Grace Thoughts
Teaching Notes: How The Saints Grow (Part Seven)
Teaching Notes are Bible studies we taught before GraceLife Ministries began publishing articles online in 1995. Some were presented as sermons, others as group studies.
Our hope is that these older studies will be a blessing to you in your life and ministry. Please use them in any way God leads you.
These teaching notes are from a series about Church Growth taught over a period of several months.
[These notes are from a study from 40 years ago.]
Outline For Growth
A. Understanding of Growth: Defining Christian Growth
B. Direction for Growth: Goals of Christian growth
C. Training for Growth: What Christians Need to Grow
D. Assembling for Growth: What the Assembly is For
E. One-Anothering for Growth: How to Build Up Members of the Assembly
F. Structuring for Growth: How the Assembly Should be Managed
G. Ministering for Growth: How the Assembly Should Impact Its Community
Part Seven: How the Assembly Should Impact Its Community
Everything is ready. The local assembly, members and overseers, have followed every direction given them by Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul. The time has come for the people of to impact their community for the Gospel of Christ!
SERVICE .. the people of God serve the community where they live. They preach and teach the Gospel of Christ, the saving message of Christ, as they “serve” their neighbors and friends. Here are some key words for us to understand that calling:
- διάκονος, diakonos – “one who serves others” .. Romans 13:4 15:8, 16:1; 1 Corinthians 3:5; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 6:4; 11:15, 23; Galatians 2:17; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:7, 23, 25; 4:7; 1 Thessalonians 3:2; 1 Timothy 3:8, 12; 4:6
- διακονέω, diakoneó – “to serve others, minister, kicking up dust because of activity” .. 1 Timothy 3:10, 13; 2 Timothy 1:18; Philemon 13
- διακονία, diakonia – “service to others, ministry, ministration, waiting at table, serving with a willing attitude” .. Acts 20:24; Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 16:15; Ephesians 4:12; 2 Corinthians 3:7-9; 4:1; 5:18; 6:3; 8:4; 9:1, 13; Colossians 4:17; 1 Timothy 1:12; 2 Timothy 4:5, 11
- Paul taught that all ministry is a service. He told the early Christians that service was a special gift (charisma: grace gift) from God to believers for the building up of the whole assembly. (Romans 12:7; Ephesians 4:12-16)
- Paul commended men and women in the assembly who had ministries of service. (Romans 16:1-16)
- Paul wrote that our service is to lead to the reconciliation of men and women to God through Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:18)
- Paul taught that there is a second group of men and women in the assembly whose primary function is to meet the special needs of the church as needs arise. They are called deacons. The elder-overseers appoint them to such tasks as are necessary for the good of the assembly and the furtherance of the Gospel message. (Acts 6:1-7; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:8)
- Paul wrote that men deacons should be forty of respect, sincere, not heavy drinkers, not greedy for money, holding the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience, married to only one woman, managing well their household. Women (gune: women … not wives) who serve the church are also to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers, temperate, and trustworthy in everything. (Romans 16:1 is an example of a woman being called a deacon and being pointed out for respect.) Paul also told the assembly that persons being considered for positions of service should first be proved (dokimazo: to test, examine, try, approved). (1 Timothy 3:8-13)
Free eBook
We invite you to download the entire series in this free eBook. It is one of more than 800 eBooks in the GraceLife Library. Please download and share as God leads.
[Thank you for reading these teaching notes from 40 years ago. My prayer is they will be a blessing to you and your life and ministry.]
Jesus ChristApostle PaulChristianityBible Studyholy serviceSaintsChurch Growth
Published by gracelifethoughts
Founder & Director of GraceLife Ministries View all posts by gracelifethoughts
