Sermon Series: "The Pillars of the Church"/Part 1: Doctrine

The Pillars of the Church

Part 1: Doctrine

1.      Introduction

a.     We’re going to begin a series on the Church.

b.    In order to keep it Biblically-based, I want to use an outline provided by Scripture—Acts 2:42.

                                                             i.      The four pillars of the Church

1.    Doctrine

2.    Fellowship

3.    Breaking of Bread

4.    Prayer

                                                          ii.      These four pillars transcend time, setting, and culture.  It is our goal to seek to apply them in our day and age.

                                                       iii.      This is God’s formula for how the Church functions.  We should follow God’s formula instead of following the inventions of man.  Sam Thorpe Jr.: “No substitute of human invention, no program of earthly wisdom or business savvy, no agenda of targeted cultural adaptation, no schedule of family centered convenience, no methods of gender or generation sensitivity, no initiative of seeker friendly relationships—no matter how appealing and attractive to the fleshly sensations of our souls—can replace the solid and sure foundation laid in Acts 2.”

                                                       iv.      These four define us and give us an identity.

                                                          v.      Everything the Church is called to do can be summed up in these four pillars.

                                                       vi.      Baptism is not mentioned because it was an introduction to the body, whereas these are functions of the body.  These presuppose baptism.

c.     Some things to remember

                                                             i.      We must never idolize the 1^st-century Church.

                                                          ii.      We’re not trying to reinvent the Church by ignoring the past 1900 years of Church history.

                                                       iii.      The book of Acts is not a manual.  It is a record of genuine Christian experiences.  It shows us what the Christian life is like.  Just because they did something, that doesn’t mean we have to do the same thing.

2.      Context of Acts 2

a.     In Chapter 1 Jesus ascends, telling His disciples to wait for the promised arrival of the Spirit.

b.    In Chapter 2 we see the Apostles gathered with other followers of Jesus.  Suddenly the Spirit comes down upon them, manifesting Himself in spiritual gifts. 

c.     Peter stands up and begins preaching about Christ. 

d.    Those who heard were convicted, repented, and were baptized. 

e.     Acts 2:42 begins to tell us what they did next.  This verse tells us the four basic things that constituted the Christian life in the earliest days of Christianity.  Sam Thorpe Jr.: “Acts 2:42 presents the irreducible minimum of what constitutes the operation of a New Testament church.”  These things were not done only or primarily in worship.  They were a way of life. 

f.      Notice the word “devoted” here.  The Greek word is proskartereo, which means, “To join, adhere to; to be ready; to give attention, be faithful; to spend much time together.”  Being a member of the Church was not a casual thing.  It required commitment and faithfulness.  You were in for the long haul or you were in at all.  Sam Thorpe Jr.: “The early saints ‘continued steadfastly’ in these elementary essentials of New Testament Church life.  They were committed, devoted to the healthy functioning of the spiritual body, the church, just as every cell and organ in your body is designed and committed to work toward the health of the human body.” 

g.     Sam Thorpe points out that these four things weren’t necessarily new.  They were found in the Old Testament as well.  These are the basic items that constitute the life of one in covenant with God.  “The fourfold pillars of Acts 2:42 can be seen repeatedly as the core activity of God’s people both in the Old and New Testament economies.” 

h.    Over the next four sermons I want to explore how we can utilize these four pillars to do our best to be the type of bride/body that Christ wants. 

3.      Pillar #1: Doctrine

a.     What is doctrine?

                                                             i.      This word has grown to have a special technical meaning in academic and theological circles.

                                                          ii.      The Greek word, didache, simply meant “teaching or instruction.”

                                                       iii.      So, this is referring to what the Apostles taught.  What did they teach?

1.    They taught what Christ taught them.  By the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they recorded their experiences with and the teachings they learned from Jesus.  1 John 1:1-3.

2.    They taught further truth through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  John 16:12-13.

3.    They taught the Old Testament.  They constantly quoted the Old Testament.  2 Timothy 3:16: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” 

4.    We can safely say that the Apostles’s teaching is summed up in the Old and New Testaments. 

b.    Why should we be devoted to the Apostles’s doctrine?

                                                             i.      To know God and to serve Him better.

                                                          ii.      Along with Christ and the Prophets, the Apostles are the foundation of the Church.  Ephesians 2:19-21.

                                                       iii.      In order to avoid heresy/being led astray.  Ephesians 4:11-14.

                                                       iv.      Because without the knowledge of the Gospel, salvation is impossible.  Romans 10:13-14. 

                                                          v.      Because the Apostles’s doctrine is the basis of our unity.  This is why doctrine is mentioned first here.  The truths of who God is and what He has done through Christ are what unite us.  We saw this in Ephesians 4:11-14.

c.     What happens when we don’t devote ourselves to the Apostles’s doctrine?

                                                             i.      We lose sight of God.

                                                          ii.      We follow men.  2 Timothy 4:3-4: “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but have itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”

                                                       iii.      We cause division.  Romans 16:17: “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.”

                                                       iv.      We go to extremes in our theology. 

                                                          v.      We compromise—both doctrinally and practically.

d.    How do we devote ourselves to the Apostles’s doctrine?

                                                             i.      Regularly attending the gatherings of a local church where the Old and New Testaments are faithfully preached.

                                                          ii.      Regularly attending Bible studies.

                                                       iii.      Studying/saying the Creeds and Confessions of the Christian faith.  “I believe.”

                                                       iv.      Reading and listening to teaching—in any form—by those whom God has used to teach us more deeply about His Word.

                                                          v.      Faithfully reading the Word of God in private and in our families (what a great blessing!). 

E.      Conclusion

a.     If we want to build the Church, we must start with right doctrine.

b.    Remember, doctrine and practice are not opposites.  Our doctrine must inform our practice.  Our practice must manifest our doctrine.

c.     Right doctrine is worthless, if it is alone, but we cannot be Christians without right doctrine.  The truths of the Bible are foundational to Christianity.  Ignorant sincerity is worthless.

d.    Let us devote ourselves to the Apostles’s doctrine.