1. “Do You Guys Have…?” Acts 3:1-8

2. The Work of the Local Church World views the church as a social center and a welfare charity World views the church as a social center and a welfare charity The New Testament pattern teaches something very different The New Testament pattern teaches something very different 2

3. The Social Gospel “Social Gospel, in U.S. history, a religious social reform movement that was prominent from c. 1870 to c. 1920, especially among liberal Protestant groups dedicated to the betterment of industrialized society through application of the biblical principles of charity and justice....Labour reforms ‑‑ including abolition of child labour, a shorter work week, a living wage, factory regulation, and improvement of the working conditions of women ‑‑ constituted the Social Gospel’s most prominent concerns.” Encyclopedia Britannica, vol. 10, p. 920 3

4. The Social Gospel “American Protestant movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to awaken Christian concern about social injustices. It was a reaction to the type of religion that concentrated solely on the spiritual redemption of the individual and ignored such social and economic problems as poverty, war, and human exploitation.” Herbert A. Wisbey Encyclopedia International, vol. 16, 569 Encyclopedia International, vol. 16, 569 4

5. God-Given Work of Local Church No authority to change it, Colossians 3:17 Example: American Cancer Society “The American Cancer Society is the nationwide, community-based, voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service.” (cancer.org)cancer.org 5

6. Why can’t the ACS be “dedicated to the awareness, prevention and treatment of kidney disease"? Why can’t the ACS be “dedicated to the awareness, prevention and treatment of kidney disease"? That’s the work of the National Kidney Foundation! That’s the work of the National Kidney Foundation! The local church cannot change its work without violating God’s mission statement The local church cannot change its work without violating God’s mission statement God-Given Work of Local Church 6

7. Not the same… Not the same… Charge, 1 Timothy 5:16 (Acts 6:1) Charge, 1 Timothy 5:16 (Acts 6:1) Treasury, Acts 4:34-35; 5:1-4 Treasury, Acts 4:34-35; 5:1-4 Action, Matthew 18:15-17 Action, Matthew 18:15-17 What about Galatians 6:10 and James 1:27? What about Galatians 6:10 and James 1:27? Individual and the Local Church 7

8. Two Treasuries Acts 4:34-5:4; 3:1-6 Honest labor, Eph. 4:28 Honest labor, Eph. 4:28 Individual, Acts 5:4 Individual, Acts 5:4 Contribution, 1 Cor. 16:2 Contribution, 1 Cor. 16:2 Taxes, Rom. 13:7 Taxes, Rom. 13:7 Provide family, 1 Tim. 5:8 Provide family, 1 Tim. 5:8 Do good to all, Gal. 6:10 Do good to all, Gal. 6:10 Offering, 1 Cor. 16:2 Offering, 1 Cor. 16:2 Elders, Acts 11:30; Titus 1:7 Elders, Acts 11:30; Titus 1:7 Preach gospel, 2 Cor. 11:8 Preach gospel, 2 Cor. 11:8 Edify saints, 1 Cor. 14:26 Edify saints, 1 Cor. 14:26 Relieve saints, Acts 4:32-35 Relieve saints, Acts 4:32-35 IndividualIndividual Local Church METHOD OF RAISING OVERSIGHT USE 8

9. Individual Action and Church Action Matthew 18:15-17 Matthew 18:15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.” One man is not church action 9

10. Matthew 18:16 “But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’” Two or three are not church action Individual Action and Church Action Matthew 18:15-17 10

11. Matthew 18:17 “And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. Local church doing church action Individual Action and Church Action Matthew 18:15-17 11

12. Benevolence: Saints ONLY SINGING Eph. 5:19 Eph. 5:19 Col. 3:16 Col. 3:16 1 Cor. 14:15 1 Cor. 14:15 Matt. 26:30 Matt. 26:30 Jas. 5:13 Jas. 5:13 Acts 16:25 Acts 16:25 Rom. 15:9 Rom. 15:9 Heb. 2:12 Heb. 2:12SAINTS Acts 2:44-45 Acts 2:44-45 Acts 4:32-35 Acts 4:32-35 Acts 6:1-6 Acts 6:1-6 Acts 11:27-30 Acts 11:27-30 Rom. 15:26-27 Rom. 15:26-27 1 Cor. 16:1 1 Cor. 16:1 2 Cor. 8-9 2 Cor. 8-9 12

13. 13 Churches or Individuals? Jno. 15:1-6Gal. 6:1-10Jas. 1:18-27 2 - branch1 - man, you18 - us, we 3 - you (pl.)2 – (you) bear19-20 - breth., man 4 - you3 - anyone,21 - your souls 5 - you,he,him himself, he22 - yourselves 6 - anyone, he4-5 - each one23 - anyone, man, he 6-7 - him, man24 - he, himself man 8 - he, his25 - he who, one 9 - us, we26 - anyone, he 10 - we, us27 - oneself 13

14. 14 James 1:26-27 Visit Fatherless and widows Bridle tongue Not deceive himself Keep himself unspotted The Same Person 14

15. “Do you guys pay utility bills?” (Motel rooms, travel vouchers, fuel, food…) General social relief is not work of local church General social relief is not work of local church Care for its own needy, Acts 2:44-45; 6:1-6 Care for its own needy, Acts 2:44-45; 6:1-6 Local churches send relief to other churches, Acts 11:27-30; Rom. 15:26; 1 Cor. 16:1; 2 Cor. 8:4; 9:1, 12 Local churches send relief to other churches, Acts 11:27-30; Rom. 15:26; 1 Cor. 16:1; 2 Cor. 8:4; 9:1, 12 NT pattern: Local church action always relieved Christians in need (2 Tim. 1:13) NT pattern: Local church action always relieved Christians in need (2 Tim. 1:13) 15

16. “Do you guys have an outreach program?” (Support foreign missions, a sponsoring church…) Churches have work of preaching, 1 Thess. 1:8 Churches have work of preaching, 1 Thess. 1:8 Every Christian teaching someone, Acts 8:4; 2 Timothy 2:2; Hebrews 5:12 Every Christian teaching someone, Acts 8:4; 2 Timothy 2:2; Hebrews 5:12 Churches preach the gospel by: Churches preach the gospel by: Sending preachers, Acts 11:22-23; 13:3 Sending preachers, Acts 11:22-23; 13:3 Supporting preachers, Phil. 1:5; 4:15 (2 Cor. 11:8) Supporting preachers, Phil. 1:5; 4:15 (2 Cor. 11:8) 16

17. “Do you guys have a youth group?” (Recreational program, youth minister, seniors, fellowship hall, life center…) Work of edification of the saints, Acts 20:28-32 Work of edification of the saints, Acts 20:28-32 Spiritual edification comes by… Spiritual edification comes by… Teaching word of God, Acts 13:1-2; Eph. 4:11-15 Teaching word of God, Acts 13:1-2; Eph. 4:11-15 Not eating together, 1 Cor. 11:22, 34 Not eating together, 1 Cor. 11:22, 34 By worshiping together, Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 11:20; 14:26; Heb. 10:24-25 By worshiping together, Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 11:20; 14:26; Heb. 10:24-25 Each one living God’s word, 1 Pet. 2:2 (Jas 1:25) Each one living God’s word, 1 Pet. 2:2 (Jas 1:25) 17

18. “Do you guys have…?” Many ask the local church to give what it cannot give Scripturally Many ask the local church to give what it cannot give Scripturally What we can give Scripturally, we will give, Acts 3:1-6 What we can give Scripturally, we will give, Acts 3:1-6 Gospel preaching to save the lost Gospel preaching to save the lost Building up Christians with the word of God Building up Christians with the word of God Relief for needy saints Relief for needy saints 18