• “Sound” or “Unsound church”

• “Legalists – Binding where God has not bound…”

• In Case You Haven’t Noticed…

• All “Churches of Christ” are not the same.

Liberal

AntiInstitutional

Non-Cooperative

What are the Differences?Where Do We Draw the Line?

Baptism Optional

Instrumental Music

Women Preachers

One Cup

No Bible Classes

No Fellowship

“The only ones going to heaven are thee and me, and sometimes I wonder about thee…”

• The Short Answer – “Non-Institutional”• For the past several years, and past several

elderships and preachers at Studebaker have taken a stand to do the work of the Lord without using a human institution, and trying to keep the spiritual focus and nature of the church.

• There are going to be disagreements in conclusions in these matters. That does not mean we can not get along and even work together under the direction of the elders in this congregation.

• My Fear is that those both sides of these issues have become comfortable with the conclusions of the past and have become “protectors” instead of “searchers.”

• For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God.

• All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

• For why is my liberty judged by another man's conscience?

• It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. 22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

• Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

• Edification & Worship

• Build up of the Body of Christ - Eph. 4:11-16; 1 Tim 3:15 –

• Assemble & Praise - Heb 10:23-25; 1 Pet 2:9-10 –Singing - Eph 5:19; Col 3:16

Local Church Treasury

• Evangelism• Preach - Eph

3:10; 1 Tim. 3:15; Mt 28:19-20; Ac 13:1-3

• Preachers supported - 2 Co 11:7-9; Phil 1:5; 4:15-16

• Needy Christians

• Acts 2:44-45;4:32-37; 6:1-6; 11:27-30; Rom 15:25-26; 1 Cor 16:1-4; 2 Cor 8:1-4 & 9:1

• Limitations -1 Tim 5:9-16 –

• Family obligation first.

Overseers – Elders – PastorsActs 20:28

• "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

1 Peter 5:2-3• Shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising

oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.

Independent Autonomous

Equal Sufficient

Concepts of Church Government

New Testament

Denominational Roman Catholic

The Mission of the Church:Evangelism

JerusalemChurch

AntiochChurch

PhilippiChurch

ThessalonianChurch Corinth

Church

Acts 11:1922, 23

Barnabas

Acts 13:1-4;

16:31-33Paul &

Barnabas

Acts 17:1-4; Phil 4:15-16They Supported Paul

1 Thess. 1:8Word Sounded forth 2 Cor 11:8 “taking

wages to serve you”

Local Churches sent directly to Evangelist

Local Church

Local Church

Local Church

Local Churches Did NOT send through a Missionary Society or Sponsoring Church

A sponsoring church is one that assumes a program of work, accepts responsibility for funding it and then solicits other congregations to provide the money. The elders of that sponsoring church agree to oversee the work, guarantee the expense, provide what funding they are able and then rely on other congregations to send them the funds to accomplish the work. In this arrangement, a local church eldership assumes a work which it alone is not able to do, a work to which all congregations sustain the same relationship.

A sponsoring church is one that assumes a program of work, accepts responsibility for funding it and then solicits other congregations to provide the money. The elders of that sponsoring church agree to oversee the work, guarantee the expense, provide what funding they are able and then rely on other congregations to send them the funds to accomplish the work. In this arrangement, a local church eldership assumes a work which it alone is not able to do, a work to which all congregations sustain the same relationship.

Local Churches Did NOT send through a Missionary Society or Sponsoring Church

Local Church

Local Church

Local Church

The Mission of the Church:Benevolence

JerusalemChurch Antioch

Church

Church

Church

Church

Judea

Acts 6:1-6Acts

11:27-30Church

Church

Church

Mac

edon

ia

& A

chai

a

JerusalemChurch

Rom 15:25-26;2 Cor 8-9

Local Churches Did Send Directly to Another Church to Cover a Specific Need –

Nee

dy

Chur

chActs 11:27-30

Rom 15:25-26

Local Church

Local Church

Local Church

Richer to Poorer

Two Treasuries – Acts 5:4Individual

1. Method of Raising• By Honest Labor – Eph 4:282. Oversight• The Individual – Acts 5:43. Use• Liberal Contribution – 1 Cor 16:2• Pay Taxes – Rom 13:7• Provide for Family – 1 Tim 5:8,16• Maintain Good Works

– 1 Tim 6:18; Gal 6:10; Eph 4:28; James 1:27; 1 Jn 3:17-18; Lk 10:30-36

Local Church1. Method of Raising• By Voluntary Offering – 1 Cor

16:1-2; 2 Cor 9:6-72. Oversight• Local Elders – Tit 1:7; Acts 11:303. Use• Preaching the Gospel – Phil

4:15-16; 2 Cor 11:8;– Edify Saints, Worship God– Preach to Lost

• Relieving Needy Saints – Acts 4:32-34; etc.

New Testament Teaching on the Christians Concern & Care for Others

Individual Church Church to Church(es)

Church to Benevolent Institution

Mt 5:43-48; Mt 25:35-40; Lk 10:30-36; Acts 4:36-37; Acts 9:36,39; Acts 20:34-35; 1 Cor 16:15; Gal 6:10; Eph 4:28; 1 Tim 5:16; 1 Tim 6:18; Heb 13:15-16; Jam 1:26-27; Jam 2:15-18; 1 Jn 3:17-18

Acts 2:44-45

Acts 11:27-30

Acts 4:32-34

Rom 15:25-26 ?Acts 6:1-6 1 Cor 16:1-2

1 Tim 5:16 2 Cor 8 & 9