Personal introduction:

• Jesse Jenkins started work with the Benchley church of Christ May 15, 1996. This year marks his 25th year of work with the congregation.

Psalm 84:10 – “I’d rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God …”

• Can we sincerely make this statement?

To sincerely and objectively make this statement demands at least four things:

• Knowledge

  • Isaiah 2:2-4

  • Ephesians 3:15 – House of God = family of God

  • I Timothy 3:14-15

  • Matthew 16:18

  • Acts 20:28

  • You must have knowledge of the house of God to distinguish from the tents of wickedness.

• Discernment

  • Hebrews 5:12-14

  • As we grow year by year, we should be applying what we learn from our studies and growing in discernment.

• A positive choice

  • One can know what is right and choose to do wrong.

  • We won’t be judged on the sins we don’t commit, but on the ones we do commit. We must make a positive choice to serve God.

  • Matthew 23:11

  • Philippians 2:4

• Humility

  • II Kings 5 – Naaman wanted Elisha to do some great thing to cure him.

  • Many of us don’t have the ability to do great things, but we can be doorkeepers in the house of God.

  • I Peter 5:5-6

  • John 13 – Jesus taught us a lesson in washing the disciples’ feet.

Is it worth it?

• Psalms 84:11 – Yes, it’s worth it!

Emotion itself is not wrong.

• Jesus displayed strong emotions: John 7; John 2; Luke 22:44; Mark 3:4-5

Problems with emotions

• Emotions can be based on error.

  • I Kings 18:28-29 – The people showed great emotion about Baal.

  • Sincerely felt emotion does not equal truth.

• Emotions can lead to sin.

  • Acts 19:23-32 – The crowd riots because of the truth Paul taught.

Emotions should be the effect, not the cause.

• Acts 2:36-37, 46-47 – The people were pierced to the heart. This was the effect of God’s word. This was an appropriate reaction! Hebrews 4:12

• Acts 8:39 – The eunuch rejoiced because of God’s word.

• Acts 16:34 – He rejoiced after being baptized.

• These people were not convicted and converted because of emotion. They were convicted by methodical teaching and emotion followed.

• Romans 10:2

We might grow cold and heartless, which is the other sinful extreme.

• John 4:23-24

• Psalms 119:120 – Reverence for the Creator

• Luke 15:20

• I Thessalonians 4:18

• I Peter 1:22

• Titus 2:14

• Psalms 119:7 – Gratitude for truth

• Psalms 119:53

• Philippians 4:4 – Happiness in general

Jude 1:24-25

God had a plan from the beginning to heal the blotch of sin upon man.

God’s great love for fallen man is seen in:

• The longsuffering of God for man (II Peter 3:9)

  • Genesis 3:15 – God’s promise to heal man from sin.

  • Genesis 19 – Lot and his daughters were saved when Sodom was destroyed.

  • Jonah – God called Ninevah to repent and they were saved.

  • Deuteronomy 32:15 – Israel got prosperous and rebelled against God.

    • Historically, God’s people have not been able to handle prosperity. That is a solemn warning to us.

    • Proverbs 30:8-9.

• The provisions for man’s salvation

  • I John 4:10 – See Isaiah 52:14. Jesus’ body was marred “beyond human semblance.” That demonstrates the depth of God’s love for us.

    • “The death of Christ was born of the womb of God’s love.”

  • Galatians 3:27

  • Ephesians 5:24-25

  • I Corinthians 6:18-19

  • John 17:21 – We have the great blessing of fellowship with other Christians – the greatest people on earth.

• The hope with which He endowed us.

  • II Thessalonians 2:9

  • II Corinthians 5:17

  • Ephesians 3:10

Conclusion

• Luke 9:23

• Philippians 3:14

Watch out for jealousy.

• Old Testament Jews: Jealous of Joseph, Acts 7:9

  • Jealousy played a part in many Bible stories

  • John 12:19

• New Testament Jews: Jealous of Jesus and apostles

  • Matthew 27:18 – Pilate could clearly see their jealousy

  • Acts 5:12-17 – The Pharisees were jealous of the influence and crowd the apostles were drawing.

  • Acts 13:44-45

  • Acts 17:5

• Us today: We must be careful of jealousy!

  • If someone is doing something good (especially of a religious nature), we should be happy for them!

  • We cannot be caught up in wanting credit for something.

  • I Corinthians 3:1-3 – A jealous mindset was holding them back!

Accept God’s plan.

• Old Testament Jews: Rejected Moses

  • Acts 7:23-27, 34-41 – Those who rejected Moses were some of the most foolish people in history.

• New Testament Jews: Rejected Jesus

  • Acts 7:52

  • Acts 2:22-23 – Peter also pointed this out.

• Us today:

  • Are we willing to accept that God’s plan involves obedience?

Accept God’s word.

• Old Testament Jews: Persecuted prophets. Acts 7:51

• New Testament Jews: Persecuted prophets.

  • Acts 6:8-9

  • Acts 7:51-60 – Stephen stoned to death.

• Us today:

  • John 12:47

  • Hebrews 10:28-29 – The punishment will be great for those who trample underfoot the Son of God.

Introduction

• Psalms 14:1; Matthew 7:1; I Corinthians 7:27; 15:32; 10:23

Context

• Reading the surrounding words and phrases to help understand a passage.

• Examples:

  • Psalms 14:1 – The fool says, “there is no God.”

  • Matthew 7:1, 5, 15, 16 – How to judge rightly. Hypocritical judging is condemned. Not all judging.

  • I Corinthians 7:26-27

  • I Corinthians 15:32-34 – If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die.”

  • I Corinthians 10:23 – All things are lawful, but not all things edify.

• Acts 16:31 – Is belief all that is required for salvation?

Harmony

• God does not contradict Himself. We must harmonize different related verses.

• Examples:

  • Matthew 4:1-11 – Jesus called out Satan on misusing scripture.

  • Psalms 14:1 – Compare Romans 1:20.

  • Matthew 7:1 – Compare John 7:24.

  • I Corinthians 7:27 – Compare I Timothy 4:1, 3

  • I Corinthians 15:32 – Compare Ephesians 5:15-16

  • I Corinthians 10:23 – Compare I John 3:4

  • Acts 16:31-32 – Compare James 2:19-24. We are not justified by faith alone. I Peter 3:21

Things that will help:

• Take time – II Timothy 2:15

• Read – I Timothy 4:13

• Think – I Timothy 4:15-16