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 1st-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
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
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.
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