1 What Standard? Bible P T U E R X E T Inject Human Traditions & Opinions Polluted Standard

1 What Standard?Bible

P TU ER XE T

Inject HumanTraditions& Opinions

PollutedStandard

2 The Scriptures Furnish Us With All TruthJohn 16:13

“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but what-ever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”

NewTestament}

3 Division AroseA problem arose among brethren over instrumental music in worship as well as the Missionary Society. They challenged the scripturalness of both these items. In 1906, (just about 100 years after men were pleading for people to return to the Bible and do away with division), the division among these same people was complete. Now the call from men “Back to the Bible” was a hollow sound in the ears of many. The division that came brought into being Christian Churches and Churches of Christ. Would that be the end of division?

Abiding IN The

Doctrine of Christ

“Whoever transgresses and does not abide IN the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides IN the doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son” (II John 9).

IN The Doctrine of

Christ 1. God’s Plan of Salvation 2. Church Organization 3. Acts of Worship 4. Work of the Church

NewTestament

4

5 Work of the Church • Work

1. Evangelism — I Timothy 3:152. Edification — Ephesians 4:16

3. Benevolence — I Timothy 5:16

Any Work God Gave A Local Church To Do May Be Done By That Church Without Its Setting

Up Or Working Through Any Other Organization!

6 Work of the Church The Sponsoring Church

ArrangementSponsor — “One who binds himself to answer for another’s fault; a surety. Hence, one who assumes, or one to whom is delegated, responsibility for some other person or thing. To be or stand sponsor for; to accept responsibility for.” — Webster


ArrangementWhat Is A Sponsoring Church?

1. It is a congregation which assumes the oversight and control of some activity in the general field of evangelism, edification, or benevolence.2. Being general, the work involved is not the exclusive responsibility of one congregation, but, proportionate to their ability, is the work of all the churches.



3. The congregation assuming the oversight of and control cannot sustain the work undertaken alone.4. Many congregations delegate their funds and responsibilities to the overseeing and controlling congregation for their fulfillment and application or expenditure.



5. The elders of the sponsoring church thus become the official board of a “church cooperation” vested with the authority of overseeing, controlling, and prosecuting the work involved.It Is A Violation of Autonomy - Autonomous: “Independent in government; self-governing; also, without outside control. Existing independently.” — Webster

10 OVERSIGHT LIMITEDLocal Church - EldersIndependent

Equal

Autonomous

Sufficient

Acts 20:28 “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood.”I Peter 5:2-3 “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.”

11 Work of the Church Radio Programs

The Herald of Truth“In the late 1940s two young men preaching in the Middle West —

James W. Nichols in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and James D. Willeford of Madison, Wisconsin — began working together in the production of a regional radio program known as the Herald of Truth. The program had wide acceptance throughout five states; and as the church began to grow throughout that whole region, these young men began to realize the

12 Work of the Church Radio Programs

The Herald of Truthgreat impact the airwaves could have for Christ. In 1951, the Mutual radio network made an offer to broadcast this program — if sufficient funds could be made available. . . .When the network opportunity was presented to the elders of the Highland Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas, in September 1951, the experience could best be described as ‘staggering and unforgettable’. What a great opportunity . . . and if the brethren would help…” (The Herald of Truth Story - page 1)

13 What Is A Sponsoring Church?Sponsoring

Church Arrangement

$

$

$$$

$$$

Herald of Truth

Radio and TV ProgramsHighlandchurch of Christ

Sponsoring ChurchBoard Made Up

of Elders

Herald of Truth Radio


Human Institution

C C C C

Human Institution

Controls1. Appoints, 2. Fixes Wages, 3.

Selects Fields of Labor

$ $$$

Missionary SocietyExecutive

BoardDelegates

Delegates

Send OutMissionar

ies

Send OutMissionar

ies

Human Institution

C C C C



$$ $ $

15

Sponsoring ChurchBoard Made Up

of Elders



Human Institution

C C C C

Human Institution



$ $$$16

Missionary SocietyExecutive

BoardDelegates

Delegates

Send OutMissionar

ies

Send OutMissionar

ies

Human Institution

C C C C



$$ $ $

17

18 What Has God Assigned To

The Church In Evangelism?

• Local Churches Received Report From The Preacher

Acts 14:26-27

• Local Churches Sent Directly To The Preacher

II Corinthians 11:8-9

• Local Church Paid the PreacherPhilippines 4:15-16

I Corinthians 9:12; II Corinthians 12:13

• Local Church Selected A Preacher• Local Church Defined Territory of

Labor• Local Church Sent Out Preacher

Acts 11:22-24

19 A Divine Example of Evangelism“Other Churches

Sent Directly to Paul” II Corinthians

11:8

$

$

$$$

$$$

Philippi Sent Directly to Paul - Phil 4:15-17

$

$

20 Where Is The Scriptural Authority?

(Command - Statement, Example or Necessary

Implication)

For a church (or churches) to send funds to another church to preach the gospel.

$ $ $ $ $

21 Are We Anti-Church Cooperation?

Two Kinds Of Cooperation Sponsoring ChurchConcurrent

$

$

$$$

$$$

$ $

$ $

$

$ $

Work ToBe Done

22 Local Church ONLY Organization In N.T.

MissionarySociety

(Sponsoring Church)

Nothing Larger

SundaySchool

Organization

Nothing Smaller

23 A Plea For All Times

Back to the BibleOur Plea: “Let’s speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where the Bible is silent. Let’s do Bible things in Bible ways and call Bible things by Bible names.”This plea is based on Bible teaching:I Peter 4:11 “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. . .”Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

24 A Plea For All Times

Back to the BibleColossians 3:17 “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”onoma — 1) name: universally, used of proper names; 2) the name is used for everything which the name covers, everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing, remembering, the name, that is, for one's rank, authority, interests, pleasure, command, excellencies, deeds etc.(from Thayer's Greek Lexicon).

25 Where Is The Scriptural Authority For: Practice

Approved

Example Paying A I Cor. 9:4,14 II Cor.11:8-9 I Tim.4:12,15 Preacher

Direct Support

to Preacher

Command Necessary Implication

Phil. 4:15II Cor. 11:8

Elders Over-seeing only one church

I Peter 5:1-3Acts

20:28-29

I Timothy 3:5Elders

Planning a work beyond

their financial ability

? ? ?Several

Churches Working

Through One Church

? ? ?

Have We Given Up The Demand For A “THUS SAITH THE LORD”

26 New Testament Plan Vs. Modern Plan New Testament

PlanSponsoring Church

Plan1. Local Church Selected A Preacher Acts 11:22-242. Local Church Defined Territory of Labor Acts 11:22-24

Sponsoring Church Defines Territory of

Labor3. Local Church Sent Out Preacher Acts 11:22-24

Sponsoring Church Sends Out Preacher

4. Local Church Paid the Preacher Philippians 4:15-16

Church Pays the Sponsoring Ch &

Sponsoring Church Pays

Preacher 5. Local Church Sent Directly To Preacher II Corinthians 11:8-9

Churches Sends to Sp. Church & Sponsoring Ch Sends to Preacher

Let’s Follow The New Testament Plan!

Sponsoring Church Selects A Preacher.

6. Local Church Received Report from Preacher Acts 14:26-27

Sponsoring Church Receives Report and Reports to Churches

God’s Conditions of Salvation For The Alien

SinnerBelieve - Hebrews 11:6; John 8:21,

24Repent - Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30 Confess - Romans 10:10

Be Baptized - Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-4God’s Conditions of Salvation for

the ChristianRemain Faithful - Matthew 10:22; Revelation 2:10If A Christian Sins

Repent - Acts 8:22Confess - I John 1:9Pray - Acts 8:22

Documents

1 What Standard? Bible P T U E R X E T Inject Human Traditions & Opinions Polluted Standard