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The Benevolent Work of the ChurchIntroduction:
I. The church’s benevolent responsibilities are
misunderstood by many people.
II. The New Testament must be our guide in this was well
as any other matter in religion.
III. The lesson will consist of a study of New Testament
passages to learn of the benevolent work of the
church.
Body:
I. A distinction must be made between individual and
church responsibilities in benevolence, as in all
other things.
A. The following Scriptures show individual
responsibility.
1. Matthew 25:31-46
2. Luke 10:30-37
3. Ephesians 4:28
4. 1 John 3:17-18
5. James 1:27
6. Galatians 6:10
B. The following Scriptures show church
responsibility.
1. Acts 2:44-45
2. Acts 4:24-37
3. Acts 6:1-6
4. Acts 11:27-30
5. Romans 16:25-26
6. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2
7. 2 Corinthians, chapters 8 and 9
8. 1 Timothy 5:3-16
II. The scriptures concerning individual responsibility
teach the following things:
A. Christians are to help both good and bad, giving
preference, though, to other Christians.
1. Galatians 6:10
2. Only one restriction – 2 Thessalonians 3:10.
B. Christians are to try to budget themselves, so that
they will have resources to give to the needy –
Ephesians 4:28.
C. The man who fails to help the needy does not have
pure and undefiled religion nor the love of God
dwelling in him.
1. James 1:27
2. 1 John 3:17
D. We will be judged according to our acceptance of
these benevolent responsibilities.
1. Matthew 25:31-46
2. Galatians 6:7-10
III. The Scriptures concerning church responsibilities
teach the following things:
A. First responsibility in benevolence goes to near
relatives.
1. 1 Timothy 5:4, 8, 16
2. Any man who leaves a needy mother, grandmother,
child, or grandchild to the care of the church
has “denied the faith and is worse than an
infidel.”
3. If he has a greater load than he can bear
because of a number of destitute relatives, then
he becomes an object of benevolence, and the
church should help him to shoulder the
responsibilities that are his.
B. The church is limited in its benevolent work to the
care of saints.
1. Every Scripture applicable to the church’s
benevolent work specifies “the saints” or
“brethren” or “believers.”
a. Acts 2:44 – “All that believed”
b. Acts 4:34 – “any among them that lacked”
c. Acts 6:1-6 – “Number of disciples”
d. Acts 11:29 – “relief unto the brethren”
e. Romans 15:26 – “contribution for the poor
saints”
f. 1 Corinthians 15:26 – “collection for the
saints”
g. 2 Corinthians 9:1 – Ministering to the
saints”
h. 1 Timothy 5:5 – “Trusts in God”
2. If needy people are found who are not among the
saints, then let individuals help them, rather
than letting the church be burdened with work
the Lord did not give her to do.
C. Every congregation cared for its own needy through
the framework of the church.
1. The church at Jerusalem cared for its own needy.
a. Acts 2:44-45
b. Acts 4:34-37
c. Acts 6:1-6
2. The people even sold their possessions to meet
the needs.
3. But, when that church was unable to care for its
own needy, other churches sent to Jerusalem to
assist it in the emergency situation.
a. Scriptures:
(1) Acts 11:29, 30—help sent to churches of
Judea—money given to elders of various
churches.
(2) 1 Corinthians 16:1, 2; 2 Corinthians 8,
9; Romans 15:25-26.
b. They did not suggest:
(1) that Jerusalem sent their poor to a
richer church that could take care of
them.
(2) That a separate institution be built
(orphan home, old folks home) supported
by all the churches for the care of the
needy of Jerusalem and other churches.
(3) That enough money be sent to the
Jerusalem church that they could build
facilities to care for all the needy of
the brotherhood.
c. Each church cared for its own, but if an
emergency arose making it impossible for it
to care for its own, other churches assisted
with contributions.
4. Not one example is found in the New Testament of
one church surrendering work or money to an
orphans home, an old folks home, or to any other
human institution.
a. The church can provide whatever is necessary
(food, clothing, supervision, etc.) for needy
saints.
b. To say a human institution can to the Lord’s
work better than a divine institution is to
doubt the wisdom of God.
Conclusion:
I. I have the responsibility of supporting myself, my
immediate family, and any close relative who is needy.
II. If I have made every effort to support those who are
my responsibility, but cannot adequately do so, then I
become an object of benevolence.
III. It is then the responsibility of the local
congregation of which I am a member to meet my needs.
IV. If the local congregation is unable to supply the
want, then other congregations should send money to
the church until the want is adequately supplied.
V. This provides no place for any human institution nor
for any congregation’ setting itself up as a central
agency for the caring of the brotherhood’s needy.
This outline is based on an outline of Bill Hall.
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