The Distinction between the Church and Individuals in Serving Others

How the church serves The church universal – the body of the saved. A spiritual relationship with God and Christ. We are added to this body when we obey the gospel – Acts 2:38, 47, Eph. 1:22-23

Our approach in this study How the church serves The church local – a congregation. A group of the saved who join together in a given location to do the specific works God has given us to do together – 1 Cor. 1:2, Gal. 1:2, etc. Our approach in this study

How the church serves The work of the church – Worship God – 1 Cor. 11:18-26, 14:23, 26 Support the gospel – Phil. 4:15-17, 1 Thess. 1:8 Build up the body – Eph. 4:11-16, 1 Cor. 14:12, 26 Limited benevolence – 2 Cor. 8:1-5, Acts 11:29-30

How the church serves We serve God in Worship We serve each other by worshipping together – Colossians 3:16 Leaders – serve in the word – Eph. 4:11-16, Heb. 13:7, 17, 1 Pet. 5:2-3 1 Thess. 3:2, 1 Tim. 4:6 Benevolence – 1 Tim. 5:3-16

How Christians serves Our study this month! 1 Corinthians 4:2, faithful stewards Galatians 5:13, we serve one another in love Matthew 20:26-27, to be “great”, serve!

How Christians serves Galatians 6:10, do good to all, especially brethren Applies to individual Christians (consider the context) - Galatians 6:1-10

How Christians serves James 1:27, “visit” orphans and widows. Keep oneself unspotted from the world Applies to individual Christians (consider the context) – James 1:19-27

There is a difference! Many passages teach that there is a difference between the church and the individual. Let us notice a few of these!

There is a difference! 1 Timothy 5:16, dealing with benevolence we read, “do not let the church be burdened.” Matthew 18:15-17, address sins and faults hoping to avoid telling it to the church

There is a difference! 1 Corinthians 11:18, 33, when you come together as a church – implying there are times you are not functioning as the church Acts 5:3-4, shows difference between personal resources and when you give them to a cause (e.g. the church)

The point: You cannot hire the church to serve for you! There is a difference! A failure to make this distinction has caused many to misunderstand the very nature of the church The church is spiritual in nature – cf. John 18:36, Luke 17:21. It builds us up spiritually – Eph. 4:11-16 The point: You cannot hire the church to serve for you!

There is a difference! NOTE: The church is only one aspect of our lives as Christians. We must support her – attendance (Heb. 10:24-25), worship (1 Cor. 11, 14), financially (1 Cor. 16:1-2), her leaders (Heb. 13:7, 17), and spreading the word (Eph. 4:16)

There is a difference! The church is only one aspect of our lives as Christians. But in every area of our lives, our conduct has an impact on her influence within the community – therefore we must live godly lives at all times. When we seek to glorify God and live as Christians, it will reflect positively on the church!

There is a difference! The church is only one aspect of our lives as Christians. But in every area of our lives, our conduct has an impact on her influence within the community – therefore we must live godly lives at all times. When we seek to glorify God and live as Christians, it will reflect positively on the church!

May we strive to be servants of God in all that we do!