"For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." 1 Corinthians 14:33, KJV.
"God has made His church on the earth a channel of light, and through it He communicates His purposes and His will. He does not give to one of His servants an experience independent of and contrary to the experience of the church itself. Neither does He give one man knowledge of His will for the entire church while the church—Christ's body—is left in darkness. In His providence He places his servants in close connection with His church in order that they may have less confidence in themselves and greater confidence in others whom He is leading out to advance His work."—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 163.
You are part of an organized fellowship! Your special talents and abilities are needed! You can unite your efforts to bring success!
The very existence of a church as well as its prosperity depends upon the united action and mutual confidence of its members. Organization makes it easier for persons of different abilities to do what they can do best. Cooperative effort always accomplishes more than independent activity.
In this lesson you will discover:
FELLOWSHIP ORGANIZATION
1. What counsel does the Bible give about organization in the church? 1 Corinthians 14:33, 40.
1 Corinthians 14:33 (NIV) For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the congregations of the saints,
1 Corinthians 14:40 (NIV) But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.
2. Why do the members of the church need organization for service? 1 Corinthians 12:14-17.
1 Corinthians 12:14-17 (NIV) Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15) If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16) And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17) If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?
3. How does the Bible reveal that all the abilities of members are needed? 1 Corinthians 12:18-20.
1 Corinthians 12:18-20 (NIV) But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19) If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20) As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
4. What happens in the church when each member fulfills his or her role? Ephesians 4:16.
Ephesians 4:16 (NIV) From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
5. By what means did the early Christian church solve a pressing problem? Acts 15:1, 2, 6.
Acts 15:1-2 (NIV) Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." 2) This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
Acts 15:6 (NIV) The apostles and elders met to consider this question.
6. What solution was formulated in the Jerusalem Council? Acts 15:22-29.
Acts 15:22-29 (NIV) Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, two men who were leaders among the brothers. 23) With them they sent the following letter: The apostles and elders, your brothers, To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings. 24) We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. 25) So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul--; 26) men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27) Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. 28) It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29) You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.
7. How did the local churches react and benefit from this council meeting? Acts 15:30, 31; 16:4, 5.
Acts 15:30-31 (NIV) The men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. 31) The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message.
Acts 16:4-5 (NIV) As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. 5) So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.
8. What indicates that the early church had membership lists? Acts 2:47; Matthew 18:17, 18.
Acts 2:47 (NIV) praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Matthew 18:17-18 (NIV) If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. 18) "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
Note: The fact that churches added members and dropped members indicates that there must have been organized churches with definite memberships.
9. Other Bible evidences of early church organization:
10. What instruction did the apostle Paul give for appointing leaders in each local church? Titus 1:5.
Titus 1:5 (NIV) The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.
11. What counsel is given to members in their relationship to appointed elders? Hebrews 13:7.
Hebrews 13:7 (NIV) Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
12. What advice is given to elders regarding their leadership? 1 Peter 5:1-3.
1 Peter 5:1-3 (NIV) To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2) Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3) not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
HERITAGE TIE
Seventh-day Adventist Organization
In a general meeting at Battle Creek, Michigan in 1860 Seventh-day Adventists chose their denominational name and appointed a committee to organize the first publishing house, the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association, incorporated in 1861. In 1861 the churches of Michigan organized into the first "conference" (in the Methodist sense of the word); later more conferences were formed in other states. In 1863 the Adventists organized the General Conference and adopted a constitution and by-laws.
If possible most local conferences in the United States consist of the Adventist churches within a state's borders. A union conference comprises several local conferences, usually within a particular geographical area. The North American Division represents nine union conferences. The General Conference governs the world church, which is organized into divisions.
Unless otherwise designated, scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION�. Copyright � 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.