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By Jady Stevens

Benchley, November 20, 2011

• Isaiah 44:9-20; Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 3:5 – The danger of idolatry.
• Then
• Creation’s creation
• Idols are a second order creation, not even as high as us.
• Faulty testimony (Acts 19:35-36; Ecodus 32:8; I Kings 12:28; Isaiah 44:20)
• Worshipped (Isaiah 44:17)
• Endorsed lifestyle (I Corinthians 10:7)
• Idol worship endorsed the lifestyle the Israelites wanted to live.
• Sacrificed goods (Isaiah 46:6)
• Sacrificed children (II Kings 10:3)
• Sought for deliverance (Isaiah 44:17)
• All gods the same (II Kings 18:33-35)
• Now
• Work of our hands (I timothy 6:17)
• False advertisement (I Timothy 6:9; II timothy 3:6; Luke 12:16-21)
• Distracted worship (Matthew 6:24)
• Self-justifying lifestyle (II timothy 4:3-4)
• Indebtedness (Romans 13:8)
• Lifestyle abortions
• Trusting riches (Matthew 16:9)
• Failed riches (Matthew 24:45; II Kings 19:14-36)
• I Peter 1:22-23

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By David Watson

Benchley, November 2, 2011

• The battle and aftermath
• Judges 8:24-27 – Gideon makes a gold ephod and it becomes a snare to the Israelites.
• Judges 8:28-35 – Gideon dies and Israel goes right back to their old idolatrous ways.

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By David Watson

Benchley, October 19, 2011

• Hebrews 11:32
• The period of the judges was roughly 1380-1050 BC.
• Judges 2:7-19 – summary of the period of the judges
• Judges 17:6 – Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. The people were not relying on God!
• Israel calls for help.
• Judges 6:1-10 – The Midianites afflict the Israelites.
• The angel visits Gideon.
• Judges 6:11-24
• Gideon s. Baal
• Judges 6:25-32 – God gives Gideon his first mission: cutting down his father’s idol.

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By David Watson

Benchley, February 27, 2011

• The setting
  • I Kings 16:29-33; 21:25; 18:3-4
• Drought and hiding out
  • I Kings 17:1-9,15-19,23-24 – Drought was a direct attack against the supposed powers of Baal.
• Called a troubler and the misplacement of blame
  • I Kings 18:1-2,17-18
• Mount Carmel and being sincerely wrong
  • I Kings 18:19-40
• Hard times and getting discouraged
  • I Kings 18:41-46; 19:1-21

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By Stefano Corazza

Benchley, January 30, 2011

• Hebrews 13:24
• Toward the right understanding
  • About local preaching efforts in Rome, Italy
• The via Sannio church
  • Historical development
  • Strategic location in the heart of the city
  • Initiatives:  flyers, web site, Bible studies, radio spot, gospel meetings, didactic literature
• Nature of the work:  preaching in Rome
  • From paganism to Christianity
  • Rooted influence in Italian society
    • Modern paganism
      • Statue of Jupiter was put in St. Peter Basilica, renamed St. Peter, and now people come from all over to kiss the right big toe of the statue.
  • Dramatic results:  Bible ignorance, immorality and corruption, giving up feeling

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By David Watson

Benchley, November 7, 2010

• I Peter 4:1-5
  • Arm yourselves also with the same purpose (I Peter 4:1-2)
    • I Peter 2:21-24 – Christ served us; we must also serve Him.
  • The desire of the Gentiles (I Peter 4:3)
    • Sensuality (lewdness, lasciviousness)
    • Lusts (passions) – Romans 6:12
    • Drunkness (excess of wine)
    • Carousing (orgies, revelries, revellings)
    • Drinking parties (banqueting)
    • Abominable (lawless) idolatries
  • You do not run with them (I Peter 4:4)
    • Ephesians 4:17-21
  • They will give account (I Peter 4:5)
    • I Peter 1:6-7,13; 4:13

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By David Watson

Benchley, May 16, 2010

• Sin tends to continue (and get worse).
  • Proverbs 22:6
  • I Kings 12:26ff – Jeroboam started Israel on a trend of idolatry.
• Build on a legacy of righteousness.
  • Judges 2:8-10 – Two generations after Joshua, Israel loses faith.
  • We must teach the younger generation about…
    • The ugliness of sin (Hebrews 10:29)
    • Physical purity (Romans 13:12)
    • The importance of family (Titus 2:3-5)
    • Money, language, Bible authority, the church …

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By David Watson

Benchley, April 4, 2010

• II Chronicles 29:2
• We ought to do what he did:
  • He worshiped God joyfully.  II Chronicles 29:3-11,27-30; 30:1,21-27
  • He tore down idols.  II Chronicles 31:1-12; II Corinthians 6:16; Colossians 3:5; Ecclesiastes 2:22-23; 5:10
  • In time of distress, he sought God’s help.
    • II Kings 20:1-3; II Chronicles 32:1-8,10-18; II Kings 19:1-2,14,34-36 – Assyrians attack Judah
    • James 1:2
    • II Kings 18:5 – the legacy of Hezekiah