Church Structure

Bible References:            Proverbs 14:4; 1 Corinthians ch 12-14; 1 Corinthians 13:1-2; Romans 12:9; Romans 12:9-21; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 4:3; Romans 14:19; 1 Peter 3:8, Colossians 3:13-17; 1 Peter Ch.3; 1 Timothy 5:1-2; 1 Timothy Ch.3

Church Structure:

·         Should be a safe place where love, patience, honesty and care for each other abide

·         The saying “You should love your brother but you don’t have to like him”, is a lie.  You need to both like and love each other .

·         The Church is a family (organism) not a club or business (organisation)

·         As we care for our bodies and promote their well-being, so too we should care and promote the well-being of the Church body

·         Each member of the Church family has a role

·         Harmony and unity should abide within the local church family

·         We are bound together because of Christ

·         Care for each, help each other

Fellowship is a priority:

·         Anything that causes disunity affects the Church

·         Disunity is sin

·         Structure within the Church needs to promote unity and downplay differences

·         Families are built on relationship not rules

·         Each member of the Church has a role; e.g. a mother is not elected, she is gifted

·         Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd who knows His Sheep.  He cares for His sheep.  Pastors and Elders care for the spiritual well-being of the flock (family) of God.  They don’t breed sheep.  Sheep breed sheep. 

·         Christians are accountable to each other for spiritual growth.  To grow spirituality, you need to be a part of a local church family.

·         God gives us what we need to live in a healthy family – we need to respond to this and be active in our local Church family.