Sermons
The Organization of the Local Church
The Organization of the Church
Introduction: The concept that many people have is that the organization of the church in the first century that we read about in the New Testament was all right for that time and for those circumstances, but the decisions they made about organization were never meant to be binding upon us today. They believe that a pattern for the organization of the church was not given by the instructions and examples of the apostles and the early church that is to be followed in all generations. The result of this view is very clear when we observe the many types of organizations among the denominations (Associations, Episcopal, Independent, Catholic, Synodical, Conferences, etc.). They hold that the church should be organized, but they claim that the Bible does not furnish a binding pattern of how it is to be organized.
We need to understand that the churches of the first century were directed by the teachings of the apostles and prophets. The apostles and prophets were guided by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 3:3-5), and therefore, spoke and wrote the words of Jesus (John 16:12-15; 1 Cor. 14:37). The early church was to abide in the teaching of Christ (John 8:31-32; 2 John 9). They continued in the apostles teaching (Acts 2:42). The church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets (Eph. 2:20). This apostolic teaching was not only for the churches of the first century but also for the churches of Christ today (Matt. 28:20; 1 Cor. 4:17; 1 Cor. 11:26; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 1 Cor. 15:24-26). We have no authority to change this teaching (2 John 9; Rev. 22:18-19).
It is evident that the early churches did not develop their own organization themselves. If the various churches had developed their own organization from their own ideas, then the churches would have had different types of organizations. But in the New Testament we read that the various churches were organized the same. Therefore, the instructions and examples revealed in the New Testament Scriptures regarding the organization of the church serve as a model or pattern of the apostles’ teaching on this subject. For us to reject this pattern is to reject the teaching of Christ.
What is the organization of the church as revealed in Scripture?
I. USES OF THE
A. Universal
1. Whole group of the saved - Matt. 16:18; Eph. 5:25,27
2. Not organized for universal collective action
a. No Assembly
b. No Treasury
c. No Oversight (collective)
d. No Function (collective)
B. Local
1. A group of the saved in a certain geographical locality who meet and work together.
“
“the church of the Thessalonians” 1 Thess. 1:1
“the churches of
“the seven churches which are in Asia: to
to
II. THE
A. The Lord provides that: THE LOCAL CHURCH
1. Assembles Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 14:23, 26; Heb. 10:24-25
2. Has a recognized membership Acts 9:26; 1 Cor. 5:1-6; 1 Cor. 14:23; 1 Peter 5:1-2;
Acts 20:28; Heb. 13:17
3. Makes provision for local oversight Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5; 1 Peter 5:2
4. Makes provision for special servants (deacons) who serve within a local church. Phil. 1:1;
1 Tim. 3:8-13
5. Has a treasury 1 Cor. 16:1-2
6. Functions collectively
a. Requirements for Collective Action
1. Agreement to act collectively
2. Pooling of abilities and/or resources
3. Acceptance of common oversight
b. Through a representative Phil. 1:5; 4:15-16; Acts 6:3
c. As a singular unit 1 Tim. 5:16 “it”
7. Is distinct from another church Rom. 16:16; Phil. 4:15; 1 Cor. 4:17
B. Therefore, A
1. Just a plurality of Christians Matt. 18:15-17
2. Just Christians Assembled Matt. 18:15-17
C. A
A group of Christians of a locale who assemble together as a church to worship and work
collectively at the Lord’s direction.
III. THE AUTONOMY OF THE
A. Define “autonomy of the local church”
1. “autonomy” - “1: the quality or state of being self-governing; esp : the right of self
government 2: a self-governing state”
(Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary, p. 60)
2. “autonomous” - “…2a : having the right or power of self-government b : undertaken or
carried on without outside control : SELF-CONTAINED 3a : existing or
capable of existing independently…”
(Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary, p. 60)
3. “Autonomy of the local church” means that the local church is an independent body that is self
governing. An autonomous church directs and controls its functions in executing the will of
Christ, and this without outside control.
B. The Scriptures teach that churches of Christ are to be autonomous.
1. Each local church was independently organized.
a. The Lord ordained that each local church be organized with a plurality of elders.
Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5; Acts 20:17; Phil. 1:1
b. The elders were instructed to oversee and shepherd ONLY that church of which they are a
part. Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-3
A) No church was organized to superintend any other congregation. Therefore, each
church was autonomous.
2. Each local church was independently directed.
a. Jesus Christ has all authority and is the only Lawgiver and Head of the church.
Matt. 28:18; James 4:12; Eph. 1:22-23
b. Each local church is directed by the Lord through His word, and receives direction from no
other source.
c. Self-government, by the elders of a local church, does not mean that such elders have the
right to legislate for the church. The elders are to make sure that the words of Christ are
respected and expedited in the affairs of that church among them. 1 Peter 5:2-3
3. Each local church was independently charged.
a. Each local church is charged with the work of preaching the gospel. 1 Tim. 3:15
Each local church is a “pillar and ground of the truth.”
b. If a congregation is not faithful in discharging its responsibility, that does not diminish the
responsibility of every other congregation. Each congregation is responsible to propagate
and defend the truth as though it were the only congregation on earth to do it.
C. Examples of local church self-government:
1. In the disciplining of its own members when they become unruly.
a. 1 Cor. 5:1-5 This disciplinary action was to be taken by the Corinthian church.
No other congregation – nor the elders of any other congregation – had any right to take
the necessary steps to discipline in the matter. It was a matter of autonomy.
2. In the managing of its own affairs in matters of judgment and expediency.
a. 1 Cor. 16:3; 2 Cor. 8:18-19 Each church chose its own messengers.
b. No other church had the right to make Corinth’s selection. It was a matter of autonomy.
3. In control of its own resources
a. Phil. 4:15-19 The church in
b. Its contributions were not turned over to some other church to use according to its
discretion, but the money was sent by the church to Paul who preached the gospel.
4. In providing for the needy among its own members to the extent of its ability.
a. Acts 4:32-35; 6:1-6 The church in Jerusalem took the necessary steps to provide for the
needy among them.
b. They did not set up a central organization to whom they would contribute and who would
do the work and make sure it was done right.
c. The only times a church sent funds to another church was when the receiving church could
not take care of its own needy (Acts 11:27-30; 1 Cor. 16:1-3; 2 Cor. 8:12-15).
The contributing church(es) were helping the needy church meet a need that was
exclusively hers. The needy church did not assume a work beyond her ability (a work
common to all churches) and then call herself a poor church.
d. When a church was able to take care of its own, that church did the work and no other.
D. How may a local church lose its autonomy?
1. There are two ways a church may lose its autonomy.
a. By Force: This is where another congregation or another eldership, forces their will onto the
church and makes decisions for the church.
b. By Willingly Surrendering the Control: In this case the church voluntarily surrenders its
autonomy to someone else.
2. If a church willingly surrenders the control of its funds to a human organization or to another
church, then it just as definitely loses its autonomy as if it were seized by another group. The
fact that it willingly surrendered such does not change it in the least.
a. What if a church voluntarily turned over its disciplining to another congregation?
b. What if it willingly surrendered to another church its right to decide what gospel preachers it
would support?
3. A church may willingly surrender only a portion of its work to a human organization or to
another church and in so doing lose its autonomy in that portion of the work. It may retain its
autonomy relative to local evangelism, but surrender its autonomy to a human organization or
to another church relative to foreign evangelism.
4. The point is, if a local church surrenders the control of its resources or of its funds (or any
portion of them) to a human institution or to another congregation to do a work to which both
are equally related, the right of self-government has been violated.
Conclusion: No centralized agency was ever provided by the Lord for inter-congregational action. No group of elders ever became by the Lord’s authority, “brotherhood elders.” As has been shown, each congregation had its own elders, and each congregation maintained its independency and autonomy. The only organization ever authorized by the Lord through which the local church is to function is the local congregation. The scriptures reveal no other organization for such work. And each congregation is ordained to carry on its own work in its congregational capacity.
