Church Buildings

TEXT:  2 John 9

INTRODUCTION:

A.      TOO MANY COMMON PRACTICES TAKEN FOR GRANTED.

B.      TEXT EMPHASIZES THE NEED FOR SCRIPTURAL AUTHORITY.

C.      QUESTION CONCERNING "CHURCH BUILDINGS."

I.      HOW TO ESTABLISH SCRIPTURAL AUTHORITY.

A.      HOW DO THE WRITINGS OF THE APOSTLES, THE NEW TESTAMENT,

          TEACH?  1.  By Precept,  2.  By Divinely Approved Example,  3.  By Inference.

B.      THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF AUTHORITY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT:

          1.       Generic - INCLUDES!  Where God has not been specific.

          2.       Specific - EXCLUDES!  God has specified.

          3.       Generic Authority Illustrated:

                   a.       Mat. 28:19-20.  "Go!"  How?  "Teach!"  What method?

                             "Baptize!"  Where?

                   b.       Eph. 5:19.  "Sing!"  From a book?  Memory?  Overhead?

                             God didn’t specify, man cannot bind.

                   c.       Where man chooses, what he chooses we call an expedient.  It expedites

                             the command.

                   d.       Whatever expedient is chosen, it must not violate any law or principle

                             found in the New Testament.

          4.       Specific Authority Illustrated:

                   a.       Noah’s Ark( Gen. 6:14 ).  Gopher wood excludes oak.

                   b.       Lord’s Supper( Mat. 26:26-29 ).  Unleavened bread and fruit of the

                             vine excludes pie and ice cream.

Acts 20:7 excludes Monday observance.

                   c.       Music( Eph. 5:19 ).  Sing excludes other kinds of music.

C.      Heb. 10:25.  IS THE PLACE FOR ASSEMBLY SPECIFIED?

D.      THE QUESTION IS NOT DO WE HAVE AUTHORITY, BUT IS AN OWNED

          BUILDING ACTUALLY EXPEDIENT?  Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

II.     WHAT MAY WE DO IN THE BUILDING?

A.      THE PLACE IS NOT WHAT MAKES IT IMPORTANT( John 4:20-24 ).

B.      THE CHURCH IS NOT THE BUILDING

          ( 1 Cor. 3:9, 16-17;  Eph. 2:19-22;  1 Pet. 1:5 ).

C.      NO SCRIPTURAL BASIS FOR SANCTUARY OR HOLY PLACE( Acts 17:24 ).

D.      MAY WE EAT OR SOCIALIZE IN THE BUILDING?  WE OFTEN DO.

          1.       Abuse occurs when money out of the treasury is used to provide for such.

          2.       Or rooms for such, and

          3.       When the church begins to "sponsor" such.

          4.       There should be no kitchen or recreational facility attached to the building.

          5.       Where is the authority?

E.      INCIDENTAL ACTIVITIES.  THINGS FOR WHICH THERE ARE NO

          EXPENSES OR INVOLVEMENT OF THE CHURCH.

          1.       Dinner on the grounds.  Work parties and pizza.

          2.       Playing catch with the baseball.

          3.       The preacher having a coffee maker in the office and fixing his lunch.

          4.       Some incidentals must be avoided because of false impressions.

F.      ARE WEDDINGS A FUNERALS INCIDENTAL?

          1.       Is it a sponsored activity of the church?

          2.       To what extent is the church involved?

          3.       What impression might be made by such use?

          4.       Is there an opportunity for legitimate scriptural use?

G.      I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE BUILDING AVOIDED.  BUT SOME

          WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS MEET THE CRITERIA FOR LEGITIMATE USE.

          1.       Weddings where the songs are spiritual and teaching from the Bible applied.

          2.       Funerals have a legitimate spiritual function( Ecc. 7:1-4 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      WE NEED TO HAVE SCRIPTURAL AUTHORITY FOR WHAT WE DO.

B.      WE HAVE AUTHORITY FOR A BUILDING.