(29 Sep. 2013) Taiping Gospel Hall The Local Church – its People A. THE PLACE NAME OF THE CHURCH B. THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE UP THE CHURCH. C. THE PERSONNEL IN THE LOCAL CHURCH. [D. IT IS SELF-SUPPORTING] [E. IT IS SELF-PROPAGATING] “Brethren” or brethren?

URL of Berita Bethel

INTRODUCTION: THE CHURCH – ITS CONCEPT (A) ETYMOLOGICALLY. 1. Its Origin: a. Greek, Ekklesia - From a verb klesis = "to call" and a preposition ek = "out" or "out of". b. Thus, ekklesia = "an out-calling"; ekklesia occurs 116 times in 113 verses in the N.T. Ct. The Rapture (Parousia) – an Up-calling!

(A) ETYMOLOGICALY (B) CONSTITUTIONALLY: IT IS A CALLED-OUT ASSEMBLY OF PEOPLE, I COR. 10:32 1. As Distinct from Jews. 2. As Different from Gentiles. 3. As Defined by neither Jews nor Gentiles, Gal. 3:28 4. yet consisting of those from both groups who are: - ALL ONE in Christ Jesus a. Spirit-drunk believers;I Cor. 12:13c; cf. Eph. 5:18 b. Spirit-baptized believers;I Cor. 12:13a; c. Spirit-indwelt believers;I Cor. 3:16

The Local Church I Cor. 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called (to be) saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours. A.The Place Name of the Church. 1.Biblically – The Church at/in Corinth Cf. The Seven Churches in Asia: Cf. the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi (Phil. 1:1). Farquhar Street Chapel? Burmah Road Gospel Hall? Sungai Nibong Home and Centre? Taiping Gospel Hall?

It is the Replica of the One Body of Christ and not to be named after… a. A Person – I Cor. 1:12, 13a Every one…saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? b. A Practice – 1:13b, 14 Were ye baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; c. Or any other Party name. 1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

A. T HE P LACE N AME OF THE C HURCH. 1:2 B. T HE P EOPLE WHO MAKE UP THE C HURCH. 1:2 them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints 1.They are Sanctified People. Cf. I Cor. 6:11 ct. 9, 10 such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

1. They are Sanctified People.Cf. I Cor. 6:11 2. They are Saints.I Cor. 1:2 3. They are the Same as those in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord… a.The Local Church is a Replica of the One Universal Church. b.It is an Independent Church Responsible to the Lord Himself cf. the Seven Churches. c.It is Related to each other Intra-dependently. Col. 4:15, 16 d.It is Related to others Interdependently, e.g. I Cor. 11:16

A. T HE P LACE N AME OF THE C HURCH, I:2 B. T HE P EOPLE WHO MAKE UP THE C HURCH. C. The Personnel in the Local Church. Cf. Phil. 1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Functional and not Positional names to describe the responsibilities of the person.I Thes. 5:12 1. The Bishops (episkopos = overseers) Acts 20:17, 28 or Elders (presbuteros = elders, seniors) or Pastors (poimen = shepherds). 2. The Deacons (diakonos = servant, minister, attendant at a table) They have to fulfil the qualities in I Tim. 3:1-7; 3:8-13 respectively cp. Tit. 1:5-9

A. T HE P LACE N AME OF THE C HURCH, I:2 B. T HE P EOPLE WHO MAKE UP THE C HURCH. C. T HE P ERSONNEL IN THE L OCAL C HURCH. Cf. Phil. 1:1 D.IT IS SELF-SUPPORTING 1. In Personnel Resources.I Cor. Ch. 12. a. The Recognition of the Church Members. i) Every member is Valuable and Gifted. 12:7 * No member is Dispensable. 12:14-16 * No member is Indispensable. 12:20, 21, * Care more for the Feeble. 12:22-27

1. In Personnel Resources.I Cor. ch.12. a. The Recognition of the Church Members. i) Every member is Valuable and Gifted. 12:7 ii) Every one is Variously Gifted. 12:8-10, * Gifts are from the Sovereign God. 12:11, 28 * Gifts are for Service to the Good of all.12:7 * Gifts do not suggest Spirituality or Godliness. 1:7 cf. 3:3 iii) Some men are Visibly Gifted. I Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:8, 11ff * Its Foundation: Apostles, Prophets. Eph.2:20 * Its Extension: Evangelists. * Its Edification: Pastors-teachers.

1. In Personnel Resources.I Cor. ch.12. a. The Recognition of the Church Members b. The Utilisation of the Church Members. i) Demonstrate active Participation. I Cor.12:27 cf. Heb.10:25 ii) Discover your Place. I Cor. 12:28-31 iii) Develop your Potential. Cf. I Tim. 4:14; II Tim.1:6

c. The Co- operation of the Church Members I Cor.12:14, 27 i) Acknowledge the Divine Headship of the Godhead. 12:4-6 cf.11:3 ii) Accept the Appointed Leadership of the Elders. 12:28; Heb.13:17 iii) Assent to the Functional Membership of all Others. 12:15, 21 iv) Abase yourselves in Humble Stewardship in Affection for one another. 12:25, 26; 13:4-7

1. In Personnel Resources. 2. In Financial Resources a. The Supply of Self-sufficient Funds... i) to Maintain the Local Assembly.I Cor. 16:1, 2 ii) to Mollify those Living in Poverty. II Cor. 8:2ff; I Tim. 5:8 iii) to Minister to the Lord's "Employees". I Cor. 9:7-14 * Warriors: Missionaries, Evangelists, Preachers.9:7a * Planters: Ministers, church planters. 9:7b * Shepherds: Elders, teachers. 9:7c; I Tim. 5:8-10 iv) to Meet Fellowship appeals with Liberality. I Cor. 16:3

1. In Personnel Resources. 2. In Financial Resources a. The Supply of Self-sufficient Funds... b. The Source and Supply of Funds - i) Members should Commit to Give as Christ Giveth. II Cor. 8:9 ii) Members are Commended to Give in Grace. II Cor. 8:5, 6; 9:6, 8 iii) Members should Calculate to Give Gracefully: * according to Purpose.II Cor. 8:11; 9:7 * as the Lord Prospers.I Cor. 16:2 * in Proportion.II Cor. 8:13-15 iv) Members are Counted upon to Give Graciously, not Grudgingly. II Cor. 8:7; 9:6, 7

A. THE PLACE NAME OF THE CHURCH. B. THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE UP THE CHURCH. 1:2 C. THE PERSONNEL IN THE LOCAL CHURCH. D. IT IS SELF-SUPPORTING E. IT IS SELF-PROPAGATING 1. Through Expansion - A Growing Church. a. Growth in Maturity. Eph. 4:12a, b. Growth in Ministry. Eph. 4:12b c. Growth in Stability. Eph. 4:13c d. Growth in Unity. Eph. 4:13d (a) For the perfecting of the saints, (b) for the work of the ministry, (c) for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come (d) in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ

E. IT IS SELF-PROPAGATING 1. Through Expansion - A Growing Church 2. Through Extension - A Going Church. a. With a Sense of Vision. I Cor. 9:19ff; cf. Pro. 29:18 b. With a Sense of Mission. I Cor. 9:16-18; Matt. 28:19, 20 c. With a Sense of Passion. I Cor. 9:19-22a cf. Jn. 4:35, 36 d. With a Sense of Action. I Cor. 9:22b, 23a

CONCLUSION: Responsibilities of being a full-fledged independent assembly: - (1) Towards God: God-Glorifying, Christ- Centred, Spirit-Stimulating and Bible-Based. (2) Towards Self: Self-supporting and Self- propagating, Self-governing (3) Towards Subversives: Receive them not neither bid them God-speed. II Cor. 11:12-15 cf. II Jn Organisation of the Church as Revealed in the Bible:

C ONCLUSION : Responsibilities of being a full-fledged independent assembly:- (1) Towards God. (2) Towards Self. (3) Towards Subversives. (4) Towards Others: reach out to..... a. Sinners with the Gospel, "by all means save some" b. Sister-churches, in Consideration, Consultation and Communion (Fellowship); c. Such as those who Name the Name of he Lord, Greetings and Salutations: "Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.“ I Cor.1:3

AND NOW MAY "THE GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THE LOVE OF GOD, AND THE COMMUNION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BE WTH YOU ALL. AMEN." II Cor. 13:14

URL of Berita Bethel