JJ

October 31, 2018

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  • Matthew 5:33-48
  • Matthew 5:33-37 – This is an extended not-but It is not a blanket prohibition on making any sort of oath. If all swearing is wrong, God Himself did wrong in Hebrews 6:18. Verse 37 is the point – we should speak truth and keep our word.
  • Matthew 5:38-39 – Compare John 18:22-23; Acts 23:2-3. Both Jesus and Paul disobeyed this verse if we are never to defend ourselves. Romans 12:18-21. He was simply saying to not repay evil in kind, but return good instead.
  • Matthew 5:43-48 – See John 8:39-44. We are children of God when we imitate Him.

For further study, see also:

Questions or comments? Join our Discord server for further study.

Sermons - Benchley church of Christ

JJ

October 28, 2018

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  • Three basic kinds of church government (plus a hybrid fourth form). All can’t be right!
  • Universal concept
    • Local churches (or parishes) joined together under universal oversight with a universal treasury doing universal work.
    • Prime example is the Catholic church, headed by the Pope.
  • Brotherhood concept
    • Local churches joined together under brotherhood oversight with a brotherhood treasury doing brotherhood work.
    • Example: Southern Methodist Conference
  • Local concept
    • Autonomous local churches. Individual Christians are part of the universal church with Christ as the head.
    • Local oversight
      • Acts 14:23 – Elders commanded to oversee local churches
      • I Peter 5:1-4 – Elders are to oversee their own flock – not other churches.
    • Local treasury
      • I Corinthians 16:1-2
    • Local work
    • This is the only structure authorized by God.
  • Brotherhood + local church concept
    • Local churches under the guidance of the ruling convention. Much looser than the brotherhood concept.
    • They claim only local oversight, treasury, and work, but they also have brotherhood oversight, treasury, and work in some cases.
      • Baptist Hour
      • Buckner Children’s Home
    • “Churches of Christ”
      • Local churches joined together in a loose denominational structure.
      • They claim only local oversight, treasury, and work, but also have elements of brotherhood oversight, treasury, and work.
        • Herald of Truth – Radio program run by a church in Abilene. Many churches sent money to support the work.
        • Boles Children’s Home

For further study, see also:

Questions or comments? Join our Discord server for further study.

Sermons - Benchley church of Christ

DW

October 28, 2018

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  • “Evil and suffering prove that either God is not good or He doesn’t exist.”
  • Let’s talk about real evil and suffering in this study.
  • A lot of evil and suffering come about because God created us with the ability to choose.
    • Ecclesiastes 12:14
  • Acts 17:30-31
  • Galatians 1:3-5
  • First of all, God cares about our suffering!
    • Exodus 2:23-25
    • Genesis 4:10
    • Hebrews 12:1; 2:14, 17-18
  • God is wiser than we are.
    • Isaiah 55:8-9
    • God knows and understands more than us. He may be bringing about good through suffering.
    • Genesis 50:20
    • Job 38:1-7; 40:1-9; 42:1
  • Earthly suffering increases our desire for Heavenly blessings.
    • James 1:2-4
    • II Corinthians 12:7
    • Good and bad things on earth are tiny samples of heaven and hell.
    • John 4:13-14
  • We’re on God’s timetable.
    • Romans 8:18; II Corinthians 4:17
    • II Peter 3:8
  • Psalms 31:24

For further study, see also:

Questions or comments? Join our Discord server for further study.

Classes - Benchley church of Christ

DW

October 28, 2018

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  • Deity: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (continued)
    • The Father: The leader!
      • Matthew 3:16-17 – There are three distinct persons in the Godhead.
        • Deuteronomy 6:4
      • Genesis 1:1-2; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2 – All three played a role in creation.
      • The Bible does not tell us how they came to have their roles, but we know that they work in perfect love and unity.
    • Jesus Christ: The Savior!
      • John 1:1, 14-18
      • Philippians 2:5-8
      • I Peter 2:22; Hebrews 10:4-10; I Corinthians 15:4
      • Hebrews 4:15 – Jesus can sympathize with us because of His life on earth.
      • Acts 18:28
      • John 15:13; Romans 5:8
    • The Holy Spirit: The Communicator!
      • The Spirit is an actual Being, not a concept or mysterious force.
        • John 16:13; I Corinthians 12:11; Acts 5:3; Hebrews 10:29; Ephesians 4:30
      • The Holy Spirit’s great work has been to communicate God’s will to humanity.
        • I Corinthians 2:10-13; II Peter 1:20-21; II Samuel 23:1-2 – He inspired certain people to speak and write God’s word.
        • Acts 1:16 – The Spirit inspired David to write these words as scripture.
        • Ephesians 3:4-5; Hebrews 3:7; 4:7; 10:15; Revelation 1:9-11; 2:7
        • Acts 7:51-53 – Resisting those inspired messages could be called “resisting the Holy Spirit.”
      • Many of the passages about the Holy Spirit are simply referring to what He accomplishes through the Word!
        • John 16:8, 13; Acts 2:37. Compare II Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:9; James 2:8-9. The Spirit convicts people through the Word!
      • In the first century, the Holy Spirit gave miraculous power to a select few.
        • The Spirit was primarily sent to apostles. John 14:16-17, 25-26; 15:25-26; 16:7-13. These apostles could pass the power on to others, but those others could not pass on the power.
        • I Corinthians 13:8-13 – Once the complete message was available, these gifts could cease and be done away.
      • Obey the message of the Holy Spirit!

For further study, see also:

Questions or comments? Join our Discord server for further study.

JJ

October 24, 2018

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  • Matthew 5:27-32
  • Matthew 5:29 – The emphasis here is on the heart. We must address the root of the problem.
  • Matthew 5:37 – Compare Romans 7:2-3. God’s marriage law is strict, but if it was any less strict, it would result in the law not being a law at all. People would be able to marry and divorce freely as they saw fit.
    • A husband would make his wife an adulteress in the same sense that men make God a liar in I John 1:8-10.

For further study, see also:

Questions or comments? Join our Discord server for further study.

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