The New Testament neither mandates nor gives examples of ecclesiastical hierarchies. The church is autonomous and sovereign in all its actions whether in discipline of members (I Corinthians 6), election of officers (Acts 6) or in its associations with other churches (Acts 15).
There is no higher authority than an assembly of believers meeting to transact business with a pastor as its leader. There is no ecclesiastical authority higher than the local church. The church is administered by the elected representatives of the members.
I. Autonomy means Self-Governing.
A. In the N.T. each Church elected its own officers, called its pastor, disciplined its members, sent missionaries, etc.
B. "Autonomous" means independent.
1. Not independent of God.
2. Not independent of each other.
3. Not independent of sister churches.
C. Three aspects of self-governing:
1. The church is not subject to any group within our constituency.
a. The local church is governed as a body--not by internal organizations.
b. No organization within governs the church.
1) L.I.F.T.
2) A particular Sunday School class
3) Choir
4) Christian School
2. The church is not subject to any external group.
a. No denomination, convention, association, fellowship, synod, etc.
b. The local church is sovereign!
3. The church is not subject to the State.
a. Matthew 22:17-21
b. Real concerns lie here for our future in America.
II. Autonomy Means: "Self-Supporting."
A. Meaning, each church is responsible for its own financial support.
1. GBT has taken in nearly two million dollars in the last 8 years that I have been your pastor!
2. That is an amazing thought!
3. Someone might wonder where it all went ... well, we spent it!
4. But we decided how it would be spent!
B. It is our policy that we have no rummage sales, car washes, raffles, or bingo to support the local church.
1. Our young people have activities to raise money for camp and other projects.
2. Our ladies may do some things to generate some funds so that they meet some special needs of missionaries.
3. But the policy of the church is simply "pass the plate, and trust the Lord .
C. That is God's plan, we didn't come up with it on our own.
III. Autonomy Means "Self-Propagating".
A. Self-propagating meaning "to multiply; to spread; to extend
1. Our mission: the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20).
2. If a church is not carrying out the Great Commission, it will "redirect itself' and change direction.
a. We must grow or die.
b. Another way to look at it is that we must evangelize or we will fossilize!
c. Either we follow God's direction as revealed in His Word or Satan will redirect us!
B. Mission churches - here and abroad.
1. We have served as the sponsoring church for the Grace Baptist Church of Elnora.
2. GBT is involved in starting churches in Indiana through the IBBF.
3. We have helped build buildings in Romania, Mexico, and around world.
C. Balance is the key to successful ministry.
1. Example of raising money to redecorate the auditorium.
2. Example of the school ministry.
3. Example of the Sunday School.
4. We must grow or we will die!
Please do not think that this is a 'brag session . It isn't! What we have accomplished has been through the blessings and goodness of God.
However, God designed the local church to be self-governing, self- supporting, and self-propagating. Those are distinctives held by we Baptists. They are biblical! Not all Baptists operate this way, but we are independent Baptists. We answer to God and God alone for what we do as a church!
If we fail, it will be because we have drifted from the course that was set by our Captain! We cannot improve on God's plan in our lives, in our homes, or in our church!
Do you know Christ as your Savior tonight? Are you involved in the plan and purpose of God in and through this local church? Why not come tonight and commit yourself to the Lord and to this church?