Sermons - Benchley church of Christ

DW

August 09, 2015

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  • Luke 16:1-14
  • Introduction
    • Jesus is not telling us to sin like the shrewd manager.
  • What it cannot mean
    • That you should lie, cheat, and steal
      • Luke 3:12-14
      • Proverbs 11:1
    • That you can buy your way into Heaven
      • II Corinthians 5:10
      • Proverbs 11:4
      • Luke 16:19, 25; 12:20-21
    • That you should make money your god
      • Luke 16:13-14
      • Matthew 6:19-21
    • The meaning that fits with context and harmony
      • God’s people ought to be wise stewards of material possessions, serving God and others so they can go to Heaven in the end.
      • Luke 16:8a – The master isn’t happy, but begrudgingly has to hand it to him – “You got me! Well played.”
      • Luke 16:8b – Worldly people know how to provide for the future. Isn’t it a shame that God’s people don’t do the same thing in a good way? (Matthew 10:16)
      • Luke 16:9a – “wealth/mammon of unrighteousness” – carnal, temporary wealth
        • Use the resources you are blessed with to serve others.
      • Luke 16:9b – I suggest that “they” refers figuratively (by metonymy) to the works you have done for others.
        • Compare II Corinthians 3:1-2
        • Matthew 25:40
      • Luke 16:10-12 – God’s people should demonstrate their faithfulness with small blessings so that they can be trusted with bigger blessings. (Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:11-27; I Timothy 3:5, 12)
      • Luke 16:13-14 – Earthly wealth is not the end goal, but a tool to serve God and others.
    • Make application!
      • I Timothy 6:17-19
      • Luke 10:25-37
      • II Corinthians 8:1-5; 9:12-14

For further study, see also:

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Classes - Benchley church of Christ

EW

August 09, 2015

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  • Bless
    • Our English word
      • Middle English
        • Derived from pagan worship
        • Marked by blood from sacrifice
      • Gradually transitioned to the Catholic tradition.
    • Old Testament
      • בָּרַךְ (b__ār__ǎḵ)
        • To kneel
          • By implication, to bless God as an act of worship
          • To bless man or object as a statement of favor
        • Genesis 24:48; 1:21-23; 1:27-28; 2:1-3
      • אַשְׁרֵי (ʾ__ǎ__šrê)
        • Happiness
        • Used as an interjection: How happy!
        • Blessed, happy
        • I Kings 10:6-9 (II Chronicles 9:5-8)
      • Two other words used twice
      • Only בָּרַךְ (b__ār__ǎḵ) is used toward God
    • New Testament
      • εὐλογέω (euloge__ō) (verb)
        • To speak well of
        • To praise
        • To celebrate with praises
        • To acknowledge God’s goodness
        • To express desire for God’s Word - Luke 2:25-32
      • εὐλογητός (eulog__ētos) (noun)
        • The praised
        • Used only toward God – Mark 14:61
      • μακαρίζω (makariz__ō) (verb)
        • Luke 1:46-48; James 5:11
        • Root: mak – large, lengthy
      • μακαρισμός (makarismos)
        • Galatians 4:15
      • Eneulogeomai (passive verb) – Acts 3;25
    • Patriarchs blessed their descendants
      • Hebrews 11:17-22
      • Why? Genesis 12:3
    • Were they prophets?
      • Genesis 27:39-40 (II Chronicles 21:8-10)
      • Genesis 49:8-10 (Matthew 1:3; Revelation 5:5)
      • Genesis 49:27
        • Judges 5:14; 20:14-16
        • I Chronicles 8:40
        • II Chronicles 14:8; 17:17
      • Blessing God as worship
        • Psalms 145:1
        • Ephesians 1:3
      • Pronouncing God’s favor upon someone
        • Deuteronomy 2:7
        • Matthew 5:3ff
        • Happiness in a religious sense (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
      • Temporal happiness
        • I Kings 10:6-9
        • Matthew 24:45-47

For further study, see also:

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

Classes - Benchley church of Christ

JJ

August 05, 2015

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  • Lesson 3, continued:
    • Baptized (Mark 16:16)
      • Baptism is a burial in water (Romans 6:3-4; Acts 10:47)
        • For salvation (I Peter 3:21)
        • For remission of sins (Acts 2:38)
        • To wash away sins (Acts 22:16)
        • The consummating act of faith that puts one into Christ (Galatians 3:26-27; Acts 2:47)
      • Some say, “I see no power to save in baptism.” But there is the same power in baptism as there was in:
        • The serpent on the pole to cure snake bites (Numbers 21:7-9)
        • The waters of the Jordan river to cure leprosy (II Kings 5:1-14)
        • Moses smiting the rock to bring forth water (Exodus 17:5-6)
        • The power is in God’s Word. The brazen serpent, the waters of Jordan, and the rock in Horeb were means of God proving man’s faith. Just so, baptism is the means of God proving the sinner’s faith. If one whole-heartedly believes in Jesus, he will do what He commands. To refuse to do what He commands proves a lack of faith.
      • Conclusion: When one obeys this form of doctrine, the Lord will add him to His church, free him from sin, and make him the servant of righteousness (Acts 2:47; Romans 6:16-18). Regardless of how sincere one may be, he cannot be forgiven of his sins nor added to the Lord’s church without obedience. And a local church that teaches any other form of doctrine for salvation teaches differently than did churches in Paul’s time.
    • Lesson 4: What saints are to do when a local church comes together
      • Pray (I Timothy 2:8; Acts 2:12)
        • To God (Colossians 1:13)
        • Through Jesus (John 14:13; I Timothy 2:5)
        • In faith (James 1:6-7)
        • If it be God’s will (I John 5:14)
        • With forgiving heart (Mark 11:25-26)
        • With right motives (James 4:3)
        • Be a doer of His will (I John 3:22)

For further study, see also:

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

Sermons - Benchley church of Christ

DW

August 02, 2015

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  • John 4:23-24
  • Worship should be an overflow of one’s feelings toward God.
    • Jeremiah 20:9
    • Luke 17:15-16
    • Romans 1:20
    • When we consider the greatness of God and all that He has created and done for us, how can we fail to want to worship Him?
    • Hebrews 9:1
    • I Corinthians 16:2
    • Colossians 3:16
    • I Corinthians 11:26
    • Acts 20:7; 12:5
    • Matthew 14:32-33; 28:8-9 – Jesus walked on the water and received worship.
    • Luke 24:50-53
    • John 9:35-38
    • Matthew 4:10
    • Revelation 22:8-9
    • Acts 10:4
    • Hebrews 9:11-12; 10:12
  • Worship should emanate from a righteous, spiritual life.
    • Malachi 2:13-14
    • I Peter 3:7
    • Romans 1:25-29
    • Matthew 15:4-9

For further study, see also:

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

Classes - Benchley church of Christ

DW

August 02, 2015

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  • James 1:27 – The definition of true religion.
    • James 1:21-22 – Be doers of the Word.
    • James 1:26 – Religion is not something you can just tack onto your life. You must change your life and remove evil habits.
    • James 3:10
    • James 2:15
    • James 5:4
    • James 4:4 – You cannot be a friend of God and the world.
  • James 2:12 – We must speak and act according to God’s law.
    • James 2:9-13 – Partiality and prejudice is sin!
    • We have to obey all of God’s commands!
    • The “law of liberty” frees us from sin – not from being judged for sin! We can’t just do whatever we want.
    • “Small” sins are still sins!
  • James 3:13 – The proper way to show wisdom is through good conduct.
    • James 3:14-18 – We receive secular wisdom from all sides, but we must be careful to listen to the wisdom from God.
    • Ecclesiastes 12:12-14
  • James 4:17 – Serve God right now!
    • James 4:13-17 – In the context, the right thing to do is to serve God.
    • Luke 12:20

For further study, see also:

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

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