Introduction

• Philippians 4:7
• John 14:27
• There is only one source of true peace.

“If I just had a bit more money …”

• Ecclesiastes 5:10
• Money is no guarantee of peace.
• I Timothy 6:17-19
• The heart needs God not stuff.

“If we could jsut elect the right person …”

• John 19:10 - Jesus didn’t expect peace to come from any of the officials.
• Philippians 1:2; 4:7-9 - Paul looked to God for peace.
• True peace doesn’t come from politics.

“If I could just be healthy …”

• II Corinthians 4:16-18; 12:7-10

“If I could just have some awesome vacations …”

• Ecclesiastes 2:10-11
• Peace comes from a clean conscience.

“If ______ would just get what they deserved …”

• Psalms 73:3, 16
• Romans 12:19
• Ultimately, God will take care of things at the end and justice will be done.

“If I could just have a better relationship with ______ …”

• Romans 12:18
• Matthew 5:11-12
• John 15:19; 17:14; 14:27
• Galatians 5:14-15

“If I just had the right family …”

• I Corinthians 7:26-27, 32-35

“The only perfect peace is with God through Christ.”

• John 16:32-33
• Romans 1:7; 5:1; 8:5-8
• Philippians 4:6-7
• Do you have peace?

Local churches are authorized to provide for the preaching of the gospel (continued)

Observation: the money was sent directly to the preacher (continued)

• Wayne Goforth: “Why I Left the Institutional Position”
• If the principle is wrong, the scale doesn’t matter.
• Let’s not stray beyond the simple NT pattern (“Herald of Truth,” “One Nation Under God” campaign, etc.).
• Sponsoring church arrangement
  • First, there is no authoring for churches to pool money together for evangelism.
  • Second, local churches - which should have independent local function and local oversight - give away control of the money they send.

Observation: the gospel was taught

• I Corinthians 9:14
• II Corinthians 11:7
• Philippians 4:15
• I Corinthians 15:1-8
• II Thessalonians 1:8
• The gospel is more than just the facts of Jesus’ life, death, burial, and resurrection - it’s the whole body of teaching in the New Testament.
• Mark 16:15-16
• Matthew 28:19-20
• What a wonderful thing we are tasked with teaching! Romans 1:16
• We also cannot go beyond the gospel to teach other things.

Observation: Encouragement of preachers was important (not just money).

• Acts 13:3; 14:26

I Samuel 11

• I Samuel 11:1-3 - Although it is not mentioned here, we know from later passages that Nahash is the king of the Ammonites. The elders didn’t seem to have confidence in either Saul or God.
• I Samuel 11:4 - The people also show complete lack of confidence in God and Saul.
• I Samuel 11:5 - Saul seems to have not been recognized in his official capacity yet.
• I Samuel 11:7 - Saul ties himself to Samuel’s authority.
• I Samuel 11:15 - Saul is again anointed king and there is great rejoicing. Saul was doing a great job as king so far. He showed faith and courage and handled problems quickly and decisively. He was still humble at this point.

I Samuel 12

• I Samuel 12:1-5 - Samuel had a good reputation. He reminds the people that he had done a good job and they had no good reason to demand a king.
• I Samuel 12:7-13 - Samuel reminded them of all the righteous deeds God had done for them as further indictment for their decision to ask for a king.
• I Samuel 12:14-15 - The nation would have run fine under judges if they had obeyed God.
• I Samuel 12:23 - Samuel considered it sin for him to not pray for Israel.
• I Samuel 12:25 - It is interesting to compare the state of Israel with the founding of America. See the book Forged in Faith by Rod Gragg.

It does not reject or replace Christ

• Some have the idea that either Jesus or baptism saves. It is it not either or!
• Acts 2:38
• Luke 10:17 - What does “in your name” mean?
• Baptized in the name of Christ
  • Deuteronomy 18:20
  • I Samuel 17:45
  • Acts 3:6; 4:7
  • Matthew 28:19
  • Acts 2:38
  • Acts 8:16
  • Acts 10:48
  • Acts 19:5
• Romans 6:3
• Colossians 2:12
• I Peter 3:21
• Therefore … obey Christ by being baptized!
  • Luke 6:46 - Jesus is the one demanding we do things!

It does not add one to a denomination.

• I Corinthians 12:12, 27 - Baptism adds us to the one body.
• Galatians 3:27
• Baptism doesn’t put one into any man-made organization or into a local church.
• Therefore … submit to Christ!
  • I Corinthians 1:12-15

It does not mean your work for God is done.

• Matthew 28:19-20
• Acts 2:38, 41
• Therefore … walk in newness of life!
  • Romans 6:3-5, 11-13

It does not keep one from sinning later and being lost.

• Acts 8:12-13, 18-24
• Galatians 5:4; 1:2; 3:26; 5:7 - They were once faithful, but then hindered.
• I Corinthians 9:19, 22-23, 27 - Paul was careful to not be lost himself after working so hard to save others.
• Therefore … keep resisting the devil.
  • James 4:7
  • Colossians 1:21

Local churches are authorized to provide for the preaching of the gospel (continued)

Overview of the New Testament passages (continued)

• Philippians 1:3-5; 4:14-18 - “participation in the gospel”
• I Thessalonians 1:6-10 - “sounded forth from you”
  • I Thessalonians 2:2, 14
  • II Thessalonians 1:4
  • This was a brand new church, but they were already spreading the word and had a reputation for doing so.

Observation: The money was sent directly to the preacher.

• Antioch ➡️ Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:3?)
• Corinth ➡️ Paul (I Corinthians 9:1-18)
• Philippi ➡️ Paul (Philippians 4:14-18)
• II Corinthians 11:7-9 - multiple churches sent directly to Paul
• We never see a “sponsoring church” in the New Testament.
• Benchley sends money directly to preachers, giving us direct communication and oversight.

Objection: We need something more.

• First, whether we ever understand WHY God limited work to a congregational level instead of a multi-congregational level, that’s as far as the authority goes.
• Second, God’s congregational method works wonderfully!
• Example:
  • Initially, elders were over their own congregation, as directed in the New Testament.
  • Over time, one elder became chief elder, then one elder gained power over more churches, finally resulting in the Pope.
  • At what point did this become wrong?
  • How far back would you need to scale it back to make it right?

Sponsoring churches

• First, there is no authority for churches to pool money together for evangelism.
  • Some argue: churches sent wages to Paul via Philippi. Philippi was a sponsoring church.
    • Philippians 4:15
    • Context: Philippians 4:15-18 - The Philippian church sent directly to Paul.
    • II Corinthians 11:8 - Which churches are these? Is this the same occasion?
• Second, local churches - which should have independent function and local oversight - give away control of the money they send.