1.   BIBLICAL AUTHORITY

2.   AUTONOMY OF THE LOCAL CHURCH

3.   PRIESTHOOD OF THE BELIEVER

4.   TWO ORDINANCES

5. INDIVIDUAL SOUL LIBERTY

•     Every individual has the God-given privilege of free will

•     ability (liberty) to choose what to believe

John 3:36 AV

³⁶ He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

•     Every individual is responsible to God and will be judged according to those choices

•     we are free from the law for salvation sake

Galatians 5:1 AV

¹ Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

•     Don’t abuse your liberty in Christ

Galatians 5:13 AV

¹³ For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Distinct from others in that:

Other religions will have you jumping through hoops with no assurance of salvation

6. SAVED, BAPTIZED CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

Church membership is restricted to those who are saved and have publicly identified with Christ in believer’s baptism.

Acts 2:41–42 (AV)

⁴¹ Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

⁴² And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

1 Corinthians 12:12–14 AV

¹² For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

¹³ For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

¹⁴ For the body is not one member, but many.

Distinct from others in that:

Not added as babies through infant baptism

7. TWO OFFICES

The Bible mandates two offices for the local church:

1.   Pastors

a.  Bishop

b.  Elder

c.   Pastor

d.  Teacher

e.   Overseer

Pastor duties:

•     Lead

•     Feed

•     Guide

•     and guard

the local church as directed by the Lord through his word

1 Timothy 3:1–7 AV

¹ This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

² A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

³ Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

⁴ One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

⁵ (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

⁶ Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

⁷ Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

2. Deacons

Deacon Duties:

•     to serve

•     not to lord over the pastor or the church

Acts 6:1–7 AV

¹ And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

² Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

³ Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

⁵ And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

⁶ Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

⁷ And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Distinct from others in that:

not multiple layers of hierarchy

8. SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

•     Civil and local church governments were established by God

•     They have distinct responsibilities

The Government cannot exercise authority over God

Colossians 1:18 AV

¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

telling us

•     what to preach

•     when to meet

•     when not to meet etc.

It is important to know what you believe and why

otherwise, you may be tempted to deconstruct your faith in your daily walk: