This is a very brief outline of Biblical instructions regarding the New Testament Church. (I am making it very brief and very simple in order to bring a similar simplicity with which Jesus taught.)
Jesus first taught the Jews about the Kingdom of God – in simple terms – since the average Jew had been brought up in the ways of Moses, Abraham, Issac and Jacob,they knew and had heard the Talmud. So Jesus did not teach as the Pharisees taught. He taught that He is the fulfillment of the Jewish Law – which most Jews rejected.
Next, Saul, (soon to become the Apostle Paul), encountered Jesus on his fateful trip to Damascus. He was soon thereafter commissoned by God to bring the Good News of Jesus to the gentile world.
Since gentiles (non-Jews) do not have an understanding of Jewish life, culture and religion, they would benefit from the teachings of how the Old Testament is the foundation of the New Testament and the New Covenant of Jesus Christ. That is still the case today.
And the message of the Gospel is meant to be simple enough for each and every person to hear and understand, so complexity can be a barrier.
Therefore, I am presenting a simple message and simple instructions of:
Belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ
The Bible says in Mark 8:34 says, “And He summoned the crowd together with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.”
The Bible says, in Romans 10:8-10, “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”
And, John 1:12-13 says, “As many as received Him, to them, He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a man, but of God.”
Building The Church
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Being The Church
Philippians 2:1-16 tells us that being the Church means, “Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,
Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves;
Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence,
Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to desire and to work for His good pleasure.
Do all things without complaining or arguments; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding firmly the word of life.”
Pillars of The Church
- The Apostles Teaching
- Fellowship
- The Breaking of the Bread
- Prayer
Pillars Within the Church
- Fellowship – A Healthy Body of Christ, being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
- Discipleship – preaching, teaching, edification.
- Sending – commissioning.
- Evangelism – Lifting the Name of Jesus.
Spiritual Gifts in the Church
| Romans 12 | 1 Corinthians 12 | Corinthians 12 | Ephesians 4 |
| Prophecy | Word of Wisdom | Apostle | Apostle |
| Serving | Word of Knowledge | Prophet | Prophet |
| Teaching | Faith | Teacher | Evangelist |
| Exhortation | Gift of Hearing | Miracles | Pastor |
| Giving | Miracles | Healing | Teacher |
| Overseer | Prophecy | Helps | |
| Mercy | Distinguishing Spirits | Administration | |
| Tongues | Tongues | ||
| Interpretation of Tongues |
Cycle of Ministry of the Church
I.
Romans 10:9, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
II.
Matthew 4:19, “And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
III.
Matthew 10:5, “Jesus sent These twelve out after instructing them: Verse 7. “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Verse 8. ” Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. Verse 9. “Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, verse 10, or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support.
IV.
Matthew 28:19 , “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, verse 20, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
V.
Mark 16:15, “And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Verse 16. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. Verse 17. These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; verse 18, they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
VI.
1 Corinthians 12:25, “so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. Verse 26. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Verse 27. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. Verse 28. And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.”
VII.
Ephesians 4:21, “Indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, verse 23, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, verse 24, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God.”
Verse 25. Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another. Verse 26. BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, verse 27, and do not give the devil an opportunity. Verse 28. He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. Verse 29. Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as it is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Verse 30. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Verse 31. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Verse 32. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Jesus’ Model of Ministry for the Church
Follow Him, follow His ways.
1. Repent
Matthew 4:17, ” From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
2. GO – Make Disciples – Follow Him
- Matthew 4:19, “And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
3. Jesus’ Model for Ministry: Teach, Preach, proclaim the Gospel, lay hands on the sick
- Verse 23. Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and
- proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom,
- and healing every kind of disease
- and every kind of sickness among the people. Learn and teach – BE BEREAN – STUDY TO BE APPROVED –
4. Jesus teaches His disciples 5:31 through Matthew 9:38
- Disciples and the World
- Regarding Personal Relationships
- Giving to the Poor and Prayer
- Fasting; The True Treasure; Wealth (Mammon)
- The Cure for Anxiety
- Prayer and the Golden Rule
- The Narrow and Wide Gates
- The Two Foundations
- Jesus Cleanses a Leper; The Centurion’s Faith
- Examples Peter’s Mother-in-law and Many Others Healed
- Discipleship Tested
- Jesus Casts Out Demons
- A Paralytic Healed
- The Calling
- The Question about Fasting
- Miracles of Healing
5. Our Instructions for our Service
(a) Matthew 10:1, “Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.
(b) Matthew 10:5, These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them:
“Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; verse 6, but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
(c) Matthew 10:7“, And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
(d) Matthew 10:8“, Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.
(e) Freely you received, freely give.
(f) Matthew 10:9, “Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, 10 or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support.
(g) Matthew 10:11, “And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city.
6. A Hard Road before us
(h) Matthew 10:16, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves;
7. The Meaning of Discipleship for us
(i) Matthew 10:24, “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master.
(j) Matthew 10:26, “Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.
(k) Matthew 10:32, “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. 33“But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.
(l) Matthew 10:34, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
(m) Matthew 10:38, “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. Verse 39. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.”
8. The Reward of our Service
(n) Matthew 10:40, “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”
9. GO and follow His example
(V.) Matthew 11:1, “When Jesus had finished giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He departed from there to teach and preach in their cities.”
10. Warninga and Woes
(VI.) JESUS WARNS ABOUT US THE PHARISEES / HIRELINGS – 8 WOES
Matthew 23:1, “Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying:
(a) “The chair of Moses
(b) Matthew 23:8, Titles: Rabbi, Father, Leader, Servant.
11. 8 WOES – Matthew 23:13 – 33
12. WARNINGS to His Disciples on the mission field – Matthew 23:34 – 39
13. BE WATCHMEN – Signs of Christ’s Return
(a) Matthew 24:1 – 3, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” Verse 4. And Jesus answered and said to them,
Finally dear brothers and sisters, since we are the Bride of Christ, the Church of Jesus Christ, let’s remember that we are all called as living stones, and are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that we may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light; for we once were not a people, but now we are the people of God; we had not received mercy, but now we have received mercy.
Simple Faith
I pray that if we will practice a simple Christianity in the Church, we may avoid being trapped in the complexities of religion.
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
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