Podcast: Download

By David Watson

Benchley, April 27, 2011

• Herod and peer pressure (John 9:20-23; 12:42-43)
• Mark 6:31-32 – Jesus was surrounded by crowds by this time.  He and His disciples got out in a boat to rest, but even that was not much of a rest.
• Mark 6:33-44 – Jesus feeds five thousand men plus women and children.
• Mark 6:45-52 – Jesus walks on the water.
  • Mark 6:52 – The disciples did not learn what they should have from Jesus feeding the five thousand.
• Mark 6:53-56 – Jesus heals the sick at Gennesaret.
• Mark 7:3 – It was not part of the law to wash before eating.  There were many laws of cleanliness, but this was not one of them.
• Mark 7:5-8 – Here Jesus is making the point that if God did not command us to do something, we can’t command others to do it either.

Podcast: Download

By Randy Dean

Benchley, April 24, 2011

• The qualifications of an elder are not the same thing as the job of an elder.
• Acts 17:22; I Peter 5:2; Titus 1:6-11 – Elders are to shepherd the flock.
• What does it mean to shepherd the flock?
  • I Samuel 17:34-36 – David attacked what attacked his flock.
    • The shepherd must be aggressive in defending the flock.
  • Genesis 29 – Jacob watered the flocks.
  • Jeremiah 33:12-13 – Shepherds must help their flocks live in peace.
  • John 10:2-5 – When the sheep hear the voice of the shepherd, they must be calm and listen to him.
  • Matthew 25:32-33 – The shepherd mst be able to find and separate out those that aren’t part of the flock.
  • Luke 15:4-6 – The shepherd must seek out the lost sheep.
  • Jeremiah 31:10
  • Luke 2:8-20 – The shepherds go to find Jesus after His birth.
• Bad shepherds
  • Ezekiel 34:1-10; John 10:12-13; Isaiah 56:11-12; Ezekiel 2; Isaiah 50

Podcast: Download

By David Watson

Benchley, April 24, 2011

• What is Easter all about?
• Does any worship please God?
  • Consider examples from:
    • Acts 17:22-23,30-31 – Paul preaches to the Athenians about the “unknown god” they had been worshiping in ignorance.
    • Leviticus 10; Genesis 4; I Corinthians 7
  • Conclusion:
    • I John 2:3-5 – We must follow God’s commandments
    • II John 9 – We must abide in the teaching of Christ.
• Has Easter been commanded?
  • No!
• How should we remember our Lord?
  • I corinthians 11:23-26 – Observance of the Lord’s Supper commanded
  • Acts 20:7
  • Romans 6:3-6
• Is it okay to celebrate Easter in a secular manner?
  • I believe so, with some limits.
  • I Corinthians 8:8-13; 10:24-29

Podcast: Download

By David Watson

Benchley, April 24, 2011

• Paul was very upset with the Galatians for leaving the faith that the had taught them.
• Gentiles receive the Holy Spirit:  Acts 10:44-48; 11:1-14,15-18
• Law of Moses vs. faith in Christ (Hebrews 9:8-14):
  • Faith in Christ vs works of the law:
    • Galatians 2:3 – No circumcision required vs. circumcision
    • Galatians 2:4 – Liberty vs. bondage
    • Galatians 2:16 – Justification vs. no justification
    • Galatians 3:6 – Faith is righteousness vs perfect lawkeeping
• Galatians 3:13:  Christ bore the curse of the law by being crucified for us.  I Peter 2:21-24; Hebrews 9:27-28; 10:1-22

Podcast: Download

By David Watson

Benchley, April 20, 2011

• Mark 6:5 – See Luke 4:25-27.  God is careful about who He decides to demonstrate His power to.
• Jesus sends the apostles out in pairs.
• The apostles were sent out without provisions and forced to rely on God and the generosity of those they met.
• Herod in an unlawful marriage – note that there is such a thing as an unlawful marriage!
• Herodias’ daughter dances for Herod and his men at a feast.  See Matthew 13:13; Hebrews 13:4

By Robert Moore

Benchley, April 17, 2011

[Sorry, no audio yet for this one.  The recording failed.  We are looking for a backup recording and will post it if one becomes available.]

• God’s law gives us higher moral and ethical standards than we would otherwise have.
• “Second mile mentality”
  • In the home
    • Husbands – more than just exercise headship
      • Honor, nourish, cherish – I Peter 3:7; Ephesians 5:28-29
    • Wives – more than just submit (Colossians 3:18)
      • Willingly and respectfully
    • Parents – more than just control children
      • With training and admonition of the Lord – Ephesians 6:4
    • Children – more than just obey parents
      • Honor them – Ephesians 6:1-3
  • In society
    • Colossians 4:5-6
    • I Corinthians 9:19-22
    • Romans 13:1-6 – Submit to civil authority
    • I Peter 2:13-17
  • In the church
    • Abound in work of the Lord – I Corinthians 15:58
    • Sew bountifully and reap bountifully – II Corinthians 9:6
    • I Peter 1:5-8
    • Abounding in work for the Lord
      • In our attendance
      • In our support
      • In our duties:  study, visiting, calling, etc.
    • Ephesians 4:16
    • Romans 15:1

Podcast: Download

By Brent Hairston

Benchley, April 17, 2011

• Acts 9:26-28 – Paul’s first visit to Jerusalem (as Paul).
• Acts 15:1-2 – Paul and Barnabas address the question of circumcision.
• Barnabas
  • Paul and Barnabas sent by the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:2-4)
  • Paul and Barnabas separate (Acts 15:36-40)
• Titus
  • Acts 15:2 – Others?
  • II Corinthians 8:23 – partner of Paul
  • Titus 1:4 – “true child”
• Circumcision not required
  • Romans 6:1-4
  • Colossians 2:11-15
• Paul stands up to Peter.

Podcast: Download

By David Watson

Benchley, April 13, 2011

• Jesus casts the demons into swine.
  • Jesus gave different instructions to the man than he had given to others at other times.  Compare Mark 1:44; 3:12; 5:43
• Healing Jairus’ daughter
• Woman’s flow of blood healed
  • John 11:41-42
• Jesus raised three people from the dead (besides Himself):
  • Mark 5:41-42 – Jairus’ daughter
  • Luke 7:12-15 – the widow’s son
  • John 11:43-44 – Lazarus
• The significance of the divine power of resurrection
  • Consider Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:24-36; Romans 6:9; I Corinthians 6:14; I Corinthians 15
  • Jesus’ power to resurrect Himself and other people shows that He is all powerful and proves that He can raise us from the dead when He returns.
• Jesus rejected by the Nazarenes
  • See Luke 4:16-30

Podcast: Download

By Jesse Jenkins

Benchley, April 10, 2011

• Some worship publicly, but do nothing to worship on their own during the week.
• Some say they see no need to worship with a congregation.
• Both types of worship are necessary.
• Private worship
  • Its convenience
    • One can usually pray if he desires to.
    • It’s convenient to study during breaks in our day.
  • Its adaptability
    • Sometimes we need to pray about things that are too private for a public prayer.
  • Its sincerity
    • In public worship, it’s easy for one to be more concerned about how you appear to others or put on a show for appearance’s sake.  This is nearly impossible in private worship.
    • It’s much easier to keep your mind from wandering in private worship.
  • Its advantages
    • We can pray often during the day.
    • We can offer the contents of our heart to God.
  • Its intensity
• Rules for private worship
  • Regularly – Daniel 6:10
  • Perseveringly – Luke 22:44
  • Find a private place – Luke 22:39-41; Matthew 14:23
  • Make worship genuine – John 4:23-24
  • Be humble – Luke 18:13
  • Be forgiving and ask for forgiveness – Matthew 6:14-15; I John 1:9
• Elements of private worship
  • Prayer – like David and Jesus
  • Sing (James 5:13)
  • Study and meditate
• How do you private worship?  How often?

Podcast: Download

By David Watson

Benchley, April 10, 2011

• God allows us the freedom of choice.
  • Genesis 2:16-17; 3:6 – The sin of Adam and Eve.
  • Joshua 24:14-15 – Joshua reminds the Israelites of the choice they have to serve God or not.
  • Luke 23:39-41 – The criminals crucified with Jesus.
  • I Peter 4:14-16 – Sometimes you suffer as a Christian because of what others choose to do.
• The world is a temporary stop on the way to eternity.
  • Romans 8:17-18 – Temporary suffering cannot be compared to the glory to come.
  • II Corinthians 11:23-28; 4:17 – The suffering of Paul
• If our attitude is right, we benefit from suffering.
  • James 1:2-3
  • I Peter 1:6-9
  • Psalm 119:65-72
  • II Corinthians 12:10
  • II Corinthians 1:8-10
• Jesus suffered
  • I Peter 2:21-23