GENERAL SUBJECT:
CRUCIAL PRINCIPLES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE CHURCH

Message Nine
Producing Strong Coordination and Establishing Specific Services

Scriptures Reading: Acts 1:8, 14; 1 Pet. 5:3; 1 Tim. 5:17; 1 Cor. 4:2

I. The Revelation concerning nucleus in the Bible—Luke 10:1; Acts 1:8:

A. The Lord Jesus first put Himself among Peter, Jacob, and John, then among twelve disciples, who expanded to seventy later; before the Pentecost the number increased to one hundred twenty; through they prayer in one accord, the gospel preaching brought three thousand and five thousand to be saved—Matt. 17:1; 26:37; Luke 10:1; Acts 1:15; 2:14.

B. In the building of the Body of Christ, we need to perfect some members to function as sinews (join) and joints (supply)—Eph. 4:16; Col. 2:19.

II. Establishing the strong serving groups—1 Pet. 2:5, 9:

A. The carrying out of God’s New Testament economy in a particular place depends entirely upon the elders; it is an ironclad principle that the condition of the elders is reflected in the condition of the church—Eph. 3:9.

B. The importance of the serving nucleus:

1. Without the serving nucleus, we don’t know how to go on, have no way, and can’t touch God’s will and leading; this is the individualistic service.

2. With the serving nucleus, there will be an outlet of the Holy Spirit and the authority of the Holy Spirit; it is a cubical service, not a square one, just like a pan of scattered sand; we can touch the thought of the Holy Spirit, receive the revelation of God, and know how to take the way forward so as not to grope without a clue.

C. The producing of the nucleus depends on fellowship—1 Cor. 12:11; Acts 6:2; 15:6:

1. Honoring the authority of the Holy Spirit—1 Cor. 12:11.

2. It must be the absolute, thorough, and free fellowship without distance.

3. I can express my own feeling as much as I can, but I don’t insist on my feeling.

4. Don’t disclosing any matter that has not yet been formally decided and announced, even to someone as close to you as your wife; especially concerning the matters discussed in the meetings of the elders and deacons, you should not spread them to others; this is for the benefit of others—1 Tim. 3:9.

D. The elders have no rank, no position, no ambition, and no controlling power; rather, the function of the elders is to manage the church, being apt to teach, lead, and labor on word and teach—Titus 2:7.

III. The principle of Jerusalem—from center to circumference—Acts 1:8:

A. God set Jerusalem as the center of work; God’s work came from Jerusalem.

B. The gospel was preached from Jerusalem, Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth—Acts 1:8.

C. The principle of God’s work is from center to circumference.

IV. Producing the strong service coordination—1 Pet. 2:5, 9:

A. Whether the leading of the church is proper or not is the elders’ matter; but whether the practical service of the church is living or not, rich or not, and strong or not, all depends on the deacons.

B. The basic principle of service for the elders is oversight, while the basic principle of service for the deacons is implementation.

C. We need to learn to ask more, make no decisions on our own, and have no our own opinions and way to do things.

D. As serving ones—servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God, we should be found faithful in our service—Col. 2:2; Eph. 3:4; 1 Cor. 4:1-2; Luke 16:1-13; 2 Cor. 1:18-19; Matt. 24:45-51; 25:14-30.

E. We must all go to the Lord, pray, and pick up this burden; we need to be interested in people and involved with people; we must love them, and bear them as our burden.

F. The deacons’ service: visitation, taking care of miscellaneous matters, such as business office responsibilities, clerical needs, accounting, record keeping, ushering, cleaning, set-up, electrical maintenance, purchasing, hospitality, transportation, repairs, and estate management.

V. Establishing the specific services—1 Tim. 2:1-2, 4a; Matt. 28:19; 19:14; 9:37-38:

A. In order for the whole Body to rise up to serve, all the brothers and sisters have to be busy with something and to get into some areas of service.

B. Six items of church service need to be established:

1. A proper study of the truth—1 Tim.2:4; Eph. 4:13.

2. The growth in life—v. 13.

3. Evangelizing—1 Tim. 2:1-2, 4a; Matt. 28:19.

4. The children’s work—Matt. 19:14.

5. The student work—9:37-38.

6. The community gospel work—Acts 5:42.