1. I believe that Jesus established the Church. The Bible
refers to three different types of churches: the universal church (Matthew
16:18), the local church (Hebrews 10:25), and the regional church (Galatians
1:1). The church was established for
worship (1 Corinthians 11:18), fellowship (Acts 2:45-46), teaching (Acts 2:42),
and missions (Acts 13:2). The universal church has been “upheld as the perfect,
true, spiritual nature of the church” (MHT 360).
2. I believe that God has ordained elders to be leaders
in the church. God ordained elders and deacons for the church (Titus 1:5).
Paul listed the character qualities that must be present in elders in 1 Timothy
3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. While all elders must exhibit these traits, they must
all be able to teach. Elders have the authority to distribute money (Acts
11:30) and to receive reports about mission work (Acts 20:17). Elders are to be
honored/respected (1 Tim 5:17) but not dictators (1 Peter 5:1-3). Elders are
supposed to visit the sick and pray for them and encourage (James 5:14). A plurality
of elders is mentioned frequently (Acts 14:23, Phil 1:1, Titus 1:5) Elders are
seen as servants who handle spiritual issues (MHT 366-67).
3. I believe that God has ordained deacons to be leaders
in the church. The qualifications of
deacons are given in 1 Timothy 3:8-13. The office of deacons began in Acts
6:1-6. “The function of the deacons is
to be subordinate and auxiliary to the elders” (MHT 368). The deacons were
designated to handle the physical and material issues in the church.
4. I believe that the nature of the Church is a body. In every
body, the head controls the body—this is the metaphor that is used the church’s
relationship with God—with God being the head of the church (1 Corinthians
12:12-13). “This illustration of the
church emphasizes the unity of all believers in the church age because the
church reconciles Jews and Gentiles into one body” (MHT 361).
5. I believe that the nature of the Church is a temple. Jesus
Christ is the cornerstone of His church (Ephesians 2:20). “As a building grows
when under construction, so the church, as a living organism, is growing as new
believers are added to the building” (MHT 362) (1 Peter 2:5).
6. I believe that the nature of the Church is a flock. “A beautiful, tender image depicting the
relationship of believers to the Lord is found in John 10:16 where the church
is called a flock” (MHT 362). The church has a relationship with the Lord as
sheep to a shepherd and is called the flock of God.
7. I believe that the nature of the Church is a bride. A great
picture of the loyalty between the church and God is the picture of the church
as a bride (Ephesians 5:22-23). “The
church is the esteemed bride awaiting her husband’s return from glory” (MHT
361).
9. I believe that the Church is responsible for observing
the Lord’s Supper. Christ instituted the Lord’s Supper at Passover before
his Crucifixion (Mark 14:22-25) (NBD 696). The Lord’s supper is a memorial of
Jesus’ death (1 Corinthians 11:24-25) and a looking forward to Jesus’ return (1
Corinthians 11:26).
