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WHAT
IS THE CHURCH?
A
Look At Scriptural Metaphors
Study
Guide #1 - Dr. Walter Thomas
The New Testament uses some important and telling
metaphors to describe the relationship of Christ and His church. Some of these
apply only to Him (i.e. life, gate, light, way, son of man) and some apply to
the relationship between He and us. We are trying to discover if Jesus gave us
any pattern for the church. What are some “pieces of the pattern”
that we can discover from studying these metaphors?
In each of the following passages, identify and
describe the metaphor being used. Why did He use these? What was the intended message? Then, explain what you think
are the implications for His church. In some passages there are many implications,
such as in the first one.
- John 15:1-17
- John 10:1-10
- John 10:11-21 (For further insights, see Ezekiel 34:1-31)
- John 6:25-40
- Extra Study: Paul uses the additional metaphors of the body and its parts, bride/bridegroom, family, father
and children and the body as temple. Find scriptures for these and discover “pieces
of the pattern” for the church from each.
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WHAT’S
IN A NAME? WHAT IS THE CHURCH?
Study
Guide #2 - Dr. Walter Thomas
We
are in a study about the New Testament church, trying to discover pieces of a pattern in the teachings of Jesus Christ and
the Apostles. Our first topic is to define and describe the church. Words have a history and words change meaning over their lifetime.
A “piece of the pattern” can be found in the word for “church”.
The Greek word for church as usually translated in the New Testament is ekklesia.
This was a common, everyday term used in common, everyday Aramaic Greek. This is a word that Jesus (Matt. 16::18 and
18:17) lifted right out of everyday political/civil life and government. The
word is best translated assembly rather than church. The Septuagint, the Greek
version of the Hebrew Old Testament popular in Jesus' time, used ekklesia to translate the Hebrew gahal, which
stood for 'gathering', 'assembly' or 'congregation'. Most towns and cities of the time had assemblies for conducting
community government, much like a town meeting. These were participatory meetings
in which the citizens would make laws, debate policy, discuss community problems, do civic planning, hear complaints, discipline
its citizens for misdemeanors and crimes, hire civic employees, and the like. We still use that term to describe our state
legislative houses, The General Assembly, etc. It comes down through Latin/Roman/Greek language, through English common law
and into the English colonies like North Carolina. The disciples had to be surprised
that Jesus would use this term to describe what He was planning to build, rather than something modeled on the synagogue or
temple congregation. The term, ekklesia, or assembly, is used 113 times
in the New Testament books and is usually translated, church. Sometimes
it is correctly translated assembly.
- In Matt. 18:17 Jesus uses the common everyday concept of
ekklesia. What was He saying here? What
is intended here? What similarities are intended with town meetings? There were no Christian churches at the time of this
teaching. The translators probably mistakenly chose the word, church, here.
- In Acts 15 we find Paul bringing back some problems to the
elders and apostles and brethren in Jerusalem. Paul understood the council would
do a “town meeting” on the matters. What term is used in 15:12? What did the group discuss and do in this passage?
- In Acts 15:22 we have the same term, ekklesia, used: “then
the apostles and the elders, with the whole ekklesia…..” What did
this group do (vs. 22-29)?
- In 15:30 the ambassadors from the Jerusalem assembly went
to Antioch, “where they gathered the ekklesia together.” What did
they say and do?
- In Acts 19, Paul finds himself facing complaints filed against
him. The term ekklesia occurs in vs. 32, 39 and 41. What was going on here? What was ekklesia referring to?
- In Acts 20:7-12 we have some interesting description of
ekklesia. What can you learn about the local assembly from this passage?
- In the same passage, a young man fell out of the upstairs
window after falling asleep. In verse 7 the KJV translation says, “Paul
preached unto them..” and the NIV says, “Paul spoke to the people”.
The operative Greek word here is dialogeo, best translated dialogued, discussed or conversed with them. The same root word, dialogomenue is used in vs. 9 when the NIV translates, “Paul talked on and on”
and the KJV says, “Paul was long preaching.” Paul and the people
were actually dialoging, discussing and debating into the wee hours of the morning. What
does that tell you went on in the assembly even when the great Apostle Paul was present for hours?
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RESTORATION
REQUIRES OBEDIENCE
Study Guide #3 – Dr. Walter Thomas 2/1/04
Restoration of the church will cost the high price of obedience. A faithful servant is an obedient servant;
a faithful church is an obedient church. Disobedience and unfaithfulness may
have created our modern, contemporary church models and ways of “doing church”, i.e. mega-church, shopping-center
church, bigger is better, hierarchical government, age-graded ministries that are parent-replacements, elevated clergy as
CEO/superstar, corporate model, real estate development, asset accumulation, entertainment front and center, passive spectator
attendance, church shopping, pop musical forms and the like. One of the purposes
of the church is for it to be disciplined (discipled) unto obedience. A primary
purpose of the church is to be an ARMY of God.
1.
God spells faith, o-b-e-y. Look at Hebrews 11, the
Hall of Fame in the Kingdom of God. What did each “Hero of Faith”
exhibit?
_______________________________________________
Give multiple examples of faithful obedience from this passage.
2. (Matthew
25:14-30) What would be an unfaithful servant?
“Mind extender”: How does this relate to the doctrine of COVENANT?
3.
Jesus connected love with obedience in John 14 and
15.
A. Vs. 14:12 –
What qualifies one who has faith?
B. Vs. 13 –
What will your faith cause Jesus to do?
C. Vs. 15 –
Love is not unconditional. What is it?
D. Vs. 21 –
Who is it that loves Jesus?
E. Vs. 23
- Who is it that loves Jesus?
F. Vs. 24
– Who are not His disciples?
G. Vs. 15:10 –
What is the apparent condition for remaining loved by Christ?
4. Jesus
often said, “According to your faith, so be it unto you.” Jesus would
usually require an “action step” (example: “take up your bed” or “go and wash”, etc.)
on the part of the would-be miracle-beneficiary. Why? What does this mean?
5. Look
at Acts 2. The marvelous Implant, which is an abiding seal and sign to the church
of Jesus Christ, is ___________________________.
6. Look
at Acts 5:32. What is the great condition for receiving the indwelling Ghost
of Jesus? Why do you suppose this is a condition in order to be filled with the
Holy Spirit of Jesus?
7.
Look at John 14:15-16. What is the tie between obedience and the gift
of the Comforter?
For
reflection: How does this concept differ from what is popularly preached about the filling and baptism of the Holy Spirit
in today’s church teachings?
For
reflection: The New Testament often refers to the Holy Spirit as the Holy Ghost of Jesus.
Explain why and how this is connected to Jesus Christ as Lord of the church.
(Clue: Jesus is supposed to be both our Savior and our Lord)
How
is Jesus as Savior different than Jesus as Lord?
8. The
gospel narratives describe Jesus as proclaiming and demonstrating the “Kingdom of God” in many, many references,
i.e. “repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand”, “the Kingdom of heaven is near you”, “the
Kingdom of heaven has come upon you”, “I give you the keys to the
Kingdom,” “I have given you the secrets of the Kingdom,” etc. The
word “kingdom” in the NT Greek is basalia, and is best translated as rule or rulership. Look up some of the kingdom references made by Jesus and explain how you think it relates to the concept
of obey and obedience.
For reflection: What do you think, therefore, is one of the “secrets”
of the Kingdom?
9. Brain
twister: If the primary purpose of the “church triumphant” (2 Corinth. 2:14) is to be the “army of God”
(overcomers, spiritual warfare), then how does faithful obedience work for an army?
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THE CHURCH AS AN ARMY-Discovering
the purpose of the church
Study guide #4 – Dr. Walter Thomas 2/8/04
There
are various metaphors for the church and for the people of God. These metaphors
depict our relationship to God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. They
also help us to discover the purpose, function and form of the ekklesia (assembly of the Warrior King, Jesus). They include shepherd and sheep, vineyard-vine-branches, family, father and children, brothers and sisters
with Christ Jesus, wedding, bride and bridegroom, student and teacher and kingdoms in conflict. These are mixed with metaphors like water, light, gate, door, way, truth, oil, narrow road, good Samaritan,
fishermen, farmer, bodily temples, racing, physical training, virgins, wheat, corn and so forth. One of the most striking and central metaphors is that of assembly of a mighty army. The army is mustered together by its Commander-In-Chief, the sovereign and omnipotent Conqueror, the Lord
Jesus Christ. The church triumphant is the end-time picture of the church of
Jesus Christ in Revelation. Jesus describes the church as a Kingdom of God against
the Kingdom of Darkness. The two kingdoms (rulerships) are under the Lord of
Heaven and the Lord of Hell, respectively. We are in a spiritual warfare to the
death. It is mortal combat conducted by dreaded champions of righteousness, the
army of Jesus Christ. Jesus talked about Kingdom more than any NT doctrine. The
ecclesiastical army is to the Kingdom of God as the army-navy-air force-marines-coastguard is to the United States of America. The ekklesia is the assembly of spiritual warriors.
1. The
Kingdom of God is a military model, depicting battle, struggle and victory. What
does Matthew 11:12 mean?
2. What
do you think the phrase, “…and everyone is forcing his way into it” (Luke 11:16) means?
3. The
Apostle John declared the battle mission of Jesus. Look at I John 3:8 (see also Acts 10:38 and Galatians 1:4) and describe that mission.
Is that something we are also to do today? How?
4. Paul
frequently uses battle language in describing the Christian life. Look up each
of the following Scripture passages and explain what you think he means.
A. I Timothy 6:12
B. II Timothy 2:3-4
C. II Timothy 3:12
D. Romans 8:31-39
E. II Corinthians
10:3-5
F. Ephesians
6:10-18
G. I Corinthians
4:20
5. What
kind of battle is Peter referring too in I Peter 5:8 and 9?
6. The
term “Lord of Hosts” is used hundreds of times in the OT. What does
that term mean? Does it mean the same today?
How does that term apply to battle and war?
8.
If the church is an army that recruits, trains and leads warriors into battle, then how would we go about these tasks in the
local assembly? Are there strategies for war to be developed and directed? What strategies are given us in Scripture? Will
there be wounded? How will we take care of the wounded?
9.
(For deeper thought) - An effective enemy will infiltrate and render damage behind our lines of defense. In what ways do you think the enemy has infiltrated the evangelical church in America? What ways of the world have we brought into the church? Do
we use some of these ways to be “seeker sensitive”? Do you think
the enemy has affected the church organization and practices by infiltration and smuggling?
What are the results? What should happen when we discover such enemy activities
within the church? What about democratic voting? Owning real estate assets? Entertainment?
Corporate organizational structures? Hired ministers? Hierarchical CEO administrative structure?
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THE ROCK
Bible
Study #5 – Dr. Walter Thomas
Overcome
by anger, the elderly man pounds his rod against the boulder. Drawing it back,
he swings again, and shouts: “Hear now you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” Then a stream of water rushes out of the rock, meeting Israel’s needs in the desert. But in taking the credit to himself for the gift of water instead of ascribing it to the ROCK, Moses had
sinned. And because of that sin, he would not enter the promised land. (Numbers20:7-12
This rock imagery runs throughout Scripture.
- In
the last sermon Moses preached to Israel, perhaps recalling the incident above, he uses a metaphor for God. Look at Deuteronomy 32:3-4. What is it?
What
does he say about God?
- Paul references this time in the life of the Israelites in I Corinthians 10:1-4.
How does Paul reframe this? Who is the rock?
- Centuries after Moses, David echoed the same theme in Psalms 62:7. What
was David declaring?
- Isaiah used a similar imagery in Isaiah 28:16. About what was he speaking?
- Jesus used this imagery when He declared in Matthew 16:18, “…and on this rock I will build my ekklesia
and the gates of hell will not overcome it.” Jesus is saying, that on this
great truth, that He was the promised Messiah (the Christ), He would build His
church. He would establish His Assembly on Himself, the living Rock, a sure foundation. Can you think of any parallels between this “ROCK” and the one in the
wilderness? What are they?
Do you think His disciples
picked up on this imagery? What might they have concluded by this statement?
How was His death like “striking the rock”?
- How did Peter picture this in I Peter 2:4?
- How did Paul state this imagery in I Corinthians 3:11?
- How does Jesus tie the Moses imagery to Himself and to us in John 7:37-39?
- In Matthew 7:24-27, how does Jesus continue this theme?
- Can you quote the old hymn, Rock of Ages? What further imagery is used
here?
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SHEPHERD ELDERS IN THE LOCAL ASSEMBLY
Study Guide # 6 – Dr. Walter
Thomas
The New (and Old) Testament model of elder leadership remains largely unknown to most Christians in America because
of at least two influences: (1) various religious traditions that adopted medieval and pre-modern hiarchical/episcopal government
structures and (2) modern American corporate organizational models. These two influences, when taken together, have probably
shaped most local church organizational patterns in our culture. Many of those
churches who do attempt elder leadership still form elder boards that function on modern organizational designs much like
a corporate board of directors with members who often do not meet the criteria set forth by the Apostle Paul in I Timothy
3 and Titus 1. These deviations from apostolic directions and patterns have probably
morphed many “churches” and denominations that seem tragically like the end-time churches described in Revelation
2 and 3 (synagogues of Satan, a Jezebel spirit, following Nicolaitans, religious
forms without power, neither hot nor cold but lukewarm, forsaken first love, follow teachings of Balaam and Balak, sexual
perversions/immorality, incomplete deeds, spiritually dead, etc. – these deserve careful study and teaching, but not
here). Since the New Testament so emphatically emphasizes the moral and spiritual qualifications of elders, we need to repent
and return to those specifications. Church leadership will one day be held responsible
by God at the Great Judgment Day for the condition of America’s churches (much like Ezekiel 34).
1. Acts
14:23 says, “When they had appointed elders for them in every church (ekklesia or assembly), having prayed with fasting,
they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.” (parentheses mine). This passage provides the historical
background, establishing that on his first missionary journey Paul appointed elders in all of the churches that he and Barnabas
had established, even though his subsequent letters to those churches only occasionally reflect this fact.
This passage would support the following observations:
a. This
is the first mention of elders in the Gentile churches.
b. The
Apostles established the eldership structure for leadership in all of the assemblies.
c. There
were multiple, not single, elders in each assembly.
d. They
were appointed not elected. The pronoun them that follows appoint, indicates that the elders were appointed for the church,
not by the church.
e. Paul
and Barnabas had a deep and serious concern about making these appointments.
How do you suppose they were appointed? Do you think there was an election and voting?
The Apostles took very seriously the appointing of elders. What indications from this verse would support that?
How many other insights about appointing church elders
can you find in this passage?
2. Study
how Paul instructs Timothy to guard himself as shepherd elder in 2 Timothy 3:13-17.
List what this passage teachers the shepherd of God’s flock about guarding himself.
a. (13)
b. (14)
c. (14-15)
d. (14-15,
cont.)
e. (16)
f. (17)
God’s Word will
be the shepherd elder’s primary weapon for protecting the flock, so he must know it well and be able to use it. It is
also the shepherd elder’s source of personal and spiritual strength, wisdom and encouragement.
3.
To what did Paul commend the Ephesian elders? (Acts
20:32) What does this mean?
4.
Read Acts 20:28-31, then list and describe the “protect”
responsibility Paul gave the Ephesian elders.
5.
What is the Pauline model for elders in Acts 20: 33-35?
6.
Read I Peter 5:1a, 3b-5 and identify what is Peter’s
instruction to all of the elders in the churches.
7.
What are his instructions to the younger men in ministry?
a.
b.
c.
8.
What are Paul’s instructions to the people in
the church of Thessalonica in respect to those shepherd elders in the assembly? (I Thessalonians 5:12-13)
9.
Paul didn’t consider a church to be fully developed
until qualified, functioning shepherd elders had been appointed for the church at Crete.
How did he say this to Titus (1:5, -10)?
10. How would you describe the stewardship responsibility the shepherd elder has for the
Lord’s flock? Does Psalms 23 help you with this task?
11. Read Ezekiel 34 and list the indictments God makes of the shepherds in their poor
stewardship of God’s people. What are they?
I
Peter 5:1: "Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a
partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you." (emphasis mine)
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THE FUNCTION OF SHEPHERD ELDERS IN THE CHURCH
Study Guide #7 – Dr. W. Thomas
Elder-led assemblies are the New Testament pattern. Elders are local men who are generally more mature
than the other members of the assembly; meaning, spiritually more mature, experientially more mature, more knowledgeable
(especially in things of doctrine and the Word) and more wise (in terms of understanding the ways of God as applied to church,
marriages, families and life in general). Elders are not an office to be filled, but simply older men who are merely brothers
among the brothers and sisters in the assembly. It would be better for the position of elder to remain empty than to fill
it with someone who was too young, too immature, to inexperienced or not gifted. What
does the Bible say are the duties and responsibilities of the Elders in the local assembly?
There are three Biblical terms that give us direct insight into their role of leadership: elder, overseer and shepherd.
Elder refers to their character and maturity; overseer refers to their function and shepherd (pastor) refers to their gifting.
Gifting and function are important, but not as important as character and maturity. (Note: this study of function will take
more than one study guide)
- What do you think the term ELDER means and implies? What
do you think are the qualities and descriptions of one who would be designated “elder”, even aside from the Biblical
use of that term?
- Character and maturity are the primary perquisites for being appointed an elder. A local assembly may have very gifted younger men (and women). How
does the Apostle Peter set forth the relationship between younger and older men in the church? (I Peter 5:1-6)
Why do you suppose
both Peter and Paul emphasize maturity and character over youthfulness in selecting those elders to lead the local flock?
- Why do you suppose the Apostles emphasize character and maturity as more important than gifting
(talents, skills, training)? Note: God usually chooses (OT and NT) as spiritual
leaders those that are far from being the most talented and gifted, not the obvious candidates, but reaches down into the
flock and selects “least likelies” and “don’t wannas”.
Why?
- In the same passage, what does Peter say is the primary charge of responsibilities to the elders?
(Vs. 2-3) There are seven instructions to elders.
What are they?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
e.
(More
study guides will be posted weekly)
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