Organization of the Church                                          www.generationword.com

 

Christ is the Head of the Church

The church is the body of believers with Christ as the head of the body

1)     Ephesians 1:19-22

2)     Colossians 1:18, “He is the head of the body, the church.”

3)     1 Corinthians 12:27, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

 

A person who does not follow Christ’s teaching can separate themselves from the head

  1. Colossians 2:18-19, “He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews grows as God causes it to grow.”

 

Christ is the head of the body. 

This illustration does not refer to organizational structure or a hierarchy.

Every one, every gift, every office operates under the head of the church (Christ).

 

Service

Every part of the body does its function as service to the body.

1)     1 Corinthians 12:7, “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”

2)     Ephesians 4:15-16, “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.  From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

 

Church Leadership

Whatever the church leadership is or how it is defined these things are true:

1)     Church leadership is always under the Head (Christ)

2)     Church leadership is always part of the body

a.      It is not part of the Head

b.      It is not outside the body

3)     Like all the gifts and positions in the body leadership is placed within the body for service done in love for the common good of the rest of the body.

 

Organization of Leadership in the Church

1)     There is very little information on the actual church organization

a.      Episcopal

                                                              i.      Authority resides in the bishop.

                                                            ii.      “Bishop” is from the Greek word episkopoV “episkopos”

                                                          iii.      The NIV translates “episkopos” as “overseer” in 1 Timothy 3:1

                                                           iv.      Simple form of Episcopal or Bishop run church is the Methodist

                                                             v.      The most highly developed with multiple levels is Roman Catholic

                                                           vi.      Others church systems like this are: Anglican and Episcopalian

                                                         vii.      God’s power rests in bishops who then ordain ministers

                                                       viii.      Bishops then oversee the work in several local churches

b.     Presbyterian

                                                              i.      Authority resides in the elder

                                                            ii.      “Elder” is from the Greek word presbuteroV “presbuteros”

                                                          iii.      In the NIV “presbuteros” is translated as “elders” in Titus 1:5

                                                           iv.      There is only one level of clergy.  Each local church is represented by it “presbuteros” or “elder”.  This is the local church minister or pastor.

                                                             v.      Churches with this system would be Presbyterian or many Reformed churches

                                                           vi.      The church denomination is governed when each of these local church pastors convene at a synod or meeting of some sort.

c.      Congregational

                                                              i.      Stresses the role of the individual Christian and makes the local congregation the seat of authority

                                                            ii.      Examples are the Baptist, Congregationalists and many Lutheran groups

                                                          iii.      Greek words such as “episkopos” (bishops, overseers), “presbuteros” (elders”) and “poimainein” (shepherds, pastors) are believed to all refer to the same general positions in the local church.

1.      Text verse Acts 20:17, 28, “From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders (presbuterous)  of the church . . . Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers (episkopos).  Be shepherds (poimainein) of the church of God which he bought with his own blood.”

2.      Also note that the letters of Paul seem to be addressed to the whole church while recognizing there was local leadership within that church.

                                                           iv.      The congregation would select the “episkopos” (bishops, overseers) or “presbuteros” (elders) from among themselves.

                                                             v.      Of course, God is the one who chose or appointed the “elders” but the congregation would recognize that calling of God.

d.     Non-government

                                                              i.      Groups include the Quakers, Friends, and Plymouth Brethren.

                                                            ii.      They deny the need for any government but stress the working of the Holy Spirit in each individual

                                                          iii.      In a sense these groups try to eliminate the visible church and instead try to focus on the spiritual church under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  This is practiced even during meetings and services.

 

 

Paul recognized local church leadership

1 Thessalonians 5:12, “Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you.  Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work.”

 

Hebrews 13:17, “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority.  They keep watch over you as men who must give an account.  Obey them so that their work will be a joy not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

 

Philippians 1:1, “To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers  (episkopos) and deacons (diakonous).”

- Note: “episkopos” or “overseers” is plural and is used interchangeably with “elder” (presbuterous) in other verses.  This means there were several “elders” or “bishops” or “pastors” in a local church.

 

NEW WORD: “Deacon” from “diakonous means in the Greek “one who serves”.  It is used along side words like “elder” and “overseer” indicating a deacon was not an “elder” (presbuterous), nor a overseer (or, bishop from episkopos), nor a pastor.  The qualifications for a deacon are found in 1 Timothy 3:8-13 right after the qualifications for a “episkopos” (bishop, overseer) are given.

 

This gives us two groups in the local church so far:

1)     Elders (presbuterous, episkopos, poimainein)

2)     deacons (diakonous)

 

1 Peter 5:1-4, “To the elders (presbuterous ) among you, I appeal as a fellow elder (sum-presbuteros).  . . Be shepherds (poimanate or pastors) of God’s flock that is under your care serving as overseers (episkopeo).”

-Also see 1 Peter 2:25 where Jesus is called “Shepherd and Overseer of your souls”

 

Spiritual Gifts

 

Romans 12:6-8

1 Corinthians 12:8-10

1 Corinthians 12:28-31

1 Corinthians 13:1-8

Ephesians 4:11-14

1 Peter 4:11

 

Romans 12

1 Cor. 12:8

1 Cor. 12:28

1 Cor. 13:1

Ephes 4:11

1 Pet. 4:11

 

Prophesying

 

Prophecy

 

 

Prophecy

 

 

Serving (diakon)

 

 

 

 

Serves

(diakonoei)

Teaching

 

 

 

 

 

Encouraging

 

 

 

 

 

Contributing

 

 

Giving

 

 

Leadership

 

 

 

 

 

Mercy

 

 

 

 

 

 

Word of
Wisdom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fathom All
Mysteries

 

 

 

Word of Knowledge

 

Fathom All Knowledge

 

 

 

Faith

 

Faith

 

 

 

Gifts of
Healings

Gifts of
Healings

 

 

 

 

Miraculous Powers

Workers of
Miracles

 

 

 

 

Distinguishing
Between Spirits

 

 

 

 

 

Different Kinds of Tongues

Different
Kinds of
Tongues

Tongues

 

 

 

Interpretation of Tongues

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apostles

 

Apostles

 

 

 

Prophets

 

Prophets

 

 

 

 

 

Evangelists

 

 

 

 

 

Pastors

 

 

 

Teachers

 

Teachers

 

 

 

Help Others

 

 

 

 

 

Administration

 

 

 

 

 

 

Martyrdom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Speaks

 

 

 

 

 

Hospitality

 

 

 

 

 

 

The List of Gifts

1)     Prophesying

2)     Serving

3)     Encouraging

4)     Giving

5)     Leadership

6)     Mercy

7)     Word of Wisdom

8)     Fathom All Mysteries

9)     Word of Knowledge

10)  Faith

11)  Gifts of Healings

12)  Miraculous Powers