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  • Ezra 8:21-23 - Ezra prays before starting his journey
  • Ezra 8:31-32 - Ezra and the caravan arrive safely
  • Deuteronomy 7:1-4 - God warns the Israelites about intermarrying with idolatrous people.
  • Ezra 9:5-15 - Ezra prays about the impurity of the people. He admits their sin and guilt before God.

For further study, see also:

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  • We do not have to guess as to the work God wants the church to do. He has authorized her to do all He wants her to do.
  • Negatively speaking, the work of the church is not to:
    • Build and operate kitchens
    • Sponsor youth camps
    • Sponsor Boy Scout troops
    • Have ball teams
    • Own and operate rental property
    • Operate a farm
    • Operate a school for reading, writing, and arithmatic
  • The work of the church is seen in its purpose:
    • To glorify God (Romans 15:6
  • Does a church glorify God by providing recreation?
  • Authorized functions for a local church
    • Assemble to worhip in Truth (Acts 20:7
    • Teach the Word to:
      • Edify the saved
      • Save the lost (Philippians 4:15-16
    • Benevolence in some circumstances
    • Discipline in some circumstances
  • Work of a local church must be done within local framework
    • No disciplinary societies
    • No worshipping societies
    • No benevolent societies (to do the work God commanded the church to do)
    • No missionary societies
    • No edifying societies (or preacher training societies)
  • The functions of a local church
    • The elders of a local church are to oversee ALL its functions!
    • Acts 20:28

For further study, see also:

Questions or comments? Join our Discord server for further study.


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  • Hebrews 3:12-4:11
  • Act on God’s word
    • The Israelites didn’t act on their faith when it counted.
    • Hebrews 4:2 - The Israelites did not act on the preaching they heard.
    • Hebrews 4:6-7 - Hearing preaching is not enough if you are disobedient.
    • Numbers 14:6-10 - Caleb and Joshua show confidence that they can take the land.
    • I Corinthians 5:4-5
  • Encourage others to live by faith
    • Numbers 13:27-14:4 - the power of discouragement
    • Hebrews 3:12-13 - We are to encourage each other every day.
    • We must be careful what kind of attitude and vibe we exhibit.
    • We have to think about the power our example has on our own family. I Peter 3:1
    • I Thessalonians 2:11-12
  • Look past the struggle to the rest
    • Hebrews 3:14-15
    • Hebrews 4:7

For further study, see also:

Questions or comments? Join our Discord server for further study.


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© 2026, Mark Watson

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