God has Spoken: (A Study of Bible Authority) Individual Action and Local Church Action (2)

Page 2 Clear Distinction in NT Congregational action & individual action Congregational action & individual action –Care of widows, 1 Tim. 5:16 –Private sin, Matt. 18:15-17 –Treasury, Acts 4:35-5:4 Wrong: “Whatever the Christian can do, the local church can do.” Wrong: “Whatever the Christian can do, the local church can do.”

Page 3 Another Extreme “Whatever the local church may not do, individual Christians may not join together to do.” “Whatever the local church may not do, individual Christians may not join together to do.” –Says it is wrong for Christians to join together in any other capacity except local church to serve God –Says to do so conflicts with the sufficiency of the local church

Page 4 Is it true? Care of widows, 1 Tim. 5:16 Care of widows, 1 Tim. 5:16 –Since local church cannot help certain widows, are individual saints forbidden from working together to relieve them? –Can individual Christians operate a home for widowed saints?

Page 5 Is it true? Private sin, Matt. 18:15-17 Private sin, Matt. 18:15-17 –Since local church cannot immediately be brought in to deal with a private sin, are individual saints forbidden from joining together to deal with it? –Commanded to do so in verse 16

Page 6 Is it true? Treasury, Acts 4:35-5:4 Treasury, Acts 4:35-5:4 –Since local church cannot use its treasury for general benevolence, are individual saints forbidden from pooling their individual funds to do so? –Gal. 6:10; Jas. 1:27

Page 7 Extreme Position “Whatever the local church may not do, individual Christians may not join together to do.” “Whatever the local church may not do, individual Christians may not join together to do.” –Forbids liberty to join together (pool talents & resources) to do work given individual Christians –What proves too much proves nothing

Page 8 “Whatever local church may not do, individual Christians may not join together to do.” What proves too much, proves nothing What proves too much, proves nothing Would necessarily forbid joint work: Would necessarily forbid joint work: –Education (colleges, youth camps) –Business (publish material, sell services) –Teaching gospel (periodicals, web sites) –Benevolence (hospitals, orphanage) –Government (political groups)

Page 9 Concurrent Duties given the Individual & the Local Church No conflict between collective duties & individual duties No conflict between collective duties & individual duties The individual cannot fully discharge his personal duties through the local church The individual cannot fully discharge his personal duties through the local church

Page 10 Concurrent Duties given the Individual & the Local Church Teaching gospel, Acts 8:4; 11:19-23 Teaching gospel, Acts 8:4; 11:19-23 –Individuals taught, Acts 11:20-21 –Jerusalem church acted to teach, 11:22 –Church sent Barnabas, he taught, 11:23 –Barnabas & Saul taught together, 11:25-26

Page 11 Concurrent Duties given the Individual & the Local Church Benevolence, Gal. 6:10; Acts 11:29 Benevolence, Gal. 6:10; Acts 11:29 –Individual’s opportunity & ability, Gal. 6:10 (2 Cor. 8:12) –Local church’s opportunity & ability, Acts 11:29 (2 Cor. 8:1-7, 11; 1 Cor. 16:1-3)

Page 12 Concurrent Duties given the Individual & the Local Church Worship: Lord’s supper Worship: Lord’s supper –Collective: Come together, 1 Cor. 11:18-20, (Acts 20:7) –Individual: Examines & eats, 1 Cor. 11:27-31 –Eat individually “when you come together as a church” (11:18)

Page 13 Concurrent Duties given the Individual & the Local Church Worship: Singing, Eph. 5:19; 1 Cor. 14:26 Worship: Singing, Eph. 5:19; 1 Cor. 14:26 –Individual: “Speaking to one another” –Collective: “Whenever you come together”

Page 14 Concurrent Duties given the Individual & the Local Church Worship: Giving, 1 Cor. 16:2 Worship: Giving, 1 Cor. 16:2 –Individual: “Let each one of you…as he may prosper…” –Assembly: “On the first day of the week” (Acts 20:7)

Page 15 Concurrent Duties given the Individual & the Local Church Worship: Prayer, 1 Cor. 14:16- 17, 23 Worship: Prayer, 1 Cor. 14:16- 17, 23 –Individual: “I will pray…” –Collective: “if the whole church comes together in one place…”

Page 16 Concurrent Duties given the Individual & the Local Church Discipline of disorderly, 1 Cor. 5 Discipline of disorderly, 1 Cor. 5 –Collective action, 5:4 –Individual action, 5:9-13 Collectively “note,” 2 Ths. 3:14Collectively “note,” 2 Ths. 3:14 Individually “do not keep company with him” 2 Ths. 3:14-15 (6)Individually “do not keep company with him” 2 Ths. 3:14-15 (6)

Page 17 Individual & Collective Duties Each Christian is duty-bound before God to do his part of the work given the local church Each Christian is duty-bound before God to do his part of the work given the local church –Each member supplies, Eph. 4:16 –Functioning body, 1 Cor. 12:26-27

Page 18 Individual & Collective Duties Corinthian church planned to help needy saints in Jerusalem, 2 Cor. 8:10-11 Corinthian church planned to help needy saints in Jerusalem, 2 Cor. 8:10-11 So, each member was to give purposely, cheerfully, as he had prospered, 2 Cor. 9:7; 1 Cor. 16:2 So, each member was to give purposely, cheerfully, as he had prospered, 2 Cor. 9:7; 1 Cor. 16:2 The church’s “gift,” 1 Cor. 16:3 The church’s “gift,” 1 Cor. 16:3

Page 19 Individual & Collective Duties Eph. 4:1-3: Each member in a church bears a responsibility for the unity of that church Eph. 4:1-3: Each member in a church bears a responsibility for the unity of that church When each member “gives diligence…,” the goal of unity is achieved and maintained When each member “gives diligence…,” the goal of unity is achieved and maintained

Page 20 Individuals Working Together No violation of the work of the local church when individual Christians work together to: No violation of the work of the local church when individual Christians work together to: –Exhort sinners, Matt. 18:16, 17 –Pray together, yet not as the local church, Acts 12:12, 5 –Teach gospel, Acts 14:27; 20:34

Page 21 Individual Action and Collective Action Christ has given each Christian work to do that is concurrent with one another & with the local church Christ has given each Christian work to do that is concurrent with one another & with the local church The church (body) grows when each member does his/her part, Eph. 4:15-16 The church (body) grows when each member does his/her part, Eph. 4:15-16