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By David Weaks

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By David Watson

Benchley, March 3, 2013

• I Corinthians 15:50-58
• “The dead will be raised… Your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”
  • I Corinthians 15:52
  • John 5:25-29
  • I Corinthians 15:12-19,32,58 – If there is no resurrection, our faith means nothing. Since there is a resurrection, our labor for God is not in vain.
• “We will all be changed”
  • I Corinthians 15:50-53,35-49
  • I John 3:2
  • Earthly body vs. heavenly body
  • Don’t stress too much about the physical body (I Timothy 4:7-8)
  • Look forward to a better existence!
• “O Death, where is your sting?”
  • I Corinthians 15:54-57
  • Psalms 116:15
  • I Corinthians 10:12

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By Jim Smitherman

Benchley, December 23, 2012

• Matthew 10:34-39
• Isaiah 9:6; Luke 2:12 – Prophecy of Jesus’ birth
• Matthew 5:30 – Hell is worse than losing a family member or a body part!
• Matthew 18:8
• Luke 14:26 – Serving God is more important than family.
• We can’t just focus on the baby in the manger and forget about Jesus on the cross!
• Matthew 10:38 – Many people suffer greatly in order to serve Christ, but it is worth it in the end!
• Matthew 10:39 – Many people focus on wealth as a source of happiness.
  • Serving God and having a purpose in life is what really makes us happy.
• Hebrews 11:25-26 – We must have the attitude of Moses.

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By Kevin Scott

Benchley, December 9, 2012

• II Peter 3:14 – We need to be at peace with God. We need to metaphorically bleach our clothes and be blameless and clean in God’s eyes.
• Review
  • II Peter 1:
    • Theme: Make one’s calling and election sure through spiritual growth in true knowledge. II Peter 1:1-11
    • Purpose: Put believers in continual rememberance. II Peter 1:12-15
    • Validity/authority: II Peter 1:16-21
  • II Peter 2:
    • Warning: False teachers will arise among them. II Peter 2:1-3
    • Examples: II Peter 2:4-10
    • Descriptions: II Peter 2:11-22
  • II Peter 3:
    • Warning: II Peter 3:1-10
    • Admonitions: Conduct of the believers. II Peter 3:11-18
    • Doxology: II Peter 3:18b

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By Jesse Jenkins

Benchley, November 7, 2012

• Possibilities:
  • Heaven itself
  • That which emanates from heaven
  • The highest in a particular thing
• Ephesians 6:10-12 – This passage is talking about the rulers of this world. “Heavenly places” here refers to the highest leaders of the land.
• Ephesians 3:7-11 – This passage discusses Paul’s work in taking the gospel to the Jews, Gentiles, and highest leaders of the time. He was not preaching to celestial beings. “Heavenly places” are the highest of the leaders.
• Ephesians 2:4-7 – Jesus raised us up so that we could sit in the highest seat as Christians. If we do not behave according to the dignity of the seat we occupy, we bring shame upon Christ. The highest seat we can occupy on earth in God’s eyes is that of a Christian.
• Ephesians 1:19-21 – “Heavenly places” is referring to the highest place that Christ can sit at the throne of God.
• Ephesians 1:1-4 – “Heavenly places” refers to the highest blessings we can enjoy.

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By Keith Shackleford

Benchley, October 14, 2012

• Three things which qualify something as precious:
  • Rarity: the only begotten Son of God – I John 4:9
  • Usefulness: that we might live through Him, a propitiation – I John 4:9-10
  • Intrinsic value: purity, He did no sin – Hebrews 4:15; 9:26-28
• Precious to us in life
  • As a sacrifice for sin – John 1:29; I Peter 2:24
  • As a sure foundation – I Peter 2:4-7; Ephesians 2:20-22
  • As food for the soul – John 6:48-57
  • As a guiding influence – John 8:12; 1:4-5
  • As an intercessor, advocate – Romans 8:34; I John 2:1
• He is precious unto us in the hour of death
  • Because of His promise – Revelation 2:10; II Timothy 4:8
  • Because of His presence – Hebrews 13:5,6; Luke 23:43
• He is precious to us in the day of Judgment and throughout eternity
  • Because of His rich rewards:
    • To eat of the tree of life – Revelation 2:7
    • To not be hurt of the second death – Revelation 2:11
    • Name retained in the Book of Life – Revelation 3:5
    • Be a pillar in the temple – Revelation 3:12
    • Sit with Him in His throne – Revelation 3:21
    • Abide where joy is unmixed with sorrow – Revelation 21:4
    • Live in the city of no night – Revelation 21:25
  • Because Heaven is more than just a place, it is being with Him who is there
    • To be at home with the Lord – Philippians 2:21,23
    • Where Jesus is we will find Heaven

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By David Watson

Benchley, October 7, 2012

• Companionship
  • Genesis 2:7-8,15,18-25 – God created woman as a suitable companion to man.
  • I Corinthians 11:8-9
  • Genesis 29:30-33 – Leah was married, but unloved.
• To glorify God and go to Heaven
  • I Peter 4:10-11
  • Acts 18:25-26 – Aquila and Priscilla
  • James 5:16
• To raise godly children
  • Ephesians 6:1-4
  • Ephesians 5:22-23 – One of the best things you can do for your children is to have a good marriage.

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By Joel Moore

Benchley, May 20, 2012

• Daniel 1:1-8 – Daniel purposed in his heart to not defile himself with the king’s food.
• Five things we must purpose to do:
• Abstain from vices
• Genesis 2:7; II Corinthians 5:1; I Corinthians 6:20 – Our bodies and spirits have been created by God, thus they belong to God.
• Keep our speech pure
• James 3:1-10; Psalms 17:3; Ephesians 5:4 – the danger posed by our speech
• Colossians 4:6 – What our speech should be like.
• I Peter 2:9-10 – We are to proclaim the excellence of God in our speech.
• Cleave to the Lord
• Acts 11:23; II Kings 18:6
• Work in the Lord’s vineyard
• I Corinthians 15:58
• Ephesians 4:11-12 – We can teach others about God.
• To go to heaven
• Revelation 21:23-27 – the glory of heaven
• We will not get into heaven by accident!

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By Jesse Jenkins

Benchley, May 13, 2012

• Mark 9:1 – The kingdom of God was imminent.
• Colossians 1:13; Hebrews 12:28
• The metaphor kingdom never refers to a local church.
• First, it refers to the rules of the king. (Luke 17:21)
• Then, it refers to the citizenry. (Colossians 1:13; Revelation 1:9)
• Also, it sometimes refers to heaven. (Matthew 13:43; II Peter 1:13)
• Facts about the kingdom
• John, Jesus, the apostles, and the seventy taught that it was at hand (Matthew 3:3; 10:5-7; Luke 10:1,9)
• Jesus taught the gospel of the kingdom (Matthew 4:23)
• Some contemporary with Jesus would see it (Mark 9:1)
• After Acts 2 it is spoken of as being in existence (Colossians 1:13; I Thessalonians 2:12; Revelation 1:9)
• It is spiritual, not earthly (John 18:36; Hebrews 12:28)
• It is everlasting, not temporary (Luke 1:33; Hebrews 12:28)
• Preachers are to preach it (Acts 8:12)
• It is not a democracy – the citizens do not make the laws.
• It is not a mobarchy – not run by a few strong arms.
• It is not an aristocracy – not run by an aristocratic few.
• It is a monarchical republic – has a King and a Constitution.
• Christ is King with all authority (John 18:37; Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 1:22-23)
• Its Constitution revealed through the apostles (Matthew 18:18; Ephesians 3:3-5)
• Its Constitution is complete and perfect (II Peter 1:3; James 1:25)
• The citizens position is one of subjection, not legislating.
• Christ must be honored (Matthew 17:5; John 1:17; 12:48; Hebrews 1:1)
• Essentials of citizenship
• Enter by new birth (John 3:3-5; Acts 2:38)
• Continue by doing His will (Matthew 7:21)
• Must seek first (Matthew 6:33; Colossians 3:1)
• Greatness therein determined by service
• Judgment picture
• Honor the King and His Constitution (Matthew 25:24, 46 b)
• Reject the King and His Constitution (II Thessalonians 1:7-9; Matthew 25:46 a)

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By Jesse Jenkins

Benchley, April 22, 2012

• Hebrews 12:22-24 – The writer here is telling the audience that they have come to the church of the New Covenant, not the Old Covenant. We as Christians are part of the “general assembly and church of the firstborn.” He was trying tos who them that they were under the New Covenant and should not forsake it for the Old Covenant despite what persecution they may have to deal with.