| The CROWN of CHRIST - Understanding the Times in the Light of Scripture |
| The CROWN of CHRIST - Understanding the Times in the Light of Scripture |
A SUMMARY of the
SHORT DIRECTORY for
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES
SHORT DIRECTORY for
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES
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God created humans to be in fellowship with Him and with each other.
Relationships between people should glorify God, but are either
1. Civil, about taking care of this world, or
2. Spiritual, having to do with heavenly things
a. Public Christian fellowship is the organized Church
b. Private fellowship of Christians is also important
Fellowship meetings are Biblical.
1. Believers are closely related to each other as brothers, co-workers and soldiers
of Christ.
2. We have duties to love, edify, encourage, instruct and sing Psalms with each
other.
3. God's approval of fellowship meetings is seen in Malachi 3:16,17 and
Matthew 18:19,20.
4. Private religious meetings were the practice of believers throughout history.
(Psalm 137, Ezra 8:21, Luke 24:43, Acts 1:13,14, 12:12)
Fellowship meetings have several purposes.
1. We share and increase in the knowledge of God.
2. We encourage each other in godly living.
3. We fulfill our Christian duties to one another. (#2 above)
4. We minister our gifts and balance each others temperaments.
General rules for forming a Society
1. Remember to obey Christ and love others.
2. Agree to meet together weekly.
3. Meet on Lord’s Day when no public worship is available; also on week days.
4. Sing Psalms, read the Bible, pray and discuss spiritual things.
5. Women should be included, and may participate - but not as equals with men.
6. Members must agree on Bible truth (Amos 3:3), summarized in the
Westminster Standards and the Act, Declaration and Testimony.
7. Members must be not only orthodox, but of known Christian character.
a. not proud or suspicious
b. faithful in family worship and Sabbath-keeping
c. attendees who wish to be full members should be questioned
1) Disciplinary questions:
a) What is your church background?
b) Did you leave over personal quarrels?
c) Why did you leave?
d) Why do you want to join us?
e) Are you familiar with the different Christian groups?
f) Do you know about the Reformation in Great Britain, especially
in Scotland? (Knox’s History)
g) Do you agree with the Westminster Standards?
h) Do you believe in National Covenanting, and our obligations to
the National Covenant and the Solemn League?
i) Do you believe that the reformation required by these
Covenants was, and is, God’s work.
j) Are you aware of the sinfulness of our current civil constitution?
k) Do you reject the error of the civil state ruling the Church?
l) Do you see that the Revolution Settlement is a sinful work of
human
politics?
m) Do you believe that it is your duty to dissent from the current
godless civil government?
n) Do you agree that it is unlawful to support or follow the corrupt
preachers and churches?
o) Do you agree with the Act, Declaration & Testimony?
p) Do you agree with this Directory?
2) Doctrinal Questions should be asked about the Trinity, Deity of
Christ, creation, Fall, redemption, election, perseverance,
etc. However, people who are willing to learn should not be
excluded for ignorance or weakness.
Internal Regulations for Meetings
1. Pick one central location for the meetings.
2. Meet weekly if in same town; fortnightly if spread out.
3. On Lord’s Days, open with prayer, taking turns singing, reading and
discussing. Close with a Psalm.
4. On weekday evenings, omit Scripture but discuss a useful topic. It is wise to
announce the topic for the next meeting.
5. Avoid deep doctrines and focus on practical basics like sin, faith and salvation.
Ask and discuss simple questions about the Bible text.
6. Members should take care to -
a. avoid worldly conversation
b. avoid formal, unscriptural or “preachy” prayer
c. be gentle if someone speaks questionably (admonish privately)
d. take turns speaking and avoid debate (stop and move on if needed)
e. avoid tedious long prayers
f. avoid repeating what others have said
g. bring children to the meeting as soon as they can sit still
h. no stranger should be invited or excluded without the consent of the
whole society
i. if needed, neighboring society should send members to help
j. 12 - 14 members is ideal if at least half are men.
k. several societies under one presbytery should send delegates to each
others meetings
l. corresponding societies should have occasional meetings for
joint government - no women allowed
m. elect ruling elders if you can
n. solve public differences cautiously
o. solve private wrongs as per Matthew 18:15-17
p. pray for each other and help each other in and out of the meetings
q. avoid occasional hearing and court cases
r. try to attend every meeting
s. explain any absences
t. avoid admission of non-Covenanters
u. remember to pray for earthly blessings conditionally, spiritual promises
unconditionally
Relationships between people should glorify God, but are either
1. Civil, about taking care of this world, or
2. Spiritual, having to do with heavenly things
a. Public Christian fellowship is the organized Church
b. Private fellowship of Christians is also important
Fellowship meetings are Biblical.
1. Believers are closely related to each other as brothers, co-workers and soldiers
of Christ.
2. We have duties to love, edify, encourage, instruct and sing Psalms with each
other.
3. God's approval of fellowship meetings is seen in Malachi 3:16,17 and
Matthew 18:19,20.
4. Private religious meetings were the practice of believers throughout history.
(Psalm 137, Ezra 8:21, Luke 24:43, Acts 1:13,14, 12:12)
Fellowship meetings have several purposes.
1. We share and increase in the knowledge of God.
2. We encourage each other in godly living.
3. We fulfill our Christian duties to one another. (#2 above)
4. We minister our gifts and balance each others temperaments.
General rules for forming a Society
1. Remember to obey Christ and love others.
2. Agree to meet together weekly.
3. Meet on Lord’s Day when no public worship is available; also on week days.
4. Sing Psalms, read the Bible, pray and discuss spiritual things.
5. Women should be included, and may participate - but not as equals with men.
6. Members must agree on Bible truth (Amos 3:3), summarized in the
Westminster Standards and the Act, Declaration and Testimony.
7. Members must be not only orthodox, but of known Christian character.
a. not proud or suspicious
b. faithful in family worship and Sabbath-keeping
c. attendees who wish to be full members should be questioned
1) Disciplinary questions:
a) What is your church background?
b) Did you leave over personal quarrels?
c) Why did you leave?
d) Why do you want to join us?
e) Are you familiar with the different Christian groups?
f) Do you know about the Reformation in Great Britain, especially
in Scotland? (Knox’s History)
g) Do you agree with the Westminster Standards?
h) Do you believe in National Covenanting, and our obligations to
the National Covenant and the Solemn League?
i) Do you believe that the reformation required by these
Covenants was, and is, God’s work.
j) Are you aware of the sinfulness of our current civil constitution?
k) Do you reject the error of the civil state ruling the Church?
l) Do you see that the Revolution Settlement is a sinful work of
human
politics?
m) Do you believe that it is your duty to dissent from the current
godless civil government?
n) Do you agree that it is unlawful to support or follow the corrupt
preachers and churches?
o) Do you agree with the Act, Declaration & Testimony?
p) Do you agree with this Directory?
2) Doctrinal Questions should be asked about the Trinity, Deity of
Christ, creation, Fall, redemption, election, perseverance,
etc. However, people who are willing to learn should not be
excluded for ignorance or weakness.
Internal Regulations for Meetings
1. Pick one central location for the meetings.
2. Meet weekly if in same town; fortnightly if spread out.
3. On Lord’s Days, open with prayer, taking turns singing, reading and
discussing. Close with a Psalm.
4. On weekday evenings, omit Scripture but discuss a useful topic. It is wise to
announce the topic for the next meeting.
5. Avoid deep doctrines and focus on practical basics like sin, faith and salvation.
Ask and discuss simple questions about the Bible text.
6. Members should take care to -
a. avoid worldly conversation
b. avoid formal, unscriptural or “preachy” prayer
c. be gentle if someone speaks questionably (admonish privately)
d. take turns speaking and avoid debate (stop and move on if needed)
e. avoid tedious long prayers
f. avoid repeating what others have said
g. bring children to the meeting as soon as they can sit still
h. no stranger should be invited or excluded without the consent of the
whole society
i. if needed, neighboring society should send members to help
j. 12 - 14 members is ideal if at least half are men.
k. several societies under one presbytery should send delegates to each
others meetings
l. corresponding societies should have occasional meetings for
joint government - no women allowed
m. elect ruling elders if you can
n. solve public differences cautiously
o. solve private wrongs as per Matthew 18:15-17
p. pray for each other and help each other in and out of the meetings
q. avoid occasional hearing and court cases
r. try to attend every meeting
s. explain any absences
t. avoid admission of non-Covenanters
u. remember to pray for earthly blessings conditionally, spiritual promises
unconditionally
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