care (Gal. 6:1-2) - avoid sinner (Rom.16:17-l8; 2 Thes. 3:6, 14-15). - mouths stopped (Tit.1:10-11; 3:9-11) - excommunication (1 Cor.5:13). discipline has failed Some guidelines in judging matters for the Lord ( Duet. 1:16-18, 17: 4-7; Gal. 6:1)

BREAK BREAD WEEKLY By apostolic example, the brethren met together ‘ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK to break bread’ (Acts 20:7). See 1 Cor. 16:2 - 1st day See 1 Jn. 20:19,26 - 1st day Also, the early disciples were STEADFAST in the breaking of bread it was really important to them (Acts 2:42). Their Lord had instructed them to do so in remembrance of Him (Lk. 22: Cor.11:23-26).

Home Study labourers together 1 Cor 3:9 Ex Exodous 35-36:2 2 Tim 1