I. Church Benevolence:Passages

Ac.2:44-45Ac.4:32, 34-37

WhoWho??Believers

32; Among

them, 34

HowHow??Sold land/

Houses34;

Feet, 35

ExamplesExamplesBarnabas

36-37;Ananias5:1-11

The shift of ownership

(1)Ananias

ownsland

(2)Ananias

ownsvalue of land

(3)Ananias

givesvalue of land

(4)church owns

value of land

Ac.2:44-45Ac.4:32, 34-37

Ac.6:1-7

Implies daily distribution of alms (v.1-2)

Church chose men of character (v.3)

Apostles do their work (v.4)

Ac.2:44-45Ac.4:32, 34-37Ac.6:1-7

Ac.11:27-30Appears to be collective action

Disciples contributed

Sent thru B. and Paul (= 4:35)

Elders would oversee distribution

Ro.15:25-32Raised for saints (25) Contribution (fellowship) (26)The least they could do (27)

1 Co.16:1-4 Collection for poor saints at Jerusalem (1, 3)

Churches of Galatia Chose own messengers

2 Co.8-9 (8:4; 9:1)1 Tim.5:16

II. Each Church Did Its Own Work

Each congregation

was independent

Ac.20:281 Pt.5:2-3

Each congregation

wassufficientto work

2 Co.8:1-5

Ac.20:28

Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God…

This:Elders (pl.)oversee aflock (sg.)

Not This:Elders (pl.)oversee

flocks (pl.)

1 Pt.5:2

Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers…

This:Shepherd

(Overseers)the flock

among you

Not this:Shepherd

(Overseers)the flocksanywhere

• This:

• Not this:

Each congregation could use means / methods to do its work

Church PROVIDES

FoodClothingShelter

Medicine

Church FUNDS

FoodClothingShelter

Medicine

Benev.Society?

III. General Authority;Authorized Agents

• Ac.6:1-4, note three things:

Servants appointed to serve tables(over this business, 3)

For needy widows in church at Jerusalem

Faithful men do it right

Requires judgment calls

• 1 Pt.5: chief Shepherd entrusts care of flock to shepherds – Elders cannot legislate– They act w/in scriptural

guidelines• Elders’ work is separate from

deacons– Elders assign jobs to deacons,

while they oversee (do own work)

– One deacon buys supplies…

Ac.21:18-20

No reference to contribution Their reaction (20) implies acceptance (Ro.15:31) [Cf. Ac.11:27-30]

24:17, Luke’s only reference. Gave it to elders? What if church has no elders?

Church “leaders” must decide objects of relief Church Relief Church

Elders?

No Elders?

The steps:

1. Church entrusts messengers with support (Ac.11:27-30)

2. They deliver it to elders of chur-ches according to their needs

Does this make messengers a benevolent society?

No more so than servants appointed in Jerusalem, Ac.6

Illustrated by Evangelism, Ac.13:2-3

• Antioch sent B. and Paul • Ac.13:6…12, general authority

required them to use judgment about best prospects for studies– Spend two years trying to

convert Elymas?

General Authority in Evangelism

Antioch SENDSBarn.& Paul

MeansMethodsLocationsProspects

Antioch FUNDSM.

Society

MeansMethodsLocationsProspects

General Authority in Evangelism

Antioch SENDSBarn.& Paul

MeansMethodsLocationsProspects

They had same general authority to choose means, methods…as servants in Ac.6 did in meeting needs of widowsBarn. and Paul had to make choices; it did not make them a M. society

Illustrated by Edification, Ac.14:21-22

• Elders select teachers who must use judgment about effective ways to present material, how much time to spend on each verse, etc.

• This comes under general authority and is not an edification society (college)

ChurchEdifiesitself

MeansMethods

PlacePersonnel

Church FUNDSEdif.

Society(College)

MeansMethods

PlacePersonnel