Work of the Church  Preach Gospel (1 Tim. 3:15)  Edify Itself (Eph. 4:12)  Care of Needy Saints (Acts 6:1-6; 11:27-30) Elders Oversight Restricted The elders who are among you I exhort….Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock (1 Pet. 5:1-3).

What’s the Difference? Philippi Church $ $ $ $ Sponsoring Church $ $ Phil. 4: Cor. 11:8-9 ?

Attempts To Justify the Sponsoring Church Arrangement Bible Does Not Forbid It  Argument allows anything not specifically forbidden! Instrumental MusicSprinkling for Baptism All Catholic Abuses: Easter, Christmas, Pope, Nuns…  Must respect the silence of the Scriptures! Hebrews 5 12 For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. 13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. Leviticus 10 1 Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. Acts Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law”—to whom we gave no such commandment (Acts 15:24).

Attempts To Justify the Sponsoring Church Arrangement We Do Many Things Without Authority  Argument concedes they have no authority!  Must have authority for all we do (Col. 3:17)! BuildingLightsSong Books  Have authority for these things whether someone understands how to establish it or not!

Establishing Bible Authority Passage Command Addition SpecificGeneral Gen. 6:14Ark of Gopher WoodTools, PlaceOak, Elm Exod. 16:2Lamb: No BlemishKnife, WoodHorse, Pig Mk. 16:15Preach Gospel Tract, Sermon, Class, Radio Math, English Matt. 26:26-29 Bread Fruit of the Vine Cups, Trays, Servers Milk & Twinkie 1 Cor. 16:2Give as ProsperedBasket, HatCar Wash Mk. 16:16BaptizeRiver, BaptistrySprinkle, Pour Eph. 5:19SingBooks, LeaderPiano, Drums

Aids and Additions Direct CommandAidsAdditions Sing (Eph. 5:19) Books, Lights Instruments (Another Kind of Music) Baptize (Mark 16:16) Baptistry Sprinkling (Another Kind of Action) Assemble to Break Bread (Acts 20:7) Building, Seats, Lights, Heat Saturday (Another Day) Preach Gospel (1 Tim. 3:15) Radio, TV, Sermon Sponsoring Church (Another Organization) Relieve Needy Saints (1 Cor. 16:1-4) Money, Food, Necessities Benevolent Society (Another Organization)

Attempts To Justify the Sponsoring Church Arrangement It’s A Good Work  Moving the Ark was a good work (2 Sam. 6:6-7).  Was an authorized way to do it (1 Chron. 15:13-15).  All “good works” are not authorized (Matt. 7:21-23). 13 For because you did not do it the first time, the LORD our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him about the proper order.” 15 And the children of the Levites bore the ark of God on their shoulders, by its poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the LORD. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Attempts To Justify the Sponsoring Church Arrangement It’s Just An Expedient  An Expedient Must First Be Lawful (1 Cor. 6:12). All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable.

Lawful Expedients CommandSpecific Authority General Authority Expedients Ark - Gopher Wood (Gen. 6:14) “Gopher Wood” Size of the Ark Axe, Hammer, Saw Elders Oversee (1 Pet. 5:1-3) “Flock Among You” Choose Preacher, Class Material Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7) 1st Day of the Week, Bread & Fruit of Vine Cups, Trays, Time of Day Church Plan & Provide Social Meals ( …………?………..) Preparation, Food Knives, Forks, Tables, Place to Eat Church Sponsored Recreation (………?………..) Games, Activities Balls, Bats, Teams, Uniforms, Gym Sponsoring Church Evangelism (…………?…………) Elders Over 2 or More Churches Giving & Receiving Churches

15 If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16 But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector (Matt. 18). One Man Is Not “the Church” Two Men Are Not “the Church” Here We Find “the Church” Anything the Individual Can Do, the Church Can Do.

If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows (1 Tim. 5:16). Anything the Individual Can Do, the Church Can Do. Attempts To Justify the Sponsoring Church Arrangement There is something in this passage the church cannot do that the individual Christian is commanded to do!

Attempts To Justify the Sponsoring Church Arrangement Motives Are Pure.  Paul’s motives pure while persecuting Christians (Acts 26:9-12).  Catholics praying to Mary likely have pure motives. Just A Matter of Opinion -- Romans 14 Matter.  Romans 14 discusses matters approved of by God (vs. 3, 5, 14, & 20)  Sponsoring church belongs in 2 John 9-11!

Sponsoring Church Is Unscriptural Cannot be found in the New Testament: –Bigger than local church. –Smaller than the universal church. Local church sufficient to accomplish God’s mission. –Elders over local flock (1 Pet. 5:1-3). –Overseeing preaching, edification, and care of needy saints. Why not do God’s work in God’s way?