Educational

1. CHURCH ORGANIZATION

2. Gospel Order
What is Gospel Order?
First we will seek to figure out the meaning of
order.
 Order suggests a regular disposition or methodical
arrangement of things; Established mode of
proceeding.
However, order without the gospel is not in
accordance with God’s plan.

3. So, what is the gospel?
 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel
of Christ: for it is the power of God
unto salvation to every one that
believeth; to the Jew first, and also to
the Greek. 17 For therein is the
righteousness of God revealed from
faith to faith: as it is written, The just
shall live by faith.” Rom 1:16,17

4. The gospel is God’s power to save
from sin. The very ingredient which
makes the gospel so powerful is the
revelation of God’s righteousness.

5. What then is gospel order?
 It is the regular disposition or methodical
arrangement of things facilitated by the power of
God which produces the revelation of His
righteousness. The psalmist says,
“Order my steps in thy word: and let not any
iniquity have dominion over me.” Psa 119:133

6. What then is gospel order?
Anything other than this arrangement is not, cannot
be gospel order. In true gospel order, God calls a
man or woman by His word speaking to the
conscience. He equips the one called with the
instruments to fulfill the call, which is His own
omnipotent power. He then sets the one into the
field of labor with the full conviction of the
partnership of all the powers of heaven and the
church.

7. Power In Gospel Order?
Mat. 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them,
saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in
earth.
 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am
with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world.
Amen.

8. Establish Churches
The Christian world have trodden underfoot
the Sabbath of the Lord and observe a
sabbath instituted by the enemy. But God has
a people who are loyal to Him. His work is to
be carried forward in right lines. The people
who bear His sign are to establish
churches and institutions as memorials
to Him. These memorials, however humble
in appearance, will constantly bear witness
against the false sabbath instituted by Satan,
and in favor of the Sabbath instituted by the
Lord in Eden, when the morning stars sang
together and all the sons of God shouted for
joy. {CH 235.2}

9. Safeguards of Gospel Order
 “As an important factor in the spiritual growth of
the new converts the apostles were careful to
surround them with the safeguards of gospel
order. Churches were duly organized in all places
in Lycaonia and Pisidia where there were believers.
Officers were appointed in each church,
and proper order and system were
established for the conduct of all the affairs
pertaining to the spiritual welfare of the
believers. {AA 185.2}

10. Safeguards of Gospel Order
“This was in harmony with the gospel plan of
uniting in one body all believers in
Christ, and this plan Paul was careful to
follow throughout his ministry. Those who in
any place were by his labor led to accept
Christ as the Saviour were at the proper time
organized into a church. Even when the
believers were but few in number, this
was done. The Christians were thus taught
to help one another, remembering the
promise, "Where two or three are gathered
together in My name, there am I in the midst
of them." Matthew 18:20. {AA 185.3}

11. Church Authority to Be Recognized
“. . . The world’s Redeemer has invested
His church with great power. He states the
rules to be carried in cases of trial with its
members. After He has given explicit directions
as to the course to be pursued, He says, “Verily I
say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth
shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever (in
church discipline) ye shall loose on earth shall be
loosed in heaven” (Matthew 8:18). Thus the
highest authority, even the heavenly,
ratifies the discipline of the church in
regard to its members when the Bible rule
has been followed. {15MR 130.1}

12. {January 24, 1895 ATJ, AMS 25.6}{April 4, 1901 A.
T. Jones, GCB 72}
In each church there were ordained
“elders”—not an elder or a bishop,—but
always elders or bishops; as the “elders”
at Jerusalem; the “elders” in “every
church;” “elders in every city;” to the
saints which are at Philippi “with the
bishops and deacons.”

13. Study God's Methods
 As a people we should study God's plans for conducting
His work. Wherever He has given directions in regard to
any point, we should carefully consider how to regard His
expressed will. This work should have special attention. It is
not wise to choose one man as president of the General
Conference. The work of the General Conference has
extended, and some things have been made unnecessarily
complicated. A want of discernment has been shown. There
should be a division of the field, or some other plan should
be devised to change the present order of things. . . . {TM
342.1}

14. Perfecting Gospel Order
There was necessity for a further
distribution of the responsibilities which had
been borne so faithfully by a few during the
earlier days of the church. The apostles must
now take an important step in the perfecting
of gospel order in the church by laying upon
others some of the burdens thus far borne by
themselves. {AA 88.2}

15. Jerusalem A Model
The organization of the church at Jerusalem was to
serve as a model for the organization of churches in
every other place where messengers of truth should
win converts to the gospel. Those to whom was
given the responsibility of the general oversight of
the church were not to lord it over God's heritage,
but, as wise shepherds, were to "feed the flock of
God, . . . being ensamples to the flock" (1 Peter 5:2,
3); and the deacons were to be "men of honest
report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom." These
men were to take their position unitedly on the side
of right and to maintain it with firmness and
decision. Thus they would have a uniting influence
upon the entire flock. {AA 91.1}

16. Jerusalem A Model
Later in the history of the early church, when
in various parts of the world many groups of
believers had been formed into churches, the
organization of the church was further
perfected, so that order and harmonious
action might be maintained. Every member
was exhorted to act well his part. Each was to
make a wise use of the talents entrusted to
him. Some were endowed by the Holy Spirit
with special gifts--"first apostles, secondarily
prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles,
then gifts of healings, helps, governments,
diversities of tongues." 1 Corinthians 12:28.
But all these classes of workers were to labor
in harmony. {AA 91.2}

17. “The Church of Christ.” The Medical Missionary 15, ns, 25 , pp. 202, 203
A.T. Jones
IN the order of the Church of Christ,
each separate, local company of
believers, is an independent, self-
governing church, under Christ in the
Holy Spirit.

18. “The Church of Christ.” The Medical Missionary 15, ns, 25 , pp. 202, 203
A.T. Jones
The believers at Jerusalem composed “the
church” at Jerusalem. The believers at Ephesus
were the Church at Ephesus. The believers at
Cenchrea were “the church which is at
Cenchrea;” “the church of the Thessalonians,”
“the Church of God which is at Corinth,” etc. The
believers of the house of Aquila and Priscilla were
“the church in their house.” The believers of the
house of Nymphas were “the church which is in
his house;” and those of the house of Philemon
were “the church in thy house.”

19. “The Church of Christ.” The Medical Missionary 15, ns, 25 , pp. 202, 203
A.T. Jones
The companies of believers of a certain
region or country were “the churches” in or
of that country or region; as “the churches
of Galatia,” “the churches of Asia;” or
collectively “the churches of the Gentiles,”
“the churches of Christ,” “the churches of
God,” etc.

20. “The Church of Christ.” The Medical Missionary 15, ns, 25 , pp. 202, 203
A.T. Jones
Each church had the care of its own affairs, the
sending out of missionaries from its own
membership, and the preserving of order and
Christian discipline in its own membership; as in
the electing of the seven deacons by the church at
Jerusalem; the sending out of Paul and Barnabas
by the church at Antioch; the dealing with the
transgressor at Corinth, and indeed with all who
offend. “Go and tell him his fault between thee and
him alone; if he shall hear thee thou hast gained
thy brother.

21. “The Church of Christ.” The Medical Missionary 15, ns, 25 , pp. 202, 203
A.T. Jones
Thus beyond the local individual
church as well as in it, the bond of
unity of the church of Christ is the
Holy Spirit, and her unity is only
the unity of the Spirit.

22. “The Church of Christ.” The Medical Missionary 15, ns, 25 , pp. 202, 203
A.T. Jones
Beyond the individual local church or
congregation, there was no federation or
formal association of any kind. Of the
churches in Judea, there was no federation
nor formal association, nor of the churches of
Galatia, nor of Asia, nor of any other district,
province, section or region to any extent nor
in any way whatever. Beyond the individual
local church or congregation there was only
the church as the body of Christ and Christ as
the Head of the church and of each particular
member of the church, and the Holy Spirit as
the guide of the church and of each particular
member of the church.

23. {January 24, 1895 ATJ, AMS 25.6}{April 4, 1901 A.
T. Jones, GCB 72}
Beyond this order of things, in all the New
Testament there is, in truth and righteousness,
absolutely nothing but the church as the body of
Christ, Christ himself in Person as the Head of the
Church and of each individual in the church and
the Holy Spirit, and the angels of God as the guide:
And even in the matters of the angels of God, it
must be understood that even they are subject to
the guidance of the Holy Spirit (Eze. 1:20); so that
in truth beyond the order of things outlined above
there is absolutely nothing but the church as the
body of Christ, Christ himself as the Head of the
church and of each individual in the church, and
the Holy Spirit as the guide of the church and of
each individual in the church.

24. Set Things In Order
Tit 1:4 To Titus, mine own son after the
common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace,
from God the Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ our Saviour.
Tit 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that
thou shouldest set in order the things
that are wanting, and ordain elders in
every city, as I had appointed thee:

25. Men Unqualified to be Missionaries
“Men whose lives are not holy and who are
unqualified to teach the present truth enter the
field without being acknowledged by the
church or the brethren generally, and confusion
and disunion are the result. Some have a theory of
the truth, and can present the argument, but lack
spirituality, judgment, and experience; they fail
in many things which it is very necessary for them
to understand before they can teach the truth. -
EW 97

26. Men Unqualified to be Missionaries
“Others have not the argument, but because a few
brethren hear them pray well and give an exciting
exhortation now and then, they are pressed into
the field, to engage in a work for which God has
not qualified them and for which they have not
sufficient experience and judgment. Spiritual
pride comes in, they are lifted up, and act under
the deception of thinking that they are laborers.
{EW 97.2}

27. Men Unqualified to be Missionaries
“They do not know themselves. They lack
sound judgment and patient reasoning, talk
boastingly of themselves, and assert many
things which they cannot prove from the
Word. God knows this; therefore He does not call
such to labor in these perilous times, and brethren
should be careful not to push those out into the field
whom He has not called.” {EW 97.2}

28. 10 Points Characterizing the Uncalled
Missionaries
Their lives are not holy.
They are unqualified to teach the truth.
They lack spirituality, judgment & experience.
They fail in understanding many things
before they can teach the truth.
They are not qualified by God.
They are spiritually Proud.
They don’t know themselves.
They lack sound judgment and patient
reasoning.
They talk boastingly of themselves.
They assert many things they cannot prove
from God’s word.

29. Men Qualified to be Missionaries
 “… "The church must flee to God's Word and
become established upon gospel order, which has
been overlooked and neglected." This is
indispensably necessary in order to bring
the church into the unity of the faith. I saw
that in the apostles' day the church was in danger
of being deceived and imposed upon by false
teachers. Therefore the brethren chose men who
had given good evidence that they were capable
of ruling well their own house and
preserving order in their own families,
and who could enlighten those who were
in darkness. - EW 100

30. Men Qualified to be Missionaries
“Inquiry was made of God concerning these, and
then, according to the mind of the church and the
Holy Ghost, they were set apart by the
laying on of hands. Having received their
commission from God and having the
approbation of the church, they went forth
baptizing in the name of the Father, Son, and
Holy Ghost, and administering the ordinances of
the Lord's house, often waiting upon the saints
by presenting them the emblems of the broken
body and spilt blood of the crucified Saviour, to
keep fresh in the memory of God's beloved
children His sufferings and death.” {EW 100.2}

31. 8 Points of Qualification Regarding the Gospel Minister
with Full Ecclesiastical Authority
Men who rule well their own households
Men who could enlighten those in darkness
Receive their commission from God
Receive the approbation of the Church
Receive the laying on of hands
Qualified thereby to baptize new converts
Qualified to administer the ordinance in the
Lord’s House
Raise up new churches

32. Gospel Order & New Fields
 “I saw that the servants of God should not go over
and over the same field of labor, but should be
searching out souls in new places. Those who
are already established in the truth should not
demand so much of their labor; for they ought to
be able to stand alone, and strengthen others about
them, while the messengers of God visit the
dark and lonely places, setting the truth before
those who are not now enlightened as to the
present truth.” {EW 104.1}

33. CONCLUSION
 The hierarchal and episcopal forms of church governance were
wholly unacceptable to the early believers of the Seventh-day
Adventist Church. They naturally had an inclination toward the
congregational form of church governance. These pioneers were
usually very independent people who had been persecuted by the
various churches from which they came. They wanted as much
freedom as possible to exercise their religious convictions. However,
God did not choose the congregational form of church governance
but rather the representative form of church governance for His
remnant people. Like Adam and the 24 elders coming before God at
an appointed time to represent unfallen worlds. Is this not the form
of organizational structure in heaven in Zion and should pass to the
church?!