Building Blocks of Encouragment
- a Devotional
This is
collection of 60 articles that are
designed to edify, exhort and comfort. Each article stands on its own
and can easily be read in just a few minutes. While the truths
expounded in the articles are simple and fundamental they will remind
the reader of eternal truths that may have been forgotten. The Author
often brings a fresh perspective to old texts.
Solid Practical Doctrine
Within the pages one will find not only food for devotional thought,
but solid practical doctrine that will edify any sincere reader to
continue to “run, with patience, the race that is set before us”
(Hebrews 12:1). Pastor Bosch does not resort to the pop psychologies
of the day, as many others do, to make his points. He stays true to
the Word of God as he exhorts us to live out our faith with an
unwavering commitment to the authority of the Scriptures and our Lord
and Savior, Jesus Christ. —
Pastor Gary Osborne
Spiritual Wisdom and Hope
While I was assisting Pastor Bosch in the editing of this book
manuscript I found myself in the midst of some dark and heavy days.
Various battles were going on with my health, troubles at church,
family duties caring for a sick loved one, a misunderstanding with a
close friend, and overall exhaustion. The words Anton wrote so many
years ago began to minister to me slowly and surely as I went over
them the first, second, third – and more – times. The Lord must have
known that I needed to read and re-read these precious nuggets of
spiritual wisdom and hope. Already it has produced the fruit of peace.
I am sure it will also bless you with encouragement from the Word of
God for these last days. —
Sarah H. Leslie
Contentiously Contending
This booklet began as a series of articles written in 2007. It was published on a number of electronic forums, particularly on www.herescope.com I wrote the articles in response to several decades of participation with, and observation of, many apologetic or discernment type ministries. While I see a great need for watchmen who will faithfully sound the alarm at the attacks of the enemy, I also see the need for those involved in this vital ministry to go about this work in a godly way. I am deeply concerned that many who involve themselves in these ministries do so for the wrong reasons and/or with the wrong attitude. In the process they cause more damage than the very error they are trying to correct.
My intention with these humble words is not to discredit or discourage those who sound the alarm, but to exhort such to use the right methods, with the right attitude. I also wish to warn those believers who have become aware of the great deception going on in the Church that a wrong attitude is just as erroneous as wrong doctrine. It does not help if we have our doctrine straight but our attitude does not accord with the Spirit of Christ.
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Building Blocks of the Church
From the back cover
Details
Table of contents
How to get it
A study guide for the book is also available for those who wish to use the book as a basis for a series of Bible studies. Here.
Anton Bosch is a brave Christian scholar and pastor to write a book such as this at a time when the validity of the Bible’s teachings is being called into question by many. He is even braver when the field in which he has chosen to write, deals head-on with the organizational structure and personnel of the church.
Modern and postmodern biblical scholarship seldom assigns a high status to the doctrine of the inspiration of Holy Scripture, and even less to the conservative and more fundamental schools which hold dear the belief that the Bible was verbally inspired by the Holy Spirit. This unquestioned, high regard for the Bible constitutes the foundation of this book.
Professor Arthur Song, Head of Graduate School, South African
Theological Seminary; Research Fellow, University of Zululand
Building Blocks of the Church very effectively walks through the landmine of the modern church growth movement's errors, carefully navigating through the troubled waters of past mistakes in church history. As such it is a valuable reference tool for those many in our modern era who may find it necessary to leave their former churches who have moved away from biblical principles and who have no idea how to start a church from scratch.
Lynn & Sarah Leslie, Discernment Ministries
The author should be commended for his honest and objective exposition of the New Testament model of the organization and function of the church of Christ. He has done so in a very scholarly way, and this work should be seriously considered by thinking people all over the world. The book sets out clearly the New Testament principles of every major ministry in the church, and distinguishes these principles from erroneous
teachings and practices.
The purpose of Building Blocks of the Church is to help us conform to the only true standard of Christian worship – the biblical one.
From the preface by Professor Johan Malan,
South Africa
:
5 ½” x 8 ½” (14cm x 21.5cm)
Soft Cover
272 pages
895 footnotes
ISBN 978-0-620-37659-4
Read This First
1. Sola Scriptura
Hermeneutical Issues
2. Characteristics of the Church Growth Movement
The Church Growth Movement
The House Church Movement
3. Pattern or Principles?
Arguments for a Pattern
Tradition and Torah, Custom and Command
Spirit and Letter, Principle and Precept
Principle and Practice
4. The Priesthood of The Believer
The Clergy/Laity System
Weaknesses of the Clergy/Laity System
The Priesthood in the Old Testament
The Priesthood in the New Testament
Functions of the Christian Priesthood
Equal but Different
Does Each Believer Have a Function?
Same Gift, but Not Same Measure
A Theocracy Not a Democracy
Making it Work
The Glorious Future
5. Authority in the Church
Jesus Christ – Head of the Church
Every Man for Himself
Humble Leaders
A Godly Flock
The Practical
6. The Payment of Full-time Workers
The Arguments
Jesus
The Twelve
Paul
Which Ministries Should be Supported?
Fixed Stipend or Not?
How Much?
7. Do the Ephesians 4:11 Ministries Continue?
The Spectrum of Views
The Cessationist View
The Restorationist View
The Continuous View
8. Apostles
The Problems
The Term “Apostle”
Jesus
The Twelve
Paul
The Apostles of the Ascended Christ
The Work of an Apostle
Apostolic Succession
Apostolic Infallibility
The Apostolic Office
9. Prophets
Examples of New Testament Prophets
Differences Between Old Testament and
New Testament Prophets
Prophets in Practice
Are All Who Prophesy Prophets?
Prophecy, Preaching and Teaching
10. Pastors/Elders
Pastors, Shepherds, Elders and Bishops
Ordination of Elders
The Ministry of Elders
Admonitions to Elders
11. Teachers
The Term
Jesus the Teacher
Other New Testament Teachers
The Importance of Teaching
Teaching Life
The Content of the Teaching
12. Evangelists
The Term
Jesus the Great Evangelist
The Twelve and Paul
Philip
Timothy
Evangelists and the Church
The Church and Evangelism
13. Deacons
The Term
The Seven of Acts 6
The Function of Deacons
Their Appointment
Women Deacons
14. The Autonomy of Local Churches
Autonomy and Not Independence
The Church Universal and Local
The Seven Churches of Asia
Autonomy of Local Churches in Acts
Central Control in Acts 15?
Autonomy in Paul’s Writings
The Benefits of Autonomy
Areas of Autonomy
15. The Interdependence of Local Churches
The Basis of Interdependence
Inter-Church Activities
Benefits of Cooperation
Dangers of Isolationism
The Balance
16. Conclusions and Recommendations
Tradition Has Obscured Many Truths
There is Sufficient Information
Are the Principles Practicable?
Recommendations
Bibliography
United States
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Study Guides
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15 |
