The Church Volume 1:

Universal And Local

by Derek Prince

Study Note Outline

TC1

Six Tape Series

5001 The Universal Church
5002 The Local Church
5003 Mobile Ministries: Apostles
5004 Mobile Ministries: Prophets
5005 Mobile Ministries: Evangelists And Teachers
5006 Resident Ministries: Shepherds And Deacons

The Universal Church

5001

Definition: Greek ekklesia = assembly (see Acts 19:32, 39, 41).

More fully: An assembly formed by calling out those who fulfill certain requirements.

I. Universal (Catholic)
A. Matt. 16:1518I will build My church
1. Entrance into, and membership of, this universal church depends solely upon a
personal relationship to Christ, made possible only by the Father through the Holy
Spirit (compare Matt. 11:27).
2. Thus entrance into the church involves a relationship with each person of the
Godhead:
a. Confrontation
b. Revelation
c. Acknowledgement
d. Public confession (compare Matt. 10:3233)
3. All who are in this relationship to Christ necessarily belong to this universal church.
B. John 10:19
1. The Father is the owner of all
2. The Holy Spirit is the porter (doorkeeper)
3. Jesus crucified is the door
4. Jesus resurrected is the shepherd (see Heb. 13:20)
5. The sheepfold is the assembly of Gods people on earth
a. There are no thieves in heaven (See Matt. 6:20, 1 Cor. 6:10).
b. Those who gain entrance by any other route are thieves and robbers.
C. This church is compared to:
1. Eph. 2:2022; 1 Pet. 2:46A house, or building, of which Christ is the foundation
and cornerstone, and in which all true believers are built together as living stones.
In Scripture church is never applied to a material building of bricks, timber, etc.
 2. Eph. 1:2223A body, of which Christ is the head, and all true believers are
members.
a. As a house, the church is Gods dwelling place (see 1 Cor. 3:16, 2 Cor. 6:16, Eph.
2:22).
b. As a body, the church is Gods executive agent and personal representative (see
Matt. 10:40; 28:1820; John 20:21).
3. 1 Cor. 3:11This church has only one foundation Jesus Christ (compare 1 Pet. 2:6;
Is. 28:16; Ps. 62:12, 67).
4. Eph. 1:22This church has only one Head: Jesus Christ.
5. Heb. 12:2223Its headquarters are in heaven.
6. Gal. 4:26It is a free church (not bound by legalism, or human rules, titles or
traditions).
7. Eph. 4:4It is one body, controlled by one Spirit (compare Rom 8:14).
8. Rom. 12:45Each believer is an individual member of the one body.
9. 1 Cor. 12:1227All the members need, and depend on, each other.
D. There are two official public attestations of membership
1. Gal. 3:2628Baptism in water. Acceptance by human leaders.
2. 1 Cor. 12:13Baptism in the Holy Spirit. A supernatural seal administered by Christ
as Head (compare Eph. 1:13).
3. Both baptisms are designed to emphasize and strengthen the unity of the body.

The Local Church

5002

I. Introduction
A. Matt. 18:1520Basically: two or three led together into the name of Jesus Christ
(compare Rom. 8:14).
B. Deut. 12:1518;16:2, 6, 11In the Old Testament God only allowed Israel to meet for
worship in one place (the temple in Jerusalem) where He chose to place His name.
C. John 8:1821In the New Testament Christ and His name replace the Old Testament
temple.
1. This smallest group is the cell, out of which the whole body is built up. A healthy
body can only be built up out of healthy cells. The basic requirement is harmony.
2. Completely: the local church is that part of the universal church resident in any given
locality.
D. Uses of the word ekklesia (as translated in KJV):
1. Church is a city 35 times
2. Church is a house 4 times
3. Churches in a province 36 times
4. Church universal 20 times
5. Church local, but not
exactly defined 16 times
6. Church in a province 0 times
7. Old Testament church
in the wilderness 1 time
 8. Assembly
(of a city of Ephesus) 3 times
Total: 115 times
E. Thus, the only two defining areas of a local church are:
1. A city
2. A house
3. It is unscriptural to speak of two or more churches overlapping one another in any
given locality.
F. Col. 2:19The New Testament church is held together by joints and bands (bonds).
1. Joints = Personal relationships:
a. To Christ
b. To fellow believers
2. Bands = Universal attitudes:
a. Peace (Eph. 4:3)
b. Love (Col. 3:14)
3. All these joints and bands are invisible. In the Old Testament one constantly repeated
error of Israel was to represent or replace the invisible God by some kind of visible
image. In the present dispensation one constantly repeated error of Christians is to
replace the invisible relationships within the true church by some kind of visible
structure or organization. One common result of doing this is that the invisible
relationships cease to be recognized and are often totally broken down.
G. The central purpose of the local church is fellowship
1. 1 Cor. 1:9We are called to the sharing together of Christ.
2. 1 John 1:3The New Testament was written to bring us into the fellowship of the
apostles, sharing with them the fellowship of the Father and the Son.
3. 1 John 1:4This fellowship brings full joy (compare 2 John 12).
4. John 3:6Out of this fellowship the Holy Spirit brings to birth the purposes of God
(compare Acts 2:1; 13:14). Without fellowship there can be no spiritual birth.

Mobile Ministries: Apostles

5003

I. Introduction
A. Mobile ministries function within the universal church, and available to all sections of the
church in all places.
B. Eph. 4:11Apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers. The end purposes of all three
ministries:
1. Perfecting (equipping) of the saints
2. Building up of the body of Christ. They are to continue till we all come into unity and
maturity.
II. Apostles
A. Apostle = Literally one sent forth (see John 13:16). In KJV sometimes translated
messenger. Meaning closely corresponds to missionary. Apostles referred to in New
Testament:
 1. Before Pentecost:
a. Heb. 3:1Jesus
(compare John 10:36; 20:21) 1
b. Matt. 9:3638; 10:12, 5
The twelve 12
c. Acts 1:26; 2:14Mattias 1
14
2. After Pentecost: (see Eph. 4:8, 11)
a. Acts 13:4; 14:4, 14
Barnabas and Saul 2
b. Rom. 16:7
Andronicus and Junias 2
c. 1 Cor. 9:5; Gal. 1:1819;
Matt. 13:55; Jude 1
James, Joses, Simon, Judas 4
d. 2 Cor. 8:23; Tit. 1:5;
Titus + 2 (?) 3 (?)
e. Phil 2:25Epaphroditus 1
f. 1 Thess. 1:1; 2:6
(Paul), Silas, Timothy 2
14
B. Matt. 10:15Disciples become apostles when commissioned and sent forth.
C. Acts 13:14; 14:4, 14Prophets and teachers become apostles when called and
sent forth. Pauls apostleship was set in motion by human instruments, but he always
claimed divine authority for it (see Gal. 1:1; 1 Tim. 1:1).
D. Judges 5:23God identifies himself with his servants whom he calls to a special task.
Our attitude towards those servants is our attitude towards God Himself.
E. Acts. 13:2The work whereunto I have called them: basically, bringing churches into
being (compare Acts 14:23).
1. Apostles also give direction to churches that are not necessarily brought into being by
their ministry.
2. See Rom. 1:1011; Col 2:1. (Compare also Gal. 1:12 and 1 Peter 1:1.)
F. Gal. 2:78Peter had a general apostleship to the circumcision (the Jews). Paul had a
general apostleship to the Gentiles.
G. 1 Cor. 12:28Within a local congregation apostles are the senior ministry. (In this list
the ministry of Gods Word has been preeminent over all other forms of ministry.)
H. Thus apostles have two main functions:
1. To bring into being properly ordered churches.
2. To set, and maintain in order churches already in being (see Tit. 1:5). Probably an
apostle includes the other four main ministries.
I. 1 Cor. 9:2Seal of apostleship: building a complete local church.
J. 2 Cor. 12:12Signs of apostleship:
1. Strength of character
2. Miraculous attestation
K. 2 Cor. 11:5; 12:11There are various levels of apostleship.
L. 2 Cor. 11:1315There are false apostles.
 M. Rev. 2:2Therefore claims of apostles must be tested.

Mobile Ministries: Prophets

5004

III. Prophets
A. Prophet = Literally, one who speaks forth, i.e. on behalf of God by inspiration of the
Holy Spirit (not necessarily prediction of the future).
1. 1 Kings 17:1The Lord God . . . before whom I stand. Essentially a prophet stands
before God, receives His message, and delivers it.
2. 1 Kings 18:1Go, shew thyself unto Ahab. The message cannot be separated from
the man. (God uses men, not methods.)
3. Jer. 23:1532The true prophet stands in the counsel of the Lord and delivers the
word of the Lord. The false prophet delivers a message out of the deception of his
own heart.
4. Amos 3:7God always shares His secrets with His prophets.
5. Jer. 15:1519Condition for being a mouthpiece of God.
6. Is. 55:11Gods Word out of Gods mouth (i.e. given forth by Gods Spirit) never
fails.
B. Prophets referred to in the New Testament:
1. Acts 11:2730Agabus + 2 3
2. Acts 13:1Barnabas, Simeon,
Lucius, Manaen, Saul 5
3. Acts 15:32Judas and Silas 2
Acts 21:10(Agabus)
10
C. Compare the following:
1. An apostle has a special task (establishing and ordering churches).
2. A prophet has a special message, individually received from God, to be delivered at a
certain time and place.
3. A teacher expounds Gods truth generally, but has no special message individually
received.
D. Examples of men with a special prophetic message:
1. Jonah 3:4Jonah
2. Mark 1:68John the Baptist
3. Acts 11:2730; 21:1011Agabus
E. Eph. 4:11; 1 Cor. 14:31He gave some prophets, i.e. men with the ministry of prophets
(compare 1 Cor. 12:29).
1. Ye may all prophesy: i.e. exercise the gift of prophesying.
2. Not all who exercise the gift of prophesying necessarily have the ministry of
prophets.
F. 1 Cor. 14:22In the New Testament prophecy is normally directed to believers, not
unbelievers.
G. 1 Cor. 14:29Let the prophets (plural) speak . . . let the others (plural) judge.
 H. In the New Testament prophets are normally members of a group, submitting their
message and ministry to the judgment of the rest. This agrees with the New Testament
picture of all believers as interdependent members of one body.
I. Zech. 4:23, 1114Prophets are like olive trees supplying the oil of fresh inspiration
and revelation to the church (compare Rev. 11:34, 10).
J. Prov. 29:18Without fresh revelation Gods people perish.
K. Luke 17:26; Heb. 11:7As it was in the days of Noah:
1. The wickedness of the unbelievers
2. Direct divine revelation and warning for the believers

Mobile Ministries:
Evangelists And Teachers
5005

IV. Evangelist
A. Evangelist = Literally, a proclaimer of good news. The noun is used only 3 times; Eph.
4:11; Acts 21:8; 2 Tim. 4:5. The verb evangelize is used about 50 times, e.g. Luke
4:18, 43; 9:6; 20:1; Acts 8:25; 14:7; 16:10; Rom. 1:15; 10:15; 15:20; 1 Cor. 1:17; 2 Cor.
10:16.
B. Primary purpose: to introduce sinners to the Savior, bringing them into salvation and
water baptism.
C. 2 Tim. 4:5As an apostle, Timothy needed at times to do the work of an evangelist
(compare 1 Cor. 1:17).
D. Acts 6:5; 21:8Philip began as a deacon but developed into the pattern evangelist of the
New Testament (see 1 Tim. 3:13). His evangelist ministry is described in Acts. Ch. 8:
1. v. 5, 35His message: Christ, Jesus
2. v. 67His attestation: supernatural (compare Mark 16:1520, Heb. 2:34)
3. v. 26, 29, 39His direction: supernatural
4. v. 12, 38He saw his converts baptized in water (but not in the Holy Spirit)
5. v. 40He was continually on the move (compare Luke 4:43; 8:1)
E. 1 Cor. 12:28Within the local assembly the ministry of the evangelist is not listed,
because his ministry is to be uncovered.
V. Teachers
A. Teacher = Essentially an interpreter of Scripture.
B. Two levels of teaching:
1. Eph. 4:11To the whole body in all places
2. 1 Tim. 5:17To the members of the local flock
C. Example of a teacher to the whole body: Apollos
1. Acts 18:2428; 1 Cor. 3:56Apollos watered what Paul had planted.
2. The believers in Achaia had come to Christ through supernatural grace.
3. Thereafter, their faith needed to be established through understanding of the
Scriptures.
D. Acts 18:28Systematic, public exposition of Scripture
F. An evangelistic ministry often comes forth rapidly after conversion, but a teaching
ministry takes longer to develop
 F. Often teacher is linked with one of the other mobile ministries:
1. 2 Tim. 1:11An apostle and a teacher.
2. Acts 13:1Prophets and teachers (compare Acts 15:32).
3. Luke 20:1Jesus was teaching and evangelizing.

Resident Ministries:
Shepherds And Deacons
5006

I. Introduction
A. Resident ministries function within a local church, and are restricted to a given locality
B. Phil. 1:1Two levels of local leadership:
1. Bishops (also called Elder or Shepherd)
2. Deacons
II. Shepherd (KJV Pastor)
A. In New Testament three different Greek words are used for these local leaders:
1. Presbuteros = Elder
2. Episkopos = Overseer (sometimes in KJV bishop)
3. Poimen = Shepherd (once in KJV pastor)
4. These different words all denote one and the same office or ministry
B. Acts 20:17, 28Elders . . . made overseers over the flock . . . to feed (= shepherd) the
church.
C. Tit. 1:5, 7Ordain elders . . . a bishop (overseer) must be blameless.
D. 1 Pet. 2:25Jesus is the Shepherd and Bishop (Overseer) of our souls.
E. 1 Pet. 5:12Elders . . . feed (shepherd) the flock . . . taking the oversight.
F. Qualification = Elder; ministry = Shepherd, work = Oversight
G. In New Testament elders are always mentioned in the plural:
1. Acts 14:23Ordained (chose) elders in every church. (The same Greek word for
choose is used in Acts 10:41 and 2 Cor. 8:19).
2. Acts 20:17Called the elders of the church.
3. Tit. 1:5Ordain (set) elders in every city.
4. James 5:14Call for the elders of the church.
H. Note also the following passages where the leaders of the local church are mentioned in
the plural: Phil. 1:1; 1 Thess. 5:12; Heb. 13:7, 17, 24
1. Acts 15:2, 4, 6, 22; 16:4Often apostles are associated with elders.
2. Acts 15:23Apostles are elders and brethren: Brethren are probably all other
mature men in the congregation.
3. 1 Pet. 5:12Where an apostle resides and is associated with a local church, within
that church his position is that of a co-elder (compare 2 John 1; 3 John 1).
4. Acts 13:1In a local church there may also be resident prophets and teachers.
5. 1 Cor. 12:28In a meeting of the whole local church the three senior ministries are:
a. Apostles
b. Prophets
c. Teachers
6. 3 John 910A local elder is required to acknowledge the ministry of an apostle.
 7. Elders are the vital link between the mobile ministries and the resident personnel of a
local church.
III. Deacons
A. Acts 6:16Where added responsibilities make it necessary, elders are assisted in
matters of practical administration by deacons (servers). Deacons are chosen from
amongst the local congregation by the believers themselves, but their appointment must
be confirmed by the leaders of the local church.
B. Phil. 1:1The maximum total personnel of a local church consists of three groups:
1. Elders (bishops)
2. Deacons
3. Saints (all remaining believers)
C. The principle of plurality of local leadership means that in any given locality there need
never be more than one local church, even though there may be many thousands of
believers. The number of leaders (shepherds) is simply multiplied in proportion to the
number of believers.
1. Acts 18:22The church (singular) in Jerusalem.
2. Acts 21:20Ten-thousands (myriads) of Jews which believe (in Jerusalem).
3. Acts 21:22The multitude must needs come together. That is, one church, but
50,000 or more members.
D. There are two mutually exclusive alternatives:
1. Many local churches each with one leader.
2. One local church with many leaders.
E. Acts 14:23When elders are appointed, disciples become churches. Elders are
relative to a group. These men had only been converted a few months. Spiritual maturity
is primary.
F. Tit. 1:5Until elders are appointed, the order of the local church is incomplete.

1971 Derek Prince MinistriesInternational