The New Testament Church

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The New Testament Church

• The Work of the Church - Benevolence

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Benevolence Examples

• The church CAN be involved in benevolence!
• It is a legitimate work of the church
• BUT, there are limits!
• This is an emotional issue!

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Benevolence Examples

• Benevolence within a local church
• Brethren in Jerusalem Acts 244-45,
  432-37Acts 6 7 men appointed
• 1 Timothy 516

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Benevolence Examples

• Brethren of Judea
• Acts 1127-30
• Judea had exhausted resources
• Relief sent by each according to his ability (29)
• They chose Paul and Barnabase (Messengers) (30)
• Sent directly to elders of congregations (30)

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Benevolence Examples

• Brethren of Jerusalem
• Years later, Pauls 3rd journey
• Romans 1522-27 1 Corinthians 161-4 2
  Corinthians 8-9

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Benevolence Examples

• Brethren of Jerusalem
• Each congregation acted independently
• Each congregation raised its own funds(1 Cor.
  162)
• Each congregation chose how (and who) their gift
  would be delivered (1 Cor. 163-4, 2 Cor. 819,23)

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Benevolence Examples

• Brethren of Jerusalem
• No sponsoring church or human organization
• Money sent directly to the need (Rom. 1526-27)

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The Pattern of Benevolence

• Churches in NT NEVER engaged in general
  benevolence 1 Tim. 315, Romans 1417Consider
  Acts 62-4
• General benevolence addressed
• Family, 1 Tim. 58
• Government, Rom. 13
• Individuals, James 127, Gal. 610, Matt. 2531-46

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The Pattern of Benevolence

• Benevolence was never used as a means to
  evangelize! John 626-27Acts 31-9
• It was always to brethren
• Always when other efforts exhausted 1 Tim. 516

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The Pattern of Benevolence

• It was always temporary needs were not created
  and then funds sought
• Churches maintained their autonomy and
  independence
• No organizations or sponsoring churches

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The Pattern of Benevolence

• There IS a difference between the work of the
  individual and the church!
• Sometimes justification for churches in general
  benevolence is taking passages like Galatians
  610, James 127, etc. and applying it to the
  church.
• Context to individuals

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The good intentions of these works are not
questioned

• The PATTERN in scripture is!
• Where is the authority?