The Church: The Wisdom of God

2. The Church: The Wisdom of God Wisdom In Autonomy • The Church and Autonomy.

3. The Church: The Wisdom of God Wisdom In Autonomy • The Church and Autonomy. • The term “church” is used in two senses.

4. The Church: The Wisdom of God Wisdom In Autonomy • The Church and Autonomy. • The term “church” is used in two senses. • Universal “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” Mt. 16:18 “22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” Eph. 1

5. The Church: The Wisdom of God Wisdom In Autonomy • The Church and Autonomy. • The term “church” is used in two senses. • Universal • Local “To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord” 1 Cor. 1:2 “Paul, an apostle… and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia” Gal. 1:1, 2

6. The Church: The Wisdom of God Wisdom In Autonomy • The Church and Autonomy. • The term autonomy simply means “self-governing”. “The quality or state of being self-governing; the right of self-government or self-directing”

7. The Church: The Wisdom of God Wisdom In Autonomy • God’s design for church government is congregational.

8. The Church: The Wisdom of God Wisdom In Autonomy • God’s design for church government is congregational. • Elders in every church in every city. “So when they had appointed elders in every church… they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.” Acts 14:23 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you” Titus 1:5

9. The Church: The Wisdom of God Wisdom In Autonomy • God’s design for church government is congregational. • Elders in every church in every city. • A plurality of men in the eldership. “So when they had appointed elders in every church… they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.” Acts 14:23 “From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church” Acts 20:17

10. The Church: The Wisdom of God Wisdom In Autonomy • God’s design for church government is congregational. • Elders in every church in every city. • A plurality of men in the eldership. • The eldership takes the oversight of the flock among them. The elders who are among you I exhort… Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers” 1 Pet. 5:1, 2

11. The Church: The Wisdom of God Wisdom In Autonomy • Areas where autonomy is exercised.

12. The Church: The Wisdom of God Wisdom In Autonomy • Areas where autonomy is exercised. • Judgment and Expediency. “1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. 3 And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem” 1 Cor. 16

13. The Church: The Wisdom of God Wisdom In Autonomy • Areas where autonomy is exercised. • Judgment and Expediency. • Local Work. “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” Acts 20:28 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers” 1 Pet. 5:1, 2

14. The Church: The Wisdom of God Wisdom In Autonomy • Areas where autonomy is exercised. • Judgment and Expediency. • Local Work. • Church Discipline. “4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” 1 Cor. 5

15. The Church: The Wisdom of God Wisdom In Autonomy • Areas where autonomy is exercised. • Judgment and Expediency. • Local Work. • Church Discipline. • Finances. “15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. “ Php. 4

16. The Church: The Wisdom of God Wisdom In Autonomy • Areas where autonomy is exercised. • Judgment and Expediency. • Local Work. • Church Discipline. • Finances. • Providing for the needy among its own. “Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business” Acts 6:3

17. The Church: The Wisdom of God Wisdom In Autonomy • God’s Wisdom in Church Autonomy.

18. The Church: The Wisdom of God Wisdom In Autonomy • God’s Wisdom in Church Autonomy. • God’s wisdom is seen in the church. “to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places” Eph. 3:10

19. The Church: The Wisdom of God Wisdom In Autonomy • God’s Wisdom in Church Autonomy. • God’s wisdom is seen in the church. • God’s wisdom in autonomy is evident. “to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places” Eph. 3:10

20. The Church: The Wisdom of God Wisdom In Autonomy • God’s Wisdom in Church Autonomy. • God’s wisdom is seen in the church. • God’s wisdom in autonomy is evident. • When five of the seven churches in Asia became corrupt, they did not influence the other two faithful churches (Rev. 2, 3). “to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places” Eph. 3:10