Grace NotesTraining in Bible Teaching

Local Church

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DESCRIPTION OF A LOCAL CHURCH

This article provides a collection of Bible references dealing with the basic attitude and activities which are present in a local church that is functioning as described in Ephesians 4:11-16.

INTERACTION WITHIN THE CONGREGATION

Attitudes in the Local Church

  1. Love for one another: Rom. 13:8; 1 Thess. 3:11,12; 4:9,10; 2 Thess. 1:3; 1 Peter 1:22.

  2. Forbearance or relaxed tolerance toward others: Eph. 4:2; Col. 3:13.

  3. Acceptance or willingness to receive others into assembly: Rom. 15:7.

  4. An attitude which is neither judgmental or condemning: Rom. 14:13; 1 Cor. 4:5; James 4:11,12

  5. Willingness to subordinate one’s own desires to the needs and interests of others: Phil. 2:3,4; 1 Pet. 5:5,6; Rom. 12:10.

  6. Genuine devotion toward one another as Family of God: Rom. 12:10.

  7. Harmony or rapport that transcends social barriers: Rom. 12:16-18; 14:19; James 2:1-4.

  8. Priority of unity within the congregations: Eph. 4:3,13; Col. 3:14.

  9. Forgiveness: Eph. 4:32.

  10. Encouraging one another: Heb. 3:12,13; 10:24; 1 Thess. 5:11; Rom. 15:4,5.

Activities in the Local Church

  1. Edifying one another: Eph. 4:29; 1 Thess. 5:11; Rom. 14:18-20; 15:1,2.

  2. Serving one another: Gal. 5:13.

  3. Being kind to one another: Eph. 4:32; 1 Peter 3:8,9.

  4. Showing hospitality: 1 Peter 4:9; 3 John 5-8.

  5. Partaking of the Communion: 1 Cor. 11:17-34; Acts 2:42-46.

  6. Admonishing one another: Rom. 15:14; 1 Cor. 4:14; 1 Thess. 5:14.

  7. Restoring carnal believers: Gal. 6:1.

  8. Praying for one another: James 5:16.

The Local Church’s Function as a Community of Believers

  1. Our relationship with God is described in family terms: Gal. 3:26; John 1:12,13.

  2. Christians are commanded to have a family-like devotion to one another: Rom. 12:10.

  3. The local church is called the household of God: 1 Tim. 3:15.

  4. Paul recommends to Timothy how to relate to others in the congregation: 1 Tim. 5:1,2

  5. Leadership qualifications include how well a man fulfills his family responsibilities: 1 Tim. 3:4,5,12.

  6. A woman’s role in the local church is described in the same terms as her role in the family: 1 Tim. 2:11-13; 1 Cor. 14:34-35.