Yesterday, we studied the first and primary work of the church of our Lord; (PREACHING THE GOSPEL). Today we will take up the second and third phases of this work.  EDIFICATION and BENEVOLENCE.

1.   EDIFYING ITSELF IN LOVE:  Read Eph. 4:1-16; 1 Cor. 14:26; and 1 Thes. 5:11.
1. In this matter of edifying or building up the church, the elders are to see that this is done in a scriptural manner, Acts 20:28-32; 1 Pet. 5:1-4.
2. The necessary items to be used whereby saints can be edified, such as: Literature, Classes, Songbooks, Class-rooms, lights, benches, heat, etc. are included in the general term "to edify".
3.  But, this edifying is to be done by teaching the word of God and obeying it, Acts 20:32.
4.  So, this would eliminate any type of recreation or entertainment for this purpose.
1.  The edifying is primarily in spiritual matters and not necessarily in numbers, 2 Pet. 3:18; 1 Pet. 2:1-5; Eph. 4:15.
2.  So-called Christian colleges are not to be used as an edifying organization for the church.  But, from the elders' workshops, mission training programs, schools of preaching, etc. that we see these colleges advertising today, we have to conclude that churches of our Lord are allowing the colleges to become edifying agents and organizations in place of the church.
5. Worshipping God helps to build up the congregation.  Involved in the worship is the necessary equipment to carry out such.
6. So, in the field of EDIFICATION, there are general expedients and strict specifics.  Let us not confuse the two.  Remembering, that for a thing to be expedient, it must first be lawful, 1 Cor. 6:12; 10:32.  Now, pass-ing on from the field of edification, we come to the next and final element in the work of the church:
2. BENEVOLENCE, OR CARING FOR NEEDY SAINTS.
1. Benevolence, is a general term and can be carried out by many methods: money, food, clothing, housing, medicine, etc. these constitute the means or the HOW of benevolence. Let us remember from the start, that we are talking about the work of the CHURCH and not the INDIVIDUAL (there is a difference you know).
2. But those qualified for help from the church treasury, in the field of benevolence, are strictly specified in the New Testament.
1. It is the New Testament that gives us the authority for using the Lord's money and not the emotions and whims and fancies of men.  Read the following scriptures:  Acts 2:44; 4:32-34; 6:1; 11:27-30; Rom. 15: 26; 1 Cor. 16:1; 2 Cor. 8:4; 9:1; 1 Tim. 5:3,9-11,16.
2. This excludes all others as qualified for help from the church treasury.  This is the WHO that can be helped from the treasury.
3. Churches can co-operate in the field of benevolence, but only in a concurrent manner and not in a joint pooling of resources under a central head.
1. Such is borne out in the following examples:  Acts 11:27-30; Rom. 15:25-28; 1 Cor. 16:1-4; 2 Cor. chs. 8 and 9.  These are approved apostolic examples and we are limited by these specifics.
4. The church's responsibility in the field of benevolence, cannot be delegated to another congregation nor another organization.
1. If it is not able to care for its own, then it can receive help directly from sister congregations until such time as it is able to meet the emergency of its own needs.
2. These needs are not to be assumed and acquired needs brought on by the congregation's overstepping its ability by reaching out and assuming the benevolent oversight of a benevolent work not its own.

CONCLUSION:  Truly, the Lord's church has a specified work to be engaged in upon this earth, and it is sufficiently able to carry out the work that has been assigned to it by the Lord.

The pattern of the work is detailed and clear for those that love the church and respect the authority of the Word of God.

But, to those that become presumptious and fail to heed the clear-cut pattern, all lines of demarcation become blurred.

The whole problem among brethren, concerning the work of the church, stems from the lack of respect for the authority of God in His Word.  [May these studies on the SCRIPTURAL ORGANIZATION, WORSHIP and WORK OF THE CHURCH, have been helpful to you in your study of God's word on these important matters]