Jesus promised to build His church (Matthew 16:18), and it was established the first Pentecost after His resurrection in Acts 2:47. The apostles were given authority by Christ (Matthew 16:18-19; 18:18) to reveal the pattern which each congregation of saints was to follow.
“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” (1 Corinthians 14:33) Paul, in chapter 14, gave instructions that would restore order and dissipate the confusion that had arisen in the worship services of the church at Corinth. (14:26-34) His conclusion was, “Let all things be done decently and in order.” (14:40) I use this passage to point out that this decency and order was to characterize “all churches of the saints”. (14:33)
I wish to point out that these “churches” refer to local congregations of the saints, and do not refer to different denominations. There were no denominations in the first century. Consider that if Paul was alive today, He would not be permitted to instruct all denominational churches to practice the same things since each denomination is separate from the others, make their own rules and creeds, and have law-making and governing bodies of men. But in the times of the apostles, all local congregations of the saints were to follow the apostles’ pattern.
“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 14:23) Paul ordained elders in every church. (Again, this does not refer to denominational churches.) Each local congregation is to have elders. This is Christ’s pattern for local congregations. (Philippians 1:1)
Paul gave instructions about giving on the first day of the week. “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” (1 Corinthians 16:1-2) Paul gave the church in Corinth the same instructions which he gave to the churches in the region of Galatia. Another practice of the first century, engaged in on the first day of the week, was partaking of the Lord’s Supper. “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.” (Acts 20:7) There should be no doubt that Paul taught the exact same thing in all churches.
“Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.” (1 Corinthians 4:16-17) Paul left us an apostolic example of his ways which Christians were to follow. Note again, Paul taught the same things in every church.
No man today has a right to deviate from Christ’s pattern and teach anything different. Paul warned Timothy, “As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightiest charge some that they teach no other doctrine.” (1 Timothy 1:3)