What Does a Biblical Church Actually Look Like?

by Matt Turner

What you are about to read is an ongoing project. I started this

project at least a year ago with a friend. One day we began dreaming
and talking about what biblical components are missing or neglected
in most churches. Then it evolved into a project that seeks to capture
what we believe is going to be the foundation for future church
plants.
I recognize that there can be more detail on certain subjects. This is
just a rough draft and the goal is to be concise. Enjoy the read. If you
have any questions or comments, feel free to comment or send me a
message. Please note that the list is not in any particular order.
There are many denominations that oppose several of my points. If
you have a disagreement please handle that disagreement in a
humble and loving way. I will seek to do the same. Also, if you have
any advice or encouraging words pertaining to the points, I would
love to hear all if any that you have...
Soli Deo Gloria!

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1.Biblically qualified leaders (see 1 Timothy and Titus)

a.Plurality of male elders/pastors. (Titus 1:5)
i. Each would preach/teach regularly

ii.Would be responsible for specific number of deacons

1.Includes mentorship
2.Theological training
3.Strong Accountability
 iii.Would be primarily not exclusively responsible for
the members given to their deacons
1.Includes meeting spiritual needs
a.biblical counseling
b.prayer
c.training
d.accountability

2.The Elders would primarily not exclusively

deal with the spiritual needs whereas the
Deacons would deal with the physical

iv.Intense evaluation for those aspiring to the office of

eldership
b.Deacons/servant leaders (1Timothy 3)
i. Host a small group once a week in the home
1.Not teaching but facilitating. Each week the
group will cover accountability questions and
reflect on the passage preached on the Sunday
prior.
2.Probably assign two deacon families to host the
small group. One would offer their home and
hospitality and the other would lead in the
discussion. Both families would hold one another
accountable to serving those God has entrusted
them with.
3.Possibly taking the Lord's supper weekly

ii.Be intentional about knowing physical needs of the

people God has entrusted them
 iii.Organize and prepare the Sunday fellowship meal

c.Possible staff positions

i. Full-time elder(s)
ii.Stipends for ministry
iii.CPA?
iv.Secretary
v. etc.

d.Members will have leadership

opportunities/responsibilities
i. Playing in the band
ii.Advertisement
iii.Tech.
iv.Janitorial
v. Say-so in decision making
vi.Secretary, etc.

2.The Gospel would be rightly taught and preached

a.There would be a continual focus, clarification and defense
of the Gospel

3.The Word of God would be preached expositionally

4.Membership process - perhaps a 4 to 6 months process to

become a member

a.Five Solas
b.Family Worship/Discipleship
 c.Financial Integrity
d.Spiritual Gifts
e.Testimony
f. Presentation of the gospel
g.Open-handed doctrine
h.Close-handed doctrine
i. What deems church discipline appropriate
j. Cursillo type initiation
k.A few meals in the home of both Elder and potential
member.
l. Ecclesiology
m.Covenant with the church
n.Clarity of Commitment

5.Ecclesia would be a church that would raise up PASTOR

DAD (Eph.6:4)

a.Men (husbands and fathers) would be equipped and held

accountable to lovingly lead their homes in discipleship
i. Pastor dad would be the means of discipleship for his
wife and kids

ii.Men would be trained to lead family God time in their

homes

6.Family Integrated Worship Service

a.For the most part the family would participate in Services

together

b.We will still have Men's retreats, Women's Retreats, and

 Youth retreats

c.For those who do not have godly parents, we will plug

them in with a member who will then implement them in
their family worship throughout the week

d.For College students we will plug them in with a family

who will in turn “adopt” them

e.All the older singles, divorcees, widows, etc. will be

plugged in with other believers

7.Church discipline would be upheld due to:

a.Biblical leadership
b.Biblical membership
c.Pursuit of biblical integrity

8.Ecclesia would be a church that would freely give herself

away
a.The hope is that eventually 70% of every dollar that the
church would take in would go to meet the needs of first
the local congregation, second any church plants or
missionaries supported, and finally the needs of the
surrounding community
i. The member
1.No member should be depending on welfare
2.Emergency Needs
3.etc.
 ii.The surrounding community
1.Ministry outreaches
2.Disaster relief
3.etc.
b.Eventually, operational overhead including paid staff,
facilities, and utilities would be kept to about 30% of
income
9.Authentic Christ-centered community. (Starts in the homes
and the leadership)

a.Families will be trained to experience family

worship/discipleship
b.Elders meet once a week in homes
c.Elders meet with members every third month in homes
d.Deacons meet with elder bi-weekly in the home
e.Deacons have small groups in their home weekly
f. Men's gathering once a quarter (14years and up are
included)
g.Women's gathering once a quarter
10.A restful community (though a community that stays busy
with God's work)
a.Service would begin at 4pm for promoting actual rest

b.A family could sleep late on Sundays, get up and share a

breakfast or brunch time together, and then proceed into
family worship/God time (Pastor Dad’s time to lead the
whole family, together). The idea is that there would be
rest on Sunday - where the family slows down, cuts off the
phone, computer, TV, and etc., and actually connects with
each other as they connect with God. Those without
families would join other families or spend time with the
 Lord where they are

c.Constantly discussing and challenging members to

examine their schedule in light of Scripture

11.The number of those that are truly being discipled and

those making disciples would be our true measure of growth

12.Unity regarding the disputable matters (open-handed

matters) –
a.Agree to disagree for sake of unity. For example:
i. Tongues

ii.Baptism
1.We will take a stand on a particular side as a
church (credobaptism)
2.However, it is not a doctrine to fight over
3.There are many faithful God loving bible-
breathing believers that are paedobaptists. And
that's ok.
iii.Eschatology

iv.Tobacco

v. Music Preference
1.Our heart as a church will be to produce music
that is:
a.Multigenerational
b.Multicultural
c.Gospel-Saturated
 vi.etc.

13.Division, however, over non-disputable matters (close-

handed matters)
a.The Gospel
b.Doctrines of God
c.Christ
d.Holy Spirit
e.Salvation
f. The Bible
etc.
14.Incarnational Ministry

a.Making a continual effort to know the people groups that

surround the location of the plant

b.Implement redeemable aspects of the culture with the life

and ministry of the church (Acts 17)

15.Being globally minded –

a.A church that plants churches locally and abroad
b.Great Commission Church