Transcript collective action - forest hills church of christ

Collective Action of Christians
What is collective action?
What is a collectivity of Christians?
What may they do collectively?
Types of Collective Action
 That which is to be done by all saints
in an assembly
1. Singing
2. Eating the Lord’s Supper
3. Giving
4. Praying*
5. Studying God’s word
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Types of Collective Action
 That which is done representatively
1. Praying
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1 Corinthians 14:15-17
What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the
spirit, and I will also pray with the
understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I
will also sing with the understanding.
Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will
he who occupies the place of the uninformed
say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he
does not understand what you say? For you
indeed give thanks well, but the other is not
edified.
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Types of Collective Action
 That which is done representatively
1. Praying
2. Preaching/Teaching
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Acts 20:7
Now on the first day of the week, when the
disciples came together to break bread, Paul,
ready to depart the next day, spoke to them
and continued his message until midnight.
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Types of Collective Action
 That which is done representatively
1. Praying
2. Preaching/Teaching
3. Delivering an impenitent sinner to
Satan
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1 Corinthians 5:1-3
It is actually reported that there is sexual
immorality among you, and such sexual
immorality as is not even named among the
Gentiles--that a man has his father's wife! And
you are puffed up, and have not rather
mourned, that he who has done this deed might
be taken away from among you. For I indeed,
as absent in body but present in spirit, have
already judged (as though I were present) him
who has so done this deed.
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1 Corinthians 5:4-5
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when
you are gathered together, along with my spirit,
with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction
of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the
day of the Lord Jesus.
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Types of Collective Action
 That which is done representatively
1. Praying
2. Preaching/Teaching
3. Delivering an impenitent sinner to
Satan
4. Distributing the elements
5. Passing the collection plate
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Types of Collective Action
 That which is done via expenditures
1. Paying for facilities, utilities and/or
supplies as needed
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Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider one another in order to
stir up love and good works, not forsaking the
assembling of ourselves together, as is the
manner of some, but exhorting one another,
and so much the more as you see the Day
approaching.
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Types of Collective Action
 That which is done via expenditures
1. Paying for facilities, utilities and/or
supplies as needed
2. Supporting one or more preachers
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1 Corinthians 9:14
Even so the Lord has commanded that those
who preach the gospel should live from the
gospel.
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2 Corinthians 11:7-9
Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you
might be exalted, because I preached the
gospel of God to you free of charge? I robbed
other churches, taking wages from them to
minister to you. And when I was present with
you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for
what I lacked the brethren who came from
Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept
myself from being burdensome to you, and so I
will keep myself.
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Types of Collective Action
That which is done via expenditures
1. Paying for facilities, utilities and/or
supplies as needed
2. Supporting one or more preachers
3. Helping needy saints
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Acts 2:44-45
Now all who believed were together, and had
all things in common, and sold their possessions
and goods, and divided them among all, as
anyone had need.
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Acts 4:34-35
Nor was there anyone among them who lacked;
for all who were possessors of lands or houses
sold them, and brought the proceeds of the
things that were sold, and laid them at the
apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as
anyone had need.
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Closing Observations
 Whether collective or distributive
action is intended by a collective noun
depends on whether singular or plural
verbs and pronouns are used.
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Closing Observations
1. When the collective noun refers to the
group acting as one, it takes a singular
verb or pronoun.
2. When it refers to the members of the
group acting individually, it takes a
plural verb or pronoun.
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1 Timothy 5:16
If any believing man or woman has widows, let
them relieve them, and do not let the church be
burdened, that it may relieve those who are
really widows.
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Acts 2:46-47
So continuing daily with one accord in the
temple, and breaking bread from house to
house, they ate their food with gladness and
simplicity of heart, praising God and having
favor with all the people. And the Lord added
to the church daily those who were being saved.
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Acts 8:1
Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that
time a great persecution arose against the
church which was at Jerusalem; and they were
all scattered throughout the regions of Judea
and Samaria, except the apostles.
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Acts 8:3-4
As for Saul, he made havoc of the church,
entering every house, and dragging off men and
women, committing them to prison. Therefore
those who were scattered went everywhere
preaching the word.
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Revelation 3:1-2
And unto the angel of the church in Sardis
write; These things saith he that hath the seven
Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy
works, that thou hast a name that thou livest,
and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the
things which remain, that are ready to die: for I
have not found thy works perfect before God.
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Revelation 3:3-4
Remember therefore how thou hast received
and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If
therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on
thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what
hour I will come upon thee.
Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which
have not defiled their garments; and they shall
walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
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Revelation 3:5-6
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed
in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name
out of the book of life, but I will confess his
name before my Father, and before his angels.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit saith unto the churches.
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