The Works of the Local Church

Cooperation & Institutions• Where Christians Agree & Disagree…

– Agree: Churches Can Cooperate In Good Works.– Disagree: The Issue Is How?

• How Do Churches Cooperate…– By Sending Funds To A Sponsoring Church?– By Sending Funds To A Religious Institution?– By Sending Funds To A Saint In Need?

• The Answers Hinge On Our Understanding Of…– Local Autonomy– Responsibility– Oversight

New Testament Churches At Work

• Local Churches Function Autonomously…– An Eldership’s Oversight Is Limited To The Local Flock

(1 Peter 5:1-2)– Congregations Each Perform Their Own Works & Face

Their Own Problems (1 Corinthians 11:33-34)– Local Leaders Are Considerate & Courageous In Their

Local Decision Making (Matthew 15:12-14, 1 Corinthians 9:22)

• Local Churches Function By…– Assembling To Engage In A Shared Action, Such As

Worship.– Assembling Funds For Joint Activity, Such As Benevolence.– Appointing An Agent To Perform A Duty On Behalf of The

Congregation, Such As Delivering Funds.

New Testament Churches At Work

• Sound Teaching Is Openly & Willingly Shared– Written: Acts 15:30, Colossians 4:16– Evangelist: 1 Corinthians 4:17

• Good Works Are Shared In As Each Contributes A Portion– 1 Corinthians 16:1-2

• Each Congregation Oversees Their Own Activity– 1 Corinthians 16:3-4

Cooperation As A Sponsoring Church

• A Sponsoring Church: Can A Single Church Assume Responsibility For A Work That All Churches Are Equally Responsible For?– Answer: No. All N.T. congregations sent their

funds directly to the need. They did not go through an intermediary congregation.

• A Sponsoring Church: Can A Single Church Oversee The Work Of Other Churches?– Answer: No. Elders only oversee the work of

their local congregations.

Institutions & The Local Church

• A Religious Institution: Can A Separate Institution Oversee The Work Of A Local Church?– Answer: No. God has authorized the elders, deacons,

& saints in a local church to oversee and accomplish its work. This pattern excludes all others.

• A Religious Institution: Can A Local Church Send Funds Collected For Its Collective Works To An Institution Which Specializes In Works God Has Assigned To Individuals?– Answer: No. Individuals may contribute to institutions

which aid their work, but the local church must use its funds to fulfill only the works given to it in scripture.

New Testament ChurchesAt Work Today

• Following The N.T. Example…– We cooperate with other churches in meeting the

needs of saints by sending funds directly to those in need. As each church sends a generous portion, the entire need is covered. We do not use a congregation or religious institution as an intermediary .

– We oversee and accomplish our works without the interference of a private institution.

– We teach and encourage individuals to be zealous for good deeds, but we do not send money dedicated to our local work to private institutions specializing in works designated for individuals, because there is no authority for arrangement.

Overview Of Our Study• Based On Our Loyalty To Christ, We

Strive To Do What God Has Authorized.• Recognizing The Distinction Between

The Local Church, Universal Church, & Individual, We Strive To Honor The Division Of Task God Has Established.

• Trusting God’s Ways Are Best, We Strive To Carry Out Our Work With The Plans, Tools, & Methods He Provides.

The Works of the Local Church