Jesus the Messiah built His congregation, His church. Matthew 16:18. The New Covenant
recorded the word of God concerning the church, and how the church was built. We are
responsible to follow this covenant. You will be judged according to this New Covenant.
2 Cor. 3. Heb. 7:22; 8:1-13; 9:15; 13:20.
We need to follow the New Covenant. The church needs to be the way that Jesus built it.
"If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; . . ." 1 Peter 4:11 (KJV). ". . .
that in us you might learn not to exceed what is written . . ." 1 Cor. 4:6. The New
Covenant ends with a warning:
How did Jesus the Messiah build His church? How did He organize His congregation? He
is head over all things to His church which is His body. Eph. 1:22, 23. He has only one body,
one church. Eph. 4:4. We are to obey Jesus as Lord and Head.
Apostles--Witnesses--and Prophets
Jesus chose twelve men whom He taught. They were eye-witnesses of His resurrection.
Acts 1:8; 1:15-26; 26:15-17. The apostles preached the gospel, the good news that Jesus died
for our sins, was buried and was raised from the dead on the third day. Read the book of Acts.
Apostles were eye-witnesses of His resurrection. The apostles were guided into all truth
by the Holy Spirit. Jesus said to the apostles:
The apostles were guided into all the truth, and what is to come. What the apostles wrote
is bound in heaven. Matthew 16:19; 18:18. This we have in the New Testament including the
book of Revelation. That leaves nothing for other men to come up with at later times. When
Jude wrote, the one faith had been delivered. ". . . contend earnestly for the faith which
was once for all delivered to the saints." Jude 3.
We need to read and obey all the truth that is in the New Covenant. The seed of the
kingdom of God is the word of God. Luke 8:11. The church did not produce the New
Covenant. The New Covenant produced the church.
Paul was chosen by Christ to be an eye-witness, an apostle. Acts 26:15-17. Gal. 1:1. He
was driven by the Spirit to write the word of God. 1 Cor. 2:13; 14:37. 2 Peter 3:15, 16. This
you can read and understand. Ephesians 3:1-5. We are required to read, understand and obey
the New Covenant, the New Testament.
There were prophets in the beginning of the church. We can read about this in 1 Cor.
14:1-3. Acts 11:27; 13:1; 21:9-11. Eph. 3:5; 4:11. Prophets edified, exhorted, consoled,
taught the word of God and foretold future events. Apostles and prophets are a part of the
foundation of the church, the house of God. Eph. 2:20. God gave the New Covenant through
Messiah and the Spirit to the apostles and prophets. Peter warned us about false prophets.
2 Peter 2.
The apostle Paul warned:
We need to follow the plan, the specifications, the pattern given in the New Covenant for
the congregation of Messiah, the church. No one has authority to change it. You will stand
before Jesus the Messiah on the Day of Judgment.
Evangelists--Preachers
Philip was called an evangelist in Acts 21:8. He preached the good news of Messiah. Acts
8. Timothy was called an evangelist in 2 Timothy 4:5. The books of 1 and 2 Timothy and
Titus are to evangelists. Evangelists are to preach the word of God. 2 Tim. 3:15-4:5. They are
to teach and read scripture. 1 Tim. 4:13-16. Evangelists are to teach and train. 2 Tim. 2:2.
Evangelists are to set in order congregations and appoint elders (bishops). 1 Tim. 3:1-7. Titus
1:5-9. They are to preach, baptize and start new local congregations, as shown in the book of
Acts.
Bishops--Elders--Shepherds--Pastors
The apostles and evangelists appointed bishops in each congregation when men were
qualified. Acts 14:23. Titus 1:5-9. Bishops are overseers, Greek episkopos. Bishops are also
called elders, shepherds and pastors. There were bishops, more than one, in each
congregation:
The word pastors, Greek poimen, means shepherds, feeders. The qualifications for bishops
are given in 1 Tim. 3:1-7, and in Titus 1:5-9. Notice that bishops must be married men with
believing children. 1 Tim. 4:1-3.
Teachers
Teachers are to teach the word of God for equipping the saints for the work of service, to
the building up of the body of Christ. Eph. 4:12. 1 Cor 12:28. The church in Antioch had five
men who were called teachers. Acts 13:1. As Christians learn and grow they should become
teachers. Hebrews 5:12. Faithful men are to be trained to teach others. 2 Tim. 2:2. Bishops
must be able to teach. Titus 1:9. Fathers are to teach their children. Eph. 6:4. Older women
are to teach and to train the younger women. Titus 2:3-5. Women are not to teach men.
1 Tim. 2:11, 12. 1 Cor. 14:34-37. All Christians are to teach lost souls. Matt. 28:18-20. Acts
8:4.
Deacons
Deacons are servants in the work of the congregation. Philippians 1:1. The qualifications
for deacons are given in 1 Timothy 3:8-13. Deacon is a Greek word, diakonos, that means
servant. An example of such service is in Acts 6:1-6.
Names
The disciples of Messiah are called:
Local congregations are called:
The congregation of Messiah is called:
Christians are forbidden to call themselves after the names of men. 1 Corinthians 1:10-17.
We must not use names that are not given in the New Covenant. Denominations are wrong.
Matt.15:13.
The Work of the Congregation of Messiah
The New Covenant teaches us what the work of the congregation is:
To Teach all Nations--To Preach the Gospel to Everyone
To Teach and Train Christians
To Help Christians and Others in Need
Worship Under the New Covenant
Israel worshiped God under the Old Covenant, under the law. Under the New Covenant,
worship is different. Jesus said: "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him
in spirit and truth." John 4:24. See John 4:19-26. John 1:17; 16:30; 17:17. Our worship must
be in truth, that which is given in the New Covenant:
The Lord's Supper--The Breaking of Bread
Reading, Preaching--Teaching the Word of God
Prayer
Singing
Giving--Offering--Sharing
Germaine Lockwood
Copyright ©1996 by Germaine Charles Lockwood. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Scripture quotations in this work, unless otherwise indicated, are from
The New American Standard Bible, Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963,
1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations from The New King James Bible (NKJB), Copyright
©1979,1980,1982, Thomas Nelson Inc., Nashville, TN. Used by permission.
Hebrews 12:22-25: But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God,
the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and the
church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to
spirits of righteous men made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a New Covenant,
and to the sprinkled blood, . . .
Revelation 22:18, 19: I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this
book: if anyone adds to them, God shall add to him the plagues which are written in
this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God
shall take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in
this book.
Organization of the Congregation
Ephesians 4:11: And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as
evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will
not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will
disclose to you what is to come. John 16:13; 14:26.
According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a
foundation, and another is building upon it. But let each man be careful how he builds
upon it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is
Jesus Christ. 2 Cor. 3:10, 11.
2 Timothy 4:1-5: I solemnly charge you . . . preach the word; be ready in season and out
of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. . . .
Philippians 1:1: Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus to all the saints in
Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers (bishops) and deacons.
It is wrong to have only one bishop in a congregation. It is wrong to have one bishop over
several congregations. Elders, Greek presbuteros, means men who are older. Elders, bishops,
are shepherds of the congregation.
Acts 20:17, 28. 1 Peter 5:1-4. 1 Tim. 5:17-20.
Acts 20:28: "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy
Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with
His own blood.
1 Peter 5:1-4: Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow-elder . . . shepherd
the flock of God among you, not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will
of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over these
allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock; . . .
Bishops are to shepherd the flock among them--to teach, to oversee and to protect.
Christians-----------------Acts 11:26. 1 Peter 4:16.
Saints-----------------------Romans 1:7. 1 Cor.1:2.
Children of God----------------Galatians 3:26, 27.
Brethren---------------1 Corinthians 2:1. Col. 1:2.
Priests----------------------------------1 Peter 2:5, 9.
Churches of Christ------------------ Romans 16:16.
Church of God------------------- 1 Corinthians 1:2.
Body of Christ------------Eph. 1:22, 23. Col. 1:24.
Bride of Christ----------------------Revelation 19:7.
Church of the first-born-----------Hebrews 12:23.
House of God----------------------------1 Tim. 3:15.
The church of the living God----------1 Tim. 3:15.
"My church" (church of Christ)-------Matt. 16:18.
The church is "the pillar and support of the truth." 1 Timothy 3:15. Jesus the Messiah
commanded to go teach all nations, to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every
creature. Matt. 28:18-20. Mark 16:15, 16. Congregations send missionaries, evangelists, and
support them. Acts 13:1-3. Rom. 10:13-15. Phil. 4:15. 3 John 5-8.
Christians are to be taught to observe all that Messiah commanded. Matt. 28:20. The
congregation should be devoted to the apostles doctrine. Acts 2:42. In Ephesus there was
daily teaching. Acts 19:9, 10. The Bible is to be read, taught and preached. Col. 4:16. 1 Tim.
4:11-16. 2 Tim. 2:2; 3:15-4:5.
Christian widows indeed are to be helped. 1 Tim. 5:4-16. Acts 6:1-6. Christians who are in
need are to be helped, the hungry, thirsty, strangers, naked, sick, prisoners. Matt. 25:31-46.
Acts 11:29. 2 Cor. 8, 9. Orphans are to be helped. James 1:27. In writing to churches: "So
then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of
the household of the faith." Gal. 6:10.
Jesus commanded to eat the broken bread and to drink the fruit of the vine in
remembrance of His body and blood. Matt. 26:26-29. Luke 22:17-20. 1 Cor. 11:23-34. The
breaking of bread is a part of worship. Acts 2:42. When are Christians to meet and break
bread? On each first day of the week. Acts 20:7. The main purpose for meeting is to break
bread. The Lord's supper is not a sacrifice-mass because Christ was offered once for all. Heb.
7:27; 9:12; 10:10. This is a sharing, in remembrance, a proclamation. 1 Cor. 10:16; 11:24-26.
God speaks to His people through His word.
Col. 4:16. Acts 2:42; 20:7. 1 Tim. 4:6-16.
In prayer Christians praise God, give thanks, petition, and talk to God. 1 Tim. 2:1-8.
Hebrews 13:15. 1 Cor. 14:15. Acts 2:42.
"Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making
melody with your heart to the Lord;" Eph. 5:19. Col. 3:16. Heb. 2:12. 1 Cor. 14:15.
Instrumental music is not part of worship in truth under the New Covenant.
"And do not neglect doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased."
Heb. 13:16. 1 Cor. 16:1. 2 Cor. 8, 9. Gal. 6:6.
"But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father
in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. "God is spirit,
and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." John 4:23, 24.
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