The Church
Week 7       Nature and Founding   Day 1

Learning Goals
        You will be able to:
    1. define the word “church” in the biblical context.
    2. compare Paul and Jesus’ places in the founding of the church

The word “church” is a transliteration of the Greek term ekklesia.
Ekklesia means “the called out ones”.

In the New Testament, the word church never refers to organized Christianity
or a group of buildings. Usually, it refers to a local body of baptized believers (I Corinthians 1:2)
Sometimes it includes all the redeemed through all the ages (Colossians 1:18).
The greater emphasis among Baptist, as in the New Testament is on the local body of believers.
Questions 1
The Greek word for “church is
  ( ) friendly people   ( ) Ekklesia   ( ) Christians

Question 2
The New Testament use of the word “church” generally refers to
  ( ) a religion ( ) a building ( ) an assembly of people

Carefully read the following bible passages and answer the question.
        Colossians 1:8
        I Corinthians 1:2

Question 3
Which passage refers to the local church?

Question 4
Which passage refers to the universal church?

Christ founded the church and purchased it through His death. The church is the only institution
founded by Christ Jesus.
He did this in order that baptized believers might enjoy fellowship and service together.
We are also to observe the ordinances of the Lord’s Supper and Baptism as well as exercise our talents.
(The Lord’s supper and baptism will be discussed in Week 7 Day 4)



Question 5
Why did Christ found the church?
( ) So He would have a place to live.
( ) So that believers might enjoy fellowship and service together.
( ) So that preachers would have a place to preach.

Following Peter’s profession of faith that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son
of the living God”
(Matthew 16:16) Jesus said, “You are Peter (Petros), and upon this rock (Petra), I will build my church;
and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” A “Petra” was a large ledge rock
such as a foundation stone. A “Petros” is a small stone broken off the large stone and partaking of its nature.
The foundation (Petra) of the church is Christ not Peter. The rock refers to Jesus as the foundation not Peter.
Peter was a Petros, a small stone partaking of Christ’s nature. The church is built upon Christ.
The building stones are those who like Peter confess Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the living God”.
Find the answers to the following questions in the preceding paragraph.
Question 6
What is a Petra?


Question 7
What is a Petros?

Question 8
How do we know the foundation of the church is Jesus and not Peter?













The Church
Week 7       Membership     Day 2
Learning Goals
        You will be able to:
    1. state who is eligible and what they must do to become a member of a
local church
    2. list the two ordinance of the local church
    3. explain the purpose of the local church
    4. decide who should run the local church
    5. explain water baptism

The following is a Baptist doctrinal statement about the local church.
        “A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is
        A local body of baptized believers who are associated
        by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel,
        observing the two ordinances of Christ, committed to
        His teachings, exercising the gifts, rights and privileges
invested in them by His word, and seeking to extend
the Gospel to the ends of the earth.”
          Baptist Faith and Message

How does the doctrinal statement answer the following questions?

Question 1
Who belongs to the local church?
( ) All believers
( ) Baptized Believers
( ) Good People

Question 2
What two ordinances are observed in the local church
1.
2.

Question 3
What is the purpose of the local Church? Underline the correct answer.
  1. Provide jobs for its members
  2. Extend the Gospel to the ends of the earth
  3. Collect money for good projects

A New Testament church may be defined as a local church acting through democratic process
under the leadership of Christ through the Holy Spirit.
Question 4
The local church should be
( ) run by the pastor
( ) a Holy Spirit lead democracy
( ) run by the deacons or board
The New Testament does not speak of church membership but of church fellowship (Acts 2:42).
Each member of a New Testament church has rights and privileges. They also share equally in the responsibilities.
The will of the body should be the will of all. It consists of men and women of a common experience and purpose.
Each church member is a new creature in Christ. He or she has followed the Lord in baptism.
He/she is responding to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. This individual seeks the good of the body first and
his/her own good is secondary. Each church member is a new creature in Christ. He/she has followed
the Lord in baptism and responds to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
Question 5
Local church member have rights and privileges as well as ________________.

The church is the central means that God uses to reach the unsaved.
Its mission is to declare the Gospel to the world.
Question 6
The church’s mission is to

Each New Testament church was a separate unit. No church exercised any authority
over another church. They were all independent. By common agreement they cooperated in doctrine,
aid to each other and missions. Baptists are autonomous people who exercise interdependence
though voluntary cooperation.
Question 7
New Testament church authority was exercised by
( ) the pastor ( ) a convention ( ) the local church ( ) a board ( ) deacons
Fill in the blanks
Question 8
Baptists are _________________ people who exercise their _______________
through ___________________________




Membership in the church
A person must do two things before he/she can become a member of a Baptist church. A person must experience
a spiritual new birth. This has been studied in depth during Week 5 Day 1). It would be good to review
this lesson if you do not remember requirements of as spiritual new birth.

The second requirement is “water baptism by immersion”.
The word baptism comes from the Greek work “Baptizo” which means to dip, plunge, submerge,
or immerse. (This will be studied in depth in Week 7 Day 3.
Question 9
What two things must a person do to become a member of a Baptist Church?
1.
2.
Question 10
Define New Testament water baptism.


The Church
Week 7         Ordinances       Day 3
Learning Goals
        You will be able to:
    1. the two ordinances of the church.
    2. explain the significance of both ordinances.
    3. understand where the church received the ordinances.
    4. assured that the New Testament mode of baptism was
  1. by immersion
    1. explain the four views of the Lord’s Supper.
    2. explain why Baptists follow the view they teach.

The New Testament church had two ordinances. They were baptism and The Lord’s Supper.
Question 1
Check the two ordinances observed in a Baptist Church
( ) Prayer and Singing
( ) Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
( ) Collection of an offering and Preaching

Baptist pray and sing as a demonstration of our faith and desire to worship. We collect an offering to sustain
the work of the church. We listen to preaching in order to grow in our knowledge of Christ.
However these are not ordinances. The ordinances of a Baptist church are baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

A person must be baptized before taking the Lord’s Supper.
Baptist understand both ordinances as being symbolic and not sacramental.
Question 2
Underline the correct answer:
  1. person must be baptized before taking the Lord’s Supper.
  2. person must take the Lord’s Supper before being baptized.
  3. order of baptism and taking the Lord’s Supper is unimportant.

The observance of both ordinances was commanded by Jesus (Matthew 28:19); Luke 22:19).
They symbolize what Jesus did to save us, what He does in the believer, and our faith in the Lord’s return.
Question 3
In the above paragraph, circle the name of the one who told us to observe both ordinances.
Underline the meaning both ordinances have for Christians.

You should have circled the name Jesus for He commanded us to observe baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
The statement that these ordinances symbolize what Jesus did to save us, what He does in the believer,
and our faith in the Lord’s return should be underlined.

Baptism
We have two ways of knowing true baptism is by immersion. Immersion means to dip, plunge, or submerge.
The word baptism comes from the Greek word “Baptizo” which means to dip, plunge, submerge, or immerse.
Question 4
Baptism comes from the Greek word “Baptizo” which means:
( ) sprinkle
( ) pour
( ) dip, plunge, submerge or immerse

Sprinkling became the official way for Roman Catholics to baptize in the 13th century.
Before then Roman Catholics had baptized by immersion.
Question 5
Before the 13th Century, Roman Catholics baptized by ____________________.

Sprinkling came into being among a group of people who believed baptism had a regenerative power.
Regeneration means healing. They poured water all over sick people in hopes the magical powers of water would heal them.
This was called clinical baptism. Later water was poured only on the head.
Question 6
Sprinkling was originally used by people who thought it:
( ) would wash away sin
( ) heal the sick
( ) show that people trusted God

Baptists reject both the regenerative meaning of baptism and sprinkling.
Baptism is for believers only. It symbolizes but does not cause salvation.
Question 7
Baptist reject both the regenerative meaning of baptism and sprinkling because:
( ) They want to be different from Catholics
( ) They believe baptism is only a symbol of salvation and does not save
( ) They would not be Baptist if they sprinkled

The second consideration that helps in determining the proper way to baptize is the description
of the rite in Acts 8:38-39.
“…the official ordered the carriage to stop, and both Philip and the official went down into the water,
and Philip baptized him. When
they came up out of the water; the Spirit of the Lord took Phillip away.

Question 8
From the description of the baptism in Acts 8:38-39 what method of baptism was used?




Question 9
Having studied the meaning of Baptizo and the description of baptism, how do you think a believer should be baptized?
( ) By sprinkling
( ) By pouring
( ) By immersion

New Testament baptism requires both a proper meaning and a proper method to express
that meaning. The meaning is a symbol of Christ’s redeeming work for and in the believer.
Only immersion expresses that meaning.

Baptism is not necessary for salvation or to be a member of the universal church.
It is necessary for fellowship in a local church.

The Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s supper is for baptized believers only. The elements used in the Supper were unleavened bread
and “the fruit of the vine”(Mark 14:25). The bread represents the body of Jesus.
The juice represents Jesus’ blood.
Question 10
The Lord’s Supper is for ( ) all believers
        ( ) anyone who comes to church
        ( ) baptized believers only

Four views have been held about the Lord’s Supper
        Roman Catholics believe in transubstantiation
or that the elements actually become the body and blood of Jesus.

        Lutherans believe in consubstantiation
which is the idea that Christ’s real body and blood are present with the bread and wine.

Some denominations believe in the Lord’s Supper as a means of grace.
They think the observance actually has the ability to save.

Baptists believe the elements are symbols of the body and blood of Jesus.
There is no saving effect in partaking of the bread and juice. Like baptism the elements portray
that Jesus’ death and suffering were for mankind’s salvation.





Question 11
Match the correct answers. Draw lines to the correct answers.

Transubstantiation Baptist belief that there is no saving affect in partaking of the Lord’s supper.

Consubstantiation     Roman Catholic belief that
            the elements actually
        become the body and blood of Jesus

Lord’s Supper as a
  1. of GraceSome denominations belief that the Lord’s Supper has a saving ability

Symbols of the body
and blood of Jesus   Lutheran view that Christ’s body
            and blood are present with the
            bread and wine.

Jesus did not say when or how often to observe the Lord’s Supper. His only command was that when we partake
that we do it in remembrance of Him.
Question 12
How often are we to observe the Lord’s supper?
( ) weekly
( ) monthly
( ) Jesus did not say

Both baptism and the Lord’s Supper are visible reminders of Jesus’ redeeming work and promise to return.
Baptism is to be administered only once. The Lord’s Supper is a continuing ordinance to be observed
throughout the Christian’s life.












The Church
Week 7       Officers of the Church     Day 4
Learning Goals
        You will be able to:
    1. list the two church officers mentioned in the New
Testament
2. define the words pastor, elder and bishop
    3. explain why Baptists do not use the word elder or
bishop when referring to their pastor
    4. list the qualifications of the pastor and deacons

The two church officers mentioned in the New Testament are pastor and deacon.
Question 1
What two church officers are mentioned in the New Testament?
a.
b.

Pastor
The name pastor is commonly used today in evangelical churches. However, it is only found once
in the New Testament. Read Ephesians 4:12.
Question 2
How many times is the name pastor found in the Bible?
( ) two
( ) one
( ) many times

The Bible normally refers to the pastor as “elder” or “Bishop”.
These words mean overseer. So we have three titles for the same office, pastor, elder, and bishop.
Question 3
What do pastor, elder, and bishop mean?
( ) head of the church
( ) leader
( ) overseer

The pastor should be an overseer not a dictator. An overseer is one who looks over
the congregation and meets the needs of the people.

Our Baptist forefathers may have stopped using the names Bishop and elder because of
the unscriptural actions of leaders of other denominations who used these titles. They began to use
the term pastor which means shepherd. A shepherd is an overseer who loves his flock.
Question 4
Why have Baptists stopped using the name bishop and elder?


Question 5
What does the term pastor mean?
( ) Shepherd
( ) Priest
( ) Dictator

Qualifications of the Pastor
The qualifications of a pastor are listed in I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9. The pastor is to have a good character
(I Timothy 3: 2-3); have an untarnished reputation, qualities of leadership (I Timothy 3:4-5) and the ability to teach
(I Timothy 3: 2).

The following characteristics show the good character of the pastor:
        One wife—faithful to his own wife
        Sober and orderly in daily life
        Self-controlled—not easily angered
        Respected
        Hospitable—makes opportunity to share the Gospel
        Able to teach
        Not a drunkard
        Gentle and patient
        Free from the love of money

Duties of the Pastor
The duties of the pastor are implied in the names given to his office. He is called an “elder”
which means older. This suggests experience and respect. The name “bishop” means
one who oversees. He keeps watch over the church, leading and directing it in its work. “Pastor”
means shepherd. The shepherd leads his flock, feeds his flock and protects his flock.
He seeks the lost sheep and ministers to the weak and helpless.
The pastor is to be preacher, teacher, leader and counselor.





Question 6
List five duties of the pastor as found in the above paragraph.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Question 7
As a review, underline the titles for the office evangelicals call pastor that we mentioned in the previous paragraph.

Support of the Pastor
Pastors should be supported by those who have called them as their shepherd. I Corinthians 9: 13-14 states:
  “But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder
the gospel of Christ. Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple
and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded
that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.”

When Jesus sent His disciples to preach and minister to the people, He told them
to take no money with them, “For the laborer is worthy of his hire” (Luke 10:70).
The pastor is “no lover of money (I Timothy 3:3), but he is to receive adequate support from those
to whom he ministers.
Question 8
How is the minister to support himself?
( ) work a separate job to support himself
( ) beg
( ) receive adequate support from those to whom he ministers

The Deacon
The “deacon” is the second office of the church. Deacon means servant.
They are Christians who have been selected by the church for special duties in the fellowship.
Question 9
Define Deacon
( ) overseer
( ) servant
( ) pastor’s conscience
( ) pastor’s boss
Origin of the office of Deacon
Acts 6 tells how the church first selected deacons. They were seven in member, but this does not mean
that every church is to have only seven deacons. The number will depend on the size of the church.
Some churches will only need two or three deacons. Other large churches may need twenty or more.
Question 10
Where in the Bible do we find the first mention of deacons?

Question 11
How many deacons does your church have? Why did your church choose this number of deacons?

The first deacons were chosen by the whole congregation and were set apart by the Apostles for their
service by the laying on of hands and prayer. The Apostles were those men who had actually seen Jesus.
Question 12
Who selected the first deacons?
( ) The Pastor
( ) The Apostles
( ) The whole congregation

Question 13
Who selects the deacons in your church?
( ) The Pastor
( ) The whole congregation
( ) Other deacons

In the lesson on the membership of the church, we said, “Each member
of a New Testament church has rights and privileges. They also share equally in the responsibilities.
The will of the body should be the will of all. One of the rights and privileges of each member is to join with
the whole congregation in selecting the deacons. You should have marked “the whole congregation”
as the answer for question 12.

Qualifications of the Deacon
The qualifications are written in Acts 6:3 and I Timothy 3:8-13. the qualifications of a deacon are very similar
to those of a pastor. Good character and untarnished reputation are essential in a deacon.
Other qualifications such as sound business ability and leadership talent are necessary.
No matter what other talents the deacon has if he is not an honest, sincere character he is not fit to be a deacon.
A man should never want to be a deacon because he believes himself worthy or deserving.
Deacons are servant leaders not power welding dictators.
Question 14
What is the number one qualification of a deacon?
( ) honesty, sincerity, good character
( ) education
( ) money

Duties of the Deacon
The deacon’s duties are not clearly defined in the New Testament. The deacons in Acts 6, were chosen
to look after the church’s finances so the apostles would have more time for prayer and sharing the gospel.
However they were also to be spiritual leaders in the church. This is shown by the high standard of character
that was demanded.
Question 15
What were the duties of the deacon in Acts 6?
( ) Supervise the pastor
( ) look after the church’s finances and serve as spiritual leaders
( ) make sure all church members obeyed the churches rules
The deacon is to be the pastor’s helper in all the activities of the church. The church gives the deacon the authority
to preach and baptize when the pastor is absent, serve the Lord’s Supper, visit and pray for church members.
In fact, the deacon should be willing to assist the pastor in all activities of the church. At the same time,
it is essential that the deacon remember that the first deacons were called to clean tables and make sure
the widows and orphans of the church were fed and sheltered. They were not ruling bosses.
They were humble servants.
Question 16
List several of the duties of a deacon as presented in the preceding paragraph.