1. The New Testament Church is made up of Born Again Believers whom the Bible calls: Individually: CHRISTIANS (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Pt.4:16) DISCIPLES (Acts 1:15; 6:1 7; 9:1,26,36; 16:1; 21:16) SAINTS (PH.4:21; ROM.12:13; 16:15; ACTS 9:13; EPHES.1:1; 2 COR.1:1) PRIESTS (1 Pt.2:5 9; Rev.1:6; 5:10; 20:6) BELIEVERS (Acts 5:14; 1 Tim.4:12) Collectively: CHURCH (Acts 8:3; 11:26; 14:27; Rom.16:1,23; 1 Cor.10:32; Eph.1:22; 5:23; Col.1:18 24) BODY (Rom 12:14; 1 Cor 10:16; 12:12; Eph.1:23; 3:6; 4:12-16; 5:30; Col.1:18; 2:19; 3:15; Heb 13:3) BUILDING (Eph.2:19 22; 1 Cor.3:9; 1 Pt.2:5; Heb.3:6; 1 Tm.3:15) FLOCK (Lk.12:32; Jn.21:15 17; Acts 20:28 29; 1 Cor.9:7; 1 Pt.5:2 3)
2. Each Believer has his own gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38; 8:20;10:45; 11:17; Rom.11:29; 12:3 21; 1 Cor.4:7; 7:1; 12:7,11; Eph.4:7 8; 1 Tm.4:14; 2 Tm.1:6;Jms.1:17; 1 Pt.4:10; Heb.2:4) Each believer has a different function in the Body. (Rom.12:3 21; 1 Cor.12:1 31; 13:1 13; 14:1,12; Eph.3:8; 4:8) Each believer is necessary for the Body to function properly. (1 Cor.12:22) Each believer is to be considered important. (1 Cor.12; Rom.12)
3. There is nothing wrong in desiring gifts or seeking offices. (1 Cor.12:31; 14:1,12,39; 1 Tm.3:1) But not for vain glory. (Gal.5:26; Ph.2:3; Col.2:18; Mt.20:26 28; 1 Th.2:6; 1 Cor.3:21) Or for filthy lucre (1 Sm.8:3; 1 Tm.3:3,8; 6:5; Tit.1:7,11; 1 Pt.5:2; Mt.6:24 25; Acts 20:33; Jude 1:1; 2 Pt.2:15) All to be sought for the edification of the whole body. (Rom.15:2; 14:19; 1 Cor.8:1; 14:3 4,12 26; 10:23; 2 Cor.10:8; 13:10; 12:19; 1 Th.5:11; 1 Tm.1:4; Eph.4:12,16,29)
4. The gifts of the Holy Ghost to the Churches are: (Rom.12:4 8) Ministry, Teaching, Exhorting, Giving, Ruling, Showing Mercy (Eph.4:7 16) Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers (1 Cor.12:1 12) Word of Knowledge, Faith, Gifts of Healing, Working of Miracles, Prophecy, Discerning Spirits, Divers Tongues, Interpretation (1 Cor. 12:27 31) Prophets, Teachers, Miracles, Healings, Helps, Governments, Tongues, Interpretation (Eph.2:20) Apostles, Prophets (foundational) (Acts 13:1 2) Prophets, Teachers (1 Pt.410 11) Speak, Minister (Ph.1:1;Tit.1;1Tm.3) Bishops, Deacons (1 Cor.14) Prophecy, Tongues (1 Cor.13) Knowledge, Prophecies
5. Each congregation has a plurality of gifts. (1 Cor.1:7; 12:1 12,27 31; Eph.4:8 16; Rom.12:4 8; 1 Pt.4:10 11) ProphetS, EvangelistS, PastorS, TeacherS: Always in the plural. Acts:13:1 2; 11:27,30; 15:2 23,32 35; 14:23,28; 16:4; 20:17,28; 21:18; 1 Cor.12:28 29; 14:23 24; 1 Pt.5:1; 1 Tm.5:17; Tit.1:5; Jms.5:14; Ph.1:1; Acts 6:1 10) Some members of the Body had more than one gift. PHILIP: Deacon, Evangelist STEPHEN: Deacon, Preacher PETER: Apostle, Elder PAUL: Apostle, Preacher, Teacher, Evangelist, Missionary ALL APOSTLES: gifts of tongues, healings, casting out demons, miracles
6. All were brethren: (Mt.23:1 12; Mk.10:42 45; Lk.22:24 30; Jn.20:17; Acts 16:40; 2:17; 28:15; Rom.16:14) THE ELDERS WERE TO RULE & TAKE THE OVERSIGHT, but none was to exercise “lordship” (1 Pt. 5:1 4) over the flock (Rom.12:3), although they were to rebuke and exhort with all longsuffering. THE ELDERS WERE NOT TO BE CALLED “MASTER” OR “RABBI” OR “FATHER” (Mt.23:8 10) and following THAT principle, NOT “REVEREND” or “DOCTOR” either. THEY WERE NOT TO LIFT THEMSELVES UP OR BE LIFTED UP BY BELIEVERS ABOVE EACH OTHER. (1 Cor.1:12; 3:4 9; 4:6 17; Lk.22:24 30; Mk.9:46; 2 Cor.5:12) THEY WERE NOT TO MEASURE THEMSELVES BY THEMSELVES. (2 Cor.3:1 6; 10:12 18) THEY WERE ALWAYS IN THE PLURAL IN EACH CONGREGATION.
There might be a “CHIEF SPEAKER”. Peter was very definitely the spokesman for the apostles. Paul was evidently the main speaker (Acts 14:12; 19:26) but the ministry was shared.
APOSTLES: Signs of: (Acts 2:43; 4:30; 5:12; 14:3; 19:11; 2 Cor.12:11 12; Gal.3:5) Requirements: (Acts 1:20 26; 1 Cor.9:1; Gal.1:11 12) False/deceitful workers: (2 Cor.11:13 15; Rev.2:2; Ph.3:17 19) PROPHETS: Two kinds: (Nm.11:25 30; 1 Sm.10:9 13; Is.30:10; Jer.5:31; Acts 21:10,11 Dt.18:15; 1 Cor.14:3) One shall cease: (1 Cor.13:8) Were a gift to the church: (Rom.12:6; 2 Cor.12:10; 13:2,9; Eph.4:7 16) The gift of prophecy was more important than tongues: (1 Cor. 14) It was for edifying: (1 Cor.14:3 22) Sons and daughters shall: (Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17 18; 21:9; 1 Cor. 11:5) All can covet to: (1 Cor.14:1,24,31,39) False: (Acts 13:6,20,28 31; Rev.16:13; 2 Pt.2:1; 1 Jn.4:1; Mt.7:15; Jd.4) Prophetess: (Miriam, Deborah, Huldah, Noadiah, Anna; and Jezebel which CALLED herself one. Rev.2:20) EVANGELISTS: A separate gift (Eph.4:11) although many could do the work of (2 Tm.4:5). Philip was a deacon & an evangelist. PASTORS, ELDERS, BISHOPS, OVERSEERS, SHEPHERDS: All the same office (Acts 20:17 35; 1 Pt.5:1 2; Tit.1:5 9) Were to FEED the flock: (1 Pt.5:1 2; Acts 20:17,28; Jn.21:16; Jer.3:15; Is.40:11) Were to OVERSEE the flock: (1 Pt.5:1 2; Acts 20:17,28; Lk.2:8) Were to RULE: (Heb.13:7 24; 1 Tm.5:17; Rom.12:8) Were PREACHERS & TEACHERS: (Rom.10:14; 2:21; Mt.3:14; 16:15; Gal.6:6; 1 Tm.6:2; 3:2; 4:21; 2 Tm.2:24; Tit.2:3; Mt.28:19; Acts 14:21 28) Were to SEEK the LOST: (Mt.18:12; Lk.15; Ezek.34:16) Were to TAKE CARE of the SICK & HURT: (Ezek.34:16; 2 Cor.2:4; 7:12; 1 Cor.12:25; Jer.6:14; Mt.25:36; Jms.5:14) Were NOT to be accused EXCEPT before TWO or THREE WITNESSES 1 Tm.5:19: In other words don’t gossip about your pastors. If you have a problem with something they are doing or saying go to THEM privately & discuss it (Mt.18) ELDERS: (Acts 11:30; 14:28; 15:2 23; 16:4; 20:17; 21:18; 22:5; 1 Tm.5:17; Tit.1:5; James.5:14; 1 Pt.5:1) BISHOPS: (Ph.1:1; 1 Tm.3:1; Tit.1:7; 1 Pt.2:25; Acts 1:20) OVERSEERS: (1 Ch.9:29; Gen.39:4 5; Nm.11:14 22; Jer.31:28; Pr.6:7; 2 Ch.2:18; Acts 20:28; 1 Pt.5:1 5) PASTORS: (1 Pt.2:25; 5:1 4; Ps.23; Jer.2:8; 3:15; Ps.79:13) SHEPHERDS: (Nm.27:16 17; Mt.9:36; 2 Ch.18:16; Is.40:11; 56:9 12; Jer.50:6; 31:10; Ezek.34:1 31; Zech.10:2; Heb.13:20) TEACHERS; Different than preachers, but one man could be both (Mt.11:1; Acts 5:42) Teach in the NAME OF JESUS: (Acts 4:18; 5:28,35) even when TOLD NOT TO. Were very important to the work: (1 Tm.1:3; 1 Cor.4:17; 14:19; 2 Tm.3:2) Women were to teach younger women (Tit.2:4) & not to teach OVER a man (1 Tm.2:12) Bishop must be apt to teach (1 Tm.3:2; 2 Tm.2:24; Tit.2:3) Command, teach, exhort, admonish (different) (1 Tm.4:11; 6:2; Col.3:16) Apostle, Prophet, Pastor, Teacher (different) (2 Tm.1:11; Acts 13:1; Eph.4:11) False (1 Tm.1:7; 2 Tm.4:3; 2 Pt.2:1; Tit.1:11) DEACONS: It is an office (1 Tm.3:10 13; Acts 6) a position of responsibility. It is different than elders. (Ph.1:1; 1 Tm.3; Tit.1:5 7) It has certain qualifications. (Acts 6; 1 Tm.3:8 12) It has certain duties. (Acts 6) It takes responsibilities off of those who need to give time to prayer and ministry of the Word. WOMEN: Are called “servants of the church” and “co laborers” by Paul. (Rom.16:1 6; Acts 18:26; Phil.4: 3; 1 Cor.16:16 19; 3:9) PREACHERS: Not to use enticing words (1 Cor.2:4; 2 Cor.2:17; 11:3) Are to WARN people (Col.2:8; Acts 20:31; Ezek.3:18; 1 Cor.4:14) Are to PREACH the Word (2 Tm.4:2; Acts 8:25; 13:5; 17:13) Are to be exhorters (Lk.3:18; 1 Th.4:1; 2 Tm.4:2; Tit.2:15; Heb.3:13; 10:25; 1 Cor.14:3) Are to be BOLD (Acts 9:27; 4:29; Pr.28:1; Rom.10:20; 2 Cor.7:4) Are to preach DOCTRINE (Tit.1:9; 2 Tim.4:3; 1 Tim.4:8,13; 5:17; 1:10) Are to AVOID some things (1 & 2 Tim.; Titus; & elsewhere) Are to be certain NOT to NEGLECT certain things (Tim, Tit. & elsewhere) STEWARDS: A servant who oversees. (Gen.15:2; 44:1; Mt.20:8; 1 Ch.28:1; 1 Kg.16:9; 1 Cor.4:1 2; 1 Pt.4:10; Tit.1:6 7) MINISTERS: A servant who ministers (serves): (Ex.24:13; 28:1; Dt.10:8; 21:4; Josh.1:1; 1 Sm 2:11; Ps.9:8; Ezek.40:46; Mt.25:44; Acts 13:5; Rom.13:4; Heb.1:14; Acts 6:1; Mt.20:26 28; Mk.10:43 45; Acts 26:16; Rm.15:16,25,27; Eph.3:17; 6:21; Col.1:7) SERVANTS: (Dt.5:15; Josh.1:1 15; 24:29; Ruth 2:6; Mt.8:9; 6:24; Nm.12:7 8; Gen.24:2; 26:24; Ex.12:44; 14:31; 33:11; Ph.2:7; Mt.10:25; 25:21; Gal.5:13)