Bible Verses About Congregational Church Government

And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

Acts still centers on appointed elders.

Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

Acts shows the whole church involved in selection.

For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

Titus is told to ordain elders.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

The church selects qualified men for office.

Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

Shows elders who rule well and teach.

And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the LORD, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

Calls the bishop's office a real work.

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

Shows qualifications before ordination.

For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

Gives bishop qualifications.

Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

Sets church conduct in an ordered house of God.

But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Overseers are made by the Holy Spirit.

For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And gather thou all the congregation together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the LORD: and the bullock shall be killed before the LORD.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

These were the renowned of the congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.