2. God’s plan of work for the church
Introduction
God’s plan of work
for the church
Three-fold work of the church:
Evangelism: 1 Tim. 3:15; 1 Thess. 1:6-8
Edification: Eph. 4:15-16
Benevolence: Acts 4:34-35; 11:27-30; 1 Cor. 16:1-2
Much division over the work of the church:
Evangelism: missionary society, sponsoring church, carnal inducements
Edification: church-sponsored social meals, recreation, secular educational institutions/support
Benevolence: general benevolence from church treasury, as an aid to evangelism, church-supported benevolent institutions (e.g., orphan’s homes)
Bible Authority

3. God’s plan of work for the church
Introduction
God’s plan of work
for the church
Evangelism: 1 Tim. 3:15; Acts 8:4; 11:22-24; 13:1-3; 15:36; Phil. 4:15-16; 1 Thess. 1:8
Preachers authorized to receive support: 1 Cor. 9:14; 2 Cor. 11:8
Support direct to preacher: Phil. 4:14-16
Edification: Matt. 28:19-20
Spiritual growth: Phil. 2:12; 2 Pet. 1:3-11; Eph. 4:11-16
Bible only! 1 Tim. 3:15; Acts 2:42
No secular education! Col. 3:17; 2 Jn. 9
Bible Authority

4. Our Need for Authority Introduction
We must not trifle with divine authority, even if the results are ‘good,’ we disrespect God!
“Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.”
2 John 9
Forewarned is forearmed: Sooner or later we will be confronted with brethren unwilling to abide by divine authority.
Bible Authority

5. The Authority of Jesus Christ:
Bible Authority:
Lesson 10
The Authority of Jesus Christ:
The Work of the Church
(Part 3): Benevolence
1 Timothy 5:3-16

6. Benevolence is a “no brainer”!
1. Introduction to benevolence
Benevolence is a “no brainer”!
Benevolence: the authority for the church to use money from its treasury to help those who are in need.
“But as it is written:
‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.”
1 Corinthians 2:9-12
What guides us?
Emotion? Prov. 14:12; Jer. 10:23; Num. 20:1ff; 1 Chr. 13:11; 15:13
Scripture? Col. 3:17; Rom. 4:3; 1 Pet. 4:11; 2 Tim. 3:16-17
Bible Authority

7. NT teaches two realms of benevolent responsibility
2. Two realms of responsibility
Individual Christian: 1 Tim. 5:4, 16
Condemned if we fail: 1 Tim. 5:8
Very plain & direct: 1 Tim. 5:4, 16, 8
Distinction between church and individual responsibility.
Christian cannot transfer their responsibility to the church and vice versa.
Bible Authority

8. NT teaches two realms of benevolent responsibility
2. Two realms of responsibility
The New Testament
Clearly defines a “pattern” for benevolence.
Clearly distinguishes between benevolent responsibilities of the local church and indivi-dual Christian.
Clearly teaches individual Christian cannot avoid or shift their benevolent responsibilities to the local church and vice versa.
Clearly teaches local church has benevolent responsibilities to its needy saints (only!).
Local Church: 1 Tim. 5:16
Specific qualifications: 1 Tim. 5:3-16
Destitute: vv. 4-5
≥ 60 years old: v. 9
No family to help: v. 4
Good works: v. 10
Faithful: v. 5
Raised children: v. 10
Godly lifestyle: vv. 5, 7
One husband: v. 9
Bible Authority

9. NT teaches two realms of benevolent responsibility
3. Benevolent responsibility of the local church
Three recorded cases: local church benev-olence
Jerusalem church cared for its needy: Acts 2:44-47; 4:32-37; 6:1ff
Church at Antioch sent aid to needy saints in Judea: Acts 11:27-30
Several churches sent aid to needy saints in Jerusalem: 1 Cor. 16:1-3; Rom. 15:25-26
Bible Authority

10. NT teaches two realms of benevolent responsibility
3. Benevolent responsibility of the local church
Treasury authorized: 1 Cor. 16:1-2
“in store” : Greek thesaurizo; our word for treasury.
Pattern for both the collection and use of funds by the local church.
Purpose: “relieve” a “need” : Acts 11:29; 4:35; 2 Cor. 8:14; 9:12
Manner: “must” “orders” “urgency” : 1 Cor. 16:1; 2 Cor. 8:4; 1 Cor. 16:2; Acts 11:29; 2 Cor. 8:12; 2 Cor. 9:7; Mk. 12:42-44
Bible Authority

11. NT teaches two realms of benevolent responsibility
3. Benevolent responsibility of the local church
Subjects: always limited to needy saints
Jerusalem church: Acts 2:44-47; 4:32-37; 6:1ff
“all who believed and had all things in common” : Acts 2:44
“divided them among all” : Acts 2:45
“the multitude of those who believed” : Acts 4:32
“they had all things in common” : Acts 4:32
“the disciples…their widows…neglected” : Acts 6:1ff
Bible Authority

12. NT teaches two realms of benevolent responsibility
3. Benevolent responsibility of the local church
Subjects: always limited to needy saints
Church in Antioch: Acts 11:27-30
“the disciples…determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea” : Acts 11:29
Churches in Galatia, Macedonia, etc.: 1 Cor. 16:1-3; Rom. 15:25-26; 2 Cor. 8, 9
“collection for the saints” : 1 Cor. 16:1
“supplies the need of the saints” : 2 Cor. 9:12
“a…contribution for the poor saints” : Rom. 15:26
Bible Authority

13. THIS Elders & Deacons Needy Saints
Distribution of funds in Jerusalem relief: Acts 2:44-47; 4:32-37; 6:1ff
Elders & Deacons
Needy Saints
THIS
Bible Authority

14. Distribution of funds in Jerusalem relief: Acts 2:44-47; 4:32-37; 6:1ff
Elders & Deacons
Needy Saints
NOT THIS
Benevolent Society/
Sponsoring Church
Bible Authority

15. Distribution of funds in Judean relief: Acts 11:27-30; 14:23; 1 Pet
Distribution of funds in Judean relief: Acts 11:27-30; 14:23; 1 Pet. 5:2; 1 Thess. 2:14; Gal. 1:22
Church at Antioch
NOT THIS
Ben. Society
Paul
&
Barnabas
Church at Bethany
Church at Emmaus
Church at Lydda
Church at Joppa
Bible Authority

16. Distribution of funds in Judean relief: Acts 11:27-30; 14:23; 1 Pet
Distribution of funds in Judean relief: Acts 11:27-30; 14:23; 1 Pet. 5:2; 1 Thess. 2:14; Gal. 1:22
Church at Antioch
NOT THIS
Church at Jerusalem
Paul
&
Barnabas
Church at Bethany
Church at Emmaus
Church at Lydda
Church at Joppa
Bible Authority

17. Distribution of funds in Judean relief: Acts 11:27-30; 14:23; 1 Pet
Distribution of funds in Judean relief: Acts 11:27-30; 14:23; 1 Pet. 5:2; 1 Thess. 2:14; Gal. 1:22
THIS
Church at Antioch
Church at Bethany
Church at Emmaus
Church at Lydda
Church at Joppa
Paul & Barnabas
Sending church sent funds directly to receiving church with needy saints.
Bible Authority

18. Church at Thessa-lonica
Distribution of funds in Jerusalem (2) relief: 1 Cor. 16:1-3
NOT THIS
Antioch
S.C.
Church at Galatia
Church at Thessa-lonica
Church at Philippi
Church at Corinth
Paul, Silas, & others
Church at Jerusalem
Bible Authority

19. Church at Thessa-lonica
Distribution of funds in Jerusalem (2) relief: 1 Cor. 16:1-3
NOT THIS
Ben.
Society
Church at Galatia
Church at Thessa-lonica
Church at Philippi
Church at Corinth
Paul, Silas, & others
Church at Jerusalem
Bible Authority

20. Church at Thessa-lonica
Distribution of funds in Jerusalem (2) relief: 1 Cor. 16:1-3
THIS
Church at Jerusalem
Church at Galatia
Church at Thessa-lonica
Church at Philippi
Church at Corinth
Paul, Silas, & others
Sending church sent funds directly to receiving church with needy saints.
Bible Authority

21. Summary Purpose: relieve a true need.
3. Benevolent responsibility of the local church
Summary
A failure by the local congregation to follow the New Testament pattern in benevolence has the same rami-fications and consequences as not following the New Testament pattern in any other area (e.g., worship, plan of salvation, etc.; recall Lk. 6:46; Matt. 7:21-23).
Purpose: relieve a true need.
Manner: every saint gave on first day of every week.
Subjects: needy saints only.
Distribution: direct to elders of church w/needy saints.
Bible Authority

22. NT teaches two realms of benevolent responsibility
4. Benevolent responsibility of individual Christians
We are influenced by our materialistic society: 1 Cor. 15:33; 1 Jn. 2:15-17
Christians have an important individual bene-volent responsibility: Eph. 4:28; Lk. 12:16-21; Mk. 10:17-22
Scope of individual benevolent responsibility: 1 Jn. 3:17-18; Jas. 2:14-17; 1 Tim. 6:17-18; Matt. 25:31-46
Bible Authority

23. 1 John 3:17
James 2:14-17
1 Timothy 6:17-19

24. Matthew 25:31-46

25. NT teaches two realms of benevolent responsibility
4. Benevolent responsibility of individual Christians
We can no more turn over our individual benevolent responsibilities to the local church than we can turn over other individual responsibilities (e.g., assemble & participate in worship, responsibility as a father, husband, mother, wife; of “keep oneself unspotted from the world.”
Scope of individual benevolent responsibility: 1 Jn. 3:17-18; Jas. 2:14-17; 1 Tim. 6:17-18; Matt. 25:31-46
Family: 1 Tim. 5:4, 8, 16
Fatherless and widows: Jas. 1:27
All men: Lk. 10:25-37; Matt. 25:31-46; Gal. 6:10
Bible Authority

26. God’s Word is the source of all religious authority!
Conclusion
God’s Word is the source of all religious authority!
The Lord has given His church a very simple, yet very profound and important, program of work:
Evangelism: 1 Tim. 3:15; 1 Thess. 1:6-8
Edification: Eph. 4:15-16
Benevolence: Acts 4:34-35; 11:27-30; 1 Cor. 16:1-2
The NT makes a clear distinction between benevolent responsibilities of the church vs. individual Christian.
Denominations and liberal “churches of Christ” violate the NT pattern regarding benevolence: 2 Jn. 9
They use emotionalism to demean and denigrate those who DO follow the NT pattern.
Bible Authority

27. God’s Word is the source of all religious authority!
Conclusion
God’s Word is the source of all religious authority!
We must follow God’s Word! 1 Pet. 4:11; Jn. 8:31; 15:14; 1 Cor. 2:9-13
Detracts from true work of the church.
A burden the church can never meet: Matt. 26:11
Robs individual benevolent responsibility: Matt. 25:31-46
“How will the work get done?!” It gets done when every Christian discharges His God-given responsibilities in the way God has directed: Matt. 25:31-46; Gal. 6:10; Jas. 1:27
Let us as local churches and individual Christians follow God’s pattern for benevolence: Col. 3:17; 1 Pet. 4:11; 1 Jn. 3:17; Jas. 2:15-17; Matt. 25:31-46
Bible Authority