Lesson 10: What Bible Churches Were Like

The Apostles’ Church Blueprint

Read 1 Corinthians 4:17. Did the apostle Paul set up each church the same way in every city? How can we learn his blueprint for a local church? By reading what the apostles taught and practiced in the New Testament.

Question 1. Did Paul set up each church the same way in every city (1 Corinthians 4:17)?

No—each city invented its own religionYes—he taught the same things everywhereOnly in JerusalemOnly among Gentiles

What Bible Churches Did

Read Acts 11:26; 1 Corinthians 1:2; and Romans 16:16. What did Christians and churches call themselves? Were there Baptist churches, Methodist churches, Catholic churches, and Lutheran churches in the Bible?

Read Acts 14:23; Philippians 1:1; and 1 Timothy 3:1–13. Who were the leaders of Bible churches? How many churches did each of these leaders lead? Who was qualified to fill those positions? Did Bible churches have presidents? Boards of directors? Priests?

Question 2. Leaders of Bible churches in Philippians 1:1 / Acts 14:23 are called ________ (plural in each church).

Your answer

Question 3. Were there Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, and Lutheran churches in the New Testament?

Yes, all of them by those namesNoOnly LutheranOnly Catholic

The Lord’s Supper

Read Acts 2:42; Acts 20:7; and 1 Corinthians 11:17–34. What day of the week did you find Bible churches taking the Lord’s supper? What does it tell you that they were “devoted to” the breaking of bread in Acts 2:42? Describe how Jesus said to take the Lord’s supper.

How People Gave Their Money

Read 2 Corinthians 9:6–7. Describe how God wants Christians to contribute their money. Is there any verse in the Bible that tells us Christians tithed as under Moses? Read 1 Corinthians 16:1–2—when did churches collect the money?

The Music Worship of Bible Christians

Read Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16. What was the music worship of Bible churches like? They sang psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, making melody in their hearts to the Lord.

Think back to lesson three—Cain and Abel, Noah, Nadab and Abihu, and the Pharisees. Why is it important to learn the Bible’s pattern of church worship? Have you seen churches that are not diligent to follow that pattern?

Question 4. On what day did Bible churches take the Lord’s supper (Acts 20:7)?

The Sabbath onlyThe first day of the weekOnly annually at PassoverWhenever the emperor decreed

Question 5. Is there a New Testament verse that tells Christians they must tithe as under Moses?

Yes—tithing is restated as a church taxNo—giving is freewill (2 Corinthians 9)Only for Levites in the churchOnly if instruments are used

Question 6. Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 describe music as ________ to one another (voices / heart).

Your answer

When you have answered the questions above, check your work. You need at least 80% to mark this lesson complete.

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