• Lesson 5, continued:
    • Benevolence under restricted circumstances, continued:
      • From these passages we learn, continued:
        • When one church sent funds to another church, the funds were delivered to the elders of the church where the need was (Acts 11:27-30).
        • Each sending church selected its own messengers (I Corinthians 16:3; II Corinthians 8:23); no sponsoring church was used in sending the alms.
        • The extent of this help from one church to another was until there was freedom from want. (II Corinthians 8:14)
        • The local church administered relief unto its own needy members within its own framework, no outside organization was built and maintained to administer this relief. No church sent its own needy to another church or to a benevolent society for the administering of relief (Acts 11:27-30; Romans 15:25).
        • As a result of this, thanksgiving went up to God and He was glorified (II Corinthians 9:12) and Jewish brethren in Jerusalem longed for their Gentile brethren (II Corinthians 9:14).
      • Thus, the local church is authorized to use its funds for benevolence under only two conditions:
        • When a local church has destitute members.
        • When another local church has more destitute members than it can relieve.