Book Table of Contents

About the author

Introduction

PART I – The Biblical Church

Does The Church Really Matter?

Obedience And Blessing

What On Earth Is The Church?

What Do Men Say That The Church Is?

But What About Those Who Should Really Know?

What The Church Is Not

A Hierarchical Institution

Kingdom

Army

Other Misconceptions

Suggested Prayer:

What Does The Bible Say The Church Is?

The Church is Built by Jesus and she Belongs to Him

The Ekklesia

“The Body of Christ” and “The Mystery”

The Natural Created Order

Understanding “The Mystery”

The Body is a Place of ‘Belonging’

The Temple, the House of God

A Testimony to Principalities and Powers

Suggested Prayer

What Else Does The Bible Say About The Church?

The Authority over the Church – Headship

The Needs of the Body are Supplied by Christ

The Holy Spirit – Indispensable to “the Body of Christ”

The Church’s Function

The Universal Church

The Local Church

Autonomy and Sovereignty

The Church’s Governance and Order

Corporate Church Responsibility

The Gifts

Apostles

Prophets

Evangelists

Pastors and Teachers

The Establishment of New Churches

Inter-church Relationships

Suggested Prayer

Scenes Of Life In The New Testament Church?

For Personal Reflection

What Did The Apostle Paul Fear?

Suggested Prayer

PART II – What Went Wrong?

How The Church Lost Its Original New Testament Character

God’s Plan and What Became of It

Prophetic Warnings of the Failure of the Church

Ongoing Failure since the New Testament Beginning

Overview

Church/ State Authority Relationships

The Roman Catholic Church

The Protestant Churches

Summary

Suggested Prayer

Does The Western Church Fulfil God’s Purpose Now?

Identity – “The Body of Christ”

“The Body of Christ” is the “Temple”

The Headship of the Lord Jesus Christ

Idolatry and the Authority of Man

Popery

The Headship of the State over the Church

Denominational Authority

Institutional Authority

The Pastor

The Teacher

Apostolic Networks

Controlling Personalities

Controlling Traditions

Law and Lawlessness

Ungodly Yokes and Ties

Section Conclusion

Division

Admittance into the Church

Church Membership

Clergy/Laity

The Rite of Ordination of Clergy

Professionalism

Division through Disputation

Artificial Age and Gender Divisions

Church Governance and Function

Elders

Leadership

Church Discipline/ Rejection from Fellowship

Marriage Breakdown and Divorce

Evangelism and Inclusion in the Church

Worship

The Lord’s Supper or Communion

Deception

The Place of God’s Word

The Church’s Power

Parallels – the Failure of the Church and the Failure of Israel

Suggested Prayer

What Happens If You Meddle

PART III – How Should We Respond To The Current Situation?

So What Should We Do?

Reinstate the Headship of Jesus

Honour Christ in His Body

Obey the Scriptures

Can New Testament Principles be Practised in the 21st century?

What Does It Take To Bring About Change?

Humility

Suggested Prayer

Dreaming Of The Possibilities

Shared Faith, Vision and Action

Suggested Prayer

Can The Church Be Healed And Restored?

How could the Church be Healed?

Corporate Repentance

Restoration of the Broken Relationship with Jesus

Is This Ever Going To Be?

Suggested Prayer

Has The New Testament Model Ever Been Tried Again Since

The First Century?

Various Historical Movements

A Case Study – The Brethren Movement

Overview

What Went Wrong?

House Churches

House Churches in China

House Churches in Other Lands of Persecution

Some Observations Concerning House Churches in the West

Conclusion

Suggested Prayer

The Overcomer

The Hearer

The Overcomer

Sanctification

Response to Abominations in the Church

Is Your Church Association Compromising You?

Suggested Prayer

The Authority of the Word of God

What Action is Appropriate?

Suggested Prayer

Returning To The Spiritual Dynamics Of New Testament Church Practice

The Fellowship of Overcomers

The Spiritual Dynamics of a Remnant Church

“To Him, Outside the Camp”

Practicalities of Gathering “Outside the Camp”

Practising the Corporate Headship of Christ

Believing and Practising the Truth

Corporate Life – Meeting Regularly with Others

The Lord’s Supper

Respect and Love for the Body of the Lord

Eldership

What if the Elders Fail?

The Practical Corporate Functioning of the Body

The Challenge of Body-life Relationships

Teaching and “the Ministry of the Word”

The Relationship between the Local Church and External Gifts

Acceptance into Church Fellowship and Evangelism

Discipline and Rejection from Church Fellowship

Correction

Accountability

Restoration and Healing

Unity

Worship

Continuing the Ministry of Jesus

Format of Church Meetings

Only One Body of Christ in a City

Corporate Decision Making

Freedom, Growth and Fruitfulness

Suggested Prayer: