Classes - Benchley church of Christ

JJ

January 28, 2018

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  • I Peter 1:1-16
  • Introduction to the book:
    • Writer: Peter
    • Author: Holy Spirit (John 14:26; 16:13; I Corinthians 2:13-14)
    • Audience: People who were scattered (probably from Jerusalem) and serving God in various other places.
  • I Peter 1:1-2 – One is chosen by God by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. God foresaw that we would need a means of sanctification and salvation and provided it through Jesus.
    • “sprinkled with His blood” is for purification – a reference to the way men were purified under the Old Law.
  • I Peter 1:3 – See Romans 1:4; I Corinthians 15:42-57
  • I Peter 1:5 – See Romans 1:16; Philippians 3:21
  • I Peter 1:6-7 – Genuine faith is more precious than gold. Luke 6:46

For further study, see also:

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Classes - Benchley church of Christ

DW

January 24, 2018

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  • Figures of speech, continued:
    • Synecdoche (similar to metonymy: uses a part to refer to the whole; or the whole for the part)
      • “Give me a hand.”
      • “He’s running from the law.”
      • Genesis 3:19
      • Matthew 6:11
      • John 15:5
    • Misusing figures
      • Don’t mix figures from different passages.
        • Ephesians 6:17 – Sword means the Word of God. What does it mean in Romans 13:4? Capital punishment.
        • Is Jesus a door (John 10:9) or a shepherd (John 10:11)? Is he a vine (John 15:5) or a stone (Acts 4:11)?
      • Don’t take an unintended lesson from the figure.
        • This is probably the largest abuse of figures.
        • John 10:1-6 – Jesus is the shepherd and we are the sheep.
        • In what way are we to “become like children” (Matthew 18:3)? We are to be humble like children.
        • The church is the “body” of Christ (Ephesians 4:23). Does that mean we should prop up the church with supplements and new things until it dies, then replace it? No. This passage is talking about Jesus’ authority over the church.
        • I John 5:1 – Once a child of God, always a child? No. Other passages show that one can fall away from his faith and no longer enjoy the blessings of that relationship with God. See John 1:12.

For further study, see also:

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Sermons - Benchley church of Christ

JJ

January 21, 2018

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  • Fellowship with God
    • How established?
      • Through Jesus
        • Romans 3:23, 20; 10:4 – Fellowship with God is impossible without Jesus.
        • By man appreciating and honoring what God has done.
          • Luke 6:46; Matthew 7:21
          • Acts 17:30 – Repentance is necessary.
          • Romans 10:10 – Confession is necessary.
          • Acts 2:38 – Baptism is necessary.
          • Galatians 5:6
          • Mark 16:16
      • By faith
    • How maintained?
      • Through Jesus
        • Matthew 7:21
        • We must continue to show that Jesus is our Lord.
        • I Corinthians 15:58; Philippians 3:14
        • I John 1:8-10 – We must continue to repent of further sin.
        • Isaiah 66:2
        • I John 1:9 – We must continue to confess our sins and pray for forgiveness.
      • By faith
        • Galatians 5:6
  • Fellowship with other saved men
    • A special relationship where men jointly participate in serving God
  • How can we disagree about some things and still have fellowship?
    • One cannot have fellowship (jointly participate) in ANYTHING he believes to be wrong.
    • But we can disagree on some things and still work together in a local church.
      • Things that do not matter to God.
        • Eating meat, esteeming certain days, matters of personal preference
      • Things that do matter to God
    • However, there are some things that must cause a severance of fellowship.
      • I Corinthians 5
      • Romans 16:17

For further study, see also:

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Sermons - Benchley church of Christ

DW

January 21, 2018

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  • Introduction:
    • I Thessalonians 5:18
    • I Corinthians 15:57
  • Three ways I can improve in my giving of thanks:
    • I need to realize that I enjoy blessings today.
      • Hebrews 13:5-6
      • We have God in our lives. How can we possibly complain?
      • Longing for the good old days can rob us of current gratitude.
      • Exodus 16:2-3; Numbers 11:4-6; Exodus 2:23; 3:7, 9 – Sometimes nostalgia has a selective memory. The good old days may not have been as good as we remember.
      • Longing for the future can also cause us to forget our current blessings.
    • I need to overcome our negative culture by gaining perspective.
      • Romans 12:2 – Don’t be conformed to the world.
      • James 4:4 – Friendship with the world is hostility with God.
      • Genesis 37:28; 39:20; 40:23-41:1; 50:18-21 – Joseph saw the bigger picture.
      • If we are short on gratitude, we probably need to gain perspective.
    • I need to remember what I really deserve!
      • Romans 3:23; 6:23 – We deserve spiritual death!
      • Matthew 8:19

For further study, see also:

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Classes - Benchley church of Christ

JJ

January 21, 2018

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  • James 5:10-20
  • James 5:11 – Job is used as an example of God’s compassion and mercy. Compare James 1:2-3. When we suffer trials, we should have confidence that if we overcome, God will show us mercy and compassion.
  • James 5:13-14 – Some take the position that this is talking about physical illness and the anointing with oil was medicinal. However, this could be referring to spiritual illness. The Greek words used imply that this could be a spiritual condition, which also seems to fit with the context.
    • James 5:13 – Afflicted - κακοπαθέω (kakopathe__ō) – means suffer hardships (see II Timothy 4:5)
    • James 5:14 – Sick - ἀσθενέω (asthene__ō) – means weak (see Romans 4:9)
    • James 5:15 – Sick - κάμνω (kamn__ō) – means to be weary (see Hebrews 12:3)
    • James 5:16 – Healed - ἰάομαι (iaomai) – means made whole (see I Peter 2:24)
    • Possible interpretation: If any is weak, let him call for the elders. The prayer of faith will save the weary. If he has committed sin, he shall be forgiven.

For further study, see also:

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