____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ February 18, 1996 ____________________________________________________ Sponsoring Churches by Gary N. Patton There are basically two ways for local congregations of God's people to support preachers of the gospel in other locations. 1. The congregation can send its support to another church or organizations (Missionary Society) and let them select what preacher will be supported and determine how much to send. 2. The other way is for a local congregation to send directly to the preacher the amount needed to help in his support. The question that is most important now is ``What does the Bible teach as to which way is scriptural?'' In 2 Corinthians 11:8 Paul says, ``I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.'' Then he wrote to the Philippians, ``Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once again unto my necessity'' (Philippians 4:15-16). These are passages that show us how an evangelistic work is to be carried out when supporting a preacher at another location. In the first passage, Paul shows how churches can cooperate in preaching the gospel. Each church sent directly to the one laboring in the gospel. No society or sponsoring church stood between Paul and the support he received. In the second passage, Paul shows how churches can cooperate in preaching the gospel. Each church sent directly to the one laboring in the gospel. No society or sponsoring church stood between Paul and the support he received. In the second passage, Philippians 4:15-16, we have another case of support being sent directly to the evangelist in the field. We must conclude that the sponsoring church concept for evangelism is foreign to the teaching of the New Testament. In commenting on Philippians 4:15-16, brother Guy N. Woods wrote: ``Here too, we see the simple manner in which the church at Philippi joined with Paul in the work of preaching the gospel. There was no `missionary society' in evidence, none was needed; the brethren simply raised the money and sent it directly to Paul. This is the way it should be done today (emphasis mine, GNP). No organization was needed to accomplish the work the Lord has authorized the church to do. When men become dissatisfied with God's arrangement and set up one of their own, they have already crossed the threshold of apostasy. Let's be satisfied with the Lord's manner of doing things'' (Annual Lesson Commentary, 1946, page 341). Carefully read the remarks written by brother Foy E. Wallace, Jr., ``For one church to help another church bear its own burdens, therefore, has scriptural precedent. But for one church to solicit funds from other churches for the general distribution in other fields or places, thus becoming the treasury of other churches, is quite a different question. Such procedure makes a sort of society out of the elders of a local church and for such there is no scriptural precedent or example'' (emphasis mine, GNP) (Gospel Advocate, May 14, 1931, page 909). Brother F. B. Srygley wrote, ``The agent system of collecting funds from many churches, even if it is done under some eldership is without authority, ties churches together and has a tendency to destroy the independence of the local church. The greatest objection to the whole scheme is that it is not in the New Testament'' (emphasis mine, GNP -- Gospel Advocate, November 1, 1934). Brethren, we must always do God's word the way His word directs. We must not violate His revealed law by trying to do God's work our own way. ``It is not in man that walketh to direct his own steps'' (Jeremiah 10:23). We are told in 1 John 3:4 that ``sin is the transgression of the law.'' Therefore, I pray that those who practice such actions will repent and begin to teach and follow God's word before it is too late. Let's always be sure we do God's work in God's way. -- excerpted from The East Florence Contender ___________________________________________ Man's Purpose on Earth by Tom Edwards I ran across an interesting passage in Deuteronomy 32:46,47 that emphasizes the importance of God's word and the need to have it permeate our entire being. The passage states: ''...'Take to your heart all the words with which I am warning you today, which you shall command your sons to observe carefully, even all the words of this law. For IT IS NOT AN IDLE WORD for you; indeed IT IS YOUR LIFE. And by this word you shall prolong your days in the land, which you are about to cross the Jordan to possess'' (emphasis mine). Note a couple things we learn here of God's word: 1) it is not idle, and 2) it is to be one's life. As we think upon this first thought, I'm reminded of several passages: ``So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it'' (Isa. 55:11). ``For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek'' (Rom. 1:16). ``for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God'' (1 Pet. 1:23). ``For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart'' (Heb. 4:12). Yes, God's word is very much alive--and very much powerful! It is far from being idle: it is living, active, imperishable, and can accomplish great things. But are we allowing it to be alive and powerful in our lives? or have we made it a vain thing through unbelief or disobedience? As the Hebrew writer declares, ``For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard'' (Heb. 4:2). To many, the word of the cross is nothing more than foolishness; and, therefore, they are not able to tap into its soul-saving power and fill their lives with its goodness (1 Cor. 1:18). And as James warns, ``But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves'' (Jms. 1:22). In our second point: God's word is to be our life. Corresponding to this, Jesus states in John 6:63, ''...the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.'' Therefore, to fill our lives with this ``quality'' life, which Jesus came to give ``abundantly'' (Jn. 10:10), we must fill our lives with His word and abide in it (Jn. 8:31,32). Paul is certainly a great exemplar in this and could testify, ``I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me'' (Gal. 2:20). Paul could say this because of his great dedication to the Lord--a dedication that enabled him to fight the good fight, keep the faith, and finish his course (2 Tim. 4:7). His life was so filled with God's truth that it was as if Jesus Himself were living through him. God's word is to be the basis for our actions, our reactions, our thoughts, and our deeds. It is to control how we are without, and how we are within. It is to be a part of us in the morning, in the afternoon, throughout the day and throughout the night. To sum it up, God's word is to be our life. As Solomon succinctly answers the question of ``What is the whole duty of man?,'' he does so by saying, to ``...fear God and keep His commandments'' (Eccl. 12:13). When on the job, in school, at home, at play, wherever and whenever, man's chief purpose on earth is to serve and worship God, to live a life that is characterized by this, and to strive to help others to as well. What an exceedingly better world it would be, if this be true of each one of us. Let us look to the Scriptures to learn of our purpose on earth, incorporate these principles, and teach them to others, that our lives will blossom into richness of meaning, fullness of contentment, and be inundated with that peace that ``surpasses all comprehension'' (Phil. 4:7) and with that joy that is ``inexpressible and full of glory'' (1 Pet. 1:8). For man's ultimate purpose on earth can only be found in God's purpose for putting him here. ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 713 13th Street, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________