Local churches are authorized to provide for worship and edification (continued)

The local church is a group designed for mutual encouragement as we serve God together (continued)

Authority is specified to a certain degree

  • Example 1: Transporting the ark
    • Exodus 25:14; Numbers 4:5-6; 4:15; 7:6-9
    • I Chronicles 13:7-14; 15:2, 12-15
  • Example 2: Strange fire
    • Leviticus 10:1-2
  • Example 3: Priesthood
    • Hebrews 7:11-16; 8:4
  • Examples of authority in the Old Covenant
    • “Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood” (Genesis 6:14)
    • Passover: “an unblemished male a year old … sheep or … goats” (Exodus 12:5)
    • “You shall anoint Aaron and his sons … as priests to Me” (Exodus 30:30)
      • Korah did not have authority to be a priest (Numbers 16)
  • Hebrews 7:14
    • God doesn’t have to say all of the things He does NOT want.
    • He simply reveals what He wants, and it’s our obligation to do those things.
  • The principle of authority is certainly still relevant in the New Covenant.
    • II John 1:9; Colossians 3:17; I Corinthians 4:6
    • “continually devoting themselves to … prayer” (Acts 2:42)
    • “eat this bread and drink the cup” (I Corinthians 11:26)
    • “each of you is to put aside and save” (I Corinthians 16:1-2)
    • “the word of God has sounded forth from you” (I Thessalonians 1:8)
    • ”… psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing” (Colossians 3:16)
      • Matthew 26:30
      • Mark 14:26
      • Acts 16:25
      • Romans 15:9
      • I Corinthians 14:15
      • Ephesians 5:19
      • Colossians 3:16
      • Hebrews 2:12
      • Hebrews 13:15
      • James 5:13
    • “When you assemble, each one has a psalm … teaching …” (I Corinthians 14:26)

What about “Fellowship Halls?”

  • It’s NOT that worship and eating can’t occur at the same location.
  • It’s also NOT that we don’t have good cooks.
  • It’s certainly NOT that we don’t like getting together and socializing.
  • There is no passage that gives a church authority to provide facilities for regular meals.
    • A church can provide for needy Christians. (Acts 6:1-6)
    • A church can provide for the Lord’s Supper. (I Corinthians 11:20-34)
  • Can’t the church practice FELLOWSHIP?
    • Yes, a church should practice fellowship.
      • Are we talking about the same thing?
    • Philippians 4:15
    • Luke 5:10
    • I Corinthians 10:16
    • I Timothy 5:22
    • I John 1:7