Sermons - Benchley church of Christ

JJ

October 21, 2018

-- / --
  • The measure of a great man is not his bank account or a string of degrees. A man is not great because of what he has or who he is, but because of what he is and what he does.
  • Philippians 2:5-6
  • Paul was a great man because:
    • He could change when he learned he was wrong
      • Acts 23:6
      • Acts 7:58; 8:1-3
      • One who does not study, grow, and change will become dormant.
      • An honest man will do what Paul did and change to obey truth.
    • He could feel sorrow for sin
      • I Timothy 1:12
      • Acts 22:20
      • II Corinthians 7:10 – Paul’s sorrow was a godly sorrow.
    • He was humble, yet had self-respect
      • Mark 1:15
      • Philippians 3:9
      • Galatians 5:6
      • I Corinthians 9:27
    • He was able to compare values and choose the greater
      • Philippians 3:7-11
      • Hebrews 11:24-26 – Moses made a similar choice
    • He never looked back
      • II Timothy 4:10
      • Philippians 3:13-14
      • Luke 9:61-62
    • He had a purpose
      • I Corinthians 9:26-27
      • Romans 10:1-4 – We must look to Jesus for the way of righteousness.
    • He had faith in the outcome
      • II Corinthians 1:12
      • II Timothy 2:4-8
      • I Corinthians 11:1
      • If we don’t believe we are living a life that will result in heaven, we need to change!
  • All the money and prestige in the world cannot buy what Paul had. But if we have these things, we can face death with peace.

For further study, see also:

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

Sermons - Benchley church of Christ

DW

October 21, 2018

-- / --
  • Matthew 9:35-36
  • We need …
    • Nourishment
      • Mark 6:34 – The people needed teaching!
      • Spiritual sheep need truth.
      • John 3:1, 10
      • Matthew 22:29
      • Matthew 7:28-29 – Jesus taught with authority.
    • Direction
      • John 10:1
      • We need someone to follow. Jesus gives us direction.
      • I Peter 2:21-25
      • I John 2:3
      • Romans 8:29 – We are to conform to Christ.
    • Protection
      • John 10:11-15 – Jesus laid down His life for us.
      • Romans 8:35-39
  • We need to appreciate Christ as our shepherd ourselves.
    • The longer we’ve been a Christian, the easier it is to take Christ for ranted.
  • We need to talk about Him to others, who are still living like sheep without a shepherd.

For further study, see also:

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

Classes - Benchley church of Christ

DW

October 21, 2018

-- / --
  • The Bible’s authority, continued:
    • Mistake: We just believe what our families believe.
      • Matthew 10:32-38 – Following Jesus is the primary goal, even if it disrupts family relationships.
      • Galatians 1:13-14; I Timothy 1:15 – Paul’s ancestral traditions led him to sin.
    • Mistake: We go along with the supposed experts.
      • Matthew 16:6, 12; 23:1-3, 15 – Jesus repeatedly condemns so-called experts of the day.
        • Acts 4:19-20; 5:29
        • Acts 22:3
        • Acts 5:34 – Paul studied under Gamaliel but had been taught error.
      • I Corinthians 1:20; 2:4-5 – We can’t assume preachers or people with theological degrees, or church leaders necessarily have an accurate understanding of the Bible.
      • No human organization can certify someone as a Bible expert.
    • Mistake: We follow whatever is acceptable in modern society.
      • Society is constantly changing. God’s word does not.
      • John 12:48; Romans 2:16
      • Matthew 7:13-14 – Most will be lost. Don’t follow the majority!
    • Whatever you believe, why do you believe it?
  • Deity: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
    • John 4:24; I Corinthians 15:50 – God is spirit
    • Acts 17:24-25
    • Psalms 139:1-13

For further study, see also:

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

Sermons - Benchley church of Christ

JS

October 17, 2018

-- / --
  • Introduction
    • Judges 2:7-10 – Israel’s history.
    • God’s law demanded passing on truth to following generations. Deuteronomy 11:18-28. The same applies to the church today.
  • God’s arrangement for perpetuating the church.
    • Philippians 1:1-2, 8-11 – saints, bishops, and deacons
    • Acts 2:42 – sought strength
    • Acts 8:1-5 – full of zeal
  • The local church is only as strong as its members. Ephesians 4:11-18
    • God’s image of an ideal church. Faithful and active Christians. Only from these come good elders, deacons, preachers, and spiritually strong women.
    • Where do these Christians come from? One of the greatest sources – children. Ephesians 6:4.
  • There is an urgent need for teaching in the Lord’s church today.
    • Hosea 4:6; II Thessalonians 2:10-12
    • There is a decline in Bible knowledge in the church as a whole. Few know how to defend their faith. Preachers are shallow and draw from human philosophies.
    • God demands sound Bible knowledge. II Timothy 2:2; Acts 17:11
  • When will the Bible be learned?
    • Some, late in life, who often say, “If I had been taught as a child …”
    • Consider the typical cycle of life that squeezes out opportunities for Bible teaching.
      • Infancy and childhood
        • “High maintenance.”
        • “Besides, they are too young to learn.”
      • Teenage years
        • “Too busy.”
        • “Stay home from worship for homework.”
        • “Good grades mean a better job.”
        • Now priorities are being set for adulthood.
      • College of job, on their own
        • “College studies take so much time.”
        • “When I get married and settle down.”
      • Marriage
        • No Bible knowledge by now. Job, bills, children.
        • “Once the kids are gone …”
      • Suddenly, the child is 45 to 50 years old
        • Already behind with no study habits.
        • Learning is more difficult.
        • Discourage from being behind.
        • And what about his children?
      • Now that child is old
        • Knowledge is harder to gain and retain.
        • “But don’t worry. There are younger, wise, active men and women who can work in the church.” Except for one problem: There was not enough time to teach the children to be able to do the work.
    • The problem is not just lack of Bible knowledge. It is the effects of little knowledge.
      • Tolerate things that lead to very serious sins: immodest dress and loose moral attitudes, dancing, social drinking, foul language, dishonesty. Then tolerate the “serious” sins: fornication, divorce, remarriage, adultery, homosexuality, drunkenness.
      • Will your children be able to effectively defend themselves against drugs, vulgarity, cheating, lying, sex, and homosexuality with Bible teaching? Romans 12:2; I Peter 1:14-15
    • How valuable are your children to you? Can you live with the thought that your children may not grow up to be faithful because you did not devote enough effort to teach them?
    • It does not matter how many excuses parents come up with. The fact remains: untaught children will hurt the future of the church.
  • No one wants to see the church degenerate.
    • Ensuring a strong future for the church. Deuteronomy 6:2-9
    • Love the truth yourself. Develop a library, skills, habits, and routines of study.
      • Don’t assume your children don’t understand. Assume they do and set the right example!
    • Set high goals for yourself and bring your children to those same goals.
    • Conclusion - The future of the church depends on the diligence of the present generation. Pride in children’s development should first be in their ability to live a godly life rather than in being the best educated, wealthiest, most popular or most athletic. The future of the church can be bright if we make it so.

For further study, see also:

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

JS

October 17, 2018

-- / --
  • Introduction: Is baptism essential to salvation?
    • Denominational, non-denominational, and/or inter-denominational religions are built on the foundation of a human doctrine called Calvinism. This doctrine teaches that the sinner is saved by a direct operation of the Holy Spirit, who imparts “saving faith”. Thus, one is saved by that faith “only” and are not saved by works, such as baptism. Baptism is only a symbol of sins already forgiven.
    • Since salvation is the theme of the Bible this doctrine should be revealed – but is it?
  • Some so-called “proof texts” used to show “baptism is not essential” for salvation.
    • (Toward the church of Christ), “You just believe in water salvation.” “You believe in ‘works’ salvation.” “It is not about works but about Christ.”
    • “Salvation by ‘faith only’, ‘not of works’.” Examples: John 3:!6; Acts 16:31; Romans 5:1; Ephesians 2:8-9
    • “These and other verses “Don’t Say Baptism” is essential to salvation.” CAUTION: Dangerous to take verses out of their context.
  • Christ’s sacrificial death is the heart of the gospel of salvation
    • This immutable fact. I Corinthians 15:1-4; Matthew 26:28; II Corinthians 5:14-15, 21
    • Before this lesson is over we will discover that believing “baptism is not essential” to salvation shows a very reprehensible disrespect and disregard for the precious sacrifice of Christ.
  • What does baptism accomplish? Romans 6:1-23
    • Died to sin, HOW? Romans 6:2, 10-11, 5, 17
    • Died with Christ, HOW? Romans 6:3-8
    • Buried with Christ, HOW? Romans 6:3-5
    • Raised with Christ, HOW? Romans 6:4-5
    • Alive with Christ, alive to God, HOW? Romans 6:4, 8, 11, 13
    • Freed from sin, old man slavery, HOW? Romans 6:6-7, 18, 22
    • In Christ, HOW? Romans 6:3, 11
    • All of these are necessary for salvation, yet none are possible without baptism into Christ.
  • “But it doesn’t say baptism!” (Compare with the points of Romans 6 above.)
    • New Testament teaching of salvation is build on the truths of Romans 6.
    • Galatians 2:20, “crucified with Christ”
      • Romans 6:3-8 – baptism
    • Galatians 6:14-15 – “world crucified to me … I to the world, in Christ, new creation.” Romans 6:3-11 – baptism
    • Colossians 2:20; 3:1-3, 9-10 – “died with Christ”, “Raised with Christ”, “old man”, “new man”
      • Romans 6:8, 4, 6, 4 – baptism. Also, context: Colossians 2:9-13
    • Ephesians 2:8-9 – “not of works”
      • Context: Ephesians 2:1-3 – baptism implied
      • Romans 6:3-4, 11, 13
    • Ephesians 4:20-24 – “old man”, “new man”
      • Romans 6:4-6
    • Romans 5:1
      • Context: Romans 5 tells how God provided salvation through the grace of his Son’s death for sinners. Romans 6 shows baptism joins sinners with Christ’s death.
    • II Timothy 2:11 – “died with Him … live with Him.”
      • Romans 6:4, 8, 11 - baptism
    • II Corinthians 5:17 – “in Christ”, “new creation”, “old things have passed away”, “behold, all things have become new”
      • Romans 6:3-4, 6 – baptism
  • The entire New Testament agrees with this pattern.
    • Just scratched the surface. Consider reconciliation, peace with God, justified, sanctified, etc. These also require baptism into Christ.
    • More than water. It is unity with Christ’s death, burial, resurrection and His blood.
    • That is why: I Peter 3:21; Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:18; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Galatians 3:27
      • Example: Acts
  • Conclusion
    • Rejecting baptism as necessary for salvation shows a flagrant disrespect and disregard for the gift of God’s in the death that he died for our sins. Even scriptures that “Don’t Say Baptism” teach baptism is necessary for salvation.

For further study, see also:

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

1
295
296
297
644

Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on Google PodcastsListon on Stitcher

© 2026, Mark Watson

Powered by Gatsby