3. Institutionalism Changes in the patterns for:  Supporting Preachers  Giving Benevolence Using Man-Made Institutions to do the work

4. Institutionalism Point of Contention:  Is there a distinction between commands to the individual Christian and commands to the church?

5. Institutionalism The Real Issue: How Is the Work Funded?  From an Individual’s Personal Funds  Out of the Church Treasury

6. Evangelism Bible Pattern: Churches may send money directly to preachers  Philippians 4:15-16  2 Corinthians 11:8-9

7. Edification  Bible Pattern: Churches may send money directly to preachers to preach edifying sermons.  There is no pattern for sending money to maintain someone’s building.

8. Benevolence Bible Pattern: Individuals or churches may give to needy saints.  Acts 11:27-30  1 Corinthians 16:1-4

9. Church Benevolence Bible Pattern: Always given to Christians  Acts 6:1-7  Acts 11:27-30  1 Corinthians 16:1-4

10. Individual Benevolence Bible Pattern: Given To Christians and non-Christians  James 1:27  Galatians 6:10

11. Distinction in Benevolence There is a distinction between church benevolence and individual benevolence  1 Timothy 5:3-16  Only some widows may be supported by the church  Other widows must be supported by the individual

12. Mutual Responsibility  Any organization has rules for how the money may be spent from its treasury.  We must follow the rules that are given to us in God’s Word.

13. Odd Argument: Singing Booklet’s Argument:  Individuals are commanded to sing.  So we can’t sing in the assembly. Answer:  We each have the individual responsibility to sing when we come together in the assembly.

14. Conclusion  There is a distinction between commands to the individual and commands to the church.  The church treasury can only be used in ways that have been authorized.  There is no example of a man-made institution being used in the early church.

15. The Lord’s Invitation  Hear – Romans 10:17  Believe – Hebrews 11:6  Repent – Luke 13:3  Confess – Romans 10:10  Be Baptized – Mark 16:16  Remain Faithful – Matt. 24:13