2. Welcome!
“Every church is
different. Every
true church is a
thing of beauty in
its own unique
way.”

3. Class Material Available Online
• INSTRUCTIONS:
– Go online. Password is “grace4you”
– Go to www.christourhopechurch.com
– In Search bar, type & enter “connecting”
– Click on “Continue Reading”
– Each session is listed & downloadable
– HINT: At the back of each lesson, there is
an Answer Key for all fill-in-blanks.

4. Overview
• #1- Jesus & The
Church
• #2- The Gospel &
The Christian
• #3- Beliefs &
Doctrinal
Distinctives
• #4-
Roots, Relationshi
ps & Rule
• #5- Mission &
Ministries
• #6- Church
Membership

5. Session #4:
Roots, Relationships & Rule
• CHURCH HISTORY- In which branch of Jesus’
Church did Christ Our Hope originate?
• CHURCH AFFILIATION- What denomination
and ministries does Christ Our Hope partner
with?
• CHURCH GOVERNMENT- What are the
leadership structures of Christ Our Hope?

6. Our Church’s Roots
The history of The Church
is like a mighty river…
“There are lots of twists and
turns, and at some points, the river
appears motionless, but its
upstream force is so powerful that
the river is merely changing
direction or reproducing itself into
multiple streams going in various
directions. Such is Christ’s Church: it
has ebbed and flowed in world
history yet continues to prevail.
The Church flows in many streams
and in many directions, yet its
strength comes from the same
powerful Source: Jesus Christ and
His Spirit.”

7. Our Past Connections
EARLY CHURCH:
Jerusalem Council
(Acts 15; AD 48)
PROTESTANT
REFORMATION:
Luther, Calvin, Knox
(1500s)
WESTMINSTER
ASSEMBLY
(1643-1647)
AMERICAN
PRESBYTERIANISM
(1672-present)

8. Early Church Roots:
The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15)
• 1st Ecclesiastical
Assembly of Christ’s
Church (AD 48/49)
• Its purpose was to
adjudicate a doctrinal
controversy
• Participants included
both Apostles & Elders
• Its decision was binding
beyond just those local
churches
(i.e. in Jerusalem & Galatia)

9. Reformation Roots (16th Century):
Luther, Calvin, Knox
• Martin Luther (1483-
1546) rediscovered the
Gospel & translated the
Bible into German
• John Calvin (1509-1564)
wrote The Institutes and
pioneered Word & Deed
ministry in
Geneva, Switzerland
• John Knox (1514-1572)
wrote the Book of Com-
mon (Church) Order &
founded Presbyterianism
in Scotland

10. Westminster Roots (17th
Century):
Reformation in England• Assembly met from
1643-1649
• Met 1,163
times, producing
the Westminster
(Doctrinal) Standards
• Was truly Inter-
Denominational, in
cluding contri-
butions from 120
pastor-scholars

11. Our Theological Heritage:
CHRISTIAN
PROTESTANT
EVANGELICAL
REFORMED
PRESBYTERIAN
PCA

12. The Identity of the
Presbyterian Church in America:
• The PCA is EVANGELICAL, REFORMED and…
• “PRESBYTERIAN”:
– πρεςβύτεροσ (“presbyterios”) = elder or bishop
– Simply refers to our understanding of the Bible’s
model for New Testament church government
– Means we are an elders-led church:
The elders lead, guide and shepherd the flock

13. The PCA’s Mission:
The mission of the Presbyterian Church in
America is to glorify and enjoy God by
equipping and enabling the churches of the PCA
to work together to fulfill the Great Commission
by making disciples of all nations, so that people
will mature as servants of the triune God, will
worship God in spirit and truth, and will have a
reforming impact on culture.

14. The PCA’s Motto:
The PCA is simply one branch of Christ’s
Church that seeks to be:
 FAITHFUL to the Scriptures
 TRUE to the Reformed Tradition
 OBEDIENT to the Great Commission
of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28.18-20)

15. The PCA’s Structure
Whereas “Evangelical” identifies our unified stance
with the wider worldwide church, and “Reformed”
identifies our stance on theology,…
 “Presbyterian” refers to our form of church
order and structure- our church’s government:
 PASTORS & ELDERS share the same office, yet have
different emphases
“Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy
of double honor, especially those who labor in
preaching and teaching.” (1 Tim 5.17)
 CHURCHES ARE CONNECTED for mission and
accountability through a regional “presbytery”

16. Eastern Carolina Presbytery

17. Understanding
Presbyterian Churches:
CONGREGATIONAL
& Baptist
Churches
PRESBYTERIAN
Churches
EPISCOPAL
& Roman
Catholic
Churches
Authority
Flow
“Bottom-Up” “BOTH /
AND”
“Top-Down”
Decision-
Makers
All Individual
Church Members
Qualified, Trained &
Elected Men from
within the church
Appointed Bishops
from outside the
church
Connections? NO Official
Connections
CONNECTED while
respecting local
church autonomy
STRONG
HIERARCHICAL
Connections (no
local autonomy)

18. Next time:
SESSION # 5-
Our Mission
& Ministries