Individual Action and Local Church Action Bible Authority, Part 12

2 Unscriptural View “Whatever the Christian may do, the local church may do” Ignores the functional difference between the local church and the individual Christian, 1 Tim. 5:16 Leads to local church support and sponsor of unscriptural works like recreation, secular education, business endeavors, general benevolence, political actions…

3 Being a Christian Embraces Every Area of Life Social Matt 5: Pet. 2:12 Rom. 13:8 Community Economic 1 Ths. 4:11-12 Col 3:22-4:1 Business Family Col 3:18-21 Eph 6:1-4 1 Pet 3:1-7 Home Civic Rom. 13:1-7 Government Church Eph. 1:22 2: :21; 4:1-16 Spiritual

4 Being a Christian Embraces Every Area of Life Social Economic Family Civic Church Co-existing duties in all these areas Galatians 6:5

Christian Responsibilities CivicFamilyBusinessSocial LOCAL CHURCH Vote Educate Profit Entertain Polling Station School Job Center Recreation Cannot funnel individual duties through the local church… NO BIBLE AUTHORITY! ? Spiritual Bear Burdens All Burdens 5

6 Individual Action and Local Church Action (Matt. 18:15-17) Matthew 18:15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.” One man is not church action

7 Matthew 18:16 “But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’” Two or three is not church action Individual Action and Local Church Action (Matt. 18:15-17)

8 Matthew 18:17 “And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. The local church doing church action Individual Action and Local Church Action (Matt. 18:15-17)

Two Treasuries Acts 4:34-5:4; 3:1-6 Honest labor, Eph. 4:28 Individual, Acts 5:4 Contribution, 1 Cor. 16:2 Taxes, Rom. 13:7 Provide family, 1 Tim. 5:8 Do good works, Gal. 6:10 Offering, 1 Cor. 16:2 Elders, Ac 11:30; Tit. 1:7 Preach gospel, 2 Cor. 11:8 Relieve saints, Ac 4:32-35 Edify saints, 1 Cor. 14:26 INDIVIDUAL LOCAL CHURCH METHOD OF RAISING OVERSIGHT USE 9

10 More Examples of Difference Separate reasons and places to eat shows distinction, 1 Cor. 11:18, , Local church: One place to eat Lord’s supper Individuals: Houses to eat in…eat at home

11 Other Examples of Difference Help needy widows, 1 Tim. 5:16 (8, 9-11) Local church: Enroll “widows indeed” Individuals: Relieve own family and do not charge (burden) the local church

12 Discern the Difference (2 Timothy 2:15) Individual action, local church action, or both? Example: Benevolence, Gal. 6:10; Jas. 1:27; 1 Tim. 5:16 Otherwise, we act without Bible authority, Col. 3:17; 1 Cor. 4:6