Ecclesiology

Question 1

I. What are the ordinances of the church? And what is their significance?

Answer 1

1. Baptism
2. Picture of salvation
3. Death of old self
4. Resurrection of new self
5. Official way of “Confessing that Jesus is Lord” – Romans 10:9
6. Lord’s Supper
7. Similar picture of salvation
8. Gives believers an opportunity to reflect on what Christ has done for us and confess and repent any sin that’s hindering our relationship with Him
9. Realigns us with Him

Question 2

II. Is there any appropriate mode of baptism? Why?

Answer 2

1. Yes, Full Immersion
2. John the Baptist and Jesus set the example
3. Jesus’s life on earth is meant to model what our lives should be like in Him
4. Mark 1:10: “And when He came up out of the water …
5. In order for Jesus to “come up out of” He would have had to first be fully immersed in …

Question 3

III. With Scripture, explain what is the function of the pastor in relation to body life?

Answer 3

1. A pastor is a shepherd of the church, his role is to care for the spiritual needs of the church members, primarily through the administration of the scriptures.
2. Acts: 6:2: … “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables” …
3. Acts 6:4: “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word.”
4. 1 Peter 5:1-3: So I exhort the elders among you … shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock …

Question 4

IV. What is the place of the Great Commission in the life of the church?

Answer 4

1. The Great Commission is the sole purpose for the church.
2. The church also exists for fellowship and corporate gathering of payer and worship, but …
3. If the driving theme of the church is not the Great Commission, if there is no interest in evangelism and making disciples, then the church is nothing more than a country club.

Question 5

V. What is the role of the deacon in the local church?

Answer 5

1. Drawing off the events of Acts 6 again, scripture makes it clear that while pastors tend to the spiritual needs of the church, deacons tend to the physical needs of the church. Both are equally important.