2009-02-08 – David Watson – The Work of the Church
// February 19th, 2009 // View Comments // 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.
- 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.
