Bible Study: The New Testament Church, Lessons 2 and 3

Sermon outline

God's model for the church is neither a superstar pyramid nor a congregational democracy but an apostolic and prophetic theocracy, where every believer finds their place in a local church that is built on Christ and the whole Word and looks outward to the nations.

1. Two models that are not biblical

   In the superstar model the senior pastor sits at the top of a pyramid, which can breed a dictatorial system that holds the church in bondage, isolates and burns out the leader, and leaves him exposed to temptation with nobody able to touch him. In the congregational model the pyramid is inverted: the people vote, the pastor is their employee and must please the members or lose his job, and the word becomes competitive. Neither is the model found in the New Testament.

   Illustration: He shares slides of the two pyramids on screen, one with the pastor at the apex and one turned upside down with the people governing the pastor.

   “It's not so much that the pastor wants to control it, it's that the pastor had to do everything that he had to do because there was nobody else around to do it.”

2. The apostolic and prophetic model: a theocracy

   The biblical model lies flat: local churches relate to an apostolic team, and through it reach the nations, in loving submission to God-given leadership and pointing to the Great Commission. Christ gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to equip the saints for ministry until we are mature and no longer tossed about by every lie. Because apostolic and prophetic ministries carry revelation, God leads His work forward through them; it is not a democracy but a theocracy.

   “This we do not call a democracy, we call this a theocracy.”

   • Ephesians 4:11-16

3. Every believer has a part to play

   Salvation is a free gift, and God planned long ago that we should spend our lives helping others. We are members of God's household, built on Christ the cornerstone. New believers arrive zealous, then the enemy and the old nature bombard them until they decide ministry is not for them and settle for Sunday church; that is where the superstar model comes from. Being involved in church is not an option but a necessity, and no local church is just local.

   Illustration: Whether you are the fingers, the toes, the ears, the shoulders or the elbows, every part of the body has a place, and when you start operating in it, the blessing flows.

   “Being involved in church is not an option. It's a necessity for the believer.”

   • Ephesians 2:8-10
   • Ephesians 2:19-22

4. The foundation of every local church

   Three things form the correct and powerful foundation for a local church to reach the ends of the earth: Jesus Christ as the cornerstone, the Word of God in all its fullness rather than the parts that suit us, and the foundation of apostles and prophets.

   “It's the whole of the gospel. Everything. It's an entirety. And when it doesn't suit our agenda, we still accept it.”

   • Ephesians 2:20

5. The local church and the apostolic team

   Each local church keeps its autonomy and is led by its elders, called overseers, shepherds and elders in the New Testament, together with the deacons, while inviting the apostolic and prophetic team in for doctrine, appointments, discipline and major decisions. But any apostolic or prophetic ministry that moves away from the Word is in error. Titles matter less than the heart: an elder who does nothing is not an elder, and a new believer who serves everywhere can be used by God far more.

   Illustration: When a church does not line up with the Word, with doom and strange weirdness and people getting naked in the service, his advice is simple: run.

   “A heart that is willing, a heart that is receptive, a person that is passionate for the things of God is a person that God will use.”

   • Acts 20:17-28
   • 2 Peter 1:19

6. A local church with a global vision

   Every local church should pray for and send people with apostolic teams, because the fivefold ministries were given to extend the kingdom by planting healthy churches everywhere. Paul's team reached all of Asia, yet later all in Asia turned against him when they rejected apostolic teaching. Paul calls the apostolic team master builders, and a building team cannot be all bricklayers. If you cannot speak to the person at work or in your home cell, your mind is not yet global.

   “Every local church is global because we're part of a much bigger thing, which is the purposes of Jesus Christ.”

   • Ephesians 4:11
   • Acts 19:8-10
   • 2 Timothy 1:15
   • 1 Corinthians 3:10

7. Leaders get clarity before they share confusion

   Leaders must teach and also show by their lives what it is to serve. When something is unclear, find out for yourself first, because sharing discontent and confusion with those who feed off your life sows discord and draws them away from the Lord, and we will be judged for it. Present a united front, a biblical front and a place of learning.

   “When we don't have clarity on something, it is important for us to get clarity before we share our confusion.”