What Churches Do

Fifth Edition

by Robert and Evelyn Bolton

AN INDEPENDENT-STUDY TEXTBOOK

Developed in cooperation with Global University staff

 Address of the Global University office in your area:

What is new in this printing:

• Students must apply and officially enroll to receive credit.
• Students may enroll at http://sed.globalutraining.com. They may also
e-mail [email protected] to find an office in their country
for enrollment.

School for Evangelism and Discipleship

Global University
1211 South Glenstone
Springfield, MO 65804
USA

© 1981, 1982, 1991, 1999, 2010 Global University

All rights reserved. First edition 1981.
Fifth edition 2010.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, New
International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. Used
by permission. All rights reserved.

PN 05.17.01

ISBN 978-0-7617-1399-9

www.globaluniversity.edu
www.globalreach.org

Printed in the United States of America.

Table of Contents
THE CHRISTIAN LIFE SERIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
INTRODUCTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

UNIT ONE
1 Churches Worship God. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
2 Churches Submit to the Holy Spirit. . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
3 Churches Preach the Word . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
4 Churches Teach the Truth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
5 Churches Baptize Believers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
UNIT TWO
6 Churches Remember the Lord’s Death . . . . . . . . . 66
7 Churches Provide Fellowship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
8 Churches Celebrate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
9 Churches Grow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
10 Churches Serve People. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
UNIT EVALUATIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
FINAL WORDS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
STUDENT QUESTIONNAIRE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
The Christian Life Series
Your New Life
Your Bible
Who Jesus Is
The Church
Personal Evangelism
Bible Ethics
When You Pray
How to Study the Bible
Your Helpful Friend
Christian Worship
Christian Workers
Marriage and the Home
God’s Design—Your Choice
John’s Gospel
We Believe
What Churches Do
The Teaching Ministry
The Christian in the Community
INTRODUCTION

What Churches Do is one of eighteen courses in this

practical discipleship program for new believers. The Christian
Life Series is a study to help students grow in their relationship
with Christ, interact with the Word of God, and better understand
God’s purposes for their lives.
Students will study basic Christian topics under six
reoccurring themes. The courses are conversational in style and
easy to read. The following chart illustrates how the units of
study are organized for the Christian Life Series.
Unit One Unit Two Unit Three
Spiritual Your When God’s Design—
Life New Life You Pray Your Choice
How to Study John’s
The Bible Your Bible
the Bible Gospel
Your Helpful
Theology Who Jesus Is We Believe
Friend
The The Christian What
Church Church Worship Churches Do
Personal Christian The Teaching
Service
Evangelism Workers Ministry
Christian Marriage and The Christian in
Bible Ethics
Ethics the Home the Community

5
6 What Churches Do

Before You Begin

For Official Credit and a Certificate of Completion
Students who are officially enrolled with Global University
through the International Office in Springfield, MO, USA
and have paid the appropriate fees may earn an end of series
Christian Life Certificate of Completion by completing all
18 courses. A certificate of completion may be requested from
the Registrar’s office. Students studying through a center or
group should contact their instructor or director for information
concerning a certificate of completion.
• Students may officially enroll in the School for Evangelism
and Discipleship (SED) courses online at
http://sed.globalutraining.com or by contacting
student services at [email protected].
• To study and obtain a certificate of completion in one of
our offices worldwide, please fill out the form located at
http://www.globaluniversity.edu/request_info.cfm to
determine if there is a study group in your country or area.
This material may be studied for personal enrichment
without official enrollment (which does NOT award a student
record or certificate of completion) from resources such
as www.globalreach.org or by purchasing the book from
Global University
(http://www.globaluniversity.edu/PDF/orderSED.pdf). We ask those
who take advantage of these resources to consider making a donation
to the Global University Evangelism Fund or Project Timothy.
Please visit www.globaluniversity.edu and click on “giving.”
Ways to Study this Course
This course has been written so that you can study it by
yourself. However, you may also study this course in various
group settings. If you study this course by yourself, all of your
work can be completed by following the instructions in this study
guide. If you are studying in a study group, carefully follow any
additional directions your instructor may give.
Introduction 7

Your church or group may partner with Global University to

open a study group. Visit us online at
www.globaluniversity.edu/studygroups_index.cfm or contact
the study group coordinator at Global University for more
information at [email protected].
How to Use this Book
The time you need to study each lesson depends in part on
your knowledge of the subject and the strength of your study
skills before you begin the course. The time you spend also
depends on how well you follow directions and develop skills
necessary for independent study. Plan your study schedule so
that you spend enough time to reach the objectives stated by the
author of the course, as well as your personal objectives.
Each lesson includes an introduction, outline, and goals to
guide your study, application questions throughout the lesson,
and answers to those questions at the end of each lesson so you
may review your learning progress.
Suggestions for Studying
1. Set aside quiet and regular times for your study. It will be
easier to concentrate if study is part of your daily habits.
2. Pray as you begin each study session. With an open
Bible, the Holy Spirit, and this course, you are in the
classroom of the Holy Spirit. Ask the Lord to help you
understand the lesson and apply it to your life.
3. Read the lesson introduction, outline, and goals. These
will give you an overview of the subject, help you focus
your attention on the most important points as you study,
and tell you what you should learn.
4. Carefully read the lesson. Look up Bible references and
take any notes that may be helpful. The Bible verses
reinforce important points in the lesson.
5. Answer the application questions in the spaces provided.
Longer answers can be written in a notebook. As you write
your answers, record the number and title of the lesson. Do
not look ahead at the answers. Giving your own answers
will help you remember what you study. After you have
8 What Churches Do

answered the application questions, check your answers with

those given at the end of the lesson, then review any you
answered incorrectly. The answers are not in numerical order
so that you will not accidentally see the answer to the next
question. These application questions are very important.
They will help you remember the main ideas presented in the
lesson and apply the principles you have learned.
6. At the end of each unit, answer the unit
evaluation questions.
7. Take your time and study at a comfortable pace.
How to Answer Study Questions
This course uses many different kinds of questions. Below
are samples of the three most common types and how to
answer them.
Multiple-Choice
A multiple-choice question asks you to choose an answer
from the ones that are given.
eXAMple
1 The Bible has a total of
a) 100 books.
b) 66 books.
c) 27 books.
The correct answer is b) 66 books. You would circle b) as
shown above.
(For some multiple-choice items, more than one answer will
be correct. In that case, circle the letter of each correct answer.)
True-False
A true-false question or item asks you to choose which of
several statements are true.
eXAMple
2 Which statements below are true?
a) The Bible is a message for believers today.
b) The Bible has a total of 120 books.
c) The Holy Spirit inspired the writers of the Bible.
Introduction 9

Statements b) and d) are true. You would circle these two

letters, as shown in the example.
Matching
A matching question asks you to match things that go together.
eXAMple
3 Write the number for the leader’s name in front of each
phrase that describes something he did.
. . . .a) Received the Law at Mt. Sinai 1) Moses
. . . .b) Led the Israelites across the Jordan 2) Joshua
. . . .c) Marched around Jericho
. . . .d) Lived in Pharaoh’s court
Phrases a) and d) refer to Moses, and phrases b) and c) refer
to Joshua. You would write 1 beside a) and d), and 2 beside b)
and c), as shown in the example.
Unit Evaluations
At the end of this course, you will find the unit evaluations
and answer sheets. Carefully follow the directions given.
Complete and send your answer sheets to your instructor for
corrections. If you are not studying with a Global University
office you will still benefit by completing the unit evaluations.
Students studying through a national office or local study
group should contact their instructor or director for information
concerning unit evaluations.
Additional Help
For more information concerning our course content,
purchases, and the SED Study Group Manual, please visit
http://www.globaluniversity.edu/studygroups_forms.cfm, or
email [email protected]
Also visit us at www.globalreach.org for additional resources.
10 What Churches Do

About the Author

Robert and Evelyn Bolton are graduates of Central Bible
College, Springfield, Missouri, and Robert later received a
Doctorate in Missiology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
(Trinity International University), Deerfield, Illinois. Beginning
in 1955, the couple engaged in evangelization, church planting,
and Bible training among the Minnan-speaking Chinese in the
large cities of Taiwan, as well as among the tribespeople in
the mountains.
After 39 years serving under the Assemblies of God World
Missions, the Boltons retired from missionary ministry overseas.
In 1994 they were appointed to serve in Intercultural Ministries,
specifically Chinese ministries. Today, they are still active in the
Chinese church that they pioneered in Pennsylvania.
Introduction 11

Preface
Have you ever wondered why churches exist? What does it
really mean to be baptized, to take communion, and to dedicate
babies? Or perhaps you have heard someone ask, “Do I need to
go to church? Why can’t I just worship God in nature or in my
home?” What would you answer?
Whether you attend church services regularly or not, this
course will interest you. We will follow the experiences of Mary,
a new convert, and her fiancé, Timothy. Timothy is a church
member who suddenly takes a new interest in spiritual things
because of Mary’s questions.
This modern method of teaching yourself will help you to
learn easily. As you understand more fully what is being done in
the church, you can take part more meaningfully. You will then
not only gain more blessing, but also be a greater blessing.
1
Unit
Lessons
1 Churches Worship God
2 Churches Submit to the Holy Spirit
3 Churches Preach the Word
4 Churches Teach the Truth
5 Churches Baptize Believers
 1 Churches
LESSON

Worship God

Everything the church does is aimed in at least one of three

directions: upward toward God in worship; inward toward
itself in growing; or outward toward the world in sharing the
good news.
A church building is sometimes called a house of worship.
This is appropriate because its main function is to provide a place
for people to worship the Lord together. People were made for
worship. If they do not worship God, they will worship something
else: money, fame, pleasure, nature, idols—or themselves! But
they will never be satisfied until they learn to worship God.
Jesus taught us that our heavenly Father desires our worship.
Though all the hosts of heaven are praising Him continually, He
wants our worship because it brings us into fellowship with Him.

14
C h u r c h e s Wo r s h i p G o d 15

Lesson Outline
A. Worship Together
B. Worship with Music
C. Worship by Prayer
D. Worship in Giving
E. Worship Through the Holy Spirit

Lesson Goals
1. Describe the basis of true worship.
2. Give biblical principles for using music in worship.
3. State truths concerning prayer as a form of worship.
4. Explain how giving is a part of worship.
5. State the ministry of the Holy Spirit in worship.

A. Worship Together
Goal 1. Describe the basis of true worship.
It is Sunday morning. Mary, a new convert, has come with
her fiancé, Timothy, for the first time to a worship service in his
church. Timothy is a new convert too, but he has the advantage
of a Christian background. Mary’s questions arouse his interest.
“But where is God?” asks Mary looking around. “How can I
worship when there is no image to kneel to?”
“You don’t need an image to worship God, Mary,” he
answers. “You used to bow before images, but with no real love.
God is a Spirit. We can’t see Him with our natural eyes. But
when we are born again and have His Spirit in us we can worship
Him in spirit and in truth. That is what He wants. Love Him and
praise Him in your heart while we sing, and in everything else
that we do.”
16 What Churches Do

The people are now singing joyful songs about God’s

greatness and His love. Sometimes they clap their hands while
they sing. Mary is not used to that, but soon she finds herself
smiling and clapping too. Then the song leader tells the people
to greet each other. Several shake hands and welcome Mary. She
no longer feels like a stranger. She feels closer to the Lord and
closer to the other people.
“It’s like one big happy family!” she whispers to Timothy.
It is true that a believer can and should worship God at
any time and in any place. It is needful, however, for people to
worship together. People are not made to stand alone; we need
each other. Believers meeting together, sharing and helping one
another, grow strong together!
Hebrews 10:25 advises, “Let us not give up meeting
together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage
one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
The Lord has commanded that we meet together and He has
also promised to bless those who obey Him in this. “Where
two or three come together in my name, there am I with them”
(Matthew 18:20).
Believers are called the “body of Christ,” with Jesus as its
head. The Lord wants His body to be in unity, with all the parts
working harmoniously. One way to accomplish this is to meet at
a set time and place for worship so His Holy Spirit can unite us.

Application
1 Circle the letter in front of each correct completion to the
sentence. As believers we come together for worship because
a) we cannot worship alone.
b) it helps us to grow spiritually.
c) we want to obey God’s commands.
d) Jesus has promised to be with us.
Check your answers with those at the end of this lesson.
C h u r c h e s Wo r s h i p G o d 17

B. Worship with Music

Goal 2. Give biblical principles for using music in worship.
Congregational singing is good for the body of Christ
because it relieves tension, brings healing, builds up faith, and
helps bring about the togetherness or unity needed for true
worship in the body of Christ. Another way to worship is for
one or more persons, or a choir, to sing special songs. Listeners
should glorify God rather than glorify the singers.
In the Old Testament the people of Israel sang the Psalms.
The book of Psalms was their hymn-book. They considered
singing to be a very important means of worship. Early Christian
believers also sang Scripture. Then gradually hymns and other
songs were added. The apostle Paul instructed the church, “speak
to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and
make music in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19).
Our songs can be expressions of thankful praise to God,
our testimonies put to music. The words, singers, and musicians
should glorify God, for God’s Word says, “He who sacrifices
thank offerings honors me” (Psalm 50:23).
Before Jesus came, people sacrificed animals; but since
Christ died for us such sacrifices are not necessary. Instead,
we offer the Lord the sacrifices of prayer and praise. (Read
Hebrews 13:15.)
The congregational singing in the church that Mary and
Timothy attend is accompanied by a piano and an organ.
Members of an orchestra play a number of different instruments.
The music thrills Mary, who exclaims, “I never knew an
orchestra could be in a church!”
“They are playing and worshiping the Lord with their
talents,” Timothy replies. People of the Old Testament praised
the Lord with all kinds of instruments.
Read these words taken from the hymn-book of the Bible:
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him
with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and
18 What Churches Do

dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him
with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding
cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the
LORD. Praise the LORD. (Psalm 150:3–6)
Music brings people together in worship. No wonder music has
been called the universal language.

Application
Circle the letter in front of the correct sentence completions.
2 Our singing becomes worship when we
a) can sing choruses from memory.
b) sing praises to God from our hearts.
c) sing with others who are worshiping.
3 Songs of worship are songs about
a) what we purpose to do for God.
b) nature and the world around us.
c) the Lord’s greatness and goodness.
4 Circle the letter in front of each true statement.
a) Musical instruments are used in church because they create a
pleasant background for the service.
b) God can only be worshiped with quiet, restful music.
c) Musicians should be careful to glorify God and not
themselves when they perform.
C h u r c h e s Wo r s h i p G o d 19

C. Worship by Prayer
Goal 3. State truths concerning prayer as a form of worship.
Soon the people begin praying together. “Why do they close
their eyes?” whispers Mary.
“To block out their surroundings while they talk to God”
answers Timothy. “They are worshiping in prayer.”
Mary hears people saying, “Praise the Lord!” “Thank you,
Jesus!” Some people raise their hands in worship, and the sound
of voices becomes louder. It seems strange to Mary.
“You will get used to it,” Timothy reassures her. “In a church
like this people will often pray together as each person prays
individually to the Lord. In prayer we worship Him by thanking
and praising Him.”
After a while the pastor calls on a man to lead in prayer.
Mary is surprised that he does not read the prayer—yet he prays
beautifully. When he finishes, many people say “Amen!”
“What does that mean?” asks Mary.
“Amen is a Hebrew word meaning ‘may it be so.’
We say amen when we agree with what has been said,”
explained Timothy.
Worshiping the Lord in prayer was common in the early
church. Acts 2 records that “every day they continued to meet
together . . . praising God” (vv. 46–47). The Bible also says that
believers joined together in prayer to God (Acts 4:24).
Our love for the Lord finds fulfillment in worship and
fellowship with Him. We should allow worship in prayer to
be meaningful, living, and dynamic even as it was in the early
church. Otherwise it becomes meaningless, lifeless, and empty.
The church must continue to be a house of prayer.
20 What Churches Do

Application
5 Circle the letter in front of each true statement.
a) Fellowship with God in prayer is a joyful experience because
we love Him.
b) We say “amen” after prayers because it means that we are
finished talking.
c) We usually close our eyes in prayer to help shut out our
surroundings.
d) Jesus called the place where believers met “a house
of prayer.”

D. Worship in Giving
Goal 4. Explain how giving is a part of worship.
Mary is puzzled when the pastor announces, “We shall
worship the Lord by our gifts: His tithes and our offerings.”
“How can we worship the Lord with money?” she asks.
“When we give because we love God and are thankful, that
is a way of worship,” answers Timothy. “I’ll explain more later.”
While the ushers pass the offering bags, the orchestra plays
a hymn in worship to the Lord. People praise the Lord softly.
Mary sees that giving to the Lord can be a joyful experience and
a means of worship.
Later she learned that in some churches people walk to
the front of the church to give their gifts. But no matter what
method is used, a tenth of all that we earn belongs to God. (See
Leviticus 27:30, 32.) This is called the tithe. Whatever we give
above that is our offering. It, too, should be an act of worship.
(Read Proverbs 3:9–10 and 1 Corinthians 16:2.)
C h u r c h e s Wo r s h i p G o d 21

Application
6 Tell in your own words how giving can be an act of worship.
..........................................................
..........................................................

E. Worship Through the Holy Spirit

Goal 5. State the ministry of the Holy Spirit in worship.
The congregation is singing softly and worshipfully, many
with their hands raised. Mary notices some with tears rolling
down their faces. Timothy explains that they are not unhappy,
but moved with love for the Lord. Then Mary hears singing in
words she does not understand. The voices blend in a different,
yet beautiful, harmony.
“This is what Paul meant when he said, ‘I will sing with my
spirit,’” whispered Timothy. It brought a strange feeling of peace
and rest into Mary’s heart. It felt as if God was right there!
As the sounds fade away the pastor rises to speak. Worship
and praise by the congregation prepares them for receiving
God’s Word.
Augustine, a great church leader of the fifth century, wrote,
“You have made us, O God, and our hearts are restless until
they find rest in you.” One effect of worship through the Holy
Spirit is that people feel God’s presence and find spiritual rest
and satisfaction in Him. This satisfaction is felt throughout their
lives—in work, play, and rest.
Another effect of worship in the Holy Spirit is true freedom
or release. As we yield to the Holy Spirit He delivers us from
fear, worry, resentment, selfishness, hate, and all emotional hurts.
Jesus becomes more precious and real as people worship Him
in the Spirit. It also helps us have greater unity; for “where the
Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17).
22 What Churches Do

A third wonderful effect of worship in the Spirit is healing

for our bodies. This may be a gradual strengthening, or it could
be quite dramatic. Evangelist Hattie Hammond tells of an
unusual interruption in one of her meetings. A woman gasping
for breath was brought in on a stretcher. A chemical container
had exploded in her face, burning and blinding her, and friends
had rushed her to the church for prayer. Ms. Hammond was
about to pray for her, but then she stopped.
Turning to the congregation, she said, “The Lord is telling
me to call on everyone to worship Him! Come on, everyone!
Worship Him! Worship Jesus!”
What was she doing, telling people to worship instead
of praying for the dying woman? But as people responded in
praise to the Lord, a wave of worship swept over them. It was
the moving of the Holy Spirit! Then suddenly, rising above the
sounds of praise, came the sound of another voice—soaring
in beautiful song in the Spirit. To her astonishment Hammond
discovered it was coming from the woman on the stretcher! God
had healed her completely while people worshiped in the Spirit!
You may never have seen anything quite as dramatic as
this, but there is healing quality in true worship in the Spirit.
The apostle Paul summarized worship through the Holy Spirit
when he spoke of those “who worship by the Spirit of God, who
glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh”
(Philippians 3:3).
As churches follow this teaching, they truly become houses
of worship. The church building itself is not most important. The
main purpose for its existence should be for the worship of God
the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit.
C h u r c h e s Wo r s h i p G o d 23

Application
7 The place where Christians meet for worship should
always be
a) beautiful for worship.
b) humble and plain.
c) in a nice part of town.
d) where people are free to worship.
8 List three effects of worship in the Spirit.
..........................................................
..........................................................
..........................................................
24 What Churches Do

Answers to Application Questions

1 b) it helps us to grow spiritually.
c) we want to obey God’s commands.
d) Jesus has promised to be with us.
5 a), c), and d) are true.
2 b) sing praises to God from our hearts.
6 Your answer. We can show our love for God and for others
by giving.
3 c) the Lord’s greatness and goodness.
7 d) where people are free to worship.
4 c) is true.
8 Spiritual rest and satisfaction, freedom, healing, unity, sense
of God’s presence.
 2 Churches Submit
LESSON

to the Holy Spirit

In the springtime, tree branches burst with new life in light

and vivid colors. Buds sprout and blossom into various shades
of white, pink, and yellow. Bright flowers of blue, red, yellow
and orange hues suddenly appear and decorate gardens. Of
springtime King Solomon wrote:
The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers
appear on the earth; the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree
forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their
fragrance. (Song of Songs 2:11–13)
The work of the Holy Spirit in churches is like springtime
beauty! As congregations of people submit to His working He
revives them with new life and radiance. Unconverted people
become reborn spiritually.

25
26 What Churches Do

Lesson Outline
A. The Holy Spirit and the Believer
B. The Spirit’s Anointing
C. Spiritual Gifts for the Church

Lesson Goals
1. Distinguish between the indwelling and baptism in the
Holy Spirit.
2. Describe the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
3. Explain how the gifts of the Holy Spirit edify the church.

A. The Holy Spirit and the Believer

Goal 1. Distinguish between the indwelling and baptism in
the Holy Spirit.
Frederic Burke, missionary to South Africa, testified of being
baptized in the Holy Spirit:
“I was a young man in Bible school. God was pouring
out His Spirit upon the students. I, too, began to seek
God. I wanted to be filled with the Holy Spirit. One night
as I waited quietly before Him, the Holy Spirit seemed
to lead me into the garden where Jesus was praying, then
to the judgment hall, and then to Calvary. I wept before
God as I seemed to share the sufferings of my Savior.
“Then the Holy Spirit came upon me, breathing deeply
into me until my whole being seemed filled with His
power. I began to speak, first with a stammering tongue,
then in a clear language. My soul was filled with the
glory of God. Jesus, the great Baptizer, had come and
baptized me with the Spirit. My soul was filled with
His goodness.
“What a difference this Baptism made in my life. I had
been timid and unable to speak in public; now I suddenly
Churches Submit to the Holy Spirit 27

had boldness. As I stood before a large congregation the

words just flowed out. I heard myself giving forth the
Word of God in power—yet it was not I, but the Spirit of
God speaking through me.
“While I was still in school, God called me to Africa and
later made a way for me to go. Through the 60 years that
He has allowed me to minister, the anointing of the Holy
Spirit has been with me.”
A testimony like Frederic Burke’s caused Mary to start
thinking more about the Holy Spirit. One evening on their way to
the church service she asks, “Isn’t the Holy Spirit within me now
that I’m saved?”
“Yes, dear, it was the Holy Spirit’s work to lead you to Christ
and now He is within you,” replies Timothy.
“Then why do people talk about receiving the Holy Spirit if
we already have Him?”
“Because—oh, here is Allen. I think he can explain it better
than I can.”
Their friend Allen listens to their questions and then says,
“Yes Mary, as a believer you do have the Holy Spirit living in
you. Galatians 4:6 says, ‘Because you are sons, God sent the
Spirit of his Son into our hearts.’ First Corinthians 3:16 also says
that God’s Spirit lives in us because we are children of God.”
Allen continues to explain. “When you hear people talk
about receiving the Holy Spirit after conversion, they mean
receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit. When you are converted
the Holy Spirit comes to live within your heart. When believers
receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit, He comes upon them,
filling them to overflowing. It is like an outpouring of God’s
Spirit upon us.
“Let’s look up some Scriptures. Acts 2:17 says, ‘In the last
days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.’ Peter
explains that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was a fulfillment
of a prophecy given in Joel 2:28. Peter said:
28 What Churches Do

God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all

witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God,
he has received from the Father the promised Holy
Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.
(Acts 2:32– 33)
Jesus, before ascending into heaven, said:
I am going to send you what my Father has promised;
but stay in the city until you have been clothed with
power from on high. (Luke 24:49)
“What happens when a person receives this outpouring of
the Holy Spirit?” questions Mary.
“Wonderful things happen,” replies Allen. “As you worship
the Lord and surrender to Him, the Holy Spirit comes on you.
Then He speaks through you in words you have never learned.
The Holy Spirit uses your voice to glorify the Lord. Acts
shows the early believers’ experience of being filled with the
Holy Spirit.”
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and
began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled
them. . . . Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised
his voice and addressed the crowd: . . . “In the last days,
God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your
sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will
see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on
my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my
Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show
wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth
below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun
will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before
the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be
saved.” (Acts 2:4, 14–21)
Hearing this Mary asks, “How could I receive? I would like
the Holy Spirit to come on me!”
Churches Submit to the Holy Spirit 29

Allen smiled. “This experience is for you, Mary. Open

your heart to the Lord and start praising Him. As you worship
Him, yield yourself and accept His gift to you. It is the Lord
Jesus himself who will fill you to overflowing with His Holy
Spirit. Today God is pouring out His Spirit upon millions of
believers all around the world. No one needs to be left out of
this blessing.”

Application
1 Circle the letter in front of each true statement.
a) On the Day of Pentecost Peter told the crowd that the Holy
Spirit was only for the 120 believers.
b) We cannot baptize each other in the Holy Spirit.
c) The Holy Spirit uses our voices to glorify God.
d) God still pours out His Holy Spirit, but only on a few
special people.

B. The Spirit’s Anointing

Goal 2. Describe the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit’s anointing is an important aspect of His ministry.
To anoint means to put oil on someone or on something as part
of a ceremony. This was done in Old Testament times when
persons or objects were set apart for service to God.
The prophet Samuel poured olive oil on David’s head when
he set him apart to be king over Israel. “Samuel took the horn of
oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from
that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power”
(1 Samuel 16:13). When Moses dedicated the tent in the desert,
he anointed it and the altar with sacred oil (Exodus 40:9–11).
Aaron, the first high priest, was also anointed (Psalm 133:2).
Oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. The word anointing
is used to describe the special touch of the Spirit’s power
that enables people to do something for God—something
beyond themselves.
30 What Churches Do

Under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, David composed

songs, which we call psalms. He was also a prophet and foretold
the resurrection of Jesus the Messiah from the dead. This same
anointing, or the Spirit’s power, came upon Peter when he
preached to the crowds on the Day of Pentecost.
When the early church chose seven deacons for the work
of handling the finances and business of the church, they chose
men who were “full of the Spirit and wisdom” (Acts 6:3). The
Spirit’s anointing was considered essential for their daily work.
Such were the high spiritual standards of the early church.
How necessary, therefore, is the anointing of the Holy Spirit
on every activity and ministry of the churches in our day! Our
praying, preaching, teaching, evangelizing, counseling, singing,
or playing instruments all should be anointed by the Holy Spirit
to the glory of God. Only then can Jesus Christ be uplifted and
people be built up in their faith.

Application
2 For the descriptions on the left write the number which
represents the person or concept described (right column).

������a) Symbol of the Holy Spirit 1) Peter

2) David
������b) Means “set apart”
3) Oil
������c) First high priest 4) Deacons
5) Anointed
������d) Church helpers
6) Aaron
������e) Composed many songs 7) Wine
������f) Preached at Pentecost 8) Paul
9) Moses
������g) Anointed the tent and altar 10) Filled
Churches Submit to the Holy Spirit 31

C. Spiritual Gifts for the Church

Goal 3. Explain how the gifts of the Holy Spirit edify
the church.
The Sunday evening congregation has been singing,
praying, and praising. It becomes quiet. Then a member of the
congregation speaks in a strong, clear voice. His message exalts
Jesus the Savior and encourages the people to believe and obey
Him. His words ring with authority and bring comfort and hope.
The pastor encourages the people to respond to the moving of the
Holy Spirit. A new wave of praise goes up to the Lord.
“What is happening?” gasps Mary.
“It’s a message in prophecy,” Timothy whispers. “We will
find out more about it later.”
The people are now in a hushed, receptive attitude to hear
the Word of God as it is preached, especially since it relates
to the utterance given through the church member by the
Holy Spirit.
After the sermon the pastor invites people with special needs
to come forward for prayer. Some of the church leaders gather
around and lay their hands on each one with a need. The people
are encouraged to pray and believe together for God’s answer to
these requests. The sound of prayer is like rushing waters.
What happened in the earlier part of the service was a
manifestation of one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit—an utterance
in prophecy. Timothy and Mary later studied about this in
1 Corinthians 14. Verse three tells that the one who proclaims
God’s message (the one who prophesies) speaks to people and
gives them help, encouragement, and comfort.
When the Holy Spirit moves among a group of Spirit-filled
believers, love and power flow from within them. The flow of
this power comes through believers by means of the gifts of the
Holy Spirit. Miraculous things take place—people are healed and
delivered from sinful habits. The church begins to grow.
32 What Churches Do

The gifts of the Spirit must be manifested according to

the guidelines in 1 Corinthians 14. Christ should receive the
glory, and believers should be built up spiritually. God wants
our coming together to give life; our meetings should not be
disorderly but harmonious and peaceful.
Nine gifts of the Holy Spirit are listed in
1 Corinthians 12:8– 10. Each is unique and supernatural—above
or beyond our natural talent or ability. Though we may not fully
understand all the workings of the Spirit, we do need to be open
to receive whatever the Lord has for us.
Briefly, these supernatural gifts are defined as follows. The
word of wisdom is special wisdom for a special need—a bit of
God’s wisdom spoken at the proper time. Through the word of
knowledge the Holy Spirit causes believers to say things that
they in no way could know through their own abilities. The
gift of faith is a supernatural ability to believe, especially for a
certain need.
The gifts of healing flow out from the Spirit, through the
believer, and to the people in need of healing. Through the gift
of working of miracles the person through whom the Spirit is
moving has supernatural power to do things that would otherwise
be impossible. Prophecy is speaking in one’s own language in
the power of the Holy Spirit, either telling forth (as in preaching)
or foretelling.
Through the discerning of spirits the Holy Spirit enables
a person to look beyond what is seen and know what spirit is
manifesting itself (God’s Spirit, a human spirit, or an evil spirit).
The gift of tongues is the ability given to believers to speak a
language they have never learned. It may be an earthly language,
or the language of angels. The interpretation of tongues is giving
the meaning of what is said in another language. We must
remember again that the ability and direction come only through
the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul affirms, “There are different
kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:4).
Churches should make room for these spiritual gifts as
taught in God’s Word. These gifts will enable them to extend the
Churches Submit to the Holy Spirit 33

gracious ministry of Christ and the early church to today’s needy

world. Jesus promised that we would do even greater things than
He did (John 14:12). This is possible when we submit to the
Holy Spirit whom Jesus has sent in His place—to flow into, and
upon, and out through His church.

Application
Circle the letter in front of the correct completions.
3 The gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to
a) help us grow spiritually.
b) make other people notice us.
c) make our churches different.
4 When gifts of the Spirit are in operation
a) they take the place of God’s Word.
b) we feel uncomfortable and confused.
c) they work in harmony with God’s Word.
5 If we do not understand all about the gifts of the Spirit
we should
a) disregard them.
b) accept only what we really do understand.
c) be open to the Lord anyway because we can always trust
Him to do right.
34 What Churches Do

Answers to Application Questions

1 Statements b) and c) are true.
4 c) they work in harmony with God’s Word.
2 a) 3) Oil
b) 5) Anointed
c) 6) Aaron
d) 4) Deacons
e) 2) David
f) 1) Peter
g) 9) Moses
5 c) be open to the Lord anyway because we can always trust
Him to do right.
3 a) help us grow spiritually.
 3 Churches
LESSON

Preach the Word

The Word of God is given a place of preeminence or honor

in churches that recognize its authority. Pastors of these churches
faithfully preach the message of God’s Word to the people. Their
sermons are full of its truths.
Paul, the experienced evangelist and church-planter, placed
strong emphasis on preaching. He urged Timothy, his young
assistant, to preach the message (2 Timothy 4:2) and also wrote
about elders who work hard at preaching (1 Timothy 5:17–18).
There is no substitute for preaching the Word of God. Its
message must be given both to believers in the church and to
nonbelievers outside the church. The opinions and beliefs of all
people must be corrected and judged by its teachings.
In this lesson you will learn about the message that is
preached. You will also discover why this message is preached
and the effects it has on the lives of those who respond to it.

35
36 What Churches Do

Lesson Outline
A. The Message Must Be Preached
B. Preaching Strengthens Believers

Lesson Goals
1. Explain the importance of preaching God’s message.
2. Discuss how preaching the Word strengthens believers.

A. The Message Must be Preached

Goal 1. Explain the importance of preaching God’s message.
“Someday I would like to be a preacher like our pastor,” said
Timothy to Mary after a Sunday morning service.
“Why?”
“Because I think it would be great to have God give me a
message from His Word to give to people. Besides, there was a
Timothy in the Bible who was a preacher.”
“You can!” Mary encouraged. “I know you can because
I heard someone say that we must all preach or tell people
about Jesus.”
Preaching is proclaiming a message in such a way that it
commands a hearing. Its purpose is to persuade people to trust
in Jesus as Savior and Lord. The apostle Paul emphasized both
the basic need of humankind and the grace of God to meet that
need. His Christ-centered message proclaimed the good news of
salvation through faith in Christ. Thus, to the church at Corinth,
Paul wrote:
I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you,
which you received and on which you have taken
your stand . . . For what I received I passed on to you
as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins
according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he
C h u r c h e s P r e a c h t h e Wo r d 37

was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

(1 Corinthians 15:1, 3–4)
The preached message must also be Bible-centered,
including Scripture to meet the needs of the whole person. It
offers salvation for people’s souls, healing for their bodies and
minds, and the baptism in the Holy Spirit to revive their spirits.
Added to this, the gospel offers the glorious hope of the second
coming of Christ. What a message!
Such a message includes not only the life of Christ as
recorded in the Gospels, but the action of the book of Acts.
When we preach Christ risen, we remember His promise to send
the Helper. (See John 14:16.) This promise was fulfilled at the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. A Bible-
centered message includes the whole Bible.
Preaching this message is not just for full-time pastors
or evangelists. Millions of believers share the gospel in an
informal way. For instance, the early church did this. Scattered
by terrible persecution, laymen fled to Antioch in Syria. There
they preached the gospel to Gentiles (non-Jews), telling them
the good news about Jesus. As a result, a great number of people
believed and turned to the Lord. These lay folks caused the
founding of a new church, the first among the Gentiles. (Read
Acts 11:19–21.)
A more modern example of lay preaching comes from
Ivory Coast, West Africa. Spirit-filled farmers and teachers,
during their off season from work, gave several days a week to
evangelism. Under the direction of their African pastors, groups
went to various outposts. Dividing into small teams, they shared
the good news with families sitting under shade trees. Villagers
hearing the gospel from lay people like themselves accepted
Jesus as Savior. As a result, many new churches were started.
Churches preach this message not only in their sanctuaries,
but also in homes, in marketplaces, in evangelistic campaigns
held in tents or halls, in prisons and hospitals, and in homes
for the aged or for the mentally ill. We have also preached in
services held on board ocean freighters, inside stone houses in
38 What Churches Do

mountain villages, in booths along crowded streets, and in high-

rise apartment buildings.

Application
1 Which three words below would describe the message about
Christ that Paul preached (according to 1 Corinthians 15:3–4)?
a) Born
b) Crucified
c) Buried
d) Risen
e) Ascended
2 Circle the letter in front of the correct completion of the
sentence. A Bible-centered message is one that
a) begins with a passage of Scripture.
b) branches out from a Bible story or parable.
c) applies the truth of Scripture to people’s needs.
3 What are some of the places believers should preach the
good news?
..........................................................
..........................................................

B. Preaching Strengthens Believers

Goal 2. Discuss how preaching the Word
strengthens believers.
Look at Paul’s church-planting ministry in Corinth: “Many
of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized”
(Acts 18:8). First they had to hear the Word of God. The hearing
of the Word then created faith in their hearts, and through faith in
Jesus Christ they were converted. Paul writes, “faith comes from
hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word
of Christ” (Romans 10:17).
C h u r c h e s P r e a c h t h e Wo r d 39

The apostle John wrote his gospel for the specific purpose
that his readers might believe, and that through their faith in
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, they might have life (John 20:31).
After preaching a gospel message, an African invited his
listeners to accept Christ. Several were converted. One man,
however, seemed very distressed. The minister talked kindly to
him, then read from Isaiah 53:6: “We all, like sheep, have gone
astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has
laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
The man exclaimed, “That’s me! I’ve led a terrible life. I’m
only fit to be lost!”
“Don’t despair,” the preacher said. “Listen to the remaining
part of the verse.” He then read, “‘But the Lord made the
punishment fall on him, the punishment all of us deserved.’ Did
you understand that? God laid the punishment for your sins upon
Jesus the Savior who died on Calvary in your place. Do you
believe it?”
“That’s what it says.”
“Then where is the punishment for your sins?” the
preacher asked.
“It has fallen on Jesus.” With these words the man raised his
face and exclaimed with joy, “Oh thank God, I’m set free! Jesus
bore my punishment!”
Saving faith for this man rose out of hearing and then
believing the Word of God.

Application
4 In your own words describe the relationship between faith
and God’s Word.
..........................................................
..........................................................
..........................................................
40 What Churches Do

When Jesus faced temptation, He used Scripture as a weapon

with which to defeat His enemy. For us, too, God’s Word serves
as the “sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17) to win the victory.
One of the temptations our Lord faced after fasting came in
this form:
The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of
God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered,
“It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but
on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
(Matthew 4:3– 4)
With that statement Jesus defeated the devil. With that
statement we are told how important God’s Word is—more
important than our daily food.
We must eat if we are to grow and to keep up our physical
strength. We must feed on the Word of God if we are to grow
spiritually and to have strength to withstand temptation. The
psalmist put it this way: “How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103). Acts 8:8
tells us that after Philip preached in Samaria there was “great joy
in that city.”
Joy does more than make us feel good. “The joy of the
LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). The source of this joy
is in His Word. God’s Word gives us the message of God’s grace,
His divine favor. When Paul was leaving Ephesus after three
years of ministry there, he knew that the people would be facing
new problems, so he comforted them with these words:
I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which
can build you up and give you an inheritance among all
those who are sanctified. (Acts 20:32)
C h u r c h e s P r e a c h t h e Wo r d 41

Application
5 Circle the letter in front of each correct completion to the
sentence. God’s Word is spiritual food that
a) we need for spiritual growth.
b) is good but not necessary.
c) we should be sharing with others.
6 Why did Jesus say we need God’s Word as well as bread?
..........................................................
..........................................................
7 Paul said that the message of God’s grace would
..........................................................
..........................................................
42 What Churches Do

Answers to Application Questions

1 b) Crucified
c) Buried
d) Risen
4 Faith comes from hearing and believing God’s Word.
2 c) applies the truth of Scripture to people’s needs.
5 a) we need for spiritual growth.
c) we should be sharing with others.
6 Bread only nourishes our physical bodies; we also need
spiritual nourishment.
3 Your answer. You might have listed jails, rest homes, public
parks, or your own homes and communities. As you look for
opportunities you will find them.
7 build us up and give us God’s blessings.
 4 Churches
LESSON

Teach the Truth

All through the ages great minds have searched for truth.
They came short of finding it, however, if they did not look for it
in the right place. Jesus said in prayer to God the Father, “Your
word is truth” (John 17:17).
The Bible is a marvelous book, a volume of 66 books
written over a span of about 1,600 years. Churches have the task
of teaching truths from this tremendous work. More has been
written about the Bible than about any other book as truths of the
Bible are inexhaustible.
As you get into a lifelong study of the Bible, you will
discover gold, silver, and precious stones in the mines of
Scripture. It contains treasure worth digging for!

43
44 What Churches Do

Lesson Outline
A. Teaching: A Ministry Gift
B. Church Schools
C. Bible Study Classes
D. Lay Leaders’ Training

Lesson Goals
1. Discuss the ministry gift of teachers.
2. Describe the varieties of church school and Bible
study classes.
3. State the advantages of Bible study classes.
4. Identify the purpose of lay leaders’ training classes.

A. Teaching: A Ministry Gift

Goal 1. Discuss the ministry gift of teachers.
In Lesson 2, you were introduced to nine gifts of the Holy
Spirit. In addition to gifts of the Holy Spirit, God has given
ministry gifts for the building up of His church. “In the church
God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third
teachers” (1 Corinthians 12:28).
It was he [Christ] who gave some to be apostles, some
to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be
pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works
of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.
(Ephesians 4:11– 12)
In 1 Corinthians 12, the teaching ministry is rated as very
important. Where Paul actually numbers the ministry gifts, the
work of a teacher comes third. Some Bible scholars place the
combined gifts of pastor and teacher on the same level.
C h u r c h e s Te a c h t h e T r u t h 45

Mary and Timothy enjoy the Bible class for young adults.
Their teacher, Andrew Jay, gives well-prepared lessons and
encourages everyone to participate in their lively discussions.
Timothy asks him, “What is the difference between the
ministry of a pastor and that of a teacher?”
“What do you think?” asks Mr. Jay.
Timothy ponders, then replies, “It seems to me that there is
a close relationship. Both a pastor and a teacher should study the
Bible and pray in preparation for what they present. Maybe the
main difference is in the manner in which it is given.”
“Yes,” says Mr. Jay. “Perhaps we could put it this way. All
pastors must also be teachers. They must study hard and be
able to teach, to instruct others, and to inspire them with their
sermons. All teachers, however, are not pastors. As you see, I’m
a teacher, but not a pastor. I do not preach publicly or pastor a
church. Both pastors and teachers have their distinct functions or
ministries in the church.”
You learned in Lesson 3 that preaching is proclaiming a
message to persuade listeners to respond in repentance and
dedication. Teaching is explaining truth with the purpose of
informing people, to help them grow spiritually.
Christ has placed teachers in the church. A person with
a gift of teaching needs to develop that gift. A good teacher,
like an accomplished violinist, is not born as such. Teachers
must receive training; they must study if they are to know their
subjects well. They shoulder the great responsibility of teaching
God’s Word to people who, in turn, teach and train others. This is
why the apostle Paul encouraged Timothy:
The things you have heard me say in the presence of
many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be
qualified to teach others. (2 Timothy 2:2)
Earlier he had written, “Of this gospel I was appointed a
herald and an apostle and a teacher” (2 Timothy 1:11). Here
46 What Churches Do

he placed his offices of apostle and teacher together. Paul the

apostle became a teacher of teachers.

Application
1 Choose the best answer of the two given in parentheses and
write it in the blank.
a) Teaching is. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . God’s Word.
(proclaiming) (explaining)

b) Preaching is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . God’s Word

(proclaiming) (explaining)

c) Paul lists. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . third on the list of ministry gifts.

(preaching) (teaching)

B. Church Schools
Goal 2. Describe the varieties of church school and Bible
study classes.
Mary and Timothy represent millions of believers who
participate in church schools. Those meeting on Sunday are
usually called Sunday Schools. The first Sunday School was
held in England in 1780, where Robert Raikes noticed the wild
behavior of children on Sundays when they were free from their
work in the factories. He invited many of them to a school where
he had arranged for some women to teach them reading and
church doctrine. Once he encouraged poor, hungry children to
come by offering cooked potatoes.
His work with the children was so successful that the
district in which he worked was described as “quite a heaven
upon Sundays!” The idea of Sunday School spread rapidly
to other parts of the world. These schools play an important
role in fulfilling Christ’s command to go everywhere and
make disciples.
Though Sunday School began with children, all ages need
this training. Some churches have activities and classes for
C h u r c h e s Te a c h t h e T r u t h 47

every age and type of student. Many churches now prefer to

use the term church school because classes may be held at
times other than on Sundays, for example, on Saturday or on
weekday evenings.
Church school facilities may be elaborate with a complete
building primarily for this purpose. Each class has its own
meeting place with adequate teaching aids and materials. Other
church schools have little or no equipment. Students may be
seated on the ground in the shade of trees or other shelter.
Perhaps no literature is available. But some teachers are able to
do amazingly well with so little! Whatever the facilities may be,
teachers must have a message and be trained to teach it.
Vacation Bible School (VBS), a branch of the church school
ministry, is usually conducted for a week or two when children
are free from their regular schooling. VBS may be held in the
home community, in another building, or at a camp.
Some churches have developed Christian schools offering
primary and even secondary education. Others have classes for
adults who want to learn to read. These classes use the Bible as
one of their textbooks.
Whatever avenue they choose, the main function of church
schools is to provide Christian education for all. Public preaching
of God’s Word is not enough. Our children and young people
especially need Bible teaching. A strong church school will help
make a strong local church.

Application
2 Circle the letter in front of each true statement.
a) Church schools are only for children.
b) Teaching in Sunday School or church school is an
important ministry.
c) Teachers need training even if they teach only one hour
a week.
d) The church school has no real effect on the church as
a whole.
48 What Churches Do

3 List four possible avenues of outreach that the church school

may have.
..........................................................
..........................................................
..........................................................
..........................................................

C. Bible Study Classes

Goal 3. State the advantages of Bible study classes.
Closely linked with church schools are Bible study classes.
These classes, devoted to the study of the Scriptures, are usually
attended by adults. They do not have the range of age levels as
do the church schools although the studies may be divided into
groups for men, women, and youth. Often larger churches divide
their studies so that people may take classes that fit a particular
need or interest.
Many churches conduct a midweek service that includes
both a time for prayer and a period of Bible study. Pastors or lay
leaders teach these classes.
Sessions may deal with a theme of the Bible, such as
salvation; or the class may choose to study the life of a person,
like Moses or David. The studies can also center on a section or
passage of Scripture such as the Beatitudes or the book of James.
Interesting Bible studies taught under the anointing of the
Holy Spirit are a blessing. Paul encourages, “Let the word
of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one
another” (Colossians 3:16). After the Day of Pentecost the
apostles taught believers doctrines of faith (Acts 2:42), and
through the years that followed, teaching was emphasized
(Acts 19:9–10; 20:20).
A church deeply rooted in God’s Word is a strong church that
will not be easily swayed by strange doctrines. As we become
C h u r c h e s Te a c h t h e T r u t h 49

spiritually mature, “we will no longer be infants, tossed back

and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind
of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their
deceitful scheming” (Ephesians 4:14).
Bible studies conducted in believers’ homes have been
successful. Classes are held during the week at a time and place
suitable for a group of perhaps ten to twenty people. This form
of study and sharing has the advantage of bringing the teaching
of God’s Word closer to the lives of those attending. In a home
atmosphere people feel more free about sharing truths and
experiences with each other.
In this system of home studies the teachers themselves often
attend classes beforehand. Besides receiving this added help, the
teacher must spend much time in prayer and preparation before
giving the lesson to others.
Correspondence courses such as those offered by Global
University are being used effectively by many groups. Sharing
a series of lessons makes it more interesting for all. Certificates
can be given to those who successfully complete a course.
Bible studies can also be conducted at camps or retreats. As
people come away from home and work, they find more time for
meditating on God’s Word. Sound Bible study classes yield fruit.
When combined with prayer and waiting upon God they bear
more fruit.

Application
4 Circle the letter in front of each correct completion to the
sentence. One of the advantages of having Bible study groups
is that
a) people often feel freer to share their experiences in an
informal setting.
b) they can be structured to fit a particular need or age group.
c) group study can be both interesting and effective.
d) it takes the place of going to church.
50 What Churches Do

5 Our lesson suggested three possible ways to study in a Bible

class. One was to choose a theme to study. The other two were
to study
..........................................................
..........................................................

D. Lay Leaders’ Training

Goal 4. Identify the purpose of lay leaders’ training classes.
It is a pleasant spring evening and Mary and Timothy are
walking home from church.
“What about this lay leaders’ class to begin tomorrow night,
Timothy? What are lay leaders? Are you going?” asks Mary.
“No.” Timothy replies. “Lay leaders are people who have
secular work, but also work in the church. They hold offices
like elders, deacons, group leaders, and Sunday School teachers.
Allen is one.”
“Allen is one what?” asks Allen as he catches up to walk
with them.
“Wouldn’t you like to know!” laughs Timothy, teasing him.
“But seriously, Allen, we were talking about your being a lay
leader and about the training classes beginning tomorrow. You’re
going, right?”
“Yes, indeed!” replies Allen. “I need all the training I can
get! Being a leader in the Lord’s work is a big responsibility.
You may sit in on the classes if you wish, Timothy. We need
every leader that can be trained for the future. Our pastor and his
assistants can’t take care of everything, especially as the church
grows. We must free them so they can devote more time to
spiritual ministry. In fact, all God’s people must be prepared for
Christian service.”
First Timothy 3:1–7 lists high qualifications for all church
leaders. They must be mature in the faith, be trustworthy, and
C h u r c h e s Te a c h t h e T r u t h 51

lead respectable personal lives. Lay leaders training classes

include Bible studies as well as practical helps for dealing
with people’s needs and church matters. It is important for
all those God has called into lay ministries to be trained for
these responsibilities.

Application
6 Circle the letter in front of each correct completion to the
sentence. Lay leaders training classes help to prepare workers
a) to teach biblical truths.
b) to be pastors.
c) for practical Christian service.
d) for further responsibilities in the church.
52 What Churches Do

Answers to Application Questions

1 a) explaining
b) proclaiming
c) teaching
4 a) people often feel more free to share their experiences in
an informal setting.
b) they can be structured to fit a particular need or
age group.
c) group study can be both interesting and effective.
2 b) and c) are true.
5 a Bible passage or the life of a person.
3 You may have listed any of the following: teaching children
and young people, classes for the deaf, vacation Bible
school, summer camps, Christian schools, adult education
classes, or other forms of outreach that you know about.
6 a) to teach biblical truths.
c) for practical Christian service.
d) for further responsibilities in the church.
 5 Churches
LESSON

Baptize Believers

Years ago in mainland China some Chinese Christians were

discussing various churches’ views on water baptism. One lay
leader expressed said, “Some groups believe in ‘Big Wash.’
Others hold to ‘Little Wash.’ And the rest have ‘No Wash.’”
The speaker meant that those in the “No Wash” group do
not practice any form of baptismal ceremony. To them it is
not essential.
The “Little Wash” group represents the churches that
practice baptism by sprinkling water as a symbol of water
baptism. Most of these churches also use colorful and impressive
rituals.
“Big Wash” groups practice baptism by immersion, putting
the candidates under the water. Pentecostal or full gospel
churches are in this group. Before being baptized, however, a
person should understand the meaning of baptism and why it is
recognized as an ordinance of the church.

53
54 What Churches Do

Lesson Outline
A. The Symbolism of Baptism
B. Its Purpose
C. Its Forms

Lesson Goals
1. Explain what water baptism symbolizes.
2. State truths concerning the importance of water baptism.
3. Evaluate forms of baptism in light of Scripture.

A. The Symbolism of Baptism

Goal 1. Explain what water baptism symbolizes.
Mary has not yet been baptized in water, although she has
seen others being baptized. Timothy, who has already taken the
step, is encouraging her to do the same.
“I don’t understand why we have to be put under the water. I
wouldn’t want people to see me come up with my hair all wet!”
“They won’t be looking at that,” encourages Timothy.
“Haven’t you noticed how people seem to glow with joy
after they are baptized? That is because they have identified
themselves with the Lord Jesus. All the Christians rejoice
with them.”
“I do want to obey the Lord,” agrees Mary. “But I still don’t
fully understand.”
“After we attend the class for baptismal candidates, you
will,” Timothy assures her. “And you will be eager to be
baptized too!”
Jesus instituted two ordinances—water baptism and
communion, both of which portray great Bible truths in visual
form. An ordinance is an established rule or an authoritative
decree. Church ordinances are based on the authority of God’s
Churches Baptize Believers 55

Word. In this lesson we will look at the first of these ordinances,

water baptism. Water baptism gives a two-fold picture. The first
is that of Christ dying in our place. The apostle Paul writes,
What I received I passed on to you as of first importance:
that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day
according to the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:3–4)
The convert going down into the water pictures Christ dying
for our sins. His or her being momentarily under the water
speaks of Christ being buried. Then when he or she is lifted out
of the water this demonstrates Christ being raised to life. Paul
writes, “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was
raised to life for our justification” (Romans 4:25).
Baptism is also a picture of our deliverance from sin and
union with Christ. The believer baptized in water illustrates the
following truths:
1. He or she is “crucified with him” (Romans 6:6).
Galatians 2:20 also refers to the old nature being crucified
with Christ.
2. He or she is “buried with him” (Colossians 2:12). The
believer being baptized is attending, in a spiritual sense, his
or her own funeral. The old self life must die and be buried.
3. He or she is “raised with him” (Colossians 2:12). Jesus said,
“Because I live, you also will live” (John 14:19).
4. He or she now lives “a new life” (Romans 6:4). Like Paul,
he or she can say, “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me”
(Galatians 2:20).
Christian baptism is summarized in these words: “All of
you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with
Christ” (Galatians 3:27).
56 What Churches Do

Application
1 Complete the following sentence.
For a believer being baptized, going into the water
symbolizes that Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .;
being under the water symbolizes that Christ was
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , and coming out of the water
symbolizes that He was . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2 Water baptism is also a picture of something that happens to
the old self. Write it in your own words.
..........................................................
..........................................................

B. Its Purpose
Goal 2. State truths concerning the importance of
water baptism.
Christian baptism probably had its origin in a custom
observed by the Jews before the time of Christ. When Gentiles
(non-Jew) chose to follow the true God, they underwent a
baptism. The converts would stand in water while a rabbi read to
them a passage from the law of Moses. Then the converts would
plunge into the water as a sign of cleansing themselves from the
old life of heathenism. Coming out of the water symbolized their
new life as one of God’s covenant people. They “acted out” their
decision to serve the Lord.
Today, baptism in water is a public witness that a believer
has accepted Christ and chooses to follow Him in the fellowship
of a local church.
A church leader, such as the pastor, performs the baptismal
ceremony. Baptism in water is usually a once-in-a-lifetime
experience. However, a person who was baptized at a time when
Churches Baptize Believers 57

he or she was not truly converted might desire to be baptized

again, in order to experience a meaningful baptism in place of an
empty ritual.
In simple terms, baptism is an outward sign of an inner trust
in Christ. It is a public confession of Christian discipleship in
obedience to Jesus’ command to make disciples and baptize
them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
(Matthew 28:19).
The Bible does not say where baptismal services should be
held. We recall some rather unusual services, one of which took
place at the seashore. For this we had to get special permission
from the authorities. Soldiers holding their guns with bayonets
fixed watched as the national pastor and I baptized converts.
Seeing the candidates for baptism being put under the waves and
then brought up again while people sang joyful choruses made
them curious.
“What kind of ceremony is this?” they asked.
Thus the way was opened for believers to tell about their
salvation and why they were following the Lord in baptism.
Regardless of the facilities, whether in a church baptistry or
in a river or stream, the spiritual significance of baptism and our
confession of Christ are of primary importance.

Application
3 Which of the following statements are true?
a) My loyalty to Christ is expressed by my obedience to
His commands.
b) Water baptism is an outward sign of an inward trust, an
acceptance of Christ as my Savior.
c) It is important for me to be baptized if it is part of our
family tradition.
d) I should be willing to confess Christ publicly and let the
world know that I have accepted Him as Lord of my life.
e) Baptism is worthwhile but optional for Christians.
58 What Churches Do

C. Its Forms
Goal 3. Evaluate forms of baptism in light of Scripture.

John’s Baptism
In a desert area by the Jordan River a prophet named John
the Baptist preached repentance. Luke later wrote, “John’s
baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people
to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus”
(Acts 19:4).
Then one day Jesus appeared and He, too, asked to be
baptized. John declined for he knew who Jesus was—the Son
of God! Jesus had no sin and did not need to repent and be
baptized. But Jesus told John that by being baptized He would
fulfill what God required, and John agreed to baptize Him
(Matthew 3:13–15).
As soon as Jesus was baptized, He came up out of the
water. Then heaven was opened, and He saw the Spirit of God
coming down like a dove and lighting on Him. A voice spoke
from heaven, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well
pleas” (Matthew 3:16–17). Thus Jesus identified himself with
sinful humankind, becoming an example for us all.

Application
4 Complete the following sentences.
a) John’s baptism was a baptism of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
b) Christ’s baptism identified Him with . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Baptism in the Early Church

The baptism of John served a unique purpose in preparing
people to receive their Messiah (Matthew 3:1–6). It was a sign of
confessing and turning from their sins. After the death of Christ
baptism took on new meaning. Now, because their sins were
washed away by the shed blood of Jesus, believers were baptized
Churches Baptize Believers 59

to identify themselves with His completed work of redemption.

(Acts 22:16; 1 John 1:7). However, the water of baptism in
itself can never wash away sins! Cleansing from sin comes only
through the merit of Christ’s shed blood.
In the Great Commission, Christ’s clear command is to
make disciples by going to all people everywhere, baptizing and
teaching them (Matthew 28:19–20). The early church leaders
baptized converts in obedience to Christ’s command. We read of
3,000 baptized on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:41). Philip the
evangelist baptized the Ethiopian official when he believed on
Jesus Christ (Acts 8:36–38). Ananias, a layman, baptized Saul
who later became the apostle Paul (Acts 9:18). Cornelius, captain
of the Italian Regiment, together with relatives and close friends,
was baptized in water after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit
upon them (Acts 10:24–48).
During Paul’s first ministry in Europe, Lydia and her
household were baptized (Acts 16:15). Later the Roman jailer
and his family were baptized (Acts 16:32–34). Then in Corinth
a leader of the synagogue, Crispus, and his family believed on
Christ and were baptized along with many others (Acts 18:8).
From all these records of baptisms we learn that turning from
sin (repentance) and believing in Jesus as Savior were essential
requirements. We also learn that baptism in water was not the
same experience as conversion, or the same experience as the
baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Application
5 Which of the following statements is true?
a) The baptism of John the Baptist and ours today have the
same meaning.
b) The early church baptized in obedience to Christ.
c) Conversion, water baptism, and the baptism in the Holy
Spirit are all terms for the same general experience.
60 What Churches Do

Forms of Baptism Today

Pentecostal churches believe that immersion (putting
the candidate completely under the water) agrees with New
Testament teaching and practice. In some churches, tradition
(and perhaps a lack of water long ago) changed baptism by
immersion to baptism by sprinkling or pouring. This form of
baptism, however, does not give as clear a picture of Christ who
died, was buried, and rose again.
A few groups who believe in immersion also make an issue
of being baptized in the name of Jesus, because this phrase
is used in Acts 2:38 and Acts 19:5. It was probably used to
distinguish Christian baptism from John’s baptism, and most
evangelical churches do not try to build a doctrine on it. Christ’s
own command leaves no question: “Go and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).
Another group baptizes three times—once in the name of the
Father, once in the name of the Son, and once in the name of the
Holy Spirit. They do it to honor the persons of the Trinity (Triune
God), but we do not see that as essential. The act of baptism
needs to be only once, even as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
are one.
Tradition also brought about infant baptism—sprinkling
water on a baby to be sure he or she will go to heaven upon
death. But a baby has not sinned; neither has he or she
knowledge of right and wrong. Therefore, babies have no need
of repentance. Many believers choose instead to dedicate their
children to the Lord. We shall study about this in Lesson 8.
If you have not been baptized in water, we hope this lesson
has helped you to see what the Bible teaches on baptism. As you
follow the Lord in baptism, His blessings await you!
Churches Baptize Believers 61

Application
6 Circle the letter in front of each true statement.
a) Babies should be sprinkled with water to wash away
their sins.
b) Baptism should be a sad experience because it reminds us of
our sin.
c) Religious traditions may not always follow Bible teaching.
d) One must be baptized to be saved.
e) Every believer should obey the Lord’s command to
be baptized.
7 Fill in the following blanks.
a) Jesus’ command was to be baptized in the name of the
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,
and the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
b) Baptism by putting the believer under the water is called
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
c) Why do Pentecostals practice baptism by immersion?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
62 What Churches Do

Answers to Application Questions

1 died for us, buried, raised to life.
5 b) is true.
2 Your own words. Your answer might be something like this:
When we accept Christ our old life is put away and we are
raised to live a new life in Him.
6 c) and e) are true.
3 a), b), and d) are true.
7 a) Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
b) immersion.
c) They believe it agrees with New Testament practice
and teaching.
4 a) repentance.
b) sinful humankind.

UNIT ONE EVALUATION

Now that you have completed the first unit, you are ready to
answer the Unit One Evaluation. Review the previous lessons
before you begin. Follow the instructions carefully to complete
the evaluation, then continue to Unit Two.
Churches Baptize Believers 63
2
Unit
Lessons
6 Churches Remember the Lord’s Death
7 Churches Provide Fellowship
8 Churches Celebrate
9 Churches Grow
10 Churches Serve People
 Churches

6 Remember the
LESSON

Lord’s Death
During the seventeenth century in Scotland, an evangelical
group called the Covenanters faced severe persecution. They had
to meet secretly.
One evening, a Scottish girl was on her way to a believers’
meeting. Suddenly some enemies sprang into her path. Seizing
her roughly, they asked where she was going. In a flash of
inspiration she bravely replied, “I’m on my way to a supper to
hear my Elder Brother’s will and testament read.”
“That sounds harmless enough,” the leader of the men
replied, and let her go. Joyfully the girl hurried on to the secret
meeting to partake of holy communion.
The Scottish girl referred to the Lord’s table as being the
supper to which she was going. Jesus was her Elder Brother. The
will to be read was the new covenant the Lord made in effect by
His death on the Cross.

66
C h u r c h e s R e m e m b e r t h e L o r d ’s D e a t h 67

Lesson Outline
A. The Lord’s Table
B. The Bread and the Cup
C. Forms and Purposes of Holy Communion

Lesson Goals
1. Explain the significance of the Lord’s table.
2. State the importance of the emblems of communion.
3. State the purposes of the Lord’s Supper or holy communion.

A. The Lord’s Table

Goal 1. Explain the significance of the Lord’s table.
“Mary looks radiant,” Timothy beams as she takes her place
beside him. She and several others have just been baptized in
water. A communion service is about to begin, and she will
participate for the first time.
Mary had already received teaching on the meaning of the
Lord’s Supper. So she joins in the singing and worship. Later, as
she hears the pastor read the words of Jesus, “This is my body
given for you” (Luke 22:19), tears fill her eyes. She understands
so much better now what it means to worship. Instead of looking
around as the emblem of bread is passed, she praises the Lord in
her heart. The pastor continues, “This cup is the new covenant in
my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:20).
The believers take communion with reverence. How
wonderful that the Lord should offer himself for the sins of the
world! Mary feels the nearness of the Lord and hungers for more
of God’s Spirit.
“We need to be baptized in the Holy Spirit,” she whispers to
Timothy. He squeezes her hand in agreement.
In Paris, France, stands a great monument, the magnificent
Arch of Triumph. Beneath the huge arch in a tomb lies “The
68 What Churches Do

Unknown Soldier,” representing all the soldiers who have died in

battle. Every evening members of a patriotic group light a “flame
of remembrance,” expressing the gratitude of a nation for its men
who sacrificed their lives for their country.
Believers, too, have a memorial. The Lord’s Table, or holy
communion, reminds us of the suffering and death that Jesus
endured for us. The broken bread and the cup represent His body
that was crucified and His blood shed for all the sin of humanity.
We partake of the bread and cup of the Lord’s table to remind us
of this great sacrifice of Jesus (1 Corinthians 5:7).
Taking part in holy communion symbolizes the suffering
and death of Jesus. In remembering, however, we must not just
sympathize with His sufferings. We should think of and accept
His victory and finished work. Christ’s death was not in vain. He
fulfilled the work the Father sent Him to do that He might claim
a people for His own.
In addition, we must remember that the Lord’s table is a
memorial. It speaks to us of how Christ “appeared once for all
at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of
himself” (Hebrews 9:26). The Lord’s table is not an altar upon
which Christ is to be sacrificed again! When we observe the
Lord’s death, we thank Him for His sacrifice that is complete. We
proclaim His death until He comes again (1 Corinthians 11:26).

Application
1 Circle the letter in front of each correct completion to the
sentence. Observing the Lord’s Supper is significant because it
a) reminds us of Jesus and His sacrifice for us.
b) reminds us of His victory over sin.
c) helps us remember that He still reigns.
C h u r c h e s R e m e m b e r t h e L o r d ’s D e a t h 69

2 Circle the letter in front of each true statement.

a) The Lord’s Supper is an altar of sacrifice for us.
b) Jesus’ death brought a new covenant into effect, and now we
are saved by faith.
c) Communion is a continuing observance until Jesus
comes again.
d) Everyone should take part in the Lord’s Supper, even if he or
she does not know what it means.

B. The Bread and the Cup

Goal 2. State the importance of the emblems of communion.

The Bread
At the Passover supper that Jesus ate with His disciples
He took a piece of bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to
His disciples saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in
remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19).
Earlier in His ministry Jesus had spoken of himself as the
“bread from heaven” and the “bread of life” (John 6:32, 35). He
was the bread that God gave, the One who came from heaven
and gave His life to the world. John writes of Jesus: “I am the
living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this
bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will
give for the life of the world” (John 6:51).
That Jesus meant all this to be in a spiritual sense is clear
from the reading of John 6:25–58. Some of His listeners thought
the Lord meant His actual physical flesh, and they argued about
it. However, one must interpret this language in the same way as
one interprets the words, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for
the sheep” (John 10:7). Jesus is not a literal gate; the gate typifies
Him and His work. Certain features of a gate, such as its strength
and protection, represent His character and ministry.
70 What Churches Do

When we eat of bread at the Lord’s table, we in faith receive

the life of Jesus. Just as literal bread strengthens our physical
bodies, so His life gives us spiritual strength.

The Cup
After the supper Jesus took the cup and said, “This cup is
the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink
it, in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:25). The fruit of
the vine represents His shed blood; the cup also represents the
new covenant sealed with His blood that was poured out for us
(Luke 22:20).
Later that night, after the supper and His talk with the
disciples, the Lord Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. There, in a
place called Gethsemane, He knelt alone and prayed, “Father, if
you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours
be done” (Luke 22:42). The “cup” He shrank from represents
the sins of the world. This burden was far more terrible than the
physical pain that He bore. His anguish was so great that His
sweat fell as drops of blood to the ground.
The cup of suffering and sin that Jesus drank has become
the cup of salvation for us. May we always be full of gratitude to
Him who loved us and gave His life for us (Galatians 2:20).

Application
3 Jesus broke the bread and said that it was His. . . . . . . . . . . . .
He later gave the fruit of the vine, which typifies His
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4 The “cup” has a twofold meaning. Circle the letter in front of
each correct definition.
a) The new covenant sealed with Jesus’ blood
b) The suffering Jesus went through for us
c) Forgiveness of sin if we take communion
C h u r c h e s R e m e m b e r t h e L o r d ’s D e a t h 71

5 For the descriptions on the left write the number which

represents the symbol or object described (right column).

������a) Guards and protects 1) Bread

2) Vine
������b) Leads
3) Light
������c) Dispels darkness 4) Lamb
5) Water
������d) Supports
6) Shepherd
������e) Quenches thirst 7) Door
������f) A sacrifice
������g) Spiritual life

C. Forms and Purposes of

Holy Communion
Goal 3. State the purposes of the Lord’s Supper or
holy communion.
A variety of church practices exist with respect to the
Lord’s Supper. For the bread some groups use only unleavened
bread. This follows the pattern of the Passover bread made
without yeast or leaven. Others prefer that the bread be in one
piece, either a loaf or a wafer to be broken by the leader into
small pieces. Large churches may find individual-size wafers
more practical.
Some churches use one or two large cups that are shared
by all the participants. In this case the cup is wiped with a cloth
after each person takes a sip. Other congregations make use of
small individual cups. The drink is usually grape juice, but may
be wine or wine mixed with water. In parts of the world where
grape juice is not obtainable, juices of other fruits are substituted.
Some churches observe the Lord’s Supper every Sunday
as part of the morning worship. Others serve communion
the first Sunday of every month. Rural churches might have
72 What Churches Do

communion only once in several months—whenever a minister

is able to come for a service. The Scripture says “whenever”
(1 Corinthians 11:25–26), which leaves it up to the local
churches to decide what is best for them.
Though some churches practice “closed communion”
(restricting it to their own members), most Pentecostal churches
have “open communion.” This means that all who are born-again
believers are invited to participate.

Application
6 Reflect on how communion is practiced at your church. List
the characteristics mentioned above that apply.
..........................................................
..........................................................

Its Purposes
While the forms for observing holy communion vary
from place to place, its purposes should be the same. They are
as follows:
1. To remind us of Jesus Christ and what He did. It is a
memorial feast to honor, worship, and thank Him. The Holy
Spirit wants to make Christ’s sufferings, death, resurrection,
and ascension meaningful and real to each person.
2. To draw believers together in love and unity through
fellowship with Jesus Christ. John, the apostle of love,
writes: “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have
fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son,
purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
3. To point believers to the glorious hope of the future, when
Christ will set up His kingdom. At the table Jesus said,
“I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from
now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my
Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:29). Paul exhorts us at the
C h u r c h e s R e m e m b e r t h e L o r d ’s D e a t h 73

communion table to “proclaim the Lord’s death until he

comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26).
4. To provide healing and restoration. The Bible teaches that
each one must examine him- or herself first before eating
the bread and drinking from the cup (1 Corinthians 11:28).
We are to come in humility and dependence on Him. In
faith we can draw from His life and strength, even for our
physical bodies.
This last point is illustrated by the following story. Au-ma
was a Chinese tribeswoman who had heard the gospel from
missionaries. She in turn became a “Bible woman” ministering
to her own people. One day while partaking of the Lord’s
Supper, Au-ma felt led of the Holy Spirit to take some of the
bread and juice to a poor outcast leper woman who desperately
needed help. She hurried up the mountain path to the leper’s
home to pray for her. Then, with a heart full of faith and love,
she shared the symbols of the Lord’s body and blood. As the
leper received these emblems, Jesus’ power came upon her and
she was completely healed!

Application
7 Circle the letter in front of each true statement.
a) “Open” communion means that only the members of the
church may partake.
b) Communion is nothing but a memorial.
c) The Bible does not say how often communion should
be taken.
d) Forms of serving communion may vary, but the purpose
remains the same.
8 Which are purposes for celebrating the Lord’s Supper?
a) To remind us of the Lord’s Second Coming
b) To remember the death of Christ for our sins
c) To create a beautiful service
d) To provide for healing
e) To bring believers together in love
74 What Churches Do

9 Tell what partaking of the Lord’s Supper has meant to you.

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C h u r c h e s R e m e m b e r t h e L o r d ’s D e a t h 75

Answers to Application Questions

1 a) reminds us of Jesus and His sacrifice for us.
b) reminds us of His victory over sin.
c) helps us remember that He still reigns.
6 Your answer
2 Statements b) and c) are true.
7 Statements c) and d) are true.
3 body; blood
8 a) To remind us of the Lord’s Second Coming
b) To remember the death of Christ for our sins
d) To provide for healing
e) To bring believers together in love
4 a) The new covenant sealed with Jesus’ blood.
b) The suffering Jesus went through for us.
9 Your own words. (Possible response: It has helped me not to
take for granted what the Lord has done for me. It gives me
new hope and courage as well.)
5 a) 7) Door
b) 6) Shepherd
c) 3) Light
d) 2) Vine
e) 5) Water
f) 4) Lamb
g) 1) Bread
 7 Churches
LESSON

Provide Fellowship

Just before a Sunday morning communion service, five

persons to be received as church members stood before a pastor
and a group of deacons. One new member was a Chinese
businessman and another was a girl who worked as a maid in a
wealthy home. The others were an old man, a teenage boy, and
a woman who worked in a factory. Impressed by the variety of
backgrounds, the pastor remarked, “Today five different people
will receive the right hand of fellowship, becoming members of
this church. Though not alike in race, position, or age, through
salvation in Christ each has been brought into one fellowship.
As the apostle said, there is no difference between Jews and
Gentiles, between slaves and free men, between men and
women; you are all one in union with Christ Jesus. Today you
see proof of this!”
God has designed fellowship that we may be a help, strength,
and joy to each other. This is one of the important functions of
the local church.

76
Churches Provide Fellowship 77

Lesson Outline
A. Fellowship in the Local Church
B. Fellowship Between Churches

Lesson Goals
1. Explain the importance of fellowship in the local church.
2. Identify various forms of fellowship activities.

A. Fellowship in the Local Church

Goal 1. Explain the importance of fellowship in the
local church.

Reasons for Fellowship

Something wonderful happened. During a week of special
meetings both Timothy and Mary received the baptism in the
Holy Spirit. It made them want to share the good news with
everyone. Mary’s parents, who showed no interest in the gospel
before, were impressed by the change in Mary. While not yet
ready to visit the church, they did accept an invitation to a church
picnic at the park.
There was plenty of food and games. The people seemed to
really care about each other, and they warmly included Mary’s
parents in all the activities. Mary’s younger brother especially
enjoyed the races. When he heard the others talk about what they
did in Sunday School, he decided he wanted to go too.
Mary’s family began to attend meetings and soon all three
were converted. Christian fellowship first attracted them to the
church and eventually led to their hearing and responding to the
message of salvation.
The early church provided for this basic need for fellowship.
After Peter’s preaching on the Day of Pentecost, many believed
and were baptized. About 3,000 people were added to the church
that day. They “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching
78 What Churches Do

and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer”

(Acts 2:42).
We have drawn the following guidelines from the example
left us by the early church:
1. Believers took time to learn from the apostles. With the
large numbers being saved, each one could hardly have had
private instruction. Perhaps they were in classes comparable
to our church school. As we study God’s Word together, we
not only learn, but also develop closeness as we share the
beautiful truths of our heavenly Father.
2. Believers all took part in the fellowship. In today’s world
people still need the fellowship of a local church. Listening
to gospel broadcasts or watching church services on
television does not substitute for being part of a local body.
It can be especially difficult for young converts to live the
Christian life by themselves. They need the strength and the
experience of mature believers, and seasoned Christians need
the zeal and enthusiasm of new Christians. By meeting the entire
church is strengthened.
3. They shared meals together. Eating is an essential part of
life, and eating together is a vital kind of fellowship. Inviting
a person to eat with you is a sign of friendship. Fellowship
meals play an important part in church life.
4. The early church emphasized praying together. Prayer
gatherings in a church building or in homes strengthen
spiritual fellowship. As believers worship the Lord and pray
for each other, they grow together in grace and love.
5. They shared needs together. Members of the early church
were considerate of each other. They helped widows and the
poor (Acts 2:44; 4:32; 6:1; 9:36). Because of this sharing,
Paul was able to write to the young church at Philippi, “If
you have any encouragement from being united with Christ,
if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the
Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion” (Philippians 2:1).
This is how it should be done in the churches today.
Churches Provide Fellowship 79

Application
1 If a local church meets only for teaching and prayer, what
three activities are lacking?
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Structures for Fellowship

We have seen how doing things together is a vital part of our
Christian life. We shall now look at some of the organizations
within the church that help meet our need for fellowship.
Christian women often form their own groups for fellowship
and outreach in prayer, work, and giving. Their concerns are for
the church, missionaries, and local needs. They work together on
projects such as sewing for needy families, decorating Sunday
School rooms, or visiting shut-ins. Their giving may seem small,
but it is surprising what big things they accomplish! They find
real joy in this fellowship of helping.
Men also organize into groups and meet for prayer. They
raise funds for missionary projects, or perhaps for Christian
literature. In some places they help to build their own or another
church building. Not least in their activities is that of reaching
other men for Christ.
Children are encouraged to engage in programs designed
especially for them. Capable, consecrated adults teach them
various skills: cooking, sewing, handwork, camping, woodwork,
and survival skills. These fun times help them stay interested
in church. Both boys’ and girls’ groups are trained in Christian
principles. They memorize Scripture and are given goals to strive
toward. Guided while young and responsive, they are more likely
to grow into well-rounded adults who love and serve the Lord.
80 What Churches Do

Youth also need activities suited to them. Given worthwhile

goals, they can do much for the church and its outreach. They
have their own services with leaders from within their group,
under the direction of the pastor. Some larger churches have
a youth pastor in addition to the regular pastor. Young people
should be provided with interesting activities and teaching to
counteract the attractions and temptations of a sinful world.
The church can meet the needs of elderly people. One of
the greatest problems of older people in many societies today is
that of loneliness—they feel forgotten. Churches reaching these
people in retirement homes or private residences not only help to
fill their empty hours, but serve as a reminder that God cares.
These organizations and others within the church provide
needed fellowship. There can also be get-togethers for special
occasions and holidays. A picnic is a common favorite. Some
churches have a fellowship hall, a place with tables, chairs, and a
kitchen unit, where all kinds of gatherings can take place.
Perhaps you can think of other ways that people can have
fellowship. Sometimes fellowship takes place without previous
planning as the Lord lets us meet other believers in unexpected
ways. Although the main purpose of the church is to worship,
fellowship contributes to the well-being of a balanced church.
Worship is lifting our hands to God. Fellowship is holding our
hands out to each other.

Application
2 Circle the letter in front of each true statement.
a) The early church spent all its free time in study and in prayer.
b) Children can have fun and learn in church-related activities.
c) Young people should be provided with interesting activities
to counteract the temptations of the world.
d) Fellowship with believers helps produce a well-balanced
Christian life.
Churches Provide Fellowship 81

3 From the list below, select the key word to

having fellowship.
a) Study
b) Organization
c) Picnic
d) Togetherness
e) Needs
4 Which activities or organizations in the church appeal
most to you?
..........................................................
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If you are not already involved in some form of fellowship

with other believers, look for a way to get involved. If your
church is lacking in opportunities for fellowship, ask others to
work together with you to get it going.

B. Fellowship Between Churches

Goal 2. Identify various forms of fellowship activities.
Taking part in fellowship between churches is a stimulating
experience. It broadens our outlook and helps each church realize
it is part of a much greater whole—the body of Christ. Wider
ranges of friends are formed as we associate with other churches.
Fellowship meetings. In some areas fellowship meetings
are held once a month. Churches take turns being the host to
other churches. Preaching of the Word, testimonies of answered
prayer, perhaps a meal together in between services, and special
singing and music are features of a fellowship meeting.
Rallies. These are usually get-togethers of the various groups
with similar groups from other churches. Young people enjoy
youth rallies conducted by their youth leaders. Women respond
to women’s rallies and men like to attend men’s conventions.
82 What Churches Do

Contests. Memory work competition, or Bible Quiz

competition between churches, encourage the study of God’s
Word. Musical competition is also a means of attracting people
to the church.
Camps and retreats. Church members over a wide area
get away from their everyday work schedules to attend camps
or retreats. As they take time out for spiritual things they are
refreshed and edified. Many people have received the baptism in
the Holy Spirit at a camp or retreat.
United evangelistic outreach. Churches near each other can
work together in a joint outreach. Special speakers or musical
groups may be invited to minister. Such meetings make a strong
impact on the community. Follow-up work should be organized
so new converts will find fellowship in a church near them.
Local churches need to look beyond their own walls to the
ripening harvest field of souls. Working in cooperation with other
churches reinforces that the body of Christ includes all believers.
Churches need each other in fellowship just as individual
believers do. Today we are seeing a coming together among
born-again and Spirit-filled people. The large interchurch
gatherings show the world that the love of Christ and the
fellowship in the Spirit are stronger than denominational lines.
Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples,
if you love one another” (John 13:35).
Although some churches prefer being independent, most of
them belong to a denomination. Midway between these two is a
“cooperative fellowship,” to which many Pentecostal churches
belong. Though in a cooperative fellowship, each local group
governs and supports itself, those involved in such a movement
are banded together to work for God. Through cooperation
greater ministries can be carried out, such as printing gospel
literature, producing radio programs, sending out missionaries,
and conducting large conventions or evangelistic crusades.
Churches Provide Fellowship 83

Application
5 Before each example, write the number of the phrase
that applies:

������a) To help young people meet 1) Fellowship

other youth 2) Rally
3) Contest
������b) To spend time in prayer
4) Camp or retreat
and relaxation along with
5) United
other believers
evangelistic
������c) To stimulate interest in outreach
God’s Word
������d) To have fellowship with
other churches
������e) To work with other churches in
evangelistic outreach
6 Circle the letter in front of each correct completion of the
sentence. Fellowship between churches strengthens
a) our fellowship as individuals.
b) the local church.
c) missionary outreach.
d) our witness to unbelievers.
84 What Churches Do

Answers to Application Questions

1 Fellowship, sharing of meals, and sharing of needs.
4 Your answer
2 Statements b), c), and d) are true.
5 a) 2) Rally
b) 4) Camp or retreat
c) 3) Contest
d) 1) Fellowship meeting
e) 5) United evangelistic outreach
3 d) Togetherness
6 You should have circled all of them.
 8Churches Celebrate
LESSON

It seems to be within human nature to lean to one extreme

or another. As a result, some churches have added so much
ceremony and ritual to their services that they have left no room
for the moving of the Holy Spirit. Others, on the other hand,
have declared freedom from all ceremony and would not so
much as sing from a hymnal. But the freedom we have in Christ
allows for a balance between ritual and free form worship. This
balance can be achieved in other church celebrations as well.
Churches celebrate with a variety of ceremonies and
meaningful festivals. No doubt you have attended a beautiful
wedding, a touching baby dedication, or a sad but celebratory
funeral of a church member who passed away into God’s
presence. Christmas, Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter, and
Thanksgiving are some favorite festivals celebrated in church.
These and other ceremonies and festivals should be done as a
remembrance of the Lord.

85
86 What Churches Do

Lesson Outline
A. Church Ceremonies
B. Church Festivals
C. Ritual or Free Form Worship

Lesson Goals
1. Describe the variety of church ceremonies.
2. Identify the great festivals of the church.
3. Explain what place both ritual and free form worship have in
the church.

A. Church Ceremonies
Goal 1. Describe the variety of church ceremonies.
The great day has arrived for Timothy and Mary—their
wedding day. Both of their families are involved in the planning
and preparation. All their church friends are invited to attend the
ceremony performed by the pastor. Afterwards refreshments will
be served in the fellowship hall.
Mary is starry-eyed, but she also feels awed at the solemnity
of the occasion. She wants to be the wife that God intends her
to be. Timothy is excited, yet he has considered seriously the
vows he will take—to love and provide for his bride, and to be
the spiritual head of his home. They have had several counseling
sessions with the pastor and realize that a solid marriage does
not just “happen”—it is built. With Christ as the center of their
relationship, their love will grow deeper with the years. They
are so happy about the church they will be married in! The
congregation sharing in their joy will make it complete.
We have already discussed water baptism and the Lord’s
Supper. These are known as ordinances because the Bible tells
us to observe them. These we studied in Lessons 5 and 6. The
church also conducts ceremonies with definite scriptural basis,
such as weddings. Others, like the dedication of a new home,
Churches Celebrate 87

are optional. That means we may have them if we wish, or we

may not—the choice is ours. We will look at some of the rites
that help us to share in both the joys and the sorrows we all
may experience.
1. Performing marriages. Because God himself instituted
marriage, it is most appropriate to have weddings in the
church. The ceremony centers around a promise made
between a man and a woman to be true to each other as
husband and wife as long as they live. In some countries
ministers are recognized as legal officers with authority to
perform weddings. In other lands a civil marriage must be
conducted first and a church wedding may then follow.
2. Dedicating children. Christian parents may bring their babies
or young children forward in a church service to present
them to the Lord in a public act of consecration. The pastor
takes the infant in his or her arms and offers prayer for both
the child and the parents who promise to bring up the child
in the fear of the Lord. The whole congregation enjoys this
lovely custom.
3. Praying for the sick. Often in a meeting people who are ill
ask for special prayer. One of the church leaders may anoint
them on the forehead with a touch of oil before praying for
them. It is not unusual for healings to take place. It may
come instantly or gradually. The sick may also be prayed for
in their homes or in the hospital. Jesus said that believers
“will place their hands on sick people, and they will get
well” (Mark 16:18). See also James 5:14–15.
4. Dedicating homes. When someone moves into a new home,
he or she may want a ceremony of dedication. Church
leaders and friends gather for this happy occasion to dedicate
the house to the Lord, to invite Christ as head of the home.
Christians have also asked for a dedication service when
opening a new place of business, a school, an activity center,
or a church, because they want to honor Christ in all that
they do.
88 What Churches Do

5. Conducting funerals. Everyone needs the church when there

is a death in the family. A funeral ceremony with believers
to help share the burden can do much toward lifting sorrow.
The pastor speaks comfort from God’s Word, reminding
the family that we are not sad as those who have no hope
(1 Thessalonians 4:13). We have the glorious hope that our
loved ones in the Lord have been received into the presence
of Jesus where they will suffer no more. The Bible assures us
that we shall see them again.
At funerals, people who never go to church otherwise are
presented with an opportunity to hear the gospel and accept
Christ. Christians can also minister to the family by preparing
food or offering to help in other ways. Sometimes a family likes
to have a special service to remember the departed loved one on
the anniversary of his or her death. They may give an offering
to the church as a memorial. This is a good substitute for the
ancestor worship formerly practiced by some new converts.

Application
1 Look up each Scripture (left column) and write the
number that represents the ceremony or custom it refers to
(right column).

������a) Genesis 50:1–14 1) Wedding

2) Funeral
������b) 1 Samuel 1:27–28
3) Baptism
������c) 2 Chronicles 7:9 4) Praying for the sick
5) Dedication of children
������d) John 2:1
6) Dedication of a building
������e) Acts 28:7–9

Two other ceremonies relating to the church and conducted

in the church are customary.
6. Receiving new members. After instruction in membership
classes, candidates for membership are extended “the
right hand of fellowship” by the pastor and the board.
Churches Celebrate 89

This ceremony should be conducted when most of the

other members can be present. It is a beautiful way to
say “Welcome!”
7. Installing officers and teachers. Some churches conduct
installation services for those who are taking on new
duties in the church. The pastor exhorts them to carry out
their responsibilities in a way that would please the Lord.
Usually the congregation stands as the pastor prays for the
new officers and teachers. More than a custom, this short
ceremony encourages the leaders and assures them of the
support of the whole body.

Application
2 Circle the letter in front of the correct completion to the
sentence. According to Romans 12:15, we should share
a) mostly in other people’s sorrows.
b) mostly with others and their happiness.
c) when a particular need touches us.
d) both in happiness and in sorrow that comes to others.
3 Write the word ordinance after each of the following
ceremonies about which the Bible gives definite instructions.
a) Water baptism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
b) Receiving of new members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
c) Installation of officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
d) The Lord’s Supper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
e) Funeral . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

B. Church Festivals
Goal 2. Identify the great festivals of the church.
A church festival is a special time of celebration, usually one
of rejoicing, in memory of a great event in the life of Christ or
the history of the church. Most church calendars highlight four
90 What Churches Do

major festivals: Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, and the Day of

Pentecost (Whitsunday). Others are Palm Sunday, Ascension
Sunday, and the Lord’s Day.
Christmas is a festive occasion. Churches usually have a
program for which there is much preparation. The young people
practice carols while children learn verses to recite and songs
to sing. Perhaps they will act out the Christmas story. Candies
or other treats may be given out. Whatever the church plans,
simple or elaborate, it is all done to commemorate the birth of
Christ, the Savior who is God’s gift to the world. Parents and
unsaved friends may, through the program, be introduced to the
gospel message.
Palm Sunday recalls the triumphant entry of Jesus into
Jerusalem riding on a donkey. Crowds waved palm branches,
spreading them on the road before Him. They praised Him,
shouting, “‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ ‘Blessed is he who
comes in the name of the Lord!’” (Matthew 21:9). Palm Sunday
begins the Holy Week, when churches remember the last week of
Christ’s life before His crucifixion and burial.
Good Friday reminds us of the sufferings of Jesus and His
death on the Cross. Some churches open their doors all day for
prayer; others celebrate three hours by meditating on the seven
last words of Jesus and having appropriate hymns and a time
of prayer.
Easter is a day of special rejoicing because Christ is risen
from the dead. People like to decorate the church with flowers.
Some choose to wear bright, new clothes. It is a time of gladness
as pastors preach the resurrection of Jesus. Without this truth all
church celebrations would be meaningless. Instead, we rejoice
because we know that Jesus lives. Not only do we have scriptural
proof (1 Corinthians 15:20), but also inner assurance that by His
Spirit He is living in us.
Ascension Sunday comes the sixth Sunday after Easter. The
Ascension actually falls on Thursday, forty days after Easter,
but most churches observe it the following Sunday. We must
never forget that Christ literally left this earth and ascended into
Churches Celebrate 91

heaven. He sat down at the right hand of God (Hebrews 10:12),

as head of the church and our Great High Priest again, just as He
promised (Acts 1:11).
Pentecost comes 50 days after the Crucifixion. It coincides
with the Jewish Harvest Festival that came fifty days after their
Passover. Pentecost also celebrates the birthday of the church,
when the Holy Spirit came upon believers who met in Jerusalem.
They were gloriously filled with power and joy and began to
talk in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak. In
explaining the Pentecostal experience to those standing around,
Peter quoted from Joel, “In the last days, God says, I will pour
out my Spirit on all people” (Acts 2:17).
The Lord’s Day, the usual day of worship among believers
today, is the only festival known to be observed by the early
church. Christians then celebrated a “weekly Easter,” to remind
themselves of Christ’s resurrection. They kept this “Christian
day,” the first day of the week, by praying, preaching, teaching,
and partaking of the Lord’s Supper.
A few church celebrations have developed in recent years.
Both Mother’s Day and Father’s Day honor our parents. New
Year’s Eve celebrates the arrival of a new year in an atmosphere
of prayer, worship, and dedication. Churches may also hold a
Thanksgiving service or a Harvest Festival in the autumn. Or
believers might ask for a special service of thanksgiving in
gratitude for something the Lord has done for them. It may be a
definite answer to prayer, or some achievement through God’s
help. At such times they might want to give a special “thank
offering” to the Lord through the church.
Your church may celebrate some or all of these special days
or some others not mentioned. What is important to remember
is that the day must not be celebrated for its own sake, but as a
remembrance of the Lord’s work and presence with us. Keep
this in mind and your celebrations will not become empty rituals
without spiritual meaning.
92 What Churches Do

Application
4 For the descriptions in the middle column, write the number
that represents the festival described (right column).

������a) The birth of Jesus 1) Palm Sunday

2) The Lord’s Day
������b) The Triumphal Entry
3) Good Friday
into Jerusalem
4) Christmas
������c) The Crucifixion 5) Easter
6) Pentecost
������d) The Resurrection
7) Ascension Day
������e) Jesus’ return to heaven
������f) “Birthday of the church”
������g) Weekly remembrance of Easter
5 Circle the letter in front of each correct completion to the
sentence. The festivals we studied are valuable to the church
because they
a) remind us of important spiritual or biblical events.
b) help us hold to tradition.
c) give us something interesting to do.
d) provide a way for us to witness to others.
6 List at least three church celebrations that have developed in
recent years.
..........................................................
..........................................................
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Churches Celebrate 93

C. Ritual or Free Form Worship

Goal 3. Explain what place both ritual and free form worship
have in the church.
Ritual worship in a religious ceremony uses an orderly, set
pattern of words and actions. Free form worship includes more
spontaneous (natural) wording and action. Both of these play a
role in the church.
Reading about the early church, you will discover a lack
of rigid forms and rituals. Their informal ministry and worship
allowed the Spirit to work and the people to respond. Since then,
however, many churches have become too formal or ritualized
and, thereby, have restrained the moving of the Holy Spirit. The
rituals have remained but their meaning has been lost.
Is there a place, then, for ritual in our churches? Yes, there
is. On occasions such as weddings, funerals, and the communion
service, ceremony with its planned wording and procedure lends
dignity and ensures that nothing will be forgotten or left out.
Reciting church creeds and repeating Scripture also has
value, especially for those who cannot read. Moreover, Scripture
teaches that worship should be “done in a fitting and orderly
way” (1 Corinthians 14:40). Such forms, however, must not be
used so much that we become dependent upon them. A balance
should be sought between ritual and free form, remembering that
the ceremony is not as important as the meaning behind it.
In contrast to the dress required for Old Testament priests,
no mention is made of special clothing for pastors or other
church leaders in the New Testament. Status and position in the
church were not emphasized since there was no longer a wide
distinction made between clergy and laity. Instead, we read of
simple worship, rich Christian fellowship, vibrant faith in Jesus
Christ, and humility of ministry and service.
Churches must celebrate! What events could be more
exciting to celebrate than what we have in the drama
of redemption?
94 What Churches Do

Answers to Application Questions

1 a) 2) Funeral
b) 5) Dedication of children
c) 6) Dedication of a building
d) 1) Wedding
e) 4) Praying for the sick
4 a) 4) Christmas
b) 1) Palm Sunday
c) 3) Good Friday
d) 5) Easter
e) 7) Ascension Day
f) 6) Pentecost
g) 2) The Lord’s Day
2 d) both in happiness and in sorrow that comes to others.
5 a) remind us of important spiritual or biblical events.
d) provide a way for us to witness to others.
3 a) Water baptism
d) The Lord’s Supper
6 You could have listed Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, New
Year’s Eve, Thanksgiving, Harvest Festival, or another
celebration important to your town or country.
 9Churches Grow
LESSON

A great forest in central Europe is famed for its beauty in

the spring and fall seasons. Footpaths, bicycle routes, and horse
trails thread through the stately trees whose leaves form a lace
pattern against the sky—a pattern so tight that sunlight scarcely
pierces through.
We have been awed by the magnificence of these trees. If
we were hungry, however, their beauty would not meet our need.
We would rather be in a fruit orchard where our hunger could
be satisfied.
Psalm 1:3 compares those who obey the Lord to trees that
grow beside a stream and bear fruit at the right time. Christ
has set the church in the world to meet a need—not just to
be admired for its magnificence. It is to be like a tree whose
roots hold firm, growing deep down to the water of life, whose
branches blossom and bear fruit!

95
96 What Churches Do

Lesson Outline
A. Establishing Roots
B. Branches and Blossoms

Lesson Goals
1. State responsibilities and requirements for membership in a
local church.
2. Indicate the importance of church organization.

A. Establishing Roots
Goal 1. State responsibilities and requirements for
membership in a local church.
Timothy and Mary return from a short wedding trip and
attend a class for church membership. During the second
class, Mary asks, “Didn’t I become a member here when I
was converted?”
“When you were saved,” the teacher explains, “you became
a member of the body of Christ. But you can also choose to
become a member of a local church. This requires certain
qualifications, such as being baptized in water and understanding
basic doctrines and practices of the church.”
“Would you explain the real purpose of church
membership?” asks Timothy.
“Yes, it’s like this,” the teacher continues. “The members
of a local church are like a foundation or a base—something
firm and steady to be built upon. This makes it possible to carry
out the various church ministries and to be firmly established in
a community.”

Members Form a Base

Perhaps you, as a member of Christ’s body, have wondered
why you should also become a member of a local church.
The true church, or body of Christ, is made up of all people
Churches Grow 97

everywhere who have been redeemed through His death on the

Cross (Colossians 1:20). This spiritual organism, also called the
invisible church, needs a visible form on earth for people to see
and relate to.
The visible church is made up of groups of people forming
local bodies. Each church must recognize Christ as the Head, and
that it is a part of the whole body. Each finds ways of functioning
that suit its needs. These ways or methods of governing a church
may differ, which results in different denominations being
formed. These differences, however, are often only a matter of
preference, or what works best for the group to function as a
unit. What is essential is that its teachings are soundly biblical
and that its members form a solid base from which the church
can operate.
The church must be a voluntary association. No one is
forced to attend or to support the church or to get involved in its
activities. Its members love the Lord and willingly serve Him.
Requirements for Membership
We suggest the following points as general qualifications for
belonging to a church. Each member should:
• Have a clear experience of salvation through trust in Jesus
Christ. (Romans 10:9–10)
• Have an understanding of the basic doctrines and practices of
his or her church. (John 14:23; Acts 2:42)
• Be baptized in water. (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38)
• Be baptized in the Holy Spirit or sincerely desire to be filled
with the Spirit. (Acts 2:4; Ephesians 5:18)
• Follow the moral standards taught in God’s Word.
(1 Corinthians 6:9–10; 18–20; Hebrews 13:4)
• Be a respectable member of society, obeying the laws of his
or her country and honoring its leaders. (Romans 13:1–7;
1 Peter 2:13–14)
98 What Churches Do

Responsibilities of Membership
People who flit from one church to another do not add to
the stability of any group. But faithful members keep the church
going and growing, forming the base to which newcomers
can be added. We suggest the following points regarding the
responsibilities of church members. Church members should:
• Live consecrated to God and open and clean before the
world. (Matthew 5:13–16; 1 Peter 2:9, 12, 15; 2 Peter 1:4–8)
• Respect the pastor and cooperate with him or her and other
church leaders. (1 Thessalonians 5:12–13)
• Support God’s work through regular giving of tithes and
offerings. (1 Corinthians 9:12–14)
• Regularly attend church services and Bible classes, and take
part in activities of the church. (Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:25)
• Establish a time of Bible reading and prayer in their
homes. Family devotions bring great blessing to any home.
(Deuteronomy 11:18–20)
• Share the gospel with the unsaved and witness of what Jesus
has done for him or her. (2 Corinthians 5:18–19)
• Participate in the business sessions of the church and offer
help and advice, according to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
It is important for you to join a church so you can serve the
Lord more effectively. You can help the local group fulfill its
mission as an expression of the body of Christ.

Application
1 Circle the letter in front of each true statement.
a) Everyone, believers and unbelievers alike, should join
a church.
b) Church members should follow the moral standards taught in
the Bible.
c) Faithful members keep a church going and growing.
Churches Grow 99

2 If you joined a church, would you feel it necessary to attend

the business sessions? Give a reason for your answer.
..........................................................
..........................................................

Giving Keeps the Church Alive

The various ministries of the church need support. Faithful
stewardship, steady and reliable giving, makes it possible for the
church to take care of present costs and plan for future growth.
The earliest churches may have needed help to get started,
but nowhere do we read of their continued dependence on other
churches. Instead, the churches in Macedonia, though they were
very poor, sent gifts to distressed believers in Judea. (Read
2 Corinthians 8:1–4.)
We have already learned that we can worship by giving the
tithe (one tenth) of what we earn, and our offerings (more than
the tenth) to the Lord. No one is too poor to give. Though in
some areas actual cash income may be very small, a person can
tithe in other ways (Leviticus 27:30, 32).
A tribeswoman of southwest China raised chickens for a
living. She learned to tithe the eggs—laying aside one out of
every ten for the pastor and his family who lived at the log-
cabin church.
One day as she trudged down a mountain path to the market
with a basket of eggs on her head, she said to herself, “I have
such nice large eggs in my basket. What pity to keep back five
for the church. Today I will sell them all, and later I will replace
the tithe for the church.”
Just then she stumbled over a tree root in her path. She fell—
and all the eggs were broken!
The woman learned a lesson that day which she shared with
other believers. “If you hold back from God, you will be the
100 What Churches Do

loser. That was my mistake, and that was the mistake of Ananias
and Sapphira.”
In one Asian country Christians are taught to bring three
“holy things” to the house of God: the Holy Bible, the holy
songbook, and “holy rice.” Each time a housewife cooks for her
family, she first puts one spoonful of rice into a bag. She takes
this to church on Sunday and empties it into a container kept
inside the pulpit. It is called “holy rice” because it is given to
the Lord for His servants. It is surprising how this adds up when
done faithfully by a group!
You can also find ways of giving your time and talents to
the Lord. God will not be a debtor to anyone; He will bless you
abundantly and His church will prosper.

Application
3 Circle the letter in front of the correct completion to the
sentence. A church becomes strongly rooted when it has
a) visitors who give generously to its work.
b) strong backing from other churches.
c) faithful members who support the work.
4 What three things can any believer give to the work of God
through his or her church?
..........................................................
..........................................................
..........................................................
5 Circle the letter in front of each true statement.
a) Joining a church and helping to support it should be
done willingly.
b) Even a person living in poverty has something he or she can
give to the Lord.
c) If we give money, we do not need to give time and talent.
d) The first requirement for church membership is that a person
desire to help others.
Churches Grow 101

B. Branches and Blossoms

Goal 2. Indicate the importance of church organization.
From the trunk of a tree grow branches. These spread out
to give the tree form or structure. A church, like a tree, needs
structure and strength to fulfill its purpose: structure in its
organization and government, and strength in the power of the
Holy Spirit.

Organization Gives Form and Unity

In Lesson 7, you studied about various groups within the
church. Like the branches of a tree, they need to be held together
as one. Proper organization not only gives stability, but helps
the groups work together in harmony as well. The church needs
leaders if it is to be self-supporting and self-governing. The Bible
tells us something about the structure of the early church.
The churches had deacons. Acts 6:1–6 records that the
church at Jerusalem chose seven deacons, or helpers. These were
men of good character and filled with the Holy Spirit who helped
the apostles by taking on some of the church responsibilities. See
also 1 Timothy 3:8–13.
The churches had elders. In each church that Paul and
Barnabas founded, they appointed elders—men who were able to
teach and to minister (Acts 14:23). Like shepherds over a flock,
they looked after the congregation, which the Holy Spirit had
placed under their care (Acts 20:28; 1 Timothy 3:1–7).
From this we learn that the local church was not under the
control of one man, but rather, guided by a group of men. In any
group of leaders, however, there is usually one head. The pastor
today is the head of the local church and together with the elders
and deacons serves and leads the church.

The Church’s Strength

A tree’s strength comes from the sap that flows throughout
its system, giving it life. The spiritual strength of a church comes
102 What Churches Do

from the Holy Spirit when He flows through every part and
through every member.
The early church was a Spirit-filled church. Acts 4:31–33
tells that when the believers at Jerusalem met for prayer “they
were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God
boldly.” And, “with great power the apostles continued to testify
to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon
them all.”

Application
6 For the descriptions in the middle column, write the number
that represents the person or factor described (right column).

������a) Gives the church structure 1) Holy Spirit

2) Deacons
������b) Gives the church strength
3) Organization
������c) Helpers within the church 4) Pastor
5) Elders
������d) Care for “the flock”
������e) Leads the local church

The blossoms of a fruit tree are not meant just to be admired.

They are for producing fruit. One day Jesus came to a fig tree
looking for fruit. When He found only leaves He cursed the
tree and it died (Matthew 21:18–19). Jesus said, “This is to my
Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to
be my disciples” (John 15:8).
The church is to bear fruit first in the lives of the believers.
This spiritual fruit is named in Galatians 5:22–23, the greatest
being love. These qualities are impossible to attain naturally;
therefore, we need the Holy Spirit. Secondly, the Lord
wants the church to be fruitful in winning souls (John 10:21;
Matthew 28:19–20). The Lord founded His church for this
purpose—for us to belong to Him, to serve Him, and to glorify
Him by bearing much fruit.
Churches Grow 103

Application
7 State two ways in which Christians can be fruitful.
..........................................................
..........................................................
8 Circle the letter in front of the correct completion to the
sentence. Our primary purpose in bearing fruit is to
a) encourage church membership.
b) draw attention to ourselves.
c) interest people in Christianity.
d) glorify God.
104 What Churches Do

Answers to Application Questions

1 Statements b) and c) are true.
5 Statements a) and b) are true.
2 Your answer. I would have answered yes because as part of
the body I have a responsibility to fulfill in participating in
its business activities.
6 a) 3) Organization
b) 1) Holy Spirit
c) 2) Deacons
d) 5) Elders
e) 4) Pastor
3 c) faithful members who support the work.
7 Your own words. For instance, “by bearing spiritual fruit and
by winning souls.”
4 Money or other natural resources, time, talent.
8 d) glorify God
 10 Churches
LESSON

Serve People

Some visitors went into a fine cathedral. They took time

to marvel at its beauty, its architecture, and its treasures. Local
church leaders remarked to their guests, “Long ago Peter said to
the lame man at the Beautiful Gate, ‘silver or gold I do not have.’
Now we need no longer say that we have no silver and gold!”
“Ah,” replied one of the visitors, “unfortunately, neither can
you any longer say with Peter, ‘what I have I give you. In the
name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk’” (Acts 3:6).
Churches today must minister to the needs of people as the
New Testament churches did! Wealth, education, and prestige
are no substitute for the power of God. “Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). May we
minister to people in His Name!

105
106 What Churches Do

Lesson Outline
A. Churches Nurture Believers
B. Churches Help the Needy
C. Churches Evangelize

Lesson Goals
1. Give reasons why churches must nurture believers.
2. Discuss how churches can help the needy.
3. State the urgency of evangelizing the lost.

A. Churches Nurture Believers

Goal 1. Give reasons why churches must nurture believers.
True church leaders are like faithful shepherds who look
after the sheep. Jesus told a story about a good shepherd and a
hired man. He said,
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down
his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd
who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he
abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks
the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he
is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. “I am the
good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know
me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Fathe—
and I lay down my life for the sheep. (John 10:11–15)
Soon after Timothy and Mary’s wedding they were received
into their church as members. Besides attending Bible studies,
they have been going to leaders’ training classes and have taken
several correspondence courses. Because of this, and the times
of prayer they spend together, they have both grown rapidly in
the Lord.
Serving as a youth leader has taught Timothy many lessons
too. He has discovered how the Holy Spirit helps him speak
Churches Serve People 107

when he seeks God and depends on Him. Mary has been

teaching a Sunday School class. She also has been practicing the
piano and now plays for their youth meetings. They really enjoy
their church!
Timothy and Mary’s church illustrates ways that a church
can nurture its believers. The word nurture means to supply with
nourishment, to train, and to educate. Church leaders are to nourish
the flock of God, helping new converts to feed on the Word of God.
The church provides opportunity for people to pray and seek the
Lord; it encourages them to be filled with the Holy Spirit; it is there
to pray for the sick and to comfort in time of sorrow. The church is
the visible expression of the body of Christ.

Application
1 List five ways in which a church nurtures its members.
..........................................................
..........................................................
..........................................................
..........................................................
..........................................................
2 Perhaps you would like to write one or two ways in which
the church has already nurtured you or your family.
..........................................................
..........................................................
..........................................................
..........................................................
108 What Churches Do

B. Churches Help the Needy

Goal 2. Discuss how churches can help the needy.
At the beginning of Christ’s own ministry He stood up
to read the Scripture in the synagogue (house of worship) at
Nazareth, His hometown. Unrolling the scroll He read:
The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed
me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to
proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight
for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the
year of the Lord’s favor. (Luke 4:18–19)
Jesus is called the Christ, meaning “Anointed One.” God
anointed His Son with the oil of the Holy Spirit and power. “He
went around doing good and healing all who were under the power
of the devil, because God was with him” (Acts 10:38). Like Christ,
people of His church must be anointed with the power of the Spirit
to tell the good news. You studied about this in Lesson 2.
Jesus came with good news for the poor. The poor represent
needy people everywhere. The message of salvation and
deliverance must be given to them in a way that they will
understand and respond to. Jesus also spoke of the captives,
the blind, and the oppressed. These words may describe people
either spiritually or physically, but Christ came to meet every
need. The gospel offers complete salvation for the whole
person—body, soul, and spirit! The Bible tells us to balance our
faith with our actions:
What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have
faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily
food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well;
keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his
physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith
by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
(James 2:14–17)
In some countries large populations live in makeshift shacks,
wondering where the next meal will come from. They face
Churches Serve People 109

desperate shortages of food and clothing. In other places refugees

face starvation. How can God’s people help them?
Churches can give through organizations that know how to
reach these distressed areas. Many church denominations also
have relief programs and the local churches can send money,
food, and clothing through these agencies.
At the same time we must not neglect the needy people in
our own communities. The women’s group or another arm of the
church often takes on this responsibility. Perhaps a child coming
to the church school lacks proper clothing or shoes. Someone can
visit the family and with understanding and tact find ways to help.
We also must not neglect the rich and needy! Many people
rich in this world’s goods carry heavy burdens of confusion and
emptiness. They, too, need the message of salvation and hope!

Application
3 Consider each of the needs below and suggest a practical
action you might take in ministering to the needy.
a) A car with a family of six breaks down. They are a long way
from home and have little money.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
b) An earthquake destroys a city in another country.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
c) A nearby community is flooded.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
d) A child comes to church barefooted on a cold
winter morning.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
11 0 What Churches Do

4 Complete the following statements.

a) According to James 2:14–17, faith must be accompanied by
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
b) The Bible says that Jesus came with good news for the
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

C. Churches Evangelize
Goal 3. State the urgency of evangelizing the lost.
Jesus spoke of His own life and ministry as coming to “seek
and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10). The lost are people in
spiritual need of salvation and forgiveness of sins.
The churches’ primary task is to evangelize the lost. They do
this by telling the good news of salvation to all, by witnessing
of the power of Christ, by winning people to the Lord, and by
making disciples who will evangelize others.
Three years have passed since Mary and Timothy’s wedding.
“What are you thinking about?” Mary asks Timothy, who has
been very quiet all day.
“You know those four families who were saved last month—
the ones who live on the other side of the city?”
“Yes. What about them?”
“They aren’t able to come regularly to church from such a
distance. And there is no church at all in that area though it is
heavily populated.”
“I know what you are going to say,” offered Mary earnestly.
“God has been speaking to me about that too. We have to
help them.”
“Praise the Lord!” exclaimed Timothy. “I’m so glad you are
willing to do that, but do you realize what it will mean? We will
have to give up attending the services we love so much.”
Churches Serve People 111

“Yes, I know,” assured Mary. “That was the hardest part. But
I have finally surrendered and said yes to the Lord. I knew He
was dealing with you about it too.”
“That confirms it to me, then, that it wasn’t just my
imagination. I feel that God wants us to have a branch church
there under the supervision of our pastor. I can keep my job and
we can minister on weekends. The four families could form the
base to start with. We will talk it over with Pastor and see what
can be done.”
The preaching Timothy and Mary have heard about the field
being ripe and ready to be harvested has challenged their hearts.
The training they have had in evangelism and church leadership
along with actual experience in outreach has been preparing
them. Now they feel that they have been nurtured by their church
for a purpose—to put into action what they have learned.
Timothy and Mary are right! A church nurtures new converts
and believers through the pastor’s messages, Bible teaching, and
meaningful activities. But if all of this is merely flowing into
people’s hearts, it will stagnate. Believers should be channels
through which the blessing can flow out, and the more they give
out, the more they will receive.
A church thrives on evangelizing the lost, as a fire blazes by
burning wood. Our Lord before His ascension into heaven said,
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). At Pentecost
the Holy Spirit came like fire; He provided power for the church
to expand.
Today, churches around the world are being revived by the
fiery power of God’s Spirit. As they obey Christ’s command to
evangelize to the ends of the earth, they will become blazing
fires in a world of darkness, chill, and gloom.
Of all the things that churches do, this is the most
important—for when the Savior’s gospel has been preached
11 2 What Churches Do

and taught to all peoples of the world, Jesus Christ himself will
return for His own!

Application
5 In a spiritual sense, those who are lost are those who
..........................................................
6 Circle the letter in front of each activity that is part of
evangelizing the lost.
a) Sharing the good news of salvation
b) Witnessing and giving our personal testimony
c) Winning people to Christ
d) Making disciples who will in turn win others
Churches Serve People 11 3

Answers to Application Questions

1 You might have listed teaching, praying for the sick, training,
educating, encouraging people to pray and to be filled
with the Holy Spirit, comforting, and giving opportunities
to minister.
4 a) actions (or works).
b) poor.
2 Your answer
5 are in sin, or those who have not accepted Christ as
their Savior.
3 Suggested answers:
a) You might prepare a meal for the family and get help
from a mechanic.
b) Send financial aid.
c) Organize a work crew to help make their homes
livable again.
d) Visit his or her home and then help according to the need.
6 You should have circled them all, as each is important in
evangelizing the lost.

CONGRATULATIONS
You have now completed all the unit lessons. We hope that
it has been a great help to you. Review the lessons in Unit
Two and complete the Unit Two Evaluation. When you have
completed the evaluation, carefully follow the instructions for
submitting your evaluations for grading.
11 4 What Churches Do
 UNIT EVALUATIONS
Directions
When you have completed your study of each unit, answer
the unit evaluation, using the corresponding unit evaluation
answer sheet to record your answers.
Read each question carefully. There is one best answer
for each question. Blacken the space for the answer you
have chosen. Be sure the number beside the spaces on the
answer sheet is the same as the number of the question you
are answering.

Example
1 To be born again means to
a) be young in age.
b) accept Jesus as Savior.
c) start a new year.
The correct answer is b) accept Jesus as Savior, so you
would blacken space like this:

SUBMITTING EVALUATIONS
When you have completed this course and answered
both unit evaluations, send your answer sheets to your
instructor or office in your area for corrections.

11 5
11 6 What Churches Do
UNIT EVALUATION ANSWER SHEETS
CL4340 What Churches Do

Student Information

Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Student Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(Leave blank if you don’t know your number.)

Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
..........................................................
..........................................................
Country . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Email . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Carefully blacken the correct spaces for each numbered item.

UNIT ONE
1 11
2 12
3 13
4 14
5 15
6 16
7 17
8 18
9 19
10 20

FOR GU OFFICE USE ONLY

Date: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Score: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
UNIT TWO
Carefully blacken the correct space for each numbered item.
1 11
2 12
3 13
4 14
5 15
6 16
7 17
8 18
9 19
10 20

FOR GU OFFICE USE ONLY

Date: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Score: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PN 05.17.01
Unit Evaluations 11 9

Unit One Evaluation

1 Christians come together for worship because
a) they cannot worship alone.
b) it is a well-established routine.
c) it helps believers to grow spiritually.
2 Songs of worship are songs about
a) what we hope to do for God.
b) nature and the world about us.
c) the Lord’s greatness and goodness.
3 Our singing becomes a means of worship when we sing
a) worship songs from songbooks.
b) praises to God from our hearts.
c) choruses from memory.
4 Worshiping the Lord in prayer
a) was common in the early church.
b) can be done only when we are alone.
c) is better than worshiping the Lord in song.
5 Giving can be a part of worshiping God if we
a) give with a joyful heart.
b) give more than the tithe.
c) show others we are giving.
6 Worship in the Spirit helps people to
a) feel God’s presence and be free from fear and worry.
b) build more beautiful churches.
c) have more fun at church.
7 The baptism in the Holy Spirit is
a) not needed by Christians today since the Holy Spirit
already lives in them.
b) an experience that fills Christians to overflowing with
God’s power.
c) was only for the early church.
120 What Churches Do

8 The anointing of the Holy Spirit

a) enables people to do greater things for God than they
could alone.
b) will let someone do things without trying.
c) doesn’t really matter today.
9 If we do not understand all about the gifts of the Spirit,
we should
a) say, “This is not for me!”
b) accept only what we do understand.
c) be open to the Lord because we can trust Him.
10 The gifts of the Holy Spirit always operate
a) in harmony with what the Bible teaches.
b) through people in places of leadership.
c) when something new is being taught.
11 Preaching God’s Word is
a) not necessary for people who read the Bible
for themselves.
b) the job of pastors and missionaries.
c) the responsibility of all believers.
12 Faith in God comes through hearing
a) and believing the Word of God.
b) and reading inspiring books.
c) inspiring talks.
13 The Word of God builds up believers by
a) making them experts in Bible knowledge.
b) strengthening them to resist temptation.
c) giving them irrefutable arguments.
14 The relationship between preaching and teaching is best
summed up this way:
a) Preaching is proclaiming and teaching is explaining.
b) The reason for both is to provide information
for believers.
c) Preaching and teaching are names for the same
ministry gift.
Unit Evaluations 121

15 The function of church schools is to provide

a) supplemental teaching to the public schools.
b) Christian education for people of all ages.
c) training for the ministry.
16 To teach God’s Word, one must
a) spend time in prayer and preparation.
b) have a large library of commentaries.
c) quote from other teachers and writers.
17 Lay leaders training classes help to prepare workers
a) to be pastors.
b) for careers in secular fields.
c) for further responsibilities in the church.
18 Water baptism pictures
a) our bodies being filled with the Spirit.
b) new life replacing the old self.
c) renewal of our spirits.
19 Water baptism is
a) worthwhile but optional.
b) something to do because your church teaches it.
c) an outward sign that you have accepted Christ as Savior.
20 Conversion, water baptism, and the baptism in the Holy
Spirit are all
a) basically the same thing.
b) good, but not necessary.
c) important to our Christian growth.
122 What Churches Do

Unit Two Evaluation

1 Observing the Lord’s Supper is significant because it
a) reminds us of Jesus and His sacrifice for us.
b) is a beautiful and impressive ceremony.
c) makes us part of the “in crowd.”
2 The emblems of communion are
a) representative of Jesus’ body and blood.
b) the actual body and blood of Jesus.
c) similar to flesh and blood.
3 At His last supper with His disciples, Jesus said, “Do this
a) whenever you meet together.”
b) to take away all your sin.”
c) in remembrance of me.”
4 Most Pentecostal churches have “open communion,”
which means
a) it takes place in a public meeting.
b) all born-again believers may take part.
c) it is open to all, saved and unsaved alike.
5 Organizations within the church need to provide
fellowship for
a) young people especially.
b) the elderly and lonely.
c) all age groups.
6 Worship is lifting up our hands to God; fellowship is
a) giving our hands a rest.
b) holding our hands out to each other.
c) doing something with our spare time.
7 The specific purpose of a church rally is to
a) stimulate interest in God’s Word.
b) work with other churches in evangelism.
c) gather similar groups from within different churches.
Unit Evaluations 123

8 The key to having fellowship is

a) being together in love.
b) getting well organized.
c) providing suitable entertainment.
9 Church ceremonies offer an opportunity for believers to
a) share in each other’s joys and sorrows.
b) do something different.
c) keep up with the world.
10 We do not celebrate a festival day for its own sake but
a) for the sake of tradition.
b) as an opportunity to relax from our labors.
c) to remember the Lord’s work and presence among us.
11 Within the church, leaders should
a) give priority to ritual over free form.
b) remove all ritual and allow free form.
c) seek to balance ritual with free form.
12 Church membership is important to
a) provide a foundation for ministry.
b) prove one’s devotion to Christ.
c) establish one’s salvation.
13 If we do not have money to give to the Lord, we can
a) borrow from someone.
b) excuse ourselves for not giving.
c) give of other resources, our time and our talent.
14 The church receives strength from
a) the pastor.
b) the Holy Spirit.
c) its organization.
15 We recognize Christians who bear fruit by
a) their fine church building.
b) the capable leaders they have.
c) the souls they win for the Lord.
124 What Churches Do

16 Our primary purpose in bearing fruit is to

a) encourage church membership.
b) draw attention to ourselves.
c) serve and glorify God.
17 The church can nurture believers by
a) providing weekly fellowship meals.
b) providing opportunities for training and prayer.
c) allowing only a certain few to minister within the church.
18 According to Scripture, churches are to help the needy by
a) meeting spiritual and physical needs.
b) not requiring certain things of them.
c) relieving them of financial debts.
19 The Bible says that faith
a) alone is enough.
b) answers all things.
c) without works is dead.
20 Evangelizing the lost is
a) a task for mature churches.
b) the primary task of the church.
c) a task given to a few churches.
 FINAL WORDS
We hope this study has made you think about your
relationship with God. After studying the lessons and answering
all the questions, have you wondered, “Am I really a Christian?
Do I know God? Is He real in my life?” We want to give you the
opportunity now to have a relationship with God.
We have all done wrong things. We have hurt ourselves and
others. The Bible calls that sin and we are all guilty: “All have
sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Our
sin keeps us from knowing God as a loving Father. But God
loves us in spite of our sin. He loves us so much He sent His
Son to die for us. “God so loved the world that he gave his one
and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but
have eternal life” (John 3:16). When He died, Jesus took the
punishment we deserved for our sins.
Do you want to make sure Jesus is your Savior? It is simple:
• Admit that you are a needy sinner separated from God, and ask
Him to forgive you.
• Believe in Jesus with all your heart, and let Him know you
accept Him as your Savior.
You can talk to God in your own words by saying a prayer
like this:
Dear Jesus, I know I am a sinner. Please forgive me. I believe
You are the eternal Son of God. Thank You for dying on the
cross for my sins. Come into my life. Make yourself real in my
life. Be Lord of my life today. Thank You for saving me.
If you prayed this prayer and meant it with all your heart,
your sins are forgiven and you have eternal life. Jesus is Lord of
your life. The Bible says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful
and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all
unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

125
 STUDENT QUESTIONNAIRE

Please read and fill out the questionnaire on the following page
and submit it whether you are studying as a enrolled student or
simply for personal enrichment. God bless you as your journey
of faith continues!

126
 Student Questionnaire
CL4340 What Churches Do
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PN 05.17.01
128 What Churches Do

Now that you have finished your study of this course we

encourage you to begin the next course in this series or ask
your instructor to recommend another course of study.