Ecclesiology Flashcards
(14 cards)
Definition of the Church
The Universal Church
Def.-all believers from Pentecost until the Rapture
* Matt. 16:18 I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail…
* I Cor. 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body…
* Eph. 1:22-23 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body…(Universal)
The Local Church
Def. A local group of professed believers, organized and meeting for the purposes outlined in the New Testament.
* I Cor. 12:27 Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.
* Gal. 1:2 … to the churches of Galatia.
* Rev. 1:4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia…
Foundations of the Church
Apostles
* Matt. 16:18 You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church…
* Eph. 2:20 …built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets…
Pentecost
* John 16:7 If I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
* Acts 2:16 This is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel.
* Eph. 1:22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church.
The Church & Israel
Different Promises (Earthly vs. heavenly)
* Dt. 28:1 If you will obey the Lord your God… the Lord you God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.
* Eph. 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ.
Different Seed (Physical vs. Spiritual)
* Rom. 9:6 For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel
* Gal. 3:29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
Different Births (Sinai vs. Pentecost)
* Ex. 19-20 Israel became a nation at Sinai
* Acts 2 The Church began at Pentecost
* Heb. 12:18-24 For you have not come to a mountain… but to Mount Zion… and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant…
Different Nationality (Jewish vs. Heavenly)
* Phil. 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven…
* Rev. 5:9 for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood, men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
Different Temple (Physical vs. Spiritual)
* I Kings 8:11 …the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.
* Eph. 2:21 In whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord.
Different Relationship w/ Christ
* I Peter 2:7-8 The Stone which the builders rejected… a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense…
* Eph. 2:20 (God’s household), having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone.
Christ’s Relationship to the Church
His Body
* I Cor. 12:27 Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.
* Eph. 1:22-23 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body…(Universal)
His Bride
* Rev. 19:7…the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.
His Branches
* John 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in me and I in him, he bears much fruit.
His Building
* Eph. 2:20 (God’s household), having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone.
His Sheep
* John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
His Priests
* Heb. 2:17 … a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God…
* I Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood…
Purpose of the Church
Exalting God
* Eph. 3:21 To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.
Equipping the Saints
* Eph. 4:12 For the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.
Evangelizing the lost
* Acts 1:8 …and you shall be my witnesses…
Membership in the Church
Universal
* I Cor. 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body…
Local
Saved
* I Cor. 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body…
Baptized
* Matt. 28:19 …baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit…
* Acts 2:41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized…
Obedient
* Matt. 18:17 …if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax-gatherer.
Church Gov’t
Principles
Definition: The Church is shepherded by a plurality of qualified men who unanimously, equally, and autonomously serve the local body of believers.
Shepherded
* Acts 20:28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church of God.
* I Peter 5:1, 2 Therefore I exhort the elders among you… shepherd the flock of God.
Lead
* I Thess. 5:12 …appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction.
* I Tim. 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
* Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision the people are unrestrained…
Feed
* I Tim. 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
* Eph. 4:11-12 And He gave some; for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.
Protect
* Acts 20:28, 29 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock… savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
* Heb. 13:17 Obey your leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch over you souls as those who will give an account.
Reproduce
* II Tim. 2:2 The things you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
Plurality
* Acts 14:23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
* Phil. 1:1 Paul and Timothy… to all the Saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons.
* Titus 1:5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might… appoint elders in every city as I directed you.
* James 5:14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church…
* I Peter 5:1, 2 Therefore I exhort the elders among you… shepherd the flock of God.
Qualified
* I Timothy 3
* Titus 1
Good Moral Character
* Above Reproach Husband of one wife Prudent
* Temperate/Self Controlled Not addicted to wine Respectable
* Not pugnacious Doesn’t love money Gentle
* Uncontentious Not fond of sordid gain Not a new convert
* Good reputation outside Not self willed Hospitable
* Not quick tempered Lover of good Sensible
* Just Devout
Good Family Manager
* Manages household well
* Has children who believe
Able to Teach the Word
* Able to teach
* Holding fast to the Word-for exhortation and refutation
Men
* I Cor.14:34 Let the women keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but let them subject themselves…
* I Tim. 2:12 But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.
* I Tim. 3:2 …the husband of one wife…
Unanimously
* I Cor. 1:10 Now I exhort you brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.
* Eph. 4:3 Being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Equally
* Matt. 23:10-11 And do not be called leaders, for One is your Leader, that is Christ. But the greatest among you shall be your servant.
* I Tim. 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
* I Peter 5:1 Therefore I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow-elder…
Autonomously
* Acts 14:23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
* I Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
Serve
* Matt. 23:10-11 And do not be called leaders, for One is your Leader, that is Christ. But the greatest among you shall be your servant.
* John 13:15 For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.
Church Offices
Elders
* Acts 20:28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church of God.
* I Peter 5:1-3 Elders…shepherd the flock.
Deacons
* I Tim. 3:8-10,12-13 Deacons likewise must be…
Deaconesses
* Rom. 161,2 Phoebe… a servant of the church… a helper of many.
* I Tim. 3:11 Women likewise must be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things.
[my conviction - women serve through discipling women (Titus 2), children (1 Tim 2:15), and general service in the body (above), not through an office]
Selection for Church Office
Desire
* I Tim. 3:1 …if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.
Examination
* I Tim. 5:22 Do not lay hands upon any one too hastily and thus share responsibility for the sins of others…
Appointment
* Acts 6:3 But select from among you, brethren, seven men… whom we may put in charge of this task.
* Acts 6:6 And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.
* Titus 1:5 Appoint elders in every city as I directed you.
subjective, objective, collective
Ordinances of the Church
Criteria
1) Commanded by Christ
2) Addressed to the whole church (Not just some individuals)
3) Practiced by the early church.
Ordinance vs. Sacrament
“Ordinance” emphasizes that these are commands from God that Christians are to obey, rather than a means of receiving grace directly from God.
Others, like the Roman Catholic Church and Orthodox Church, use “sacrament” to describe these rites, believing they are outward signs of inward grace and confer spiritual benefits.
Baptism
- Matt. 28:19, 20 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them… and lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
- Acts 2:41 So then those who had received his word were baptized…
Meaning (Identification)
* Acts 2:38 …baptized in the name of Christ…
* Acts 2:41 So then those who had received his word were baptized and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
Recipients
Believers
* Acts 2:41 So then those who had received his word were baptized…
Not Infants
* No record of an infant ever being baptized.
* The old covenant was received through birth (Hence circumcision) while NT believers participate through rebirth (hence baptism).
Mode
baptizo -to dip repeatedly, to immerse, submerge
* John 3:23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there…
* Col. 2:12 buried with him in baptism (Symbolic-spiritual)
Efficacy
* Acts 2:38 Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins
* I Peter 3:21 Baptism now saves you
Note:
1. Faith is implied or stated in all the problem passages. (I Peter 3:21-“not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience.”
2. In other instances, cleansing and forgiveness are given as the fruit of faith alone–>I John 1:9
3. Baptism is merely and outward expression of an inward reality.
The Lord’s Supper
Significance
* I Cor. 11:25-26 …Do this, as often as you drink it in remembrance of Me… you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
Frequency
* Acts 2:46 And day by day… breaking bread from house to house…
* Acts 20:7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread…
* I Cor. 11:26 …as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup…
Participants
Examined believers in an assembly.
* I Cor. 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
Church Discipline
Purpose
Restoration
* Gal. 6:1 Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness…
* Matt. 18:15 …if he listens to you, you have won your brother.
Purity of the Church
* I Cor. 5:7 Clean out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump…
To Prevent Others From Sin
* I Tim. 5:20 Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also may be fearful of sinning.
Procedure
1. Reprove in private (Matt.18:15)
2. Bring along a witness (Matt. 18:16)
3. Tell it to the church (Matt.18:17)
4. Let him be as a Gentile and a tax-gatherer (Matt. 18:17)
Discipline of an Elder
* I Tim. 5:19-20 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all.
Attitudes
Humility
* Gal. 6:1 Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted.
Prayer
* Matt. 18:19 …if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.
Giving
Def. All believers are to regularly, purposefully, proportionally, individually and joyfully contribute financially to the work of the ministry.
Stewardship
* I Cor. 4:1-2 It is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.
* Luke 16:11 He who is faithful in a very little thing(money) is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.
Loans
* Ps. 37:21 The wicked borrows and does not repay… but the righteous shows mercy and gives.
* Rom 13:8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another…
Giving Principles
Give to God
* Matt. 6:1 Beware of practicing your righteousness before men…
Sacrificial
* Luke 21:1-4 Rich gifts/ Widow’s coins.
Planned
* I Cor. 16:2 On the first day of every week let each one of you put aside and save as he may prosper…
Cheerfully
* II Cor. 9:7 Let each one of you do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.
