Does It Make Any Difference

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Does It Make Any Difference?

• Part 4
• Clergy/laity distinctions, fund raising, and
  women leadership

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We have already noted

• The danger in false teachers doctrines
• What God says about good people
• Church founders
• Church beginnings
• Church names and their authority

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A Common Practice is the Clergy/Laity Distinction

• Seen in the clergy claiming authority to
  forgive sins and refuse communion
• Seen in the wearing of special clothing to set
  them apart
• Seen in accepting titles like Reverend, Doctor,
  Pastor, Father, etc., etc.

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Matthew 2025-26

• But Jesus called them to him and said, You know
  that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over
  them, and their great ones exercise authority
  over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But
  whoever would be great among you must be your
  servant,

This is a practice of the world
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Matthew 232-7

• The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses'
  seat, 3 so practice and observe whatever they
  tell youbut not what they do. For they preach,
  but do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens,
  hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders,
  but they themselves are not willing to move them
  with their finger. 5 They do all their deeds to
  be seen by others. For they make their
  phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6 and
  they love the place of honor at feasts and the
  best seats in the synagogues 7 and greetings in
  the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others.

They were doing their deeds to be seen of men
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Matthew 2311-12

• The greatest among you shall be your servant.
  12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and
  whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

The greatest are the servants and those who exalt
themselves will be humbled.
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Fund Raising Special Collections also set Mens
churches apart.

• To many Religion asking for money for

• Extravagant televangelists income

• Churches investing in Wall Street

• Churches running secular businesses

• Concerts and entertainment venues

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SCRIPTURAL Fund raising is easy to understand and
identify

• 1 Corinthians 161-2
• Now concerning the collection for the saints as
  I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also
  are to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each
  of you is to put something aside and store it up,
  as he may prosper, so that there will be no
  collecting when I come.

The collecting DAY was clear
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SCRIPTURAL Fund raising is easy to understand and
identify

• 1 Corinthians 161-2
• Now concerning the collection for the saints as
  I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also
  are to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each
  of you is to put something aside and store it up,
  as he may prosper, so that there will be no
  collecting when I come.

The GIVERS are clear
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SCRIPTURAL Fund raising is easy to understand and
identify

• 1 Corinthians 161-2
• Now concerning the collection for the saints as
  I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also
  are to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each
  of you is to put something aside and store it up,
  as he may prosper, so that there will be no
  collecting when I come.

The MEASURE of giving was clear
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SCRIPTURAL Fund raising is easy to understand and
identify

• 1 Corinthians 161-2
• Now concerning the collection for the saints as
  I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also
  are to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each
  of you is to put something aside and store it up,
  as he may prosper, so that there will be no
  collecting when I come.

The POINT of giving was clear
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Women Leaders and Preachers

• 1 Timothy 315
• 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to
  behave in the household of God, which is the
  church of the living God, a pillar and buttress
  of the truth.

Showing how one should behave oneself in the
church
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Women Leaders and Preachers

• 1 Timothy 211-12
• Let a woman learn quietly with all
  submissiveness. 12 I do not permit a woman to
  teach or to exercise authority over a man
  rather, she is to remain quiet.

The context here demands that it must be
spiritual
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Women Leaders and Preachers?
In the church, the ladies are not to teach or
exercise authority over a man, Period.
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Youre in the wrong place

• If the name of your church does not glorify God
  or our Savior
• If your church is connected to some central body
  or headquarters
• If your church leadership is elevated above the
  rest of the body
• If your church is taking up money and its not
  the first day of the week
• If a woman is leading men in any church function

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Are you glorifying God in HIS church? Are you
respecting Christ by respecting HIS body?