GBF Ordination Exam Questions - Ecclesiology, Angelology, By-Laws

Question 1

Ecclesiology

What is the local church’s highest priority?

Answer 1

Preaching of the Word
John 21- Jesus told Peter, “Feed my sheep”
Acts 6:2-4- must not neglect the ministry of the Word and prayer
Acts 20- Paul said that he did not shrink to declare the whole counsel of Word (v 27), and teach it to people publicly and from house to house (v 20).
Colossians 1:24-25- the priority of ministry is to fully carry out the Word of God
2 Timothy 3:16-4:2- “preach the Word…”
1 Timothy 3:15- church is called the “pillar and support of truth”
1 Timothy 4:13- give attention to the ministry of the Word
1 Timothy 5:17- elders who labor in preaching/teaching should be held in double honor

Question 2

Ecclesiology

Yes or No. Is teaching the most important responsibility of the elder in his leadership role in the church?

Answer 2

Yes (along with prayer). He must be “able to teach”

Question 3

Angelology

Yes or No. Are there other spiritual beings revealed in Scripture besides God, angels, and man?

Answer 3

No

Question 4

Ecclesiology

True or False. The priorities for the lay elder in decreasing order should be (1) his personal time with God; (2) his wife; (3) his children; (4) his extended family; (5) his church family; (6) his vocational work.

Answer 4

Less about priority, more about
1) integration of all things for the glory of God. Colossians 1:18 says Christ must be first in EVERYTHING. Priority indicates that something can be sacrificed. Each of things affects the other; all have to be a part of a man’s life.
“In order to raise my children, I will bring them to church and work to provide.” Less of a priority list, and more of an ecosystem, with the condition of each affecting the condition of the other.
2) Faithfully fulfilling one’s responsibility in all of those spheres as Christ commanded in Scriptures (Ephesians 5-6 names all of these spheres, and gives explicit instructions for each. The believer cannot neglect any of them)

Question 5

Ecclesiology

True or False. While unanimity is preferable and the practice of GBF elders for major decisions, a supermajority agreement among the elders is sufficient per Scripture.

Answer 5

False. Plurality of elders means that elders should not move forward with a decision/action unless all of the elders are on board (different than having the same opinion)
Plurality of eldership is seen in Phil 1:1, Acts 20:26, 1 Tim 5:17. To each of these churches, “elders” are in plural

Question 6

Ecclesiology

True or False. According to 1 Peter 4:9-10, hospitality is a spiritual gift of the Holy Spirit and those believers who have it should be encouraged to use it at GBF.

Answer 6

False. Hospitality is not a biblical gift listed; it is a biblical virtue in 1 Peter 4:9-10 to be pursued by all members of the church. It is in the same way that “fervently loving the brethren” in the same passage is not a gift but a virtue to be pursued by all Christians.

Question 7

Ecclesiology

Define the church. What is it and what is it not? When did it begin and when will it end?

Answer 7

The church is the united body of Christ consisting of all believers since Pentecost. It began in Acts 2, when the Holy Spirit was poured out onto the disciples on Pentecost, and thus was founded on the apostles (Ephesians 2) and not on the OT fathers. The process of church edification will end at the rapture, but it is an eternal entity and will eternally be wed to the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-8)

Question 8

Angelology

Are angels considered higher beings than man? Explain your answer.

Answer 8

Yes, in the sense of Psalm 8 where the psalmist says that God has made man “a little lower than the angels.”

1) higher intelligence than man (2 Sam 14:20),
2) higher knowledge of God’s plan than man (hence, angels were messengers bearing God’s Word)
3) higher level of power than man (man cannot resist the physical power of angels)
4) higher level of direct access to God’s visible presence (Isaiah 6, Job 1)

Question 9

Ecclesiology

Is church membership commanded in Scripture? If so, where? If not, then why does GBF have formal church membership?

Answer 9

Church membership is implicitly commanded in Scripture. Here are several references:

• 1 Corinthians 12 says that we are all members of one another
• Hebrews 13:17 says that Christians are to submit to specific leaders
• 1 Peter 5 says to shepherd the flock of God “among you”
• Nehemiah 9-10 also shows the importance of FORMALITY (“sealed document”) for the sake of ACCOUNTABILITY

Question 10

Ecclesiology

What metaphors are used in Scripture to describe the church and what does each one tell us about the church?

Answer 10

a) household of God and pillar/support of truth (1 Timothy 3, Hebrews 3) - we are to continue building up one another upon the foundation laid by the apostles
b) bride of Christ (John 3, Eph 5:25-33, 1 Cor 11:2, Rev 19:7-9) - we are loved by Christ as a bridegroom loves His bride, and are to submit to Him
c) body of Christ (Col 1:18, Eph 4:12, 1 Cor 12:27) - we are integrated with Christ as His body, are to honor Him as the head, and to be united as members and not divided

Question 11

Angelology

What are the categories of angels?

Answer 11

1) archangel (i.e. Michael, Jude 9)
2) messengers (i.e. Gabriel)
3) cherubim (Genesis 3, Ezekiel)
4) seraphim (Isaiah 6)
5) fallen (2 Pet 2:4)

Question 12

Ecclesiology

Name two non-character trait differences in the qualifications of elders versus deacons. How does this show up in the daily workings of the church?

Answer 12

#1) elders are called to be able to teach, while this is not required of deacons  (see 1 Timothy 3)
#2) elders are called to not be new converts, while this is not required of deacons (1 Timothy 3)

Question 13

By Laws

What are the five qualifications for membership that are stated in the GBF Bylaws?

Answer 13

1) personal commitment of faith in Jesus Christ for salvation
2) baptism by immersion as testimony of this salvation
3) 18 years of age and older
4) completion of the church membership process
5) not under legitimate form of church discipline at another church and not a member of another church

Question 14

Angelology

Do you believe each person has a guardian angel? Why or why not?

Answer 14

No, because the Bible doesn’t speak of “personal” guardian angels for each individual believer. Psalm 34/35 speaks of angels protecting God’s people. Book of Acts shows angels protecting people and freeing them from imprisonment, but not one to each person

Question 15

Ecclesiology

How will you strive to preserve unity as an elder of GBF?

Answer 15

#1) To humbly seek the welfare of the needs of each of the elders before my own (Phil 2:3-4)
#2) To prayerfully seek such unity from God unceasingly 
#3) To never gossip or speak ill of an elder to another (Proverbs 16:28)
#4) to seek to resolve conflict and extend forgiveness quickly (Eph 4:3)
#5) to be honest and forthright in communication (Prov 27:5)
#6) to never entertain complaints/criticism from members regarding other elders (2 Samuel 15:2 and Absalom’s failure)
#7) to persevere in the work of ministry and work of eldership (Phil 1:27-31)

Question 16

Ecclesiology

What is your answer to someone who asks why we have no deaconesses at GBF, especially in contrast to churches we might recommend who have deaconesses or woman deacons (e.g. Grace Community Church, Capitol Hill Baptist Church)?

Answer 16

The Bible never talks about deaconesses in the feminine (see Philippians 1:1 and 1 Timothy 3). It always talks about deacons in the masculine, and thus as one-woman man. Never talks about a deacon being a one-man woman.
“Women” refers to wives of deacons and elders, as GBF says.
But this is an interpretive - and non-sinful - issue.
Plus, at GBF, we have plenty of women who don’t have the title of “deaconess” but functionally serve in the same manner, capacity, formality, and accountability as deaconesses in other churches (I know this bc our church used to have deaconesses).
I do believe that there is biblical basis for the idea of formal female servants in the church.

Question 17

By Laws

Under what circumstance(s)should an elder resign? What would be your exit strategy if you resigned (1) as an elder and (2) as a member?

Answer 17

#1) physical incapacitation 
#2) disqualification according to 1 Timothy 3/Titus 1/1 Peter 5
#3) absence of aspiration for eldership 
#4) request for resignation or leave due to particular circumstances

Question 18

Ecclesiology

Jesus gives the main church discipline text we use. Paul gives two process exceptions. While the steps are evident, the timing is not specified and various churches apply different timing recommendations to these steps. What is your recommendation as to the amount of time given for each step and whether or noteachstep can/should be repeated multiple times before proceeding to the next one?

Answer 18

I believe that more time and diligence ought to be applied that is currently the case with most sin situations in steps #1 and #2 from Matthew 18. Whether or not a person “listens” is proven over time (1 Timothy 5:24-25), and must be cautiously and soundly discerned. There are times when people look like they are listening, yet are not really. But there are also times when people are stumbling, but genuinely listening. Sin habits do not go away overnight. One must discern if someone is stumbling according to weakness of the flesh (Romans 7) or according to hardened rebellion (1 John 3:10). Depending on the gravity of the consequences of the particular sin (i.e. adultery) and the comprehensiveness with which it has taken over a person’s life, one may have to proceed more quickly.

Question 19

Angelology

Is there the possibility of redemption for angels who sinned, similar to the redemption opportunity afforded man who sinned?

Answer 19

No (1 Peter 1:12, 2 Peter 2:4, Jude 1:6)