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By David Watson

Benchley, March 31, 2013

• It does not reject or replace Christ
  • Acts 2:38 (5:6; 4:18; II Thessalonians 3:6)
  • Romans 6:3
  • Colossians 2:12
  • I Peter 3:21
  • Therefore … obey Christ by being baptized! (Luke 6:46)
• It does not add one to a denomination (I Corinthians 12:12-13; Galatians 3:27)
  • It also does not add one to a local congregation.
  • Therefore … submit to Christ only! (I Corinthians 1:12-15)
• It does not mean your work for God is done (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; Romans 6:3-4)
  • Therefore … walk in newness of life! (Romans 6:4-5,11-13)
• It does not keep one from sinning later and being lost.
  • Acts 8:12-13,18-24
  • Galatians 5:4,7 (1:2; 3:26-27)
  • I Corinthians 9:19-27
  • Therefore … keep resisting the devil! (James 4:7; Colossians 1:21-23)

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By David Watson

Benchley, October 31, 2012

• Ezra 7:27-28 – Ezra takes time out to count his blessings. This is something we need to do as well. (I Peter 1:6).
• Blessings recounted:
  • Ezra 7:6
  • Ezra 7:9
  • Ezra 7:21-23; 8:36
  • Ezra 7:24
  • Ezra 7:25-28
  • Ezra 8:18
  • Ezra 8:22-23,31
  • Nehemiah 2:7-9
  • Nehemiah 2:18-20
• Five key blessings from God
  • The Father’s love, mercy, and grace that is extended to us (Ephesians 2:4-9)
  • Jesus’ blood sacrifice for sins (Hebrews 9:11-14)
  • The Holy Spirit’s work of inspiring the scripture (II Timothy 3:16-17)
  • The design of the local church (Hebrews 10:24-25; 13:17)
  • The hope of Heaven (II Corinthians 4:17-18)
• Ephesians 2:8 – We cannot do anything to save ourselves. We can only take advantage of the path to salvation that God gives us.

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By Chris Thomas

Benchley, October 3, 2012

• Commandments revealed: what must we do?
  • Hear
  • Believe
  • Repent
  • Be baptized
  • Be faithful
• Part 3: Fielding questions and rebuttals
  • “I believe Jesus saves me. Why do you believe in works-based salvation?”
    • Patiently reintroduce the need for obedience. Show multiple examples in the Old Testament of obedience resulting in God doing something (II Kings 5 – Naaman; Joshua 6 – Joshua at Jericho). Also reference James 2:14-26.
    • Their rebuttal: Romans 5:1
    • Response: Romans 6:1-15,23 – fellowship with God requires obedience.
  • “Ephesians 2:8 says my salvation is a free gift. Why are you telling me I have to repay grace?”
    • Ephesians 2:10 – We are created to do the work God has prepared for us. Romans 6 and Titus 2:11-14 directly address this. This grace is free, but it requires something of the receiver (first to be received, and then instructions upon receipt).
    • Their rebuttal: Titus 3:5
    • Response: Acts 15:6-11 – Peter addresses those gathered in Jerusalem. Works of merit do not save. God saves. He saves those who are obedient (note Hebrews 4:6; Ephesians 5:6; Colossians 3:6).
  • “Baptism was added by men. God just said believe.”
    • This often derives from denominational perversion of baptism. See previous responses for second statement.
    • Their rebuttal: I Corinthians 1:17
    • Response: First, address context of I Corinthians 1. Then note the call to baptize comes from heaven (Acts 2:38) and is most directly seen in Matthew 28:18-20.
  • “I was baptized as a public show of an inward faith. I was saved when I believed.”
    • Note in Acts, baptism is the culmination in each account of the conversion of the particular person (or group) being addressed. Furthermore, no one in Acts is seen teaching or preaching the gospel accurately before they themselves are baptized. No work happens before. Rejoicing happens after baptism.
    • Their rebuttal: I Peter 3:21
    • Response: Quoting the whole verse (in context) is important to understanding the meaning.
  • “Baptism is a pouring out of the Holy Spirit. A water baptism is just a symbol.”
    • Acts 8 shows the difference between those receiving the Holy Spirit and those who have received the baptism of Christ (Acts 8:16).
    • Rebuttal: Acts 2:38
    • Response: Note difference in the baptism. There is a baptism by the Holy Spirit only in two places (Acts 2 and Acts 10).
  • “You’ve convinced me. Baptism is a part of God’s will for receiving Christ and His forgiveness. Thankfully, I’ve already been baptized.”
    • I Corinthians 14:15 shows the need for understanding. I Peter 3:21 shows it’s the conscious “appeal” to God.

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By Jesse Jenkins

Benchley, August 5, 2012

• I Peter 2:13 – Like all verses, this one must be harmonized with other verses on the subject. We know from other passages that God’s law takes precedence over man’s law. We cannot submit to government laws that go against God’s law.
• I Peter 2:16 – Some people claim that God’s grace is greater than their ability to sin, which means that their sins will not condemn them. This is false and is exactly what this verse teaches against. Just because God offers us forgiveness does not mean that we can do whatever we want and just ask for forgiveness later.

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By Jesse Jenkins

Benchley, June 24, 2012

• James 4:6 – We must be humble and submit ourselves to God so that He will bless us with His grace. If we do not submit humbly, God will resist us and not bless us with His salvation.
• James 4:7 – We have more power than the devil. We can make him flee if we resist him. See also Hebrews 2:14-15; Ephesians 4:8.

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By Tim Stevens

Benchley, September 29, 2011

• From the rescuers above – there’s help!
• Romans 5:6-8; 8:3; John 8:23 – Christ died to save us when we couldn’t save ourselves.
• Romans 5:20-21; I John 2:1-2 – God’s grace saves us through Jesus’ sacrifice.
• Hebrews 4:14-16 – Jesus our High Priest
• Cooperation with the rescuer – a must!
• Romans 3:25-26 – God provided Jesus to serve as the sacrifice for our sins.
• Romans 10:5-11 – God provided the means for our salvation.
• Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:27 – We must be baptized and then live faithfully to be saved.
• We must cooperate with the plan God has put in place to be saved.
• Those being rescued – work together!
• Ephesians 4:1-3 – Keep the “unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
• Hebrews 10:36 – We must have endurance.
• We need to show the world how Christians should act! John 13:34-35
• There’s light at the end of the tunnel!
• Matthew 2:2 – Jesus’ birth brought a light over Bethlehem.
• Matthew 4:16; John 1:1-9 – Jesus is the light.
• Revelation 21:22-27 – The saved walk in the light of Jesus.
• I John 3:1-3

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By Tim Stevens

Benchley, September 25, 2011

• I John 2:15-17
• James 4:4 – Do not be a friend of the world.
• Matthew 6:24 – We can’t serve God and the world.
• I John 5:17; I John 3:4 – Definition of sin.
• Proverbs 6:16-19 – Things the Lord hates.
• Ephesians 5:11 – Expose the works of darkness.
• God calls me to perfection.
• Psalms 139:23-24
• I Peter 2:21
• Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:2 – Sin separates us from God.
• Ephesians 1:3-4; I John 2:1-2 – Jesus came to save us when we sin.
• I John 1:7-10 – Jesus’ blood cleanses us from sin.
• His grace and forgiveness keeps me perfect.
• Proverbs 14:9 – Fools mock at sin.
• Romans 6:23 – The wages of sin is death.
• Romans 6:1-2 – Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?
• Titus 2:11-14 – Jesus came to redeem us from every lawless deed.
• Ephesians 1:7
• God seeks my progress.
• Romans 6:12-14 – Don’t let sin reign over you.

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By David Watson

Benchley, August 28, 2011

• Romans 5:1-11 – God helped the helpless.
• God has given us hope of salvation through the death of His son. He helped us even while we were still dead in our sins.
• II Corinthians 5:18-21 – God took the first step by offering Jesus on our behalf.
• Romans 5:12-19 – Adam vs. Jesus: Follow Jesus!
• Adam introduced sin and death, but Jesus brought the gift of life. Adam’s action led to condemnation, but Jesus’ action led to justification.
• Ephesians 2:12; I John 1:8-10 – Our outlook is indeed bleak without Jesus.
• Romans 5:20-21 – Grace reigns!
• Romans 3:20; 7:7
• Rmans 5:2 – We should rejoice in our salvation!

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By Jesse Jenkins

Benchley, June 26, 2011

• Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 11:5-6; Acts 10:33-35; James 2:24 – These passages all harmonize!
• Saved:
  • Not by works (excluded):
    • Sinlessness
    • Devise own plan
    • Any man’s plan
  • By works (included):
    • Faith that responds in works of obedience (Galatians 5:6)
• God’s offer:
  • Joshua 6
    • Boastful work? No.
    • Man’s faith? No.
    • Man’s obedience? YES.
  • II Kings 5
    • Boastful work? No.
    • Man’s faith? No.
    • Man’s obedience? YES.
  • John 9
    • Boastful work? No.
    • Man’s faith? No.
    • Man’s obedience? YES.
  • Mark 16:16
    • Boastful work? No.
    • Man’s faith? No.
    • Man’s obedience? YES.
  • Was the blessing each received by the grace of God? Yes!
  • Did they receive the blessing while rejecting God’s plan? No!
  • Did they receive the blessing at the point of faith? No.
  • Did they receive the blessing when they, through faith, worked the works that God commanded? Yes.

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By Brent Hairston

Benchley, June 26, 2011

• Ephesians 4:1 – walking in a manner worthy of our calling
• Ephesians 4:4-6 – unity in Christ
• Ephesians 4:7 – grace given according to the measure of Christ’s gift
  • This could be talking about spiritual gifts.
  • This could also be talking about various non-miraculous talents we each have.