Church functions ... what is it to do??

[junebugz]

The early NT church seemed to have it's head on quite a bit straighter than today's church (at least most of them). So my question is ... what was the NT church doing which made it so effective (I know those methods might not work today but the idea is the same).

For instance, they had a concept of sharing their possessions and in some cases selling them all for the benefit of others ... they were not caught up by the keeping up with the Joness' mentality.

Also, I know the main function of the church should be the Great Commission (reaching out towards the lost) ... after all, Jesus came to heal the sick not the healthy right? ... and there are worship and fellowship elements

I guess just maybe list the functions a church body should be involved in...

Outreach
Worship
Benevolence
Fellowship
Etc

Thanks!

 

[JohnJones]

Most "churches" today cannot obey the Great Commission because they are against baptism and spend most of their preaching time bashing it. If they would admit that baptism is where the rebirth takes place (and is therefore necessary to salvation) as Jesus said in John 3:5 that men must be reborn of water and of the Spirit then they could start with the Great Commission and become pleasing to God. Until then, however, they will continue to run as secular businesses and private interprises of power-hungry pastors.

 

[2+2=5]

I guess just maybe list the functions a church body should be involved in...Outreach
Worship
Benevolence
Fellowship
Etc

I think edification is a big one also, if not the most important.. (1Cor14:26)

 

[BeforeThereWas]

I think edification is a big one also, if not the most important.. (1Cor14:26)

Excellent observation. Most people assume that the main purpose for the gathering of believers is for corporate worship. There is no such declaration made anywhere in the NT. Mutual edification is the first and foremost purpose for the gathering. Music and corporate worship are all fine and dandy, but when those are made the central focus (along with the aristotilian rhetoric known as the "sermon"), then you are left with little more than a religious service with everyone being hardly more than an audience. That is not the way it should be.

Most professing believers today don't have a clue as to what TRUE worship really is.

Most "pastors" today don't have a clue as to what TRUE worship really is.

Quite a state of affairs, is it not?

BTW

 

[Paleoconservatarian]

Excellent observation. Most people assume that the main purpose for the gathering of believers is for corporate worship. There is no such declaration made anywhere in the NT. Mutual edification is the first and foremost purpose for the gathering. Music and corporate worship are all fine and dandy, but when those are made the central focus (along with the aristotilian rhetoric known as the "sermon"), then you are left with little more than a religious service with everyone being hardly more than an audience. That is not the way it should be.

Most professing believers today don't have a clue as to what TRUE worship really is.

Most "pastors" today don't have a clue as to what TRUE worship really is.

Quite a state of affairs, is it not?

BTW

Amen. In the New Testament, worship is a way of life and not a Sunday morning ritual (complete with entertainment such as drama and music). Romans 12 is clear that worship is a lifestyle, not a ritual. There's no such thing as a "worship service." Church gatherings should be for the purpose of edification. I think we should also get away from the one-man teacher and an audience sort of clergy/laity distinction in church meetings, and bring back the Lord's Supper (just that... a supper and not a piece of cracker and capful of juice). Though I do enjoy a good sermon.

 

[magi]

Amen. In the New Testament, worship is a way of life and not a Sunday morning ritual (complete with entertainment such as drama and music).Romans 12 is clear that worship is a lifestyle, not a ritual. There's no such thing as a "worship service." .

Yes, obviously worship is a way of life, as the New Testament makes clear. But the Old Testament (as well as bits of the New) make it quite clear that singing etc. is a part of the worship God himself has ordained: think of David and Solomon's ordinations for worship in the Temple. Most importantly, think of the book of Psalms: ancient Israel's hymbook is part of the inspired word of God, and moreover part of the bible. God has ordained singing as part of our worship of him!

Church gatherings should be for the purpose of edification. .

Where on earth does the bible say that? I'm all for edification - a good, expository sermon, or a bible study - but the only purpose?
The purpose of a gathering of believers is exactly that - for believers to come together. They should share fellowship; they should share their faith, uphold one another; they should also make a deliberate act of worship together - that is after all our eternal purpose, to glorify God - and, of course, to learn more of him, because that is good, that is what we love doing as christians, and beacuse we can do it better together.
Magi

 

[Paleoconservatarian]

Yes, obviously worship is a way of life, as the New Testament makes clear. But the Old Testament (as well as bits of the New) make it quite clear that singing etc. is a part of the worship God himself has ordained: think of David and Solomon's ordinations for worship in the Temple. Most importantly, think of the book of Psalms: ancient Israel's hymbook is part of the inspired word of God, and moreover part of the bible. God has ordained singing as part of our worship of him!

I don't deny that.

Where on earth does the bible say that? I'm all for edification - a good, expository sermon, or a bible study - but the only purpose?
The purpose of a gathering of believers is exactly that - for believers to come together. They should share fellowship; they should share their faith, uphold one another; they should also make a deliberate act of worship together - that is after all our eternal purpose, to glorify God - and, of course, to learn more of him, because that is good, that is what we love doing as christians, and beacuse we can do it better together.
Magi

I think you're not defining 'edification' properly. I'm not talking about study, or any sort of personal edification. To edify is to build up. What you've described can be called edification, or the strengthening and building up of the body of believers (the church). 1 Corinthians 14:26 states that, "When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church." The word 'strengthening' is from the Greek oikodome, meaning "edifying, edification, building up." I believe the KJV does translate it as 'edifying'.

 

[BeforeThereWas]

Where on earth does the bible say that? I'm all for edification - a good, expository sermon, or a bible study - but the only purpose?

Come on, magi!!!!! Misrepresenting another's statements is is exercise in dishonesty. He didn't say that edification is to be the ONLY purpose. You threw that in yourself, even after quoting his exact statement, and yet you STILL misrepresented his words. Be real, man!

The purpose of a gathering of believers is exactly that - for believers to come together. They should share fellowship; they should share their faith, uphold one another;

Which is not a common practice today, or historically here in the West.

they should also make a deliberate act of worship together - that is after all our eternal purpose, to glorify God - and, of course, to learn more of him,

Where does scripture say this?

BTW

 

[BeforeThereWas]

Amen. In the New Testament, worship is a way of life and not a Sunday morning ritual (complete with entertainment such as drama and music). Romans 12 is clear that worship is a lifestyle, not a ritual. There's no such thing as a "worship service." Church gatherings should be for the purpose of edification. I think we should also get away from the one-man teacher and an audience sort of clergy/laity distinction in church meetings, and bring back the Lord's Supper (just that... a supper and not a piece of cracker and capful of juice). Though I do enjoy a good sermon.

Excellent post, Paleoconservatarian. You have a better handle on what the scriptures actually say than most people I have ever met.

BTW