Let's Go Back to the Bible

13. The Lord’s Church Is Scripturally Organized

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If you went on a search today of the various kinds of “churches” that are around, you would certainly encounter many different groups teaching and practicing many different things.  Would there be a way to differentiate among them and identify the church that began in the New Testament?  The Lord, in His wisdom, provided numerous identifying marks for His church, which help anyone on a genuine search for His church to be able to find it.  One of those identifying marks is how the Lord organized His church.

First, consider who started the Lord’s church. Jesus promised during His earthly ministry, “I will build My church” (Matt. 16:18).  And He most certainly did.  He became the Founder and the very foundation upon which the church was established (Eph. 2:20; 1 Cor. 3:11).  Additionally, Jesus “purchased [the church] with His own blood” (Acts 20:28).  It belongs to Him.  As far as the organization of the church is concerned, the Bible says that “Christ is head of the church” (Eph. 5:23).  Think about this.  If a person finds a “church” that was founded by a man (other than Jesus) or has a man as head of the church (other than Jesus), then has that person found the church of the Bible?

Second, consider when and where the Lord’s church started. The Lord’s church came into existence in Acts 2.  It was the day of Pentecost following the resurrection of Christ (2:1), and there was a large gathering of people in the city of Jerusalem (2:5), who would hear the gospel proclaimed for the first time (2:22-36).  When 3,000 souls responded to the gospel that day and were baptized (2:41), the Lord Himself added them to His church (2:41, 47).  Put all of this together.  If a person finds a “church” that was founded at a different time and in a different place, then has he found the church of the Bible?

Third, consider the organizational structure the Lord gave to His church. The Lord designed His church to be comprised of autonomous congregations (Acts 14:23; 20:28), who were to have a plurality of qualified men called elders (1 Tim. 3:1-7) to oversee the work of the church (1 Pet. 5:1-4).  Each congregation was to have their own elders (Tit. 1:5), who were responsible for shepherding the church only “among” which they themselves were a part (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:2; Heb. 13:17).  Additionally, there were to be qualified men called deacons (1 Tim. 3:8-13), who would serve the church in special capacities.  Evangelists were needed to preach the gospel, to edify, to comfort and to exhort (2 Tim. 4:2-5).  The New Testament is very clear in these details.  If a person finds a “church” that is organized in a way that is different from the Biblical pattern, then has that person found the church of the Bible?

These guidelines were not merely “a way to do it,” but they are “God’s way to do it.”  Our desire should be to find His church today and to make sure that it is restored precisely as He designed it to be organized in the very beginning.  With Scripture in hand, this can be done.

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