Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ Why be concerned about “Church Organization?” Establishing the N.T. Pattern... Examining some ‘unscriptural” forms of organization... Is a church organized according to the N.T. Pattern?

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ The Bible Alone Mormon Baptist Methodist Christian “The seed is the Word of God” (Luke 8:11) Denominationalism necessitates different seeds! Bible + Methodist Discipline Bible + Baptist Manual Bible + Book of Mormon

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ Elders Original Step #1 Presiding elder Step #2 Elder – Bishop distinction Step #3 Metropolitan Bishops – Step #4 Diocesan Bishop - Step #5 Arch Bishops – Elders Step #6 POPE – Boniface III 606 AD

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ Martin Luther – (1517) John Calvin Presbyterian(1560) Augsburg Confession (1530) John Smyth Baptist(1608) John Wesley Methodist (1737) Church of England (1534) Ellen G. White Adventism(1844) Joseph Smith Mormon (1830) Over 3,000 mainline churches

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ Three Proposed ways to obtain unity: Catholicism – Accept the authority of the Roman Catholic Church – even though there is very little resemblance to what we find in the NT. Interdenominationalism – Unity in the absence of following a divine pattern of organization, doctrine, and worship. Restoration – Returning to the divine pattern revealed in the NT – in organization, doctrine, and worship. Most everyone is in agreement that such a state of division is not good! But what can be done about it?

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ Apostasy often begins with changes in organization...Apostasy often begins with changes in organization... We want to be united upon the scriptural pattern.We want to be united upon the scriptural pattern. The Organization of a local church is a means of identification.The Organization of a local church is a means of identification. Organization reveals purpose...Organization reveals purpose... Elders Speaks through the apostles in the New Testament Jesus (The Head)

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ Compile all references to the subject including direct statements, approved actions, and necessary implications.

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ Compile all references to the subject including direct statements, approved actions, and necessary implications. Philip. 1:1 (NKJV) Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: saints bishops deacons

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ Compile all references to the subject including direct statements, approved actions, and necessary implications. Ephes. 4:11 (NKJV) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, apostles, prophets, evangelis ts, pastors, teachers

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ Each emphasizing a different aspect of the work and function pertaining to the office.Each emphasizing a different aspect of the work and function pertaining to the office. –Elder - [presbuteros] denotes age and seasoned wisdom that belong to its experiences. Acts 20:17; 1 Pet 5:1 –Bishop – [episkopos] – Denotes the overseeing function – Not legislative, but leading and enforcing within the Law of God – Acts 20:28; 1 Pet 5:2; (Heb 13:7,17) –Pastor, shepherd – [poimen] – Emphasizes the care, watching and feeding of the flock of God. – Act 20:28; Ep 4:11; 1 Pet 5:2 The terms elder, bishop & pastor

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ The terms elder, bishop & pastor The scope of their authority 1 Peter 5:1-2 (NKJV) 1 The elders (presbuteros), who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd (poimen), the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, (episkopos),

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ Acts 20:28 (NKJV) Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. (cf. Acts 20:17) The terms elder, bishop & pastor The scope of their authority

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ Acts 14:23 (NKJV) So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. The terms elder, bishop & pastor The scope of their authority Plural in the singular (cf. Gal 3:16)

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ Titus 1:5 (NKJV) For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you-- The terms elder, bishop & pastor The scope of their authority Plural in the singular (cf. Gal 3:16) Those who met the qualification s (1 Tim 3:1- 7; Titus 1:5- 9)

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ It is implied here that there were elders in each church; that is, that in each church there was more than one.... Titus 1:5, "I left thee in Crete, that thou shouldest ordain elders in every city." Acts 20:17, "And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church." It could not mean, therefore, that they appointed a single minister or pastor to each church, but they committed the whole affairs of the church to a bench of elders. The terms elder, bishop & pastor The scope of their authority Plural in the singular (cf. Gal 3:16) (Barnes New Testament Notes on Acts 14:23)

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ The terms elder, bishop & pastor The scope of their authority Plural in the singular (cf. Gal 3:16) Elders

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ There are many unscriptural forms of church organizatio n today

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ Petoskey United Methodist Church

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ St. Stephanus Lutheran Church: Organization Chart

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is organized the same way that Christ organized His Church in New Testament times.” The Church is led by a president and prophet, currently Gordon B. Hinckley. The President has two counselors, and these three leaders constitute the First Presidency. The First Presidency is assisted by Twelve Apostles, who are special witnesses of Jesus Christ to all the world. Leaders called Seventies assist the Twelve Apostles and serve in various locations throughout the world. Local congregations are led by bishops.

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Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ Work To Be Done Missionary Society Work To Be Done Sponsoring Church Elders

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ Elders Scriptural pattern Phili 4:15-18 Direct – Does not relinquish oversight of work – Does not infringe upon the autonomy of the local church - Scriptural – It works -

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ The terms elder, bishop & pastor The scope of their authority Plural in the singular (cf. Gal 3:16) Elders

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ Elders

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ Pastor A single man over a single congregation Council A group over a plurality of congregation’s Elders

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ Apostasy often begins with changes in organization...Apostasy often begins with changes in organization... We want to be united upon the scriptural pattern.We want to be united upon the scriptural pattern. The Organization of a local church is a means of identification.The Organization of a local church is a means of identification. Organization reveals purpose...Organization reveals purpose... Elders Speaks through the apostles in the New Testament Jesus (The Head)

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ A failure to respect the divine pattern of church organization:A failure to respect the divine pattern of church organization:  Reflects our attitude toward the Lord & His pattern.  Fails to respect its divine purpose  Opens the door for widespread apostasy. Elders Speaks through the apostles in the New Testament Jesus (The Head)

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ

Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ