| Goal | Maturity, unity, full use of every member’s gift | Eph 4:11-13; 1 Cor 12:7 | Church attendance, donations, loyalty | Constantine (AD 313) – State church model |
| Unity | Maintained by love and mutual submission | Eph 4:2-3; Phil 2:1-4 | Based on branding, doctrines, or leadership alignment | Cyprian of Carthage (AD 250) – Bishop-centered unity |
| Worship | Daily life as a living sacrifice to proclaim the gospel and love thy neighbor | Rom 12:1; Heb 13:15-16 | Weekly music performance labeled “worship” | Ambrose of Milan (AD 386) – Formalized hymn singing |
| Communion | Shared meals in fellowship while discerning the body of Christ, Spirit bonded | Acts 2:46; 1 Cor 11:20-29 | Tiny ritual elements, often solemn and disconnected | Cyprian (AD 250) – Eucharist separated from meals |
| Praise and Adoration | Praise and adoration expressed in gatherings | Heb 13:15; Eph 5:19-20 | Weekly music performance labeled “worship” | Ambrose of Milan (AD 386) – Introduced structured worship music |
| Fellowship | Daily or frequent life-sharing | Acts 2:42-47; Heb 10:24-25 | Weekly, time-boxed social moments | Basil of Caesarea (AD 370) – Monastic rhythms replaced community life |
| Preaching / Proclaiming | All believers proclaim the gospel throughout their whole life | Acts 8:4; Col 3:17 | One person preaches from a pulpit weekly | John Chrysostom (AD 400) – Centralized homiletics |
| Discipleship | Through relationships and mutual exhortation | 2 Tim 2:2; Heb 3:13 | Programmatic classes and courses | Augustine (AD 397) – Catechumenal system |
| Leadership | Spirit-led, servant-hearted, equipping roles, elders | 1 Pet 5:1-3; Acts 14:23 | Title-based hierarchy (pastors, priests) | Ignatius of Antioch (AD 110) – Single bishop model |
| Participation | Every member contributes, all (Teachers, Evangelists, Prophets, Shepherds) | 1 Cor 14:26; Eph 4:11-13 | Passive audience, few performers | Clement of Rome (AD 96) – Early clericalism |
| Spiritual Gifts | Expected, discerned, exercised freely | 1 Cor 12:4-11; 1 Cor 14:1 | Suppressed, ignored, or overly regulated | John Calvin (AD 1541) – Cessationism |
| Prophecy & Miracles | Expected of all believers | 1 Cor 14:5, 24; Mark 16:17-18 | Reserved for special leaders or denied altogether | Augustine (AD 400) – Allegorized miracles |
| Unknown Utterances | Speaking in tongues, given with interpretation for the assembly | 1 Cor 14:27-28 | Forbidden, ignored, or artificially mimicked | Council of Constantinople (AD 381) – Outlawed ecstatic practices |
| Mission Focus | Every believer is sent to make disciples | Matt 28:19-20; Acts 1:8 | Church-led events or delegated to missionaries | Gregory the Great (AD 590) – Professional missionary orders |
| Structure | Organic, body-led under Christ the Head | Col 1:18; 1 Cor 12:12-27 | Corporate, schedule- and personality-driven | Constantine (AD 325) – Church as state institution |
| Teaching | Spirit-led as the Spirit guides, multiple voices, discerned by the body | 1 Cor 14:29-31; John 14:26 | One primary speaker (sermon-centered) | Origen (AD 250) – Professional theological schools |
| Tithing / Giving | Voluntary, Spirit-led generosity and shared resources among brethren, not buildings or clergy | Acts 4:32-35; 2 Cor 9:7 | Required percentage (10%) managed by leadership | Council of Macon (AD 585) – Mandated tithing |
| Location | Homes and natural gathering places | Acts 2:46; Rom 16:5 | Designated buildings with stages and pews | Constantine (AD 327) – Basilica-style church buildings |