The New Testament Practice of the Church

I. The Governing Factor - The Holy Spirit

A. The dispensational significance of the Spirit - John 7:37-39; Acts 16:6-7.
B. The Spirit and the Trinity - John 14:7-20 (coinherence).
C. The procession of the Spirit - John 14:25-26; 15:26; 16:7; Gal. 4:6; Rev. 22:1.
D. The function of the Spirit - John 15:26; 16:7-15.
E. The Spirit of love related to crucifixion - Rom. 5:5-8.
F. The Spirit of life related to resurrection - John 20:22; 1 Cor. 15:45b; Rom. 8:2.
G. The Spirit of power related to exaltation - Acts 1:8; 2:33.
H. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit and the creation of the Church
- Acts 1:5, 8; 2:1-4, 33; 8:14-17; 10:44-46; 11:15-17; 15:8; I Cor. 12:13.
I. The continued empowering of the Church - Acts 4:8, 31; 6:3, 5; 7:55; 11:24; 13:9, 52.
J. The Spirit embodied in the Church - Acts 5:3-4, 9.
K. The leading of the Spirit - Acts 8:29, 39; 10:19; 16:6-7.
L. The administration of the Spirit - Acts 13:1-4; 15:28; 20:28.
M. The ignorance of the Spirit - Acts 19:1-7.
N. The speaking of the Spirit - Acts 20:23; 21:4, 11.

II. The Central Message - The Person and Work of Christ

A. Explaining the poured out Spirit by the central message - Acts 2:16-36.
B. The basic content of the central message.
  1. Scriptural background - Acts 2:16-21, 25-28, 30, 31, 34; 3:13, 21-25; 4:11; 5:30; 7:2-50; 10:43; 13:17-27, 33-41; 17:2, 10-11.
  2. Incarnation - Acts 10:38b; 13:23.
  3. The life and ministry of Christ - Acts 2:22; 3:13; 4:10; 10:38-39; 13:23, 25.
  4. Crucifixion - Acts 2:23-24, 36; 3:13-15, 18; 4:10; 5:30; 7:52; 10:39; 13:28-29.
  5. Burial - Acts 2:24, 27; 10:40; 13:29.
  6. Resurrection - Acts 2:24-33; 3:13, 15, 22; 4:10-11; 5:30; 10:40; 13:30, 33-37.
  7. Post-Resurrection appearances - Acts 2:32; 3:15; 5:32; 10:40-42; 13:31.
  8. Ascension & exaltation - Acts 2:30, 33-36; 4:11; 5:31.
  9. An invitation to respond - Acts 2:21, 38; 3:19; 4:12; 5:32; 10:44, 47-48; 13:38-41.


III. The Global Plan - Witnesses (Acts 1:8)

A. Jerusalem - Acts 1-7.
B. Judea, Samaria and Galilee - Acts 8:1-11:18.
C. The uttermost parts of the earth - Acts 11:19-28:31.

    1. Antioch - Acts 11:19-26; 13:1-3; 14:26-28; 15:35-41; 18:22-23
    2. Galatia - Acts 13:4--14:26; 15:36--16:6; 18:23.
    3. Macedonia - Acts 16:7--17:14; 20:1-3.
    4. Achaia - Acts 17:15--18:22.
    5. Asia - Acts 18:24--19:41; 20:4-38.
    6. Rome - Acts 28:16-31.
    7. Spain - Rom. 15:24, 28.

IV. The Outward Form

A. Geographical - Acts 1:8.
1. Local - Acts 8:1; 11:22; Rom. 16:1; Acts 14:23/Titus 1:5; Rev. 1:11.
a. Individuals - 1 Cor. 1:2.
b. Houses - Rom. 16:5; 1 Cor. 16:19; Col. 4:15; Philemon 2.
2. Regional - Acts 15:41; 2 Cor. 1:1; Gal. 1:2, 22.
3. Universal - Acts 9:31; 20:28; 1 Cor. 1:2; Eph. 5:23; Heb. 12:23.
a. Fellowship - Gal. 2:9; 1 John 1:3.

B. Apostolic

    1. The original foundation - Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 2:20; 2 Pet. 3:2.
    2. The writings of the apostles - Rom. 16:25-26; 2 Pet. 3:15-16.

C. Church administration and service

    1. Elders/overseers - Acts 14:23/Titus 1:5; Acts 15:22; 20:17, 28; 1 Tim. 3:1-7.
    2. Practical servants - Acts 6:1-6; Rom. 16:1; Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:8-10.
    3. Different functions - Rom. 12:4-8; Eph. 4:11-12.
    4. Different gifts - 1 Cor. 12:4-11, 28-30.

D. Meetings and worship

    1. Praying - Acts 2:42; 4:23, 24; 12:12; 1 COR. 14:15.
    2. Singing - Eph. 5:18-20; Col. 3:16; Heb 2:12; 1 Cor. 14:15.
    3. Speaking - 1 Cor. 14:23-26; Eph. 5:19.
    4. Ministry - 1 Tim. 4:6-16; 2 Tim. 2:2; 4:2-5; 1 Pet. 4:10-11.
    5. Lord's Table - 1 Cor. 11:17-34.
    6. Praising - Rom. 15:9-11.
    7. Healing - James 5:14-16.
    8. Manifestations of the Spirit - 1 Cor. 12:7-11

V. The Transition Period

A. The progressive spread
1. The Jewish Church - Acts 1-7.
2. The Samaritan Church - Acts 8:1-25.
3. The Gentile Church - Acts 8:26--28:31.
B. The progressive revelation
1. The Lord Jesus - John 16:12-15; Acts 1:4-8.
2. Paul - Acts 9:15; 26:14-19.
3. Peter - Acts 10:9-16, 28, 34-36; 11:4-18; 15:7-11.
4. Barnabas - Acts 11:22-26.
5. The whole Church - Acts 15:22.
C. Problems with the transition
1. Judaistic legalism - Acts 11:1-3.
2. Sectarianism - Acts 15:1-7, 10, 24.
3. Tradition - Acts 21:18-30.
4. Fear & hypocrisy - Gal. 2:11-14.
5. Matters of conscience - Rom. 14:1-23; 15:1-7.
6. Lack of love - Rom. 14:15; 16:17-18.
7. Division - 1 Cor. 1:10-14; 4:6.

VI. The Writings

A. Romans - Establishing the Church
B. 1 & 2 Corinthians - Solving the problems of the Church
C. Galatians - Legalism in the Church
D. Ephesians - Revelation concerning the Church
E. Philippians - Harmony in the Church
F. Colossians - Christ as the center of the Church
G. 1 & 2 Thessalonians - A sanctified life in the Church
H. 1 & 2 Timothy & Titus - Conduct in the Church
I. Philemon - Communication in the Church
J. Hebrews - Exhorting the Church
K. James - Perfecting the Church
L. 1 & 2 Peter - Shepherding the Church
M. 1, 2 & 3 John - Recovering the Church
N. Jude - Warning the Church
O. Revelation - The future of the Church