The Church by Jeffrey Johnson

The Church

Notable Quotables

Takeaways

Chapters

5. The Offices of the Church

Bishops - Overseers

• The Bible uses three words to describe the same office:
  1. bishop
  2. elder
  3. pastor - Shepherd
  • v1 : Peter uses them as synonymous
  • v28:
• The pastor’s primary responsibility is feeding the sheep. Preaching the Word of God.
  • v1
  • v15 : studying the Word, to rightly divide the word of truth

• The pastor must rule/lead the sheep

12. The Principles of Worship

• 1. Worship needs to be 100% God-centered
  • A worship that is geared to man is a worship that is not pleasing to God.
  • What the world needs is more of God, not more of itself.
    • not more entertainment
  • Worship should be centered on the one being worshipped.
    • Are we worshipping God or ourselves?
• 2. Worship needs to be Word-centered
  • ?: How much should worship be led by the Word and now much by the Spirit?
    • i.e. How much should it be directed by our minds and how much by our emotions?
    • The Bible teaches us to worship in spirit and in truth John 4:24
    • Johnson: Worship should be Word centered.
      • It is through the Word that God has revealed Himself.
      • The Word is the sword of the Spirit: Ephesians 6:17
• 3. Worship needs to be holy:
  • 1. Worship is entering into the presence of a holy God.
    • Sin has no place in worship.
  • 2. Worship must be holy in expression:
    • To view God as our “homeboy” is to not look at Him with respect and honor
  • 3. worship God in the way that He commanded.
    • See Nadab and Abihu and Uziah
• 4. Worship must not focus on the physical
  • Must not be sensual.
  • Worship must be spiritual
  • True worship is not about stimulating our natural senses.
• 5. Worship must be congregational:
  • In modern churches, the lights are dimmed and the focus is put on the stage.
  • But the focus should be on the congregation bringing glory to God. Encouraged by one another.
    • Ephesians 5:19
    • Colossians 3:16
  • Are you listening to a performance, or are you entering into a time and place of worship?
• 6. Worship should be orderly
  • There should be a liturgy.
  • 1 Corinthians 14:40
• 7. Worship must follow the regulative principle of worship

Deacons - Servants

• deacon
• The deacons responsibility is to serve so that the elder has time to devote to prayer and the word of God.
  • Acts 6:2-4-4: