DW

March 18, 2018

-- / --
  • Acts 8:12
  • Introduction
    • Acts 10:47, 24
    • Acts 16:15, 33 – Who was baptized?
    • We don’t have any minimum age for baptism listed in the Bible. We must use Bible principles to determine when a person is ready.
    • There is no specific list of questions someone should be able to answer in order to be baptized.
    • Previous sermon: http://scripturestream.com/2016/09/when-can-a-young-person-be-baptized/
  • Are they convinced about Christ from the Bible?
    • Acts 8:12; 2:38
    • Romans 6:3-4
    • Acts 17:2-4, 11-12
    • Many children are very open to suggestion. We have to make sure they are actually convinced from the text.
  • Do they feel personal guilt for sin?
    • Acts 2:23, 36-38
    • Acts 9:5-6, 9
    • Acts 22:16
    • Happy after baptism: Acts 2:46; 8:39; 9:19; 16:34
  • Do they feel guilty before God (and not just Mom and Dad)?
    • Deuteronomy 1:39
    • Psalms 51:4
    • Genesis 39:9
    • I John 3:4
    • II Corinthians 7:8-10
  • Are they planning to walk in newness of life?
    • John 12:42-43
    • Acts 26:20
    • Ezekiel 18:30-32
    • Jonah 3:8-10
    • Acts 2:41-42
    • Romans 6:3-4
    • Luke 14:25-33
    • Are they focused on changing their lives after baptism?
  • Final thoughts
    • In the end, baptism is between the person being baptized and God (regardless of age).
    • There is no divinely inspired list of questions.
    • We’re trying to avoid baptizing for the wrong reasons.
      • Because someone else got baptized
      • Because it makes family and friends happy
      • Because it seems like a grown-up thing to do
      • Because they want to start taking the Lord’s Supper
      • Because someone told them “it’s about time”

For further study, see also:

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

Classes - Benchley church of Christ

JJ

March 18, 2018

-- / --
  • I Peter 4:17 – 5:4
  • I Peter 4:17 – This seems to be talking about the impending destruction of Jerusalem. The second coming of Christ does not fit the time frame or the context of the passage.
  • I Peter 5:1 – The “glory to be revealed” is when the righteous are received in Heaven. Note that “elders” here is plural. We never read of a single elder having oversight over a local church.
  • I Peter 5:2-3 – See Hebrews 13:17. Elders will give an account for the souls of their flock.
    • Ezekiel 34:1-10 – God will hold those responsible who do not properly care for their flock.
    • Elders are to lead and exercise oversight in spiritual matters. Their primary job is not to be business managers.
  • I Peter 5:4 – This unfading crown of glory is that “glory that is to be revealed” from I Peter 5:1.

For further study, see also:

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

Classes - Benchley church of Christ

DW

March 14, 2018

-- / --
  • Using your Bible: Psalms 51:5
    • Read the text
    • Read the context
      • Psalm 51
        • Confession of sin before God.
        • This is poetry, with many figures of speech throughout.
    • Compare translations
      • CSB, NIV, and NET attach sin to the speaker specifically. Other translations do not.
    • Hebrew
      • Iniquity - עָוֹן (ʿ__āw__ōn) 5771
      • Sin - חֵטְא (ḥēṭe(__ʾ)) 2399
    • Figures of speech
      • “in sin my mother conceived me” could be hyperbole
        • I Timothy 1:15 – Paul uses hyperbole to speak of his sin against God.
        • Psalms 6:6-7 – Hyperbole in repentance
        • Psalms 32:3; 38:2-4; 143:2 – More examples of hyperbole when expressing guilt.
        • Psalms 22:10; 71:6 – These verses contradict that explanation that David was born in sin.
        • Psalms 58:3 – Another hyperbole – all men go astray.
        • Psalms 139:15-16
    • Harmony
      • Ezekiel 18:2-4, 20 – A man is guilty only of his own sin.
      • Deuteronomy 1:39
      • Matthew 18:3; 19:13-15 – Why would Jesus say these things if children are sinful?

For further study, see also:

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

Sermons - Benchley church of Christ

JJ

March 11, 2018

-- / --
  • Ephesians 1:1-14
  • Introduction
    • Written from Rome about 62 A.D. to the saints at Ephesus.
    • Main points:
      • Importance of the church to both Jews and Gentiles
      • Unity of the church
      • How the saved are to live
  • Ephesians 1:1 – Paul did not decide to be an apostle – that was by the will of God (Acts 9:15).
  • Ephesians 1:3 – “in heavenly places” – See Ephesians 6:12. In Ephesians, “heavenly” means the highest place of the category being described. It does not necessarily refer to spiritual realms.
  • Ephesians 1:4 – God chose a specific category of individuals to be saved – those who would obey Him.
  • Ephesians 1:9 – See Ephesians 3:5-6. The mystery was the plan of salvation.
  • Ephesians 1:14 – God has given us a guarantee of our inheritance. Fellowship with other saints on earth is but a small taste of the fellowship with God to come.

For further study, see also:

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

Sermons - Benchley church of Christ

DW

March 11, 2018

-- / --
  • Psalms 73:1-15
  • God remembers every good deed.
    • Ecclesiastes 1:2-5 – Life “under the sun” is vain and repetitive.
    • Ecclesiastes 9:11-16
    • Nehemiah 5:19
    • Nehemiah 13:14, 22 – Nehemiah asked God to remember him for his good deeds.
    • Nehemiah 13:23-31 – Nehemiah had to break up mixed marriages.
    • Hebrews 6:9
  • Treasure is in Heaven.
    • Daniel 3:13-18 – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
    • Matthew 19:21 – We should be willing to trade earthly things and earthly fairness for spiritual wealth.
    • Matthew 12:41-44
    • Matthew 25:15 – The amounts were different, but the rewards were the same.
    • II Corinthians 8:12
  • Eternity is worth it.
    • II Corinthians 11:23-33; 12:7 – Paul’s life wasn’t fair!
    • II Corinthians 13:4
    • Romans 8:18
  • Psalms 73:16-17

For further study, see also:

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

1
322
323
324
647

Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on Google PodcastsListon on Stitcher

© 2026, Mark Watson

Powered by Gatsby