Genesis 3:1-7, 23-24

I John 2:16

Lust of the flesh

• Ecclesiastes 2:8, 11; 5:10 – It is our spiritual appetite that needs attention!

• I Timothy 6:7-19 – We should be content with basic necessities.

• Philippians 4:11-12 – Paul had learned to be content. Accumulating things won’t make you content. You have to learn to be content with what you already have.

Lust of the eyes

• Job 31:1 – Job knew how important it was to guard his eyes.

• Matthew 5:27-29 – Be careful of the thoughts of your mind.

• Matthew 18:6-7 – Be careful of causing others to lust and sin.

• I Timothy 4:12 – Do people see us as believers or do they see a lack of purity in us?

Pride of life

• Proverbs 12:15 – It is easy to stop listening if we think we are right.

• Proverbs 26:4-5 – Don’t answer a fool with the same type of foolishness.

• John 2:19-21; Matthew 26:59-63 – Jesus refused to answer their misunderstanding.

• Matthew 27:39-40

• Acts 6:14 – This could be the same confusion coming up again.

• Sometimes the wisest thing to do is to be silent.

God loves us and has warned about the temptations of Satan. Let us take God’s warnings to heart!

Introduction

• Mary was called “Magdalene” because she was from the town of Magdala.

• She was mentioned in all four gospels.

Eyewitness of Jesus’

• Death – Mark 15:40

• Burial – Mark 15:47

• Resurrection – Mark 16:9

There is no evidence that Mary …

• Is the sinful woman of Luke 7:36-50.

• Was ever a prostitute.

• Was an “apostle to the apostles.”

• Ever had romantic feelings or relationship with Jesus (this idea was popularized by The Da Vinci Code and Jesus Christ Superstar).

The value of women

• Luke 18:1-3

  • She was a traveling disciple.

  • She was a healed disciple.

  • She was a contributing disciple. Mark 15:41.

• Luke 23:50-24:3

  • Women were the first to witness Jesus’ resurrection!

Courage

• Mark 15:43; John 20:19 – Joseph and the disciples feared the Jews, but Mary was right there anyway!

• Mark 14:26-31, 50 – The apostles fled! Mary did not.

• John 19:26-27, 25 – Mary Magdalene was standing by the cross. Despite his bold claims, Peter was gone, but Mary Magdalene was there, along with Jesus’ mother and aunt.

• Matthew 27:57-61 – Mary was there when Jesus’ body was taken down.

• Mark 16:1-3

The importance of the resurrection

• I Corinthians 15:14-19 – The resurrection is crucial to our faith!

• John 20:1-18 – If the body was stolen, why were the wrappings set aside?

  • One word each!

    • Mary!

    • Rabboni!

• Acts 1:14 – Is Mary Magdalene included in this group?

The time, place, and who will lead us to the right church.

• Ephesians 4:5; I Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 1:23

• If the church was established in the days of John the Baptist:

  • The church had no head.

  • The church was not purchased with blood. Matthew 20:28

  • Christ could not be preached. Matthew 16:20; Luke 24:46; Acts 1

  • The church would lack a foundation. Acts 4:10-12; I Corinthians 3:11

• It is critical to learn the time, place, who, and what of the right church.

Time: Pentecost, 33 AD

• Isaiah 2:2-3

• Joel 2:28-32

Place: Jerusalem

• Acts 2:47

Who: Jesus

• Daniel 2:44

• Acts 2:36

• I Corinthians 15:27-28

• Matthew 16:18

• Acts 20:28 – Jesus purchased the church with His own blood.

What: Christ’s church

• I Corinthians 3:11; 1:2

• I Peter 3:15

• Ephesians 3:10-11

Was the church at Benchley started in AD 30-33 in Jerusalem?

• No, but its teaching and practice had its start in AD 30-33 in Jerusalem.

• For example, the local Mormon church wasn’t started in 1830 in New York, but we can tell from its teaching and practice that it is a Mormon church.

Mark 14:27

What if everyone around you turned from God?

Noah chose to walk with God

• Genesis 6:5-8

• Noah chose to be righteous! We have to make that same decision.

• James 4:4; Matthew 6:24

Noah took action for many years.

• Genesis 6:3; 7:6 – This verse could be referring to a changing lifespan for man or the time until the flood would come.

• II Peter 2:5

• John 14:15 – There is work involved in serving God!

• Ephesians 6:1-4 – Parents must be authorities in the home.

• Titus 2:3-5

• Being a good parent involves much work and love over years!

Noah developed a heart for worship.

• Genesis 8:14-22 – Noah worshiped as soon as he got off the ark.

• Matthew 22:37

• Do we only have a heart for worship while we are in the pew?

• II Timothy 4:10

• Daily Bible reading is important!

• Responding to big events in the right way is an important example to children.

If you lived back then, would your family be on the ark?