Series: Why We Believe What We Believe
Title: Autonomy of the Local Church
Text: Colossians 1:3-4, 16-18
Autonomy – the quality or state of being self-governing; the right of a group of people to govern itself, or organize its own activities
Autonomy in the church means to be self-governing, the authority is found within the body
1689 LONDON BAPTIST CONFESSION
section 26 paragraph 7
To each of these churches therefore gathered, according to his mind declared in his word, he has given all that power and authority, which is in any way needful for their carrying on that order in worship and discipline, which he has instituted for them to observe; with commands and rules for the due and right exerting, and executing of that power... The way appointed by Christ for the calling of any person, fitted and gifted by the Holy Spirit, unto the office of bishop or elder in a church, is, that he be chosen thereunto by the common suffrage of the church itself;
I. Episcopal Method
Examples Include:
• Catholic Church
• church of England (Episcopal)
• Methodist Church
II. Presbyterian Method
Examples Include:
• Calvary Chapels
• Apostolic Church
• Presbyterian Church
Acts 15:1
Acts 15:22
1 Peter 5:1–3
III. Congregationalism
Local Church Responsibilities
1. Calling Their Pastor
[[Acts 14:23]]
2. Electing Their Officers
[[Acts 6:1-6]]
3. Appointing Their Missionaries
[[Acts 13:1–5]]
4. Approving Their Representatives
[[1 Corinthians 16:3]]
5. Resolving Their Internal Problems
[[1 Corinthians 6:1–8]]
6. Conducting Their Discipline
[[1 Corinthians 5:4]]
[[1 Corinthians 5:13]]
7. Observing Their Ordinances
[[1 Corinthians 11:23]]
8. Determining Their Relations with Other Churches
Colossians 1:18
Ephesians 5:23–24
1 Peter 5:4
Matthew 16:18
1229 Council of Toulouse
"We prohibit also that the laity should be permitted to have the books of the Old and the New Testament; unless anyone from the motives of devotion should wish to have the Psalter or the Breviary for divine offices or the hours of the blessed Virgin; but we most strictly forbid their having any translation of these books."
1239 Council of Tarragona
"No one may possess the books of the Old and New Testaments in the Romance language, and if anyone possesses them he must turn them over to the local bishop within eight days after the promulgation of this decree, so that they may be burned."
IV. A Benefit of Fellowship
1 Corinthians 4:17
V. Where is the Power?
1 Corinthians 5:4
Matthew 18:15–17
Matthew 18:20
