Churches of the New Testament: Introduction

I. Introduction
   A. Matthew 16:18
      1. It was always the intent of God to establish the church 
         (cf. Ephesians 3:11)
      2. He established the church universal (Ephesians 5:22-33) and 
         church local (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:1-2, Philippians 1:1, 
         etc.)      
   B. What of us?
      1. All these events were in the past
      2. Everyone to whom the NT was written are long dead!
      3. We live in a different time and place
      4. Yet we believe that the church remains 
         (cf. Matthew 28:18-20)
      5. The same message must be preached (Galatians 1:6-9)
   C. What about the church?
      1. In many denominations, traditions are allowed to supersede 
         what was done in the NT
      2. Perhaps they will even concede that things were different 
         in the NT church-- they still do what they have done 
         previously!
      3. Some think the church needs to conform to its environment
   D. What does the Bible have to say?
      1. Anything else but what was preached is anathema, or 
         accursed (Galatians 1:6-9)
      2. The Bible is sufficient for every good work 
         (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
   E. Therefore, there is a need to be, as much as possible, the 
      New Testament church
   F. But how?  
      1. Following God's word-- Colossians 3:17
      2. Searching the Scriptures
      3. But what do we look for?
   G. Hence the study we undertake-- to understand New Testament 
      churches

II. The Right Path?
   A. Is this the way to go about things?
   B. Many criticize the concept of being the New Testament church
      1. NT churches were fraught with problems
      2. First century and twenty-first century are very different
   C. Let us consider what we are seeking here
   D. It is not an attempt to make a complete facsimile of the NT 
      church
      1. Not wearing togas, speaking Greek, etc.
      2. Not practicing that which Apostles condemned
   E. It is the conviction that examples are important
      1. We believe the Scriptures to be the source of authority
      2. We know that if God commended a church in the NT for 
         something, if we do the same, we will share in that 
         commendation
      3. It is our firm ground
   F. It is valid to have such confidence in examples?

III. The Power of Examples
   A. Examples as authoritative and binding not popular today to 
      many
   B. It must be conceded that examples are not always binding
      1. Matters of liberty
      2. "Contradictory" examples-- people doing the same things 
         in different ways
   C. Nevertheless, examples are great in their illustrative and 
      demonstrative power
   D. Matthew 5:44 / Luke 23:34
      1. It is one thing to hear Jesus command to love your enemy...
      2. ...but it is quite powerful to see Him do so in such 
        terrible circumstances!
   E. The same is true in terms of the church
      1. We can go on the commands of God, indeed…
      2. …but the examples highlight and illustrate!
      3. 1 Corinthians 9:1-14 / Acts 13:1-3
      4. It is one thing to see the command to promote the Gospel, 
         another to see it in action!
   F. God provided the examples for our learning!
      1. Romans 15:3 / 1 Corinthians 10:11
      2. If the OT is for our instruction and admonition, how much 
         more the NT?
      3. If OT example could illuminate and exhort, how much more 
         NT example?
   G. Examples, then, are not accidental or unnecessary
      1. They represent a vital way of communicating God's will
      2. We ought to consider examples
      3. We ought to follow approved examples

IV. The New Testament Churches
   A. How can we go about understanding the examples of the 
      churches?
   B. We have the NT, geography, and history at our disposal
   C. NT: Gospels showing Christ's teachings, Acts showing origins 
      of some churches, letters of Apostles to some of the churches
   D. Historical reconstruction necessary
      1. We do not have every piece needed to make the definitive 
         portrait
      2. Nevertheless, we can take the pieces we have to make the 
         best picture we can
      3. Just as we often need to put the pieces together of scenes 
         in our own lives, so we can do in the NT
      4. This should not give us cause for concern
   E. Disclaimers
      1. We may not have every aspect of a given local church 
         revealed; our portrait is based on that which is revealed
      2. Each individual church is full of different people at 
         different developmental levels with different issues; thus, 
         we should not assume that everyone in a given church  
         deserves its praise or its censure
   F. Nevertheless, let us press on with the study

V. "The" New Testament church?
   A. As we go through our analysis, we must consider another 
      question
   B. Can there be the New Testament church?
   C. As we will see, each local church is its own distinct entity
      1. Different people, different needs, different strengths
      2. No two are the same!
   D. We must see, then, whether we can consider a coherent picture 
      or a paradigmatic picture of the New Testament church (or a 
      bit of both)
      1. Coherent: taking all the strengths and commendations of all 
         the churches, along with negatives to avoid, and 
         considering it the "ideal" church to aspire to
      2. Paradigmatic: considering each church, its strengths and 
         weaknesses, and consider it as a paradigm through which we 
         can look at local churches today

VI. Conclusion
   A. We are about to embark on a journey of understanding New 
      Testament churches
   B. We have seen the value of this study-- if we seek to follow 
      God, we must listen to the examples which He has provided 
      for us
   C. Let us strive to be a church pleasing to God!
   D. Invitation/songbook