Typical Question

Assembly, Congregation, Fellowship, Church (Ecclesia, Ekklesia)?

• ASSEMBLY PURPOSE - The local ecclesia's (assembly) primary purpose is to teach all the Word of God to the believers who are the Body of Christ, the Lord God Jesus Christ being the head.  They will also learn to strive for righteousness and become mature through the washing of the Word of God.  Believers will become strengthened and established in the true faith.  If the believes are well taught, they will become equipped to go out and become better soul winners.  They then bring new believers into the assembly for fellowship to learn much more and also grow in the knowledge and will of the Lord Jesus Christ who will use and bless them.

  • The word Church is not a biblical word.  When a group of people gather together for Christian purposes, it is called an assembly that contains true believers that are God's children and also seekers, curious people and non-believers.  An assembly of just true believers are called "The Body of Christ" and is also an assembly of God in its purest sense.   So the word assembly is just that, a mass of people, a group of people, a congregation or a church.  

• ASSEMBLY STRUCTURE - The assembly meeting should consist of encouraging the Body of Christ through singing, teaching all of the Word of God, participating in taking the Lords supper (communion bread and wine or grape juice), personal testamonies and praying for one another.  The organization consist of the Lord Jesus Christ as the head, a pastor (shepherd) that oversees the members, the elders who lead the church assembly and are responsible for teaching the Word and guiding, admonishing, and exhorting the people of God and deacons who handle caring for the sick, elderly or widowed and maintaining the groups property.  In a small congregation, the pastor may also fill one or more of these roles.  The congregation focuses on doctrine and what can be known rather than what is unknown.

  • • 1 Thes 5:12  12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish (instruct or warn) you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.

• 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.   (Eph 5:17-21)

• Throughout the New Testament, churches sent each other greetings (1 Corinthians 16:19), sent members to visit and help other churches (Acts 11:22, 25-26; 14:27), and cooperated to reach agreements on right doctrine.

• However, many assembly leaders focus their primary service on group evangelism, group behavior counseling, religious practices, programs and/or traditions.  Their assembly may consist of a combination of these methods rather than teaching them the meat of Christ which is righteousness after salvation having maturity of morals and ethics.  Because of upbringing, habit and questions of existance and life, most people and families make signifiant efforts to at least attend the primary Sunday congregation.  Many of the groups also usually form separate programs for group teaching (such as different Bible Study Groups) and various specific behavior counseling subject matters.  Separate services tend to be more difficult to attend, especially over a long period of time.  If you are not able to attend a teaching service, then at least try and attend one of their Bible Study groups.  If you are not able to attend their Bible Study group, then consider an online Bible Study such as 30MinuteBibleStudy at your own convenience.

• Finally, you are encouraged to examine the leadership, elders, deacons and congregation you attend.  What is their focus for their main services - teaching the Word and encouraging believers?  - or are they presenting religious ritual of traditional practices using some scripture, group evangelism using some scriptural verses or group behavior counseling using some scriptural verses.

Statement of Faith (beliefs)

• GOD - God has eternally existed as one essence, three co-equal Persons—The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1, 26-27; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; Colossians 1:15-23; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2)

• HUMANITY - Humanity is made in the image of God and is especially loved by Him. Although we have tremendous potential for good, we inherited sin and are marred by sin which separates us from God. (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53: 6; 59:1-2; Romans 3:23)

• THE BIBLE - The Bible was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of Truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because It is inspired by God, It contains no mistakes in the original language and is completely trustworthy.  (Psalm 12:6; 119:105, 160; Proverbs 30:5; 2 Timothy 1:13; 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

• THE LORD GOD JESUS CHRIST - Jesus born of a virgin, lived under the Mosaic laws, lived a sinless life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by suffering and dying on a cross. He was dead for three days and nights and rose from the dead to demonstrate his power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory, interseeds for the believing children of God and will return again to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  (Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:22-23; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 1:3-4; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 4:14-15)

• THE HOLY SPIRIT - The Holy Spirit is present in the world to make us aware of our sins, convicts unbelievers and reveals our need for Jesus Christ. He also lives within every Christian from the moment of salvation, He seals the believer, provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance for doing what is right. The Christian seeks to live under His power and guidance on a daily basis.  (John 14:16-17; 16:7-13; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 3:16; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 1:13, 5:18)

• SALVATION - We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s payment and offer for forgiveness can one be saved from sin’s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment one believes without doubting Jesus Christ into his or her life by faith.  (John 1:12; 14:6; Romans 5:1; 6:23; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5)

• ETERNAL LIFE - We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.  (John 3:16; Romans 6:23; 1 John 2: 25; 5:11-13; Revelation 20:15)

Anyone in a ministry role, needs to study the following subjects in significant detail.

Preaching verses Teaching?

• 1 Cor 1:18  (26-1-3)

  • Preaching is defined as about the Cross

  • Teaching is defined as presenting the Word of God, through the Bible, book by book, chapter by chapter, verse by verse and searching and comparing the scriptures for its interpretation with students (disciples).

• The following example titles are not preaching  or teaching messages:

  • When the Spirit speaks

  • How to get up when you are down

  • Will God impeach America

  • Living with confidence

  • How to find peace in your storm

  • When nothing seems to make sense

  • Living on the edge of eternity

  • When God cleans house

  • Warning that we did not heed

  • How to break satan's stronghold

  • Learning to endure

  • Four lies that ruined the world

  • Giving thanks in dark days

  • Hope for a doomed nation

  • The truth about death

• Through the Bible v/s Topical Preaching

• Through the Bible Preaching

• Teaching v/s preaching video lesson

• Preaching Sample - Charles Stanley

• Teaching Sample - Rom 3:20

• 1 Timothy 2:11  (45-2-2)

• Church leadership

• Bishop & Elder (Pastor)

• Deacon (helper)

• Women's role

What are the essential "milk" doctrine factors?

• These critical factors are for being accepted by God.

• (5a) What is Faith

• (15a) Lost people & sin

• (18a) Reason people go to Hell

• (20a) What does God say about non-believers

• (8c) What about people who never heard the Gospel

  • God also communicates through dreams, visions & revelations

• (9a) Salvation requirements after the Cross

• (23a) I can know that I am saved

What are the non-essential "meat" factors?

• These factors are for God's saved & maturing childen.

• Focus on the Apostle Paul's letters (Epistles)

• (24a) Key to understanding the Bible

• (16a) Sins after salvation

• (12b) What a Christian is to do with sin

• (5c) Noah's ark, TRUE believer & security

• (3c) Can a TRUE believer fall from grace

• (6c) What is the unpardonable sin

• (4b), (5b) Local church's primary function

• (13b), (14b) Being a giver v/s tithing

• (11b), (12b) God & miracle healings

• (16c) Is the gift of tongues for today

• (22a) How should we pray

• (14b), (15b) Marriage

Sabbath-Sunday-Circumcision-Tithing- Giving?

• 30 Minutes 1 Timothy

• (14b) 10% Income Tithe?

• The 10 Commandments & the law

• The Jewish laws until Christs resurrection

• Grace from Christ through the Apostle Paul after the resurrection

Exodus 16:1  (8-2-1)

• Sabbath & Sunday explained

• Mercy, Forgiveness, Believing & Salvation

• Salvation no longer by faith and the law, Salvation by faith (turn to believing in Christs dying for you)

• 2 Cor 8:1  (31-2-4) - Giving

• 2 Cor 8:7  (31-3-1) - Giving

• After Christs Resurrection Tithing v/s Giving

• Giving to others per your abiltity, not per the old Jewish laws

• Giving to others is encouraged, however it is not mandatory or a law to give to a congregation

• Don't promise or pledge giving to anyone or a congregation, give as you are able

• Neither tithing or giving is mandatory, however giving to others is encouraged

1st Source:  from Les Feldick's Book "Questions and Answers from The Bible" (Copyright 2002)

• 2nd source:  from Les Feldick's Newsletter

1. We continue to get questions concerning tithing and keeping Saturday Sabbath.  It must be the end time deception that we are warned to avoid.  When I show clearly from the letters of Paul that we are not under the law but under Grace, I get a response like, "But the Saturday Sabbath goes back to Genesis 2 when God rested."

2. Abraham gave titles of all in Genesis 14.  He began circumcision in Gensis 17.  Now, all three of these were incorporated into the Mosaic Law.  Consequently, all 3 were set aside when God opened the windows of Grace and set us free from the Law.  So, the early church moved the day of rest and worship to the resurrection day.  Not the day of the Sun as some foolish arguments try to put it.

3. When the Church, which is His Body, is complete, God takes it out of the way by calling it up to meet Him in the air, and with the advent of the 7-year Tribulation the law will once again be in effect.  Matt. 24:14, Revelation 12:17.  Compare Romans 6:14b.

RELEVANT SCRIPTURES

1. SABBATH:  Romans 14:5 - One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike.  Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.  1Cor 16:1-2 - Now concerning the collection for the Saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.  Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.  Col. 2:16 - Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an Holy day, or of the New moon or of the Sabbath days.  Acts 20:7 - And upon the firstt day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow, and continued his speech until midnight.

2. TITHING:  II Cor 8:12 - For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.  II Cor 9:7 - Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity;  for God loveth a cheerful giver.

3. Paul never uses the words Sabbath (except in Col. 2:16, above) or Tithe in any of his Epistles.