• 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

Elijah

Major events in Elijah’s life

• First mentioned in I Kings 17:1. Last mentioned in II Kings 10:17.
• Prophesied against Ahab and Ahaziah.
• I Kings 17:1 – famine
• I Kings 17:2-7 – fed by the ravens
• I Kings 17:8-24 – fed the widow and raised her son
• I Kings 18:19-19:3 – defeated the prophets of Baal and fled Jezebel
• I Kings 19:16-21 – chose Elisha to succeed him
• II Kings 2:1-12 – taken up to heaven. Elijah was one of only two people in the Bible to not experience physical death (Hebrews 11:5).
• Malachi 4:1-5 – At the very end of the Old Testament, Elijah’s name is mentioned again. John the Baptist was a parallel to John the Baptist.

Elijah’s impact

• Elijah is mentioned during a relatively small part of the Old Testament, but he had a great impact, even in the New Testament.
• Luke 1:17 – See I Kings 18:39.
• Luke 4:25-26 – Reference to Elijah being sent to the widow in Sidon. God preserved her.
• James 5:17 – Elijah mentioned in reference to the power of prayer.
• Romans 11:4-5 – A remnant of faithful people remains. Compare I Kings 19:14-18.
• Matthew 11:7-14 – When Jesus talks about John the Baptist, we learn more about the determination of Elijah as well.
  • Elijah was strong-willed in his determination to God. He demanded repentance and a return to God. He knew who should be punished for evil.
• What kind of lasting impact do we have on people? Is it for the better or worse?

Elijah encounters God

• I Kings 19:9-13 – Elijah’s encounter with the Lord.