1.  Review Lesson 4:

  a.  Three ways to establish authority (Acts 15:6-21).

  b.  Two kinds of authority (General & Specific).

  c.  Avoid extremes: Silence gives consent, & must have specific examples.

2.  Want to apply what we have learned about Bible authority to the local church & its work, and investigate the building & maintaining of other organizations to do the work given the church to do.

I.  AUTHORITY FOR THE WORK OF THE LOCAL CHURCH.

  A.  Edify, Relieve Needy Saints & Evangelize.

    1.  Edification of the saints - 1 Cor. 14:26.

    2.  Relieve needy saints - 1 Tim. 5:16.

    3.  Spread the gospel - 1 Ths. 1:7-8.

  B.  Specific Authority For Work Of The Local Church.

    1.  All other works excluded & forbidden! - 2 Jno. 9; l Cor. 4:6; Gal. 1:8-9

    2.  Because we must adhere to God's pattern! 2 Tim. 1:13; Phil. 3:17

II.  APPLYING SPECIFIC AUTHORITY [the law (rule) of exclusion].

  A.  Playing Mechanical Instruments Of Music In Worship Is Excluded Because The NT Pattern Is Sing.

    1.  ONLY - [Specific authority - The kind of music to use].

    2.  Silence of scriptures must be respected (don't add another kind of music to the word of God).

  B.  Additional Organizations To Do The Work Of The Church Are Excluded Because The NT Pattern Is The Local Church!

    1.  ONLY - [Specific authority - The kind of organization by which we collectively function.]

    2.  Silence of scriptures must be respected (don’t add another kind of organization to the word of God).

  C.  Both Subjects Stand Or Fall Together!

    -Silence of scriptures restrict! prohibit. - 1 Cor. 4:6; Heb. 7:13-14.

III.  WHICH ORGANIZATION IS AUTHORIZED TO DO (PERFORM) THE COLLECTIVE WORK GIVEN TO THE CHURCH?

  A.  To Edify The Saints? -- Local Church Specified - Acts 20:28-32.

    1.  Sunday School organization is another kind of organization!  (Organization within an organization, with its own structure, officers, funds....)

    2.  All such organizations are superfluous & excluded!

  B.  To Relieve Needy Saints? -- Local Church Specified - Acts 11:29-30; Rom. 15:25-26

    1.  Benevolence Corporation is another kind of organization!

    2.  All such additional organizations are superfluous & excluded!

  C.  To Preach The Gospel? -- Local Church Specified - Phil. 1:5; 1:15; 2 Cor. 11:8

    1.  Missionary Society is another kind of organization.

    2.  All such organizations are superfluous & excluded!

IV.  AIDS AND ADDITIONS.

-[Some say: "These organizations are aids / expediencies to accomplish the work given the local church." (Same thing said of instrumental music!)].

  A.  What Is An Aid?

    1.  That which assists or helps expedite our obedience to authorized activity; hence, an expediency.

    2.  1 Cor. 6:12; 10:23 - Must be lawful.

    3.  Doesn’t change the force & effect of the authorized activity.

  B.  What Is An Addition?

    1.  Introduces a new & different kind of activity.

    2.  Changes force & effect of authorized activity (Gal. 1:8-9; Rev. 22:18).

    3.  Unlawful & without authority - 2 Jno. 9.

V.  AIDS VERSUS ADDITIONS.

  A.  Distinguish Between Aids & Additions.

    1.  Ark / Sing / Baptize / Preach / Edify / Relieve.

    2.  Additional organizations:

      a.  Pervert God’s ordained & approved way of doing His will!

      b.  They challenge God’s wisdom!

2.  All other works are excluded & thus forbidden as additions to our God-given collective work.

3.  Accomplished through the local church - Other organizations are additions & thus forbidden!