Description
The church we see in the New Testament is a church of born again disciples of Christ who are committed to serving Christ.
We examine key Bible passages that provide the pattern for the church for the entire age. The pattern is not found in the church fathers, the Waldenses, the Lollards, the Anabaptists, the Lutherans, the Anglicans, the Reformed Presbyterianism, the Geneva Calvinists, the Brethren, Pentecostalism, Charismaticism, Fundamentalism, Evangelicalism, New Reformed Calvinism, denominational Baptists, or any of the streams of Independent Baptists.
David Cloud examines the church as the pillar and ground of the truth of 1 Timothy 3:15; the spiritual house made of living stones of 1 Peter 2:4-5; the regenerate, faithful, growing church of Acts 2:36-42; the purifying church of 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; the turning, serving, watching church of 1 Thessalonians 1:8-10; the church that aims for perfecting every member of Colossians 1:25-28; the ministering body church of Ephesians 4:7-16; and the missionary church of Acts 13.
The second section is 21 Steps toward a Stronger Church, which are as follows: The leaders must have spiritual revival; the leaders must be courageous; start with a biblical examination of the church; be ready to engage in a difficult battle; be patient; be confident of God’s help; pastors must be real leaders; pray for a ministry team; immerse the church in prayer; aim for a regenerate church membership focus on the real disciples; strengthen the church covenant; set up biblical standards for workers; immerse the church in Scripture; disciple all of the people; deal with sin; emphasize separation from the world;; emphasize Bible prophecy; double down on evangelism; have a strong vision for church planting and world missions; aim to incorporate all the biblical elements of a discipling church.
