The Quest for Biblical Church StructureTHE QUEST FOR A BIBLICAL CHURCH STRUCTURE A
paper presented by Ronny Cham to Ps Bios Solingkin and the Protem Committee of
SIB Metro Church, City Mall, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. INTRODUCTION
SCRIPTURE 1 Corinthians 3:10-12 10
According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I
have laid the foundation , and another builds on it. But let each one take heed
how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than
that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (NKJV) Matthew 16: 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this
rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against
it. (NKJV) As SIB
Metro Church advances in the ministries and number of worshippers multiplies,
we have to embrace the reality that a proper Biblical Church Structure must be put in place for our Local Church to be built upon the
foundation which is laid (1 Corinthians 3:10-12). We believe in Matthew 16:18
and acknowledge that the Lord will build His Church and as servants of the
Lord, we must faithfully build our Local
Church in accordance with and upon Biblical principles as stated in the
Bible. (Note: This paper makes no reference to the
Constitution of the SIB Sabah and does not advocate non-compliance of the
provisions of the said Constitution.) BIBLICAL
BEGINING OF HIS CHURCH THEREFORE THE LOCAL CHURCH As
His Church has begun in the manner as recorded in Acts 2:40-47, so is the experience of this Local Church, but to
much smaller extent. The characteristics of the “formation” of His Church which characterised the formation of
this Local Church are as follows:- 1. Belief causes Baptism – synonymous
with membership 2. Doctrine 3. Fellowship 4. Communion 5. Prayer The Characteristic of Membership: 1. Christ died for the Church, therefore
Church is both His body and His bride. [See: Ephesians 5:21-33] 2. Ephesians
5:32 likens the relationship of husband and wife to that concerning Christ
and His Church. 3. Believers are in His Church, therefore the
Local Church, are members in the Church which He is building. 4. Faithful to Christ is therefore faithful
to His body. 5. Picture of Ephesians 5 shows that if a
member is not active in His body, it is as if separated/divorced from Christ. 6. To be united in Christ is to be united with
His Church, His body. The Characteristic of Doctrine 1. To revere the Scriptures and to cling
tight to them. [See: 2 Timothy
3:14–17] 2. Reforming our thoughts, words, works and
ministry in the light of scriptures. [See: 2
Timothy 4:1-5] The Characteristic of Fellowship In Hebrews 10:19-31, the firm
characteristic of Christian Fellowship is strongly emphasised. 1. Salvation causes us to draw near to
Christ and hold on to our profession. 2. Drawing near to Christ is drawing near to
His body. 3. Seeking to strengthen one another through
assembling together of the saints. 4. Gathering of the Church as His body. The Characteristic of Communion The
most significant scriptures which emphasises on Communion is in 1 Corinthians 11:17-34. 1. Sharing of the Lord’s Supper
– It is a regular practice. 2. A proclamation of Christ. 3. Self examination on reverence &
conscience towards His body. The Characteristic of Prayer 1. Church – house of prayer [See: Matthew 21:13] 2. Prayer of faith – receive [See: Matthew 21:22] 3. Everything asks in prayer [See: Ephesians 6:17-18; Philippians 4:6-7] 4. Fervent in prayer [See: James 5:13-18; Colossians 4:2; Romans 12:12] BIBLICAL
SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP – ELDERS, OVERSEERS & PASTORS Jesus builds His
Church upon Spiritual Leadership. They are: 1. Elders are bishops/overseers –
Greek word is ‘episcopos’ – means both bishop and overseer.
See scriptures: Titus 1:5-9. 2. “pastors and teachers”
– two offices but cumulative force. See scriptures: Ephesians 4:11. 3. Pastor literally means
‘shepherd’ – watch over and guide the sheep which is the work
of overseer. Thus, function of
pastor same as elder. The word “pastor” – not found in the
Bible. The word “pastors” – found once – Ephesians
4:11. 4. Teaching is the job of elders. See scriptures:
1 Timothy 5:17. 5. Elder – in Acts 6, with the inception
with deacons for the purpose of serving the physical needs of the Church, elders
are to guide and judge them. 6. Qualification of Elders, see: 1 Tim 3:1-7, 14, 15; Titus 1:5-9 Titus 1:5-9 and 1 Peter 5:2-3. BIBLICAL
PHYSICAL LEADERSHIP 1. Deacons, from Greek word
“deaconos” – means ‘to run’. Thus, Running errands, running around
doing things – legworks 2. New Testament – deacons are servants,
one who ministers to the people’s needs. 3. Word “deacon” in singular
form is not found in the Bible – therefore not a person – but an
office of a group 4. “Deacons” – mentioned
in Philippians 1:1, 1 Tim 3:8, 10, 12, 13 - in the plural form. 5. Deacons – to be examples of how a
mature believer acts but they are not given the job of spiritual instruction
and oversight. 6. Though Acts 6:1-7 initiated the office of
deacons – works and purpose, “the seven” – Acts 21:8 7. Qualification of deacons. See scriptures:
1 Tim 3:8-13 8. Purpose – to help the elders with
physical running of the Local Church – helpers where the elders need them 9. They are not a Board who oversees the
running of the Local Church, but they are who lead in serving, active
Christians who evangelize and serve Christ, faithful, but not minister the
word, they are role models, e.g., Acts 7 – Stephen; Acts 8 – Philip
and Rev 2:6, 15 – Nicolas. BIBLICAL
PRINCIPLE OF LEADERSHIP - SHARED LEADERSHIP 1. Common Mistake to consider ‘elders’
as official church board, lay officials, influential people in church, advisors
to pastor, policy makers, financial officers, fund raisers, administrators. 2. This contradicts NT scriptures which
state that elders lead the church, teach and preach the word, protect the
church from false teachers, exhort and admonish the saints in sound doctrine,
visit the sick and pray, judge doctrinal issues. 3. Biblical NT Church – elders are
those who shepherd, oversee, lead, and care for the church. 4. Peter and Paul – assigned the task
of shepherding the local church to no other group or a single person but the
elders. Paul, see scriptures: Acts 20:28 Peter, see scriptures: I Pet 5:2 5. Elders – must look at Biblical
imagery of shepherding 6. Shared leadership – OT –
Elders of Israel 7. NT – Christ & 12 disciples; The
Seven appointed in Acts 6:3-6 8. Word ‘Pastor’ in singular
form is not found in Bible, in plural “pastors” is found in
Ephesians 4:11 9. Word ‘Deacon’ in the singular
form is not found in Bible, see above. 10. Plurality
of pastors, i.e., overseers, elders & deacons, there must be Council of
elders and of deacons RICH
BENEFIT OF NT CHURCH IN BIBLICAL PLURALITY OF ELDERS 1. NT Church eldership is not high status,
church board position open to all 2. NT eldership – require to meet
specific moral and spiritual qualifications before they serve. [See scriptures:
1 Tim 3:1-7] 3. The qualification of such elder candidate
must be publicly examined by the Church. See scriptures: 1 Tim 3:10, 10 But let these also first be tested; then let them
serve as deacons, being found blameless. (NKJV) 4. The elders selected must be publicly
installed into office. See scriptures: 1 Tim 5:22, Also see scriptures: Acts 14:23. 5. They must be motivated and empowered by
the Holy Spirit to do their work. See scriptures: Acts 20:28 6. They must be acknowledged, loved, and
honoured by the entire congregation. See scriptures: 1 Tim 5:17, 18 7. A team of qualified, dedicated, Spirit-placed
elders is not a passive, ineffective committee, it is an effective form of
leadership structure that greatly benefits the church family. A BIBLICAL
COUNCIL OF EQUALS 1. Paul appoints elders for NT churches
– he established council of elders in each local church. See scriptures:
Acts 14:23, 2. Local Church governs by council of elders
– collective leadership – elders share equal position, authority
and responsibility of office 3. Not unitary leadership, monarchical rule,
one-man leadership 4. Leadership in the Council and the concept
of ‘first among equals” in 1 Tim 5:17 which says: 5. Elders are not equal in their giftedness,
biblical knowledge, leadership ability, experience, or dedication. Thus, among the equals, there are those
who are particularly gifted leaders and/or teachers will naturally stand out
among the other elders. E.g, Jesus’ 12, Peter James and John –stood
out, then Peter more prominent. 6. Peter – natural leader, chief
speaker, man of action – he challenged, energized, strengthened, ignited
the group, yet he has no legal or official rank or title above the other
eleven! 7. Paul was first among equals – he
was chief speaker, dynamic leader.
See scriptures: Acts 13:16, Also see scriptures: Acts 14:12 8. All elders must be able to teach the
word, but not all of them desire to work fully at preaching and teaching,
therefore those who specially gifted in teaching and preaching and spending
time to do so, – Local Church should care for them – it is the
spiritual giftedness of elders that causes the Local Church to grow and prosper
spiritually – it is not the eldership form of government per se. See
scriptures: 1 Tim 5:17, 18 9. “leading men among the brethren” – elders who labour in
the Word and exercise good leadership as in Acts 15:22, PATTERN OF BIBLICAL ELDERSHIP 1. It is the pattern of biblical eldership
– though offends many. 2. Jesus – 12 men 3. The Seven – men 4. Position of wives, see scriptures:: Eph
5:22-23, See scriptures: Col 3:18, See scriptures: Titus 2:1 and See
scriptures: Titus 2:3-5 5. Male eldership in Local Church as stated
in 1 Tim 2:8-3:7 6. In particular, 1 Tim 2:11-14 should settle
the question of women elders. 7. Neither Jesus, nor Paul or disciples give
any suggestion of women elders in local churches. SERVANT
LEADERSHIP 1. NT – Christ-like elders – to
be servant leaders, following Christ’s principles of brotherly community,
love, humility, and servanthood – heart of Christ’s teaching. 2. Servant leadership – not rulers or
dictators, petty self-serving tyrants. 3. Elders choose a life of service on behalf
of others – sacrifice time, energy for the good of others 4. Only those who love, humble servants can
genuinely manifest the incomparable life of Christ to their congregation and a
watching world. 5. Humble servant character does not imply
an absence of authority. Elders’ position – God’s stewards,
overseers, shepherd. 6. Leading implies both authority and
responsibility, thus Peter warned not being lords over His people in 1 Peter
5:3. LOCAL
CHURCH MINISTRY STRUCTURE AND ORGANISATION 1. The Head Leadership of His Church, and
therefore the Local Church is Jesus Christ. Failure to acknowledge this truth
will render the Local Church to be built on foundation other than the Lord
Jesus Christ. See scriptures: Eph 1:22-23, See scriptures: Eph 4:15-16, and See
scriptures: 1 Corinthians 12:12-13. 2. Under the covering of Jesus are the Overseers,
elders and pastors – the Spiritual Leaders of the Local Church 3. Under the Spiritual Leaders are the deacons
– servants – support and serve the spiritual leadership and the Local
Church by taking care of the other primarily physical aspect of the ministry,
etc, church finances, support staff, maintenance of church property, custodial,
technical ministries, other helps or service ministries STRUCTURE DEPENDS ON FUNCTION – BIBLICAL
FUNCTION OF LOCAL CHURCH Scriptures:
Matt 28:16-20 16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to
the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw
Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and
spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and
on earth. 19 Go
therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe
all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the
end of the age." Amen. (NKJV) Scriptures:
Acts 2:42-47 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles'
doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43
Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through
the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all
things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and
divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily
with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate
their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God
and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily
those who were being saved. (NKJV) 1. OUT REACH: Evangelism, outreach,
mission etc.. – the Local Church reaching out to those outside the
church. See scriptures: Matt
28:19-20, See scriptures: See: 2 Cor 5:20 and See scriptures: Mark 16:15-16. 2. IN REACH: Fellowship,
encouraging, accountability etc.. – The Local Church reaching in to
those inside the church. See scriptures: Heb 3:13, See scriptures: Heb 10:24-25
and See scriptures: 2 Tim 4:2 3. UP REACH: Praise, prayer, worship
etc.. – The Local Church reaching up by communicating and giving to
God. See scriptures: Eph 5:19-20, See scriptures: Eph 6:19 and See scriptures: Ps
33:1 4. DOWN REACH: Equipping, Teaching,
Bible study etc.. - God reaching down by communicating and giving to the church.
See scriptures: Matt 28:20, See scriptures: 2 Tim 3:14-17 and See scriptures:
John 14:26-27 TWO WAYS MINISTRIES OF LOCAL CHURCH CAN BE ORGANIZED: The above Biblical
Functions of the Local Church are the four pillars upon The Foundation, which
is the Lord Jesus Christ. A Local Church must be built upon these four pillars.
Thus, all ministries of the Local Church must hang on these four pillars if
each ministry is to function properly and no one ministry is to be neglected or
out of balance. The Ministries can be broadly divided into two functional and
distinctive purposeful categories: 1. Group Ministries – concerns
with ministering in all 4 areas of the Local Church to a specific group, e.g., Youth,
men, women, senior citizens, foreign language, families, marriage, singles,
children, students etc. 2. Area ministries - concerns with
ministering in specific area to all groups within the Local Church, e.g.,
intercessory, prayer, fasting, worship, finance, administration etc. SIZE
OF MINISTRY TEAMS: 1. Depends on how each ministry functions
internally within itself – how large the ministry and how much work
involved – to determine single leader or co-leader etc.. 2. Ministry leader make decision within the
limit of the ministry. 3. Ministry team works within their own area
and group, but special events or ministry effort may require ministry teams to
work together. IMPLEMENTATION To
implement the above Biblical Structure of a Local Church, the following
methodology is recommended to be prayerfully, diligently and carefully
followed: 1) Meeting, discussing and planning with
existing leaders and mapping out with them a blue print for the Local Church,
to set up the team of Spiritual Leadership and the ministries to be organised; 2) Sourcing of ‘God-given spiritual human
resources’ within the Local Church to set up the team of Physical
Leadership and channelling them to different ministries; 3) Spiritual Leaders are to raise the level
of spirituality of the members of the Local Church through the In Reach, Up Reach and Down Reach
ministries by the preaching & teaching of the word and making available
opportunities in such ministries for the Physical Leadership and their
respective ministry teams; 4) Spiritual Leaders are to raise the
spiritual maturity of the Local Church through guiding the Physical Leadership and
their ministry teams in the Out Reach
ministry in evangelism and reaching out to the lost and impacting the
community. 9th
August, 2010 Ronny
Cham Ronny Cham |
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