CHURCH GOVERNMENT AND BODY MINISTRY

  1. The Church.

      2. Be sure that the student realizes, here, that the Biblical meaning of "church" is radically different from themodern concept of a building or a religious organization.

    1. The Church is the Body of Christ.

      2. Read: 1 Corinthians 12: 12, 27, Romans 12: 4-5, Ephesians 1: 22-23, 5: 29-30, and 4: 4-7.

      From these scriptures we learn that there is (are)    body (bodies) in Christ.

      Explain that 1 Corinthians 1: 2 and Acts 13: 1 show that each assembly is also considered a church, or body of Christ, and should be complete in itself as far as ministries ae concerned, but that all, collectively, make up the one, universal, body of Christ.

      Read: Galatians 3: 28 with 1 Corinthians 12: 13.

      Can people of all races, sexes, and religions be a part of the Body of Christ?

        

      Read Colossians 1: 18 with Ephesians 1: 22-23.

      What is the body of Christ referred to in these two scriptures?   

      Read: Ephesians 5: 23.

      Who is the head of the Church?   

      The relationship of Christ to His Church is the same as that of   

      Read: 1 Corinthians 12 (entire chapter)

      We learn here, as well as in the preceding scriptures, that there is only    (number) Body of Christ.

      Yet, there are    members.

      According to 1 Corinthians 12: 15-24, are all of the members of the Body of Christ necessary?   

      Are you a necessary member of the Body of Christ?   

      Make absolutely sure that the new convert understands this. Too many think that, just because they do not see a specific role in the assembly, that they are not a part of the Body. If our pupil feels this way, encourage him! Help him (or her) to realize that everyone has a part, whether he be the pastor, an elder, a musician, a Sunday school teacher, or a prayer warrior. Show him (through personal experience, if possible) that one's part in the Body of Christ becomes more clear as one matures in the Lord.

      It is evident from this entire chapter that everyone in the Body of Christ has the    /different (circle one) role or position.

      Who determines your position? (1 Cor. 12: 18, 24)   

      As individual members of the Church, we see that we are the    of the Lord, Jesus Christ.

      Read also 1 Corinthians 3: 16, 6: 9 and 2 Corinthians 6: 16.

      If time permits, read 1 Corinthians 3: 16, 6: 19 and 2 Corinthians 6: 16 with the student. These scriptures are parallel to the two given above.

  2. Offices of the Church.

    3. Read Ephesians 4: 11-13 and 1 Corinthians 12: 5, 28.

    With the help of your instructor, fill in the six offices of the church.

    1.    : (lay foundations; start new churches and turn them over to pastors)
    2.    : (bring forth inspired revelations, "fore-tellings" from God, teach
    3.    : ("announcers of good tidings," go forth preaching the Gospel to unbelievers) (e.g. Philip, Acts 21 :8)
    4. 4.    and    : (lead, guide, and teach their churches)
    5.    : (literally, "undergirdings," deacons - those who care for the mundane, physical needs of the church)
    6. 6.    : (literally, "steerings"; those who guide and direct the government of the Church (eg. Elders)

      7. Because it is somewhat difficult for a new convert to glean these offices directly from scripture, help them develop their answers. As much as possible, let them arrive at answers. For the most part, however, you will need to explain the offices and their functions, allowing your student to fill in the blanks from your explanations.

      Pastors and teachers is one office, according to the Greek grammar. In the King James Version, notice that the word "some" which precedes the previous three offices does not appear before the word, "teachers"; also notice the punctuation.

      Apostles (other than the twelve, who were a legal witness to the twelve tribes of Israel -- Acts 1: 21-22) : Paul and Barnabas (Acts 14: 14) Andronica and Junia (Rom. 16: 7), Silvanus (Silas) and Timotheus (Timothy) (1 Thessalonians 1: 1, with 2: 6 -- Timothy, first as pastor), Titus (2 Cor. 8: 23 messenger is apostle in Greek, see Rotherham), and Epaphroditus (Philippians 2: 25).

      Not everyone who prophesies is a prophet, but all prophets prophesy. Compare 1 Cor. 14:1, 5, 24, 31 with 1 Cor. 12: 28; 21: 11; See also Acts 21: 10,11; 20: 22-23; 13: 1-3; 15: 32; 11: 27-28; 21: 11; 1 Tim. 1: 18; 4: 14.

  3. The Nine Spiritual Gifts.

    4. Read: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

    List the nine gifts of the Spirit.

    1.   
    2.   
    3.   
    4.   
    5.   
    6.   
    7.   
    8.   
    9.   

      10. Below is the list of the nine spiritual gifs with a brief explanation of the operation of each:

    10. Word of wisdom -- supernatural wisdom of God given to an indivitual to accomplish a particular task or solve a problem (e.g. one having this gift receives a "flash revelation" from God, showing him the means for solving a spiritual or mundane problem in the church).
    11. Word of knowledge -- supernatural knowledge of a particular fact, situation, problem, etc., which, one having this gift could not himself know, unless it was revealed by God. (Often, those with the gift of healing also have the gift of the word of knowledge, and willl, by the power of he Holy Spirit, specify that one in the audience has a particular ailment or disease, so that the person might come forward to be healed. This provides tremendous evidence of the power of God, because, in most instances, the person with the healing gift could not possibly know of the other's ailment.)
    12. Healing -- supernatural power given to an individual in order to heal people of infirmity or disease under the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
    13. Miracles -- power by God given to perform the supernatural (e.g. causing the blind to see, causing the lame to walk, etc.).
    14. Prophecy -- the bringing forth of messages directly from God to the assembly or an individual.
    15. Discenment of spirits -- supernatural ability on the part of a Christian to detect the presence of good (angelic) or evil (demonic) spirits in or near another person. Most commonly, a person with this gift is able to discern when another is demon-possessed.
    16. Tongues -- bringing forth an utterance from God in an unknown language or "tongue" for the benefit of a congregation or an individual.
    17. Interpretation of tongues -- bringing forth the translation of tongues when they are given forth by one having the gift of tongues. This might be done by the same or a different individual from the one who brought forth the message in tongues. (It should be noted here that the one interpreting tongues does not know the language, and, as with the gift of prophecy, simply "gives forth as the Spirit gives the utterance.")

      18. Undoubtedly, students will have questions, here, regarding the spiritual gifts. Have your student fill in the blanks on the study sheet. Explain the three different categories of the nine gifts of the Spirit. These are: 1) gifts of revelation -- word of wisdom, word of knowledge, and discernment of spirits; 2) gifts of power -- miracles, healings, and faith; 3) gifts of utterance -- prophecy, tongues, and interpretation of tongues. (Then have your student read through the remainder of the study.) (Or perhaps you would prefer to have them read the rest at home, answering their questions at the following study session.) In any case, below are a few answers to anticipated questions.

    18. What is the difference between the gift of the word of wisdom or the gift of the word of knowledge?

      19. Answer: One having the gift of the word of knowledge has, by a flash revelation, an understanding of the Word of God or of spiritual or physical conditions. One having the gift of the word of wisdom has, by a flash revelation, insight as to how to act in a given situation. The first is what; the second is how.

      Often, one having the gift of the word of knowledge also has the gift of the word of wisdom, so that he not only knows a problem exists, but also can provide the solution to the problem.

    19. What is the difference between the gift of healings and the gift of miracles?

      20. Answer: When one is "healed" by the Lord, the germ, cancer, virus, or whatever has cause the ailment is killed and the body, through natural processes, begins to heal. Thus, the person is truly healed, though it may take a while for the effects and recovery to wear off. In the case of miraculous healings (i.e. through the gift of miracles), not only is the cause of the disease destroyed, but also the symptoms of the malady completely and instantly disappear. For example, a person with a tumor on his arm may be healed by the Lord, but the body would naturally take several weeks to pass off the growth. On the other hand, the Lord might choose to cause a miracle, in which case, not only would the tumor be killed, but it would fall off immediately and the new skin would appear in its place.

      Miracles are not confined only to bodily ailments however. They work in the physical universe to protect God's people, convince skeptics, inspire faith, and show God's presence.

      The dispersion of gifts.

    20. Some persons have one or several spiritual gifts, wherease others have none. As previously mentioned, those with a healing ministry often have the gift of healing combined with the gift of the word of knowledge. Often, those with an utterance gift (e.g. prophecy) may have other utterance gifts (tongues or interpretation of tongues). No one needs to be alarmed if he has not been anointed for spiritual gifts, nor should one become prideful or "puffed up" should the Lord decide to use him in one of the gifts. Being used in a gift of the Spirit is not a sign of "spirituality." It is God using His saints according to His divine will. Also, it should be noted that just because God is not using you today in a particular gift or ministry does not mean that He will not choose to use you in the future. Be open to the gifts of the Spirit so that, if God chooses to operate a gift through you you will be ready.
  4. Participation in body ministry.
    1. You should testify if you can see that it would be beneficial to the edification of the assembly to do so. You need not wait for an overwhelming emotional experience or a special sign or vision t know when to say something. But do not take the pulpit only to chat and ramble on and on. Say concisely and specifically what God has done fo you, dwelling on the positive aspects. Do not drag on about the sin you have come out of, or your weaknesses; glorify God for what He has done. Testify when you know you have something that would bless or somehow benefit the assembly in general. As a new Christian, do not exhort, teach or admonish. There are plenty of elders, ministers, teachers and older brothers in the Lord who can take care of such matters. Do not depart radically from the order and tenor of the service. Do not just "take over" a service because you see some things you do not like or because you would like to see some new innovations added. Leave such decisions to the pasor and elders.

      2. -- Sunday school (helpers, typing, etc.)

      -- Janitorial work

      -- Construction

      -- Telephone receptionist in one of the offices

      -- Prayer group

      -- Witnessing team

      -- Christian school (various jobs such as typing, grading papers, monitoring the lunch room, etc.)

      -- Publications (typing, proofreading, bindery work, art work, producint and copying cassette tapes)

      Ask your counselor how you may get involved in a ministry that interests you.