Benevolent Priorities and Actions of Individual Christians and The Local Church Wrong beliefs lead...

Benevolent Priorities and Actions of Individual

Christians and The Local Church

Wrong beliefs lead to misplaced priorities and wrong actions in

benevolence

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Benevolent Priorities and Actions of Individual Christians and The Local Church

• The New Testament commands we are to love our neighbor as ourselves

• It also reveals priorities and actions for both individual Christians and a local church

• Individual duties are broader and more flexible than those of the local church

• Surprisingly the local church has a clearly defined narrow focus in helping those in need

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1. What is benevolence?

2. Benevolent priorities and actions of individual Christians

3. Difference between individual and local church actions

4. What is a local church?5. Local church collection to be used only for authorized

purposes

6. Benevolent priorities and actions of the local church

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What Is Benevolence?

• Word not in New Testament but the idea is

• Idea – aiding those who are in physical need of food, clothing, shelter and medical care

• Focus again is on need not on things we desire beyond our needs

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Benevolent Priorities And Actions Of Individual Christians

• Apart from the local church, individual saints have a broad range of duties in benevolence which begins with their families first

• Then, these include helping all who are in need, especially Christians, according to our opportunities and how God has prospered us

• Most benevolence is to be done by individual Christians, not the local church

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1. Provide for our family’s needs first

2. Provide for neighbors’ needs, Christians first and then the lost

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Provide For Our Family’s Needs First

1Ti 5:3 Honor widows who are widows indeed;

1Ti 5:4 but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God.

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1Ti 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

1Ti 5:16 If any woman who is a believer has dependent widows, she must assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed.

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Eph 4:28 He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.

2Th 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us.

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2Th 3:7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you,

2Th 3:8 nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you;

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2Th 3:9 not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example.

2Th 3:10 For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.

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2Th 3:11 For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.

2Th 3:12 Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread.

2Th 3:13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.

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2Th 3:14 If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame.

2Th 3:15 Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

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Provide For Neighbors’ Needs, Christians First And Then The Lost

Gal 6:9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

Gal 6:10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

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1Jn 3:14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.

1Jn 3:15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

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1Jn 3:16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

1Jn 3:17 But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?

1Jn 3:18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.

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Act 20:33 "I have coveted no one's silver or gold or clothes.

Act 20:34 "You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me.

Act 20:35 "In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

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Luk 10:25 And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

Luk 10:26 And He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?"

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Luk 10:27 And he answered, "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."

Luk 10:28 And He said to him, "You have answered correctly; DO THIS AND YOU WILL LIVE."

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Luk 10:29 But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

Luk 10:30 Jesus replied and said, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead.

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Luk 10:31 "And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

Luk 10:32 "Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

Luk 10:33 "But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion,

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Luk 10:34 and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him.

Luk 10:35 "On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.'

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Luk 10:36 "Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers' hands?"

Luk 10:37 And he said, "The one who showed mercy toward him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do the same."

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Jas 1:26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless.

Jas 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

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• First, Christians are to help their families with their needs, even extended families who cannot help themselves

• Then, as the Lord prospers us, we are to help our neighbors who are in need, first helping Christians and then others whoever they may be

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• The New Testament reveals that the priorities and actions of individual Christians are different from those of a local church, when Christians work together as “one” in a congregation

• Failure to understand and apply these teachings has led many local churches to have the wrong priorities and actions in benevolence

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purposes


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What Is Benevolence?

• Word not in New Testament but the idea is

• Idea – aiding those who are in physical need of food, clothing, shelter and medical care

• Focus again is on need not on things we desire beyond our needs

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Difference Between Individual And Local Church Actions

• Common error today among denominations and many local churches of Christ is whatever the individual Christian can do, the local church also can do

• Believing this has many congregations of all types providing entertainment and recreation for their members and all

• Also, local churches provide benevolence not only for their members but for all people in general

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• The Scriptures reveal that there is a difference between individual and local church actions

• The individual may be involved in business, secular education, recreation, entertainment and provide for the needs of those in the world

• However, the local church is not authorized to do any of these things

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Mat 18:15 "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.

Mat 18:16 "But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED.

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Mat 18:17 "If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

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What Is A Local Church?

• A local church is an assembly of saints in a given location who agree to worship and work together as the Lord has authorized

• Christians only authorized to work together as “one” in a local church, not through another local church or human organization

• Money collected is to be only used for the agreed purposes that must be authorized by the apostles’ teaching

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What Is A Local Church?

1Co 1:1 Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

1Co 1:2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:

Rom 16:16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

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Local Church Collection To Be Used Only For Authorized Purposes

Act 5:3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land?

Act 5:4 "While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."

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1Co 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also.

1Co 16:2 On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.

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2Co 11:8 I robbed other churches by taking wages from them to serve you;

2Co 11:9 and when I was present with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for when the brethren came from Macedonia they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will continue to do so.

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Benevolent Priorities And Actions Of The Local Church

• Individual saints have primary and broader benevolent responsibilities even generally to all people

• The local church’s benevolent priorities and actions are more restrictive, helping needy saints first in the local church and then to saints in other local churches

• Local churches take action only when individual Christians cannot provide for the needs of saints

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• When local churches act in benevolence they do it directly not through other local churches or human organizations

• Also, they act independently, deciding for themselves what the local church should do in helping saints in other local churches

• They did not loan but gave to needy saints

• Local churches are only to receive money from other local churches when their members are in need

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1. Provide for needs of saints that compose the local church

2. Provide for needs of saints in other local churches

3. Churches only authorized to send money to other churches for benevolence to saints

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Provide For Needs Of Saints That Compose The Local Church

Act 2:44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common;

Act 2:45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.

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Act 4:34 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales

Act 4:35 and lay them at the apostles' feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.

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1Ti 5:3 Honor widows who are widows indeed;

1Ti 5:5 Now she who is a widow indeed and who has been left alone, has fixed her hope on God and continues in entreaties and prayers night and day.

1Ti 5:9 A widow is to be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one man,

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1Ti 5:10 having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work.

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Provide For Needs Of Saints In Other Local Churches

Act 11:27 Now at this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.

Act 11:28 One of them named Agabus stood up and began to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius.

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Act 11:29 And in the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea.

Act 11:30 And this they did, sending it in charge of Barnabas and Saul to the elders.

Act 14:23 When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

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1Co 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also.

1Co 16:2 On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.

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1Co 16:3 When I arrive, whomever you may approve, I will send them with letters to carry your gift to Jerusalem;

1Co 16:4 and if it is fitting for me to go also, they will go with me.

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2Co 8:13 For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality–

2Co 8:14 at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality;

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2Co 8:15 as it is written, "HE WHO gathered MUCH DID NOT HAVE TOO MUCH, AND HE WHO gathered LITTLE HAD NO LACK."

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2Co 9:6 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

2Co 9:7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

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Churches Only Authorized To Send Money To Other Churches For Benevolence To

Saints

Rom 15:25 but now, I am going to Jerusalem serving the saints.

Rom 15:26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.

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1. Provide for needs of saints that compose the local church

2. Provide for needs of saints in other local churches

3. Churches only authorized to send money to other churches for benevolence to saints

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purposes


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