1. The Social Gospel Gospel is a Redemptive Message
A Series
Gospel is a Redemptive Message
The Distinction in Individual & Church
History of the Social Gospel Movement
What Builds Faith, Edifies & Causes Growth
Dangers Among Us

2. Gospel Message Redemptive Message Is A
Gospel Addresses Man’s Need: Sin
Gospel Gives A Remedy: Christ
Gospel Has A Message: Salvation
Gospel Does Not Address: Social Needs

3. The Distinction in Individual and Church
Social Gospel Series
Individual
Church

4. “distinguish things that differ”
Philippians 1:10
“That you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,”
“distinguish things that differ”
(fn: KJV; ASV)
“The margin here more correctly expresses the sense of the Greek word. The idea is, that he wished them to be able to distinguish between things that differed from each other; to have an intelligent apprehension of what was right and wrong-of what was good and evil.”
(Barnes)

5. “Distinguish”
“The word used here denotes the kind of trial to which metals are exposed in order to test their nature.” (Barnes)

6. Confusion Created When Lines Are Blurred
List 1
List 2
Marriage
Faith
Sin
Individual
Weak
Social
Committing Sin
Bond
Opinion
Bad Judgment
Church
Unruly
Spiritual
Continuing in it

7. Confusion Created When Lines Are Blurred
List 1
List 2
Marriage
Faith
Sin
Individual
Weak
Social
Committing Sin
Bond
Opinion
Bad Judgment
Church
Unruly
Spiritual
Continuing in it

8. Confusion Created When Lines Are Blurred
List 1
List 2
Marriage
Faith
Sin
Individual
Weak
Social
Committing Sin
Bond
Opinion
Bad Judgment
Church
Unruly
Spiritual
Continuing in it

9. Confusion Created When Lines Are Blurred
List 1
List 2
Marriage
Faith
Sin
Individual
Weak
Social
Committing Sin
Bond
Opinion
Bad Judgment
Church
Unruly
Spiritual
Continuing in it

10. Confusion Created When Lines Are Blurred
List 1
List 2
Marriage
Faith
Sin
Individual
Weak
Social
Committing Sin
Bond
Opinion
Bad Judgment
Church
Unruly
Spiritual
Continuing in it

11. How Lines Are Blurred Equate two things that are different
Apply principles of one to the other
Fail to distinguish in speech and action

12. Distinction in Individual and Church
Work
Role
Money
Liberties

13. I. Individual & Church Are Not The Same

14. Individual Church Individual Church
“For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.”
1 Cor. 12:12

15. “For in fact the body is not one member but many.”
Individual
Church
Individual
Church
Many Members
Member
“For in fact the body is not one member but many.”
1 Cor. 12:14

16. “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.”
Church
Individual
Church
Many Members
Member
“Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.”
1 Cor. 12:27

17. “If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them...”
Individual
Church
Individual
Church
“…and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.”
“If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them...”
1 Tim. 5:16

18. Individual
Church
“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. 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...”
“…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.”
Matthew 18:15-17

20. Individual Church Get Money Get Money Buy & Sell James 4:13
Free Contribution
1 Corinthians 16:1,2

21. Individual Church Name Name Christian Acts 11:26; 1 Peter 4:16
Church of God
1 Corinthians 1:2
Church of Christ
Romans 16:16

22. Individual Church Diotrephes 3 John 9
“I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us.”
3 John 9

23. Indiv. Matters to Church Contribution
Individual
Church
Member
Care of Own
Indiv. Kept Private
Buy & Sell
Christian
Diotrephes
Many Members
Church Not Burdened
Indiv. Matters to Church Contribution
“Church of Christ”
Church=Them

24. I. Individual & Church Are Not The Same
II. Blurring the Lines

25. II. Blurring the Lines
A. Personal/Private Matters—Spread through the church
Matthew 18:15-17
B. Expect church to relieve individual responsibility
1 Timothy 5:16
C. “Church can do what the individual can do”
James 1:27; Galatians 6:10
D. Social Gospel - 1 Corinthians 11:22,34
1. Social meals (fellowship halls)
2. Recreation (Games, entertainment, family life centers)
3. Ball teams (Gyms)
4. Making social activities essential to spiritual growth

26. II. Blurring the Lines
A. Personal/Private Matters—Spread through the church
Matthew 18:15-17
B. Expect church relieve individual responsibility
1 Timothy 5:16
C. “Church can do what the individual can do”
James 1:27; Galatians 6:10
D. Social Gospel - 1 Corinthians 11:22,34
E. Calling individual matters—”church functions”
F. Treating individual functions—as essential
G. Speak of social matters—as spiritual (“Fellowship”)

27. Some Brethren—Blurred Lines

28. III. Maintaining the Distinction
I. Individual & Church Are Not The Same
II. Blurring the Lines
III. Maintaining the Distinction

29. III. Maintaining the Distinction
A. If we don’t keep a clear distinction:
1. Lines become blurred—in our own mind
2. Lines will be gone – to world & next generation
3. Confused on what are “Church matters” – “Individual”
4. Give birth to social gospel & youth ministries
5. Think individual function – equal to assembling (essential)

30. III. Maintaining the Distinction
A. If we don’t keep a clear distinction:
B. How to keep the distinction clear:
1. Keep Biblical teaching on distinction before us - 1 Peter 1:12
2. Don’t refer to individual & social matters as “church functions”
3. Don’t make people feel they have neglected the Lord if they don’t make every individual/social function.
4. Don’t equate social matters with spiritual matters
5. Don’t talk about “church group” when speaking of social & recreational matters

31. III. Maintaining the Distinction
I. Individual & Church Are Not The Same
II. Blurring the Lines
III. Maintaining the Distinction