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Evangelism – Taking The Gospel To The Lost

Evangelism – Taking The Gospel To The Lost. The Church of Christ & Its Work? Part 1. There have been many questions pertaining to the “WORK” of the church. What? Who? When? How?. The Church of Christ & Its Work?. Introduction.

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Evangelism – Taking The Gospel To The Lost

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  1. Evangelism – Taking The Gospel To The Lost W. 65th St church of Christ - 12/19/2004

  2. The Church of Christ & Its Work? Part 1 There have been many questions pertaining to the “WORK” of the church. What? Who? When? How? W. 65th St church of Christ - 12/19/2004

  3. The Church of Christ & Its Work? Introduction 1) What does the Lord intend for His church to do in this world? _____ 2 Tim 3:16,17; Col. 3:17 a) Whatever we choose??? b) Whatever “seems right” to us??? c) Only the work HE has given us to do? W. 65th St church of Christ - 12/19/2004

  4. The Church of Christ & Its Work? Introduction 2) How does the Lord intend for us to do the work He has given us to do? ______ 2 Tim 3:16,17; Col. 3:17 a) However we choose??? b) Any way that “seems right” or “best” to us??? c) By seeking out and following the New Testament pattern? W. 65th St church of Christ - 12/19/2004

  5. The Church of Christ & Its Work? Introduction • The Lord has equipped local churches to do the work that He has given them to do – • If more organization is needed to carry out a work than is found in the NT – then it should be obvious that such a work is NOT a work of the church – (whether establishing other institutions or reorganizing the local church) What does the Lord intend for His church to do in this world? W. 65th St church of Christ - 12/19/2004

  6. The Church of Christ & Its Work? Introduction • Self-Edification, i.e. to build up and strengthen itself (Acts 20:28, 32; Col 2:6, 7). • Evangelism - Preach the gospel to the lost (Mat 28:18-20). • Benevolence – Providing the needs of destitute Christians (Acts 6:1-4) What is the Work of the Local Church? W. 65th St church of Christ - 12/19/2004

  7. The Church of Christ & Its Work? The Church Is To Engage In Benevolent Work • A local church caring for those of its own number - (Acts 4:32-37). • A local church Caring for its own widows – (Acts 6:1-8; 1 Tim 5:3-16 ). • The church in Antioch sent to the brethren in Judea – (Acts 11:27-30). • The churches in Macedonia, Achaia, and Galatia sent to the church at Jerusalem – (1 Cor. 16:1-3; 2 Cor 8:1-5; 9:1,2 ). 2 Cor 8:4 FELLOWSHIP BENEVOLENCE W. 65th St church of Christ - 12/19/2004

  8. The Church of Christ & Its Work? The Need: • The universal need – Rom 3:9,10,23; Ep 2:1-3,12 • The ONLY hope – The gospel – Rom 1:16,17; Acts 10:6,22,32; 11:14; Rom 10:14-17 • Thus the great commission – Mat 28:18-20; Mark 16:15,16; Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8 EVANGELISM W. 65th St church of Christ - 12/19/2004

  9. The Church of Christ & Its Work? The Need: 1 Tim. 3:15 (NKJV) but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. EVANGELISM W. 65th St church of Christ - 12/19/2004

  10. The Church of Christ & Its Work? Finding The Pattern: • The churches of Macedonia – (Helped supply Paul’s necessities) - 2 Cor. 11:8,9 • The church at Thessalonica (Went everywhere preaching the word of the Lord)– 1 Thes 1:8 • The church at Philippi – (At one time was alone in helping Paul – sent aide to him “time & again”) - Phili 1:3-5; 4:14-18 • The church at Antioch – (Sent Barnabas & Saul) - Acts 13:1-3; 14:26-27 • The church at Jerusalem – (Sent Barnabas out as far as Antioch) - Acts 11:19-23 EVANGELISM W. 65th St church of Christ - 12/19/2004

  11. The Church of Christ & Its Work? The Local Church Can: 1 Cor. 9:14; 2 Cor. 11:8;12:13 • Support a gospel preacher locally • Support a gospel preacher in another area • Support a gospel preacher with other churches The church in Little Rock $ W. 65th St church of Christ - 12/19/2004

  12. The Church of Christ & Its Work? The Local Church Can: • Support a gospel preacher locally • Support a gospel preacher in another area • Support a gospel preacher with other churches Romania The church in Little Rock $ Phili. 1:3-5; 4:15 W. 65th St church of Christ - 12/19/2004

  13. The Church of Christ & Its Work? The Local Church Can: 65th St Church of Christ $ • Support a gospel preacher locally • Support a gospel preacher in another area • Support a gospel preacher with other churches Church of Christ Athens AL Romania $ $ Church of Christ Fairview Concurrent Cooperation 2 Cor. 11:8,9 W. 65th St church of Christ - 12/19/2004

  14. The Church of Christ & Its Work? The Local Church CANNOT: • Support gospel preachers through another organization • Support gospel preachers through an unscriptural arrangement 65th St Church of Christ $ M. S. Preacher Place How much Scripture??? 65th St Church of Christ S. C. $ Preacher Place How much W. 65th St church of Christ - 12/19/2004

  15. The Church of Christ & Its Work? What’s wrong with this arrangement?? • Violates the principle of church autonomy – 1 Pet 5:2 • Violates N.T. pattern of church cooperation (i.e. Concurrent Cooperation) one church acts as the agent for other churches – • Creates an arrangement of centralized control – Church of Christ Athens AL Church of Christ Fairview $ $ 65th St Church of Christ $ S. C. Preacher Place How much $ W. 65th St church of Christ - 12/19/2004

  16. The Church of Christ & Its Work? What’s wrong with this arrangement?? Church of Christ Athens AL Church of Christ Fairview If that – then why not this: $ $ 65th St Church of Christ $ S. C. $ Preacher Place How much Collective Cooperation W. 65th St church of Christ - 12/19/2004

  17. The Church of Christ & Its Work? What’s wrong with this arrangement?? If that – then why not this: Canada Russia Asia Europe Africa Collective Cooperation W. 65th St church of Christ - 12/19/2004

  18. The Church In Evangelism & Benevolence Biblical Pattern Arrangement - Direct Condition - From Ability to Need Purpose - Alleviate Need Phili 4:15-17; 2 Cor 11:8; Acts 11:27-30 Gospel Preacher The church in Little Rock A church Else- where Congregational Cooperation Needy Saints Concurrent Cooperation W. 65th St church of Christ - 12/19/2004

  19. Authorized Aids or Unauthorized Additions? Authorized Activity: Singing psalms, hymns & spiritual songs – Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16 • Authorized Means: • Parts; Pitch Pipe; Song Leader; Song Books • Unauthorized Means: • Choirs; Solo’s; Mechanical Instruments - • Authorized Means: • News Paper; Bulletin; Radio; • TV; Pulpit; Home Bible Studies; Internet • Unauthorized Means: • Other institutions; Unscriptural Cooperation; Centralization of Control Authorized Activity: Evangelism - 1 Thess. 1:6-8; Phil. 4:15-16 W. 65th St church of Christ - 12/19/2004

  20. Missionary Society Transfer Local church Elders Deacons Saints Place – Preacher Amount of support Phili 1:1 The Work Shifting Responsibility Acts 4:20; 8:4; 1 Pet. 3:15 Individual W. 65th St church of Christ - 12/19/2004

  21. A television & radio broadcast under the oversight of the elders of the Highland church of Christ in Abilene TX: • Conception: James Williford and James Walter Nichols set up a five-radio station network in Iowa and Wisconsin using the name Herald of Truth in 1947. • February 10, 1952, thousands throughout the U.S. heard the Herald of Truth on 31 stations of the ABC radio network • In 1968, approximately 3, 000 local churches financially contributed to the Herald of Truth organization • The Herald of Truth is an entity that is umbilically affixed to the Highland Church of Christ in Abilene and yet it maintains its separate status. The Herald of Truth is a legally structured organization that has its own board and treasury. W. 65th St church of Christ - 12/19/2004

  22. A television & radio broadcast under the oversight of the elders of the Highland church of Christ in Abilene TX: • The Herald of Truth is an arrangement that involves the pooling of resources that is unknown to the New Testament; • The Herald of Truth is against the autonomy set forth in the New Testament • The Herald of Truth and all sponsoring church practices involve a violation of the local church independence taught in the New Testament • The Herald of Truth constitutes a centralization of power • The teaching done was eventually watered down – WHY?? W. 65th St church of Christ - 12/19/2004

  23. THE MABELVALE CHURCH OF CHRIST "Search:"  Television ministry of the church of Christ, Edmond, OK -  Mack Lyon is the regular speaker for the television program In Search Of The Lord's Way. Gospel Gleaner quarterly publication - a quarterly publication of the Mabelvale Church of Christ in Mabelvale, Arkansas and the Mountain Home Church of Christ in Mountain Home, Arkansas.  Gospel Gleaner is also supported financially by interested sister congregations and individuals and is mailed free of charge to its subscribers.  Gospel Gleaner is dedicated to restoring New Testament Christianity.  Dennis Gulledge Editor. W. 65th St church of Christ - 12/19/2004

  24. Pleasant Valley Church of Christ • River City Ministries North Little Rock, AR www.rivercityministry.org (We exist to meet the felt needs of urban residents in Little Rock and North Little Rock in the name of Jesus.) • Search TV Program Edmond, OK www.searchTV.org • Silver City Church North Little Rock, AR www.silvercitychurch.com (The Silver City Church is a Group of Christians who meet together in Downtown North Little Rock.  We meet each Sunday at noon at the Gardner Memorial Methodist Church @ 1723 Schaer Street. Some are members of both pleasant Valley & Silver City) • Truth for Today Searcy, AR http://www.biblecourses.com • World Christian Broadcasting Franklin, TN http://wcb.faithsite.com W. 65th St church of Christ - 12/19/2004

  25. Mark 16:15 (NKJV) And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. W. 65th St church of Christ - 12/19/2004

  26. The Church of Christ & Its Work? Answering Arguments used to advocate general benevolence The Sponsoring Church, A Method of Evangelism? The door that brings the Sponsoring church arrangement into evangelism brings in many other things The “Mother Church” Concept? - The “Denominational” Concept? – Sponsoring Church Arrangement The “Catholic Church’s” Concept - W. 65th St church of Christ - 12/19/2004

  27. The Church of Christ & Its Work? Conclusion What is the issue? – • A violation of church autonomy - When the elders of a congregation receive funds for the work of evangelism from other congregations – then their oversight is no longer limited to “the flock which is among them,” (1 Pet 5:2). • This violates the N.T. pattern of concurrent cooperation by practicing collective cooperation – • And centralizes the financing and oversight of a work thus violating the N.T. pattern of church organization. W. 65th St church of Christ - 12/19/2004

  28. The Church of Christ & Its Work? Conclusion • Instead of one enormous organization functioning to perform the collective work involving thousands of local churches, • God's plan is that each local church do their own work that God has assigned - and that work to be overseen by the elders of that church. • Such is not only what we see taught in the scriptures, but it also averts power struggles and widespread contamination when moral or doctrinal issues develop within the influential entity. W. 65th St church of Christ - 12/19/2004

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