worship in the local church studies in the scriptures giving…

Worship in the Local ChurchWorship 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….Bible Passages on….

Giving…

I Cor. 16:1,2I 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. 9:72 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???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….Instruction on….

Spending Church Funds…

I Tim 5:16I Tim 5:16

“ If any man or woman that believeth have widows, l

et them relieve them, and let no

t the church be charged ; that it

may relieve them that are widows indeed.”

- KJV

2 Cor 11:8 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… Authority… Respecting the Silence of GodRespecting the Silence of God

• Wherein God is silent, Wherein God is silent, we have no we have no permission to proceed permission to proceed (red light)(red light)

• Wherein God has Wherein God has authorized, we have authorized, we have the “green light” to the “green light” to proceed.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 distinctionGod makes the distinction• There are certain passages that authorize the There are certain passages that authorize the

individual saint to engage in activities individual saint to engage in activities as individualsas individuals (secular or spiritual)(secular or spiritual)

• There are other passages that authorize the local There are other passages that authorize the local church to engage in activities church to engage in activities as the local churchas 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 Context and proper discernment are necessary in

rightly dividing the word of Truth (2 Tim 2:15; Heb rightly dividing the word of Truth (2 Tim 2:15; Heb 5:12-15)5:12-15)Are we willing to follow God’s instruction for the Are we willing to follow God’s instruction for the

local church and for the individual seeking local church and for the individual seeking authority for EVERY activity before engaging in it?authority for EVERY activity before engaging in it?

INDIVIDUAL AUTHORIZED

ACTIVITY

LOCAL CHURCH

AUTHORIZED ACTIVITY

Some activities are authorized for Some activities are authorized for BOTH the local church and the BOTH the local church and the

individual (as such) to engage inindividual (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 moneyThe individual’s money• There are passages authorizing the individual to do There are passages authorizing the individual to do

certain things that would include the use of the certain things that would include the use of the individual’s funds (with good stewardship and all else individual’s funds (with good stewardship and all else being equal)being equal)

• I Tim 5:8; Mt 28:18-20; 2 Tim 2:2; Gal 6:10; Jas 1:27; I 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 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 4:8Tim 6:17-29; I Tim 4:8

Are we willing to follow God’s instruction for the Are we willing to follow God’s instruction for the local church and for the individual seeking local church and for the individual seeking

authority for EVERY activity before engaging in it?authority for EVERY activity before engaging in it?

The local church’s moneyThe local church’s money• There are passages authorizing the local church to do There are passages authorizing the local church to do

certain things that would include the use of the certain things that would include the use of the church’s funds (with good stewardship and all else church’s funds (with good stewardship and all else being equal)being equal)

• I Tim 5:16; Acts 2:42; Acts 20:7; Heb 10:23-25; Acts 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 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 2:125:17; Eph 4:11-16; Heb 2:12



The local church’s money The local church’s money con’tcon’t

• Where is the Bible authority for church to church Where is the Bible authority for church to church contributions (sending and receiving of funds) in areas contributions (sending and receiving of funds) in areas OTHER THAN relief?OTHER THAN relief?

• The pattern of the NT reveals that churches could The pattern of the NT reveals that churches could send relief to brethren to bring about “equality” – 2 Cor send relief to brethren to bring about “equality” – 2 Cor 8:148:14



EvangelismEvangelism• The local church is authorized to engage in the work The local church is authorized to engage in the work

of “evangelism” (preaching to the lost)of “evangelism” (preaching to the lost)• I Tim 3:15 – pillar and ground of the truthI Tim 3:15 – pillar and ground of the truth• I Thess 1:7,8 – sounding forth the wordI Thess 1:7,8 – sounding forth the word• I Cor 9:1-18 – church may support local preacherI Cor 9:1-18 – church may support local preacher• 2 Cor 11:8; Phil 1:3-5; 4:14-20 – church may support 2 Cor 11:8; Phil 1:3-5; 4:14-20 – church may support

evangelist in other areasevangelist in other areas

The local church is to be engaged in preaching the The local church is to be engaged in preaching the gospel to the lost according to the pattern.gospel to the lost according to the pattern.

Support of gospel preachersSupport of gospel preachers

Local church #1

Local church #2

Local church #3

Church funds

Church funds

Church funds

Gospel Preacher

Gospel Preacher

Phil 1:5

I Cor 9:1-18

2 Cor 11:82 Cor 11:8

Phil 1:3-5; Phil 1:3-5;

Phil 4:14-20Phil 4:14-20

This is God’s pattern for churches supporting gospel This is God’s pattern for churches supporting gospel preachers. This does not prohibit “individuals” from also preachers. This does not prohibit “individuals” from also

having fellowship in the preaching of the gospel.having fellowship in the preaching of the gospel.

Where is the authority?Where is the authority?

Gospel Preacher

@ Receiving Local Church

Location

This is NOT God’s pattern for churches supporting gospel This is NOT God’s pattern for churches supporting gospel preachers. Where is the Bible authority for this arrangement?preachers. Where is the Bible authority for this arrangement?

Local church #1

Local church #2

Local church #3

Receiving

Local Church

Church funds

Church funds

Church funds funds


Performance of work God

assigned to the church OR to the individual

This is NOT God’s pattern for churches doing “church work”. This is NOT God’s pattern for churches doing “church work”. Where is the Bible authority for this arrangement?Where is the Bible authority for this arrangement?

Local church #1

Local church #2

Local church #3

Receiving Man-Made Institution

Church funds

Church funds

Church funds funds

EdificationEdification• The local church is authorized to engage in the work The local church is authorized to engage in the work

of “edification” (the building up of the saints)of “edification” (the building up of the saints)• Eph 4:16; Acts 20:28-32; Heb 10:23-25Eph 4:16; Acts 20:28-32; Heb 10:23-25

Since Edification (building up) of the saints is Since Edification (building up) of the saints is authorized church work, then the church can authorized church work, then the church can

spend church funds in this area.spend church funds in this area.

Limited BenevolenceLimited Benevolence• The local church is authorized to engage in the work of “limited The local church is authorized to engage in the work of “limited

benevolence” (relief of needy saints)benevolence” (relief of needy saints)• Acts 2:44 – “all that Acts 2:44 – “all that believedbelieved””• Acts 5:32 – “the multitude of Acts 5:32 – “the multitude of them that believedthem that believed””• Acts 6:1 – “Acts 6:1 – “disciplesdisciples……theirtheir widows” widows”• Acts 11:29 – “relief unto the Acts 11:29 – “relief unto the brethrenbrethren””• Rom 15:26 – “for the poor Rom 15:26 – “for the poor saintssaints””• I Cor 16:1 – “for the I Cor 16:1 – “for the saintssaints””• 2 Cor 8:4 – “to the 2 Cor 8:4 – “to the saintssaints””• 2 Cor 9:12 “supplieth to the want of the2 Cor 9:12 “supplieth to the want of the saints saints” ”

Where is the Bible authority for the church to engage in Where is the Bible authority for the church to engage in “general benevolence” (relief of non-saints)?“general benevolence” (relief of non-saints)?

Buying a service vs Buying a service vs donation…donation…• If the church decides to rent a place to worship in If the church decides to rent a place to worship in order to expedite the command to teach, pray, sing, order to expedite the command to teach, pray, sing, take Lord’s Supper and give…a “service” is being take Lord’s Supper and give…a “service” is being bought authorized by the command to do what God bought authorized by the command to do what God said do.said do.

• Where is the authority for a local church to use her Where is the authority for a local church to use her funds as a “donation” to any hospital, college, funds as a “donation” to any hospital, college, benevolent society, missionary society, or other benevolent society, missionary society, or other human institution? human institution?

Can we see the difference in relieving a needy saint Can we see the difference in relieving a needy saint by paying a hospital bill and in merely making a by paying a hospital bill and in merely making a

“donation” to a human institution?“donation” to a human institution?


Local church #1

Local church #2

Local church #3

Organization Built &

Maintained to do “church work”

Evangelism

Edification

Benevolence

Church funds

Church funds

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!


Local church #1

Local church #2

Local church #3

Missionary

Society

Evangelism

Edification

Church funds

Church funds

Church funds


the local church!


Local church #1

Local church #2

Local church #3

Benevolent

Society

Benevolence

Church funds

Church funds

Church funds


the local church!


Local church #1

Local church #2

Local church #3

Sponsoring

Church

Evangelism

Edification

Benevolence

Church funds

Church funds

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!


Local church #1

Local church #2

Local church #3

Bible

College

Evangelism

Edification

Church funds

Church funds

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

worship in the local church studies in the scriptures giving…

Documents

church letters

scriptural church worship

church raffle sales

church garage sales

church car washes

spending church fundsi

individuals funds

local churchs funds