Pastoral Resources?

Does anyone have suggestions on good resources for church models? Specifically, I'm looking for biblical insight on how a church is structured (not a denomination but the 1st century church) in terms of a constitution, by-laws, articles, roles of Pastor, Deacon, congregation, etc. I have already purchased a few books from John Macarthur but I am looking for something more extensive and concrete with examples of documents and biblical validation for everything. Any thoughts? (I'm in L6 by the way).

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SineNomine

Reading this or one of Faithlife's other volumes collecting the surviving works of the earliest Christians will get you their church models as they themselves describe them. Secondary sources are good, but nothing beats primary documents for Christian history!

Deacon Steve

A very insightful and important question. As you think through the various models proposed today, I would highly recommend, in addition to all the other materials you have, that you read the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church in this Logos resource. Don't let the somewhat ominous title throw you off. It is fully indexed and referenced to the bible and writings of the early church. Concrete references throughout.

You can Google the resource to see it online now. But, you will want the Logos resource for your library and all the tagging and external references.

Lonnie Spencer

You may want to look at this resource by Everett Ferguson.

https://www.logos.com/product/3643/the-church-of-christ-a-biblical-ecclesiology-for-today

Why I suggest this book is because Ferguson is a history scholar from the Restoration Movement-which means restoring the first century church model in today's culture. Whether you agree with that or not, it would give you a place to start.

Lonnie Spencer

EastTN

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/673968#Comment_673968

You may want to look at this resource by Everett Ferguson.

https://www.logos.com/product/3643/the-church-of-christ-a-biblical-ecclesiology-for-today

Why I suggest this book is because Ferguson is a history scholar from the Restoration Movement-which means restoring the first century church model in today's culture. Whether you agree with that or not, it would give you a place to start.

I would second that suggestion. Ferguson is a recognized historian, and the background he comes from leads him to give particular emphasis to the 1st century church.

Dennis Davis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/673968#Comment_673968

Thanks everyone for the good list of resources. What I like about all of the responses was the need to go back to historic references rather than relying on modern day examples that may be somewhat out of touch with the original church design. Thanks again.

Schumitinu

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/674033#Comment_674033

There is this community pricing which might be of interest as well: https://www.logos.com/product/45412/classic-theological-studies-on-the-new-testament#004