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Pastor Scott L. Harris
Grace Bible Church, NY
August 23, 2026
* Church Structure & Function
Selected Scriptures
Introduction
This morning I will conclude this sermon series on the church by looking at its structure and function. This will be somewhat general since there are different ways in which what is revealed in the Scriptures about the church could be implemented. However, I will also explain how we are striving to follow those commands and principles here at Grace Bible Church while also pointing out some of the more obvious weaknesses or failures in churches in their structure.
*The design of the organizational structure of any group is to support and implement the purpose of that group. That is true not only in things such as government, military, business, civic societies and volunteer organizations, but also in the church. And while God has not given us all the specific commands concerning church structure as we might like, He has given us enough to figure out ways in which the church can organize itself to carry out His purposes for the church. As you should all know by now, *the Mission statement of purpose of Grace Bible Church is summarized in Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ, which is based on the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20.
The four major ways in which we seek to fulfill this purpose are: *Communicating New life in Christ which is evangelism and missions; *Caring for New Life in Christ which refers to the practical aspects of true Christian fellowship in fulfilling the one another commands such as love, honor, edify, care, be kind, comfort, serve, be patient, forebear, admonish, pray for, etc.; *Cultivating New Life in Christ which speaks to helping each other grow in the knowledge of God and spiritual maturity. It has a primary focus on ministries of teaching and mentoring but it overlaps with caring for one another; *Celebrating New Life in Christ is worship, both individually and corporately, which is the culmination of all of these. Worship is the underlying purpose and final goal of everything else for the worship of God is the purpose of our existence in the present time and for eternity. God receives greater glory as more people become Christians and Christians become more like Christ.
The Bible uses several metaphors to describe the church and each adds to the proper understanding of the purpose of the church and how it is to function. They also give us some additional insight on better ways to structure a church to fulfill those purposes and functions.
*1. The Church
The first insight comes from the Greek word ejkklhsiva / ekkl sia which is translated as “church.” It means “called out / summoned assembly,” and is found in early Greek literature as a reference to political assemblies. Jesus first used it in Matthew 16:18 proclaiming “I will build my church.” In Matthew 18:17 Jesus used it to refer to those who should be told in the final step of discipline of a professing Christian who remains unrepentant in their sin. *Throughout Acts it is used as a reference to both Christians as a whole (Acts 9:31) and to a local congregation of Christians. It was disciples of Jesus who made up the church in Antioch that were first called “Christians” (Acts 11:20-26).
The Biblical usage of the word “church” refers to disciples of Jesus, Christians, in either a universal sense of all Christians or in reference to local congregation. *The word eventually became used to designate the building in which a local congregation would meet, but it is the people, not the building, that is the church. The usage in Acts also makes it clear that a church is made up of multiple individuals who meet together and that they are organized as an assembly. *Yes, Jesus said in Matthew 18:20 that “where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst,” and they may be meeting in harmony with a ministry of a church, but a church has more structure than just a few Christians gathering to worship or pray.
Local congregations label themselves with all sorts of names. While most are meaningful and help identify the congregation and something about it, others are just confusing marketing ploys. Since “church” is the term used consistently in the New Testament for an assembly of saints, we used it in our name, Grace Bible Church, to clearly communicate to all who and what we are. We are a church.
*2. The Temple of God is the next metaphor I want to examine. Paul and Peter both use it to describe the church in terms of a building used for the worship of God. Paul writes in Ephesians 2:19-22, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” Peter writes in 1 Peter 2:5, “you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
*In the Old Testament, both physical temples of God were built as a place for congregational and ritual worship of God for the presence of God was there. In several places in the New Testament, *the temple is used as an analogy for the church with its cornerstone being Jesus Christ (1 Cor 3:10,11), and its foundation being the Apostles and Prophets who communicated the doctrines of God (Ephesians 2:20). In the text of 1 Peter 2:5 the saints are the “living stones” of the building. Stones here is livqoV (lithos) in reference to the “worked stones” of the Temple which were chiseled to a certain shape to fulfill a certain purpose. These are then “fitted together” to form the building. Christians are not just any old stones taken from wherever and piled on top of each other. We were carefully chosen and crafted to be joined to other stones to build a living, growing building.
This analogy also points to a major problem of the house church movement. A church is much more than a few individuals or families gathering to worship. *That could be a starting point in planting a church, but a church seeks to grow and be built into a congregation of saints described in these passages as a “spiritual house,” and a “holy temple in the Lord” which is “being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” When people look at us, the church, they should see us as a community where the Spirit of God dwells and the worship of God takes place. If each of us in the church is fulfilling our role, we will inspire others to come and worship with us. If we are not, then we will be unstable and others will be hesitant to join us lest the walls fall in on them.
*3. A Royal Priesthood is the next metaphor and it flows out of the analogy that we are the Temple of God. Peter used the analogy of the church being a “spiritual house” in 1 Peter 2:5 and in verses 9-10 adds, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
God calls believers to Himself in salvation for a specific reason, and it was not to escape hell and live happily ever after. Escape of hell is a by-product of salvation, not its purpose. He saved us so that we would be His own people. People who by His mercy have been given light to receive God’s own excellencies. Though Christians come from every nation, we are made into one people, God’s own people. Just as Israel was chosen and set apart from among all the nations to be His own, (and they still are), we are also chosen out from all nations to be grafted in as God’s own people (Romans 11). Our purpose is to be a “holy nation,” and a “royal priesthood,” and we are therefore obligated to fulfill the purpose arising from those designations.
*What is the function of a priest? First, to worship God as stated in1 Peter 2:5 to “offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” Romans 12:1 states we are to be “living sacrifices.” *Another function of a priest is to be a mediator between man and God. We are to proclaim the Lord Jesus Christ to those who are still in the darkness in order to bring them to the light.
These two metaphors speak to the purpose of the church in the worship of God and evangelism of the lost. *It is from these Scriptures that we get our doctrine of the priesthood of the believer. Any true Christian can go directly to God as urged in Hebrews 4:16 to “draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Contrary to Roman Catholicism and other groups, we do not need an ecclesiastical priesthood to absolve our sins for we can go directly to God as stated in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” The next metaphor speaks of our relationship to Christ.
*4. The Bride of Christ is an analogy that in a sense continues the metaphor used of God’s relationship to Israel with Israel being God’s wife. In Revelation 19:7-10 the account is given of the marriage of the Lamb and the Bride, Christ and the Church, held just prior to Christ’s second coming. But other passages also infer the Bridal analogy. *In Ephesians 5 Paul instructs how husbands and wives are to walk in wisdom in their marriages. Husbands are to love their wives “just as Christ also loved the church” (vs. 25), and wives are to respond to their husbands as their heads and “as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives out to be to their husbands in everything.” In verse 32 Paul adds, “This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.” Christ is the head of the church so every Christian be subject to Him, but that submission is easy because we know that He loves us and is looking out for our best interest. Jesus is ceremonially fulfilling His role as the groom, but how are we doing in our role as His bride? Do we bring honor to our beloved savior by our behavior toward Him?
*5. The Body of Christ is used in describing the church in Ephesians 4:11-16, Romans 12:4-8 and 1 Corinthians 12-14. I discussed this concept in some depth a couple of weeks ago, so I am not going to comment much on it here. (See: Spiritual Gifts & Ministry) *The critical aspect of that analogy is recognizing that the church is one body with many members, and while every body part has a different function with some directing the actions of others, every body part is important to the health and fitness of the body. A missing or injured member hinders the whole body from being able to function properly. Everyone in a church is important to its proper functioning.
*6. Agricultural Metaphors.
Agricultural analogies include John 15:1-5 in which we are branches which draw our lives from the vine, and in Romans 11:17 we are a wild olive grafted into the cultivated Olive tree of Israel. We draw our lives from Christ. Without Him we perish. Feeling shriveled up as a Christian? Then maybe you had better check to make sure you are drawing your life from Christ and not some other source.
The last metaphor for the church I want to point out is that of Shepherd and sheep. *Jesus is referenced as a shepherd (John 10:11) and those who believe in Him are called His flock (1 Peter 5:2). This gives us some understanding of the nature of believers in being sheep, as well as the relationship the church has with its leaders. Shepherds lead, feed, guard and protect. Paul charged the Elders at Ephesus to shepherd the flock that “the Holy Spirit has made you overseers,” (Acts 20:28). Peter says the same thing in 1 Peter 5:2, “shepherd the flock of God among you.” The term “pastor” (Ephesians 4:11) is simply the Latin word for “shepherd.” In this metaphor the church is seen as sheep who need shepherds. Christ is the chief shepherd (John 10:4), and He has given the flock undershepherds – pastors / elders – to carry out His work among the sheep. This analogy continues to be used extensively in New Testament and it points to the highest human position in the church.
*Shepherds & Sheep
In 1 Peter 5:1-4 the apostle writes, 1 “Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, overseeing not under compulsion, but willingly, according to God; and not for dishonest gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”
I will come back to this passage a little later in this sermon, but what I want to point out here is that it is the elders that are good examples to the flock of God, the church, that will receive the unfading crown of glory from the Chief Shepherd, which is Christ. In the structure of the church the elders are under-shepherds of Christ who is the head of the church (Eph. 1:22).
Just over a month ago we ordained Ed Colón, Jonathan Harris & Sam Ramac as Elders of Grace Bible Church after they had completed all of the qualifications in preparation for it. In that sermon I briefly explained the relationship between elder, bishop and pastor and that all three terms refer to the same man. *The Greek word presbuvteroV / presbuteros is translated as elder or presbyter, and it refers to the position or office. The Greek term ejpivskopoV / episkopos is translated as “Bishop or Overseer.” It is used interchangeably with elder in Titus 1:5-7 and Acts 20:17-20 Elder is the position and overseer is the responsibility. The Greek term poimhvn /Poiman is translated as pastor or shepherd and points to the work he is to do. The verb form is often translated as “feed.” This is what the elders are charged to do here in 1 Peter 5:1-2. Those who have the position of being an elder are to shepherd / feed the flock of God entrusted to them exercising oversight in a proper manner. According to the Scriptures then, all three terms refer to the same person and there is no human hierarchy above that. A Bishop is an elder, not someone over elders and pastors. *There is no Biblical reference to a Cardinal, a Pope, an Archbishop or a Patriarch. Those are all extra-Biblical offices created in the organizational structure of various denominations. It is Biblically proper to refer to myself, Ed, Jonathan and Sam by any of these titles: elder, presbyter, overseer, bishop, shepherd or pastor, but none of us are Archbishops, Cardinals, Popes or Patriarchs. (See: Link)
*As pointed out in the sermon two weeks ago in briefly discussing Ephesians 4:11-16, pastors and evangelists have a primary responsibility in equipping the saints for the work of the ministry. For the pastor-teacher, this will primarily be in preaching and teaching, which is why being “apt to teach” and “be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict,” are part of the qualifications to be an elder in addition to the character traits listed in 1 Timothy 3:1-6 and Titus 4-9. But there is a lot more to preaching and teaching than to just read and exposit the Scriptures. * It is not enough to just explain the Bible, for its truths have to also be directly applied which will therefore include reproving, rebuking and exhorting according to 2 Timothy 4:2. The unruly are admonished, the fainthearted are encouraged, the weak are helped, and all of that is done with patience (1 Thess. 5:14). When that is done in private, we call it counseling. Related to this teaching ministry is settling matters of doctrine by teaching and refuting (Acts 15:2f; Titus 1:8-11).
*The elders’ ministry in teaching and equipping will range from working with the very immature in settings of general ministry to the congregation and personal counseling to the very mature in mentoring relationships. Elders have to keep in mind the priority of Paul’s instruction 2 Timothy 2:2, “And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” Those who prove to be attentive in striving to learn and grow and are then faithful in small responsibilities entrusted to them should get increasing attention from the elders in leadership development. It will be from such faithful men that new church leaders will arise even to the level of being formally recognized by the laying on of hands by the elders – ordination – as is recorded in 1 Timothy 4:14. Leadership development is a critical area of ministry for elders for additional leaders are always needed as a church grows, expands through church planting, or current leaders move to new areas or simply become limited by the realities of age.
*The responsibilities of elders in shepherding are much more than just feeding. Shepherds watch over the souls of the flock entrusted to them. This will include care of injured sheep by praying over the sick (James 5:14), and also protecting the sheep from false doctrine, wolves and wandering away. In Acts 20:28-31 Paul charged the Ephesian elders, 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 which He purchased with His own blood. 29 “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 “Therefore be watchful, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.”
*Elders also have a responsibility to lead and guide so their oversight responsibilities include tasks of ruling and administration. Among the qualifications of an elder is managing his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity because that demonstrates his ability to do likewise in the church (1 Tim. 3:4-5). This is part of their exercising oversight over the flock of God among them (1 Peter. 5:2), and those who rule / lead well are to be considered worthy of double honor (1 Tim. 5:17). *Administration combined with teaching will result in determining matters of church policy (Acts 15:22f). Administrative oversight will also include financial matters (Acts 11:30), *yet in wisdom the elders will call on others to help with a lot of administrative and practical tasks so that they can keep their priority in the ministry of prayer and the word. That is exactly what the apostles did in Acts 6 when they called on the congregation to select from among them seven men of good reputation, full of the spirit and of wisdom whom they could put in charge of the task of caring for the widows. This brings up the ministry of deacons, but before I look at that there are two additional aspects of the ministry and responsibility of elders I want to stress.
*First, throughout Acts and the epistles the reference to elders in a church is always plural. The normal practice in the early church was to have multiple elders with responsibility of oversight that would shepherd the people in each church as men were qualified to do so. The church in Jerusalem had multiple elders and Paul appointed elders in each church and had Timothy and Titus do the same. There is no New Testament passage in which it is advocated that an elder give oversight to a church by himself. However, a church can only have plurality of elders as men are qualified for that position. Putting an unqualified man in the position of an elder in order to have a plurality is foolhardy and could be disastrous. (See: Biblical Qualifications for Church Leaders. See also: Go to Appendix F – Plurality of Elders in the Elder Policy)
*Contrary to the claim of some, a church without a plurality of elders or even having any elder is still a legitimate church though it is an immature one. Paul, Timothy and Titus appointed elders in churches that already existed before the elders were appointed. As a pragmatic approach following the wisdom of Proverbs 11:14 & 15:22 that an abundance of counselors brings victory, in this church when there are not at least three qualified elders, an advisory counsel to the elder(s) is formed from the godliest men that can be found to ease the burden and keep in check the pride of a man that can arise when he is the only elder leading the church.
*Second, elders are to fulfill their ministry responsibilities in the proper manner with the proper attitude. Going back to Peter’s exhortation in 1 Peter 5, he is very pointed in verses 2 & 3 about the attitude and manner of an elder – 2 “shepherd the flock of God among you, overseeing not under compulsion, but willingly, according to God; and not for dishonest gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to you, but being examples to the flock.” A man should not become an elder due to outside pressure, but should do so willingly, or as Paul states in 1 Timothy 3:1, he aspires to it for it is a fine work he desires to do. It is a desire that arises internally from God’s prompting and convicting.
*An elder must not have a motive arising from a pursuit of material gain for materialism is the opposite of godliness being a characteristic of a false teacher (2 Peter 2:3, 15). An elder is not to be “fond of sordid gain” (Titus 1:7, 11). Instead, the motive is to be an eagerness in serving Christ and a strong desire to do the work of the ministry of shepherding. *While the pastor is not to be materialistic, the congregation is obligated to make sure he receives double honor which includes adequate remuneration so that he is not distracted by trying to provide for himself and his family (1 Timothy 5:17-18; 1 Corinthians 9:14).
*The manner of an elder is to be a humble example of godliness and not “lording it over those allotted” to their charge. That is a reference to exercising dominion, of subduing, of being tyrannical, which would be contrary to Jesus’ teaching in Mark 10:42-44. For that reason I refer to this church as being elder led, not elder ruled to distinguish us from churches in which elders exert their claimed authority to force their sheep to obey them. *Yes, Hebrews 13:17 gives the command, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.” However, that command is given to the sheep in keeping with the benefit it would be to themselves. It is not a command for elders to force their authority in controlling the lives of others. *That attitude is contrary to Paul’s instructions in 2 Timothy 2:22–26 which includes “22. . . pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart . . . 24 And the Lord’s slave must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may give them repentance leading to the full knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.” *Pastors are to lead the sheep by teaching and example, not drive them by demands and threats. A pastor has the authority to carry out his responsibilities, but the shepherd’s crook is used for protection and rescue of the sheep, not for beating them.
*Servants to the Elders & Congregation
The only other named office in the church beyond the pastor-teacher and evangelist in the post-apostolic church age is the deacon (Ephesians 4:11; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:8-13).
*In many churches Deacons hold positions of authority and decision making in a structure in which they are placed as a balance of power to the pastor. Because of that structure they cannot have a deacon who is a female, a deaconess, because that would be giving a woman a position of authority in conflict with 1 Timothy 2:12. However, that authority structure does not match the meaning of the term or example of deacons in the church.
*The term deacon is a transliteration of the Greek diavkonoV / diakonos which refers to the waiter at a meal (John 2:9) or the servant of a master (Matthew 22:13). *The proto-type of deacons in the church are the seven in Acts 6 that were given the responsibility of serving (diakoniva / diakonia) the widows. Deacons are to serve at the pleasure and direction of the elders, *and any authority they carry is that which is delegated to them by the elders in order for them to accomplish the ministries entrusted to them. In this structure there is no problem with females that serve as deacons as did Phoebe in Romans 16:1 whom Paul calls a servant (diavkonoV / diakonos) of the church. That is the structure we have in this church. *The Elders lead the church with the assistance of Deacons and Deaconesses whose authority extends only to those areas of ministry assigned to them under the direction of the elders. (See: Deacon Policy; Deacon Qualifications Word Study; Deacon Responsibilities; Deaconess Qualifications; Deaconess Policy; and Deaconesses or Deacons Wives)
*The Congregation
How then does the congregation fit in with the structure of the church? As explained in previous sermons, each member of the congregation carries out the work of ministry as they are equipped for it by the church leaders, and according to the spiritual gifts, ministry and empowerment given to them by God. *The particular ministries and how they function will vary from church to church and within the same church over time according to the people that make up that congregation. Some ministries will come and go, and others will be modified from time to time according to who is involved. What does not change is the overall purpose in glorifying God by making disciples of Jesus Christ and the four general areas of ministry of communicating, cultivating, caring for and celebrating new life in Christ – evangelism, edification, fellowship and worship.
*The general structure of the church is simple. Pastor-teachers and evangelists equip the saints for the work of ministry, and as that happens, the saints mature and more and better ministry takes place. *Elders have the overall responsibility for the church and are assisted in carrying out those responsibilities by deacons, both male and female. Structure beyond that is created and adapted as needed to enable the church to carry out its ministries effectively and efficiently.
*Ministries may be individual or may involve many people. If it involves many people, then leaders are developed and appointed, committees may be organized, and ministry teams are formed. All of these eventually report back to the elders for oversight, but they should be encouraged to develop and grow without micro-management by those not directly involved in them. Check out the Opportunity Sheet for current needs in various ministries and who to contact. In the months ahead we will be highlighting various ministries so that you can have a better understanding of them and how you can assist them by either being involved or praying for them. You can also come up with and pursue your own ideas for ministry within and without the church. The elders would be glad to advise and encourage you in pursuing what God lays on your heart.
*Over the next four months or so the other elders will be taking on more of the responsibilities of oversight of our various ministries. We will be announcing those transitions as they happen. Grace Bible Church has a bright future ahead of it because you, the congregation are carrying out the work of ministry, and God has graciously provided multiple well qualified elders to shepherd you, equip you for the work of service, and give oversight to our various ministries.
Sermon Notes – 8/23/2026
Church Structure & Function – Selected Scriptures
Introduction
The design of the organizational structure of any group is to support and implement the ________of that group
1. The Church
The word translated church means “called out / summoned __________.” It was used for political assemblies
Church is used in reference to Christians as a _________ or to ________ congregations
The term eventually became used in reference to the building in which the _________ meets
The church has _________ structure than just a few Christians gathering to worship or pray.
2. The Temple of God – Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Peter 2:5
The O.T. temples were built as places of congregational and ritual _________
3. A Royal Priesthood – 1 Peter 2:9
The first function of a priest is the __________of God – Christians are to live as spiritual sacrifices to God
A second function of a priest is to be a __________between God & man – we are to evangelize the lost
The doctrine of the priesthood of the __________- we can go directly to God – Heb. 4:16; 1 John 1:9
4. The Bride of Christ – Rev. 19:7-10
An analogy similar to __________being portrayed as God’s wife – the church is the bride of the Lamb
In Ephesians 5:22-33 human marriage is described as a ___________in reference to Christ & the church
5. The Body of Christ – Ephesians 4:11-16, Romans 12:4-8 and 1 Corinthians 12-14
The church is one body made up by many members & _________member is important to its health & fitness
6. Agricultural Metaphors
John 15:1-5 – Jesus is the vine and we are the ________. Rom. 11:17 – We are a wild olive grafted into Israel
Jesus is the chief shepherd, elders / pastors are to __________the flock of God – the church
Shepherds & Sheep
1 Peter 5:1-4
Elder, Bishop / overseer, Pastor / shepherd refer to the _________concerning his office, responsibility & work
Archbishop, Cardinal, Pope, Patriarch are all _______________offices in the structure of some denominations
Pastor-teachers and Evangelists ___________the saints for the work of ministry – Eph. 4:11-16
Shepherding includes _____________in both correcting & encouraging the sheep – 2 Tim. 4:2, 1 Thess. 5:14
Elders will work with the immature in general ministry and the mature in ___________training (2 Tim. 2:2)
Pastors watch over the souls of their flock ____________them and praying for them
Elders must lead and guide so their ministry includes tasks of ruling and ________________(1 Tim. 3:5; 5:17
Elders determine church doctrine & _______(Acts 15:22f) and give oversight to financial matters (Acts 11:30)
Wise elders follow the example in Acts 6 and call on others for ________with administrative & practical tasks
The normal practice in the early church was _____________elders in each church shepherding the flock
Multiple elders are not required to be a ________, but should be added as men meet the Biblical qualifications
Elders are to fulfill their ministry responsibilities in the proper _______with the proper attitude – 1 Peter 5:2-3
Elders are not to be “fond of sordid gain” (Tit. 1:7,11) – that is a characteristic of a ____teacher (2 Pet 2:3,15)
Pastors should receive “_________honor” (1 Tim. 5:17-18) so they can provide for their families (1 Cor. 9:14)
Elders are to be _______examples to the flock & not domineering, authoritarian or tyrannical (Mark 10:42-44)
Heb. 13:17 is a command to the __________for their benefit & not an order to leaders to demand submission
2 Tim. 2:22-26 – Pastors ______the sheep by teaching & godly example, not drive them by demands & threats
Servants to the Elders & Congregation
In many churches Deacons hold offices of authority in a structure designed to balance the ______of the pastor
Deacon, diavkonoV / diakonos, refers to a table waiter (John 2:9) or __________of a master (Matt. 22:13)
Acts 6 gives the proto-type of deacons in the church showing they serve at the _______________of the elders
Deacons only have delegated authority for ministry, so it is not improper for _______to serve in a similar way
Elders lead the church with the _____________of Deacons & Deaconesses who are under the elders’ authority
The Congregation
Every Christian is to ___________God & one another as gifted & empowered by God and equipped to do so
Ministries vary in churches as will come & go, but the overall __________in glorifying God does not change
Pastor-teachers & evangelists _______the saints to do the work of ministry & mature which increases ministry
Elders have the overall _________________of the church & are assisted by Deacons & Deaconesses
Additional church structure is _________to organize ministries to help them be effective & efficient
Qualified & able elders leading a congregation doing the work of ministry gives this church a _____________
KIDS KORNER
Parents, you are responsible to apply God’s Word to your children’s lives. Here is some help. Young Children – draw a picture about something you hear during the sermon. Explain your picture(s) to your parents at lunch. Older Children – Do one or more of the following: 1) Count how many times the words “elder” or “pastor” is said. 2) Discuss with your parents how elders are to train those in the congregation for ministry.
THINK ABOUT IT!
Questions to consider in discussing the sermon with others. What is the meaning of the word translated as church? How is it used in Acts? Explain the meaning of each of the following metaphors used to describe the church: The Temple of God (Eph. 2:19-22; 1 Pet. 2:5); A Royal Priesthood (1 Pet. 2:9); The Bride of Christ (Rev. 19:7-10); The Body of Christ (Eph. 4:11-16, Rom. 12:4-8 and 1 Cor. 12-14). Branches of the vine (John 15:1-5); a wild olive tree (Romans 11:7); The flock / sheep of God / Christ (John 10:11; 1 Peter 5:2; Acts 10:28). What is the relationship between the following terms: Elder / presbyter; Bishop / overseer; and Pastor / shepherd? Elders are commanded to “shepherd the flock of God among you” (1 Peter 5:1-2) – what responsibilities are part of shepherding? What is the proper motivation for someone to become an overseer / elder / pastor? What do Acts and the epistles of Paul and Peter indicate about the number of elders in each church? Can a congregation be a church without multiple elders? Explain. Describe the proper Biblical attitude and demeanor of a pastor. To whom is the command Hebrews 13:17 given? Can church leaders demand the submission of the congregation? What are deacons? What do the Scriptures indicate about their relationship with the elders and the congregation? What is the responsibility of those in the congregation?
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