THE DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH - It may sound strange to start this subject with an Old Testament quotation, but the reality of these verses are still resonating today not only for Israel but for the Bride of Christ, its Church. The Church of Christ has been gone from mountains to hills, up and down in the search of life. Through the centuries, theologians and new thinkers had introduced al kind of new ideas, taking the flock up and down, on the mountains and valleys of this world.

Ecclesiola in Ecclesia - D.M. Lloyd-Jones. The subject allotted to me is one that comes in a logical sequence as well as in a chronological sequence to what we have already heard in this Conference. It is in a sense a kind of postscript, or critique of the approaches to reformation which we have been considering, and may, therefore, legitimately come under the general heading, although in and of itself it cannot properly be defined as ‘an approach’ to reformation. (Courtesy of www.the-highway.com)

The Devil and the Church - E.M. Bounds. The devil is too wise, too large in mental grasp, too lordly in ambition, to confine his aims to the individual. He seeks to direct the policy and sway the scepter of nations. In his largest freedom, and in his delirium of passion and success, "he goes out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth." He is an adept in deception, an expert in all guileful arts. An archangel in execution, he often succeeds in seducing the nations most loyal to Christ, leading them into plans and principles which pervert and render baneful all Christly principles. (courtesy of www.graceonlinelibrary.com)

The Title: "The Church" - John Calvin. It is an offense to a great many people that they see almost the whole world opposed to us. And indeed the patrons of a bad cause do not neglect their own advantage, using a stratagem like this so as not to upset the ignorant and weak, that it is extremely absurd that almost the whole Christian world is disregarded, so that the faith is to be possessed by a few men. (Courtesy of www.the-highway.com)

The Contemporary Church - John H. Armstrong. We all know they will not listen to sustained discourse for more than 15 minutes! The contemporary plan is plain for all to see - create a worship service (none dare call it liturgy!) that is fast-paced, light on doctrine, and very heavy on music and drama. We are preoccupied, as a friend puts it, with being "trendier-than-thou." One local paper advertises, "Church Like You've Never Seen It Before!" (courtesy of www.graceonlinelibrary.com)

AUTHORITY IN THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST - by Caius Obeada. Throughout 20 centuries, the church has virtually ignored the message of this verse. Christians have so totally forgotten Jesus’ words that they have often set up the world’s pattern of government without even bothering to change the names. They have operated churches, mission organizations, youth organizations, schools, colleges, and seminaries, all in the name of Jesus Christ, but with Presidents, directors, managers, heads and chiefs in no way different from corresponding secular structures.

FREEDOM AND AUTHORITY - J.I. Packer. "Authority" is a word that makes most people think of law and order, direction and restraint, command and control, dominance and submission, respect and obedience. How, I wonder, do you react to such ideas? Have they any place in your vision of the life that is good and sweet? If so, you are unusual. One tragedy of our time is that, having these associations, "authority" has become almost a dirty word in the Western world, while opposition to authority in schools, families and society generally is cheerfully accepted as something that is at least harmless and perhaps rather fine.

Go to Church or Go to Hell - Conrad Murrell. But can it be proven? Only to those who believe the Bible to be the authoritative Word of God. To those who do not, nothing can be proven, for their own darkened mind is the only absolute they know. Nothing can be proven to them that they do not wish to believe. (courtesy of www.graceonlinelibrary.com)

The Separation of Church and State - David Barton. In 1947, in the case Everson v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court declared, “The First Amendment has erected a wall between church and state. That wall must be kept high and impregnable. We could not approve the slightest breach.” The “separation of church and state” phrase which they invoked, and which has today become so familiar, was taken from an exchange of letters between President Thomas Jefferson and the Baptist Association of Danbury, Connecticut, shortly after Jefferson became President.

A Discussion of the Role of Elders in the Local Church - By David L. Miner. This essay has been drafted to assist the Elders in my church to further understand their respective roles in the local body and to engage in pro-active discussions as to any changes in those respective roles. It is drafted at the request of those Elders, and not on my own initiative.  This essay is not an exhaustive review of the concept of Elders or of Elder-led churches, nor is it intended in any way to be a manual of how to manage or lead the Local Body. (courtesy of www.freedomsite.net)

ELDERS - These dysfunctional churches typically have one or more of the following characteristics. First, specific sins are consistently practiced and known to be practiced by persons in the church, often in cooperation with one another. The sins may be anything, but often they include sexual immorality, financial dishonesty (especially in business dealings), disharmony, feuding, gossip, and resistance to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. What makes the church dysfunctional is not the practice of sin but the inability of the church body to deal with it biblically.

Position of the Pastor - Now, let's take a look at the position of the modern day pastor. As it is today, I believe the position is unscriptural. No doubt, many good men have started out right, but have fallen into this snare, by being put, or putting themselves into an unscriptural position. First of all, nowhere in the Bible will you find that a church was ruled by one man. Nowhere! Yet most churches today are. But, where does the Bible say that a church should be run by one man? If you know of one clear example or one Scriptural command, please let me know. (courtesy of www.elkcreekgospelcenter.org)

SERVANT LEADERSHIP AND ELDERSHIP - by Caius Obeada. We have established already that there is no such thing as an “office of the pastor” in the local church. In fact men do not become elders by being placed in the position of overseers/pastors. Rather, men function as overseers because they are elders, gifted as shepherds (pastors). This is a critical point. If we do not see this we have opened the door wide for authority in the church other than Christ’s through the Holy Spirit. The New Testament knows nothing of a church with ‘a’ pastor.

The Rights of Ruling Elders - by Charles Hodge. The subject discussed in the series of papers above mentioned, has assumed an importance which forces the consideration of it on all the friends of our church. The question at issue is: Have ruling elders the right to join in the imposition of hands in the ordination of ministers of the gospel? Those who answer in the affirmative say that there are but two orders in the ministry, elders and deacons; of the first order; there are two classes invested with different offices, though belonging to the same order; to the one class belongs the function of ruling, to the other those of ruling, teaching and administration of the sacraments. (courtesy of www.hornes.org)

Some Thoughts on the Family Qualifications of Elders - Fred G. Zaspel. Among the qualifications for elders formally listed in the Pastoral epistles is the requirement that the elder be "the husband of one wife" and that he "manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect." It has seldom yet sometimes been thought that these qualifications demand that the elder, in fact, be a married man and that he have children. This relatively narrow interpretation is a sincere attempt to be faithful and take the scriptures seriously, and in that respect I applaud it. But I am convinced that it is inaccurate. Here are some reasons why. (courtesy of www.biblicalstudies.com)

Deacons and the Leadership of the Church - by Daniel B. Wallace, Ph.D. The pattern of church leadership that the New Testament follows finds its seeds in the earliest period. In Acts 6:1-6 we read of the frustration of some members of the early church for not having their needs attended to. Because the church had grown so large, the twelve apostles were not able to handle all the physical needs of the body and proclaim the word.

The Biblical Role of Deacons (Part I) - by Derek Gentle. The two New Testament offices are mentioned together in Philippians 1:1 and in 1st Timothy 3 — bishops and deacons. In 1st Timothy 3 the qualifications are spelled out for the two offices, bishops in verses 1-7, and deacons in verse 8-13. The qualifications are similar, but not identical. For example, the bishop is required to be “able to teach” whereas the deacon does not have that expectation. The differences in title and qualifications mean that the offices are distinct.  

The Biblical Role of Deacons - Part 2 - by Derek Gentle. Beginning subtlety in the 1950's and intensifying in the 1970's there were repeated rejections of the concept of deaconship which began in the 1800's. Robert E. Naylor, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, warned in 1955 that: "There are churches where deacons have appropriated to themselves authority which is contrary to New Testament teaching.

Woman’s Role in the Church - by Wayne Jackson. The ancient Jewish Rabbis were fond of saying that “God had not formed woman out of the head, lest she should become proud; nor out of the eye, lest she should lust; nor out of the ear, lest she should be curious; nor out of the heart, lest she should be jealous; nor out of the hand, lest she should be covetous; nor out of the foot, lest she be a busybody; but out of the rib, which was always covered,” (Edersheim, 1957, 146) indicating the modesty that was to characterize her. (courtesy of www.christiancourier.com)

WOMEN IN THE CHURCH. A BIBLICAL STUDY ON THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE CHURCH (Part I) - Samuele Bacchiocchi, Ph. D., Andrews University. How does the headship-subordination principle, examined in our previous chapter, relate to the role of women in the church? Does this principle allow women to function as pastors or elders of the congregation? These questions receive only a limited treatment in the New Testament, presumably because only in a few instances did the question arise about the role women should fill in Christian congregations. The two main passages which relate to these questions are 1 Timothy 2:9-15 and 1 Corinthians 14:33b-36. (courtesy of www.andrews.edu)

WOMEN IN THE CHURCH. A BIBLICAL STUDY ON THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE CHURCH (Part II) - Samuele Bacchiocchi, Ph. D., Andrews University. What impact did the coming of Christ make on the social status and religious roles of women? Was Jesus’ treatment of women as human persons to whom and for whom He had come and His inclusion of some of them among His inner circle of companions, designed to pave the way for their full access to the pastoral ministry? Does the New Testament respect or reject the social and religious role distinctions between men and women which we have found in the Old Testament? 

What Women Can Do in the Church - Sheila Evans. Scripture clearly teaches that Christian women are to be actively involved in the local church. They are part of the body of Christ and as members of that body they are to help it grow "for the edifying of itself in love" (Ephesians 4:16). Women are to depend upon God as they serve: they are to minister "as with the ability which God supplies" (1 Peter 4:11). (courtesy of www.graceonlinelibrary.com)

A Biblical Look at the Ordination of Women - Greg Loren Durand & Jeffrey Todd McCormack. While "all things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all,"(1) the biblical prohibition against the ordination of women to the offices of elder or pastor is certainly not one of them. Rather, it is one of the clearest and easiest understood teachings to be gleaned from the Scriptures. God was very clear in His commands regarding this matter when He stated through the Apostle Paul. (courtesy of www.graceonlinelibrary.com)

1 Corinthians 14:34 - “Silence” in the Church - by Wayne Jackson. The term “silence” in 1 Corinthians 14:34 is often misunderstood and misapplied. Must a woman keep “silent” in the church? (courtesy of www.christiancourier.com)