Archive for March, 2011
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By David Watson
Benchley, March 30, 2011
- Parable of the sower (or the soils)
- Mark 4:21-22 – The lamp (candle) here most likely represents the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- The kingdom of God in this chapter refers to the rule or reign of God in the hearts of men. This is not a firm rule, though. The kingdom can refer to other things, even in surrounding chapters in Mark.
- Mark 4:26-29 – God helps the kingdom grow in the hearts of men. It is our responsibility to spread the word, but we can’t take credit for any increase. We just have to get out and spread the gospel!
- Mark 4:30-32 – The kingdom of God grows large by spreading to more and more people and growing in power and influence.
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By Jesse Jenkins
Benchley, March 27, 2011
- I John 3:2; Philippians 3:2
- If we are to be like Him then, we must be like Him now.
- Being like Christ
- Involves obedience
- Involves purity
- Involves love
- Involves being forgiving
- Involves being patient in suffering for His cause
- Summed up, it involves seeking God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33).
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By David Watson
Benchley, March 27, 2011
- Psalms 122:1
- Treasure your relationship with God!
- Express gratitude!
- Let God’s instructions help instead of hinder
- Read Psalms
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By Jesse Jenkins
Benchley, March 27, 2011
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By David Watson
Benchley, March 23, 2011
- Mark 3:28-30 – The unforgivable sin
- He who does not repent will not be forgiven. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is sinning without repenting.
- Hebrews 6:4-6; 10:26 – There is no way to save those who continue sinning willfully.
- The specific sin that Jesus was referring to was the scribes saying His power was from Satan. We cannot commit that exact same sin today, but we can commit the same kind of sin by blaspheming the Holy Spirit.
- Mark 3:34-35 – The true family of Jesus are those that do His will. Spiritual relationships are more important than physical ones.
- Mark 4:1-20 – Parable of the sower (or, more accurately, the soils)
- We must approach the scripture with humility and as the sole authority. We must look to the word to see how we should live and not just try to use it to prove we are right.
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By Joel Moore
Benchley, March 20, 2011
- I John 1:5-7
- Who is the source of light?
- How is light manifested?
- Applications
- What do I love: light or darkness?
- How brightly is my light shining?
- Do I behave like a child of the “Father of lights”?
- Revelation 21:23-25; 22:5
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By David Watson
Benchley, March 20, 2011
- I Timothy 4:8 – Godliness is profitable now and in the future.
- A mess
- A guilty conscience
- A ruined conscience
- Bad habits
- Acts 8:9-24 – Even after being converted, Simon is tempted by the power of the apostles’ spiritual gifts.
- Hebrews 10:25 – Skipping the assembly can become a habit.
- Effect on others
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By Jesse Jenkins
Benchley, March 20, 2011
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By David Watson
March 16, 2011
- Mark 2:25-26
- I Samuel 21:1-6; Matthew 12:1-7; Luke 6:1-5
- Explanation 1: David sinned, and Jesus is exposing the inconsistency of the Pharisees for approving David but condemning Him.
- Explanation 2: David was innocent, and is a case in point that God’s laws should not be applied beyond what God intended.
- Either way, Jesus was pointing out the inconsistency of the Pharisees.
- Mark 3:1-5 – Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath. Jesus is grieved and angered by the hardness of heart of the Pharisees.
- Mark 3:13-19 – Jesus selects the 12 apostles.
- Mark 3:22-29 – The scribes accuse Jesus of using the power of Satan to cast out demons.
- Mark 3:28-29 – Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
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By Jesse Jenkins
Benchley, March 13, 2011
- All have sinned. Romans 3:10-12, 23
- This leaves us with four possibilities:
- No escape – not compatible witht he love of God
- Saved in sin – not compatible with the justice of God
- Lived so righteously that merits forgiveness – not possible
- God imputes righteousness – Romans 4:6-8
- This has two possibilities:
- God imputes righteousness without respect to what one does.
- God imputes righteousness with respect to what one does.
- This leaves two possibilities:
- Man lives so good that God counts him righteous because he has merited forgiveness.
- Because of man’s faith in Christ, God forgives him, i.e. imputes righteousness, to him. Romans 4:6-8; Psalms 32:1-2
- This has two possibilities:
- God counts man righteous even though he is not truly righteous.
- God counts man righteous because God imputes righteousness unto him, forgives him, does not impute sin unto him.
- This leaves us one possibility:
- Man is not saved by his own righteousness, but by the mercy of God.
- Imputed righteousness does not mean that Christ’s personal righteousness is accounted as mine. It does mean that my unrighteousness has been seen and forgiven, as made possible by the sinless life and death of Christ and by my complete trust and reliance upon Him!
- Thus, God’s amazing grace is seen:
- In giving the gospel
- In His continued forgiveness to those who walk in the light (I John 1:7)
- If we walk in the steps of that faith of Abraham, God will not impute sin unto us; rather He will forgive us – impute righteousness unto us. And being forgiven, we will be righteous by the grace of God.