1. WHO CAUSED THE DIVISION?
Proponents or Opponents
of Unscriptural Innovations?

2. WHO CAUSED THE DIVISION?
Benev. Society
Mission. Society
Herald of Truth
Sponsoring Churches
NOT ONE IN EXISTENCE 150 YEARS AGO!

3. TOOK CARE OF THEIR OWN NEEDY!
IN THE FIRST CENTURY
CHURCHES OF CHRIST
TOOK CARE OF THEIR OWN NEEDY!

4. Acts 2:44-45
Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

5. Acts 4:32
Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.

6. Acts 4:34-35
And great grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

7. Acts 6:1-2
Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.

8. Acts 6:3-4
"Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word."

9. Acts 6:5-6
And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.

10. 1 Timothy 5:16
If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.

11. A VIOLATION OF THE PATTERN
Turn the care of their needy over to a benevolent society and turn the local church into a glorified fund-raising society.

12. SUPPORTED THEIR OWN PREACHERS!
IN THE FIRST CENTURY
CHURCHES OF CHRIST
SUPPORTED THEIR OWN PREACHERS!

13. 1 Corinthians 9:3-7
My defense to those who examine me is this: Do we have no right to eat and drink? Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?

14. 1 Corinthians 9:8-10
Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain." Is it oxen God is concerned about? Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.

15. 1 Corinthians 9:11-14
If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

16. 2 Corinthians 11:7-9
Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge? I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you. And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself.

17. Philippians 4:10, 15
But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.
Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only.

18. A VIOLATION OF THE PATTERN
Turn the support of preachers over to a missionary society and turn the local church into a glorified fund-raising society.

19. This passage is often used to defend the Sponsoring church
Philippians 4:15
Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only.
This passage is often used
to defend the Sponsoring church
"method" of cooperation in evangelism.

20. Was Philippi a "Sponsoring church"?

21. I can send a map
for this page
if you like.

22. I can send a map
for this page
if you like.

23. Philippians 4:15b
.... no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only.

24. Philippians 4:15b
.... no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only.

25. Philippians 4:15b Diagrammed
CHURCH
SHARED NO
WITH
BUT
CONCERNING ME
YOU
GIVING
ONLY
AND
RECEIVING

26. Philippians 4:15-16
Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.

27. I can send a map
for this page
if you like.

28. I can send a map
for this page
if you like.

29. Acts 17:1-3
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ."

30. Acts 17:4-5
And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas. But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

31. Acts 17:6-9
But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king--Jesus." And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things. So when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.

32. Acts 17:10-12
Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.

33. Acts 17:13-14
But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds. Then immediately the brethren sent Paul away, to go to the sea; but both Silas and Timothy remained there.

34. Acts 17:15-16
So those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed, they departed. Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols.

35. 1 Thessalonians 3:1-2
Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.

36. Acts 18:1-3
After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them. So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers.

37. Acts 18:4-5
And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.

38. 1 Thessalonians 1:1
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

39. There is no indication that Timothy
1 Thessalonians 3:6
But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you--therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith.
There is no indication that Timothy
brought funds from Philippi to Corinth.

40. 2 Corinthians 11:8-9
Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge? I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you. And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself.

43. Sponsoring Church vs. Jerusalem

44. Acts 24:17
"Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation"

45. 2 Corinthians 8:13-15
For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack--that there may be equality. As it is written, "He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack."

46. Sponsoring Church vs. Jerusalem

47. 2 Corinthians 8:14
but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack--that there may be equality.

48. Sponsoring Church vs. Jerusalem

49. 1 Corinthians 16:3
And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem.

50. Sponsoring Church vs. Jerusalem

51. 2 Corinthians 8:19
and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which is administered by us to the glory of the Lord Himself and to show your ready mind

52. Sponsoring Church vs. Jerusalem

53. 2 Corinthians 8:15
As it is written, "He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack."