ChristadelphianBooksOnline
Don Styles
Principles of Ecclesial Life

Table of Contents

Fundamental Points

The ecclesia Is God's idea

God's deliberate choice

One ecclesial body of all true believers

Local ecclesias by geographic area

Ecclesias are for Growth

Growth In knowledge

Growth In numbers

Growth in character

Preparing Believers for Rulership

The faithful will be joint rulers of the kingdom

Right spiritual attributes must be developed now

Spiritual development requires experience

Ecclesial life provides necessary experience

Many in One, One in Many - The Message of the Figures

A temple made of stones

A flock of sheep

The Bread and the Wine

Dividing the Body is Sin

The sin of dichostasia

Actions causing dichostasia

Unity is Vital to God

Unity Is basic to divine thinking, Eph. 4:4-6

God's name speaks of many united in one

Immortal hosts working as one

Every Member Important

The broad distribution of spirit gifts

The lesson of the human body, 1 Cor. 12:14-27

The lesson of the stones, 1 Kgs. 5:17; 7:9-11

Lessons from the second temple, Haggal 1 and 2

Every member a joint ruler

Solving an Ecclesial Problem - A Case Study from Acts 6:1-8

Acts 6:1 Trouble over ecclesial welfare

Acts 6:2-4, A solution proposed

Acts 6:5-6, The solution Implemented

Acts 6:7-8, The solution enhanced ecclesial growth

Five Practical Suggestions for solving Ecclesial Problems

1. Don't panic - Problems are inevitable

2. Follow Bible precedents

3. Apply spiritual commonsense.

4. Establish right ecclesial structure

5. Keep spiritual priorities uppermost

Contact John Mannell