Series: Church Stuff

Church Structure

Ephesians 4; I Peter 5; Hebrews 13

A church is a God-initiated, covenant community sharing core beliefs while fulfilling God’s purposes.

Concentric Circles of Belief

church convictions

Porter is a local, autonomous, congregationally-governed, pastor-led, covenantal community.

· a local church

A church was established as believers gathered regularly for worship in a specific place.

· an autonomous church

· a congregationalist church

There is not a command for a specific form of church government in the New Testament.

· covenantal community

The purpose of membership:

1) selecting leaders

2) congregational structure

3) effective pastoring

· pastor led

The character of the leader and the function of the structure were of greater importance than the title of the leader of the form of the structure.

I Peter 5:1-6

Hebrews 13:7-9; 17-18