Sermons - Benchley church of Christ

DM

April 20, 2014

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  • We have a living hope for hard times.
    • I Peter 1:3-5
    • God has given us a “new birth”
    • We have been born into two great things by God’s great mercy.
      • A living hope
      • An inheritance
    • Part of this living hope is because of the inheritance that is promised for us.
    • Our inheritance is reserved!
    • We are guarded by God’s power through faith.
  • This is why we greatly rejoice!
    • I Peter 1:6-9
    • Be joyful in the hope you have, even thought you are distressed.
      • Peter is not ignoring the fact that Christians are suffering.
      • “Momentary light affliction”
      • Our tested faith is more valuable than gold.
      • Our tested faith results in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
      • Endurance is paramount.
  • As we continue to endure suffering and trials …
    • I Peter 1:10-12
    • We live during a privileged time.
      • The prophets searched and inquired diligently about when the Christ would come.
      • What a wonderful time to be living in!
        • Even the angels desired to understand and see these times!
    • Valuable lessons should be learned
      • You can endure suffering.
        • Because you have hope
        • Because you have an eternal inheritance
        • Because you have a genuine faith that is a tested faith
        • Because you’ve established salvation through suffering
        • Because you are privileged to be living during these days of Christ
        • Luke 23:35
          • Here in Luke, Jesus begins His final instruction to His disciples with a question.
            • Luke 9:1-6
            • Did the disciples lack anything?
            • Luke 22:36
  • We need to recognize that we live in an unprecedented time and in an unusual country.
    • What will you do if we are threatened also?
    • We must not be surprised when hostility begins to intensify against Christians.
    • Will we count it an honor to suffer such shameful treatment for the Lord?
    • Will we change our beliefs or shrink in our faith as the pressure mounts against Christians?
    • We must remain firm and endure because:
      • We have a living hope.
      • We have an eternal inheritance.
      • We have a genuine faith that passes the test.
      • We have obtained salvation through suffering.
      • What a privilege to live during these days of Christ.
      • Hallelujah what a Savior – what a hope for hard times!

For further study, see also:

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

Sermons - Benchley church of Christ

DM

April 20, 2014

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  • I Peter 2:9-11
  • Identifying God’s people
  • Remember I Peter 2:6-8
    • Notice the contrast
  • A chosen race
    • Exodus 19:5-6 – This language is used to describe the people of God.
    • Romans 2:28-29
  • A royal priesthood
    • Previously, Peter said that we were a holy priesthood. Now he says that we are to be a royal priesthood.
    • God wanted His people Israel to become a kingdom of priests. Exodus 19:6
    • He wanted them to be a spiritual influence for godliness, but Israel failed Him.
  • A holy nation
    • The idea is not just moral holiness, but that we are set apart for God – sanctified.
    • Israel was to be that holy nation, but it became like the world.
    • As Christians, as living stones, we are to be different, set apart for God.
    • Do we look like the Israel God wants us to be, or do we look like the Israel in the past, blending into the world?
  • God’s special possession
    • This image borrows not only from Exodus 19, but also from Isaiah 43:20-21.
    • The Christian’s favorite image should be that we are God’s possession.
    • Notice that we are given a purpose “to proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness and into the marvelous light.”
  • God’s people have received mercy
    • I Peter 2:10 – This is based on quotations from Hosea 1 and 2. Hosea 1:9; 2:23
    • Peter is saying that Christians, as living stones that are built into a spiritual house, are the fulfillment of this prophecy.
    • We must be built upon the corner stone of Jesus otherwise we are of no use.
    • The promise was not simply to Jews, but to the nations, to all peoples.

For further study, see also:

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

Classes - Benchley church of Christ

DM

April 20, 2014

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  • I Peter 2:4-8
  • Hebrews 11:8-10,13-16
  • Where do you find your identity?
  • Who are the people of God?
    • Identifying God’s people
    • “As living stones”
    • Ephesians 1:18
  • God wants you as His inheritance.
    • Philippians 1:6; Ephesians 2:10
    • Romans 8:29
  • The living stone, rejected but chosen (I Peter 2:4)
    • The stone imagery is historically rooted in Messianic hope.
    • Daniel 2:44-45
    • Jesus is the living Messiah, the fulfillment of the prophets’ message of hope.
      • I Peter 1:3,21 – Our hope and faith are resting upon Jesus’ resurrection.
  • Now, you yourselves as living stones (I Peter 2:5)
    • I believe this is part of the idea of “getting our minds ready for action” (I Peter 1:13)
    • As “living stones,” that is, we are modeling the life of Jesus, God is using us.
      • We are precious, valuable, and chosen.
      • We are being built into a spiritual house.
    • This is who we are!
  • This picture is amplified in that we are a “holy priesthood”
    • We are people set apart for God’s use and God’s service.
    • The beautiful picture is that all Christians are priests.
    • Everyone who comes to the living stone is a priest.
    • We have direct access to God.
    • This is a call to our holiness.
    • Romans 12:1-2
  • Peter is going to use three quotations from the Old Testament to further identify who we are as the people of God.
    • Jesus, the cornerstone (I Peter 2:6)
      • Isaiah 28:16
      • When we build our lives on Jesus, we will never be put to shame.
      • We will be rejected by the people of this world.
      • Our trials and hardships are not a symbol of God’s rejection.
      • What about the unbelieving? Acts 4:11-12
    • Isaiah 8:14-15
      • Your can refuse Jesus, but you’re building your life in such a way that it will end in disaster.
        • Don’t stumble by disobeying the message.
        • Don’t put your life on the wrong course.
        • Tear down that life built on an improper foundation.

For further study, see also:

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

Sermons - Benchley church of Christ

DM

April 19, 2014

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  • Revelation 3:14-19
    • There are a number of ways that we can fall into a state of uselessness!
      • Mediocre people attend worship fairly regularly because they think that is what they have to do, not what they want to do.
      • Mediocre people tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict.
      • Mediocre people do not really want to be saved from their sins.
      • Mediocre people do not believe that the new life in Christ is better than the old life in sin.
      • Mediocre people rarely share their faith with their neighbors, coworkers, and friends.
      • Mediocre people gauge their “goodness” by comparing themselves to the world.
      • Mediocre people say they love Jesus and Jesus is a part of their lives.
      • Mediocre people love God, but they do not love Him with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength.
      • Mediocre people think about life on earth much more often than eternity in heaven.
      • Mediocre people probably drink and swear less than average, but besides that they really aren’t very different from your typical unbeliever.
      • Mediocre people walk by sight and not by faith.
  • In order to overcome this mediocrity, where do we start? James 1:12-15
  • Sin is discouraging and holds us in mediocrity.
    • The problem behind sin and spiritual mediocrity is not outside of us.
    • The problem is not God.
    • The problem is not family, friends, life circumstances, job, the economy, or any other thing outside of us.
    • We sin because something inside us tells us to do so.
    • The reason we are not soaring spiritually is because our minds are darkened from following our desires.
  • Ephesians 4:18-19
  • I Peter 5:8
  • Satan is actively trying to bring us down and he is good at what he does.
    • What’s wrong with wanting things?
    • What’s wrong with satisfying my desires?
    • What’s wrong with doing what I want?
  • II Corinthians 10:3-6
  • Romans 12:1-2
  • If we have relationships that reinforce evil desires in our minds, we need to approach those relationships from a new perspective. II Corinthians 6:14-15
  • How can we transform our minds?
    • Memorize scripture. Philippians 4:8
    • We must be transformed in mind. Matthew 6:19
    • The spiritual mediocrity plaguing our life starts with the desires within us. We must not be deceived.
    • Satan is scheming and seeking to ensnare us in these desires.
    • Preparing our minds to be places of holiness and purity will prepare us to overcome the spiritual mediocrity that brings us down.

For further study, see also:

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

Sermons - Benchley church of Christ

DM

April 18, 2014

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  • Luke 20:19-23 – The priests and scribes try to trap Jesus.
  • Are we playing games with Jesus too?
    • The Jews thought the question posed what seemed to be an unbreakable dilemma.
  • Luke 20:24-26
    • Are we trying to play games with God like these men were and get around serving God like we should?
  • Governmental authority is instituted by God and must be respected!
    • Daniel 2:20-21
    • John 19:10-11
    • Romans 13:1-2
    • Philippians 3:20-21 – Our citizenship is in heaven.
  • Jeremiah 29:4-7 - Jeremiah’s council is good for us to follow today.
  • The Sadducees and Herodians now make their attempt to discredit Jesus.
    • Luke 20:27-38
    • Life in the coming age is different than the life that now is!
      • Marriage is not part of the age to come.
      • Our life will be spiritual life, not life in the flesh.
      • We do not know what heaven will be like.
      • It is not legitimate to project earthly considerations into the spiritual life.
    • On His point about the resurrection, Jesus is very clear!
      • The dead are raised!
      • There is no doubt or question about it!
      • Death is not the end of our existence.
      • Jesus uses the words of Moses.
    • But this is not the end of the scene
      • Luke 20:41-44
      • How can the Christ be David’s son when David calls Him Lord?
      • Who is this Jesus?
      • The implication of this teaching is clear. The Messiah must be God!
  • Jesus has an answer for whatever is holding us back.

For further study, see also:

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

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