Ecclesiology FAQ
Ecclesiology is one of my interests, and my primary academic pursuit. Ecclesiology is the branch of biblical and theological study that deals with the church. Since this blog is primarily about ecclesiology and since people often ask me what I think about certain topics, I thought I would give links to my blog posts that deal with the most common aspects of the study of the church and the answers to the most comment questions that I’m asked.
1. The Nature of the Church
“Definition” label
“Defining the Church (part 1)“, “part 2“, “part 3“, “part 4“, “part 5”
“Minimalist Definition of the Church”
“Historical Ecclesiology“
2. Local/Universal Church
“Local or Universal?”
“How does God view the church in your city?”
“The ekklesia in context”
“Local church in Scripture“
3. Church Leadership (Pastors, Elders, Bishops, Deacons, etc.)
“Elders” label
“Elders (part 1)“, “part 2“, “part 3“, “part 4“, “part 5“, “part 6“, “part 7”
Series – Should elders/pastors be paid a salary? “part 1“, “part 2“, “part 3“, “part 4“, “summary”
“What does a bishop oversee?”
“What does a non-bishop oversee?”
“Exercising Authority”
“Ruling or Leading?”
“Obey and Submit? (Hebrews 13:17)”
“To Deacon or Not to Deacon“
4. Institutions, Structures, and Organizations
“The Church or the Organization”
“Am I against church programs?”
“Models and Mehods and Forms, oh my”
“Creating Church Organization”
“Old Testament Structures and the Church“
5. The Church Meeting and Edification
“Gathering” label
“Edification” label
“Messy Meetings”
“What if we met to edify one another?”
“Distractions to Worship?”
“Here I am to worship”
“But I have perfect attendance”
“Edification (part 1)“, “part 2“, “part 3“, “part 4“, “part 5“, “part 6“
6. Fellowship, Community, and Unity
“Fellowship” label
“Community” label
“Unity” label
“Community in name only?”
“A Common Table”
“The depths of community”
“The unhypocritical church (part 1)“, “part 2“, “part 3”
“Look also to the interest of others“