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By David Weaks

Benchley, April 14, 2013

• The cross of discipleship is obedience.
  • Matthew 27:32; Hebrews 12:1-2 - Jesus bore His cross and did so willingly.
  • Luke 22:42; Hebrews 5:8-9 - Jesus obeyed His Father and He authored our salvation.
  • II Thessalonians 1:8
• The corss of discipleship is desire.
  • Luke 22:44
  • Acts 8:30-39 - Philip teaches the eunuch.  The eunuch wanted to be baptized.
  • Acts 16:30
  • Romans 5:6-13; Isaiah 53:5 - how and why God sent His Son to save us
• The cross of discipleship requires us to give and not take.
  • Luke 14:26-33 - We must be prepared to give all for Jesus.
  • Philippians 2:1-8 - We should not operate out of selfishness.
  • Revelation 2:10
  • I Peter 2:11-12 - Do not be afraid to be persecuted for doing good.
  • I John 2:15 - Do not love the world.
  • Acts 2:22-24,37,41

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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 Keith Shackleford

Benchley, October 19, 2012

• Matthew 16:18-19
• New Testament Church and the Kingdom
  • Jesus used the terms synonymously, Matthew 16:18-19,28
    • Kingdom existed in 1st Century, Colossians 1:13
    • Admission into kingdom by obedience, Matthew 7:21
    • Lord’s Supper is function of the kingdom / the church, Luke 22:16,18; I Corinthians 10:16; 11:17 ff
  • Times of Christ were subject of interest to Moses and prophets, Acts 3:21-24; I Peter 1:10 f
• Lawgiver of Judah, Genesis 49
  • The blessing of Jacob, Genesis 49:10
    • Lawgiver shown by scepter – to receive obedience
  • Fulfillment of the right tribe
    • Regal genealogy, Matthew 1
    • Legal genealogy, Luke 3
  • Fulfillment of a ruling lawgiver
    • Authority, headship, preeminence, Matthew 28:18; Colossians 1:18
    • Authority previewed, Deuteronomy 18:18-19
    • Some aspects of authority, John 1:1; 7:17; 17:8; 12:48 ff
• Exerlasting kingdom, II Samuel 7
  • Forver rule on David’s throne, II Samuel 7:12-16
    • Gabriel’s equivalent prophecy, Luke 1:32-33
    • Peter affirms, Acts 2:29-36
  • Everlasting aspect, Hebrews 1:8; 12:28
• His reign, Psalms 110
  • Jehovah gives Christ dominion, Psalms 110
    • Exercised from the right hand of God
    • People willingly serve
    • Dual role of Christ: priest, king
  • Christ beings kingly work, John 18:36 f; Acts 2:29-36
  • Christ is also our high priest, Hebrews 6:20
    • From that time forward all appeals are made in His name, by His authority, Acts 2:38; I Corinthians 1:10; Ephesians 5:20
  • Voluntary service in kingdom, Romans 12:1; II Corinthians 9:7
• His government, Isaiah 9
  • Governing responsibilities are His. Isaiah 9:6-7
    • Mission was to bring peace betwixt God and man; remove the estrangement of sin; restore harmonious relations, Ephesians 2:14,16
  • Nature of the ruler and His government
    • Child is … wonderful … mighty God … Prince … a description of His deity
    • Expansion of government endless or continuing in its increase of spiritual benefits
    • Basis of government and benefits is the justice and righteousness of God – the very character of God ensures the continuance of this kingdom.
• Kingdom of the last days, Isaiah 2
  • In the last days, Isaiah 2:2-4 (note Acts 2:17)
    • Superior to all other kingdoms
    • Includes citizens of all peoples, Ephesians 3:6
    • Taught in and walk in God’s ways is means of entrance to it, Joel 2:32 (Acts 2:39); John 6:45; I Thessalonians 2:12-13
    • Would begin when word issued out of Jerusalem
    • Peacable in nature, Ephesians 2:15; Matthew 5:9
• Kingdom of the last days, Daniel 2
  • Daniel’s description similar, Daniel 2:44
    • Kingdom unlike all others Nebuchadnezzar knew of
    • Set up during 4th kingdom, Roman period
    • Indestructible and eternal kingdom (act over against Jerusalem and Babylon and all others who rise and fall)
    • Conquering kingdom
• Priestly king, Zechariah 6
  • The branch who builds the temple, Zechariah 6:12-13,15
    • This is the church, Ephesians 2:19-22; I Peter 2:4 ff
  • The branch bears glory (kingly)
  • Work of king and priest is simultaneous
    • If He is priest, He must also be king, Hebrews 7; Acts 2
  • Those “far off” have a portion here
• The prophets saw the king and His kingdom
  • Christ as lawgiver/prophet
  • Christ as king/priest
    • Commanding the conditions of peace
    • Making the offering for that peace
  • The church a spiritual government
    • Peoples of all nations comprising it
    • Instruction and obedience to enter
• New Testament preachers preached
  • Acts 8:12; 28:33,31
• Your entrance into the kingdom
  • Hear the gospel – Romans 10:17
  • Believe Jesus is the Son of God – Mark 16:16; Acts 8:37
  • Repent from sin – Acts 17:30
  • Confess faith in Christ – Romans 10:9-10; Acts 8:36-39
  • Be baptized – I Peter 3:21; Acts 2:38; Galatians 3:26-29
  • Live faithfully unto God – Revelation 2:10; II Timothy 4:6-8

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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 Jesse Jenkins

Benchley, July 22, 2012

• The saved relationship is viewed in several different ways in the New Testament. Each figure emphasizes the headship of Christ and the subjection of the saved.
  • Acts 2:47 – Added – Church – Saints – Romans 1:7
  • John 3:5 – Born – Kingdom – Citizen – Ephesians 2:19
  • I Corinthians 12:13 – Baptized – Body – Member – I Corinthians 12:27
  • Galatians 5:4 – Adopted – House – Children – Galatians 3:26
  • Ephesians 2:21 – Built – Temple – Priest – I Peter 2:5
  • John 10:4 – Follow – Fold – Sheep – John 10:16
• Christ is:
  • Head of the church (Ephesians 1:22)
  • King of the kingdom (Acts 2:36)
  • Head of the body (Colossians 1:18)
  • Son over the house (Hebrews 3:6)
  • High Priest in the temple (Hebrews 3:1)
  • Shepherd of the sheepfold (John 10:14)
• There is one:
  • Kingdom
  • Body
  • House
  • Temple
  • Sheepfold
  • How many churches?
• The same ones who:
  • Are citizens in the kingdom
  • Are members of the body
  • …
• You are not:
  • In the kingdom unless you have been born (John 3:5).
  • I Corinthians 12:13; Romans 8:15; Ephesians 2:21; John 10:27; Romans 1:7)
• Each is depicting the saved relationship
  • Therefore one gets into the church the same way he gets into the kingdom or into the house or into the temple or into the sheepfold or into the body.
  • Once cannot be saved unless he is in the one body.
  • The only way one can get into the body is to be baptized into it (I Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:26-27; Romans 6:3).
  • Therefore one is baptized into the saved relationship.

By David Watson

Benchley, July 1, 2012

• Some praised Jesus because they knew Him to be true.
  • John 12:12-19; Luke 19:35-38
  • John 20:28-31 – Thomas sees the wounds of Jesus and believes.
  • I Peter 1:8-9 – We must believe in Jesus and love Him without seeing Him.
• Some were mad at Jesus because they didn’t want to surrender to Him.
  • Luke 19:39-40
  • Luke 9:23 – We must deny ourselves to follow Jesus.
• Some changed their minds within a week.
  • Mark 11:8-10,18; 12:12; 14:1-2; 15:9-15 – The crowd goes from cheering to jeering.
  • John 6:59-60,66 – Some of Jesus’ disciples fall away.

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By David Watson

Benchley, May 6, 2012

• Luke 4:1-13
• The devil will tempt anybody!
• I Corinthians 10:12 – Do not think you are beyond temptation. If the devil would try to tempt Jesus, he will not shy away from tempting anyone!
• The devil’s gonna hit you where it hurts!
• Jesus was intensely hungry after fasting for forty days and the devil offered him bread.
• Job 1:11,2:5 – The devil decides how to tempt Job.
• Job 2:9-10 – The devil uses evil pain and suffering to tempt men. He knows that people tend to question God when tragedy strikes.
• Job 31:1,9-11
• The devil quotes scripture
• Luke 4:9-12
• The devil only flees for a season.
• Luke 4:13
• Acts 20:28-31 – We must always be on alert for temptation.
• Hebrews 4:14-16; 2:18 – Jesus is sympathetic to our plight.

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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, April 22, 2012

• Some believe that Jesus divested Himself of the characteristics and qualities of deity and lived on earth as a man.
• One cannot be God without the powers and prerogatives of God.
• Some teach that Jesus had both human and divine attributes, but never used any of His divine attributes while on earth.
• Jesus, while on earth, was fully God and fully man.
• Proof that He was fully man: John 1:14; Hebrews 10:5
• Proof that He was fully God: John 10:36; 5:18; Matthew 1:23; John 2:25
• Proof that He used His own attributes of deity:
• He forgave sins (Mark 2:5)
• He received worship (Matthew 8:2; 9:18; 14:23)
• He gave the apostles power over unclean spirits and to heal the sick (Mark 6:7; Luke 10:3,9)
• He knew He was the Son of God (John 10:36)
• He knew what was in man (John 2:25; I Corinthians 2:11)
• His miracles proved He was the Son of God – deity
• No Holy Spirit empowered apostle could:
• Forgive sins. Jesus did.
• Walk on water, except Peter for a while by the power of Jesus’ word. Jesus did.
• Control the sea. Jesus did.
• Say “I give you power over unclean spirits.” Jesus did.
• Say “I have power to lay down my life and I have power to take it again.” Jesus did.
• Say He was in heaven. Jesus did.
• John 20:30-31
• Of what did He empty Himself? Philippians 2:7-8; John 17:5
• He did not empty Himself of authority and power.
• If He did not have the attributes of God He was not fully God.
• Colossians 2:9; 1:19; Hebrews 13:8 – These passages being true, how could anyone think He emptied Himself of any divine attribute?
• Does “all authority hath been given Me” prove that He did not have authority while He worked on earth?
• He did not say this relative to His work on earth, but just before ascending into heaven.
• Ephesians 1:20-22
• Daniel 7:13-14 teaches the same thing by prophecy.
• This is speaking of beginning His reigning as king.
• Acts 2:30-36; I Peter 3:22 – And Peter so applied it.
• What about passages that say the Father or the Holy Spirit did a work by Jesus?
• John 17:20-23 answers this question.
• These passages show harmony, not distinctiveness.
• Creation illustrates this. The Father created the world by His Son.
• Hebrews 1:1-3; Matthew 12:28; John 5:30
• John 16:7,13; 14:26 – Jesus talks about the Father sending the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ name.
• Jesus never used His attributes to overcome trials and tribulations.
• He used the same avenue that are available to us. Matthew 4:1-10; 26:26-45
• But when it did not get in the way of His being the servant and example He came to be, He did use His powers to prove that He was whom He claimed to be!

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By Jesse Jenkins

Benchley, April 1, 2012

• Hebrews 12:5-6 – God’s word is the means by which He disciplines us. It is not through physical ailments or some sort of physical punishment.
• Hebrews 12:11 – None of us are so strong that we don’t ever need correction. Discipline is not pleasant for either the person giving or receiving it, but it requires much love and care.
• Hebrews 12:14 – We are to pursue peace on God’s standards, not on any other standard.