Three Essentials For A Biblical Church

What would you consider 3 essentials for a biblical church?  Is your church using these three “essentials?”  Why are they essential?

Three Essentials

What would you consider 3 essentials of not just a healthy church but of a biblical church?  For many centuries, these 3 things have been found in the church on a consistent basis since the founding of the church in the first century but they seem to be disappearing in the churches of today.  Why does the lack of these 3 three things in particular threaten the integrity of the church today?  Are these 3 essentials missing in the church you attend?

Consistent Administering of the Sacraments

When I first came to the church that I am now pastoring at, there was no regularly scheduled Communions or taking of the Lord’s Supper and this was troubling to me.  At the church I attended prior to being called into the ministry, they had Communion at least every other month.  Some churches take it every month while others take it every quarter but the point is that there should be regularly scheduled Communions and that the congregation should know ahead of time when the next Lord’s Supper is coming so that they might prepare their hearts and give them time to examine themselves. A very important reason that we partake of the Lord’s Supper on a regular basis is “as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Cor 11:26).  We do this in remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice of His own flesh and blood given to unworthy sinners and Jesus commands us to “Do this in remembrance of [Him]” (1 Cor 11:24). So we do this in remembrance of His broken body and shed blood and by doing so we proclaim His death till He comes, however this comes with a warning.  For those who partake in it in an “unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord” (1 Cor 11:27) so Paul writes, “Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.  For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself” (1 Cor 11:28-29). Some who took it in an unworthy or self-examining manner died (1 Cor 11:3).

Expository Preaching

The most important thing a church does to ensure that the congregation is being properly fed is that they are hearing the Word of God and not the ideas or opinions of the pastor.  The Word has real power and in fact “it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Rom 1:16) and God’s Word has the ability to achieve what it is sent out to do (Isaiah 55:11).  Peter wrote that “you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God” (1 Pet 1:23) so he clearly indicates that it was “through the living and abiding word of God” that they were born again.  Not only does it have the power to bring someone to saving faith, Christians “are protected by the power of God” (1 Pet 1:5). Paul wrote “I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand and by which you are being saved” (1 Cor 15:1-2a).  How clear is that!?  God Himself guarantees that “my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).  Pastors, elders, deacons, Sunday school teachers, you have the very power of God so why not use it and unleash its power!?  It has the power to change lives…it is the power of God to save.

Church Discipline

This “essential” seems to be missing today in most of the churches that I have had contact with.  Almost every church that I talked too about this subject has never once had to go through a disciplinary action where the Matthew 18 principle of church discipline was carried out. That includes the first step of talking to the individual on a one to one basis and doing so privately.  If this doesn’t work, then the next step is to take one or two witnesses with you.  Part of the reason for taking one or two witnesses is to establish that there was an offense in the first place because the Bible clearly indicates that by two or three witnesses a thing is established (Duet 19:15; 2 Cor 13:1; Matthew 18:16) but it also might be discovered that the alleged occurrence actually didn’t happen and that the matter should be dropped altogether.  Finally, if there is a valid reason to address an issue with the person or persons who is being approached about a church disciplinary matter after they still refuse to repent or forsake it, then the matter should be brought up before the whole church and if necessary the person or persons should be disfellowshipped or as some called it excommunicated.

Which Ones are Missing?

Which of these 3 things are missing from the church you are pastor of or at the church that you attend?  Would you feel comfortable approaching the pastor and asking him about these 3 essentials?  Is there the regular administering of the sacraments?  Are there disciplinary issues in the church that are not being dealt with?  Is the Word of God being preached on a consistent basis?  Is the Word of God ever taught verse by verse in an expository manner?  This doesn’t mean that topological preaching cannot be done on subjects such as the cross, the perfect atonement through Christ’s death and God’s desire to have the church lead a holy life and to be growing in holiness in the process of sanctification.  These topological sermons certainly have their place but my point is that the main body of the sermon message must be the very Word of God in the context in which it was written and the reading of the Word of God must be the regular practice from behind the pulpit and shouldn’t be the exception.

Conclusion

If one or more of these are missing, the church is missing out on things that are essential.  The early church was unafraid to discipline its members when necessary because it was really for the good of the one being disciplined and in the best interests of the church.  The early church also ensured the proper administration of the sacraments by taking the Lord’s Supper in a serious, self-examining way and they did it on a consistent basis (1 Cor 11). They also taught the Word of God, which at that time was the Old Testament, but the early church also “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42) and what were the apostles teachings?  Jesus told them to make disciples of all nations (Matt 28:19) and to be “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matt 28:20). Are these the exceptions or the norm in your church?

Another Reading on Patheos to Check Out: What Did Jesus Really Look Like: A Look at the Bible Facts

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book  Blind Chance or Intelligent Design available on Amazon