TEXT:  1 Tim. 3:15

INTRODUCTION:

A.      THE CHURCH IS A DIVINE INSTITUTION WITH A DIVINE PURPOSE.

B.      HUMAN WISDOM HAD NO PART IN THE DESIGN OF THE CHURCH.

          1.       Not built by man's power.

          2.       Not ruled by his authority.

I.      THE CHURCH IN GOD'S ETERNAL PURPOSE.

A.      GOD'S WISDOM WAS MADE KNOWN THROUGH THE PREACHING OF THE

          APOSTLES AND THE CHURCH( Eph. 3:8-10 ).

B.      GOD PLANNED THIS FROM ETERNITY( vs. 11 ).

C.      GOD, THEN, WAS THE BUILDER & ARCHITECT OF THE CHURCH.

1.       The pattern is divine, the result of divine wisdom.

2.       The nature & existence of the church evidence God's wisdom.

3.       The pattern represents divine will which can't be disregarded.

          a.       The ark had a divine pattern( Gen 6:14 ).

          b.       The tabernacle had a divine plan( Ex. ).

          c.       Israel forsook the divine plan( Acts 7:37-44 ).

          d.       The church can learn from this( 1 Cor. 3:9-10 ).

          e.       The "true tabernacle"( Heb. 8:1-5;  2 Tim. 1:13 ).

D.      RULED BY DIVINE AUTHORITY.

          1.       All authority is Christ's( Mat. 28: 18;  Eph. 1:22-23 ).

          2.       Whatever the church does is by Christ's direction( Col. 3:17 ).

II.     THE CHURCH HAS A DIVINE PATTERN( Eph. 4:11-12 ).

A.      APOSTLES & PROPHETS- DIVINE REVELATION( Eph. 3:5 ).

B.      EVANGELISTS- PROCLAIM THE WORD( 2 Tim. 4:1-2 ).

C.      PASTORS & TEACHERS-

          1.       Pastors oversee congregations( Acts 20:28; 14:23 ).

          2.       We all are to grow to be teachers( Heb. 5:12 ).

D.      DIVINE WISDOM & DIVINE ARRANGEMENT IMPLIES A DIVINE

          MISSION.

"Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch"   .(Gen. 6:14)

III.    THE CHURCH HAS A DIVINE PROGRAM OF WORK.

A.      ITS PRIMARY FUNCTION IS SPREADING THE GOSPEL

          ( 1 Tim. 3:15;  Phil. 1:3-5;  1 Thes. 1:8 ).

B.      EDIFICATION OF THE SAINTS( Eph. 4:12-16 ).

C.      MINISTERING TO THE PHYSICAL NEEDS OF ITS OWN( Acts 2:42-47;  6:1;

          1 Cor. 16:1-2 ).

D.      ASSEMBLING FOR WORSHIP( Heb. 10:25;  Acts 2:42 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      GOD HAS GIVEN A DIVINE PATTERN FOR THE CHURCH.

B.      HE HAS GIVEN A DIVINE PATTERN FOR OUR LIVES.

C.      HE HAS GIVEN A DIVINE PATTERN FOR SALVATION.