Sungai Ara Gospel HallSTUDIES ON THE CHURCH

4-Mar Church, the Commission Lee Kim Seong11-Mar Church, its Conduct Cheah Eng Huat18-Mar Church, the Commandments

- Baptism Chew Tong Fatt25-Mar Church, the Commandments

- Lord's Supper Teo Pek Bing1-Apr Church, its Concept Sinnappan8-Apr Church Care - Elders & deacons

& the flock Lee Kha Kooi15-Apr Con.: The Local Church. KC Ung

For the Universal ChurchVisit www.berita-bethel-ung.com

The Local Church.I Cor. 1:2

Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are

sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every

place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and

ours:

Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints,

with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.

A.The Place Name of the Church.1. Biblically –

The Church in Corinth Cf. The Seven Churches in Asia: Cf. the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi (Phil. 1:1).

• Cf. ordain elders in every city. (Tit. 1:5).

It is the Replica of the One Body of Christ and not to be named after…

a. A Person – 1:12Every one…saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided?b. A Practice – 1:13b, 14Were ye baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;c. Or any other Party name. 1:13a Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

A. The Place Name of the Church.1.21. Biblically – The Church in Corinth

2. Currently: •Farquhar Street Mission House and Chapel;•Burmah Road Hall; •Burmah Road Gospel Hall; •Sungai Ara Gospel Hall•Island Glades Gospel Centre; •Sungai Nibong Home and Centre; •Keledang Community Chapel…etc.

A. THE PLACE NAME OF THE CHURCH. 1:2B. THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE UP THE CHURCH. 1:2 – them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints

1. They are Sanctified People.Cf. I Cor. 6:11

such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

1. They are Sanctified People. Cf. I Cor. 6:112. They are Saints. I Cor. 1:2

3. They are the Same as those in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord…•The Local Church is a Replica of the One Universal Church.•It is an Independent Church Responsible to the Lord Himself cf. the Seven Churches.•It is Related to each other Intra-dependently. Col. 4:15, 16•It is Related to others Interdependently, e.g. I Cor. 11:16

A. The Place Name of the Church, I:2B. The People who make up the Church.

C. The Personnel in the Local Church. Cf. Phil. 1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:1. The Bishops (episkopos = overseers)

or Elders (presbuteros = elders, seniors) or Pastors (poimen = shepherds).

2. The Deacons (diakonos = servant, minister, attendant at a table)

•Functional and not Positional names to describe the responsibilities of the person. I Thes. 5:12•They have to fulfil the qualities in I Tim. 3:1-7 and 3:8-13 respectively.

A. The Place Name of the Church, I:2B. The People who make up the Church.

C. The Personnel in the Local Church. Cf. Phil. 1:1

D. IT IS SELF-SUPPORTING

1. In Personnel Resources. I Cor. ch.12. a. The Recognition of the Church Members. i) Every member is Valuable and Gifted. 12:7* No member is Dispensible.

12:14-16* No member is Indispensible. 12:20,

21, 17-19* Care more for the Feeble. 12:22-27

1. In Personnel Resources. I Cor. ch.12. a. The Recognition of the Church Members.

i) Every member is Valuable and Gifted. 12:7

ii) Every one is Variously Gifted. 12:8-10, 28-30* Gifts are from the Sovereign God. 12:11, 28* Gifts are for Service to the Good of all. 12:7* Gifts do not suggest Spirituality or Godliness.

1:7 cf. 3:3iii) Some men are Visibly Gifted.

I Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:8, 11ff* Its Foundation: Apostles, Prophets. Eph.2:20* Its Extension: Evangelists.* Its Edification: Pastors-teachers.

1. In Personnel Resources. I Cor. ch.12.a. The Recognition of the Church Members

b. The Utilisation of the Church Members. i) Demonstrate active Participation. I Cor.12:27 cf. Heb.10:25 ii) Discover your Place.

I Cor. 12:28iii) Develop your Potential. Cf. I Tim. 4:14; II Tim.1:6

c. The Co-operation of the Church Members I Cor.12:14, 27

i) Acknowledge the Divine Headship of the Godhead.

12:4-6 cf.11:3ii) Accept the Appointed Leadership of the Elders.

12:28; Heb.13:17iii) Assent to the Functional Membership of all Others.

12:15, 21iv) Abase ourselves in Humble Stewardship in Affection for one another.

12:25, 26; 13:4-7

1. In Personnel Resources. 2. In Financial Resources

a. The Supply of Self-sufficient Funds...

i) to Maintain the Local Assembly. I Cor. 16:1, 2

ii) to Mollify those Living in Poverty. II Cor. 8:2ff; I Tim. 5:8

iii) to Minister to the Lord's "Employees". I Cor. 9:7-14

* Warriors: Missionaries, Evangelists, Preachers. 9:7a

* Planters: Ministers, church planters. 9:7b

* Shepherds: Elders, teachers. 9:7c; I Tim. 5:8-10

iv) to Meet Fellowship appeals with Liberality. I Cor. 16:3

1. In Personnel Resources. 2. In Financial Resourcesa. The Supply of Self-sufficient Funds...

b. The Source and Supply of Funds - i) Members should Commit to Give as Christ Giveth.

II Cor. 8:9 ii) Members are Commended to Give in Grace.

II Cor. 8:5, 6; 9:6, 8 iii) Members should Calculate to Give Gracefully: * according to Purpose. II Cor. 8:11; 9:7 * as the Lord Prospers. I Cor. 16:2 * according to Proportion. II Cor. 8:13-15 iv) Members are Counted upon to Give Graciously,

not Grudgingly. II Cor. 8:7; 9:6, 7

A. THE PLACE NAME OF THE CHURCH. B. THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE UP THE CHURCH.

1:2 C. THE PERSONNEL IN THE LOCAL CHURCH.

D. IT IS SELF-SUPPORTING

E. IT IS SELF-PROPAGATING1. Through Expansion

- A Growing Church. a. Growth in Maturity. Eph. 4:12a, 14-16 b. Growth in Ministry. Eph. 4:12b c. Growth in Stability. Eph. 4:13c a. Growth in Unity. Eph. 4:13d

E. IT IS SELF-PROPAGATING1. Through Expansion - A Growing Church

2. Through Extension - A Going Church.a. With a Sense of Vision. I Cor. 9:19ff;

cf. Pro. 29:18b. With a Sense of Mission. I Cor. 9:16-18;

Matt. 28:19, 20c. With a Sense of Passion. I Cor. 9:19-22a

cf. Jn. 4:35, 36d. With a Sense of Action. I Cor. 9:22b, 23a

CONCLUSION: Responsibilities of being a full-fledged independent

assembly:-

(1) Towards God: God-Glorifying, Christ-Centred, Spirit-Stimulating and Bible-Based.(2) Towards Self: Self-supporting and Self-propagating, Self-governing(3) Towards Subversives: Receive them not neither bid them God-speed. II Cor. 11:12-15 cf. II Jn. 8-11

Conclusion: Responsibilities of being a full-fledged

independent assembly:-(1) Towards God.(2) Towards Self.(3) Towards Subversives.(4) Towards Others: reach out to..... a. Sinners with the Gospel,

"by all means save some" b. Sister-churches, in Consideration,

Consultation and Communion (Fellowship); c. Such as those who Name the Name of he Lord, Greetings and Salutations: "Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.“ I Cor.1:3

AND NOW MAY

"THE GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THE LOVE OF GOD,

AND THE COMMUNION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BE WTH YOU ALL. AMEN."

II Cor. 13:14

II Cor. 6 :17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.