The Church's Responsibility to the Poor

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May, 2018

‘…true religion is to care for orphans and widows’ (James 1:27)

Commands in Scripture about Caring for the Poor

Scripture says that ‘…true religion is to care for orphans and widows’ (James 1:27). What are the implications for the Church of this and many other commands in Scripture to care for the poor? How do we administrate this caregiving? Is this the same as the tithe?

The modern church is re-looking all of these issues and seems to be coming to very different conclusions. For answers to these questions, watch Andrew Selley as he unpacks a Biblical understanding of the Church’s responsibility to the poor.

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Andrew and Emma Selley standing side by side, smiling at the camera

Andrew Selley

Andrew is the apostolic leader of Four12 (F12) and the lead elder of multisite, Joshua Generation Church. He has been in full-time ministry since 1996. After serving on the NCMI apostolic team for five years, he founded Four12 in 2011. Andrew is based in California, USA, with his wife, Emma, and their daughter, Enyah. Follow him on Facebook and Instagram.

Sessions

Man in cap speaking into a studio microphone beside on-screen text 'What Is Good Bible Teaching?'

What Is Good Bible Teaching?

Andrew Selley, Luke Hulley

Have we let culture define what good preaching looks like?

Two men, Andrew Selley and Luke Hulley, speaking into studio microphones and gesturing, with overlay text 'What Is Happening

What Is Happening With Gen Z?

Andrew Selley, Luke Hulley

How can we reach and lead this generation to Jesus?

Two speakers, Andrew Selley and Mike Davies, talking into microphones in a studio with a guitar behind them

Continuationism or Cessationism?

Andrew Selley, Mike Davies

Are the spiritual gifts for today?

Man speaking into a podcast-style studio microphone, gesturing with guitars on the wall and title text overlay

Can Churches Sing Bethel’s Songs?

Andrew Selley, Mike Davies

Can we separate the song from the source?

Two male speakers on a studio set, one wearing a cap, the other at a microphone; text reads 'Does Worship Draw God's

Does Worship Draw God’s Presence?

Andrew Selley, Mike Davies

If God is always present, what is the manifest presence of God?

Andrew Selley and Jonathan Stanfield seated at a table with microphones in a studio, text overlay reading "How to Leave

How to Leave Church Well

Andrew Selley, Jonathan Stanfield

Is there a right, biblical way to go when you must leave your church?

Andrew Selley (left) and Jonathan Stanfield (right) seated at a table speaking into microphones during a recorded

United but Different

Andrew Selley, Jonathan Stanfield

How do we build strong, united partnership, even in our differences?

Middle-aged man in glasses and red T-shirt speaking with hand raised in a studio, text reads ‘Dealing with Church Hurt’

Dealing with Church Hurt – A Matthew 18 Response

What the Bible says about our reaction to offence, conflict, and disagreement.

Male speaker smiling into a studio microphone with text 'Love, Justice & Perseverance' and '#BeEquipped'

Love, Justice & Perseverance

Understanding God’s true nature for faith that leads to salvation.

Two men speaking into microphones in a studio, split-screen layout with the text 'Trial by Media' and '#BeEquipped'

Trial by Media

Andrew Selley, Mike Davies, Nadene Badenhorst

God’s process for finding truth vs the court of public opinion.

Middle-aged man speaking into a microphone and gesturing beside text reading 'Bad Leaders, False Accusations' on a dark

Bad Leaders, False Accusations & the Fight for Truth in the Church

God’s way to navigate accusations of wrongdoing within the church.

Two men seated at a table, speaking into microphones in a studio setting

Drift & Repentance

Andrew Selley, Mike Davies

How can saints and churches remain faithful to God’s ways?

Three speakers Adam Hellyer, Mike Davies and Shaun Brauteseth seated around a table for the 'Leading a Spirit-Led Meeting'

Leading a Spirit-Led Meeting

Adam Hellyer, Mike Davies, Shaun Brauteseth

Are we making room for God to move in our meetings?

Three men (Luke Hulley, Mike Davies, Russell Fraser) seated at a table in a studio with on-screen text ‘Can a Christian Have

Can a Christian Have a Demon?

Luke Hulley, Mike Davies, Russell Fraser

A look at deliverance and our authority in Christ.

Three male speakers (Adam Hellyer, Mike Davies, Shaun Brauteseth) seated around a table in a studio set

Speaking in Tongues

Adam Hellyer, Mike Davies, Shaun Brauteseth

What is the gift of tongues, and why should I desire it?

Two men seated at a table with a laptop taking part in a recorded discussion titled 'Repenting for Others'

Repenting for Others

Adam Hellyer, Shaun Brauteseth

Is it possible to repent of the sins of those who came before us, or is it pointless?

Split-screen of two male speakers in conversation, one with a laptop; overlay text reads "Church Clicks" and "#BeEquipped"

Church Clicks

Adam Hellyer, Shaun Brauteseth

Online church enables us to reach more people than ever before but is it real church?

Two speakers, Adam Hellyer and Shaun Brauteseth, seated with a laptop and the on-screen title ‘The Songs We Sing’

The Songs We Sing

Adam Hellyer, Shaun Brauteseth

Should we avoid songs that come from those we disagree with theologically?

Adam Hellyer and Shaun Brauteseth seated at round tables with a laptop and notes against a brick wall backdrop

Is It A Sin Not to Tithe?

Adam Hellyer, Shaun Brauteseth

Has God commanded us to tithe, and is it still relevant today?

Adam Hellyer and Shaun Brauteseth seated and talking in a split-screen studio shot during a recorded session

Figuring Out the Festivals

Adam Hellyer, Shaun Brauteseth

Easter, Christmas, Lent and Halloween are festivals that many celebrate. Which can we agree to disagree about?

Four12 article image for 'Sexual Sin in the Church'

Sexual Sin in the Church

Luke Hulley, Ryan Kingsley

Why tolerating sexual sin is satan’s silent strategy to disarm the church.

Four12 image of the video about 'Obedient Disobedience'

Obedient Disobedience

Adam Hellyer, Shaun Brauteseth

When the nation’s laws are at odds with the commands of God, who do we obey?

Four12 article image for 'Diversity in Leaders'

Diversity in Leaders

Luke Hulley, Shaun Brauteseth

Should church leadership be representative of different groups?

Four12 article image for 'When Elders Clash'

When Elders Clash

Luke Hulley, Ryan Kingsley

The importance of unity in diversity.

Two seated male speakers smiling (Ryan Kingsley and Shaun Brauteseth) with a 'Don't Judge Me' title overlay and #BeEquipped

Don’t Judge Me

Ryan Kingsley, Shaun Brauteseth

Why accountability is not others meddling in your life.

Four12 article image for 'Q&A on the Prophetic'

Q&A on the Prophetic

Andrew Selley, Mervis van der Merwe, Shaun Brauteseth

Addressing common questions about the prophetic.

Four12 article image for 'What Ravi Taught Us'

What Ravi Taught Us

Andrew Selley, Luke Hulley

Tackling the tough questions when Christian leaders fall.

Andrew Selley speaking to camera in a studio set with framed pictures and flowers, with ‘Cancel Culture’ title overlay

Cancel Culture

How should Christians navigate the murky waters of Cancel Culture without sinking into its demonic undertow?

Adam Hellyer and Shaun Brauteseth seated at a table with laptops, smiling during a discussion

The Popularity Problem

Adam Hellyer, Shaun Brauteseth

Should popularity be the goal of the modern church?

Three speakers—Andrew Selley, Luke Hulley and Adam Hellyer—wearing headphones around a podcast table with microphones and

Spirit-led Church

Adam Hellyer, Andrew Selley, Luke Hulley

How do we as leaders lead so that we follow the Holy Spirit?

Three speakers wearing headphones around microphones in a recording studio with title 'Kingdom Now Part 2'

Kingdom Now – Part 2

Adam Hellyer, Andrew Selley, Luke Hulley

What is ‘Dominion theology’ and its role within Kingdom Now theology?

Three speakers wearing headphones seated around a podcast table with microphones, on a banner reading ‘Kingdom Now Part 1’

Kingdom Now – Part 1

Adam Hellyer, Andrew Selley, Luke Hulley

Discussions around issues relating to understanding the Kingdom of God.

Three men wearing headphones speaking into microphones in a podcast studio with the title 'Principles vs Promises' visible

Principles vs Promises

Andrew Selley, Luke Hulley

Taking a look at how we should interpret prophesies, principles and promises from the Old Testament as New Testament believers.

Four12 article image for 'Marijuana Legislation and the Church'

Marijuana Legalisation & the Church

How we as Christians should be 'in the world' but not 'of it'.

Seated man speaking in front of a wooden backdrop with on-screen title ‘When God Feels Far Away’ and a #BeEquipped badge

When God Feels Far Away

What can we do in those times when God feels far away? Andrew Selley shares his keys on how to draw near to God.

Four12 video image for 'When Your Church Goes Through Transition' about leadership transition

When Your Church Goes Through Transition

How to navigate a transition in church leadership.

Four12 video image for the #BeEquipped video 'When Your Pastor Goes Rogue' about church accountability for lead elders so the chances of a rogue pastor are minimised

When Your Pastor Goes Rogue

What do we do when we find ourselves in a church where the leader has become a law unto himself?