1. How did the Jerusalem church reflect unity? The people in that church were from all walks of life. They made decisions in unity, they were in one accord. They were unified around Jesus. They had a unified purpose. Based on Acts 1:8, they went from house to house to reach and teach everyone. Based on their united prayer, they grew in fellowship.
2. Trace the ways the Jerusalem church was a soul-winning church. The Jerusalem church was a growing church. If a church grows qualitatively, then it will grow quantitatively. They put an emphasis on reaching and teaching. They saturated the city with the gospel. The church had spontaneous evangelism. Internal growth leads to external growth. God uses numbers to show order and also that all were included.
3. Show how the Jerusalem church affirmed the theological definition of a church. The Jerusalem church had all the elements which make up the theological definition of the church. They were an assembly of professing believers. They were individually indwelt by Christ. The church was under the discipline of the Word of God. The church was organized to carry out the Great Commission. They went house to house evangelizing, educating, worshiping, and fellowshiping. The church administered the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Table to believers, and the believers exercised spiritual gifts.
4. How did the Antioch church reflect the theme of missions? The Antioch church supported missions with their finances. They commissioned missionaries, of which Paul and Barnabas were two. Paul and Barnabas remained connected to the church at Antioch, which is another indication that the church was staying involved in missions. The Antioch church was the church of the "open sheet." This term, which comes from Peter's vision in Acts 10, suggests that the church contained some outcasts. Outcasts take in outcasts, so this church had probably grown as a result.
5. How did the Galatia church deal with doctrinal problems? Paul wrote to the church at Galatia and told them how to deal with the problem. He established himself as authority and said to deal with the doctrinal problem from established authority. In Galatians 1:1, he called himself an Apostle. False teachers preach "another gospel," so Paul was telling them to interpret Scripture correctly. In Galatians 1:8-9, he said to let the false teachers be accursed, and in Galatians 3:1, he called them foolish. Thus, he was saying that a doctrinal problem should be dealt with by denouncing heresy. The final way is to show how doctrinal error leads to hatred and the works of the flesh.
6. How was the Thessalonica church a model church? The Thessalonican church was a model church in doctrine. They taught good doctrine and had a proper concept of Christ. They were model in grace. They were a model to leaders, in prayer, in its walk, in evangelism, and in church policy.
7. How can a study of the churches of the New Testament help a student understand ecclesiology? Seeing the example of those who have come before is a good way to see what has worked and what has not. It also gives insight into how others have interpreted Scripture and how they have dealt with the various problems which have crept into the church.
Tom of Spotswood"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5:12)
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)
Index to Selected Essays And Book Reviews
Lesson 13 - Dispensations and Covenants
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