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By David Watson

Benchley, May 9, 2012

• We grow by putting God’s word into practice, continued:
• Managing a family and a congregation require similar skills.
• I Peter 1:7 – Our faith as a Christian is tested as though by fire through adversity.
• James 1:2-4 – We should meet the trials of life with joy.

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By Jesse Jenkins

Benchley, May 6, 2012

• Hebrews 13:17 – See Luke 22:24-26. Elders rule by their leading and example. They are not to lord their position over the congregation. If the elders try to lead in a way that goes against God’s word, the members of the congregation are responsible for recognizing this and not going along with it. Otherwise, the members are to submit to the leadership of the elders.

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By David Watson

Benchley, May 2, 2012

• We grow by learning God’s word.
• I Peter 2:2 – We are to desire God’s word.
• Hosea 4:6 – The Israelites were destroyed because of lack of knowledge.
• We have many methods available to help us learn God’s word: sermons, Bible studies, teachings from more knowledgeable Christians, and our own study.
• II Peter 1:13; 3:1-2 – It is helpful to be reminded of things we’ve learned before so that we do not forget God’s word.
• We grow by putting God’s word into practice.
• Hebrews 5:12-14 – We must study and practice so we will be ready for the solid food of God’s word.
• I Timothy 3:4-5 – An elder must show his spiritual maturity by managing his own house well.

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By Jesse Jenkins

Benchley, April 29, 2012

• John 10:11,27 – Jesus is the good shepherd.
• The relationship is directly between Jesus and His sheep.
• God has also provided for a congregational arrangement in which elders act as shepherd of the congregation. The sheep are still directly subject to the chief shepherd, which is Jesus. They have an additional relationship to the elders of the local congregation. (Acts 20:28; Hebrews 13:17)
• Each congregation is always to be independent. If a local church is not developed such that is has elders, it should still be independent.
• Shepherds are to feed, lead, and oversee the flock.
• Each congregation is to have a plurality of elders if men are qualified. Elders are always spoken of in the plural in the Bible (Titus 1:6).
• Paul used “flock” to teach that a congregation is to support the preaching of the gospel.
• As relates to the local flock:
• Shepherds are to lead in the will of the Chief Shepherd.
• Sheep are to follow the shepherds when they follow the Chief Shepherd.
• Sheep are to recognize the necessity of staying with the flock.

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By Jesse Jenkins

Benchley, September 18, 2011

• Titus 1:5-9 – Qualifications of elders
• Elders are overseers or stewards of God’s house, which is His people. Elders are to watch and provide for the sheep that we in their care.
• A man must have these qualifications to be appointed an elder and must maintain these qualifications to continue serving as an elder.
• Titus 1:9 – An elder doesn’t have to be able to convince every single person who contradicts the Bible. Not even Jesus did that. He does have to be able to use a good working knowledge of the Bible to convince those with honest hearts.
• Titus 1:10-11 – Elders must be able to silence those who rebel and upset the church and have the fortitude to actually do it.

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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

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By Jesse Jenkins

Benchley, March 13, 2011

• All obligations grow out of relationships.
• The church’s obligation to widows
  • The church is to be charged only if no family is available to care for her.
• Elders who rule well are to be honored.
• I Timothy 5:18 – Elders can be supported by the church if necessary.
• I Timothy 5:19-22 – Elders who sin must be rebuked like any other man.  If necessary (i.e. if he won’t repent), the elder can be removed from service.
  • We are not to be partial toward elders.
• I Timothy 5:22 – See Ephesians 5:25-27; James 1:27

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By Daniel Beamon

Benchley, February 27, 2011

• What is the difference between respect and honor?
• Honor = value
• Respect is a manifestation of honor.
• Who should we honor/value?
  • The Father and the Son – John 5:23
  • Elders – I Timothy 5:17
  • Widows who are truly widos – I Timothy 5:3
  • Parents – Ephesians 6:2
  • All people – I Peter 2:17
  • Prefer one another – Romans 12:10
  • Romans 12:3
• Ways to show honor
  • Listen
    • Rehoboam – I Kings 12
    • Galatians 1:8-9
  • Give our time
    • Elisha – I Kings 19; II Kings 2
  • Go out of our way
    • Naomi and Ruth
    • David
• Showing honor in disagreement
  • Husband and wife
  • Teacher and student
  • Brother to brother
  • Honor = value
  • Confidence that we all want to find the truth
    • II Corinthians 8:22

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By Jesse Jenkins

Benchley, January 23, 2011

• Qualifications of elders
  • Husband of one wife
  • Not addicted to wine
  • Free from the love of money
  • Manages his own household well

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By Danny Lackey

Benchley, January 5, 2011

• Excuses made for not attending the services, continued:
  • Sports team is having a tournament, game
  • Bad weather
  • Sick
  • Don’t get anything out of the service
  • Had to work
• Discussion about handling our responsibilities as Christians while traveling