| What Exactly is
“Congregational Autonomy”?
** . In Matthew 16:18, Jesus
promised, “I will build my church.” But what exactly was built? And
how? B. “My witnesses in
Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
(Acts 1:8). I. The Unfolding Plan of
God as Revealed in the New Testament.
A. “I will build my church.”
1. Proclaiming throughout all , “The kingdom of heaven is at
hand” (Matt 4:12-17, 23-25). 2.
“He set his face to go to “(Luke 9:51; 18:31-34; John 7-11; Matt
23:37-38). 3. “That everything
written about me…must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:44-49; Acts 1-4:5). B. “You will be my witnesses …
” 1. “In Jerusalem”
(Acts 2-8:1a). 2. “And in all
Judea and ” a. The regions: Acts
8:1b, 4, 5-8, 12, 14-15,25; 9:31). b.
The cities: Lydda (9:32) and Sharon (9:35), Joppa (9:42), Caesarea (10:1,48),
Phoenicia (15:3), Tyre and Sidon (21:3-4), Ptolemais (21:7), Caesarea
(21:8). 3. “And to the end of the
earth. ” a. The church in (Acts 11:19-26; 13:1-3).b. The missionary
journeys (Acts 13:4-14:28; 15:36-18:22; 18:23-21:16).c. Paul’s voyage to
(Acts 22:1-28:31). II. The Principle
of AutonomyA. Auto ( ) / nomos
( ) – the right of self-government;
freedom to live by one’s own laws.B. The principle modeled in Acts 14:23 and
Philippians 1:1. III. Practical Wisdom
Behind the Principle of Autonomy. A. Local can be made in the best interest
of the local church, based on local conditions (1 Cor 16:3). B. A local church is able to be and remain
accountable to the (CoI1:18). C. The
absence of bureaucracy limits the wasting of (Acts 11:27-30). D. Local strife and controversy are
naturally minimized to avoid damage (Rev 2-3). E. is glorified as the true, one and only
head of his church (Eph 3:20-21). |
