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By Jesse Jenkins

Benchley, March 11, 2012

• Hebrews 11:3 – The world was created by God speaking it into existence.
• Hebrews 11:4 – Abel offered a sacrifice from his flock while Cain offered a sacrifice from the field. The only reason Abel’s sacrifice was aceptable was because he offered it in faith. Cain offered his sacrifice at his own discretion – not through faith. God must have given Cain and Abel some instruction with regard to acceptable sacrifice in order for Abel to offer a sacrifice through faith. This also shows that there is such a thing as unacceptable worship.
• Hebrews 11:5 – What an amazing compliment – to be pleasing to God. The only other person we have record of that was taken up by God is Elijah.
• Hebrews 11:6 – We must believe that God is the first cause of all things.
• Hebrews 11:7 – When Noah built the ark and people refused to go in it, the people were condemned. It is the same as when we teach God’s word and they reject it.

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By Jesse Jenkins

Benchley, January 29, 2012

• Prayer is one of the greatest privileges that God has given His children. (I Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:25)
• He speaks to us through His Son (Hebrews 1:1-2).
• His children speak to Him through His Son. (I Timothy 2:5)
• “The Man, Jesus Christ” made this possible.
• He is mediator of the New Covenant (Hebrews 8:6) by means of death (Hebrews 9:15).
• Elements of acceptable prayer
• To Deity (Colossians 1:3; John 15:16; I John 5:11-15)
• Through our mediator, the MAN Jesus (I Timothy 2:5)
• In faith (James 1:6-7)
• If it be God’s will (I John 5:14)
• With the spirit and understanding (I Corinthians 14:15)
• With the right motives (James 4:3)
• Be forgiving (Mark 11:25-26)
• Be a doer of His will (I John 3:22)
• Pray frequently
• Romans 12:12 – Continue instant in prayer.
• Ephesians 6:18 – Pray always.
• I Thessalonians 5:17 – Pray without ceasing.
• Luke 11:1-8 – Be importunate in prayer.
• But how and whose prayer is answered?
• How?
• We can only know that which is revealed.
• In spiritual things (Luke 23:34; Acts 2:36-38)
• In physical things (James 5:17-18; I Kings 18:41-46)
• Whose?
• I Peter 3:12 – If one is not a Christian, he is void of all spiritual blessings, including prayer and hope of eternal life.

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By Jesse Jenkins

Benchley, January 22, 2012

• Everything that one has is the result of a gift.
• Life – Genesis 2:7; Job 12:9-10
• Abilities – Psalms 23:1; James 1:17
• This calls for us to be grateful and a giving people.
• Why give?
• God needs nothing that we have. Acts 17:27; Psalms 50:10-12
• But we need to give – need the blessing God bestows for service.
• To have a correct view of God’s attitude toward giving, we must carefully consider what He has said:
• Honors God (Proverbs 3:9)
• Is a mark of righteousness (Proverbs 21:25-26)
• Is a grace (II Corinthians 8:7)
• Failure to give robs God (Malachi 3:8)
• God hates covetousness (Psalms 10:3; Colossians 3:6)
• Our giving is to be:
• I Corinthians 16:2
• Regular
• Personal – every one of you
• As prospered
• II Corinthians 8:8,12; 9:6-7
• Because of love
• Willingly, not because of pressure
• Bountifully, not sparingly
• Planned and purposed
• Not grudgingly
• The gift that takes care of it all
• II Corinthians 8:5 – “They first gave their own selves to the Lord.”

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By Jesse Jenkins

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By Jesse Jenkins

Benchley, November 27, 2011

• Hebrews 10:24-25
• Negatively, not:
• For entertainment
• For the praise of men
• Positively:
• To prove my love for and gratitude to the Lord
• It makes me stronger.
• I want the church to grow both numerically and spiritually.
• I want to be a good example.
• I need God.
• Judges 4:6-23 – God works through Jael to kill Sisera.
• Jesus is present.
• I want to put Christ and His kingdom first. (Matthew 6:33)
• In short, because I am a Christian.

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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 20, 2011

• Romans 12:12; I Thessalonians 5:17
• We figure, “God already knows all of this.”
• Matthew 6:8 – This is true. God is omniscient.
• God tells us to.
• It’s not about the giving of information, but about the giving of our heart. Prayer is a sincere expression of our love and need for Him. Matthew 6:6-8; Romans 10:1; James 4:2-3; Acts 17:24-27
• We get tired of praying for the same old thing.
• Ephesians 6:18-20 – Better awareness of what we can pray for and what we really need can help us pray sincerely.
• Philippians 1:3-5 – Like Paul, we have many people to be thankful for.
• Things we can include in our prayers:
• Adoration (praise) – Matthew 6:9
• Confession – Luke 18:13; Acts 18:22
• Thanks – Colossians 4:2; I Thessalonians 5:16-18; Romans 1:21
• Supplication (petition) – I Timothy 2:1-2; Philippians 4:6
• Luke 18:1-8 – Don’t lose heart. Keep praying!

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By Jesse Jenkins

Benchley, November 13, 2011

• Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:17-20 – Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper.
• Luke 22:17 – The initial drink was the completion of the Passover Feast. It is not an example that we need to drink, east, and then drink again.
• I Corinthians 10:16; 11:23-29 – further instructions regarding the Lord’s Supper
• A communion
• The bread – communion with the body of Christ.
• There is also a secondary communion between all the members that partake of the Supper, but the primary communion is vertical between us and Jesus.
• The fruit of the vine – communion with the blood of Christ.
• A proclamation
• The Lord’s Supper proclaims:
• Jesus’ life and death
• His mission
• His kingdom has been established.
• We are not under the Old Covenant.
• That He has not come the second time.
• That He is coming. I Thessalonians 4:13
• Our love for Him.
• A memorial
• I Corinthians 11:24-25
• The bread – memorial of His body
• The fruit of the vine – memorial of His blood
• To forget is one of the greatest dangers, thus we need this memorial.
• In view of this, how must we partake?
• Discerningly
• Reverently
• Regularly
• An anticipation
• “Till He come”
• A reminder that He is coming
• The prayer of thanks
• Be sure to offer thanks for the bread and fruit of the vine when you pray.
• Make the prayer to the point. This is the purpose of the prayer.
• Is one pleasing to God when he or she:
• Plans a trip on Sunday and misses the Supper?
• Deliberatelyy misses one Sunday, then takes the next Sunday without repenting?
• Misses the Lord’s Supper to prepare a feast for guests?
• Deliberately misses the Supper Sunday morning then partakes Sunday evening?
• Who can commune with Christ in the Supper?
• Those in His kingdom (Matthew 26:29)
• Not all who were once baptized into Christ, but those who are living lives subject to the King.
• When is the Supper to be taken?
• Matthew 26:26-29; Acts 20:7 – On the first day of the week.
• How much does the Lord’s Supper mean to you?

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By David Watson

Benchley, July 3, 2011

• John 4:19-24
• Worship should be an overflow of one’s feelings toward God.
  • Jeremiah 20:8-9 – Jeremiah could not help but prophecy.
  • Matthew 14:32-36; 28:9; Luke 24:50-53 – The disciples worship Jesus after His resurrection.
    • John 9:35-38 – The man healed of blindness worshiped Jesus.
  • Colossians 3:16 – Worship must be to God. Remember that God is the focus.
    • Hebrews 9:11; 10:12 – This is who we are worshiping!
• Worship should emanate from a righteous, spiritual life.
  • Malachi 2:13-14 – Sin in your life hinders your worship to God.
  • Romans 1:21
  • Matthew 15:3-9

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By David Watson

Benchley, April 24, 2011

• What is Easter all about?
• Does any worship please God?
  • Consider examples from:
    • Acts 17:22-23,30-31 – Paul preaches to the Athenians about the “unknown god” they had been worshiping in ignorance.
    • Leviticus 10; Genesis 4; I Corinthians 7
  • Conclusion:
    • I John 2:3-5 – We must follow God’s commandments
    • II John 9 – We must abide in the teaching of Christ.
• Has Easter been commanded?
  • No!
• How should we remember our Lord?
  • I corinthians 11:23-26 – Observance of the Lord’s Supper commanded
  • Acts 20:7
  • Romans 6:3-6
• Is it okay to celebrate Easter in a secular manner?
  • I believe so, with some limits.
  • I Corinthians 8:8-13; 10:24-29