Principles For The Financial Support Of A Full-Time Laborer In Christian Ministries
Led by Thomas Smith

(1st)The study that we are about to begin is something that I have wanted to do for years but just have not had the chance.

(2nd) Pastor did not tell me to teach this study .

(3rd) In the 31 yrs that I have been a Christian I have never heard anyone preach on this subject.

(4th) I'm not a Trustee, Deacon or a Elder, so what authority do I have to teach on this subject.

      a.1 Thess.2:4 the gospel has been entrusted to me by virtue of pastor asking me to teach this class
      b.We are to preach the Whole Counsel of God.  Acts 20:20, & 27. Jer.42:4 Matt. 28:20 This is one of the very areas
         that Jesus talked about.
      c.John 5:39 Search the scriptures  Prov.15:28
      d.Even thou you know these things we need reminding. 2 Pet.1:15
      e.Being self employed for over 26yrs I know alittle about the struggles of getting paid

Question:  Should we pay our pastor or should we be like the Brethren Church who does not pay their pastor a salary.
                  Who is right  and  who is wrong?

        Both are right but for us here at Calvary Baptist Church we have decided to pay our full time works, so what are our bases for this.

BACKGROUND: Old Testament

    Ever since the time of Moses, God has appointed a special group of people to preformed a work that was on behalf of the
entire people of Israel, that work was to be responsible for the Worship of God and that it would be carried out continually,
appropriately and effectively.

Question: Who were those people?
                            Priests

Question: From what tribe were they from?
                            Levities

Question: What were they to do?
                            Wear special clothing. Stand in the Holy of Holies.
                            Make atonement for the children of Israel's sins.
                            Teach God's Word.
                            Take care of the Tabernacle, Temple, later the synagogues

Question: Did they choose this ministry for themselves?
                            NO. but Almighty God called them

    These Priest and Levites were not to own property so how would they be able to provide for themselves and their families.
God sent up a way for them:

    (a) Lev.7:28-36 Food

    (b) The tithe Num. 18:20-32
            This tithe was considered sacred, if they kept back part of the tithe it was considered robbery of God Himself
         Mal. 3:6-12

        Neh.10:37-39 Neh.12:44-47 Neh.13:5, 12.

Question: Why a tithe or 10%? Why not 11% or 9%?

Question: What would happen if the tithe was not brought into the storehouse?
                        The priests and Levities would have to find work somewhere is and the House of God would be neglected.

     King Hezekiah saw the spiritual declare of Israel

Read: 2 Chr.29:1-8,  2 Chr.31:2-10

    Nehemiah's day it happened again

Read: Neh.13:10-12

    Wherever God's people fail to support the ministry the spiritual ministry will also suffer.

Read: 1 Cor. 9:3-14,  1 Tim. 5:17-18,  Luke 10:7

 (1) Financial and Economic Perspectives of a Righteous Man
    (A) Position
            Teaching Elder, Ruling Elder, Visitation Pastor, Youth Pastor, Assistant Pastor or you may call him Associate pastor.
        Fulltime Deacon.

     (B) Responsibilities: From the list of positions above will come their individual responsibilities.
            I am not saying that these are not all very important, they are but some jobs carry more weight than the others.

    (C) Needs:  Some men have greater needs than others, this could happen because of the number of children he has,
            and it could have to do with the age of his children.

    (D) Academic Qualifications:  After coming out of High School I was trained to be a butcher, after I had my degree
            I move north to a huge Freezing Works.

    (E) Work Performance: After his first year. Most of us that put in more hours get paid more.

(2) Biblical Requirements That are Laid Upon Them
      a.Obligation to provide for his own family. 1 Tim.5:8 the concern of Jacob Gen. 30:30
      b.Obligation to provide for other living relatives. 1 Tim. 5:16 1Tim. 5:4
      c.Obligation to Lay up for his children. 2 Cor.12:14 Prov. 13:22
      d.Obligation to save for a rainy day or retirement. Prov.6:6-8 prudent care not covetousness
      e.Obligation to help the needy saints. 1 Cor. 6:1-2b Gal. 6:10 Rom.12:13a
       f.Obligation to help those in his community. Heb.13:16 Luke 6:36a
      g.Obligation to support the ministry here at Ocean Port. Prov.3:9 Mal. 3:8
      h.Obligation to meet urgent needs. Titus 3:14
      i.Obligation to support missionaries. Luke 22:35
      j.Obligation to pay Caesar. Rom.13:1, 6-7 Luke 20:22-25
      k.Obligation to be Hospitable. 1 Tim.3:2 Heb.13:2 1 Pet. 4:9

 (3). The Responsibilities of Churches to those who are it's workers
        Paul was not afraid, nor embarrassed to talk about money and paying the man of God.

Read the following texts

        (a) 1 Tim.5:17-18.
                Worthy of double honor, this is a reference to monetary matters His occupation is laboring in the Word.

        (b) Gal. 6:6-8, Rom. 15:27, 1 Thess. 5:12-13
                Liberality is an expression of ones appreciation. 1 Thess. 5:12-13

        (c) Prov. 11:24-25, Prov. 3:27-28,  Acts 20:35b
                Liberal increases

         (d) 2 Cor. 9:6-7, 13-14

         (e) James 5:4

         (f) Luke 16:10-11

         (g) Heb.10:24-25, Heb.3:13a

        A Righteous Response            A Warning            An Encouragement

1.Righteous Response of the Man of God to unjust treatment

Read: (1) Neh. 2:10,  Neh. 6:2-3, 8.

           (2) Acts 20:27, Titus 1:9, 2Tim.4:2
                    Whole counsel of God. You are not the Holy Spirit but you are to try and persuade men, and to convict.

            (3) Titus 2:7-8

            (4) Gen. 3:19
                    In the sweet of thy face shall you eat bread

2. A Warning

            (5) 1 Tim. 3:3c
                    It is no accident that God puts this in the qualifications for elder

Question: WHY?
        Many around then may have a lot more than them. ACTS 20:33

          (6) 1 Pet. 5:2 Titus 1:17
                Robinson said, "Clearly the elders received stipends, else there could be no such temptation.
                The word fithy is intended to convey dishonorable

          (7) 1 Tim. 6:6, Heb.13:5,
                In Heb.11 Abraham look for a heavenly city

3. An Encouragement

Read:
        (1) Phil. 4:19
        (2) Heb. 6:10
        (3) Psa. 37:25
        (4) Acts 20:28
                The flock