Local churches are authorized to provide for the preaching of the gospel (continued)
Overview of the New Testament passages (continued)
- Philippians 1:3-5; 4:14-18 - “participation in the gospel”
- I Thessalonians 1:6-10 - “sounded forth from you”
- I Thessalonians 2:2, 14
- II Thessalonians 1:4
- This was a brand new church, but they were already spreading the word and had a reputation for doing so.
Observation: The money was sent directly to the preacher.
- Antioch ➡️ Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:3?)
- Corinth ➡️ Paul (I Corinthians 9:1-18)
- Philippi ➡️ Paul (Philippians 4:14-18)
- II Corinthians 11:7-9 - multiple churches sent directly to Paul
- We never see a “sponsoring church” in the New Testament.
- Benchley sends money directly to preachers, giving us direct communication and oversight.
Objection: We need something more.
- First, whether we ever understand WHY God limited work to a congregational level instead of a multi-congregational level, that’s as far as the authority goes.
- Second, God’s congregational method works wonderfully!
- Example:
- Initially, elders were over their own congregation, as directed in the New Testament.
- Over time, one elder became chief elder, then one elder gained power over more churches, finally resulting in the Pope.
- At what point did this become wrong?
- How far back would you need to scale it back to make it right?
Sponsoring churches
- First, there is no authority for churches to pool money together for evangelism.
- Some argue: churches sent wages to Paul via Philippi. Philippi was a sponsoring church.
- Philippians 4:15
- Context: Philippians 4:15-18 - The Philippian church sent directly to Paul.
- II Corinthians 11:8 - Which churches are these? Is this the same occasion?
- Some argue: churches sent wages to Paul via Philippi. Philippi was a sponsoring church.
- Second, local churches - which should have independent function and local oversight - give away control of the money they send.