Administration Foundational Truths Gods Structure for Growth - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Administration

Foundational Truths God’s Structure for Growth – Ephesians 4:1-16 God is a God of order, yet a God of great creativity and desires that His church manifest His nature.

• Everything God created has structure.
• His structures are designed to enhance growth and
• reproduction. Structure can limit or enhance growth.
• A structure is only as good as its individual parts.

Word pictures God uses to teach how the church is to

• perate: body, family, and flock.

His Church as a Body (I Corinthians 10:17; 12:1-31; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:1-16;

Colossians 1:18, 24 )

• There are leaders. One primary leader – The Head is Christ; multiple

secondary leaders, pastors/leaders/elders, always a plurality but usually an evident “first among equals.”

• There are many different members.
• Every member is gifted and important.
• The leader’s job is to help each member do his/her job with excellence

and effectiveness.

• Key to body life: Everyone gives up control. Leaders have to give up

control of the ministry and members give up control of the management.

• Each one must appreciate and cooperate with others.
• There must be unity or the body is crippled.

His Church as a Body

What are some things that cause division in the body?

• Unhealthy practices unbiblical practices.

What do all of these things have in common?

• Voting, Boards, Chairman, Committees, Majority rule,

Parliamentary procedures, Elections, Ballots, Business meetings, Democracy, Corporate officers, Church constitutions…..

• None of the above are ever mentioned in the Bible.

His Church As a Body

The Democratic method of church government:

• Is based on an American model more than a biblical model.
• Operates on the basis of Competition; not maturity, giftedness, and

completion.

• Functions by the process of voting, which is not biblical and promotes

two disastrous results for the body; somebody always loses and improper empowerment.

Unhealthy practices lead to: unhealthy attitudes; which lead to unhealthy relationships; which lead to unhealthy disability.

His Church Is a Family

We are a household of faith:

(Galatians 6:10; Ephesians 2:19; I Corinthians 4:15; I Timothy 3:15; Hebrews 2:10-12; I Peter 4:17; I John 2:13-14)

• There are spiritual fathers, mothers, and children in

the family.

• Relationships are paramount.
• Mother and Father are to develop the children

through loving care, protection and training.

His Church Is a Flock

Christ’s favorite term for his followers:

(Matthew 26:31; John 10:1-30; John 21:16-17; Acts 20:28-29; I Peter 5:2-3)

• It is to be led by shepherds.
• Shepherds are responsible to feed, lead, oversee, and guard!
• The Shepherds must give HUMBLE, DECISIVE oversight.
• The members of the flock must give humble gracious

followship.

His Church Is a Flock

A church should then:

• Implement a simple structure that minimizes rules and

maximizes godly relationships on all levels.

• Maintain a structure that minimizes the potential for conflict and

division and maximizes the potential for growth.

• Can structure for control or growth but not for both.
• Checks and balances for governance.
• Be led by godly spiritual fathers who do the following: feed,

equip, lead, pray, oversee, and protect.

Results:

• Leaders can give wise stable leadership that

leads and equips the body!

• Members can be freed to minister!
• The unchurched can see and feel Christ and

be drawn to Him!

• The church grows!