FELLOWSHIP BIBLE CHURCH

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Session #4 – The Leader and the Body of the Church

  1. Introduction: Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-31. According to these passages the church is described as one body made up of many members. The physical body is a good analogy of the Body of Christ because it helps emphasize the importance of theInterdependence of the distinctive parts for the body to effectively function. A foot isn’t the whole body but try having an effective functioning body without a foot! There are words used to describe one’s body when their foot won’t function: crippled or disabled! If every part that makes up the anatomy of a physical body isn’t functioning, the whole body suffers and it can cripple the body’s ability to get anything done. The same is true of the Body of Christ!

Since every part of a body (whether a physical or church body) must be in order for the whole body to effectively function, it is essential that we have a deeper understanding of the anatomy of the church Body. What are the individual components of an effective church body? That is what this lesson tonight is intended to do, as we draw upon the materials in the first four chapters of John MacArthur’s book, “The Master’s Plan for the Church”.

  1. Chapter #1: The Skeletal Structure – For a body to function, it has to have some structure. What does a skeleton do for a physical body? It gives it form so that it can effectively function. Our skeletons are meant to remain rigid and firm…they are not made to bend. When accidents happen to us that try to bend our skeleton, our bones can break which can really cripple the whole body!

So what makes up the skeleton within the local Body of Christ? What are the things upon which we are to remain firm, and not allow them to be bent to the point they could get broken and thereby cripple the Body of Christ? MacArthur describes five (5) skeletal truths that a church has to have and must remain committed to if we are to have a sound structure within the local church. These are:

1)A High View of God–What does it mean to have a high view of God? It means that I acknowledge God in his rightful and exalted place as the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe. It means I reject the humanistic world view that says everything that came into existence happened by impersonal chance, and I reject those who say life has no intrinsic meaning so I must define the meaning of my life by myself. Instead, I acknowledge that there is an infinite personal God who made everything that is…including me, which gives me meaning and purpose and acknowledges that there is someone to whom I am ultimately accountable. He possesses unique and divine attributes that cause me to respectfully fear him…he is holy, righteous, just, sovereign, eternal, immutable, omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent. He sits as the judge of the universe, and no one can ever threaten his throne or eternal dominion. So I therefore better figure out what He expects of me, and I need to be obedient to what He commands me do to!

Why is it important to have a high view of God? Having a high view of God enables me to have an accurate understanding of who I really am. Isaiah 6:1-5 comes immediately to mind, “In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!’ And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: ‘Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!’”

What happens if a local church doesn’t have or develop a high view of God? First of all, it risks becoming nothing more than a social gathering as God’s preeminence in everything that is done is diminished and compromised. Secondly, without a high view of God, a reverent fear of God may never develop causing attendeesto become unrepentant and complacent with sin. Thirdly, without a high view of God, a local church can’t know or experience true worship. Finally, if a church doesn’t have a high view of God, it risks doing things to please its people rather than doing thosethings God wants them to do to his honor and glory. Remember 1 Corinthians 10:31, “…whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Simply put, if a local church doesn’t have a high view of God, it has no distinctive purpose for itsexistence…since everything done in a church should be to honor and glorify God because itis recognized that in his high and exalted place he is worthy of our praise and adoration! If you want a social gathering, then go join a lodge. If you want to be entertained, then go to the theatre. But you come to church to worship God, so a high view of God is part of the skeletal structure of the church that should never be compromised!

2)The Absolute Authority of Scripture–What does it mean to accept the Bible as our absolute authority? It means that I recognize that wehave the full revelation of God in a written form and without error to instruct us about who are, what we need and how wee to live. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 are two verses that every believer should memorize: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”No one should attempt to add anything to Scripture as “revelation from God”, nor should anything be taken away from it! Matthew 5:18, “For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass away from the Law until all is accomplished.”

What is likely to happen to a church that doesn’t accept the absolute authority of Scripture? It is likely to slip into heresy or doctrinal error. It is likely to invent all sorts of erroneous interpretations of Scripture. Its members are likely to become confused over about what is the truth, and what God expects of them. Simply put, if a local church does not hold to the absolute authority of Scripture, it will have no guide for its direction. It would be like trying to cross the ocean without a compass….who knows where you will end up! Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

3)Sound Doctrine–What does it mean for a church to have sound doctrine? First, the word “doctrine” tends to scare some people, but it literally means “teachings”. So when we talk about sound doctrine, we are merely talking about sound principles or positions that a church teaches regarding essential truths of the faith. What determines if a doctrine is “sound” vs. “unsound”? The doctrinal teachings of a local church are sound when they adhere to and are consistent with the teachings of Scripture in the context of the entire recorded Word and God’s intended meaning. Note that I mention the word “context” here, because many unsound doctrines result when one particular passage is taken out of context and interpreted as a “stand alone” verse.

Let me give you an example. Last year I was helping pass out Gideon Bibles at ourlocal county fair. I struck up a conversation with a professing Believer who was going on-and-on about his understanding of Phil. 2:12, “…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling…”, and was basically saying that one needed to work for their salvation, and anyone who didn’t believe this was being deceived. First…the verse states we are to work “out”, not “for” of salvation. This interpretation also ignores verse 13 in the immediate context:“…for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”. I also quoted to him Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Unfortunately, my arguments did not change his mind, but this serves as a good example of how one portion of Scripture when taken out of context can lead to doctrinal error. Remember this simple definition of heresy: truth out of balance! Most heresies contain an element of truth, but that element is taken out of context and often interpreted in a vacuum, leading one to make erroneous conclusions.

What happens when a church doesn’t establish sound doctrinal positions? When a church teaches doctrines that are not consistent with the Word it will miss out on receiving God’s blessings and they will be judged. See Galatians 1:6-10, especially verse 9, “As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.” Paul was writing to address doctrinal error at the church at Galatia whereby Judaizers were trying to add the requirements and standards of the Old Covenant to the Gospel as a prerequisite for salvation. Paul says that those who teach such false doctrines should be accursed. A church which doesn’t have sound doctrine merely confirms that it hasno clear understanding of God’s truth as he has communicated through his Word.

4)Personal Holiness – What does it mean for a church to make personal holiness the goal for its members and why is this important? The Greek word for the church,ekklesia, literally means “called”. Called from what? The church is called out from a world of sin to live separate holy lives as God’s redeemed children. 1 Peter 1:14-16 tells us, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy’.” In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians in 1:4 we are told that God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world “…that we should be holy and blameless before him.” Romans 8:29 tells us that those whom God foreknew “…he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…”, and we know that Christ is an exact copy or imprint of the image of God, who is a holy image! (Hebrews 1:3)

What happens when a local church doesn’t make personal holiness part of its essential skeletal framework? Nothing will destroy a church more quickly than sinful activities by the members in a local church that are not dealt with according to Biblical principles, because that church will haveno effective testimony before the watching world. This is why we will deal with the issue of church disciple in Session #11 as part of this course. What does the world say when they observe sinful activities by church goers? They rightfully call them hypocrites, and they want nothing to do with them, their church or their message!

Consider this heartbreaking comment on Facebook following Catholic Cardinal Keith O’Brien’s resignation following admission of inappropriate sexual conduct:

“yet another very good reason to not participate in any church stuff. all religions are manmade. made for MEN to have their way with whomever and whatever they choose. i will not allow myself to be drawn into this sea of immorality called the church, whichever church it may be. I have lived a very good life since i gave up the christian church. i honestly tried to get into it but the further i got into the church the crappier i found it and its' patrons to be superficial and most of all liars from the get go. won't even listen to any other beliefs but theirs. so i parted ways and have never looked back. should there be some god or gods somewhere they or it is not interested in me. the church is interested in me as far as my money goes then they will find some way to abandon, and I have this from experience, I was kicked out of the southern baptist church for having a child out of wedlock and dunned for tithes. no way will I ever trust another christian.”

Now I am not saying that a church’s poor testimony because of sinful activities can become a valid excuse for the lost to reject Christ. Everyone is ultimately accountable for their own sin. But how sad when a church loses its effective testimony because of sin that becomes readily known to a watching world!!!

Listen…if you are serious about your relationship with Christ, and you want to be a leader…whether in your home…with your friends…at work…at church…and ultimately in Christ’s future kingdom, you must understand that personal holiness is not something optional. It is God’s requirement and expectation of us! And God didn’t create an expectation or standard that we are powerless to achieve, but has provided the means by which we can overcome any temptation to fall into sin. 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” Don’t make excuses, ignore or downplay repetitive sinful activities if you are struggling in this area…through the enabling power of the Holy Spirit claim the victory that is yours in Christ Jesus, put off sin and start living holy lives to the honor and glory of God!

5)Spiritual Authority– What does it mean that spiritual authority needs to be part of the structural framework of the church? It means everyone in a local body recognizes that there is a hierarchal chain of authority within the church which should be respected and followed.

First of all, Christ must be recognized as the overall head of any local body of Believers…the entire church body needs to recognize that ultimately they need to be in submission to his authority. (We’ll deal with this more in a bit when we review chapter #4.) See Ephesians 5:22-24, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.” What does it mean for Christ to be the head of a church? In everything we do, we need to recognize Christ’s headship and lordship, and we seek his leadership and guidance in the decisions we make. And since God’s authority is communicated through his word (2 Tim. 3:16-17), it means that any local church should never make decisions that are not consistent with Biblical principles. It means that everyone within the body (i.e., pastors, elders, deacons, members) should seek to know the mind and will of Christ (rather than simply decide what they want) in every matter through prayer.

Secondly, the church should recognize that there is a chain of authority within the structure of the local church that should be acknowledged…namely God leaders gives leaders to the local church who hold differing positions of authority which should be respected and followed as they fulfill their obligations before God. 1 Timothy 5:17, “Let the elders rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.” But keep in mind that with increasing levels of authority and responsibility also come increasing levels of accountability before God. Hebrews 13:17, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.”

What happens if a church does not recognize the chain of spiritual authority within its structure? Overall, there will likely be factions and divisions that eventually will lead to a total breakdown in order, and that local body that will find its self in a state of total chaos. Local churches often lay in states of spiritual ruin because some individuals or group of individuals within the church thought they had equal authority to everyone else, and they sought to exert their personal will (without bothering to seek God’s will) upon the whole congregation. God establishes the chains of authority as a means of protecting the body, but when we rebel against the chain of authority that God has established, we fall out from underneath his umbrella of protection and suffer the consequences.

6)Conclusion from Chapter #1 – So what can we say in conclusion?

  1. Without a high view of Scripture, the church has no distinctive purpose.
  2. Without holding to the absolute authority of Scripture, the church has no guide.
  3. Without sound doctrine, the church has no understanding God’s truth.
  4. Without personal holiness, the church has no testimony.
  5. Without spiritual authority, the church has no order.

Now, we have been speaking of these skeletal truths of the church that are not to be compromised, but understand that YOU ARE THE CHURCH! These things must be part of the mindset and practice of every member without compromise…and they must certainly be true of anyone who aspired to assume positions of leadership…in order for them to be in place within a local church. Remember, the foundation of a house is built block by block….these five things must characterize each of ourpersonal lives if they are to be in place within this local body of believers at FBC!