Local churches are authorized to provide for needy Christians, continued

God authorized churches to provide for needy saints, continued

• Acts 24:17 – Paul carried money from other churches to Jerusalem. He simply acted as the means to transport the money.
• Romans 15:25-27
• I Corinthians 16:1-3 – A voluntary collection of funds was taken on the first day of the week. The amount was “as he may prosper.” Some argue that this passage is only talking about funds for benevolence, not for preaching, but there are several passages that show that a local church can use its money to support preaching the gospel.
• II Corinthians 8:3-4, 14
• II Corinthians 9:1 – The money was directed specifically to needy saints.
• I Timothy 5:16, 3-5 – “Honoring” widows can include monetary support. See Matthew 15:4.

Observations

• Churches are authorized to provide for needy Christians.
• Individuals are authorized to provide for anyone.
• How generous!
  • Acts 11:29
  • Acts 4:34 – These people were selling their own property to give the money to others in need.
• Use wise judgment.
  • II Thessalonians 3:6-12 – Be generous, but also be wary of those who would prey on that generosity.

Introduction

• Job 1:8
• Luke 4:13

Sin tends to get worse until someone intervenes

• II Kings 17:7-13, 22-23
• Jeroboam set up idols in Dan and Bethel
  • I Kings 12:26-30
  • King after king followed these sinful ways. The altars stood for 300 years until Josiah tore them down.
  • Hosea 8:7
  • Strong leadership could have changed things, but none of the kings were willing to do anything.
  • Proverbs 22:6

So take the initiative to be righteous and teach the next generation!

• Judges 2:8-10
• The ugliness of sin
  • Hebrews 10:29
• Physical purity
  • Romans 13:12
• The importance of family
  • Titus 2:3-5

Solomon

• II Samuel 12:24 – First mention of Solomon.
• II Samuel 3:2-5 – Sons born to David.
• II Chronicles 2:5 – God is the one who chose Solomon to succeed David as king.
• I Kings 1:5-6 – David never rebuked Adonijah for attempting to usurp the throne.
• I Kings 3:10-14 – Solomon asks for wisdom from God. Solomon’s annual income in gold alone was 25 tons, worth about $1.2 billion in today’s money. Solomon’s net worth was estimated at about $2.1 trillion.
• I Kings 10:23
• I Kings 10:6-9 – The report of the queen of Sheba.
• I Kings 9:4-9 – God’s warning to Solomon if he departs from God’s commandments.
• Proverbs 22:6 – Is this 100% foolproof? No, it is a general guideline.
• Proverbs 4:20-27
• Proverbs 10:16
• Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
• Proverbs 11:6-10 – Activities of the righteous vs. wicked.
• Proverbs 5:1-6 – Warnings about forbidden women (adultery, etc.).

“He only is my rock and salvation.” (Psalms 62:1-8)

• Daniel 4:28-33 – Shouldn’t we learn the same lesson of humility that Nebuchadnezzar did? Proverbs 3:5
• I Timothy 6:17 – Riches are uncertain.
• Nothing on earth is secure like God is!
• Psalms 62:3-4 – David had enemies all around.
  • John 16:33
• Psalms 62:8 – See I Peter 5:7.

“You recompense a man according to his work.” (Psalms 62:9-12)

• Proverbs 1:10-19 – Do not go in the way with the evil man.
• Psalms 62:11-12 – God will make things right in the end!
• Do I ever stop and take a good look at my life?
  • Mark 9:20-24 – “Help me with my unbelief!”

Introduction

• Colossians 3:17

Local churches are authorized to provide for worship and edification, continued

Notice that New Testament churches were focused on spiritual edification

• Not any type of edification is a work of the church.
• There is a difference between edification and what might be done simultaneously with it.
  • Acts 2:46-47
  • Matthew 9:11

Local churches are authorized to provide for needy Christians

God authorized churches to provide for needy saints.

• Acts 2:44-45
  • Acts 5:4
• Acts 4:32-35
  • Acts 5:2
  • Acts 22:3 – “at the feet of Gamaliel”
• Acts 6:1-3
• Acts 11:27-30 – Some use this verse to argue for the sponsoring church arrangement, but that is not the arrangement we see in scripture.