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Authority
Romans 1:21-25
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Colossians Colossians 3:173:17
Whatsoever ye do in word
or deed, doall in the
name of the Lord Jesus...
The The ComprehensiveComprehensive Nature of The New Nature of The New
Testament Scriptures Testament Scriptures Understandable – Eph 3:3-5Understandable – Eph 3:3-5
Sufficiently Instructs - 2 Tim Sufficiently Instructs - 2 Tim 3:16,173:16,17
Cannot Be Transgressed – 2 Cannot Be Transgressed – 2 John 9John 9
The totality of information The totality of information revealed regarding any act revealed regarding any act of righteousness forms the of righteousness forms the pattern for that act – 2 Tim pattern for that act – 2 Tim 1:13; 3:16,17; 2 Pet 1:3;1:13; 3:16,17; 2 Pet 1:3;
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ROMANS 10:17ROMANS 10:17
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Expediency in human wisdom involves the right of choice within the realm of those things included in what God has authorized –
When God specifies, then man has no choice but to obey or be in
rebellion to God.To go beyond or fall short of that which is specified is “EVIL” –
Expediency in human wisdom involves the right of choice within the realm of those things included in what God has authorized –
When God specifies, then man has no choice but to obey or be in
rebellion to God.To go beyond or fall short of that which is specified is “EVIL” –
Numbers 20:8-12
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It Must Be Lawful - It Must Be Lawful - Romans Romans 3:7,83:7,8
It Cannot Be Specified - It Cannot Be Specified - Num 4:4-6Num 4:4-6
It Must Edify - It Must Edify - 1 Cor 10:23,33; 1 Cor 10:23,33; 14:2614:26
It Must Not Cause My It Must Not Cause My Brother To Violate His Brother To Violate His Conscience - Conscience - Rom 14:13-23Rom 14:13-23
It Can NOT Be An Addition It Can NOT Be An Addition To God’s Way – To God’s Way – Deut 4:2; 2 Jo Deut 4:2; 2 Jo 9; Rev 22:189; Rev 22:18
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Work To Be Done
Missionary Society
Work To Be Done
Sponsoring Church
Elders
Elders
Elders
Elders
Elders
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Twentieth Century Efficiency? The Church in Evangelism:
– The local church send money to Christian Missionary Society.
Early 1900’s Budget of Society: $6000 $3000 - Society secretary. 1500 - Incidental expenses. 1500 - Preaching support. Is That Really More Efficient?
NO BIBLE AUTHORITY!NO BIBLE AUTHORITY!
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Elders
Scriptural patternPhili 4:15-18
•Direct –
•Does not relinquish oversight of work –
•Does not infringe upon the autonomy of the local church -
•Scriptural –
•It works -
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Christian in needChristian in need
Source of SupplySource of SupplyGrocery Co.Grocery Co.
Clothing StoreClothing StoreHospitalHospital
Real Estate Co.Real Estate Co.SupervisorSupervisor
Church Church can can
provideprovide
Church Church can can
provideprovideFood
Clothing
Care
Shelter
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ChurchChurch Any Person in need
FoodFood
ClothingClothing
CareCare
ShelterShelter
Source of SupplySource of SupplyGrocery Co.Grocery Co.
Clothing StoreClothing StoreHospitalHospital
Real Estate Co.Real Estate Co.SupervisorSupervisor
TreasuryTreasuryContributionContribution
Benevolent Institution Can
Provide
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Providing A Home1 Peter 5:2Acts 4:35Acts 6:1-51 Timothy 5:16
Scripture?????____________
Elders
Elders
EldersProvides
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Twentieth Century Efficiency? The Church in Benevolence:
– The local church sends money to the Southern Christian Home.
NO BIBLE AUTHORITY!NO BIBLE AUTHORITY!
THECHURCH’S
MONEY
THECHURCH’S
MONEY
Is That Really More Efficient?Is That Really More Efficient?
SOUTHERNSOUTHERNCHRISTIANCHRISTIAN
HOMEHOME
SOUTHERNSOUTHERNCHRISTIANCHRISTIAN
HOMEHOME
EMPLOYEMPLOYINDIVIDUALINDIVIDUAL
FAMILYFAMILY
EMPLOYEMPLOYINDIVIDUALINDIVIDUAL
FAMILYFAMILY
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Biblical PatternBiblical Pattern ArrangementArrangement - - Direct Direct
ConditionCondition - - From Ability to Need From Ability to Need PurposePurpose - - Alleviate Need Alleviate Need
Biblical PatternBiblical Pattern ArrangementArrangement - - Direct Direct
ConditionCondition - - From Ability to Need From Ability to Need PurposePurpose - - Alleviate Need Alleviate Need
Thechurch
inEvening
Shade
Thechurch
inEvening
Shade
AchurchElse-where
AchurchElse-where
Gospel Preacher
Needy Saints
CongregationalCongregationalCooperationCooperation
Phili 4:15-17; 2 Cor 11:8; Acts 11:27-30 Phili 4:15-17; 2 Cor 11:8; Acts 11:27-30
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All that believed – All that believed – Acts 2:44,45Acts 2:44,45
Them that believed – Them that believed – Acts 4:32-35Acts 4:32-35
The disciples – The disciples – Acts 6:1Acts 6:1
Relief unto the brethren –Relief unto the brethren – Acts 11:29Acts 11:29
Unto the saints – Unto the saints – Rom. 15:25Rom. 15:25
For the poor saints – For the poor saints – Rom. 15:26Rom. 15:26
Accepted of the saints – Accepted of the saints – Rom. 15:31Rom. 15:31Collection for the saints - Collection for the saints - 1 Cor. 16:11 Cor. 16:1
Ministering to the saints – Ministering to the saints – 2 Cor. 8:42 Cor. 8:4
Supplieth the need of the saints – Supplieth the need of the saints – 2 Cor. 9:122 Cor. 9:12
Relieve the widows indeed – Relieve the widows indeed – 1 Tim 5:161 Tim 5:16
Benevolent Work Of The Church Is Limited
Examples Of Church Examples Of Church BenevolenceBenevolence
Limited To Limited To Needy Needy SaintsSaints
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What about James 1:27? – (Congregational or Individual?)
James 1:27 (NKJV)
Pure and undefiled religion before God
and the Father is this: to visit orphans and
widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
[27] For if anyone is a hearer [24] for he observes himself, [25] But he who looks . . . this one
will be blessed in what he does. [26] If anyone among you thinks he
is religious, . . . deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless.
[27] . . . to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
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(James 1:27 assigns Christians the obligation of caring for “orphans and widows in their trouble.” Brethren often want
to shift their responsibilities. Some take the care of these helpless ones away from the individual and burden the
church with them. And then the church sends a pittance off to a distant institution where they are shipped. Brethren congratulate themselves on their benevolence, castigate
those who personally care for widows and orphans as “anti-orphan,” and the helpless widows and orphans languish in
institutionalized care.) Keith Sharp
What about James 1:27? – (Congregational or Individual?)
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Care - FoodClothing - Shelter
The Work
BenevolentSociety
Transfer
Shifting Responsibility
James 1:27
Gal. 6:10
Individual
Local church
SaintsSaints EldersEldersDeaconsDeacons
Phili 1:1
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• Who’s Money Is It? Acts 5:1-4• They sold their possessions. v. 1• While it remained, it was in their
power. v. 4• When given, ownership changed. v.4
The contribution is commanded by God, but the money belongs to the church.
The money must be used to fulfill the obligations God has placed upon His church.
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IndividualIndividual Local churchLocal church1. Method of raisingBy voluntary offering 1 Cor. 16:1,2; 2 Cor. 9:6,7
By honest labor Eph. 4:28
The individual Acts 5:4 Local elders Titus 1:7
3. UseLiberal Cont.
Pay TaxesProvide Family
Maintain Good Works
Preaching the GospelEdify Saints
Preach to LostRelieving Needy Saints
2. Oversight
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The church cannot alleviate your responsibility in any of these areas. Each individual is obligated to fulfill his or her
individual responsibility.
The Individual’s Responsibility:–Politically. Romans 13:1-7; 1Peter 2:13-17
–Family. Eph. 5:22-6:4; 1 Tim. 5:8; 2 Thes. 3:10-12
–Spiritually. 1 Peter 2:5; 2 Cor. 6:17
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The Church Cannot:> show piety at home. v. 4> provide for own household. v. 8> marry, bear children, guide the house.
The Distinction is seen in:–Eating. - have ye not houses? 1Corinthians 11:22,33-34.
–Discipline. - tell it to the church. Matthew 18:15-17.
–Benevolence. - let not the church be charged. 1 Tim. 5:16
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24Things NOTNOT in the doctrine of Christ . . . . . Things NOTNOT in the doctrine of Christ . . . . .
Many Churches Are Engaged In:Many Churches Are Engaged In:Many Churches Are Engaged In:Many Churches Are Engaged In:
Teaching the false doctrines of Teaching the false doctrines of men – men –
Focus ONLY On Family Issues –Focus ONLY On Family Issues –
Positive Preaching ONLY –Positive Preaching ONLY –
Secular Education -Secular Education -
Politics –Politics –
Entertainment – Entertainment –
Recreation -Recreation -
Social Services –Social Services –
Community Services –Community Services –
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25Things NOT within the doctrine of Christ . . . . . .
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26Southside Church of Christ in RodgersSouthside Church of Christ in Rodgers
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The Limited Church
No wonder
It’s Running
Hot
Institutions
Church
Schools
Orphan Homes
Unlimited Benevolence
Hospitals
Ball Teams
Recreational Centers
Medical MissionariesDivorcee ministries
Single ministriesMiddle Age
ministries
Elderly Ministries
Bus Ministries
Youth Ministries
Banquet Halls
Kitchens
CollegesChild Day Care
Kindergarten
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The WorkThe WorkThe New Testament
Way
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The WorkThe WorkThe New & Improved
Institutional Way
No Scripture – No Sense!
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Heaven Matthew 7:13,14,21-23Matthew 7:13,14,21-23Matthew 7:13,14,21-23
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