第三課﹕聖經描述的教會是….課後分享

第三課﹕聖經描述的教會是…課後分享

一所大教會的架構和增長

以下一段簡介是基於一所在香港聚會人數超過千人的教會。

全教㑹共設有13部，十年前教會開始＂按齡牧養＂，將不同年紀的會衆分為＂耆老＂，＂成年＂，青少年＂和＂幼兒＂四部，除了三個事務性的部門包括財務，資訉和事務外，其餘四部門即傳道、社關、關顧和婦女都與傳福音有關，對海外的宣教事工稱為＂差會＂，是在十三部以外。

青少年、耆老、成年和輔導這四個分別座落教會內及位於其它地方都是針不同年紀的福音工作而設立的。

另一項有趣的統計是＂小組分展＂對教會增長的影響，從十年前開始教會將團契和主日學這兩個聚會合拼為＂成長班＂，分別於星期六及星期日在教會擧行，根據十年的統計，主日的平均崇拜人數由3750增至4700，而每週參加成長班的平均人數由1900增至3100（60%増長）

以上祇是一些教會架構和增長一些分析。

Shared by Richard Leung

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Mat 16:18 ".......I will build My Church"   Jesus solicited no response from Peter or other disciples.  Jesus did not say "We have a lot of work to do, and I am counting on you getting it done.  If together we labor faithfully, we will get My Church built."  The Savior's response was declarative, informing the disciples what He will do. During the ensuing two thousand years, He has been on schedule building His Church, not anxiously hoping that His followers will faithfully get the job done.

You may create an institution, draw a circle around it, and call it the work of God.  But God's work is found in individuals, not institutions. God's Church is comprised of those in whom He has done an eternal work of regeneration, a work that He alone can do.

Most church-models are about institutions ultimately managed by man. There's no guarantee that they will walk according to God's will, no matter how definite their claim.  The study of church-models is academic at best and a distraction from following God at worse.  I'll just give one simple example.  Too many believers, on the basis of going to a local church (may be do a bit of church-work too)  think that they are already following God,  when in fact, they should go to the "living water" and the eternal work of regeneration, a work that God alone can do.

Shared by Eric Lau

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1. 試列出教會的分類及其特徵

1.1 Mega church:

more than a thousand people; many pastors specializing in different ministries (prayer, preaching, youth/children shepherding, teaching, counselling, missions & etc.); a lot of resources for various ministries and programs that can nearly serve every single one's desires; the attendance of an individual is not easily visualized; strong at pulpit preaching attracting more people to Sunday services; different Sunday services for different spoken language people groups (e.g. English, Cantonese and Mandarin).

1.2 Mid-sized church:

around 500 people; continually seek for more pastors to serve different people groups (e.g. one associate pastor for Chinese, another one for children/youth); pastors to look after a broad band of issues due to limited number of pastors; constant struggle in prioritizing ministries and programs due to limited resources including funding and people stepping up to serve; serve different people groups within one church (e.g. English speaking, Chinese speaking & children) which is the expectation of congregations who are parents.

1.3 Small sized church:

around 100 people; people enjoy the warm atmosphere; one pastor to look after all ministries (preaching, teaching, caring, training, discipleship, fellowship & etc.); people usually have closer relationship; people are more willing to serve; prefer to plant new church rather than getting bigger, people know each other (very visible if absent in Sunday service).

2. 試描述你遇見的另類教會

I have a past colleague who attends a non-evangelical church. Some people of the congregation can speak in tongue. They consider it as normal and holy even though the others may not understand the speech. It is different from our teaching - speaking in touch is appropriate only if it is helpful to the others and not for your own pride.

Shared by Eric Kong

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1.    試列出教會的分類及其特徵

我對教會的分類認識不深，只能引用李健安博士《簡明神學》裡的四種教會行政體制，並列如下﹕

一、監督制（Episcopalian System）

監督制的教會在行政結構上以會督為最高領袖。但在實際的行政上，卻分成三個明顯的牧制階層：會督（主教 bishop）、會長（牧師 priest）、會吏（deacon）。

監督制認為教會的元首耶穌基督，已經把教會的管理權特別交托給監督，因為監督是使徒的繼承者。而教會的信徒并不享有參與教會管理的權柄。這樣的體制是英國國教或所謂聖公會的體制。

二、羅馬天主教制（Roman Catholic System）

嚴格來說，羅馬天主教制的體系是監督制，只不過它比監督制更徹底。這體制不但認為監督是使徒們的繼承者，更認為教皇本身是彼得的繼承者，是教會的最高領袖，有如彼得是眾使徒的領袖一般。教皇是教會的頭，是無誤的。作為基督的代表，教皇受予制定并管治一切教義、崇拜的規程，以及統治、管理教會的最高權威。

三、公理制（Congregational System ）

這體制也稱為獨立體制，其行政權完全歸于當地教會的信徒。在這體制中，每一個地方教會本身就是一個完整、獨立的教會。教會管理的權力完全是教會會員的權力。教會本處職員所享有的權力乃是為了執行教會事工的權力，并且這些權力并不能超越教會會員所賦予之權力。教會與教會之間并不互相干預。區會與總會只不過是扮演咨詢、顧問的角色，是為了促進宣教、布道事工的合作而成立的。

四、長老制（Presbyterian System）

長老制乃是以長老為教會的管理體制，長老為教會行政領導者。長老制之會制為四級：堂會(session)、區會(presbytery)、大會(synod)、總會(general assembly)。

在長老制中有長老與執事，而長老又分為教導長老(teaching elders)與治理長老(ruling elders)。

 

圖示：（取自李健安博士《簡明神學》）

2. 試描述你遇見的另類教會

我所認識的其他基督教會（並不是另類）﹕

• 浸信會: 強調「全身入水」的洗禮。並主張獨立、自主和自治。
• 宣道會: 強調差遣和宣教，以傳福音為首要任務。
• 循道會: 認定本身在基督的身體—普世教會—中的地位。 接受歷史信條、更正教會、及衛斯理傳統的原則及教訓。

Shared by Anita Ko