311 – The Ministry of the Early Church

SEMESTER 1

311 – The Ministry of the Early Church

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE:  ECCLESIOLOGY I LESSON # 11
THE MINISTRY OF THE EARLY CHURCH

Read Acts 2:36-47.

INTRODUCTION:

1. The Gospels deal with Jesus’s; personal ministry on earth. (Acts. 1:1-2)
2. The book of Acts covers the transition of God’s people from a Jewish to a church economy.
3. Failure to see the transitional nature of this period has caused great confusion today.

i. That the “all things in common” is proper.
ii. That the “signs and wonders” were to continue.
iii. That the ministries of healing were to continue.
iv. That the gift of tongues was to continue till Christ’s return.
v. That new prophecies and revelations should continue.

4. Were these things to continue and if not, why not?

I. SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES WERE TO CONTINUE

This can easily be seen by several facts:

1. The nature of the activities demands continuation.

i. Mark 16:15, “Preach the gospel to every creature.”
ii. Go and “teach all nations.”

2. The promise of companionship had a time element.

i. “Lo, I am with you alway even unto the end…”

3. The relationship between His commission and His return. (Acts 1:8-11)
4. It is thus obvious that preaching the gospel, baptizing believers, and teaching them to observe all things, through the ministry of the church, carried a clear time span, “till He returns.”

II. SOME THINGS WERE NOT TO CONTINUE

This is clear from the following:

1. The nature of the things demanded an end.
2. Clear scriptural statements that they would end.
3. Later scriptural exhortations that would conflict with those particular principles.

III. SOME EARLY CHURCH ACTIVITIES THAT WERE TEMPORARY

1. The holding of all things in common (as in Acts 2:44-45, Acts 4:34-37). We know this was temporary for the following reasons:

i. They did not work here, later they did. (II Thes. 3:10)
ii. Here they did not provide for their own households, later they did. (I Tim. 5:8)
iii. Here there was no private ownership, later there was, as in Philemon 2, and many other Scriptures in the New Tes­tament which sanction private ownership.

2. The daily ministration to orphans and widows as in Acts 6:1.

i. Because the existence of this ministry flowed out of the above common holding, which ceased when the Jerusalem church was dispersed.
ii. Because after this we find neither account or evidence of its practice.
iii. Because we find individuals charged with this responsibility. (I Tim. 5:16)

3. The signs, wonders and miracles as in Mark 16:17-20.

i. Because the Bible says they were restricted and temporary. (I Cor. 12:24,30, I Cor. 13:8-10)
ii. Because we see no biblical account or hint of these being done by any Christian, except apostles and men of the faith while Christ lived.

Note: Concerning this thought, refer to the tract “Who Are The Believers Followed By Signs In Mark 16?”

4. Tongues and prophecies ceased.

i. Because Scripture says they would. (I Cor. 13:8)
ii. Because they are never recorded as a God-blessed gift in the later churches.
iii. Paul only refers to them in correcting error.
iv. The purpose (temporary) for which they were given was fulfilled.
v. Those things were to cease when the Scripture was complete. (I Cor. 13:8-10)