Church Structure 02/20/22

Series: Church Stuff

Church Structure

Ephesians 4; I Peter 5; Hebrews 13

A church is a God-initiated, covenant community sharing core beliefs while fulfilling God’s purposes.

Concentric Circles of Belief   

church convictions

Porter is a local, autonomous, congregationally-governed, pastor-led, covenantal community.   

·      a local church 

A church was established as believers gathered regularly for worship in a specific place.  

·      an autonomous church  

·      a congregationalist church

There is not a command for a specific form of church government in the New Testament.  

·      covenantal community

            The purpose of membership:

                        1) selecting leaders

                        2) congregational structure

                        3) effective pastoring

·      pastor led  

The character of the leader and the function of the structure were of greater importance than the title of the leader of the form of the structure. 

I Peter 5:1-6  

Hebrews 13:7-9; 17-18