1. Welcome!
Bibles and copies of sermons are available Please silence your cell phones
Sunday Bible Classes 9:30 AM Worship 10:30 AM 5:30 PM Wednesday Bible Classes 7:00 PM

2. Sunday AM Sunday PM Wednesday
Serving
Sunday AM
Sunday PM
Wednesday
Usher
Steven Root
Opening Prayer
Rob Wade
Stan Mellor
Opening/Head
Lamar McDonald
Communion
Grant Haines
Caleb White
Michael Hetzer
Song Leader
Chris Willis
Barry Root
Announcement
Anthony Ward
Adult Class
Ryan Sollars
Invitation

3. Ephesians 5:19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord
Hymns
Invitation
000 -

4. Why Don’t We….. Fight Poverty?
The issue of church benevolence to non-members of the church.

5. I-10 in El Paso, looking south across the rio grande into Juarez
I-10 in El Paso, looking south across the rio grande into Juarez. I have always been struck by the living conditions of those here.

6. What Is Poverty?
Is it:
“the state of not having enough money to take care of basic needs such as food, clothing, and housing”
“the condition of having less than another”

7. SIN What Causes Poverty? Education, skill, intelligence
Physical condition
Culture of poverty
Politics
Discrimination
SIN
From a variety of sources. Poverty has many causes, some of which are not under the control of the impoverished. We need to understand that ALL of the sources of poverty go back to one root - SIN

8. The History of Churches and Poverty
Before World War II: Catholic hospitals and charities Protestant hospitals and charities Salvation Army in 1865
Before WWII, fighting for social justice against poverty was not seen as something churches would do. The Salvation Army (established

9. The History of Churches and Poverty
After World War II Drives to rebuild Europe 1960s – political poverty issues
After WWII, churches began sending great amounts of money to Europe. About the time this was ebding, the war on poverty began in America, and many churches switched to fight poverty here

10. The History of Churches and Poverty
Today: Many believe that churches ought to be about social issues rather than spiritual "Poverty is becoming the leading issue for churches,“ Jim Wallis, Call to Renewal
Today,, many people think that a church should be only about meeting these needs.

11. The History of Churches and Poverty
Today:
Many believe the church ought to engage in poverty reduction through charity
Soup kitchens
Shelters
Financial dispersements
Today,, many people think that a church should be only about meeting these needs.

12. The History of Churches and Poverty
Should the Lord’s church follow?
Many brethren have asked – why don’t we do things to help the poor (not individually, but the church)

13. Three Strikes
The Strike of Examples The Strike of Possibilities The Strike of Consequences
3 strikes against fighting poverty: Authority, possibility, consequences

14. Examples of the Church
All Examples of Church Aid is Exclusive Acts 11:28-29 Galatians 2 I Corinthians 16 II Corinthians 8-9 Romans 15:25
Every example of benevolence in the church was from the church to brethren. There is not one example of the church aiding non-believers

15. Examples of the Church
All Examples of Church Aid is Exclusive All Examples of Church Aid is Limited I Timothy 5 II Thessalonians 3
Even the aid to brethren is limited; one sees only emergences, or qualified widows

16. Is it Possible?
Is the church equipped to fight poverty? I Corinthians 16:1-2 II Corinthians 9:7
Secondly – is this something that it is even possible for the church to do? When we consideer that the churches resource collection is limited to the offering taken on Sunday, and that amount is based only on our desire to give, can we not see that there is insufficient equipping to take on something such as poverty reduction by charity>

17. Consequences Jesus fed the poor: what happened
Jesus answered them and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.” John 6:26
When Jesus fed the 5000, they came back the next day not for teaching, but more food. When Jesus taught, they left

18. Consequences
Jesus fed the poor: what happened From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. John 6:66
When Jesus fed the 5000, they came back the next day not for teaching, but more food. When Jesus taught, they left

19. Consequences When we make people dependant:
“The dependency syndrome contributes much to poverty of communities and nations. The charity mode of developmental aid, in turn, contributes much to the dependency syndrome.”
DEPENDENCY AND POVERTY by Phil Bartle, PhD

20. Consequences
It makes sense that the Bible says: Nor did we eat anyone's bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you….For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 2 Thessalonians 3:8,10

21. Consequences
It makes sense that the Bible says: Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, 1 Timothy 5:9

22. Is There A Cure for Poverty?
Secular cures for poverty do not work $5 Trillion since 1964 Poverty rate holds steady at 15%
Since the signing of the War on Poverty by pres Johnson in 1964, the US govt has spent $5 (some say $9) trillion dollars directly fighting poverty ( Why does it not work? Because we fight the sympton of poverty, not the condition. What is the condition of poverty?

23. Is There A Cure for Poverty?
Since 1954 the USA has shipped millions of tons of food aid to India - to the Indian government (not private businesses or agencies). Rats have consumed more than half of this food at the docks and storage facilities. Because of Hinduism's belief in reincarnation, rats and sacred cows may not be killed
– an example of the efforts to Fight poverty failing. Why does it not work? Because we fight the symptom of poverty, not the condition. What is the condition of poverty?

24. The Biblical Cure for Poverty
The Cure of Poverty is the Gospel! It changes the factors of contribution It offers the support of the church
SIN is the cause of poverty, and the GOSPEL is the cure of sin. The GOSPEL Is the cure for poverty

25. The Biblical Cure for Poverty
Therefore: The Church needs to spread the Gospel We are EQUIPPED to do this We are AUTHORIZED to do this The CONSEQUENCES work
SIN is the cause of poverty, and the GOSPEL is the cure of sin. The GOSPEL Is the cure for poverty

26. Why Don’t We Fight Poverty?
WE DO – with the Gospel WE DO NOT involve ourselves in charities No Authority No Equipping Negative Consequences

27. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful Hebrews 10:23