Simple Structure
Structure does not cause growth, but it does control the rate and size of growth.
The model for structure is the Bible, not business or government.
I. THE NATURE OF THE CHURCH DETERMINES
ITS STRUCTURE
1. The Church is a Fellowship - Acts 2:42
Implication: The structure should promote unity
• Ephesians 4:3
2. The Church is a Family - Eph. 2:19, Heb. 2:11
Implication: The Church is to operate on the basis of
relationships, not rule.
3. The church is a Body - 1 Cor. 12:27
Implication: The Church functions on the basis of
spiritual gifts, not elected offices and positions.
* The Church is an organism, not an organization.
It is a body, not a business.
* When ORGANIZATION is stressed,
MAINTAINING the ORGANIZATION
becomes the focus.
* When SPIRITUAL GIFTS
are recognized and stressed,
MINISTRY TO PEOPLE becomes the focus.
4. The Church is a Flock - 1 Peter 5:2
Implication: The Church is led by spiritual leaders
who are its feeders.
Three terms are used interchangeably
in the New Testament for Church leadership:
Poimen – “Pastor/shepherd”
Presbuteros – “Elder”
Episcopos – “Overseer/bishop”
II. THE CHURCH’S SIMPLE STRUCTURE
God gave…some to be pastors and teachers to prepare God’s people for works of ministry, so that the body of Christ may be built up. – Ephesians 4:11-12
The people are the MINISTERS,
the pastors are the ADMINISTERS.
The issue of control – for a church to grow:
The PASTOR must give up control
of the MINISTRY
The PEOPLE must give up control
of the LEADERSHIP
III. THE ADVANTAGES OF A SIMPLE,
GIFT-BASED STRUCTURE
1. It focuses the Church on MINISTRY,
not MAINTENANCE.
2. It makes better use of the talents and skills of lay people. (The more successful a person is, the less patience he has with meaningless meetings.)
3. It builds morale among the workers. Fulfillment comes from ministry, not maintenance, and it prevents “turfism.”
4. It allows for spontaneous growth and development. If you have a gift for it and a burden or vision for it, you are elected!
5. It promotes creativity. People will be as creative as structure allows them to be.
6. It allows more efficient decision-making. Organizationally, churches are among the most inefficient in America.
7. It is more stable. Simple structures are the strongest. Complexity is easy to damage. The way to “control” the Church with simple structure is to join every ministry!
8. It allows for flexibility and adaptation as needed. A fossil is a living organism that did not adapt to change!
