.jpg)
Articles
The Work of the Church
A Study Of The Work God Has Assigned The Church
We would like to make a study of the work of the church. God has given the church a work to do, and it is threefold in nature. We shall see from a study of the New Testament, that the church in the first century was involved in evangelism, edification, and benevolence toward needy saints.
Evangelism
Let us look at the work of evangelism. The word evangelism carries the idea preaching the good news, spreading the gospel. In 1Thessalonians 1:8, "For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing." The phrase "sounded out" carries the idea of trumpeting forth the word of God. This is what evangelism is all about. Also in Philippians 1:5, Paul spoke about the church there supporting him in the work of spreading the gospel, "For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now." Philippians 4:14-16, "Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity." Yes the church is to spread the gospel according to its ability.
Edification
In Ephesians 4:16 we read, "From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." The word, edify, means to build up. Building up takes a lot of time, patience, skill and love to accomplish. Anybody can tear down or tear up a building. The church is to teach and instruct the saved in all the ways of the Lord. Matthew 28:20, "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." When the saints assemble for worship, or when classes are provided to teach and instruct in the apostolic doctrine, or when discipline is carried out upon a wayward saint, or when bulletins are passed out, these are part of the work of edification of the saints. God’s people need to be brought to remembrance of truth they have been taught, 1 Timothy 4:6, "If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained."
Benevolence
Now we will notice that the work of the church is benevolence toward needy saints. In Acts 11:28-30, "And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul." In Romans 15:25-26, "But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem." Also, in IICor. 8 Paul speaks about the Macedonian’s work to help the needy saints; "For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints." Finally, let’s notice 1Timothy 5:16, "If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed." Yes, the church is charged to help needy saints in benevolent aid. Thus the work of the church is threefold in it’s scope. There are many more passages that could be added on each of these 3 points. These are the only three things that the church is authorized to be involved in.
The Work Is NOT
The work of the church is not to provide social and recreational activities for the saints, such as dining rooms, kitchens, sports, gymnasiums, family life centers, etc. This is the work of individuals and the home. It would be iniquity or lawlessness for the church to presume to do this work. Paul said in ICor.11:22&34, "What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not... And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come." It is not the work of the church to be involved in politics, form a political action committee. It is not the work of the church to be in business, money making schemes. The church is to be funded by free will offerings of Christians to do the work of the Lord, ICor.16:1-2. The work of the church is not secular education: not kindergarten, nor elementary, nor high school, or college. The work of the church is not to be some sort of Red Cross to seek to relieve all mankind, in benevolence. The kingdom of God is spiritual in its focus, Romans 14:17, "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." Let us let the church be the church, and do only the work God has assigned it.
