308 – The Mission of the Church

SEMESTER 1

308 – The Mission of the Church

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE:  ECCLESIOLOGY I LESSON # 8
THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH

INTRODUCTION:

1. In the previous lesson, I mentioned the diversity of opinion, as to the church’s job.
2. I appealed to the commission given by our Lord, i.e., what He told us to do.
3. This lesson, then, is a continuation of that one, in our ap­plication of the commission, i.e., what is a church commanded by the Lord to do?

I. GO INTO ALL THE WORLD(MAT. 28:20, MK. 16:15, LK.24:47)

1. The command is simple and clear, notwithstanding obvious difficul­ties.
2. The command was “beginning at Jerusalem” (not first) because that is where they were.
3. The work is to be done simultaneously everywhere.
4. The going is to be continued until His return.

II. TEACH – PREACH (MAT. 28:20, MK. 16:15)

1. The word in Mat. 28:20 is math-ayt-yoo-o. It means to make disciples or pupils.
2. We might wonder what we were to teach if it were not for Mk. 16:15 and Lk. 24:47.
3. All of the going or even discipling is of no value unless our message is the gospel.
4. Paul says those who go and preach any other message are to be accursed. (Gal. 1:8-9)
5. Be aware that all preaching and teaching of our day is not the gospel.

i. Preaching religious conduct is not.
ii. Preaching proper abstinence is not.
iii. Preaching church ordinances is not.

6. The gospel is: How that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, how that He was buried and rose again according to the Scriptures.

III. BAPTIZING AND TEACHING

1. Those discipled are to be baptized by proper church authority.
2. They are to be taught to observe after the following pattern:

i. Uniting in scriptural churches.
ii. Continuance in the proper doctrine.
iii. Teaching and practicing proper conduct.
iv. Reproducing after their kind.

3. A “mission work” without the adherence to this pattern will not glorify God.

1. THIS IS THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH

1. We mentioned in the previous lesson, that it is the church (not apostolic) commission.
2. Is this “church format” optional or necessary?
3. No other organization or group on earth has authority or power to do it.
4. No baptism except by local church authority is Bible baptism.
5. No association, convention, fellowship group, or “what-have-you” has the right to carry out any part of this commission.

III: the inconsistency of the “servant” organizations.

6. No “universal – invisible body” can receive, or carry out this commission.
7. Only local, visible, hearing, speaking, giving, receiving, teaching, learning churches could conceivably be the institutions to whom this mission was given.