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BEREAN QUESTIONS IN SCRIPTURE STUDIES

Series VI., Study VI., Order and Discipline in the New Creation

OCTOBER 1

(11) Does the Lord recognize the elders alone as the Body of Christ, or has any elder the right to self-appointment, or to ignore the judgment of the Church as a whole in any matter? P. 279, top.

(12) Should any brother assume public duties without an election, and what is the special advantage to the whole Ecclesia in following this Scriptural method? P. 279, par. 1.

(13) Why are not these matters, so clearly Scriptural, more generally understood and set forth? P. 279, par. 2.

THE PERIOD OF ELDERSHIP

(14) In view of there being no Scriptural limit to the period for which an elder should be elected, what course may be appropriately followed? P. 280, par. 1.

NUMBER OF ELDERS

(15) What should determine the number of elders in any Ecclesia? P. 280, par. 2.

(16) In the event of none being found possessed of the Scriptural qualifications, what course should be pursued in choosing an elder? P. 281, par. 1.

OCTOBER 8

WHO MAY ELECT ELDERS, AND HOW?

(17) Who may vote for elders, or make nominations? And how should the latter preferably be done? P. 281, par. 2.

(18) What disadvantage in voting by ballot for elders? P. 281, par. 3.

MAJORITIES NOT SUFFICIENT

(19) So far as practicable, what proportion of votes should decide an election? P. 282, par. 1,2.

VARIETIES OF MINISTRIES

(20) Read carefully the Apostle Paul’s address to the Elders at Ephesus (Acts 20:17-33) and show how his words set forth the general scope of the ministry to which each individual must adapt himself and his talents as a steward. P. 283.

LAYING ON OF HANDS OF THE PRESBYTERY

(21) Quote several Scriptures which mention the laying on of hands in the Ecclesia, and explain each in its proper connection. Pp. 283-285.

OCTOBER 15

(22) Do any of these texts signify permission or authorization to preach?

A PAID MINISTRY?

(23) Was a paid ministry the custom of the early Church? P. 285, par. 4.

(24) Had our Lord’s teachings been supplemented by appeals for money, how would they have been received? P. 286, par. 1.

(25) What spirit should prompt the ministers of the Gospel of Good Tidings Unto All Men? P. 286, par. 2.

(26) How reply to the argument that extremes of “large salaries or no salaries” should be avoided? P. 287, par. 1.

(27) What was the example set by the Apostle Paul with respect to salaries? P. 287, par. 2; P. 288, top.

OCTOBER 22

(28) What was the attitude of the Lord and the Apostles on this subject? P. 288, par. 1.

(29) Is there any Scriptural intimation that the elders serving the Church at home received salaries or expense money? P. 288, par. 2.

(30) On the other hand is there Scripture forbidding the acceptance of such money, providing it was voluntarily offered by the Ecclesia? P. 288, par. 3.

DISCIPLINE IN THE ECCLESIA.—MATT. 18:15-18

(31) Explain how the foregoing Scripture teaches that the administration of discipline is not confined to Elders, but a function of the entire Church. P. 289, par. 1.

(32) In the event that any matter of difference cannot be settled by the two preliminary steps mentioned in Matt. 18:15-18, what course should be pursued by the Elders? P. 289, par. 2, first half.

OCTOBER 29

(33) What is the object of these proceedings on the part of the Ecclesia to punish the offender? P. 289, par. 2, last half.

(34) Should the transgressors refuse to obey the Ecclesia’s decision, what further steps should be taken? P. 290, par. 1.

(35) Are the faults of the offender to be made public property during these proceedings, or afterward? P. 290, par. 2.

(36) Would this procedure give rise to frequent Church trials? P. 291, par. 1.

(37) What is unquestionably the cause of the majority of Church and family troubles? And what instructions have the New Creation concerning this important matter? P. 291, par. 2.

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— September 15, 1911 —