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:

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

Classes - Benchley church of Christ

DW

January 17, 2018

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  • Figures of speech, continued
    • When should we take a word or phrase figuratively? (continued)
      • When a literal understanding contradicts known facts or common sense
        • John 3:3
        • John 10:9 – Jesus obviously was not a physical door
        • Matthew 8:22; Luke 13:22
    • When should we NOT take a word or phrase figuratively?
      • When a literal understanding simply contradicts our beliefs
        • This is dishonest. We can’t say something is figurative simply because we don’t want to believe it.
    • Which is more accurate?
      • The Bible means what is says.
      • The Bible means what it means.
    • Simile
      • Psalms 1:3
      • I Peter 5:8
    • Metaphor
      • Matthew 7:15
      • Matthew 26:26, 28
      • Luke 13:32
      • John 2:19
      • John 3:3
      • John 6:35
      • John 8:12
      • John 10:7, 9, 11, 14
      • John 11:11
      • John 15:5
      • Ephesians 6:17
    • Anthropomorphisms
      • Genesis 8:21
      • Genesis 9:15
      • Exodus 31:18
      • Deuteronomy 11:12
      • Job 40:9
      • Psalms 130:2
      • Jeremiah 7:13
      • Hebrews 4:13
      • Genesis 6:5-7
    • Not-but (a Hebrew method of comparison, emphasizing one thing but not necessarily condemning the other)
      • Mark 2:17
      • Mark 9:37
      • John 6:27
      • I Corinthians 1:17
      • Philippians 2:4
      • I Timothy 1:9
      • I Timothy 2:12
      • II Timothy 1:9
      • Titus 3:5
      • James 5:12
      • I Peter 3:3-4
      • I John 3:18
    • Hyperbole
      • Deuteronomy 1:28
      • Mark 10:25
      • John 3:26
      • John 4:29
    • Parable
      • Matthew 13:3-8
      • Luke 15:3-7
      • Luke 15:8-10
      • Luke 15:11-32
    • Metonymy (refers to something indirectly by using a related noun)
      • Genesis 6:11
      • Matthew 3:5-6
      • Matthew 10:34
      • John 1:29
      • John 3:16
      • Romans 5:9
      • I Corinthians 7:1
      • I Corinthians 11:26
      • Galatians 6:12

For further study, see also:

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Sermons - Benchley church of Christ

JJ

January 14, 2018

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  • Ecclesiastes 8:10
  • Those who do not fear God (Psalms 36:1)
    • Ecclesiastes 12:13
    • Hebrews 10:29-31
  • Those who live in the passions of the flesh (Ephesians 2:3)
    • Philippians 3:19
    • Colossians 1:23
  • Those who do not pay their debts (Psalms 37:21)
  • Those who refuse to show mercy (Matthew 18:23-32)
    • Luke 10:30-35
  • Those who harbor evil thoughts (Genesis 6:5)
    • Proverbs 23:7
    • Philippians 4:8
    • II Corinthians 10:4-5
  • Those who do not use their talents (Matthew 25:13-33)
  • The wicked are even sometimes those who come and go from the place of the holy (Ecclesiastes 8:10)

For further study, see also:

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DW

January 14, 2018

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  • Matthew 16:13
  • Introduction
    • We have 5,800 Greek manuscripts supporting the authenticity of the New Testament.
  • Tacity Annals, XV.44 (AD 110-120)
    • Hostile witness
    • Christ existed
    • Followers called Christians
    • Christians persecuted, but they spread anyway
  • Suetonius, The Twelve Caesars (AD 120)
    • Acts 18:1-2 (AD 49)
    • Possibly refers to the events of Acts 18.
  • Pliny the younger, Letter 96 (AD 110)
    • Mentions behavior of Christians at worship each week
  • Lucian of Samosota, The Death of Peregrine (AD 125-180)
    • Mocked Christians who followed a “crucified sage”
  • Mara bar Serapion, Letter (after AD 70)
    • Refers to Christ and His teaching
  • Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews (AD 93-94)
    • Born AD 37
    • Pharisee at 19
    • Later supported by Rome as a historian
    • Refers to condemnation of James, the brother of Jesus (Matthew 13:55)
    • Favorable description of Jesus
  • Craig A. Evans
    • Pibicus, Greek Magical Papyrus
    • Silver phylactery from Beirut
    • Magic bowls
    • Latin curse inscription
    • Silver lamella
    • The “Jesus Cup”
      • Possibly the earliest known reference to Christ
    • Magicians at that time were trying to equate their power with Christ or call on Christ for their power. Jesus was already well known for His power.
      • Mark 9:38
      • Acts 19:13-16
  • Was Jesus real?
    • Christian writers
      • Clement of Rome 30-100 AD
      • Polycarp 69-155 AD
      • Ignatius 70-110 AD
      • Justin Martyr 100-165 AD
      • Quadratus 125 AD
      • Irenaeus 130-202 AD
      • Aristides
      • Clement of Alexandria
      • Tertullian
      • Origen

For further study, see also:

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

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