HOW TO RUN A CHURCH!

INTRODUCTION

ILLUS: Was the Apostle Paul a Baptist? Acts 20:7-9 He preached too long, and people fell asleep.

Interesting history of Baptists - as organized groups start back with Anabaptist in 1500’s right after the Reformation. The first Baptist church in England was 1609, first in America was 1639 by Roger Williams in Rhode Island. We Baptists regardless of denominational label clearly affirm this statement:

We believe in THE INDEPENDENCE AND AUTONOMY OF THE LOCAL CHURCH: that each New Testament church is free to govern itself without ecclesiastical interference, and should cooperate with other New Testament churches as the Holy Spirit leads: that it is responsible to follow the pattern of the New Testament church and is directly accountable to God. Matthew 18:17; Acts 6:1-5; 13:1-3; 15:22- 23.

It is no easy task to be a local church. We are involved in spiritual warfare with the enemy Satan who seeks to destroy us. But we find security in Jesus’ own words Matt. 16:18 “I will build My church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” The church is ordained by Christ to preach and teach the Word of God, provide worship for and edify the people of God, to witness of the Gospel of God through Christ, and be the light of God in a dark world.

NT shows us the universal church, the local church, and groups of local churches. 90 times in NT church is found in reference to a local church or local churches. 40 times for a single local church, 14 times for all Christians in a city, 36 times for a group of local churches. Thus we Baptists affirm:

1. Autonomy

• Baptists see in the NT that each local church should be self governing. We choose our leaders, manage our finances, oversee our teaching and preaching, send out servants into the world to witness, conduct our own worship - with the Bible as our Standard, the NT especially, we are a “New Testament church.” We see that each NT church stands on its own.



• We govern ourselves. No denomination runs us, or owns our property. We write our own Constitutions and By-Laws. We hire our own pastors.



• We don’t have a magic hymnal that lays every order of service - we are free to create our own and am I free to preach - all of us as God leads us.



• We are a part of the free church movement. Not mainline, or liturgical.



• There is no Baptist Church, but only Baptist churches, in all our Heinz 57 varieties we all agree on autonomy, independent Baptist Churches.
ILLUS: To purchase the property we did not need to consult with denomination. Our exclusive choice. Some denominations - lots of red tape.



• We have freedom to minister as God leads US here locally. I hope you highly value this privilege. We are a body literally serving together.



• The danger of autonomy is isolation. More sovereign than God. Don’t want outside influence. But our doctrine it states “should cooperate...”

2. Affiliation

• In NT we see churches cooperating on decisions Acts 15, sharing resources (NT books) and giving to churches/people in need 1 Cor. 16:3.



• We are Baptist, follow a long history of Baptist churches. FBC Began as a church in 1889 as a congregation within The Baptist Convention, the Northern Baptists, now called American Baptists.



• Now we are Conservative Baptist. CBA formed in 1947, we joined in 1949. Nationally CBA 1,200 churches in America. Regionally the NCCBA has about 140. State fellowship of Iowa has 12. - We get advice and help. Resources. Consult with them, I talked with NCCBA General Director Don Shaw this past week - way to give to Cedar Rapids families. You have regular contact with the President of the Iowa CBA.



• We are a part of CB Global - international association of CB churches started by our mission organizations - WorldVenture and Missions Door.



• Jeannette and I chose to join the CB back in 1987, 21 years. We have had connections with North American Baptist church for 2 and half years as I served at First Baptist Church in Appleton, Minnesota.



• Our church has connections with GARB. Influence of the Southern
Excellent Book: Biblical Foundations for Baptist Churches

Southern Baptist Relief was in Des Moines flood zone



• CB ministries Spring Valley Bible Camp, Denver Seminary, Western Seminary, Bible college in Arizona. CB leaders involved in para-church.



• We appreciate our affiliation, but we are not dependent on CBA. More of an association/fellowship of like minded churches, not denomination.

3. Authority

• New Testament presents two offices within church - Elders & Deacons. Who oversee the congregation. Philippians 1:1 overseers and deacons



• 1 Tim 3:1-13 spiritually qualified, spiritually minded, spiritual ministries




ELDERS “elder(s)” and “overseers” Acts 20:17-24; Phil 1:1; 1 Tim 3:1-7, 5:17-21; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-3 Primary Office, highest office Leaders with a servant heart Able to Teach is qualification Preaching and Teaching the Word Intentional study time, prayer time Some are paid: 1 Tim. 5:17-21 Overseers of the overall ministry Responsible for spiritual maturity Sets direction of the church Protect the doctrine May work with Deaconess Can do personal counseling and evangelism too = caring for needs

Disciple from the Word Plurality, a team of leaders DEACONS Acts 6; Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:8-13 Secondary Office Servants with a servant heart Teaching not a qualification Caring for the church family needs Visiting the sick, caring for widows Administrative and business duties Administer Deacon Fund To relieve Elders of tasks so Elders can focus on Word/prayer

• Congregation role - prayerfully chooses leaders - Acts 6:1-6, 13:1-3 and obey the leaders Hebrews 13:17. We appoint/elect others to serve Body.

4. Accountability

• Thus we are accountable to God. Seek God’s guidance for knowledge and wisdom. Prayer, study of the word, spiritual disciplines.



• God holds us accountable - issues of church discipline Matt. 18:17.



• Please understand - the church is not a building but a body. You and I are the church.



• The power of the church is God Himself. This is a divine institution, not a human one. This ministry is beyond our human capabilities. But when God ordains, God empowers. Phil 4:19 “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”



• “All this is accomplished by God’s grace, in God’s love, for God’s glory.” The triune God is at work in our church.



• By God’s grace - Romans 3:24 we are saved by His grace, 2 Peter 3:18 “grow in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” God is gracious to us, blesses us richly. The Apostle Paul was amazed at God’s grace, theme of all his writings. Are we amazed?
QUOTE: John Newton: “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me...“ “Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt, yonder on Calvary’s mount out poured, there where the blood of the Lamb was spilt...”



• In God’s love - 1 Cor 13 the Love Chapter shows us the virtue of love, Ephesians 5:2 “walk in love, just as Christ also loved you...” We are loved, and we can love others. Love is the tie that bind our heart together. Do we share God’s love among us? Give that love beyond us?
QUOTE: “The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell...” “Jesus loves Me this I know...” “I love you Lord, and I lift my voice to worship You, O my soul rejoice...”



• For God’s glory - 1 Cor. 10:31 “Whatever then you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Romans 11:36 “To Him be the glory forever and ever.” 2 Peter 3:18 “To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity.”
QUOTE: “To God be the Glory great thing He has done...” Fanny Crosby #66. Andrae Crouch: “All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe it all to Thee. To God be the glory...for the things He has done...” #11



• Is God honored by everything we do here at FBC, Colfax?

CONCLUSION

Thank you for being a part of this local church in Colfax. If you call this church your church, you are part of the family. If you are served you are part of the family. If you serve you are part of the family. If you are blessed by worship and witness and fellowship you are part of the family. Every one of you is a valuable gift to this body. Thank you for being a part of this local church in Colfax. To God be the Glory.