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The Distinction between the Church and Individuals in Serving Others. How the church serves. The church universal – the body of the saved. A spiritual relationship with God and Christ. We are added to this body when we obey the gospel – Acts 2:38, 47, Eph. 1:22-23. How the church serves.
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The Distinction between the Church and Individuals in Serving Others
How the church serves • The church universal – the body of the saved. A spiritual relationship with God and Christ. We are added to this body when we obey the gospel – Acts 2:38, 47, Eph. 1:22-23
How the church serves Our approach in this study • The church local – a congregation. A group of the saved who join together in a given location to do the specific works God has given us to do together – 1 Cor. 1:2, Gal. 1:2, etc.
How the church serves • The work of the church – Worship God – 1 Cor. 11:18-26, 14:23, 26Support the gospel – Phil. 4:15-17, 1 Thess. 1:8Build up the body – Eph. 4:11-16, 1 Cor. 14:12, 26Limited benevolence – 2 Cor. 8:1-5, Acts 11:29-30
How the church serves • We serve God in Worship • We serve each other by worshipping together – Colossians 3:16 • Leaders – serve in the word – Eph. 4:11-16, Heb. 13:7, 17, 1 Pet. 5:2-31 Thess. 3:2, 1 Tim. 4:6 • Benevolence – 1 Tim. 5:3-16
How Christians serves • Our study this month! • 1 Corinthians 4:2, faithful stewardsGalatians 5:13, we serve one another in loveMatthew 20:26-27, to be “great”, serve!
How Christians serves • Galatians 6:10, do good to all, especially brethren • Applies to individual Christians (consider the context) - Galatians 6:1-10
How Christians serves • James 1:27, “visit” orphans and widows. Keep oneself unspotted from the world • Applies to individual Christians (consider the context) – James 1:19-27
There is a difference! • Many passages teach that there is a difference between the church and the individual. Let us notice a few of these!
There is a difference! • 1 Timothy 5:16, dealing with benevolence we read, “do not let the church be burdened.” • Matthew 18:15-17, address sins and faults hoping to avoid telling it to the church
There is a difference! • 1 Corinthians 11:18, 33, when you come together as a church – implying there are times you are not functioning as the church • Acts 5:3-4, shows difference between personal resources and when you give them to a cause (e.g. the church)
There is a difference! The point: You cannot hire the church to serve for you! • A failure to make this distinction has caused many to misunderstand the very nature of the church • The church is spiritual in nature – cf. John 18:36, Luke 17:21. It builds us up spiritually – Eph. 4:11-16
There is a difference! • NOTE: The church is only one aspect of our lives as Christians. • We must support her – attendance (Heb. 10:24-25), worship (1 Cor. 11, 14), financially (1 Cor. 16:1-2), her leaders (Heb. 13:7, 17), and spreading the word (Eph. 4:16)
There is a difference! • The church is only one aspect of our lives as Christians. • But in every area of our lives, our conduct has an impact on her influence within the community – therefore we must live godly lives at all times. • When we seek to glorify God and live as Christians, it will reflect positively on the church!
There is a difference! • The church is only one aspect of our lives as Christians. • But in every area of our lives, our conduct has an impact on her influence within the community – therefore we must live godly lives at all times. • When we seek to glorify God and live as Christians, it will reflect positively on the church!