1. Acts 20:28

2. UNIVERSAL & LOCAL CHURCH
UNDERSTANDING THE
UNIVERSAL & LOCAL CHURCH
INTRO: Confusion, Division, False Doctrine On This Topic.
I. DEFINED
A. LOCAL – Single group (flock) in a single place (Phil. 1:1; Acts 20:28).
B. UNIVERSAL – All saints in every place (Acts 20:28; Matt. 16:18).

3. UNIVERSAL & LOCAL CHURCH
UNDERSTANDING THE
UNIVERSAL & LOCAL CHURCH
BIBLICAL ORGANIZATION
A. UNIVERSAL CHURCH: One head
1. Christ is HEAD & KING (Col. 1:18; 1 Tim. 6:14-15).
2. Apostles – Appointed by Christ, not by any church (Acts 1:2; Mt.19:28; 2 Cor.5:20; 2 Cor.13:1-3,10; Eph. 2:20; 4:11; Jn 15:16; 1 Cor. 15:8).
NO OTHER UNIVERSAL ORGANIZATION THAN JESUS & HIS WORD

4. UNIVERSAL & LOCAL CHURCH BIBLICAL ORGANIZATION
UNDERSTANDING THE
UNIVERSAL & LOCAL CHURCH
BIBLICAL ORGANIZATION
B. LOCAL CHURCH – LOCAL ORGANIZATION (Phil. 1:1)
1. Elders (Acts 14:23; 1 Pet. 5:2; 1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:3).
2. Deacons (1 Tim.3:8-13; Ax6:1-7).
3. Evangelists (Eph. 4:11; 1 Tim. 4:14).
4. Teachers (Heb. 5:12; 2 Tim. 2:2).
ALL THESE ARE APPOINTED BY MEN, BASED ON GOD’S WORD.

5. UNIVERSAL & LOCAL CHURCH
UNDERSTANDING THE
UNIVERSAL & LOCAL CHURCH
III. BIBLICAL LIMITS
A. No authority to organize the universal church (Pope, ICoC).
B. No authority to organize a group of churches together (Miss. Soc.).
C. No authority to a church to operate THROUGH another church (Sponsoring Church).
D. Each LOCAL church has it’s OWN work (Rev. 3:7ff).

6. UNIVERSAL & LOCAL CHURCH
UNDERSTANDING THE
UNIVERSAL & LOCAL CHURCH
CONCLUSION:
1. UNIVERSAL CHURCH = All The Saved Headed By Christ.
2. LOCAL CHURCH = Local Assemblies Guided By Christ’s Word.
Are You A Member of CHRIST’s Church? (Mt. 16:18; Rom. 16:16; 1 Cor. 12:13).