S.S.S. Study Conduct of the church week 4

S.S.S. Study The Conduct of the Church
Family School at Faith Baptist Church
Week 4: Ministering to the poor

Ephesians 4:32    "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

MIN'ISTER- verb transitive [Latin ministro.] To give; to afford; to supply.
In what ways can the church minister to someone? Spiritually, with knowledge, with time, with prayer, with finances.

Does God care about the poor?
The command to Israel- Deuteronomy 15:7-11.
Judges 6:15- God calls Gideon despite his being poor and least of the tribe.
Many of Christ's apostles were men who worked poorer professions.
We are often told not to be respecters of persons, James 2:1-4, Acts 10:34.
Read Proverbs 19:1, 17, 21:13, what does all this mean?

There are many mistaken philosophies about the churches duty to the poor, some say that no matter what the circumstances the church needs to help anyone who asks, some say the church is an example of socialism, some believe that if you minister to the poor you will "receive a monetary blessing". What does the bible say?

Help all no matter what, 1st Peter 4:10, 1st Timothy 5:22, 1st Timothy 5:8.
Socialism, Matthew 20:1-16, 2nd Corinthians 8:9-13. (Vs 12- a willing mind)
Earthly give/receive Matthew 19:21.

Jesus Christ's example: Matthew 26:6-13, 2nd Corinthians 8:9.

What is the most important way in which we can give to the poor? John 12:1-8.
Tell them about Christ! Romans 10:13-14, Romans 11:33, the greatest and first gift we should give anyone is knowledge of Jesus Christ!

What do we need to tell them?
Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, 10:9-13, John 1:12, 3:16-18, 5:24, 10:27-30, 20:31.

Memory Verse: "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

Homework: Make a list of possessions that you own, try to include everything you can think of, then make two separate lists from the first, one consisting of the things you NEED in order to either survive or serve God, and one consisting of all the rest.