1. God has Spoken (A Study of Bible Authority)
Individual Action and Local Church Action (#1)

2. Extreme Views “Whatever the Christian may do, the local church may do”
Ignores the functional difference between the local church & the individual Christian, 1 Tim. 5:16
Leads to local church support & sponsor of unscriptural works like recreation, secular education, business endeavors, general benevolence, political actions…

3. Extreme Views
“Whatever the local church may not do, individual Christians may not do (together)”
Limits Christians’ group actions strictly to collective actions of the local church
Leads to forbidding individuals the liberty of joining together (pooling talents & resources) to do work given individuals (youth camps, colleges, foundations…)

4. Extreme Views
“Whatever the local church may not do, individual Christians may not do (together)”
Says it is wrong for Christians to join together in any capacity other than local church to teach the gospel & serve God (Acts 13:2; 20:34)

5. Christianity Embraces Every Area of Life
Community
Church Eph. 1: : :21; 4:1-16
Social Matt 5: Pet. 2:12 Ro 13:8
Spiritual
Civic Rom. 13:1-7
Economic Ths 4: Col 3:22-4:1
Business
Family Col 3:18-21 Eph 6: Pet 3:1-7
Government
Home

6. Christianity Embraces Every Area of Life
Co-existing duties in all these areas Galatians 6:5
Church
Social
Economic
Civic
Family

7. Christian Responsibilities
Civic
Family
Business
Social
Spiritual
Entertain
Educate
Profit
Vote
Bear Burdens
Cannot funnel individual duties through the local church…
NO BIBLE AUTHORITY! ?
LOCAL CHURCH
Polling Station
School
Job Center
Recreation
All Burdens

8. Individual Action & Church Action Matt. 18:15-17
Matthew 18:15
“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.”
One man is not
church action

9. Individual Action & Church Action Matt. 18:15-17
Matthew 18:16
“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.’”
Two or three
is not
church action

10. Individual Action & Church Action Matt. 18:15-17
Matthew 18:17
“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.
The
local church
doing
church action

11. Two Treasuries Acts 4:34-5:4; 3:1-6
INDIVIDUAL
LOCAL CHURCH
METHOD OF RAISING
Honest labor, Eph. 4:28
Individual, Acts 5:4
Contribution, 1 Co. 16:2
Taxes, Ro. 13:7
Provide for family, 1 Ti 5:8
Do good works, Gal. 6:10
Offering, 1 Cor. 16:2
Elders, Ac 11:30; Ti. 1:7
Preach gospel, 2 Co. 11:8
Relieve saints, Ac 4:32-35
Edify saints, 1 Co. 14:26
OVERSIGHT
USE

12. Other Examples of Difference
Separate reasons & places to eat shows distinction, 1 Cor. 11:18, 20-22, 33-34
Local church: One place to eat Lord’s supper
Individuals: Houses to eat in…eat at home
Help of needy widows, 1 Tim. 5:16, 8, 9-11
Local church: Enroll widows indeed
Individuals: Relieve own family & do not charge (burden) the local church

13. Discern the Difference (2 Tim. 2:15)
Individual action, local church action, or both?
Example: Benevolence
Gal. 6:10; Jas. 1:27; 1 Tim. 5:16
Otherwise, act without Bible authority (Col. 3:17; 1 Cor. 4:6; 2 Jno. 9)