OBCPNTC-7 THE PATTERN FOR CHURCH LEADERSHIP
The Bible is very clear concerning the demand for leadership in the Lord’s church. The New Testament church had a unique beginning, a unique Builder, and a unique purpose. Many see the church as being just an afterthought in the plan of God to establish His kingdom on earth. This blasphemous view of the word of God is clearly refuted by the divinely inspired scriptures.
The church in God’s eternal purpose:
1. To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the ____(a)___ the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the ___(b)__ __(c)__ which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: (Eph 3:10-11)
Ans.: (a)
(b)
(c)
2. How was the manifold wisdom of God to be made known to the principalities and powers in heavenly places?
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3. When did God plan this?
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4. When Peter declared that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God (Mt.16:16), what did Jesus say He would build (Mt. 16:18) ?
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5. What is another name for that “building” (Mt. 16:19)
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So we see that Jesus was the builder of HIS church.
6. And he is the head of the ___(a)____, the ____(b)_____: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the _(c)__ (Col 1:18).
Ans.: (a)
(b)
(c)
Now we have seen that Jesus is also the head of His own church and that He is preeminent in all.
The apostles were guided by the Holy Spirit as they worked among the early churches.
7. Why did the apostle Paul leave Titus in Crete? (Titus 1:5)
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8. What is another name for that “office”? (Titus 1:5-7)
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9. Who were the leaders of the church at Philippi? (Philippians 1:1)
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Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood (Acts 20:28)
10. What task did the Holy Ghost give to the elders?
Ans.:
11. Choose the correct answer.
a. Preachers are the leaders of the Lord’s church
b. Bishops are over elders.
c. The Pope is over all of the churches.
d. The highest earthly authority in the Lord’s church are the elders who are also
called bishops and overseers.
e. The church convention governs all congregations
The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away (1 Peter 5:1-4).
12. According to the above passage:
(a) Who is over the elders of a congregation?
(b) What are the responsibilities of an elder?
Ans.: (a)
(b)
END PNTC-7