Now at this time some prophets came down

1

• Now at this time some prophets came down
• from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them
• named Agabus stood up and began to
• indicate by the Spirit that there would
• certainly be a great famine all over the
• world. And this took place in the reign of
• Claudius.
• Acts 1127-28

2
Local Churches and Benevolence

• Jerusalem
• Acts 244-45
• 432-37
• 61-6
• Antioch
• Acts 1127-30

• Macedonia Achaia
• Acts 2417
• Romans 1525-32
• 1 Cor. 161-4
• 2 Cor. 8-9
• Any local church
• 1 Tim. 59-16

3
Local Churches and Benevolence

• Who was provided for?
• Who did the providing?
• What was provided for?
• Does any of this make any difference?

4
Does any of this make any difference?

• See that you
• make them after the pattern
• for them, which was shown
• to you on the mountain.
• Exodus 2540 Hebrews 85

5
NT Local Churches and Benevolence

• Church in Jerusalem
• Acts 244-45
• 432-37
• 61-6

• Who was provided for?
• All those who had
• believed began selling
• their property and
• possessions and were
• sharing them with all,
• as anyone might have
• need.

6
NT Local Churches and Benevolence

• Church in Jerusalem
• Acts 244-45
• 432-37
• 61-6

• Who was provided for?
• the congregation of
• those who believed
• there was not a needy
• person among them
• distributed to each as
• any had need

7
NT Local Churches and Benevolence

• Church in Jerusalem
• Acts 244-45
• 432-37
• 61-6

• Who was provided for?
• the disciplesthe
• congregation of the
• disciplesGrecian Jews

8
NT Local Churches and Benevolence

• Church in Antioch
• Acts 1127-30

• Who was provided for?
• brethren in Judea
• What was sent?
• relief
• Where was relief sent?
• to the elders

9
NT Local Churches and Benevolence

• Churches in
• Macedonia Achaia
• Acts 2417
• Romans 1525-32
• 1 Cor. 161-4
• 2 Cor. 8-9

• Who was provided for?
• the saints
• What caused the need?
• want

10
NT Local Churches and Benevolence

• Any congregation
• 1 Tim. 59-16

• Who is to be provided for?
• widows indeed
• Who provides?
• the church
• What is to be provided?
• relief

11
The Local Church and Benevolence

• Who was provided for?
• Christians only
• Non-Christians were never the object of church
• benevolence

12
The Local Church and Benevolence

• Who did the providing?
• The local church
• No middle man organizations (other local
  churches, benevolent institutions, etc)
• Direct to the church or individual

13
The Local Church and Benevolence

• What was provided for?
• Benevolence
• alms, relief, want
• In NT pattern no church sent funds to another
  church for evangelism, building of buildings, etc.