I Corinthians 12 - Communion in Gifts and Graces

1 Corinthians 12 - 'God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. (24b-26)'

Message: Communion in Gifts and Graces

Time: Not the first, but 2nd letter to Corinthians, but the first to survive and to be considered authoritative. Written in AD 55, it was penned after Paul had reports of quarreling in this church he had previously visited. Paul covers a number of subjects, but all focus on the Christian's life in the church. 

What the Lord is Saying: 

Historically, after the Reformation period, men and women sought to carry out and define further the doctrine from this period. One way was making doctrinal statements such as the Westminster Confession of Faith. It was published in 1647 and drawn up by the Westminster Assembly, a 121 person group of theologians appointed to restructure the church of England. Division of church government was on the rise at the time and this was an attempt to better align themselves with the Church of Scotland. In addition, during the Protestant Reformation at the beginning of the 16th century, the church of England had separated themselves from the Catholic Church, though it was still thought (by Puritans) that they remained very influenced by Catholicism. 

Chapter 26 of the Westminster Confession of Faith is the Communion of the Saints. One of the purposes of the church is expressed in section 1:

All saints that are united to Jesus Christ their head, by his Spirit and by faith, have fellowship with him in his graces, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory:(a) and being united to one another in love, they have communion in each other’s gifts and graces,(b) and are obliged to the performance of such duties, public and private, as do conduce to their mutual good, both in the inward and outward man.(c)

In reading this I see a lot to unpack. First, this community begins with who we are in Christ. Our first community is with Jesus Christ. But our fellowship with Him is different as it is with him in his graces - sufferings - death - resurrection - and glory. Interesting. I've never thought of it like this or maybe had it explained like this. 

John 1:16 - For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

Romans 6:5-6 - For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

Ephesians 2:5-6 - even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Ephesians 3:16-19 - that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Philippians 3:10 - that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.

2 Timothy 2:12 - if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;

I John 1:3 - that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

Wow. Those are some great verses and now it begins to make more sense. We have all received grace...united with him in death, in resurrection...old self crucified...alive by grace, raised and seated...we comprehend with all the saints to know the love of Christ...be filled...share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death...endure, reign with him...fellowship with the Father and with His Son. 

I know these things, but this idea that I am united with him, having fellowship with him in these things he did. These things he provided for me. I'm just thinking about this and meditating on this. 

Just as we are united with Him, we are united to one another. Everything God did for us was out of love for us. And we can have this same love for one another. The way he loves can be the way I love. And then I or we can have communion with each other in each other's gifts and graces. 

I Corinthians 3:21-23 - So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.

I Corinthians 12:7 - To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

Ephesians 4:15-16 - Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Colossians 2:19 - and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

This second part hones in on the idea first of our unity. Even in our working together it is God that grows us. He is the one that makes the body grow. It is the Spirit manifestation in us that makes this possible. Each day I am to submit and surrender to Him and Lord, may your Spirit be filled in me. 

And the final part makes it clear that being united in Him and then united in each other makes our work an obligation. 

Romans 1:11-12 - For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine.

Romans 1:14 - I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.

Galatians 6:10 - So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

I Thessalonians 5:11 - Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

I Thessalonians 5:14 - And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

I John 3:16-18 - By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

Again, here are the truths from God's word. I am under obligation...to do good to everyone...to encourage one another and build one another up. I need to do good to everyone. That's intense. Everyone. Do good. But it should happen also. It should because of our unity in Christ, and because the Spirit is in us. 

In this vein and from the passage today found in I Corinthians is the encouragement that all of us working within the Body, within the Church, both locally and worldwide serve a function. No one part of the body is more important than another and every part is important. Our church has been celebrating service of late and those who have served and one such person that has been brought to the forefront is a man that has arrived at church to make coffee. It is a wonderful point of recognition. He has been doing it for 30 years and his wife and him will now take some time away to travel. Gifts have been purchased for him and he has been celebrated even through a video in church. It is a great thing and it goes to show that we are all valued in our serving. VBS ended as well with a great celebration of those that volunteered. This is how the church works and should live. We don't need recognition but it is nice when it occurs. It reminds us that we are all in this together. 

Summary: We are to do good to everyone, but especially those that we call our fellow believers. We are to exercise our spiritual gifts with one another. We are united with Christ in how he has provided for us for all eternity, and this brings us together also as followers of Christ, giving us the ability then to work effectively as members of the Body. 

Promise: We must use the gifts God has given us. We serve one another with the use of our gifts to make the church healthy and able to ward off the infections of impurity, false doctrine and an unloving spirit. 

Prayer: It is such a great joy Lord to read and study your Word. Thank you for bringing people together and the writing of the Westminster Confession 400 years ago. You still use that for me today to help me understand better your words. Thank you for the clarity of Your Word and the joy it brings. Lord, help us to continue to work as Your Body and continue to support those that are in need. I pray that Your Gospel will continue to be preached. Raise up people to continue to get out of their comfort zones and serve those that need to hear. Be glorified in what we do and say. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am now working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of August is about the Body of the Lord - the Church recovered in the Reformation; July was the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May, Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation, Scripture; January, the doctrine of God. 

Christ's Body

The Body of Christ - The Church is the Body of Christ and Christ loves the church. We are to imitate Christ and see that the Church is how Christ carries out His purposes in the world. The Head of the Church - Christ is Head of the church and he only has final authority and gives life to the church. Life is found only in Jesus Christ our Lord. - The Church We Can See - Belonging to a church is not optional, for anyone. We are meant to live in a community with other believers, to hear the Word of God preached, and to grow. The Church We Cannot See - What we see is the Visible church, the invisible church only God knows because He is omniscient and that is the Church we cannot see. 

Truths about the Church from the Apostles Creed

Church Unity - The church is bigger than our local assembly; there are core beliefs among the invisible church. One People Throughout History - God has only one people; throughout the world there are people that share doctrines and truths despite their being differences in where we attend or belong. God's Holy People - By being in Christ, though we still have a fallen nature, God has set us apart as holy, as his saints. True Catholocity - God's people includes men and women from every tribe and every tongue that hold to the biblical gospel. The Apostilic Church - we are fellow citizens with all people from all tribes and tongues throughout history, united by being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets teaching, thus apostolic, with Christ Jesus being our cornerstone.

What the Church Does and Believes

Preaching Christ and His Commandments - A church needs to be committed to faithfully preaching the Word of God. Administering Sacraments - Sacraments (The Lord's Supper and Baptism especially) need to be part of a church existing, but they also need to be rightly administered. The Discipline of the Church - We need to be a people that encourage repentance to keep the church pure and set apart.

Church Leadership Offices

Prophets and Apostles - There is a foundation of how the church begins and that foundation is the apostles and prophets. Evangelists, Shepherds, and Teachers - Only mention of pastors in the New Testament. 

Purpose of the Church

Our Arena for Growth - It is being at church, present, that we are to be equipped, build one another up, in order to grow in maturity. 

Matthew 5:9 - Blessed are the peacemakers

June 19, 2022 - Lamar Morin - Hoffmantown Church

Matthew 5:9

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Peacemakers - We all want peace

4 Identifiers

• Personal Peace - one who has personal peace (shalom - an overall sense of wholeness and completeness); this is an absence of trouble and trials; wholeness; absence of trials. 
• Personal Pursuit - it is not to love peace, but to make peace. This is one who is making peace. Face it. Deal with it. Solve it. 
• Romans 14:19 - So then [This is a command:] we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.
• Pain and Purity - Willing to risk pain and not let things slide. Is it worth the fight? Be honest with oneself. Purity of motive. 
• Jeremiah 6:14 - “They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, Saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ But there is no peace."
• It is not enough to want peace. Peace must be fought for. [Personal - is this why we go to war? There is unrest and we want peace.]
• Price to be Paid - It is not easy. Must be willing to pay a price. 
• Colossians 1:19-20 - 19 For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
• The Father made peace through the blood of the cross. God wanted peace with man. It was achieved through the blood of the cross Jesus bore our sins on. There is pain in the process. 
• Ephesians 2:14 - For He Himself is our peace. 

Peace Robbers

• Sin - Until sin changes to righteousness there can't be peace. We are blinded by sin. Sin stains and strife follows. 
• Isaiah 48:22 - “There is no peace for the wicked,” says the Lord.
• Arguing - The elder/pastor qualifications are to be peaceful, not quarrelsome. We don't want to be a people that stirs up fights. But, we are also tempted to always be right. 
• Anger/Bitterness - Our anger will get the best of us. Hebrews 12:15 - See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;
• Worry - I Peter 5:6-7 - 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Peace Promoters

• Look to God - I Cor 14:33 - for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
• Language - Prov. 15:1 - A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. Mentioned a Fort Worth pastor from the early part of 20th century, J. Frank Norris, who in the pulpit criticized people. 
• Learn - We need to learn to pray for peace. 
• Lead - Lead with selflessness and sacrifice. 
• Look On - Look on to God's Word
• Lovingly - lovingly seek forgiveness

Peacemakers are called sons of God. We don't become sons of God by making peace. There is also the word "they" meaning our peace making affects more than one person. Nothing compares to being a child of God. 

Ephesians 4:12-14 - Our Arena for Growth

Ephesians 4:12-14 - To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 

Message: Our Arena for Growth

Time: Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians sometime in AD 60–61, around the same time he wrote Colossians and Philemon. Ephesians deals with topics at the core of being a Christian - faith and practice, no matter the situation.

What the Lord is Saying:

This lesson begins a series of lessons on the purpose of Church. At is core, the purpose of the church is to bring God glory. Yet, in this passage today, after studying in the last 2 lessons of church offices - the next verse in Ephesians is Paul calling to the Church leaders the goal To equip the saints for the work of ministry. So it is in the church that we become equipped. I was in a church that mentioned this often and yet they had so many people on staff doing ministry, it made me wonder at times if they were really equipping or simply enabling the church people to depend on the pastors.  

I think my focus on church has often been from the words in Hebrews 10:24-25 -- And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. I suppose it seems that while the leaders are equipping the body is being challenge while also being encouraged. Living in our world is a challenge on many levels. We strive to keep fighting the fight (I Timothy 6:12) and yet even in this we need encouragement from one another. 

I think our current church does a great job preaching and teaching. We are now in a large class after service. Again, great preaching and good people. And maybe the mere presence of being there is an encouragement but talking through life with one another, that remains a challenge. But no matter what,  there is something special about being in church versus being alone and I think this is what the writer's of Tabletalk are emphasizing here. It is the place that encourages us and anchors us in spiritual growth. I don't think this means that all of our spiritual growth occurs at church but even as I think about in my life, the fellowship and the people in my life that have resulted in my spiritual growth have all come from church. Many people stay away from church for reasons that I have experienced, not liking the leadership, not agreeing with it. And yet in the process we miss out on what remains important, being taught, shepherd and encouraged. 

Personal, individual study is good, but it is through fellowship with others and talking to others about these studies and being involved in life with others that growth happens. In my life, meeting with other men has been a church. Even my work in GMO is a church of sorts as we continue to engage in discussions around truth. I think there is even something mysterious about how this happens. There is an accountability that takes place. Overall, it is central to who we are. 

I see this further in this passage. Leaders will equip the saints for the work of ministry and in this time at church we are coming together for building up the body of Christ. A building is one of strength and the community of believers is meant to have a strength. As the passage continues, church life recognizes that Jesus is not walking with us in physical form and yet as we have each other and are with each other we have this goal of all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ -- all of those words speak of maturity; our goal is to grow and grow together - focusing on the Son of God. We are not meant to always be young, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. We are meant to mature so that the cares of this world do not have a stronghold on us. 

Summary: It is at church, present, that we are to be equipped and build one another up in order to grow in maturity. 

Promise: No amount of study that we do on our own, however helpful it may be, can substitute for the benefit we receive by participating in the educational ministry of our local church

Prayer: O Father God, thank you for orchestrating life as you have. In all times, the church has been the place we need to be taught, encouraged, and grow. Thank you for knowing that we need this and giving me always that desire to be involved. Thank you for the people you have placed in my life to do the work of ministry and being in fellowship. You have given me always a great love for church. I'm so thankful for my mom and her love for it and showing us at an early age the importance of being with one another. I always think of those Sunday evening potlucks and doing life together. We still need this. I still need this. Help me to continue to invite others into our home and figure out a way to be with one another in these ways. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am now working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of August is about the Body of the Lord - the Church recovered in the Reformation; July was the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May, Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation, Scripture; January, the doctrine of God. 

Christ's Body

The Body of Christ - The Church is the Body of Christ and Christ loves the church. We are to imitate Christ and see that the Church is how Christ carries out His purposes in the world. The Head of the Church - Christ is Head of the church and he only has final authority and gives life to the church. Life is found only in Jesus Christ our Lord. - The Church We Can See - Belonging to a church is not optional, for anyone. We are meant to live in a community with other believers, to hear the Word of God preached, and to grow. The Church We Cannot See - What we see is the Visible church, the invisible church only God knows because He is omniscient and that is the Church we cannot see. 

Truths about the Church from the Apostles Creed

Church Unity - The church is bigger than our local assembly; there are core beliefs among the invisible church. One People Throughout History - God has only one people; throughout the world there are people that share doctrines and truths despite their being differences in where we attend or belong. God's Holy People - By being in Christ, though we still have a fallen nature, God has set us apart as holy, as his saints. True Catholocity - God's people includes men and women from every tribe and every tongue that hold to the biblical gospel. The Apostilic Church - we are fellow citizens with all people from all tribes and tongues throughout history, united by being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets teaching, thus apostolic, with Christ Jesus being our cornerstone.

What the Church Does and Believes

Preaching Christ and His Commandments - A church needs to be committed to faithfully preaching the Word of God. Administering Sacraments - Sacraments (The Lord's Supper and Baptism especially) need to be part of a church existing, but they also need to be rightly administered. The Discipline of the Church - We need to be a people that encourage repentance to keep the church pure and set apart.

Church Leadership Offices

Prophets and Apostles - There is a foundation of how the church begins and that foundation is the apostles and prophets. Evangelists, Shepherds, and Teachers - Only mention of pastors in the New Testament. 

Ephesians 4:11 - Evangelists, Shepherds, and Teachers

Ephesians 4:11 - And He gave . . . some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers. 

Message: Evangelists, Shepherds, and Teachers

Time: Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians sometime in AD 60–61, around the same time he wrote Colossians and Philemon. Ephesians deals with topics at the core of being a Christian - faith and practice, no matter the situation.

What the Lord is Saying: 

I've allowed myself to get busy this past week and also sort of struggled taking time to get to the Word. Had some early morning meetings at 8 and sort of waking up late or busying myself with other things in the morning. So I came back to this series and these thoughts on church leadership. 

Last time I looked at the offices of prophets and apostles, the consensus from Ligonier ministries is these leadership positions are temporary while the offices of evangelists, shepherds (elders), and teachers (pastors) are addressed in places like I Timothy and I Peter and Titus, places in scripture that more thoroughly talk about the positions of people in the church.  

I Timothy 3:8-13 - 8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

I Peter 5:1-4 - 1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

What I found interesting is it seems just about every church out there agrees that a church has a position called pastor and yet pastor is really only mentioned in the New Testament as a church role in this verse of Ephesians 4:11. It makes me wonder if the practice that has resulted in churches is out of convenience. I think of the many churches in towns that are smaller. These churches have the paid pastor that is called and then there are the unpaid elders or deacons that are bi-vocational - working a job in society and then also in a leadership role at church. I think it is interesting because everywhere seems to be this paid position of pastor leading the church. And yet how did we get here? Why do we have these paid positions and non-paid positions. 

I worked as a treasurer at church for many years, taking care of the checkbook of the church, paying people, receiving tithes and offerings and depositing them and taking care of the monthly financial report to the church. I helped set up the budget and report on it. I was paid. I started out at $80 every two weeks and then when the church got larger, moved up to like $350 every 2 weeks. It was a good source of extra funds for me that helped our family. But, even though I received it I always wondered if it was correct that I was being paid for this work. Granted, this is the work I had been trained for in school. But, others were working and serving in the church and not being paid.   

My daughter attended a church recently I recommended. One of my close friends is one of the pastors at this church in the area of congregational care. I did not realize though that the church approves of women pastors, not lead pastors, but part of the staff. This is definitely something that has changed in churches in the last 10 years or so. It changed in a church we were attending. In many ways, it is different from how I have been trained growing up in the churches I've attended. At times, it says leaders are "the husband of one wife" while at other times it does not specify gender identity when speaking of spiritual gifts and this is often where it is inferred the roles of church leadership. 

My friend's church website says, "While we understand that there are differing views and interpretations of scripture around this subject, our practice at Crossings is to affirm and support both men and women who are called and empowered to ministry and leadership in the church." It says there are differing views, but our practice is to affirm and support both men and women. I think there is a recognition there that we are doing our best to define scripture the way we see it and yet also understand that we are fallible people. We are sinners. And though we walk forward in peace about what we believe God is telling us, we realize that there are differing views and interpretations. The reality is the body of Christ is big as I have discussed and talked about. It is visible to us, but invisible to Him. 

Often what I hear is people saying that the goal is the gospel of God and leading people to the Savior. And with that goal in hand, why would it matter if the person leading is a man or woman. 

Honestly, I am not sure what my conclusion of this is for now. I could keep analyzing it over and over. But I am not sure where I would end up. I do know that I do not have comfort in hearing a woman get up and preach a sermon. And yet in the last church we attended, there were times when a woman might share a short devotional. 

There are teachers and evangelists also mentioned in this lesson that I didn't even touch on. Again, I think our hope is to role all of these roles into one pastor system. 

Summary: God has clearly given us officers of leadership as evangelists, shepherds, and teachers. 

Promise: It is easy to be critical of these leaders, but we need to be thankful for them. 

Prayer: Lord, I do not know what to think right now about this subject. I do know what I am comfortable with but I do not know what is right or wrong on this issue of one pastor versus a plurality of leaders over a church and whether we should allow women to be in this role. It seems hard to reconcile at times what is right and wrong. Are we simply looking like the World or is it rather our tendency to uphold a single sex as the one leadership type model in our world today. I do not know God. I ask for your wisdom and your direction. I need your help. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am now working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of August is about the Body of the Lord - the Church recovered in the Reformation; July was the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May, Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation, Scripture; January, the doctrine of God. 

Christ's Body

The Body of Christ - The Church is the Body of Christ and Christ loves the church. We are to imitate Christ and see that the Church is how Christ carries out His purposes in the world. The Head of the Church - Christ is Head of the church and he only has final authority and gives life to the church. Life is found only in Jesus Christ our Lord. - The Church We Can See - Belonging to a church is not optional, for anyone. We are meant to live in a community with other believers, to hear the Word of God preached, and to grow. The Church We Cannot See - What we see is the Visible church, the invisible church only God knows because He is omniscient and that is the Church we cannot see. 

Truths about the Church from the Apostles Creed

Church Unity - The church is bigger than our local assembly; there are core beliefs among the invisible church. One People Throughout History - God has only one people; throughout the world there are people that share doctrines and truths despite their being differences in where we attend or belong. God's Holy People - By being in Christ, though we still have a fallen nature, God has set us apart as holy, as his saints. True Catholocity - God's people includes men and women from every tribe and every tongue that hold to the biblical gospel. The Apostilic Church - we are fellow citizens with all people from all tribes and tongues throughout history, united by being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets teaching, thus apostolic, with Christ Jesus being our cornerstone.

What the Church Does and Believes

Preaching Christ and His Commandments - A church needs to be committed to faithfully preaching the Word of God. Administering Sacraments - Sacraments (The Lord's Supper and Baptism especially) need to be part of a church existing, but they also need to be rightly administered. The Discipline of the Church - We need to be a people that encourage repentance to keep the church pure and set apart.

Church Leadership Offices

Prophets and Apostles - There is a foundation of how the church begins and that foundation is the apostles and prophets.