Php 1:1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

1. The Organization
of the New
Testament Church!

2. The
Organization
of the New
Testament
Church!
Were do we
fit?

4. The Organization of the Church!
Php 1:1 Paul and Timothy,
bondservants of Jesus Christ, To
all the saints in Christ Jesus who
are in Philippi, with the bishops
and deacons:

5. The authority of the church!
Found in two places “doctrine & decisions!”
▪ In our last study we look at the
authority of the NT church in matters
of “doctrine!”
▪ Tonight we will look at the other
side, the authority of the NT church
in matters of “decisions!”
▪ Who is in charge around here?

6. Commanded to assemble!
Heb 10:24-25 And let us consider one another in
order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking
the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner
of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the
more as you see the Day approaching.
▪ Examples of this in the early church!
▸Act. 2:42; 20:7
▪ Designed for us to worship God together
and to edify one another!
▸Eph. 4:11-16

7. Learning to work “together” as the
body of Christ!
We are all part of the body of Christ! (1 Cor.12:12-27)
▪ Php 2:1-4 Therefore if there is any consolation in
Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the
Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by
being like-minded, having the same love, being of
one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done
through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness
of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
Let each of you look out not only for his own
interests, but also for the interests of others.

8. The “need” for organization &
leadership!
Every successful body needs these to function!
▪ 1 Cor 14:33 For God is not the author of
confusion but of peace, as in all the
churches of the saints.
▪ 1 Cor 14:40 Let all things be done
decently and in order.
▪ Today we will be studying the
organization of the NT church as revealed
in the pages of the Bible!

9. I. The Position of the Preacher!
▪ Now, who is under the “spot light” the
most? Who often receives the most
attention? Why do you think this is?
▪ When things do not seem to be going
well, who do people often blame? When
things seem to be going well, who do
people attribute the success to?
▸Gen 3:12 Then the man said, "The woman
whom You gave to be with me, she gave me
of the tree, and I ate."

10. Understanding the role of a
preacher/evangelist/minister!
▪ Preacher = he is to be proclaiming/
preaching the good news of Jesus!
▸ 2 Tim. 4:1-5; Rom. 10:14-17
▪ Evangelist = bring people to Jesus!
▸ Mt. 28:18-20; Eph. 4:11; 2 Tim. 4:5
▪ Minister = see to the needs of others!
▸ Rom. 15:16 cf. 13:4; 2 Cor. 3:6; Col.
1:7

11. No one man show!
▪ Why do you think God has set it up this way? Do
you remember the problem in 3 John? What did
Diotrephes want to do?
▪ Preaching/teaching is an important work!
▸Rom. 10:13-17; 1 Cor. 1:17-25 cf. 1 Cor.
12:28
▸Not to be entered into lightly! (Js. 3:1)
▸Not always going to be easy! (2 Tim. 4:1-5)
▪ “A preacher must have a tough hide & a tender
heart!” (Broth. Davis)
▪ Must always be done in love!(Eph.4:15,16)

12. II. The Position of the Elders!
▪ As we begin this point, we need to keep in mind
that the Bible uses many different name to refer to
the same “office/position!”
▸Elder/s from Gk presbuteros = sometimes
translated “presbyter” one that is older/elderly.
–Found 67 times “elder/ old man/ eldest/ elder
woman” (Act. 20:17; 1 Pet. 5:1 i.e.)
▸Bishop/s from Gk episkopos = sometimes
translated “overseer/s” a superintended &
overseer. (Act. 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:2 i.e.)
▸Pastors from Gk poinmen = sometimes
translated “shepherd” tend to as a shepherd.

13. These three words are often all found
together being used interchangeably!
Act. 20:17-30; 1 Pet. 5:1-2
▪ It is clear that these are not three offices,
but three ways of describing one office!
▸Act. 20:17, 28; 1 Pet. 5:1-2
▪ A congregation once fully developed
would have elders!
▸Act. 14:23; Tit. 1:5
▸Only appointed after meeting strict
qualifications! (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Tit. 1:5-9)

14. No one man show!
There was to always be a plurality of men!
▪ There was always found more than one in a
congregation! “The elders”
▸Act. 14:23; 20:17; 1 Tim. 5:17 i.e.
▪ The congregations relationship to them!
▸They are over the congregation (Act. 20:28)
▸They watch for our souls (Heb. 13:17)
▪ They are the place of authority in matters of
judgment, we are to submit to them!
▸Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 5:5

15. III. The Position of the Deacons!
▪ We will begin by seeking to understand just who a
deacon is in the NT church?
▪ Deacon = from Gk diakonos meaning servant,
minister or waiter. This is a “willing” servant that
has chosen this office
▸They choose to undertake the work and they are
chosen by the church/eldership.
▸Chosen according to specific qualifications!
–1 Tim. 3:8-13
▸They serve in the work given to them by the
eldership.

16. Specific Qualifications!
▪ The need for this is something we do everyday of
our lives!
▸When there is work that needs done, we find
people that are suitable to complete the work!
“What are your qualifications?”
–When one applies for a new job, what is the
first thing they ask? “Are you qualified?”
▸These characteristics are necessary for them to
do the work properly!
▪ Deacons have been given authority by the elders
to serve in a specific work!

17. Conclusion:
▪ If the local congregation is going to function
properly as God designed, then we need to
understand the organization of the New
Testament church!
▪ If you are here today and not yet a member of
the NT church, then today is the day!
▪ If you are here and you are a Christian, I hope
we will better understand the church as God
would have it!
▪ In our next lesson we will be looking at the
“worship of the NT church!”