2. The Work of the Church
Many in our country preach, “Keep the church and the state separate.”
Functions of the home and the church need to be kept separate.
Failure to understand & apply these distinctions has been the source of much confusion & misunderstanding about the holy mission of the church.

3. Distinguishing the Church and the Individual
The Work of the Church:
Distinguishing the Church and the Individual

4. God has ordained & controls one’s action in each relationship.
The individual has responsibilities in the government, the home, and the church
God has ordained & controls one’s action in each relationship.
Politically (Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Pet. 2:13-17)
Family (Eph. 5:22-6:4; 1Tim. 5:8)
Spiritually (1 Pet. 2:5; 1 Cor. 11:22, 34)

10. The difference between the individual Christian and the church…
Church action involves a group of individual Christians acting collectively.
Work of the church becomes responsibility of every member (Eph. 4:16)
However, it does not follow, that the church is authorized to do everything the individual may do.
One member is not the body (1 Cor. 12:12, 14)
One stone is not the whole building (1 Pet. 2:5)
Individual action is not church action (Cf. 1 Cor. 5)

11. The difference between the individual Christian and the church…
The Bible speaks of a distinction between individual action and church action.
Shown in eating (1 Cor. 11:22, 33-34)
Shown in discipline (Mt. 18:15-17)
Shown in benevolence (1 Tim. 5:15)

12. The difference between the individual Christian and the church…
Some things the individual can do that the church cannot do (1 Tim. 5):
Show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents (v. 4)
Provide for his own, and especially for those of his own household (v. 8)
Marry, bear children, manage the house (v. 14)
Relieve one’s own widows, and “do not let the church be burdened,” (v. 16)
Do not lay hands on anyone hastily (v. 22)
No longer drink water only, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake (v. 23)

13. The difference between the individual Christian and the church…
Some things the church can do which the individual cannot do:
“Take into the number” a widow with certain qualifications (v. 9-10)
Refuse “young widows” with certain qualifications (v. 11)
Be “burdened/charged” with caring for certain types of people (v. 16)

17. The Work of the Church
Many in our country preach, “Keep the church and the state separate.”
Functions of the home and the church need to be kept separate.
Failure to understand & apply these distinctions has been the source of much confusion & misunderstanding about the holy mission of the church.

18. Distinguishing the Church and the Individual
The Work of the Church:
Distinguishing the Church and the Individual

19. The Work of the Church
Many in our country preach, “Keep the church and the state separate.”
Likewise, functions of the home and the church need to be kept separate.
Failure to understand & apply these distinctions has been the source of much confusion & misunderstanding about the holy mission of the church.

20. The responsibility of individuals in benevolence:
Anyone in Need (Lk. 10:25-37; 1 Jn. 3:17; Eph. 4:28)
Family (1 Tim. 5:4, 8, 16)
Orphans and widows (Jas. 1:17)
Brethren, all men (Gal. 6:10)
A Warning (Mt. 25:31-46; Rom. 14:12; 2 Cor. 5:12)

21. The responsibility of individuals in benevolence:
Anyone in Need (Lk. 10:25-37; 1 Jn. 3:17; Eph. 4:28)
Family (1 Tim. 5:4, 8, 16)
Orphans and widows (Jas. 1:17)
Brethren, all men (Gal. 6:10)
A Warning (Mt. 25:31-46; Rom. 14:12; 2 Cor. 5:12)

22. The responsibility of the church on benevolence:
Believers, widows (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-35; 6:1-4)
Brethren (Acts 11:27-30)
Saints (Rom. 15:25-27; 1 Cor. 16:1-4; 2 Cor. 8:1-4, ; 9:1, 12-13)

23. The responsibility of the church on benevolence:
Believers, widows (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-35; 6:1-4)
Brethren (Acts 11:27-30)
Saints (Rom. 15:25-27; 1 Cor. 16:1-4; 2 Cor. 8:1-4, ; 9:1, 12-13)

24. Conclusion
Regarding benevolence, the Lord’s plan places more responsibility upon the individual Christian.
This relieves the church that it may engage in the spiritual work of preaching and teaching the gospel.
The individual Christian must not shift one’s responsibility upon another institution.
God has given both the individual and the church work to do, and each must fulfill these God-given responsibilities according to the divine pattern.