• There is a difference between an individual and a local church.
    • Matthew 18:15-17 – Jesus made a distinction between three parties:
      • “you” (an individual)
      • “one or two more with you”
      • “the church”
    • I Timothy 5:16 - “she must assist them and the church must not be burdened.” The Holy Spirit made a distinction between an individual taking action and the church taking action.
    • Some say whatever an individual has authority to do, a local church has authority to do, but…
      • Individuals marry each other (I Corinthians 7:2-5).
      • Individuals get jobs and make a profit (James 4:13; I Thessalonians 4:11-12).
      • Individuals have certain family responsibilities (Ephesians 6:4; Titus 2:4-5).
      • Local churches cannot do these things.
    • A letter being addressed to a church does not mean that everything in that letter pertains to collective church work.
      • I Thessalonians
        • I Thessalonians 1:1: “To the church of the Thessalonians”
        • I Thessalonians 4:11: “lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands”
      • I Corinthians
        • I Corinthians 1:2: “To the church of God which is at Corinth”
        • I Corinthians 7:2: “each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband”
      • Letters to churches sometimes address the individuals who make up those churches in their various roles. They are instructed in duties in relation to family, self, neighbors, etc., and sometimes in relation to the local church.
      • Likewise, a letter addressed to an individual may contain some information relevant to a local church (I Timothy 3:1-13; 5:16; Titus 1:5-9).
    • The Biblical distinction between an individual and a church is important because many arguments are based on the failure to make this distinction. Verses which concern individual action (such as James 1:27) are erroneously used in an effort to prove what a church is authorized to do.
  • When do you have local church action?
    • When there is a plurality of Christians acting together? No.
      • Matthew 18:16-17 – Here a plurality of Christians is distinct from the church.
      • Acts 13:1-3; 14:23 – A plurality of Christians is sent out to do the work. If a plurality of Christians is a church, you have one church appointing elders in other churches!
      • I Corinthians 11:22 – A distinction is made between eating a regular meal and coming together as a church to eat the Lord’s Supper.
    • When all the members of the local church act together?
      • Acts 19:39
      • Imagine a small church of 12 members.
        • What if they happen to compose a jury? No, they are not acting as a church.
        • What is they compose a city council? They are acting as a city council when working together in that role – not a church.
    • When people assemble together?
      • I Corinthians 14:23
      • Matthew 18:16