Preface
Many of us have grown up with some concept of church. However, within our modern context, that can mean almost anything: from receiving a pep-talk once a week to make us feel good about ourselves as we face the trials of life, to a fire-and-brimstone declaration of our lot as sinners (although this has virtually disappeared), or simply the outside observation of something in which others have been involved. What we think of church will be shaped by our experience, and whether we have attended it regularly, sporadically, rarely, or not at all.
It was during one of our weekly gatherings (we meet in our home) that I was challenged to do a study of the church, with the suggestion that I base my study on the book, New Testament Church Principles by Arthur G. Clarke. However, as I began to read the book, I saw that to base a study on this book would be simply to build on another man’s research and opinions, and really only produce an in-depth book review. With that settled, I determined to do a Book review of how we are to understand the church, and to begin by examining what Jesus meant when He said: “I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). What exactly is it that Jesus is building?
Church has come to mean different things to different people – each denomination has their own expression of how they meet together, and the great disparity that is evident is affirmation that we must have lost our way from what Jesus intended for us. Therefore, as I began the study, it was with the determination to be carefully Biblical and not to lean upon the opinions of others. When was the last time that anyone considered, in the light of Scripture, what he is doing in church? Have we become like the proverbial hamster on a wheel, expending a lot of energy but seeing no spiritual results? Are we so involved in the programs and practices of our particular church that we no longer stop to think about what we are doing, or why we are doing it? Do we find ourselves saying: “Since the pastor says (or does) this, then it must be okay”? Do we ever question what we hear, read or see, and take the time to evaluate it according to the Bible?
Someone recently said that he finds that he is a fixer-upper of Biblical teaching – he will take what someone whom he might hold in high esteem has said or written, and he will tweak it just a little bit to make it better fit his understanding of the Scriptures (yes, he is a pastor). This is a very appropriate description of much of what takes place within our churches today – the foundation for activities and preaching is no longer the Word of God but our traditions and someone else’s teachings; the instruction of Scripture is continually being tweaked to fit our changing tolerance of what is acceptable. Our minds have been shifted into neutral, the Bible has been shelved, and we go on our way confident that those who have gone before us have done their homework. Guess what! That is an ill-founded confidence. What Christians desperately need today is a fresh dose of love for God’s truth (for without that we cannot be saved – 2 Thessalonians 2:10); it must be there if the Spirit of God is truly abiding within, but our sanctified carnality excludes the Holy Spirit (for to be carnally minded is enmity against God – Romans 8:7) and, like Samson, we don’t even realize it (Judges 16:20) – the programs will continue without the Spirit of God. “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates [not standing the test, not approved]?” (2 Corinthians 13:5).1
Since we are commanded to continually examine and test ourselves to ensure that we are in the faith of Jesus Christ (both examine and prove are in the present tense and imperative mood), should it not also be important to carefully scrutinize what we are doing to ensure that it is in keeping with Christ’s commands? What follows is a brief examination of what our Lord called His ekklesia (which the translators have dubbed the “church”). Are you prepared to test the church of western thinking against the ekklesia that Jesus said that He would build?
___________________________
1 Strong’s Concordance, Online Bible Edition.
Many of us have grown up with some concept of church. However, within our modern context, that can mean almost anything: from receiving a pep-talk once a week to make us feel good about ourselves as we face the trials of life, to a fire-and-brimstone declaration of our lot as sinners (although this has virtually disappeared), or simply the outside observation of something in which others have been involved. What we think of church will be shaped by our experience, and whether we have attended it regularly, sporadically, rarely, or not at all.
It was during one of our weekly gatherings (we meet in our home) that I was challenged to do a study of the church, with the suggestion that I base my study on the book, New Testament Church Principles by Arthur G. Clarke. However, as I began to read the book, I saw that to base a study on this book would be simply to build on another man’s research and opinions, and really only produce an in-depth book review. With that settled, I determined to do a Book review of how we are to understand the church, and to begin by examining what Jesus meant when He said: “I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). What exactly is it that Jesus is building?
Church has come to mean different things to different people – each denomination has their own expression of how they meet together, and the great disparity that is evident is affirmation that we must have lost our way from what Jesus intended for us. Therefore, as I began the study, it was with the determination to be carefully Biblical and not to lean upon the opinions of others. When was the last time that anyone considered, in the light of Scripture, what he is doing in church? Have we become like the proverbial hamster on a wheel, expending a lot of energy but seeing no spiritual results? Are we so involved in the programs and practices of our particular church that we no longer stop to think about what we are doing, or why we are doing it? Do we find ourselves saying: “Since the pastor says (or does) this, then it must be okay”? Do we ever question what we hear, read or see, and take the time to evaluate it according to the Bible?
Someone recently said that he finds that he is a fixer-upper of Biblical teaching – he will take what someone whom he might hold in high esteem has said or written, and he will tweak it just a little bit to make it better fit his understanding of the Scriptures (yes, he is a pastor). This is a very appropriate description of much of what takes place within our churches today – the foundation for activities and preaching is no longer the Word of God but our traditions and someone else’s teachings; the instruction of Scripture is continually being tweaked to fit our changing tolerance of what is acceptable. Our minds have been shifted into neutral, the Bible has been shelved, and we go on our way confident that those who have gone before us have done their homework. Guess what! That is an ill-founded confidence. What Christians desperately need today is a fresh dose of love for God’s truth (for without that we cannot be saved – 2 Thessalonians 2:10); it must be there if the Spirit of God is truly abiding within, but our sanctified carnality excludes the Holy Spirit (for to be carnally minded is enmity against God – Romans 8:7) and, like Samson, we don’t even realize it (Judges 16:20) – the programs will continue without the Spirit of God. “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates [not standing the test, not approved]?” (2 Corinthians 13:5).1
Since we are commanded to continually examine and test ourselves to ensure that we are in the faith of Jesus Christ (both examine and prove are in the present tense and imperative mood), should it not also be important to carefully scrutinize what we are doing to ensure that it is in keeping with Christ’s commands? What follows is a brief examination of what our Lord called His ekklesia (which the translators have dubbed the “church”). Are you prepared to test the church of western thinking against the ekklesia that Jesus said that He would build?
___________________________
1 Strong’s Concordance, Online Bible Edition.
Outline
Introduction
Chapter 1 – Kingdom of God/Heaven
Chapter 2 – The Old and New Testaments and Christ’s Ekklesia
A. Replacement Theology
B. “Church Age” Theology
Chapter 3 – How Should We Then Live?
Chapter 4 – The Ekklesia – a Building
A. Christ, the Pattern
B. Christ, Drawing All Together
Chapter 5 – The Ekklesia – the Body
A. Gifts Given
B. Purpose of Gifts
Chapter 6 – The Ekklesia and Marriage
Chapter 7 – The Ekklesia – Christ’s Purpose
A. The Great Commission
B. Growth
C. Church Membership
Chapter 8 – Government
A. Elders or Bishops
B. Deacons
C. An Example
D. Democracy/Congregational Government
Chapter 9 – The Ekklesia – Ordinances
A. Baptism
1. Reformed Tradition
2. Baptist Tradition
B. Lord’s Supper
Chapter 10 – Summary
Introduction
Chapter 1 – Kingdom of God/Heaven
Chapter 2 – The Old and New Testaments and Christ’s Ekklesia
A. Replacement Theology
B. “Church Age” Theology
Chapter 3 – How Should We Then Live?
Chapter 4 – The Ekklesia – a Building
A. Christ, the Pattern
B. Christ, Drawing All Together
Chapter 5 – The Ekklesia – the Body
A. Gifts Given
B. Purpose of Gifts
Chapter 6 – The Ekklesia and Marriage
Chapter 7 – The Ekklesia – Christ’s Purpose
A. The Great Commission
B. Growth
C. Church Membership
Chapter 8 – Government
A. Elders or Bishops
B. Deacons
C. An Example
D. Democracy/Congregational Government
Chapter 9 – The Ekklesia – Ordinances
A. Baptism
1. Reformed Tradition
2. Baptist Tradition
B. Lord’s Supper
Chapter 10 – Summary
