1. Acts of the Apostles
Spread of the Gospel
Beginning of the Church
Benevolent Work

2. Benevolence Individual Fellowman
Matt 22:39 ~ And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' NKJV
Luke 10:29 ~ But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" NKJV
Luke 10:36-37 ~ So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" 37 And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
Benevolence Individual Fellowman

3. Benevolence Individual Fellowman
Acts 9:36-39 > Tabitha ~ “full of good works and charitable deeds … tunics, garments”
Acts 20:34,35 > Paul ~ working, supporting the weak
Eph 4:28 ~ … working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
Benevolence Individual Fellowman

4. Benevolence Individual Fellowman
1 Tim 6:18-19 ~ Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
James 1:27 ~ Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
Benevolence Individual Fellowman

5. Benevolence Individual Fellowman
James 2:15-16 ~ If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?

6. Benevolence Individual Fellowman
Matt 25:35 ~ … for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me. 37 "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You …
40 And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'
Benevolence Individual Fellowman
Limited: Thess 3:10

7. 1 Tim 5:3-8 ~ Honor widows who are really widows
1 Tim 5:3-8 ~ Honor widows who are really widows. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. And these things command, that they may be blameless. But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Benevolence Family

8. 1 Tim 5:16 ~ 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.
Benevolence Family
Transfer

9. Benevolence Local Church
A congregation may take care of its own members.
Acts 2:44-47; 4:32-37
Act 6:1-4
1 Tim. 5:9 – “taken into the number”
Needy Christians

10. Benevolence Local Church
Other churches may send to one church that is unable to take care of its own members.
Rom. 15:26,27
1 Cor. 16:1-3
2 Cor. 8:1,4; 9:1,12
Benevolence Local Church

11. Benevolence Local Church
One church may send to many churches, if those churches are in need.
Acts 11:27-30 ~ “to the brethren dwelling in Judea … sent it to the elders”
2 Thess. 2:14 – “churches of God which are in Judea”
Benevolence Local Church

12. Acts 2:44-45 ~ “… all who believed …and had all things in common … and divided them among all, as anyone had need.”
Acts 4:32-35 ~ “… the multitude of those who believed … Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; … distributed to each…”
Acts 6:1-3 ~ “… the number of the disciples was multiplying, … their widows were neglected …”
Acts 11:29 ~ “…send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.”
Rom 15:25,26,31 ~ “ …to minister to the saints … contribution for the poor among the saints… service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,
1 Cor. 16:1 ~ “…collection for the saints…”
2 Cor. 8:4; 9:1,12 ~ “… ministering to the saints … supplies the needs of the saints”
1 Tim. 5:5,10,16 ~ “…really a widow, … trusts in God, … washed the saints’ feet …the church … may relieve them,…”

13. BIBILICAL BENEVOLENCE
We must be careful to do God’s work in God’s way and make certain that we are fulfilling our duties individually, in our own families, and collectively as a local church, according to God’s divine pattern.