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2009-02-08 – David Watson – The Work of the Church

// February 19th, 2009 // Bible Study, Mark's stuff

The Work of the Church

By David Watson

Benchley, February 8, 2009

• God authorized the church to provide for needy saints.
  • Acts 6:2-4
  • Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-35; Acts 6:1-3; 11:27-30; Romans 15:25-26; I corinthians 16:1-3; II Corinthians 8:3-4,14; 9:1; I Timothy 5:16,5?- only needy saints provided for.
  • Shouldn’t the church help people by doing good works?
    • Yes, but only those good works for which it was designed.
  • Can’t churches do whatever individuals do?
    • No, this is not true.? II Thessalonians 3:7-12; Ephesians 6:4; Titus 2:4-5; I Corinthians 7:2-5
  • Does the Bible ever say not to use church money another way?
    • No, but that’s not how Bible authority works.
    • God’s silence does not permit – it prohibits.
      • Colossians 3:17; I Corinthians 4:6; Acts 15:24; II John 9; Jeremiah 19:4-6; 32:35; Leviticus 10:1; Hebrews 7:14; 8:4
• God authorized the church to provide for worship and edification.
  • Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 16:1-2; Hebrews 10:23-25; I Corinthians 14:3,12,17,26,40
  • What about using church money for kitchens, fellowship halls, gymnasiums, etc.?
    • Since God did not authorize them, we cannot use church money for these things.
  • But aren’t we edifying each other when we socialize or share a meal together?
    • The Bible uses edification very specifically to mean a church assembling together to worship.
• God authorized the church to provide for the preaching of the gospel.
  • I Thessalonians 1:8; I Corinthians 9:9-14; II Corinthians 11:7-8; Philippians 4:14-18
  • What about other arrangements?
    • Since they are not authorized, they are wrong.