Working Together in the Church

GIFT SCRIPTURE STUDIES

October 1, 2025 / 6:30-8:30 PM

FOREWORD

The main theme of this book by author David Bernard (UPCI GS) is how Apostolic Pentecostals should live and how the Apostolic Pentecostal church should minister in a diverse, postmodern world.

FIRST SECTION: “DEVELOPING AN APOSTOLIC WORLD VIEW”

(Positions the Apostolic movement in contrast to other historical and contemporary Christian movements. Identifies the essential elements of an Apostolic worldview.)

Topic: WORKING TOGETHER IN THE CHURCH

The church is the body of believers who are born again, living by faith in Jesus Christ, and pursuing holiness. In the New Testament, the term church refers both to the local congregation and to the universal body of believers.

Hindi natin maitutulad ang New Testament church sa anumang human organization. Halimbawa, ang United Pentecostal Church (UPC) ay hindi nag aangkin na equivalent sa katawan ni Kristo, subalit tayo ay bahagi ng universal church at at itoy nagtatayo rin at nagpapatibay ng mga local churches. Hindi natin sinasabing ang sinumang nais maligtas ay dapat umanib sa UPC, para magkaroon ng matibay at totoong ministry, subalit tayo ay nag sama sama upang matugunan ang pagtuturo ng Bibliya na pagkaka-isa, fellowship, evangelism, at discipleship. Ang ating official mission ay dalhin ang “Buong Ebanghelyo, sa Buong sanlibutan, ng Buong Iglesya.” (“The whole gospel to the whole world by the whole church.”)

Gaya ng sinasabi ng kanyang pangalan, ang UPC ay hindi lamang isang ministerial fellowship; ito ay isang organized part ng New Testament church. Both preachers and saints are members of the UPC. Ang mga Credentialed ministers o may mga hawak ng License ay bumoboto sa mga distrito at sa general conferences, habang lahat nmang member ng local church ay may karapatang pumili sa mga church business meetings.

Church Governance and Structure

Ang New Testament ay hindi nagbibigay ng detailed instructions para sa church governance. Ang kakulangang ito ay intentional o sadya, dahil ang mga needs at mga kapamaraanan, methods ay maaring mag iba batay sa panahon, kultura at mga kaganapan, o circumstances. Maaring ang church ay nag operate ng may kaibahan nuong first-century sa Israel; di katulad sa twenty-first-century Israel o twenty-first-century America; o Philippines.

Nevertheless, ang New Testament ay naghahayag ng mga principles para sa church structure at organization. Ang mga Ministers ay marapat magkaroon ng mga qualifications, ma approved ng mga elders, at ma ordinahan.

Ang mga Believers ay marapat na maging kabilang sa isang local church, at ang mga local church ay marapat na pangunahan ng mga pastor. Ang bawat local church ay marapat ding naka connect sa isang international body na nagpapanatili ng apostolic doctrine, nag-promote ng fellowship at evangelism, nagprovide ng accountability at pagpapasakop o mutual submission, kumikilala rin ng spiritual authority. (See Acts 2:42-47; 16:4-5.)

When a church implements these principles sa kanyang sariling kultura at sirkumstansya, God honors its efforts. Sa konteksto ng church government sinabi ni Jesus, “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 18:18).

Siya rin ay nangako na bibigyang honor ang pagkaka-isa ng church sa prayers at mga pagtitipon (Matthew 18:19-20). Ang church ay hindi infallible, o hindi nagkaka mali; sapagkat walang authority na absolute maliban sa Diyos, subalit God instituted the principle of church government at ginagamit ang mga ito upang ma-accomplish ang Kanyang mga layunin o purposes.

Human Structure with Divine Purpose

The specific structure of any local church or general organization is human. Subalit, hindi ibig sabihin nito na maaarinitong i-disregard o baliwalain. Ang mga Churches ay may different policies at procedures, minsan ang mga ito ay nababago, so we can’t say that a particular one ay sapat na.

Subalit ang mga ito ay ang ating pagsusumikap na ganapin ang mga biblical principles, at dahil dito, ang Diyos ay nag expect sa atin na mag cooperate sa mga ito at maging accountable sa kanila. Marapat nating i-respect ang mga structure, ang itinalagang kapamahalaan, at mga decision sa local at sa general church.

Halimbawa, when God calls people to preach, marapat muna silang kumuha ng approval mula sa kanilang local pastor at church bago sa general body. The New Testament indicates that once a local church grows to maturity, narapat nitong pamahalaan ang sariling mga gawain sa pamumuno ng kanilang senior pastor at hindi minamanipula ng isang panlabas na pamumuno.

Paul’s Example of Church Leadership

Bagaman si Pablo ay ang isang apostle at founding pastor ng maraming mga lokal churches, nung kanyang isina-ayos at hinarap ang mga problema ng mga ito, hindi siya basta nag issue ng mga decrees subalit siya ay sumangguninsa kanilang mga leader para ayusin ang mga problema. He asked the senior pastor sa Philippi upang mamagutan sa isang di pagkakaunawaan ng dalawang kababaihang ministro (Philippians 4:2-3).

1. In a case of incest in the Corinthian church, Paul didn’t directly excommunicate the sinning member but advised the church on dealing with him (I Corinthians 5:1-5).

2. In the case of a rebellious member who had repented, again he advised the local church, promising that if they forgave and restored the man, he would support their decision (II Corinthians 2:5-11).

3. At the same time, the local churches were not independent. They received guidance from external leaders such as Paul. They were connected to the general body and accepted its general decisions.

The Jerusalem Council Example

In Acts 15, the apostles and elders met in Jerusalem to consider the acceptance of Gentiles into the church. The delegates debated, consulted Scripture, sought the leading of the Spirit, achieved consensus, and announced their decision by letter to all local churches. They didn’t expect any church or pastor to reject the decision or to leave the fellowship but to accept the conference’s action.

Four Levels of Authority in Paul’s Ministry

In Paul’s ministry, we see at least four levels of authority in the church:

1. He submitted to the general body and reported to its leadership in Jerusalem (Acts 15:1-35; 21:18-26).

2. The leaders recognized Paul as apostle to the Gentiles (Galatians 2:6-10).

3. Paul oversaw the work of ministers such as Titus, giving him authority over the island of Crete; and in turn

4. Titus ordained pastors to lead the local churches in Crete (Titus 1:5).

Likewise, in the UPC each local church is self-governing but is connected to the general body in fellowship, cooperation, and accountability. Let’s work together to build up the body of Christ.

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Next Lesson: CHAPTER 4 BUILDING GOD’S HOUSE