Copyright
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Table of Contents
 0.1 Author’s Prologue
 0.2 Introduction
1 Pictures of the Church
 1.1 Dwelling Place of God
 1.2 Family of God
 1.3 Body of Christ
 1.4 Holy Priesthood
 1.5 Pillar and Support of Truth
 1.6 Bride of Christ
 1.7 Flock of God
 1.8 God’s Field
2 Jesus, the Ruling Christ
 2.1 Authority Over All
 2.2 Head of His Body, the Church
 2.3 Present in His Assembly
 2.4 Builder of His Church
 2.5 The Cornerstone
 2.6 Leader of His Church
 2.7 Chief Shepherd
 2.8 Great Guardian of our souls
 2.9 High Priest
 2.10 Bridegroom Awaiting the Bride, His Church
3 The Ministry of the Holy Spirit
 3.1 Brings to life the Body of Christ, by His indwelling presence
 3.2 Uniting the Many
 3.3 Present in the assembly
 3.4 Administrator of spiritual gifts
 3.5 Guiding God’s people in life and service
 3.6 Teacher
 3.7 Each Church fully equipped
 3.8 Gifts for Spiritual Service
 3.9 Gifts are more than adequate
 3.10 Appoints saints for service
 3.11 The purpose of equipping gifts
 3.12 Saints - God’s gifts to the Church
4 Authority and Church Leadership
 4.1 Revivals
 4.2 Our place in History: New Revival?
5 Jesus speaks about authority in His Church
 5.1 Sole right to title of leader
 5.2 Rejects ruling – establishes servanthood
6 Jesus exercises His authority In His Church
 6.1 Jesus leads through Paul, the apostle
 6.2 Paul imitated Christ
 6.3 Paul taught a standard code of faith and practice
 6.4 Saints recognize Paul’s instruction as the Word of God
 6.5 Paul’s personal opinion and God’s instruction
 6.6 Jesus governs through Timothy and Titus
 6.7 Jesus leads through elders
 6.8 Jesus’ authority and leadership rejected by a Church “leader”
 6.9 Jesus exercises His authority through the saints
 6.10 The agreement and unity of the saints affirms Jesus’ will
 6.11 Jesus alone has authority over His people
7 How God’s Children Live Together
 7.1 Taught to Love one another
 7.2 Be at peace with one another
 7.3 Show forbearance to one another
 7.4 Confess to and pray for one another
 7.5 Forgive one another
 7.6 Accept one another
 7.7 Have the same mind
 7.8 Give preference to one another
 7.9 Be subject to one another
 7.10 Kind to one another
 7.11 Bear one another’s burdens
 7.12 Hospitable to one another
 7.13 Do good to one another
 7.14 Greet one another
 7.15 Do not be angry with one another
 7.16 Reconciled with each other
 7.17 Not haughty in mind
 7.18 Not arrogant against one another
 7.19 Not lying to one another
 7.20 Not complaining against one another
 7.21 Not speaking against one another
 7.22 Not judging one another
 7.23 Summary
8 The Ministry of the Many
 8.1 Foretold in the Old Testament
 8.2 Practiced by Jesus
 8.3 The Great Commission forms the basic plan
 8.4 Other Commands regarding this universal ministry
 8.5 The Ministry of the Many continues to all eternity
9 The function of the Ministry of the Many
 9.1 God’s instruction: How the Church is to assemble
 9.2 Divine pattern a command
 9.3 Result of God’s order of assembly
 9.4 Additional instruction for Church assembly
 9.5 Agreement between Ministry of the Many and Biblical Truths
10 Church Discipline
 10.1 Overview
 10.2 Purpose
 10.3 The Procedure
11 Church Discipline regarding itinerant workers
 11.1 Be on guard
 11.2 Test those who come to you
 11.3 Look for tell tale signs
 11.4 Take action if found false
12 Responsibilities of God’s Local Church
 12.1 The Church’s responsibility to Traveling Workers
 12.2 Responsibility to help needy brethren
 12.3 Responsibility of the many to give – each one individually
 12.4 Mutual love reflects love for God
13 Elders: Real Servants in God’s Church
 13.1 Appointed to shepherd or pastor God’s people in His local Church
 13.2 Specific duties
 13.3 Multiple elders appointed in each Church
 13.4 Qualifications
 13.5 Reward: a crown of glory
 13.6 Warning: take care not to rule!
 13.7 Disciplined for unchristian character and conduct
14 Financial Support for those who serve
 14.1 Living by faith
 14.2 Traveling workers deserve financial support
 14.3 Paul, the apostle, worked to provide for his needs
 14.4 Financial support regarding elders
15 Financing the New Testament Church, Part One
 15.1 An organization of simple financing
 15.2 Volunteer basis
 15.3 Church planting self-funded
 15.4 Operating costs - budget minded
 15.5 Minimal social program
16 Financing the New Testament Church, Part Two
 16.1 Tithing?
 16.2 History of tithing
 16.3 A feast as tithing
 16.4 Tithing from Old to New Covenant
 16.5 New Covenant, new level of giving
 16.6 Non-profit, tax deductible trap
17 Summary