Happy Memorial Day - Don't Forget Them

Beginning a Military Ministry - Integrating Military Families into Your Church

When military people are saved and discipled they make great church members. They are different than the average church member due to the nature of their work:

• They may not be in your church as long as your average civilian members.
• They must be integrated on purpose.
• There is the possibility that they have been trained in a good military church.
• Don’t treat them as outsiders. Realize their great need and their great potential for the cause of Christ. Below are some pointers on integrating military families into your church.

1. Realize That Their Families Have Unique Needs

• The children—they have moved many times and need to be embraced quickly by members, teachers, and other children.
• The teenagers—the teenagers have made friends and left them on more than one occasion. The best teenagers in the church must reach out to the military teens.
• The wife—she has many special needs. She needs a good Christian friend. One who will be there when troubling news comes (his unit came under attack—or worse). She needs a weekly opportunity for a mother’s day out. Forming a support group for wives of deployed soldiers would be a great blessing. She needs an accessible, loving pastor’s wife. She needs to be offered the opportunity to serve in the church. Many times in a well established church every job is filled by an ‘old timer,’ and the military wife is looked upon as temporary. Make a place for her to serve. Be there for her. Keep in touch with her regularly. Someone should know about the car or any repair that needs to be done at the house. The teens could be led to take care of the yard while her husband is deployed.

2. Remember Deployed Soldiers

• Pray for soldiers privately.
• Pray for soldiers publicly. Call their names in church meetings, Sunday school classes, prayer meetings, and the pulpit.
• Correspond with deployed soldiers.
• Send deployed soldiers gift boxes periodically.
• Lead your people or a class to adopt a deployed soldier and his family.

Acts of Compassion

One of my joys in ministry is teaching the fourth grade girls Sunday school class at Lancaster Baptist Church. I enjoy incorporating many different teaching methods in our Sunday school class, and for a lesson on the Good Samaritan, I decided to use the element of surprise. On my way to the front of the classroom to begin the lesson, I would trip and fall to the ground. I expected my fourth grade girls to be sympathetic and helpful, then I could explain the definition of compassion and compare it to the Good Samaritan.

My act was flawless. I walked to the front of my classroom and fell, dropping all of my handouts, lesson notes, and visuals. But to my surprise, the girls just sat there. They were shocked and embarrassed for me. Instead of jumping to my aid, they froze in awkward silence. Needless to say, my great class introduction did not go as planned.

As I thought about compassion that day, the Lord taught me that sometimes we as adults respond the same way to others during their time of need or trial. When we see those in need of compassion, we do what my fourth grade girls did—we look on in awkward silence. We love the person, we feel bad, and we want to help. But because we don’t know what to do, we do nothing at all.

True compassion goes beyond a sympathetic feeling in my heart. True compassion involves action. We see this demonstrated by Jesus. He was moved with compassion (Matthew 9:36)—He did something about it! He healed those with disease and saved those who were lost.

How is compassion being displayed in your life today?

In Your Home
Often, it is hardest to be compassionate toward the people closest to us. Ephesians 5:33 commands husbands and wives, “Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.” We don’t always treat our families like we should, but our homes should be a picture of compassion. Does your daughter need help with her math homework? Does your husband need a clean house and a quiet evening at home? Ask God to give you a compassionate heart, and then, with the help of the Holy Spirit, seek for ways to demonstrate that compassion to your family.

In Your Church
Isn’t it easy to get into a routine when we go to church? We drop our Bibles off at our pew, drop our kids off in the nursery, line up for choir, listen to the sermon, and coordinate various details for church related events following the service. Have you recently stopped to notice the person sitting by himself in need of a friend? Do you display true, biblical compassion to those you serve at church, or are you just going through the motions? Galatians 6:10 tells us, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” The Lord can increase your burden and give you wisdom to know how to be a blessing to those around you. Don’t limit what God can do through you. If you stop to look, God will show you someone whom He can encourage through you.

Toward the Lost
We all know John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that he gave….” We find the ultimate picture of compassion in this one phrase. God’s burden for us was displayed through action—He gave His Son. If Jesus felt that type of compassion for each of us as sinners, we should also live to show that compassion to those who don’t know Him. If you’re like me, God renews your heart for the lost during Missions Conferences or other outreach-related events. The missionary testimonies and displays remind us of the desperate need for Jesus in our world today. Sadly, though, my heart loses some of that fervor throughout the year. I have to pray to God for a compassionate heart that will actively share the Gospel with other people. Godly compassion is more than an emotion that comes and goes. It is a God-given burden that compels us to action.

When faced with someone who is hurting, do you respond like one of the fourth grade girls? Do you see a need, but tentatively look on in awkward silence? If so, ask the Holy Spirit to fill you and guide you as you seek to demonstrate compassion to those around you. After all, it is because of the Lord’s compassion that you and I are able to show it to others! Lamentations 3:22 says, “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.” I thank the Lord for our compassionate Saviour and pray that as we enter the fall season, you will be a vessel through which His compassion can flow to those around you!

Article by: Terrie Chappell
Ladies Ministry Director, Lancaster Baptist Church

How to Kill A Church, Part 3 of 3

By Davis W. Huckabee

I. BY STAYING AWAY FROM IT

II. BY STARVING IT

III. BY STRIFE IN IT

IV. BY STUBBORNNESS

In the Scriptures, stubbornness is a sin that is compared to witchcraft and idolatry, I Sam. 15:22, and yet some people seem to delight in stubbornly resisting all spiritual progress and activity in the church. It is no virtue to be so set in one's ways that one hinders a church from changing for the better. No church was ever so perfect when it started but that it has room to change for the better. Indeed, sanctification is itself a pro gressive changing for the better of individuals, and if the members daily change for the better, so should the church. The sin of the Sardis Church was that it stubbornly refused to repent of sin, Rev. 3:3, and consequently it slowly died on the vine, all the while refusing to admit its cold and indifferent state. There is such a thing as dead orthodoxy - a doctrinal soundness which is devoid of any real love to Christ.

Some say, "Well, it is my life, and it is my business whether I repent or not," but this is not true, for every person is an example to someone else, and his bad example will lead others astray, perhaps concerning something much worse. Besides, the corruption of a church member is a corruption of that much of the church, and "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump, " I Cor. 5:6. No one can afford to indulge any sin, because sin in church members is what kills churches.

There are many ways to kill a church, but the important thing to notice is the solemn consequences of tearing down a church of the living God: "If any man defile ('destroy'-the Greek word is the same as that translated 'destroy') the temple of God (a church, as the preceding verse shows), him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are, " I Cor. 3:17. It matters not what excuses may be given, if an individual or group of individuals so conduct themselves as to cause the death of a church, they had better prepare to shortly face the judgment of God in the loss of their physical lives.

A church is of more importance than the collective rights of all the members, for a church exists, not just for its own present members, but is a witness to many who may never join it, but who may be led to the Lord through its ministry. Not only so, but the rights of future members must also be considered when taking any action that might be detrimental to the church . Many carnal church members, in their zeal to get their own way, justify their own sins, sooth their own pride and hurt feelings do not care that they may quench the only faithful lighthouse of the truth in their community. Nor that future generations may not have opportunity to hear the gospel and to be saved because a church was destroyed by the carnality of its members. The attitude of some is "I'm saved, so let the rest of the world go to hell for all I care." Such an attitude hardly evidences genuine salvation. if it be true that "Whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" (I Jn. 3:17), how much more so is this true of those who have no concern for the welfare of the souls of others? God pity the man who destroys a church: if he is saved at all, he puts himself under the judgment of physical death for putting his own selfish wants and will above the welfare of a church of the living God.

V. BY SELFISHNESS.

All of the foregoing points may be summed up in this one, but we venture

How to Kill A Church, Part 2 of 3

By Davis W. Huckabee

I. BY STAYING AWAY FROM IT

II. BY STARVING IT

III. BY STRIFE IN IT

Strife has probably killed almost as many churches as any other one thing. When two people are in disagreement, and both are utterly selfish, it will cause a strife which will grow until it consumes the whole church, unless the church takes steps to end the strife. Strife is a mark of spiritual immaturity and carnality: "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ .. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and &visions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?" I Cor. 3:1,3.

Strife generally has its roots in pride, for where there is strife, both parties proudly assume that they are right, and will not admit even the possibility of being wrong. At the same time, neither will try to see the other's point of view, nor will either admit that the other could be right in the least degree. It is a fortunate church which does not have such an undercurrent of strife. Strife is also promoted by self-righteousness in that one looks down upon others, while exalting self in his own mind. He takes the attitude of the Pharisee in Luke 18:9ff. Pride stands in the way of humility, which is always the first step toward repentance.

One of the most tragic forms of church strife is when a member, or group of members, get their feelings hurt by the preaching (which is very common when the preacher is faithful to preach against sin, and to declare the members' duty). Often the dissident members will mount a campaign to run the preacher off, and the most common excuse used is that he is a "dictator. " Now we have no sympathy with a genuine dictator in the pulpit, but ere a man of God is stigmatized as a dictator, men had best consider what the preacher is commissioned and commanded to do: he is to "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine, " II Tim. 4:2. "Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear, " I Tim. 5:20. "These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, " Tit. 1: 13.

On the basis of these, and the many other similar texts, the preacher has a duty to not only declare the truth, but also to rebuke those members who are living wayward lives, and no one has a right to call him a dictator for only doing his duty. This is not to say that he may use the pulpit to chide members for personal differences of opinion, nor that he should jump upon and spur every one for every little misstep. The wise pastor will quickly learn to use Christian psychology even in the most serious breaches of Christian ethics, and that "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger, " Prov. 15: 1. A belligerent or overbearing preacher will produce only heartache for himself and discouragement for the church.

Strife between the members of a church and the pastor often destroys a church for the simple reason that by rebellion against the pastor, the members are rebelling against the Lord, for though the church may vote to call a man as pastor, yet if they are led of the Lord in doing so, the pastor is made the superintendent or overseer (Grk. "bishop") over the flock, Acts 20:28. Not only so, but the preacher, when he stands to declare the gospel, is an ambassador for Christ, beseeching men in the stead of Christ to be reconciled to God, R Cor. 5:18-20. And yet more so, when he preaches Christian responsibility to believers, they are obligated to obey and submit themselves, for the pastor is accountable to God for them, and thus it is a solemn thing to disobey when the pastor is only endeavoring to lead one on to serve the Lord better and more faithfully. "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief. for that is unprofitable for you, " Heb. 13:17.

Some churches degrade the pastoral office to that of a mere figurehead, and treat the pastor with less respect than any layman in the church; sometimes they let their independency and autonomy go to their heads, and they think they can run the preacher off any time they don't like what he says. But it is noteworthy that the Scriptures give not a single example of the dismissal of a pastor from a church, nor of a church even challenging the authority of the pastoral office.

It is to be granted that the church has authority over its members, including the pastor, but it is also true that the pastor is a man specially called of God to his office, and he stands in a special relationship to God, and while on rare occasions it may be necessary to dismiss and exclude a preacher because of immorality or heresy, yet a church should be very slow to take any action against one of the Lord's prophets without good reason. "Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses, " I Tim. 5:19. "Touch not mine anointed, and do myprophets no harm, " Ps. 105:15. http://independent-baptists.org/

How to Kill A Church, Part 1 of 3

By Davis W. Huckabee

New Testament churches do not naturally die; they are so constituted that they cannot die a natural death. They may, however, be killed, but even in this, they can hardly be killed by outsiders except by the annihilation of the entire membership. Churches are most often killed form the inside; their own members kill them. A church is not just an organization; it is also an organism; a living thing, and as such, it has the potential of either growing and thriving, or of languishing and dying. The Lord promised that His church, considered as an institution, would not die, Matt. 16:18, but this only means that there will be a continuity of churches like the Jerusalem church until his return; it does not guarantee the continued existence of any individual church. How then may a church be killed?

I. BY STAYING AWAY FROM IT

The Scriptures liken church members to the members of a physical body, I Cor. 12:12ff, and just as certain organs of the human body cannot be removed without death coming to the body, so it is with the church, the body of Christ. When the members of the church start staying away from it, this soon leads to its death.

This is generally a gradual thing, starting first with the neglect of the business meetings because "it doesn't matter whether I am there or not. The others are going to run things to please themselves. "

The night services are really the acid test of a church member's love for the Lord, for many people come to church for the morning services simply because there is nothing else to do except stay home. Of Course, there are many professed Christians who will even forsake the House of God Sunday morning in order to sleep in; these are the very most unfaithful kind. But of those who attend the Sunday morning services regularly, many could not be gotten out for evening services for anything. But the same excuses that are thought valid for staying away from church services, will not do when one is invited to a party, or when money is to be made by being in a certain place, etc. But the Lord will one day settle up the accounts. "All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits, " Prov. 16:2.

Some church members permanently forsake the church, never more to return; but if we consider the connections between the two verses in Heb. 10:25-26, we find that this is an indication that the individual was only a false Christian. The same is true in I Jn. 2:19, "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. "

II. BY STARVING IT

A church lives and grows only by conversions and the additions of those converts to its number, and therefore if it is not nourished by conversions as a result of preaching and praying, it will soon die off from lack of additions. Souls being saved are a blood transfusion to any church. "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved" Acts 2:47. God does the adding to the church, yet He does it through the prayers and the preaching and the witnessing of His people.

A church may be killed by starving it of spirituality; we must remember that the degenerate Church of Rome was once a New Testament church until it lost its spirituality. Heresy in doctrine is first preceded by heresy in practice; i.e., by a carnal life. How may this be prevented? By its members living a sanctified (dedicated) life from day to day (not week by week, nor month by month). But dedication requires self-denial, and all too many professed Christians are unwilling to do this.

Then it is possible to starve a church to death by not supporting it with one's prayers and fiances. A church is a business - the grandest, most worthwhile business in the world, and therefore it must have money to operate. Because it is a heavenly business, it needs, in addition to money, the prayers of the Lord's people. Some professed believers are much more diligent in running down the church, the pastor, and those who are faithfully working in the church, than they are in praying for these and helping them. The same thing is true of Christians as it is of mules: They can't pull while they are kicking, and they can't kick while they are pulling. As to the failure of God's people to support the church financially, Mal. 3:8-10 is still in the Bible, and it calls the withholder of the tithes and offerings just what he is - a thief Nor will it do to say "But that's in the Old Testament. " The division of the Bible into the Old and the New Testament is strictly a man-made division; the Scriptures themselves know nothing of this. But in any case, I Cor. 9:1-14 obligates believers to support the church in precisely the same way that the Tabernacle was supported - by tithes and offerings. See especially v. 14. http://independent-baptists.org/

Save Jesus Christ Alone

We have recently moved house. In an introductory chat with our new neighbours, I was delighted to learn that the whole end of our street are Christians. This was an answer to prayer because I have been hungry for fellowship.

Whilst we were chatting, my new neighbour told me of the people next door. They were of a different denomination to them. She told me they considered their denomination the *only* real church and that they came across as feeling superior to them. She then went on to discuss the other denominations represented in the street who happened to speak in tongues. They too felt superior to other denominations and Christians who didn't have the gift of tongues or the Baptism of the Spirit.

In looking for a new place of worship, we discussed her Baptist Church. I felt that I would like to check it out until she mentioned the factions within about introducing charismatic practices. Sadness flooded over me.

Denominations, factions and superiority ought not to be within the Church. Unfortunately, we all know it is... we all have done it at some time or another. No sooner does one learn that one is a Christian than the judgment starts to raise its ugly head.

Christian, Catholic, Baptist, Spirit-filled, Charismatic, speaker of tongues, christened or baptised by immersion all juggle for precedence in our estimation of a Christians' worth and suitability to befriend and have fellowship with. When in fact, all that should matter is that the person is truly born-again and sees Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Him crucified. There has to be a common bond for Christians and that bond is Jesus.

Because judgments of a persons' church and worship preferences so colour our fellowship, I prefer to see myself as a Christian rather than as a Baptist, Protestant, Charismatic or whatever. Without that willingness to accept each other firstly as Christians, we aren't going to have true fellowship! I mentioned that to my new neighbour and she agreed. So there is still the possibility of ongoing fellowship with her.

Judging Christians by their denomination or manner of worship short-circuits all possiblity of developing strong bonds in the Body of Christ. If we do not accept each other purely on the basis of what Christ is and has done, we rob ourselves of the opportunity of fellowship and live outside the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:3

Let's choose to see nothing else but Jesus Christ and what He has done for all of us. Surely that would be a very firm foundation to build a friendship on whilst strengthening the Body of Christ.For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:2

by Mrs Glenys Hicks of Morning Cuppas With Glenys

Non-Baptist Christians?

While some Baptists understand the absurdity of making a distinction between church history and Baptist history many would still refer to non-Baptist believers as Christians. I don’t believe that you can be a Christian without being a Baptist. I did not say you can’t be saved without being a Baptist and that would be absurd because you cannot become a Baptist until being baptized after salvation. The question must be asked, “What is a Christian?”. A Christian is not just one that trusts Christ as their Savior. A Christian is one who is a follower of Christ – including AFTER salvation. May I say that one who gets saved and then backslides or never grows in the Lord is not a Christian. They may have trusted in Christ but they are not following Christ in their life. To be a Christian is to follow the ways and teachings of Christ. How could a believer be a Christian without being a member of the institution of the local church which He started? How could a saved Methodist be a Christian with their infant baptism? How could a Pentecostal believer be a Christian with their speaking in tongues? How could a Church of Christ member be called a Christian when they are trusting in baptism for salvation? How could a Presbyterian believer be a Christian when they don’t believe in eternal security and practice sprinkling? Being a Christian is more than believing in Christ and going to a church that historically believes in Christ instead of other gods. As Spurgeon said, “We believe that the Baptists are the original Christians.” As Baptists we don’t treat the polity of new testament churches as optional suggestions and we don’t add to our practices the contradictory writings and creeds of men. If Jesus were physically on earth today he would be a member of a Baptist church because a (true) Baptist church is a practical copy and an actual descendant of the church that Christ started during His earthly ministry. Don’t be ashamed my brethren, only Baptists are Christians.
Source: baptistbyconviction.wordpress.com

The Fear of Risk

Henry Fairlie of the Washington Post, writing in the Tulsa World, states that the “fear of risk is killing the American Spirit.” He points out our over-reaction to Three Mile Island and the engine on one DC-10.

He believes that the nation that won’t build a dam because of a small snail darter, or that will delay a carriage to the stars because it might fall like Skylab is in deep trouble.

He asked, “Was the Mayflower seaworthy?” He contends that a group of Americans today would not have the heart to cross the Rockies as our forefathers did years ago. It would be too risky!

There is a lesson here for the church of our Lord. Many good works go wanting for fear of the risk involved. Some Christians will not become soul winners because of the risk of being hurt. Others have never given liberally to God because of fear of poverty. Church members refuse to become involved in domestic and world evangelism because they might not succeed. Another won’t defend truth for the same reason. No doubt but what the “fear of risk” has killed many good programs in the church. There is no “fear of risk” for Christ. He knew that He came into the world to die for all. He asked his followers to deny themselves daily and take up their crosses and walk! There will always be some perils, but think of the risk if we don’t!

Time to step out and step up to do the job God has called His church to do.

Have a great day,

Bro. Harry Shomaker

Why Go To Church? (copied)

If you're spiritually alive, you're going to love this!
If you're Spiritually dead, you won't want to read it.
If you're spiritually curious, there is still hope!

A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper
and complained that it made no sense to go to church every
Sunday. 'I've gone for 30 years now,' he wrote, 'and in
that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But
for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them.
So, I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting
theirs by giving sermons at all.'

This started a real controversy in the 'Letters to the Editor'
column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for
weeks until someone wrote this clincher:

'I've been married for 30 years now.. In that time my wife
has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I
cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals.
But I do know this. They all nourished me and gave me the
strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given
me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise,
if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be
spiritually dead today!' When you are DOWN to nothing....
God is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes
the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank God for
our physical AND our spiritual nourishment!'

All right, now that you're done reading, send it on! I think
everyone should read this! 'When Satan is knocking at your
door, simply say, 'Jesus, could you get that for me?
Live simply, Love generously. Care deeply, Speak kindly

Lord bless,

Bro. Harry Shomaker

The Last Day: Make It Count

The Lord has been very good to us this week with lasting, eternal decisions being made for him. Please pray as we finish everything up tonight and make it count for the Lord.

While it was disappointing to not have the special music group that was lined up to be here this week, I believe the Lord has reminded us that while music is a great tool, He doesn't need it to speak to people. Evangelist Jayson Godsey - http://www.evangelistjaysongodsey.com/ - has been a tremendous help and blessing to our church. If you are a pastor who is reading this, let me recommend him to you. His expository-style preaching not only has the Bible content that many preachers lack these days, but it has the fire that sparks a spiritual decisions in the hearts of the hearers.

The VBS kids, and my wife, are looking forward to the special event of the evening. We have had a penny war all week at VBS between the boys (represented by me) and the girls (represented by my wife Darci). After all the pennies are turned in, we put both buckets on the balancing scale to see who is the heaviest. And by the end of the week, whichever group won the most days, their leader would get to "slime" the other one's leader.

Well, it hasn't been pretty this week - 4 days and 4 wins for the girls. So after church I will be getting "Slimed." No pictures, please?!

Please pray for our final night, and if you are in the Westland/Detroit area, come by and participate @7pm - 1033 S. Wildwood, Westland, MI 48186.

A Generation of Mules

“The church today is raising a whole generation of mules. They know how to sweat and to work hard but they don’t know how to reproduce themselves.”

It’s not known who said that, but it is a statement of incredible insight. Mules are hard workers. They have carried supplies, plowed fields, pulled wagons and transported people. The only problem is that they are almost always sterile and thus cannot reproduce. They are hard workers, but they are the end of the line. They do not produce more like themselves.

The church is full of hard workers. They teach classes, serve the physical needs of others, clean up and mow the grass, cook, move tables, organize social activities, visit and even write letters and cards, and do a host of other things.

There is just one problem. They don’t “reproduce.” They don’t teach the gospel to the lost so others can become hard workers. They are the end of the line. The real job the Lord gave us is to go into the world and reproduce ourselves by making disciples of others (Matt. 28:18–20). It is a tough lesson to realize that you may have worked hard and yet still haven’t gotten the job done. Let us say it plainly. If we are not evangelizing, we are not doing the job completely. If we are nothing more than a generation of mules, we are on the road to extinction. Hup, Mule! Gee-Haw!!!

Have a great weekend,

Bro. Harry Shomaker

The Church

The Church
The Church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons of this present age which began with Christ and the Apostles, was empowered at Pentecost, and will be caught up to be with Christ at the Rapture (Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:25-27; I Corinthians 12:12-14; II Corinthians 11:2).

The establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; I Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11).
The autonomy of the local church free of any external authority or control (Acts 13:1-4, 15:19-31, 20:28; Romans 16:1, 4; I Corinthians 3:9, 16, 5:4-7, 13; I Peter 5:1-4).