Church WORK Ephesians 3.21 1 Tim. 3:15 Introduction: Church has special place in the world -- "pillar and ground (foundation, mainstay) of the truth." - the church does not manufacture truth, we cannot vote something into being truth, the elders, deacons, preachers and teachers are not the source of the truth. It has been given to us already. It is there for the using, and it must be held up to the world. Jesus said "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes unto the Father but by Me." John 14.6. The church's job is to demonstrate the manifold wisdom of God by following His will and instructions. Ephesians 3:10-11, 20-21 The work of the church is to bring glory to God and His Son, Jesus Christ!!!! Eph 3:21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. 1. Bought by blood. (Acts 20:28). 2. Built upon Divine Revelation. (Matt. 16:18; Eph. 2:20-3:5). 3. Effective in New Testament days. (Col. 1:23; Acts 4:35; Acts 6) B. Church has special work in the world -- Shall discuss that work under three topics. 1. The work authorized for the church. 2. The organization authorized to do the work. 3. Church cooperation authorized for the work. {I. Who gets to decide what we do? A. Before we can really answer the question about what the church should do, we need to determine who gets to set the mission for the church. Do the church’s members get to decide what the church will do? Does the church’s governing body of elders get to decide what the local church is supposed to do? Who gets to decide? Who gets to set the direction? Who gets to tell us our purpose? B. Ephesians 1:22-23 says that Jesus Christ is the head of the church. The church is His body. I recognize this is referring to the church universal. However, I believe it also applies to the church local as a microcosmic representation of the universal body. Jesus is the head of every local congregation. No doubt, Jesus established a body of leadership in the local church. We see that in our elders. I Peter 5:1-3 demonstrates their leadership and government. However, notice I Peter 5:4. These shepherds are in subjection to the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Discussion: I. The Church Work Authorized In The Scriptures. A. Three-fold spiritual work of the church. 1. Evangelism. (Acts 13:1-3; 14:27; Phil. 4:15,16; 2 Cor 11:8). 2. Edification. (Eph. 4:11-16). a. Instruction -- "evangelists, pastors, teachers". (cf. 2 Tim. 4:1-5) b. Discipline. (1 Cor 5; Tit. 3:10; Rom. 16:17). c. Public worship. (cf. 1 Cor 14) 3. Benevolence. (1 Cor. 16:1,2; Note: "'that which is the outcome of fellowship, a contribution', e.g. Rom. 15:26; 2 Cor. 8:4." -- Vine). B. Popular misconceptions of church work. 1. Work same as individual Christians. (1 Tim. 5:16). 2. Minister to "whole man". a. To minister to man's social and recreational needs. (1 Cor. 11:22, 34; Jn 6.26) b. To minister to man's medical, psychological, economic, political, etc. needs. c. To minister to man's diverse problems: marital, youth, singles, seniors, etc. d. Note: Church should teach what Bible says about behavior in all areas of life, But it Is not equipped nor designed to function in all areas. It teaches spiritual truth affecting all areas of life, without functioning in those areas. II. The Church Organization Authorized In The Scriptures. A. Local congregation only church organization in New Testament. 1. Universal church not a functioning organization - a relationship. 2. Local church independently organized. (Acts 14:23; 20:17; Phil. 1:1; 1 Peter 1:1-5). B. Additional organizations violate New Testament principles. 1. Sufficiency of the scriptures. (2 Tim. 3:16,17). 2. Silence of the scriptures. (Heb. 7:11-14). 3. Church fully equipped to do its work. (Eph. 4:11-16). 4. Nature of authority: specific and generic authority. Organization specified. III. The Church Co-operation Authorized In The Scriptures. A. New Testament churches had common: 1. Doctrine. (1 Cor. 4:17; 7:17). 2. Mission in world. B. New Testament churches cooperated in common projects. 1. The support of preachers. (2 Cor. 11:8). 2. The support of poor saints. (1 Cor. 16:1,2). C. New Testament church co-operated concurrently - not jointly 1. New Testament cooperation was concurrent action. a. Evangelism. (2 Cor. 11:8). b. Benevolence. (Acts 11:27-30; 1 Cor. 16:1,2; 2 Cor 8,9). 2. Joint action an addition in cooperation- like instrument an addition in music. D. Much modern cooperation is joint action rather than concurrent. 1. Joint control is either a board or sponsoring eldership. 2. It infringes upon independence of local churches often completely destroying it. Conclusion: A. All arguments in favor of otherworks, organization, and cooperation can be off-set with one simple argument-- Where is the scripture for it? B. Once the gap is down as to work, organization or cooperation, where is the stopping place? Ephesians 3.21

Work Authorized in New Testament Preaching the Gospel Edification Instruction Discipline Public Assemblies Care for Poor Saints I. The Church Work Authorized In The Scriptures. A. Three-fold spiritual work of the church. 1. Evangelism. (Acts 13:1-3; 14:27; Phil. 4:15,16; 2 Cor 11:8). 2. Edification. (Eph. 4:11-16). a. Instruction -- "evangelists, pastors, teachers". (cf. 2 Tim. 4:1-5) b. Discipline. (1 Cor 5; Tit. 3:10; Rom. 16:17). c. Public worship. (cf. 1 Cor 14) 3. Benevolence. (1 Cor. 16:1,2; Note: "'that which is the outcome of fellowship, a contribution', e.g. Rom. 15:26; 2 Cor. 8:4." -- Vine). B. Popular misconceptions of church work. 1. Work same as individual Christians. (1 Tim. 5:16). 2. Minister to "whole man". a. To minister to man's social and recreational needs. (1 Cor. 11:22, 34; Jn 6.26) b. To minister to man's medical, psychological, economic, political, etc. needs. c. To minister to man's diverse problems: marital, youth, singles, seniors, etc. d. Note: Church should teach what Bible says about behavior in all areas of life, But it Is not equipped nor designed to function in all areas. It teaches spiritual truth affecting all areas of life, without functioning in those areas.

Organization Authorized in NT Local congregations only “Universal” church not a functioning organization, but a relationship Local churches independently organized: Acts 14.23; 20.17; Phil 1.1; 1 Peter 1.1-5 Elders, deacons, teachers, preachers II. The Church Organization Authorized In The Scriptures. A. Local congregation only church organization in New Testament. 1. Universal church not a functioning organization - a relationship. 2. Local church independently organized. (Acts 14:23; 20:17; Phil. 1:1; 1 Peter 1:1-5). We can only speculate as to why the Lord chose to do it this way, but it seems clear this is the best way to guard against individual ambition. It isolates each congregation to a certain extent from the spread of error.

Organization Authorized in NT Additional organizations violate New Testament principles Sufficiency of the Scriptures – 2 Tim 3.16, 17 Silence of the Scriptures – Heb 7.11-14 Church fully equipped – Eph 4.11-16 Nature of authority: generic and specified; organization is specified B. Additional organizations violate New Testament principles. 1. Sufficiency of the scriptures. (2 Tim. 3:16,17). 2. Silence of the scriptures. (Heb. 7:11-14). 3. Church fully equipped to do its work. (Eph. 4:11-16). 4. Nature of authority: specific and generic authority. Organization specified.

Cooperation Authorized in NT New Testament churches had common: Doctrine – 1 Cor 4.17; 7.17 Mission in the world They cooperated on common projects: Support of preachers – 2 Cor 11.8 Support of poor saints – 1 Cor 16.1, 2 Cooperation was concurrent, not joint Evangelism – 2 Cor 11.8 Benevolence – Acts 11.27-30; 1 Cor 16.1, 2; 2 Cor 8,9 III. The Church Co-operation Authorized In The Scriptures. A. New Testament churches had common: 1. Doctrine. (1 Cor. 4:17; 7:17). 2. Mission in world. B. New Testament churches cooperated in common projects. 1. The support of preachers. (2 Cor. 11:8). 2. The support of poor saints. (1 Cor. 16:1,2). C. New Testament church co-operated concurrently - not jointly 1. New Testament cooperation was concurrent action. a. Evangelism. (2 Cor. 11:8). b. Benevolence. (Acts 11:27-30; 1 Cor. 16:1,2; 2 Cor 8,9). 2. Joint action an addition in cooperation- like instrument an addition in music. D. Much modern cooperation is joint action rather than concurrent. 1. Joint control is either a board or sponsoring eldership. 2. It infringes upon independence of local churches often completely destroying it.

Church WORK Eph 3:21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Conclusion: A. All arguments in favor of other works, organization, and cooperation can be off-set with one simple argument-- Where is the scripture for it? B. Once the gap is down as to work, organization or cooperation, where is the stopping place? Ephesians 3.21