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The Difference Between "Church" and "Churches," Part 3

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  • The universal church is NOT composed of local churches. It is composed of individual Christians.
    • Oversight
    “church”
    • Jesus is the head of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23). There are no earthly leaders.
    • John 10:14
    • Matthew 16:18
      • “churches”
      • Elders are to be appointed in every church (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5).
      • Acts 15:2; 20:17; Philippians 1:1
      • I Peter 5:1-2
      • There is no reference to elders being overseers of anything other than a local church.
      • I Thessalonians 2:13
      • Acts 8:18
      • Acts 15:7, 12-13 – They were revealing what God had already decided. It was not men getting together to decide church doctrine.
        • Treasury
        “church”
        • There is none.
          • “churches”
          • Churches collect and use money on a congregational level. (I Corinthians 16:1-4; Philippians 4:15-16)
            • Work of the church
            “church”
            • The word “church” in this sense simply refers to all saved people (Ephesians 5:23-29; Hebrews 12:22-24), but they are not a universally functioning entity.
            • Romans 16:16 – Multiple churches sent greetings, but this is not a collective action.
              • “churches”
              • Churches engage in lots of different actions and work.
                • Help needy saints in the local church (Acts 6:1-6)
                • Help needy saints in other churches (Romans 15:26)
                • Add/subtract members (Acts 9:26-28; I Corinthians 5:13)
                • Assemble to worship God and edify each other (I Corinthians 14:23-26)
                • Have overseers and deacons (Philippians 1:1)
                • Make decisions (I Corinthians 16:3)
                • Help sinners repent (Matthew 18:17)
                • Partake of the Lord’s Supper (I Corinthians 11:17-24)
                • Sing spiritual songs (I Corinthians 14:26)
                • Pray (I Corinthians 14:15)
                • Teach God’s word (I Corinthians 14:26)
                • Collect money (I Corinthians 16:2)
                • Sound forth the word (I Thessalonians 1:8)
                • Support preachers in other places (Philippians 4:15-16)
                • Etc.
                • The work was done on a local level.
                  • Takeaways
                  • Don’t think of the church as a denomination.
                    • Romans 14:12
                    • Jesus is my primary authority, not the local church.
                      • Acts 11:20-26
                      • Local churches make mistakes!
                      • No person has the authority to rewrite God’s rules.
                      • The local church is a spiritual team.
                        • Philippians 1:27
                          • ...more
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                          ScriptureStreamBy Mark Watson
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