What Baptists Believe About a Gospel Church

Prayer: That God will make of this church a great soul-winning church.





XII. OF A GOSPEL CHURCH

We believe that a visible church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers, (1) associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; (2) observing the ordinances of Christ; (3) governed by his laws; (4) and exercising the gifts, rights, and Privileges invested in them by his word: (5) that its only scriptural officers are bishops or pastors and deacons, (6) whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus.





Places in the Bible where taught.

1. I Cor. 1:1-13. Paul - unto the church of God which is at Corinth. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? Matt. 18:17;
Acts 5:11; 8:1; 11:31; 1 Cor. 4: 17; 14:23; 3 John 9:1;1 Tim. 3:5.

2. Acts 22:41, 42. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized; and the same day there were added to them about three thousand souls. 2 Cor. 8:5. They first gave Of their ownselves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
Acts 2:47; 1 Cor. 5:12, 13.

3. 1 Cor. 11:2. Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances as I delivered them unto you. 2 Thess. 3:6; Rom. 16:17-20;
1 Cor. 11:23; Matt. 18:15-20; 1 Cor. 5:6; 2 Cor. 2:7;1 Cor. 4:11

4. Matt. 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. John 14:15; 15:12; 1 John 4:21; John 14:21; 1 Thess. 4:2; 2 John 6; Gal. 6:2.
All the Epistles.

5. Eph. 4:7. Unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 1 Cor. 14:12. Seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
Phil. 1:27. That I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel. 1 Cor. 12:14.

6. Phil. 1:1. With the bishops and deacons. Acts 14:23; 15:22; 1 Tim. 3; Titus 1.
 

Discussion by Leader:

1. Explain the subject for discussion.





Parts for Assignment:

1. Definition of a church. A congregation of baptized believers. Not just saved but baptized; not just a group but an organized group.

2. Associated in the faith and fellowship. Faith is doctrine; fellowship is work.

3. A New Testament church observes the ordinances of Christ. A church is to be governed by Christ's laws. Not by man's opinions. Where do we find the laws of the church?

4. Officers of a church. What about Popes, Cardinals, Presiding Elders, etc.? What does the word Bishop mean in the Bible? (Simply pastor)





Discussion Questions:

1. Did God start all religious organizations? I Cor. 15:33.

2. If God did not, then how did they originate? 2 Pet. 2:1-3;
2 Tim. 4:1-4;  Acts 20:27-30.

3. Does it make any difference which church a believer joins? True or false church?

4. How can we determine if a church is scriptural? Right origin; right doctrine; right organization; right mission.

5. Does a person have to join a church in order to be saved? What is the scriptural order? Salvation, baptism, then church membership.

6. After a person is saved, what is the first thing that he should do?

 

I'm placing a link to the HTML BIBLE for your convenience so you can look up some of these references... It will come in a new window and you can reduce it and keep it for for all your Bible study lessons...
Just click;  HTML BIBLE

Midi playing is; "The Little Brown Church in the Wildwood"