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

Overview of New Testament passages, continued

• Acts 11:21-23 – “they sent Barnabas”
• Acts 13:1-3 – “teachers … they sent them”
• Acts 14:26 – “commended … they began to report”
• Acts 15:1-3 – “sent on their way by the church”
• I Corinthians 9:1-18 – “get their living from the gospel”
  • The general principal is that those who work should receive compensation for their work.
  • Apparently, the Corinthians never paid Paul while he worked with them and he did not ask because he knew their spiritual maturity level was not high enough. See Acts 18:1-5. When Silas and Timothy arrived, Paul turned completely to teaching and preaching.
  • I Corinthians 9:13 – See Nehemiah 13:10-14. Nehemiah reprimanded the people for not handling the tithes correctly and paying the priests as they should.
  • I Corinthians 9:14 – A preacher has authority to be supported by his work.
• I Corinthians 14 – “for edification”
  • I Corinthians 14:1-4, 26-33, 40 – In the days of spiritual gifts, those gifts could be controlled. The focus was always to be edification for those who heard. Things were to be done properly and in order.
  • We no longer have spiritual gifts, but we have assemblies that need to be done properly and in order, with the focus being edification.
• II Corinthians 11:7-9 – “I robbed other churches”
  • This is figurative language. He’s making the point that the church in Corinth should have supported him but did not.
• Philippians 1:3-5; 4:14-18 – “participation in the gospel”
  • The church can send money to someone preaching the gospel in another place.
• I Thessalonians 1:6-10 – “sounded forth from you”

Observation: The money was sent directly to the preacher.

• Acts 15:3 – Antioch to Paul and Barnabas
• I Corinthians 9:1-18 – Corinth should have paid Paul.
• Philippians 4:14-15 – Philippi to Paul
• II Corinthians 11:7-9 – Multiple churches sending money to Paul.
• There were no additional organizations involved. The money was sent directly to the preacher.
• In modern times, the sponsoring church arrangement has developed, in which multiple churches send money to a single church, which then supports a preacher.
  • First, there is no authority for churches to pool money together for evangelism.
    • II Corinthians 11:8; Philippians 4:15 – Was Philippi the sponsoring church? There is no reason to connect these two passages. There is no evidence this was the same occasion.
  • Second, local churches – which should have independent function and local oversight – give away control of the money they send.
    • Acts 14:23; I Peter 5:1-2
    • We never read anything of a collective larger than a local church.
    • Wayne Goforth, “Why I Left the Institutional Position”
  • Stick to the simple New Testament pattern!

• Ed Brand made a trip to Zimbabwe to meet with Dickson Dangirwa, who is supported by the church at Benchley.
• Zimbabwe has been known by many names over the years and has twelve official languages, including English.
• Zimbabwe used to be the breadbasket of Africa, but that is no longer the case. Food is now a concern. Most people eat a significant amount of grain and bread, but little protein. Dickson has his own wheat field that he is able to irrigate, but that is an unusual luxury.
• Culturally, men and women often sit separately in worship services and elsewhere.
• Church buildings are often posts with a tin roof.
• Where Dickson lives, there is no electricity or water service. He has solar panels that he uses to charge his phone.
• Travel is difficult because the region is mountainous and the roads up and down the mountain where Dickson lives are unpaved and extremely rocky. The roads are very rough on the vehicles.

Introduction

• I Thessalonians 3:12

Loving our kids

• Mark 9:33-37; 10:13-16 – Jesus loves children and blessed them.
• Deuteronomy 31:10-13 – It is important for children to hear the word of God and learn.
• Joshua 8:33-35 – The children were present for the reading of the law.

Loving our older folks

• Titus 2:1-3
• Psalms 90:10; 92:12-15; 71:8-18 – Older folks can still bear fruit!
• Proverbs 16:31; 20:29
• Leviticus 19:32 – Respect your elders!
• I Timothy 5:1-2
• Ecclesiastes 12:1-5 – The difficulties of old age.
• II Samuel 19:31-39 – David’s treatment of Barzillai the Gileadite: Barzillai accepted his age gracefully and did what he could.

Loving our workers

• Nehemiah 6:1-9, 15 – The determination of Nehemiah and the workers.
• II Corinthians 10:10 – Paul was criticized in his work.
• Luke 7:39 – Even Jesus was criticized in His work!

What is a local church, continued?

When do you have local church action, continued?

When all local church members act together?

• Not necessarily.

When all local church members act together in Christ?

• Yes.
• I Timothy 5:16 – Caring for widows.
• Acts 4:32-5:4 – Once the money was in the common fund, that was something different than an individual’s own money.
• John 12:3-6 – The money belonged to the apostles, but Judas was setting some aside for himself.
• Matthew 18:15-17
• Philippians 2:25, 30; 4:14-18 – Epaphroditus did the work, but Paul attributed it to the church because Epaphroditus was doing it on their behalf.
• I Corinthians 11:17
• Philippians 1:27

Local churches are authorized to provide for the preaching of the gospel

Overview of New Testament passages

• Acts 11:21-23 – “they sent Barnabas”
• Acts 13:1-3 – “teachers … they sent them”
• Acts 14:26 – “commended … they began to report”
• Acts 15:1-3 – “sent on their way by the church”
• I Corinthians 9:1-18 – “get their living from the gospel”
  • Acts 18:1-4

Introduction

• Luke 7:28-30 – The Pharisees rejected God’s purpose.
• II Timothy 3:10 – Timothy had seen Paul living with purpose.
• Matthew 6:33 – Seek God first.
• Matthew 16:26; 22:37-39
• Acts 17:26
• I Corinthians 10:31

Purpose gives me the correct way to view the world and make decisions

• Joshua 24:14-15 – Joshua’s purpose was serving the Lord.
• I Peter 3:8-9
• I Thessalonians 4:3
• Many decisions are already decided for us if we have the right purpose.

Purpose allows me to fulfill my greatest potential

• Matthew 1:21
• John 12:27 – Jesus knew His purpose and was prepared to fulfill His greatest potential.
• Philippians 1:21-24
• What’s the best way for me to live my life? What is my greatest potential?
• Acts 20:27 – Paul fulfilled His purpose with them.
• II Timothy 4:6-8
• I Corinthians 15:58
• I Peter 4:1

Purpose brings true joy to my life

• Hebrews 12:2
• Philippians 3:5, 19-20; 4:4