Foundation, Structure, Function Ephesians 5:27 I. Introduction. A. People do not understand the Lord's church as revealed in the New Testament. B. Witness the division, the denominations, the confusion, the differences, ad infinitum. C. The Lord, as promised(Matthew 16:18), established(built) His church. D. The church of Christ is unlike any human institution. E. When men tamper with what God made, only spiritual disaster can/will result. F. An appraisal of Christ's church: Ephesians 5:27. 1. True only as we follow the New Testament pattern. 2. No man(or group) has a right to change or alter(blemishes it!) II. Body. A. The foundation of Christ's church is secure: Matthew 16:18. 1. Built upon truth: Matthew 16:16. a. Not upon sand(ideas of men). b. Not as a protest to existing institutions. c. Not as a result of division, personality conflicts, or personal qualms(ambitions). d. Not to preach a sectarian doctrine. 2. Paul expressed it: I Corinthians 3:11. 3. No structure stronger than foundation: Luke 6:48. 4. The description: Ephesians 2:19-21. 5. All of the efforts of Satan, all that men have said or done, and all of the opposition cannot stop or destroy the Lord's church. B. The divine structure of Christ's church is revealed in the word of God. 1. The body of Christ has Christ as the head: Colossians 1:18. 2. In that capacity: Ephesians 1:22. 3. Jesus is the King, the Head, and the Savior of the church. a. He rules over every Christian. b. His law guides and leads His church. c. However, the universal body does not function as a unit. 4. The structure for Christ's church involves independent and autonomous congregations. a. Consider the book of Acts and the epistles written to churches. b. Congregations were tied together by a common faith. (1 No Pope, no earthly head, etc. (2 No central(super) organization. (3 To bind churches together in an organization is wrong. 5. The local church answers to Jesus Christ. a. Made up of members who have obeyed the gospel and carry on the work of Christ. b. In the church of Christ, the only local "organization" will include saints, elders, and deacons(see I Timothy 3:1-13). c. Evangelists may also work with them: II Timothy 4:5. 6. How simple--how profound and how different from the ways of men. 7. Any decision or any action that erodes this structure is wrong! 8. Congregations were not bound together in any organization larger than the local church. 9. All works and responsibilities were fulfilled in the local body. C. The divine architect determined the function(s) of the Lord's body, His church. 1. By studying the book of Acts and the epistles to the churches, it becomes evident that the work of the lord's church was an effective means of pleasing God, preaching the truth and strengthening members. 2. An outline of those functions(works): Ephesians 4:11-12. a. Can summarize: evangelism, edification, and benevolence. b. How different from what man would assign to the church. c. Evangelism(preaching the gospel). (1 Each member shared the truth with others. (2 Funds sent directly from the congregation to the evangelist(not through a sponsoring church). (3 No super-structures. d. Edification(building up the body) (1 Strengthening the faith of members. (2 Using the word of God--not the works and ideas of philosophers, speculators, etc. e. Benevolence(supplying physical needs). (1 Restricted to responsibility. (2 Not a world-wide general relief society. (3 Study carefully to find what, how and who the early church relieved/helped in this area. 3. It is not now--nor has it ever been--the work(function) of Christ's church to: a. Take the place of the home or the government. b. Provide entertainment and recreation. c. Assume the responsibilities of the individual. d. Become a political organization. e. Be less than a spiritual, soul-saving institution. III. Conclusion. A. The foundation is Christ, the structure is simple, and the function is spiritual for the church that Jesus built. B. The involvement of congregations in matters and works that are not spiritual is a tragedy and is unacceptable to the head(Christ).-jy