Acceptable Worship

Posted by mark under Sermons

By Jesse Jenkins

Benchley, May 19, 2013

Why Do We Sing?

Posted by mark under Sermons

By David Weaks

Benchley, April 15, 2013

  • Arguments often given in defense of instrumental music:
    • Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16
    • You members of the church of Christ expect everyone to agree with your opinions!
    • You members of the church of Christ just pick and choose what you like just like everyone else!
      • Nadab and Abihu were punished for worshiping incorrectly.
    • You members of the church of Christ just don’t like instrumental music!
      • It’s not a matter of not liking it – many of us do like it and know how to play instruments.
    • I just find instrumental music to be uplifting.
    • Instrumental music was allowed under the old law!
      • Yes, but we are under the new law now.  Colossians 2:14; Romans 15:4
      • The old law is an example to us, but it does not guide our worship in this age.
      • If we try to follow the old law, we have to follow the whole law.
    • Many of us have pianos in our homes, why can’t we have one here?
      • Why don’t we have pool tables or big screen TVs in the church building?  Not everything in the home belongs in the worship service.
      • I Corinthians 11:17-22
    • Psallo means to pluck or twang.
  • Matthew 28:18
  • Authority is essential.  Matthew 21:23-27
  • John 4:23-24
  • The Word of God authorizes us to do things in one of several ways.
  • Examples of singing in the New Testament:  Romans 15:9; I Corinthians 14:15; Hebrews 2:12; James 5:13; Acts 16:25
  • We are not allowed to insert what we wish into the Word of God.  II John 9-11; Revelation 2:18-19

Why Did God Create Man?

Posted by mark under Sermons

By Bill Allen

Benchley, February 24, 2013

 

  • Genesis 1:26-28; 2:7,18-23
  • God had an eternal purpose for man. Ephesians 1:3-6
  • How did God choose who would be adopted as sons?
    • He chose the characteristics that those He would call would have.
    • We can decide whether or not to be children of God.
    • Those characteristics: be holy and blameless in love – I Peter 2:9-10; Galatians 5:6
  • How should we worship God?
    • Ephesians 5:15-17 – We must understand the will of God, which requires us to study the Bible.
    • When you do something for someone, keep it quiet.
    • Attendance at the assembly shows that you want to serve God.
    • Matthew 7:21

Why Are We Here?

Posted by mark under Sermons

By Jady Stevens

Benchley, February 17, 2013

 

Authority, Part 5

Posted by mark under Classes

By Jesse Jenkins

Benchley, February 13, 2013

 

  • With general authority, aids are allowed, but never additions:
    • Song books aid in singing, but do not add another kind of music.
    • Mechanical instruments add another kind of music and usurp His authority.
    • Printed outlines with scripture references aid in Bible classes.
    • Teaching anything other than the Bible in our classes adds another subject of study and usurps His authority.
    • For a church to provide the necessary things for the relief of its needy members aids in its work.
    • For a church to turn the relief of its needy members over to a human institution for relief adds another organization; thus usurps His authority.
  • Bible authority comes to us in one of four forms:

Authority, Part 4

Posted by mark under Classes

By Jesse Jenkins

Benchley, February 6, 2013

 

  • Authority comes to man in one of two ways (continued):
    • Generic
      • In generic authority, some choices are left to man.
      • But the choices must be related to that which is generically authorized.
        • Church to assemble for Bible study/worship (I Corinthians 14:23 ff; Acts 20:7; Hebrews 10:24-25). Thus, to provide a place for Bible study/worship is authorized.
        • For a church to provide a place for entertainment is to usurp His authority.
        • Church to teach the Word (Acts 20:28,32); thus, Bible classes, radio, tracts are authorized.
        • For a church to teach social gospel is to usurp His authority.
        • Church to relieve its needy members (Acts 4:34-36; 6:1-6).
        • For a church to relieve non-saints is to usurp His authority.

Authority, Part 3

Posted by mark under Classes

By Jesse Jenkins

Benchley, January 30, 2013

 

  • “Authority” is power to command and to require obedience, with the right of punishment for disobedience.
  • There are three kinds of authority:
    • Inherent, as is characteristic of Deity.
    • Delegated, as given to apostles, (II Corinthians 10:8; 13:10). This delegated authority is “to assign or entrust power or function to another.” -Webster; thus authorization to act in assigned matters, not the right to assign matters.
    • Usurped, as seen in conventions in some churches and even in some elderships.
  • Jesus has all authority (Matthew 28:18; John 14:26)
    • Man has none, be it elders, saint, or any organization.
    • Man has authorization to do certain things, but not authority in the strictest sense.
    • Every teaching and every practice must pass the sentinel of His authority.
    • To practice anything in His service without it passing the sentinel of His authority is to usurp His authority.
  • Authority comes to man in one of two ways:
    • Specific
      • In specific authority, there are no choices left man.
      • To make a choice other than that which is specified is to usurp His authority.
        • He specified sing (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16)
        • To add a mechanical instrument is to usurp His authority.
        • He specified preach the gospel (Romans 1:16).
        • To preach any other message is to usurp His authority.
        • He specified the first day of the week for the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:29; Acts 20:7).
        • To take the Supper any other day is to usurp His authority.

Despise Ye the Church of God?

Posted by mark under Sermons

By Keith Shackleford

Benchley, October 18, 2012

 

  • The precept of I Corinthians 11:22
    • Despise
      • A matter of examination
      • Look down on with contempt
    • Correcting attitudes towards the church via the example of the Lord’s Supper
    • They showed disdain for the church by changing the holy into the common.
    • They showed disregard for brethren by flaunting “riches” over “poverty”.
  • Some ways the church is despised
    • By altering God’s local arrangement
      • Saints, bishops, deacons, Philippians 1:1
      • Elders in every church, Acts 14:23
        • Despised by unqualified elders and deacons, elders over many churches
      • Autonomy of the church among you – with its own elders, deacons, saints (I Peter 5:3)
        • Despised by: sisterhood of churches under central oversight.
    • By altering the divine arrangement of the church in: evangelism
      • To sound out the word. I Thessalonians 1:7-8
      • To train up and send out preachers. Acts 13:2-3; I Timothy 4:14; Colossians 4:11-12
      • Despised by: creating and supporting some other organization to do this work – i.e. missionary organizations, institutional organizations, publication organizations, etc.
      • Or also by sponsoring another church to do the work God assigned
    • By altering the divine arrangement of the church in: edification
      • Spiritual growth and encouragement through instruction and understanding
      • Despised by: some other means of building up the saints unto some other purpose – i.e. choirs, concerts, gyms, food, movies, etc.
    • By altering the divine arrangement of the church in: benevolence
      • Caring for needy saints, Romans 15:25-27
      • Assuring church is not charged with those for whom it is not responsible, I Timothy 5:16
      • Despised by: church funds assisting non-saints, sponsoring organizations, or other churches to do it
    • By corrupting the worship
    • By non-attendance
      • Out to be glad to be present, Psalms 122:1
      • Should be so regular that an absence is noticed by all.
    • By failure to prepare for service
    • By lax convication
    • By worldly living

Bible Authority

Posted by mark under Sermons

By Jesse Jenkins

Benchley, July 29, 2012

 

  • I Peter 4:11; II Peter 1:3; II Timothy 3:16-17; John 17:17; 8:24; Colossians 3:17- All emphasize the necessity of having authority for all we do in the service of God.
    • This is true for the congregation and for the individual Christian.
  • Bible authority comes to use in one of four ways:
  • Bible authority comes to us in one of two forms:
    • General:
      • Build ark
      • Sing, as relates to parts, i.e., bass, tenor, etc.
      • Pray
    • Specific
      • Gopher wood
      • Sing, as relates to kind of music: vocal
      • Unto God
  • General authority allows for choice of specifics
  • Specific authority allows no choice.
  • Aids are allowed, but no additions are allowed.
    • Container for bread and fruit fo the vine, but no other elements
    • Song books, pitch pipe, PowerPoint, but no other kind of music
    • Radio, TV preaching, but no other collective
  • Authorized work for a local church
  • The individual Christian must respect Bible authority. He must do with zeal what is authorized and refuse to do what is not.

Worship

Posted by mark under Classes

By Ed Whitt

Benchley, June 13, 2012