1. Local Churches & Human Organizations May churches of Christ use human organizations in carrying out their work?

2. Local Churches & Human Organizations May churches of Christ build and/or maintain organizations of human design and origin?

3. Local Churches & Human Organizations Is every conceivable relationship between a local church and a human organization a proper one?

4. The Organization of Local Churches The organizational structure of local churches consists of: "saints …with the bishops and deacons." (Phil. 1:1) The supposed “need” for greater--more extensive--organization than this stems from the desire, on the part of congregations, to do more work than they are able to do.

5. The Responsibility of Local Churches Authority + Ability + Opportunity Responsibility

6. Authority + Ability + Opportunity Responsibility In the absence of one or more of those three elements, churches have no responsibility to act.

7. The Work of Local Churches Edifying saints Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:41-42)

8. The Work of Local Churches Edifying saints And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

9. The Work of Local Churches Edifying saints that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-- Christ-- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to

10. The Work of Local Churches Edifying saints the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. (Eph. 4:11-16)

11. The Work of Local Churches Edifying saints Relieving saints Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. (Acts 2:43-45)

12. The Work of Local Churches Edifying saints Relieving saints Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Nor was

13. The Work of Local Churches Edifying saints Relieving saints there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles

14. The Work of Local Churches Edifying saints Relieving saints (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet. (Acts 4:32-37)

15. The Work of Local Churches Edifying saints Relieving saints Supporting evangelists Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock? Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? For it is written in

16. The Work of Local Churches Edifying saints Relieving saints Supporting evangelists the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain." Is it oxen God is concerned about? Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in

17. The Work of Local Churches Edifying saints Relieving saints Supporting evangelists hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest

18. The Work of Local Churches Edifying saints Relieving saints Supporting evangelists we hinder the gospel of Christ. Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the

19. The Work of Local Churches Edifying saints Relieving saints Supporting evangelists gospel should live from the gospel. (1 Cor. 9:7-14)

20. The Work of Local Churches Edifying saints Relieving saints Supporting evangelists Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. (Phil. 4:15-16)

21. The Work of Local Churches Edifying saints Relieving saints Supporting evangelists Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge? I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you. And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no

22. The Work of Local Churches Edifying saints Relieving saints Supporting evangelists one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself. (2 Cor. 11:7-9)

23. There Are Only Three Things Necessary for Any Work Supervision -- someone to oversee the work Servants -- someone to assist the supervisors in the things that are to be done Supplies -- materials with which to do the things that are to be done

24. Local Churches Are All-Sufficient Elders - also called presbyters, bishops, overseers, pastors, and shepherds - are to oversee the local church and its work. Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. (Acts 20:28)

25. Local Churches Are All-Sufficient Elders - also called presbyters, bishops, overseers, pastors, and shepherds - are to oversee the local church and its work. (1 Peter 5:1-4) The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by

26. Local Churches Are All-Sufficient Elders - also called presbyters, bishops, overseers, pastors, and shepherds - are to oversee the local church and its work. compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. (1 Peter 5:1-4)

27. Local Churches Are All-Sufficient Elders - also called presbyters, bishops, overseers, pastors, and shepherds - are to oversee the local church and its work. Only qualified men may be elders. (1 Tim. 3:1-7) This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good

28. Local Churches Are All-Sufficient Elders - also called presbyters, bishops, overseers, pastors, and shepherds - are to oversee the local church and its work. Only qualified men may be elders. behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all

29. Local Churches Are All-Sufficient Elders - also called presbyters, bishops, overseers, pastors, and shepherds - are to oversee the local church and its work. Only qualified men may be elders. reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

30. Local Churches Are All-Sufficient Elders - also called presbyters, bishops, overseers, pastors, and shepherds - are to oversee the local church and its work. Only qualified men may be elders. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (1 Tim. 3:1-7)

31. Local Churches Are All-Sufficient Elders Deacons, also called servants, and ministers are to assist in the work under the oversight of the elders. (Acts 6:1-7) Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.

32. Local Churches Are All-Sufficient Elders Deacons, also called servants, and ministers are to assist in the work under the oversight of the elders. Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of

33. Local Churches Are All-Sufficient Elders Deacons, also called servants, and ministers are to assist in the work under the oversight of the elders. good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word." And the saying pleased the

34. Local Churches Are All-Sufficient Elders Deacons, also called servants, and ministers are to assist in the work under the oversight of the elders. whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, whom they set before the apostles;

35. Local Churches Are All-Sufficient Elders Deacons, also called servants, and ministers are to assist in the work under the oversight of the elders. and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. (Acts 6:1-7)

36. Local Churches Are All-Sufficient Elders Deacons, also called servants, and ministers are to assist in the work under the oversight of the elders. Only qualified men may be deacons. (1 Tim. 3:8-12) Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith

37. Local Churches Are All-Sufficient Elders Deacons, also called servants, and ministers are to assist in the work under the oversight of the elders. Only qualified men may be deacons. with a pure conscience. But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. Likewise their wives must be reverent, not

38. Local Churches Are All-Sufficient Elders Deacons, also called servants, and ministers are to assist in the work under the oversight of the elders. Only qualified men may be deacons. slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. (1 Tim. 3:8-12)

39. Local Churches Are All-Sufficient Elders Deacons Contributions are for the purchasing of supplies and/or services. (1 Cor. 16:1-2) Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the

40. Local Churches Are All-Sufficient Elders Deacons Contributions are for the purchasing of supplies and/or services. week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. (1 Cor. 16:1-2)

41. Local Churches Are All-Sufficient Elders Deacons Contributions are for the purchasing of supplies and/or services. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. (Acts 2:44-45)

42. Local Churches Are All-Sufficient Elders Deacons Contributions are for the purchasing of supplies and/or services. (Acts 4:34-35) Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles'

43. Local Churches Are All-Sufficient Elders Deacons Contributions are for the purchasing of supplies and/or services. feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. (Acts 4:34-35)

44. Local Churches Are All-Sufficient Elders Deacons Contributions are for the purchasing of supplies and/or services. Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. (Phil. 4:18)

45. Local Churches Are to Do Their Own Work It may purchase, from a human organization, products and/or services to which it is entitled. But it may not transfer the oversight of its work to a human organization. And it may not transfer the doing of its work to a human organization.

46. Local Churches Are to Do Their Own Work Nor may it contribute funds to a human organization. It doesn’t matter whether the human organization is doing something the local church is authorized to do or not. If the scriptures authorize the local church to do a thing, let the local church do that thing.

47. Local Churches Are to Do Their Own Work Some brethren argue that God has actually given to local churches certain responsibilities that they are not equipped to fulfill. “Therefore,” they argue, “these responsibilities must be delegated to human organizations, and [since these are supposedly church responsibilities] local churches may contribute money to the human organizations that do the work.”

48. Local Churches Are to Do Their Own Work But to say that God gave to local churches any responsibility, without equipping them to fulfill that responsibility, is to insult the infinite wisdom of God. One might as well say, “Where God has failed, we have succeeded! We have discovered a way for the church to do its work!”

49. Local Churches & Human Organizations