Section I Scripture and Theology
Session 1: The Elders and the Church
1. One–minute Paper
3.3. Congregational
3. Three types of church government
that “a local church, gathered and completely organized according to the mind of Christ, consists of officers and members. The officers appointed by Christ to be chosen and set apart by the church (so called and gathered) … are bishops or elders, and deacons.” 12
3.3.3. Congregationalism in the New Testament (Merkle, 40 Questions, 38–45) 3.3.3.1. Congregations Choose Their Leaders
3.3.3.1.1. Select leaders (Acts 1:23; 6:2–3)
3.3.3.1.2. Send missionaries (Acts 13:3; 14:26–27; 15:3) 3.3.3.1.3. Affirm theological positions (Acts 15:22)
3.3.3.2. Congregations Exercise Discipline (Matt 18:15–18; 1 Cor 5:2, 4; 2 Cor 2:6
3.3.3.3. Congregations receive apostolic letters (Rom 1:7; 1 Cor 1:2; 2 Cor 1:1; Gal 1:2; Eph 1:1; Phil 1:1; Col 1:2; 1 Thess 1:1; 2 Thess 1:1; cf.
Rev 1:4)
3.3.3.4. Congregations are full of priests (1 Pet 2:5, 9; Rev 1:6; 5:10; 20:6; 1 Cor 11:17–34; Gal 1:8–9; 1 John 2:27; Rom 15:14; Jude 3)
3.3.3.5. Congregations are to be governed by servants (Luke 22:25–27) 3.3.4. Prominence of elders among Baptists
3.3.4.1. W. B. Johnson, the 1st president of the SBC, strongly advocated plurality of elders in a local church.
Dever warns to not let the idea of soul competency (priesthood of the believer) cause elders to pull back and defer too much to the congregation, but to properly exercise authority as undershepherds under Jesus Christ. “Leadership is a gift from God and should be received by churches as a gift”13 (156).
3.4. How congregationalism works at Crosspoint Church (See also Display, 44ff)
12Quoted in Allison, Historical Theology, 606.
13Dever, The Church, 156.
“Christian proclamation might make the gospel audible, but Christians living together in local congregations make the gospel visible. The church is the gospel made visible.”14
3.4.1. Regenerate, Baptized persons in covenant with one another 3.4.1.1. Review Crosspoint Church Covenant
3.4.1.2. Review Crosspoint Church Constitution 3.4.2. Congregational Rule—Elder Led
The final responsibility of the congregation does not contradict or undermine the elders’
general leadership, but it provides an opportunity to confirm it when it is right and to constrain it when it is in error.”15
3.4.3. The congregation appoints elders for its oversight and shepherding, who then in turn exercise care and leadership over the congregation. The elders, however, are ultimately subject to the authority of the congregation should matters arise where correction needs to be made.
3.4.4. At Crosspoint, the congregation votes on 3.4.4.1. Appointing elders
3.4.4.2. Annual church budget 3.4.4.3. Acquisition of property
3.4.4.4. Amendments to the constitution and by–laws 3.4.4.5. Adding and removing members
3.4.4.6. Other matters that the elders (pastors) deem necessary
3.4.5. Deacons: The deacons, likewise, are identified and appointed by the congregation and also fall under the direct leadership of the elders.
3.4.5.1. Deacons are leading servants.
And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.
Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of Spirit and of wisdom, who we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6: 2–4) 3.4.5.2. See also 1 Timothy 3:8–13 for the qualifications of deacons
14Ibid., xi.
15Ibid., 60.
3.4.5.3. List Current Deacons:
3.4.6. Crosspoint Church’s relationship to the denomination and other cooperative churches
The congregation voluntarily associates with the Southern Baptist
Convention and the related entities therein (SC Baptist Convention, Pickens–
Twelve Mile Association). Crosspoint also associates with a church planting association in the Southern Baptist Convention called the North American Church Planting Foundation (NACPF).
3.4.6.1. Agencies of the Southern Baptist Convention16
3.4.6.1.1. SBC Executive Committee: The Executive Committee exists to minister to the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention by
16The descriptions listed for each entity taken from http://www.sbc.net/
aboutus/entities/, accessed February 12, 2014.
Crosspoint Church’s Structure
Jesus Christ
Congregation
Southern Baptist Convention NACPF
Deacons Elders
acting for the Convention ad interim in all matters not otherwise provided for in a manner that encourages the cooperation and confidence of the churches, associations, and state conventions and facilitates maximum support for worldwide missions and ministries.
3.4.6.1.2. Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission: The Ethics &
Religious Liberty Commission exists to be a catalyst to connect the agenda of the kingdom of Christ to the cultures of local congregations for the sake of the mission of the gospel in the world.
3.4.6.1.3. GuideStone Financial Resources: GuideStone Financial Resources exists to assist the churches, denominational entities, and other evangelical ministry organizations by making available retirement plan services, life and health coverage, risk
management programs, and personal and institutional investment programs.
3.4.6.1.4. International Mission Board: The International Mission Board exists to assist the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention to be on mission with God in penetrating the unevangelized world outside the United States and Canada with the gospel and making Christ known among all people.
3.4.6.1.5. LifeWay Christian Resources: LifeWay Christian Resources exists to assist churches and believers to evangelize the world to Christ, develop believers, and grow churches by being the best provider of relevant, high quality, high value Christian products and services.
3.4.6.1.6. North American Mission Board: The North American Mission Board exists to work with churches, associations and state
conventions in mobilizing Southern Baptists as a missional force to impact North America with the Gospel of Jesus Christ through evangelism and church planting.
3.4.6.1.7. Theological Seminaries: Southern Baptist Theological Seminaries exist to prepare God–called men and women for vocational service in Baptist churches and in other Christian ministries throughout the world through programs of spiritual development, theological studies, and practical preparation in ministry.
3.4.6.1.8. Woman’s Missionary Union: Woman's Missionary Union assists churches in developing and implementing a comprehensive strategy of missions in order that a church can fulfill its total mission in the world. Woman’s Missionary Union challenges Christian believers to understand and be radically involved in the mission of God.
3.4.6.2. South Carolina Baptist Convention
3.4.6.3. Pickens–Twelve Mile Association
3.4.7. North American Church Planting Foundation (NACPF)
3.4.8. Strategic International Missions Partnerships (India & Honduras) 3.4.9. Clemson Presbyterian (PCA) and other local churches: Co–host annual
discipleship conference called the Restore Conference; partner on other large scale evangelistic events.
These partnerships beyond our local congregation are for the sole purpose of fulfilling the Great Commission. As in Scripture churches partnered together for the sake of mission and ministries of mercy (Acts 11:29; Rom 15:28;
Phil 4:14; 2 Cor 9:1–5), by partnering with churches around the world, we can accomplish more for the Great Commission than we can on our own.
(10 minutes)
v Divide Class into small groups and evaluate one of the following definitions in view of the historic marks of the Church. (BF&M 2000; Crosspoint statement of faith; Mark Dever’s definition from The Church) Report observations.
From Article VI. The Church, in the Baptist Faith and Message, 2000:
A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the two ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word, and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. Each congregation operates under the Lordship of Christ through democratic processes. In such a congregation each member is responsible and
accountable to Christ as Lord. Its scriptural officers are pastors and deacons.
While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.
The New Testament speaks also of the church as the Body of Christ which includes all of the redeemed of all the ages, believers from every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation.
Matthew 16:15–19; 18:15–20; Acts 2:41–42,47; 5:11–14; 6:3–6; 13:1–3;
14:23,27; 15:1–30; 16:5; 20:28; Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 3:16; 5:4–5;
7:17; 9:13–14; 12; Ephesians 1:22–23; 2:19–22; 3:8–11,21; 5:22–32;
Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 2:9–14; 3:1–15; 4:14; Hebrews 11:39–40; 1 Peter 5:1–4; Revelation 2–3; 21:2–3.
From the Crosspoint Church Statement of Faith:
G. The Church
The Lord Jesus is the head of the church, which is composed of all His true disciples, and in Him is invested supremely all power for its government. We believe there is one universal church which is comprised of all who place their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone. According to His commandment, Christians are to associate themselves into particular, local churches; and to each of these churches He has given needful authority for administering that order, discipline and worship which He has appointed. The regular officers of a church are elders (pastors) and deacons; the regular
ordinances of a church are baptism and the Lord’s Supper. (Mt. 26:26–29, 28:19; Jn. 10:16; Acts 2:38, 20:17, 28; Rom. 6:3–5; 1 Cor. 10:16–17, 11:23–34, 12:13; Eph. 1:22–23, 5:23; 1 Tim. 3:1–13, 5:17–18; Tit. 1:5–9;
Heb. 10:25)
From The Church: The Gospel Made Visible by Mark Dever:
The church is the body of people called by God's grace through faith in Christ to glorify him together by serving him in his world.
(20 minutes)
v Divide the class into four groups and assign each group one of the dichotomies as presented by Mark Dever on pages 91–95 of his book, The Church: The Gospel Made Visible. After allowing each group to read and discuss the dichotomy assigned to them, have each report to the class a summary of the dichotomy and its importance to a right understanding of the church.
Four Dichotomies in the Church 1. Visible or Invisible?
2. Local or Universal?
3. Militant or Triumphant?
4. True or False? 17
17Dever, The Church, 91–95.