Finding the New Testament Church

I. Introduction: In the religious world there is much confusion. There are many religious groups speaking different things. How can we find what is right? The Bible is God’s instruction for all things that pertain to life and godliness, 2 Peter 1:3. We must go to it for guidance.

II. God did not want division

A. There are many people in the religious world who have no problem with the division into many groups and believe that God approves of it.

B. John 17:20-21 – Jesus prayed for unity. Why would we not want it?1 Corinthians 1:10 – Brethren are to be of the same mind.

C. Division comes when people go beyond the word of God.

D. 2 John 9 – Not going beyond the Word of God Revelation 22:18-19 – Adding to or taking away from the word is wrong.

E. Division is perpetuated as people follow creeds, disciplines, confessions of faith, prayer books, catechisms, etc.

F. Some claim that the creeds teach what the Bible teaches. If they have what the Bible teaches, then we do not need them for we have the Bible.“If they teach more they teach too much, if they teach less, they teach to little.” We can unite if we agree to only what the Bible teaches and no other religious guide or book.

III. How can we determine what is right?

A. We must go to the Word of God to determine what to practice.

B. 1 Peter 4:11 – Speak as the oracles of God. Colossians 3:17 – Whatever you do in word or deed, do it in God’s name. John 4:24 – Worship in Spirit and in truth.

C. Why the New Testament church?

D. To find the right pattern we must go to the church that Jesus established.

E. Matthew 28:18-20

F. Jesus was given all authority. He told his disciples to make disciples teaching them what Jesus taught.2 Timothy 2:2 – The apostles told believers to teach the new disciples what the apostles taught them. The pattern was to continue from Jesus to our time.

G. Everything was preserved for us in the word of God.

H. Jude 3 – The faith was once for all delivered to the saints. As quoted before from 1 Peter 1:3, we have all things that pertain to life and godliness. As quoted before, we are not to go beyond what was written.

IV. Characteristics of the New Testament church

A. Organization

B. The New Testament church was under the oversight of its own elders.

C. 1 Peter 5:1-5

D. The elders did not rule over multiple congregations. They acted as shepherds, not as lawgivers or tyrants.

E. Titus 1:5

F. Churches without elders were lacking everything that God wanted. We cannot appoint elders when there are no men who fit the qualifications of 1 Timothy 3 or Titus 1 (no time to elaborate on the qualifications in these chapters) There were a plurality of elders in the church.

G. There are three Greek words translated into six words that describe the office of the elder:

H. Episkopos – overseer and bishop Presbyteros – elder and presbyter Poimainain - pastor and shepherd1 Peter 5:1-4 uses all three interchangeablyF.F. Bruce, a historian, wrote in The Spreading Flame, p. 202:

V. The language of the New Testament does not allow us to press a distinction between the Greek word translated “bishop” (episkopos) and that translated “elder” (presbyteros) need not be argued at length.

VI. Paul could address the assembled elders of the church of Ephesus as those whom the Holy Spirit had made bishops (Acts 20:17, 28). Later, the two terms still appear to be used interchangeably (Titus 1:5, 7).

VII. It was not until after the New Testament period—say AD 115-200, that the idea of one bishop with several presbyters below him began to appear in the writings of the Christians. From there the idea of a bishop over many churches began to grow and so on and so on. But the New Testament order was and is: a plurality of elders in every church (Acts 14:23).

A. So there is no separate body of bishops, elders, pastors, presbyters, etc. to be found in the New Testament. They are all speaking of the one office, the elders who oversee a local congregation.

B. Deacons

C. These men serve under the elders taking care of the work of the church. Qualifications in 1 Timothy 3. They are servants of the church (the Greek word means servant) and are not in positions of authority.

D. Evangelist

E. The evangelist preaches the Word of God.1 Timothy 4:6 – Good minister of the word if he preaches the truth.2 Timothy 4:1-5 – Fulfill the work of the evangelist. He is not in a position of authority. He has not special titles and should not seek special treatment, Mt 23:1-12. He should not be called Reverend, Psalm 111:9. He is not a pastor, that is the word for an elder.

F. Saints

G. In the New Testament, saints are live followers of God not dead people who are voted on by some committee.

H. Ephesians 1:1; Philippians 1:11 Corinthians 1:2 – Sanctified, called to be saints.

I. The believers are also called priests.

J. 1 Peter 2:9 – We are a royal priesthood. Revelation 1:6 – We are kings and priests. This is not a special office or body of believers in the New Testament but is used to describe all believers.

K. Its Worship

L. The New Testament church met on the first day of the week, Acts 20:7 and 1 Corinthians 16:1 They partook of the Lord’s supper on the first day of the week, Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.

M. They sang praises to God, Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16.

N. *Note: We had a lesson recently on the church practice of only using vocal music recently. Tapes are available and other information if desired.

O. They prayed to God, 1 Timothy 2:1, 8 They shared financially, 1 Corinthians 16:1-2. They studied the Word of God (already discussed with evangelist)

P. Its Work

Q. In addition to assembling for worship, the church spread the word of God to non-Christians, Mt 28:18-20 (already cited – make disciples, teaching them); Mark 16:15-16, 1 Timothy 3:14-15. The church is to edify itself in spiritual growth, Ephesians 4:11-16.

R. The church can take care of the physical needs of its brethren if there is no other means available.

S. If family is not available, 1 Timothy 5:3, 8. If one cannot work, 2 Thessalonians 3:10. The goal is that the church not be burdened, 1 Timothy 5:16.

VIII. It is important to do things in God’s way.

A. Leviticus 10:1-2 – Nadab and Abihu killed for improper worship.

B. Matthew 7:22-23 – Jesus told some to depart from Him

C. Matthew 15:9 – Vain worship using doctrines of men.

D. 1 Samuel 15:22-23 – Samuel’s rebuke of Saul

E. 2 Samuel 7:1-5 – David’s desire to build a temple but God forbade him.

F. 2 Chronicles 26:16-21 – Uzziah’s presumptuous worship and punishment.

IX. Conclusion: Religious division came when things were introduced that were not found in the scriptures. We are to serve God in His way, not after our own wisdom.