Taos Bible Conference SAT
The Church: Its Timing, Meaning, and Purpose Fi rst Bapti st Church of Taos, NM | Bi bl e Confe re nce SATURDAY – THE CHURCH: A BODY W HAT THE CHURCH I S NO T
The church is not a business o A business has a mission statement (that has nothing to do with missions). o A business has a budget (that is designed to ensure a profit). o A business has a CEO (who is given tremendous authority). o A business has a Board of Directors (who direct!).
The church is not a program o A program is designed to secure certain emotional responses. o A program is rehearsed and tightly controlled. o A program has actors who become famous. o A program uses theatrics to enhance words. The church is not a government o A government punishes wrongdoers. o A government makes law. o A government often encroaches into every aspect of life.
The church is not a court o A court received charges brought against the citizens. o A court gathers evidence on people to determine guilt. o A court makes a decision that affects a person’s future.
The church is not a club o A club is for people of a certain social standing. o A club has benefits of membership that are unavailable to non-members. o A club has a singular focus and is uninvolved and unconcerned outside that focus.
THE CHURCH AS A BO DY
AN EXPO SI TI O N | 1 CO RI NTHI ANS 1 2 :1 -3 1
A person who confesses Jesus Christ as Lord is saved, and a member of the body | vv. 1 -3 o The fact that I don’t want this to be true does not make it true! o The proclamation of Jesus as Lord is the distinguishing mark of a member of the body (though not necessarily a good member!)
Each person who declares Jesus Christ as Lord is given “a manifestation of the Sprit for the common good” | vv. 4-13 o The giving of spiritual gifts is unique to the church o The gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12 are not all in effect today o An excessive effort to “discover your spiritual gift” is unnecessary: you will discover your gift in the process of your spiritual work
A church is not complete if it doesn’t have room for everyone within that community of faith | vv. 14 -26 o The church does not have to allow leadership by everyone, nor does it have to fulfill the wishes of everyone, but it does have to recognize the vital role of every member of the body.
A church is not only given members with gifts, but also members with assignments | vv. 27-31. o The Quaker concept of a church without leadership is not Biblical. o The Catholic concept of a church without gifted members is not Biblical. o
The local church must select leadership, and the leadership must respect membership.
AN APPLI CATI O N
For the church to operate as a body, it has to develop Biblically minded members. o If the body is making decisions and expressing opinions based upon worldly thinking, that body will soon be ravaged with a deadly cancer. o If church growth, financial prosperity, or member-benefits become the driving force of the body, the body will become a lazy and gluttonous monstrosity.
For the church to operate as a body, it has to address unbiblical thinking. o It cannot accommodate unbiblical thinking for the sake of unity.
For the church to operate as a body, it has to look to its pastor for leadership. o A church without a pastor is an unbiblical concept o A pastor without a “shepherd’s rod” is an equally unbiblical concept o A pastor’s leadership role is to change the way the members of the church think.
For the church to operate as a body, it has to l earn a maturity of debate. o Every opinion matters and every member matters o The body as a whole makes final decisions, having heard the members o The members have maturity to go with the body, without sensitivity of emotion
SUMMARY The New Testament church is unique in the Scriptures. It is not a nation, like Israel was. Therefore, it is not “governed.” Rather, it is a body, and must operate in recognition of its parts, each part being completely necessary, and each fulfilling its unique role.
SUNDAY – THE CHURCH: LIMITED TIME OPPORTUNITY
The church is not a business o A business has a mission statement (that has nothing to do with missions). o A business has a budget (that is designed to ensure a profit). o A business has a CEO (who is given tremendous authority). o A business has a Board of Directors (who direct!).
The church is not a program o A program is designed to secure certain emotional responses. o A program is rehearsed and tightly controlled. o A program has actors who become famous. o A program uses theatrics to enhance words. The church is not a government o A government punishes wrongdoers. o A government makes law. o A government often encroaches into every aspect of life.
The church is not a court o A court received charges brought against the citizens. o A court gathers evidence on people to determine guilt. o A court makes a decision that affects a person’s future.
The church is not a club o A club is for people of a certain social standing. o A club has benefits of membership that are unavailable to non-members. o A club has a singular focus and is uninvolved and unconcerned outside that focus.
THE CHURCH AS A BO DY
AN EXPO SI TI O N | 1 CO RI NTHI ANS 1 2 :1 -3 1
A person who confesses Jesus Christ as Lord is saved, and a member of the body | vv. 1 -3 o The fact that I don’t want this to be true does not make it true! o The proclamation of Jesus as Lord is the distinguishing mark of a member of the body (though not necessarily a good member!)
Each person who declares Jesus Christ as Lord is given “a manifestation of the Sprit for the common good” | vv. 4-13 o The giving of spiritual gifts is unique to the church o The gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12 are not all in effect today o An excessive effort to “discover your spiritual gift” is unnecessary: you will discover your gift in the process of your spiritual work
A church is not complete if it doesn’t have room for everyone within that community of faith | vv. 14 -26 o The church does not have to allow leadership by everyone, nor does it have to fulfill the wishes of everyone, but it does have to recognize the vital role of every member of the body.
A church is not only given members with gifts, but also members with assignments | vv. 27-31. o The Quaker concept of a church without leadership is not Biblical. o The Catholic concept of a church without gifted members is not Biblical. o
The local church must select leadership, and the leadership must respect membership.
AN APPLI CATI O N
For the church to operate as a body, it has to develop Biblically minded members. o If the body is making decisions and expressing opinions based upon worldly thinking, that body will soon be ravaged with a deadly cancer. o If church growth, financial prosperity, or member-benefits become the driving force of the body, the body will become a lazy and gluttonous monstrosity.
For the church to operate as a body, it has to address unbiblical thinking. o It cannot accommodate unbiblical thinking for the sake of unity.
For the church to operate as a body, it has to look to its pastor for leadership. o A church without a pastor is an unbiblical concept o A pastor without a “shepherd’s rod” is an equally unbiblical concept o A pastor’s leadership role is to change the way the members of the church think.
For the church to operate as a body, it has to l earn a maturity of debate. o Every opinion matters and every member matters o The body as a whole makes final decisions, having heard the members o The members have maturity to go with the body, without sensitivity of emotion
SUMMARY The New Testament church is unique in the Scriptures. It is not a nation, like Israel was. Therefore, it is not “governed.” Rather, it is a body, and must operate in recognition of its parts, each part being completely necessary, and each fulfilling its unique role.
SUNDAY – THE CHURCH: LIMITED TIME OPPORTUNITY
