Worship in the Local Church Studies In The Scriptures Giving…

 This lesson is about “giving” as part of scriptural church worship to God today  Other studies in this series of Bible lessons cover “the Lord’s Supper, singing, praying, and teaching God’s Word”.  It is important that we worship God acceptably and not in vain (Jn. 4:24; Mt. 15:7-9).  We have discussed the difference between “individual worship” and “worship of the church”  We must honor God’s distinction between authorized spending of the individual’s funds and the local church’s funds  Let us diligently and carefully study how to give to God acceptably so our worship is pleasing to Him Introduction

 If God’s Word teaches but one way for churches to raise her funds, where would that put church car washes, church bake sales, church garage sales, church raffle sales, church letters soliciting funds from other churches and individuals for various “programs and projects”???  Many have left the authorized way of God for how the church is to raise her funds into the treasury of the local church and are guilty of both RAISING the funds incorrectly and SPENDING the funds incorrectly.  This is a matter of fellowship given its affect on all! Does It Matter?

 Tithing under the Law of Moses  Change in the priesthood = change in the law  We live under new covenant  Giving into common treasury of local church  Tithing is NOT mandated in new testament!  God loves a cheerful giver  Give “cheerfully, as we have prospered”  Given Romans 15:4, what can we “learn”?  Less, the same, or more than tithing?  How can the money of the local church be used? Concepts on Giving…

Bible Passages on…. Giving…

I Cor. 16:1,2 ” “ Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.” - NKJV

2 Cor. 9:7 “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” - KJV

More, the same or Less??? Question: If the things written aforetime were written for our learning that we can be assisted in our walk toward heaven…what can we learn from the tithe & giving of first fruits from the Old Covenant? Would we “do well” to give MORE, the SAME, or LESS???

Instruction on…. Spending Church Funds…

I Tim 5:16 “ If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged ; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.” - KJV

2 Cor 11:8 “I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you.” - NKJV

 I Corinthians 16:1,2 is the only passage in the New Testament that tells us when to give into the local treasury (i.e. the first day of the week), but it is NOT the only passage that tells us how the money can be used.  In this passage, we also see that the money can be used for needy SAINTS who meet God’s criteria for being worthy of support from the church when in financial hardship.  In other passages, we will see that church funds were used in the preaching of the gospel (2 Cor. 11:8). Consider…

Authority… Respecting the Silence of God Wherein God is silent, we have no permission to proceed (red light) Wherein God is silent, we have no permission to proceed (red light) Wherein God has authorized, we have the “green light” to proceed. Wherein God has authorized, we have the “green light” to proceed. Are we able and willing to provide positive Bible authority for individual and church action that we believe is scriptural and that we endorse?

God makes the distinction There are certain passages that authorize the individual saint to engage in activities as individuals (secular or spiritual) There are certain passages that authorize the individual saint to engage in activities as individuals (secular or spiritual) There are other passages that authorize the local church to engage in activities as the local church There are other passages that authorize the local church to engage in activities as the local church Since GOD makes the distinction, so should we!!! Since GOD makes the distinction, so should we!!! Context and proper discernment are necessary in rightly dividing the word of Truth (2 Tim 2:15; Heb 5:12-15) Context and proper discernment are necessary in rightly dividing the word of Truth (2 Tim 2:15; Heb 5:12-15) Are we willing to follow God’s instruction for the local church and for the individual seeking authority for EVERY activity before engaging in it?

INDIVIDUAL AUTHORIZED ACTIVITY LOCAL CHURCH AUTHORIZED ACTIVITY Some activities are authorized for BOTH the local church and the individual (as such) to engage in The area of “overlap” would indicate that we can produce authority from God for like activities for both individuals and local churches to engage in.

The individual’s money There are passages authorizing the individual to do certain things that would include the use of the individual’s funds (with good stewardship and all else being equal) There are passages authorizing the individual to do certain things that would include the use of the individual’s funds (with good stewardship and all else being equal) I Tim 5:8; Mt 28:18-20; 2 Tim 2:2; Gal 6:10; Jas 1:27; I Cor 16:1,2; I Tim 5:16; Acts 2:46; Acts 5:4; 2 Tim 4:2; I Tim 6:17-29; I Tim 4:8 I Tim 5:8; Mt 28:18-20; 2 Tim 2:2; Gal 6:10; Jas 1:27; I Cor 16:1,2; I Tim 5:16; Acts 2:46; Acts 5:4; 2 Tim 4:2; I Tim 6:17-29; I Tim 4:8 Are we willing to follow God’s instruction for the local church and for the individual seeking authority for EVERY activity before engaging in it?

The local church’s money There are passages authorizing the local church to do certain things that would include the use of the church’s funds (with good stewardship and all else being equal) There are passages authorizing the local church to do certain things that would include the use of the church’s funds (with good stewardship and all else being equal) I Tim 5:16; Acts 2:42; Acts 20:7; Heb 10:23-25; Acts 6:1-6; I Tim 3:15; I Cor 9:7-19; I Cor 16:1-9; I Tim 5:17; Eph 4:11-16; Heb 2:12 I Tim 5:16; Acts 2:42; Acts 20:7; Heb 10:23-25; Acts 6:1-6; I Tim 3:15; I Cor 9:7-19; I Cor 16:1-9; I Tim 5:17; Eph 4:11-16; Heb 2:12 Are we willing to follow God’s instruction for the local church and for the individual seeking authority for EVERY activity before engaging in it?

The local church’s money con’t Where is the Bible authority for church to church contributions (sending and receiving of funds) in areas OTHER THAN relief? Where is the Bible authority for church to church contributions (sending and receiving of funds) in areas OTHER THAN relief? The pattern of the NT reveals that churches could send relief to brethren to bring about “equality” – 2 Cor 8:14 The pattern of the NT reveals that churches could send relief to brethren to bring about “equality” – 2 Cor 8:14 Are we willing to follow God’s instruction for the local church and for the individual seeking authority for EVERY activity before engaging in it?

Evangelism The local church is authorized to engage in the work of “evangelism” (preaching to the lost) The local church is authorized to engage in the work of “evangelism” (preaching to the lost) I Tim 3:15 – pillar and ground of the truth I Tim 3:15 – pillar and ground of the truth I Thess 1:7,8 – sounding forth the word I Thess 1:7,8 – sounding forth the word I Cor 9:1-18 – church may support local preacher I Cor 9:1-18 – church may support local preacher 2 Cor 11:8; Phil 1:3-5; 4:14-20 – church may support evangelist in other areas 2 Cor 11:8; Phil 1:3-5; 4:14-20 – church may support evangelist in other areas The local church is to be engaged in preaching the gospel to the lost according to the pattern.

Support of gospel preachers Local church #1 Local church #2 Local church #3 Church funds Gospel Preacher Phil 1:5 I Cor 9: Cor 11:8 Phil 1:3-5; Phil 4:14-20 This is God’s pattern for churches supporting gospel preachers. This does not prohibit “individuals” from also having fellowship in the preaching of the gospel.

Where is the authority? Gospel Receiving Local Church Location This is NOT God’s pattern for churches supporting gospel preachers. Where is the Bible authority for this arrangement? Local church #1 Local church #2 Local church #3 Receiving Local Church Church funds funds

Where is the authority? Performance of work God assigned to the church OR to the individual This is NOT God’s pattern for churches doing “church work”. Where is the Bible authority for this arrangement? Local church #1 Local church #2 Local church #3 Receiving Man-Made Institution Church funds funds

Edification The local church is authorized to engage in the work of “edification” (the building up of the saints) The local church is authorized to engage in the work of “edification” (the building up of the saints) Eph 4:16; Acts 20:28-32; Heb 10:23-25 Eph 4:16; Acts 20:28-32; Heb 10:23-25 Since Edification (building up) of the saints is authorized church work, then the church can spend church funds in this area.

Limited Benevolence The local church is authorized to engage in the work of “limited benevolence” (relief of needy saints) The local church is authorized to engage in the work of “limited benevolence” (relief of needy saints) Acts 2:44 – “all that believed” Acts 2:44 – “all that believed” Acts 5:32 – “the multitude of them that believed” Acts 5:32 – “the multitude of them that believed” Acts 6:1 – “disciples…their widows” Acts 6:1 – “disciples…their widows” Acts 11:29 – “relief unto the brethren” Acts 11:29 – “relief unto the brethren” Rom 15:26 – “for the poor saints” Rom 15:26 – “for the poor saints” I Cor 16:1 – “for the saints” I Cor 16:1 – “for the saints” 2 Cor 8:4 – “to the saints” 2 Cor 8:4 – “to the saints” 2 Cor 9:12 “supplieth to the want of the saints” 2 Cor 9:12 “supplieth to the want of the saints” Where is the Bible authority for the church to engage in “general benevolence” (relief of non-saints)?

Buying a service vs donation… If the church decides to rent a place to worship in order to expedite the command to teach, pray, sing, take Lord’s Supper and give…a “service” is being bought authorized by the command to do what God said do. If the church decides to rent a place to worship in order to expedite the command to teach, pray, sing, take Lord’s Supper and give…a “service” is being bought authorized by the command to do what God said do. Where is the authority for a local church to use her funds as a “donation” to any hospital, college, benevolent society, missionary society, or other human institution? Where is the authority for a local church to use her funds as a “donation” to any hospital, college, benevolent society, missionary society, or other human institution? Can we see the difference in relieving a needy saint by paying a hospital bill and in merely making a “donation” to a human institution?

Where is the authority? Local church #1 Local church #2 Local church #3 Organization Built & Maintained to do “church work” Evangelism Edification Benevolence Church funds There is simply no Bible Authority for churches to send funds to other organizations to do the work God assigned to the local church!

Where is the authority? Local church #1 Local church #2 Local church #3 Missionary Society Evangelism Edification Church funds There is simply no Bible Authority for churches to send funds to other organizations to do the work God assigned to the local church!

Where is the authority? Local church #1 Local church #2 Local church #3 Benevolent Society Benevolence Church funds There is simply no Bible Authority for churches to send funds to other organizations to do the work God assigned to the local church!

Where is the authority? Local church #1 Local church #2 Local church #3 Sponsoring Church Evangelism Edification Benevolence Church funds There is simply no Bible Authority for churches to send funds to other churches to do the work God assigned to the local church!

Where is the authority? Local church #1 Local church #2 Local church #3 Bible College Evangelism Edification Church funds There is simply no Bible Authority for churches to send funds to a Bible college to do the work God assigned to the local church! Let the church do her own work!

 What is our approach to our giving into the treasury of the local church?  Are we truly budgeting our finances in such a way that our giving is FIRST in our finances?  Are we giving of our firstfruits or is God getting the leftovers?  What is our attitude toward the percentage of our disposable income that we are giving? Have we even thought about our giving from this perspective?  How sure are we that God is pleased with our giving?  Is the church raising and spending funds properly? Conclusion