Three important elements of the church
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1. The Ministry
God has called and ordained the ministry for the purpose of leading His church. These are God-
appointed people whose function in the body is leadership. (Every group must have a leader or
chaos will rule.) They are anointed, enable and gifted by God for this purpose.
God may call some of you into the ministry – that is, to lead a Christian ministry (church or other)
on a full time basis. You need to understand what the function of a Christian leader is.
What is a pastor’s job?
Acts 6:2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason
that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. [3] Wherefore, brethren, look ye out
among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint
over this business. [4] But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the
word.
Prayer – getting direction from God, hearing the voice of God and getting a fresh word for the
people, and interceding for the people under his charge.
The Ministry of the Word – This involves primarily, preaching, teaching, and offering biblical
counsel.
Ephes. 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,
pastors and teachers; [12] For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ: [13] Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of
the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Equipping – A good pastor will give the people the skills, responsibility and opportunity to perform
the work of the ministry. When he does this, two things happen; He is free to resume prayer and
ministry of the Word, and the people grow in maturity through ministering and serving others.
Pastors are also referred to as:
Shepherds and overseers, which gives the idea of providing leadership to the church, and;
Watchmen, providing protection and giving warning of spiritual dangers.
The Ordinances of the Church
The ordinances are symbols, signifying spiritual relationships.
2. Baptism - commanded
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of
Jesus Christ . . .
Baptism is a public testimony and confirmation of conversion. Baptism demonstrates outwardly
what has happened inwardly.
It is symbolic.
Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into
his death? [4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised
up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. [5] For
if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his
resurrection:
In the act of baptism, you simply act out the process of death, burial and resurrection.
· Water represents cleansing
· Immersion represents death and burial.
· Coming out of the water represents resurrection to newness of life.
3. Communion: The Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper was instituted the night before Christ was crucified. The event is full of
symbolism.
This was the Passover meal, which commemorated Israel’s deliverance from bondage in Egypt. A
spotless lamb was slain and its blood was painted on the doorposts of the house to cause the
death angel to “pass over” that dwelling as he passed through the land slaying the firstborn of
Egypt. In every home not marked by the Lamb’s blood the firstborn was slain. The blood was God’
s way of protecting His people while His wrath was poured out. The end result of this event was that
Israel was set free from the bondage of Egypt.
Likewise, God will someday pour out His wrath against all unrighteousness. The only ones to be
spared will be those who are marked by the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. Those whose
sins are covered by His righteous blood will be spared. Meanwhile, through His blood, we are free
from the bondage of sin.
The meal symbolizes our partaking of His broken body and shed blood for the price of our
salvation. He said, “This do in remembrance of me.” It points back to his sacrificial death, and
points forward to His return.
A careful reading of Luke 22:14-22 and 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 reveals that this meal is a symbolic
occasion. This meal was not a time for feasting but for discerning or recognizing and
acknowledging the spiritual relationship between ourselves and Christ, and between ourselves and
the members of Christ’s body, the church.
God has called and ordained the ministry for the purpose of leading His church. These are God-
appointed people whose function in the body is leadership. (Every group must have a leader or
chaos will rule.) They are anointed, enable and gifted by God for this purpose.
God may call some of you into the ministry – that is, to lead a Christian ministry (church or other)
on a full time basis. You need to understand what the function of a Christian leader is.
What is a pastor’s job?
Acts 6:2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason
that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. [3] Wherefore, brethren, look ye out
among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint
over this business. [4] But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the
word.
Prayer – getting direction from God, hearing the voice of God and getting a fresh word for the
people, and interceding for the people under his charge.
The Ministry of the Word – This involves primarily, preaching, teaching, and offering biblical
counsel.
Ephes. 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,
pastors and teachers; [12] For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ: [13] Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of
the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Equipping – A good pastor will give the people the skills, responsibility and opportunity to perform
the work of the ministry. When he does this, two things happen; He is free to resume prayer and
ministry of the Word, and the people grow in maturity through ministering and serving others.
Pastors are also referred to as:
Shepherds and overseers, which gives the idea of providing leadership to the church, and;
Watchmen, providing protection and giving warning of spiritual dangers.
The Ordinances of the Church
The ordinances are symbols, signifying spiritual relationships.
2. Baptism - commanded
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of
Jesus Christ . . .
Baptism is a public testimony and confirmation of conversion. Baptism demonstrates outwardly
what has happened inwardly.
It is symbolic.
Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into
his death? [4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised
up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. [5] For
if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his
resurrection:
In the act of baptism, you simply act out the process of death, burial and resurrection.
· Water represents cleansing
· Immersion represents death and burial.
· Coming out of the water represents resurrection to newness of life.
3. Communion: The Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper was instituted the night before Christ was crucified. The event is full of
symbolism.
This was the Passover meal, which commemorated Israel’s deliverance from bondage in Egypt. A
spotless lamb was slain and its blood was painted on the doorposts of the house to cause the
death angel to “pass over” that dwelling as he passed through the land slaying the firstborn of
Egypt. In every home not marked by the Lamb’s blood the firstborn was slain. The blood was God’
s way of protecting His people while His wrath was poured out. The end result of this event was that
Israel was set free from the bondage of Egypt.
Likewise, God will someday pour out His wrath against all unrighteousness. The only ones to be
spared will be those who are marked by the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. Those whose
sins are covered by His righteous blood will be spared. Meanwhile, through His blood, we are free
from the bondage of sin.
The meal symbolizes our partaking of His broken body and shed blood for the price of our
salvation. He said, “This do in remembrance of me.” It points back to his sacrificial death, and
points forward to His return.
A careful reading of Luke 22:14-22 and 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 reveals that this meal is a symbolic
occasion. This meal was not a time for feasting but for discerning or recognizing and
acknowledging the spiritual relationship between ourselves and Christ, and between ourselves and
the members of Christ’s body, the church.