Anton Bosch is a brave Christian scholar and pastor to write a book such as this at a time when the validity of the Bible’s teachings is being called into question by many. He is even braver when the field in which he has chosen to write, deals head-on with the organizational structure and personnel of the church.
Modern and postmodern biblical scholarship seldom assigns a high status to the doctrine of the inspiration of Holy Scripture, and even less to the conservative and more fundamental schools which hold dear the belief that the Bible was verbally inspired by the Holy Spirit. This unquestioned, high regard for the Bible constitutes the foundation of this book.
Professor Arthur Song, Head of Graduate School, South African
Theological Seminary; Research Fellow, University of Zululand
Building Blocks of the Church very effectively walks through the landmine of the modern church growth movement's errors, carefully navigating through the troubled waters of past mistakes in church history. As such it is a valuable reference tool for those many in our modern era who may find it necessary to leave their former churches who have moved away from biblical principles and who have no idea how to start a church from scratch.
Lynn & Sarah Leslie, Discernment Ministries
The author should be commended for his honest and objective exposition of the New Testament model of the organization and function of the church of Christ. He has done so in a very scholarly way, and this work should be seriously considered by thinking people all over the world. The book sets out clearly the New Testament principles of every major ministry in the church, and distinguishes these principles from erroneous
teachings and practices.
The purpose of Building Blocks of the Church is to help us conform to the only true standard of Christian worship – the biblical one.
From the preface by Professor Johan Malan,
South Africa
:
5 ½” x 8 ½” (14cm x 21.5cm)
Soft Cover
272 pages
895 footnotes
ISBN 978-0-620-37659-4
Read This First
1. Sola Scriptura
Hermeneutical Issues
2. Characteristics of the Church Growth Movement
The Church Growth Movement
The House Church Movement
3. Pattern or Principles?
Arguments for a Pattern
Tradition and Torah, Custom and Command
Spirit and Letter, Principle and Precept
Principle and Practice
4. The Priesthood of The Believer
The Clergy/Laity System
Weaknesses of the Clergy/Laity System
The Priesthood in the Old Testament
The Priesthood in the New Testament
Functions of the Christian Priesthood
Equal but Different
Does Each Believer Have a Function?
Same Gift, but Not Same Measure
A Theocracy Not a Democracy
Making it Work
The Glorious Future
5. Authority in the Church
Jesus Christ – Head of the Church
Every Man for Himself
Humble Leaders
A Godly Flock
The Practical
6. The Payment of Full-time Workers
The Arguments
Jesus
The Twelve
Paul
Which Ministries Should be Supported?
Fixed Stipend or Not?
How Much?
7. Do the Ephesians 4:11 Ministries Continue?
The Spectrum of Views
The Cessationist View
The Restorationist View
The Continuous View
8. Apostles
The Problems
The Term “Apostle”
Jesus
The Twelve
Paul
The Apostles of the Ascended Christ
The Work of an Apostle
Apostolic Succession
Apostolic Infallibility
The Apostolic Office
9. Prophets
Examples of New Testament Prophets
Differences Between Old Testament and
New Testament Prophets
Prophets in Practice
Are All Who Prophesy Prophets?
Prophecy, Preaching and Teaching
10. Pastors/Elders
Pastors, Shepherds, Elders and Bishops
Ordination of Elders
The Ministry of Elders
Admonitions to Elders
11. Teachers
The Term
Jesus the Teacher
Other New Testament Teachers
The Importance of Teaching
Teaching Life
The Content of the Teaching
12. Evangelists
The Term
Jesus the Great Evangelist
The Twelve and Paul
Philip
Timothy
Evangelists and the Church
The Church and Evangelism
13. Deacons
The Term
The Seven of Acts 6
The Function of Deacons
Their Appointment
Women Deacons
14. The Autonomy of Local Churches
Autonomy and Not Independence
The Church Universal and Local
The Seven Churches of Asia
Autonomy of Local Churches in Acts
Central Control in Acts 15?
Autonomy in Paul’s Writings
The Benefits of Autonomy
Areas of Autonomy
15. The Interdependence of Local Churches
The Basis of Interdependence
Inter-Church Activities
Benefits of Cooperation
Dangers of Isolationism
The Balance
16. Conclusions and Recommendations
Tradition Has Obscured Many Truths
There is Sufficient Information
Are the Principles Practicable?
Recommendations
Bibliography
United States
Purchase through our safe and secure shopping cart with any major credit card or PayPal.
One book $13.95 plus $2 S&H Media Mail (10 days):
By the way, you don't need a PayPal account to order. Simply add to the cart and pay at the checkout with any major credit card - totally secure.
Add $3.00 for Priority Mail (3 days):
Bulk orders of 10 or more copies are $8.50 each plus $2.00 each for S&H Media Mail (10 days):
Mail check payments to:
Anton Bosch
9070 Sunland Blvd
Sun Valley, CA, 91352.
Contact Ina Bosch
South Africa:
Cost R120 plus S&H
Bulk orders of 10 or more are R80 each
Contact Beatrice Bosch