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XIV.
Christian Service
Chapter 158
:
Order and Organization
1. OF what is God the
author?
"For God is not the author of
confusion, but of peace, as in all
churches of the saints." 1 Cor. 14:33. See 1
Cor. 11:16.
2. Why did Paul give
instruction to Timothy concerning the duties and
qualifications of bishops and deacons?
"These things write I unto thee, . .
. that thou mayest
know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the
house of God, which is the church of the
living God, the pillar and ground [margin, stay]
of the truth." I Tim. 3:14,15.
3. How should
everything pertaining to God's work be done?
"Let all things be done decently
and in order." 1 Cor. 14:40.
NOTE.-"Order is heaven's first law."-
Milton. In the Scriptures Christians are
likened to soldiers, and their work to that
of a warrior, or to a conqueror going forth
to conquer. 2 Tim. 2:3,4; 1 Tim. 1:18; Rev.
6:2. As order, organization, direction, and
discipline are necessary in an army, so are
they also in the church. The weapons used
and the object sought are different in each
case (Rom. 13:4; 2 Cor. 10:3.4); but the
necessity for order and organization are the
same in both.
4. What is one prime
essential of soldiers in an army?
"All these men of war, that could
keep rank, came with a perfect heart to
Hebron, to make David king over all Israel." 1
Chron. 12:38.
5. That the burden of
judging and looking after the affairs of Israel
might not all rest on Moses, what instruction
did Jethro, his father-in-law, give him?
"Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the
people able men, such as fear God, men of truth,
hating covetousness; and place such over them,
to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of
hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
And let them judge the people at all seasons:
and it shall be, that every great matter they
shall bring unto thee, but every small matter
they shall judge: so shall it be easier for
thyself, and they shall bear the burden with
thee." Ex. 18:21,22.
6. How many apostles
did Christ at first ordain to preach the gospel?
"And He ordained twelve, that
they should be with Him, and that He might send
them forth to preach." Mark 3:14.
7. How many did He
later appoint to this work?
"After these things the Lord
appointed other seventy also, and sent
them two and two before His face into every city
and place, whither He Himself would come." Luke
10:1.
8. When the number of
the disciples multiplied, what instruction did
the apostles give the believers, that none might
be neglected in the daily ministration of
temporal necessities?
"Wherefore, brethren, look ye out
among you seven men of honest report, full of
the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint
over this business." Acts 6:3.
NOTE.-The men thus selected were known as
deacons. The lesson to be learned from this
is that leaders and people should unite in
planning and providing for the necessary
organization and officering of the church
according to its growth and needs. This
cooperation is again shown in the words of
Paul, "Whomsoever ye shall approve by your
letters, them will I send." 1 Cor. 16:3. See
also Acts 15:22.
9. What word came
through the Spirit to the ministering prophets
and teachers laboring at Antioch?
"As they ministered to the Lord, and
fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate Me
Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have
called them. And when they had fasted and
prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent
them away." Acts 13:2,3.
10. What is one of the
gifts which God has set in the church?
"And God hath set some in the church,
first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly
teachers, after that . . . helps,
governments." 1 Cor. 12:28.
NOTE.-The word here rendered governments
implies the work or office of "steering,
piloting, directing."
11. For the direction
of matters in each local church, what
instruction did the apostle Paul give to Titus?
"For this cause left I thee in Crete,
that thou shouldest set in order the things that
are wanting, and ordain elders in every city,
as I had appointed thee." Titus 1:5.
12. What instruction
did he give to the members of the church as to
their relationship to those thus appointed?
"Obey them that have the rule
[margin, guide] over you, and submit
yourselves: for they watch for your souls,
as they that must give account, that they may do
it with joy, and not with grief." Heb. 13:17.
See 1 Peter 5:5; Mark 10:42-45.
13. What instruction
and caution are given to elders?
"The elders which are among you I
exhort, who am also an elder, . . . Feed the
flock of God which is among you, taking
the oversight thereof, not by constraint,
but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a
ready mind; neither as being lords over God's
heritage, but being ensamples to the flock."
1 Peter 5:1-3.
NOTE.-For the qualifications and duties of
elders, see 1 Tim. 3:1-3; Titus 1:6-9; Acts
20:28-31; and the scripture just quoted. How
God regards rebellion against divinely
appointed authority and leadership, is
illustrated in the expulsion of Satan and
his angels from heaven, and in the fate of
Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. See Rev. 12:7-9;
Numbers 16. The unity and harmony which
should exist among believers is described in
John 13:34,35; 17:20-23; and Eph. 4:1-6. The
evil of place-seeking in the church is shown
in Mark 10:35-45 and Luke 14:7-11; and of
ecclesiastical tyranny, in Dan. 7:25;
8:24,25; 2 Thess. 2:3,4; and John 16:2. The
course to be pursued toward offending
members, and in cases where differences
arise, is pointed out in Matt. 18:15-18;
5:23,24; Gal. 6:1; 1 Tim. 5:19,20; Titus
3:10,11; 1 Corinthians 5; and Acts 15. And
the guide-book in all matters of both
doctrine and discipline should be the Bible.
Isa. 8:20; 2 Tim. 3:16,17; 4:1,2.
HAS
someone seen Christ in you today?
Christian, look to your heart, I pray;
The little things you have done or said-
Did they accord with the way you prayed?
Have your thoughts been pure and words been
kind?
Have you sought to have the Saviour's mind?
The world with a criticizing view
Has watched; but did it see Christ in you?
Has
some one seen Christ in you today?
Christian, look to your life, I pray;
There are aching hearts and blighted souls
Being lost on sin's destructive shoals,
And perhaps of Christ their only view
May be what they see of Him in you.
Will they see enough to bring hope and cheer?
Look to your light! does it shine out clear? |
