1. Phil. 1:1-2 - 1Paul and Timothy, bondservants of
Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are
in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 2Grace to
you and peace from God our Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ.

2. The Local Church

3. The Local Church
Why do they exist?
Is there a difference between
my responsibilities and
those of the church?
Should I join myself to a
local congregation?Can local churches
cooperate?

4. • The purpose of localized congregations:
– Practicality (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2;
Heb. 10:24-25)
– Accountability (1 Pet. 5:1-4;
1 Thess. 5:12-13; 2 Thess. 3:6)
– Support (1 Cor. 12:20-27)
– Functionality (Eph. 4:11-16;
Rom. 12:3-8)
The Local Church

5. • Should I join myself to a local church?
(Acts 2:41-47; 4:23-24, 31-32; 9:19, 26-28;
14:21-23)
The Local Church

6. • Does the church have the same
responsibilities as individual Christians?
– The care of widows (1 Tim. 5:3-4, 8-10, 16)
– Addressing individual sin (Matt. 18:15-17)
– General benevolence (Jas. 1:26-27;
Gal. 6:1-2, 6, 10)
– Observing the Lord’s Supper
(1 Cor. 11:20-22, 33-34)
The Local Church

7. • Can local churches cooperate?
– Supporting a preacher (Phil. 4:15-16;
2 Cor. 11:7-9)
– Sending aid to needy saints in a certain
place (Rom. 15:25-27; Acts 11:27-30)
The Local Church

8. • Can local churches cooperate?
– We do not see examples of churches…
• Sending money to a “sponsoring church”
• Supporting or creating outside
organizations (i.e. schools, hospitals,
missionary societies, etc.)
– Elders are to oversee the work
and members of the flock
among them (1 Pet. 5:2)
The Local Church

9. The Local Church

10. Eph. 4:1-6 - 1I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord,
beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with
which you were called, 2with all lowliness and
gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one
another in love, 3endeavoring to keep the unity of
the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body
and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope
of your calling; 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6one God and Father of all, who is above all, and
through all, and in you all.