This is the adult Sunday school lesson for Bible Baptist Church of Puyallup, Washington November 7, 2021. For more resources from Bible Baptist Church of Puyallup and Pastor Marvin McKenzie, visit bbcpuyallup.org or marvinmckenzie.org. This lesson covers the Baptist distinctive of a saved and baptized church membership. Baptists deny that infant baptism is scriptural. We would also require that, before a person is admitted into church membership they must be baptized by a scripturally sound Baptist Church.

1. Upon this Rock
Lesson Fourteen
A Study in Baptist Doctrine
Dr. Marvin McKenzie

2. I. DEFINE THE
DISTINCTION
• We also have no bishop, no
cardinal, nor a pope, over the
local church.
• These offices are, in fact, not
Biblical.

3. I. DEFINE THE
DISTINCTION
• The local church which follows
New Testament patterns will
govern itself

4. I. DEFINE THE
DISTINCTION
• Why we say ”pastor” instead
of “bishop.”

5. I. DEFINE THE
DISTINCTION
• We believe that the pastor,
bishop, and elder are all the
same office, one of spiritual
leadership in the local church.

6. II. DETERMINE THE
DIFFERENCES
A. We all know of some denominations that
have added to the offices.
B. We also know of those who have bishops
over a region and are like "pastors' pastors."
C. We contend that there is no such chain of
command taught in the Bible and that the
pastor holds the highest office there is in the
church.

7. III. DECLARE THE
DUTIES
• A. Notice first that the
qualifications for pastor and
deacon are very similar.

8. III. DECLARE THE
DUTIES
B. The duties of the deacon can
be seen
• First, in the meaning of the
name, which is "waiter" or
"servant."
• Second, they can be seen in the
reason for the calling of the
first deacons in Acts 6:1-7.

9. III. DECLARE THE
DUTIES
1. Pastor is a shepherding term and is translated in some
places by the word shepherd.
a. Here, we see the pastor's duty to feed, care for, and
protect God's flock.
b. The pastor also instructs the flock of false doctrines and
warns them of the wolves in sheep's clothing both inside
and outside of the church.
c. Sometimes, the pastor has the nasty job of rebuking a
straying member or chasing away one who the flock may
think is a friend, but the pastor knows is dangerous.
d. The pastor also visits his flock, loves them, cares for
them, and then searches those lost to bring them back.

10. III. DECLARE THE
DUTIES
2. An elder is one with maturity and
wisdom and speaks of the pastor's
counseling ministry.
a. Elder does not refer to age.
b. As pastor, I am called upon to give
counsel, wisdom, and maturity in
many settings.

11. III. DECLARE THE
DUTIES
3. The title, bishop, means
overseer.
This speaks of the pastor's duty
of leadership and direction to
the church.