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Sermons - Benchley church of Christ

What Fathers Must Provide for Their Kids

David Watson

June 18, 2017

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Ephesians 6:4
I Timothy 3:4
Tough love
- Colossians 3:21
- Ephesians 6:4
- Hebrews 12:7-11
- Proverbs 13:24; 19:18; 23:13-14; 29:15-17
Tender love
- I John 3:16-18
- Romans 5:8
- John 3:16
- Matthew 18:21-35
- Luke 23:43
- I Thessalonians 2:5-12
Presence
- Isaac – Genesis 26:3
- Moses – Exodus 3:11-12
- Joshua – Joshua 1:5
- David – Psalms 38:21-22
- John 14:16
- Matthew 28:20
- Luke 13:25-29
- Philippians 3:17
Fathers matter!

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Classes - Benchley church of Christ

Exodus, Part 12

David Watson

June 18, 2017

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Exodus 32
Exodus 32:1-8 – The people and instant gratification
- Moses was on the mountain for 40 days and 40 nights (Exodus 24:18).
- Exodus 32:6 – The word “play” may have a sexual connotation.
- I Thessalonians 5:1-11; II Peter 3:10-11 – We aren’t told when Jesus is coming, but what is our job until that time?
Moses and strong, loving leadership
- Great leadership in God’s eyes is taking a strong stand against sin.
- Moses was willing to take the punishment for the people’s sin. Exodus 32:31-35
Aaron and weak leadership
- Exodus 32:4 – Does “they” include Aaron?
- Exodus 32:21-25 – Aaron just makes things worse with lies and excuses.
God’s compassion (Exodus 32:9-14)
- The people took the blessings of God and used them wickedly. Isn’t that always what sin is?
- Despite this great sin, God chose not to destroy them.
- Nehemiah 9:17-21
- I John 1:9
- Romans 2:4

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Focus on the First Century, Part 2

Ed Whitt

June 14, 2017

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Review
- Influence of the Persians
  - Exile to Alexander
  - Peace to minor persecution
- Alexander’s conquest
  - Peaceful transition in Judea
  - Jewish influence on Alexander’s empire
- Egyptian (Ptolemean) rule
  - Harsh to peaceful
  - Promotion of Jewish talents
  - Movements of Jews through empire
- This lesson: rule of the Seleucids
  - Who was Antiochus IV?
  - Meddling with the priesthood
  - Ambition in Egypt
  - Roman intervention
  - Zadokite revolt
  - Antiochus’ revenge
  - Abomination of desolation
- Seleucid takeover
  - Started in 204 BC
  - Peaceful at first
  - Changed under Antiochus Epiphanes
    - Serious persecution of the Jews
    - Defiled the temple
    - Forced Hellenization
    - Sets up the revolt
- Antiochus Epiphanes (Antiochus IV)
  - “Epiphanes” translates “visible god”
  - Usurped the throne (178-164 BC)
    - Murdered his nephew, the rightful heir to the throne
- Antiochus assumes throne
  - Begins his mission
  - Makes deals within the high priesthood
- Co-opting the priesthood
  - Onias to Jason (174 BC)
  - Jason to Menelaus
  - The physical price
    - Some gold of the temple sold off to pay the bribe
- Antiochus moves on Egypt
  - Takes all but Alexandria
  - Takes Cypress
  - Revisits two years later – 168 BC
    - Roman interference
    - Jason takes back Jerusalem
    - Antiochus returns to Damascus via Jerusalem
- Antiochus accelerates Hellenization
  - All Jewish religious activity forbidden
    - Observances punishable by death
    - Menelaus reinstated as high priest
      - Wants the right to collect taxes. Was not concerned about Jewish laws or serving God.
      - Put to death those who broke the anti-religious laws he put in effect.
      - Sold people into slavery who could not pay taxes.
    - Desecrates temple
      - Constructed gymnasium (participants required to be nude, all people required to visit at least once)
      - Built statue to Zeus and sacrificed pigs
- Nation divided
  - Hellenized Jews
    - Now in charge
    - Enforce new rules
  - Faithful Jews
    - Flee to the hills, caves
    - Carry on in the faith
- Jerusalem in 168 BC
  - No more temple worship for the faithful
  - Newborn males no longer presented there
  - Passover not kept
  - Sabbath is disregarded
- Jesus and John
  - What would calls to repent involve?
    - Daniel 11:28-32
- Next lesson:
  - Men of action: the Maccabees
    - Revolt against Menelaus
    - Revolt against Seleucids
    - Establishment of Hasmonean Dynasty
    - Purification and rededication of the temple
  - Enter Rome
  - Herodian Dynasty emerges

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Sermons - Benchley church of Christ

Why Serve God?

Jesse Jenkins

June 11, 2017

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Acts 17:24-31
Introduction
- Matthew 4:10
- Why does God desire for man to worship Him? Does God have a need or does man have a need?
- Serving God is for man’s benefit.
God needs nothing seeing that He gives all things to man.
Physically, we cannot get along without God. Matthew 5:44
Spiritually, we cannot get along without God. Romans 1:16; Ephesians 1:7
God wants us to serve Him for His glory. But whether we worship Him or not, He will have His glory.
- Psalms 148:1-13
Most “innovations” that have come into the church have arisen as a result of man trying to help God out.
- Compare Genesis 12. Sarah thought God needed her help.
- Alexander Campbell made the same mistake in starting the Christian Missionary Society in 1849.
- Again, the same mistake was made in 1869 with the introduction of instrumental music.
- We cannot go beyond God’s word and try to help. We will not be successful.
Whatever God commands us to do is for our benefit.
- Judges 5:23 – Meroz cursed for not carrying out God’s will.
- Why does God want us to sin? To worship and encourage each other.
- Why does God want us to give on the first day of the week? For our benefit.
When we serve God, the benefit is ours.

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serving God

worship

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Sermons - Benchley church of Christ

Romans 11: The Two Olive Trees

Jesse Jenkins

June 11, 2017

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Romans 11
Paul makes 5 points in Romans. The first four:
- Romans 3:9-18, 23 – All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
- Romans 3:20 – No one is able to keep the law sinlessly.
- Romans 3:24-26 – God sent Jesus as a sacrifice to make salvation available.
- Romans 5:1 – We are now justified by faith.
- Romans 10:16-21
Romans 11:
- Romans 11:16 – The root was the promises made to Abraham.
- Romans 11:18 – Gentiles who were grafted in were not to boast. They were still deriving their spiritual sustenance from the promises to Abraham.
- Romans 11:20-21 – Be careful! Jews were cast out because of unbelief and Gentiles can be cast out, too!
- The first olive tree started out as the physical nation of Israel. Unbelieving Jews were cast out and believing Gentiles were grafted in. Now the tree represents spiritual Israel.
- Salvation is now for both Jew and Gentile.
- Romans 11:25, 15 – Paul’s hope was that when the Gentiles showed faith and partook of the blessings, the Jews would be encouraged to believe as well.
- See Romans 2:28-29.

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