Sermons - Benchley church of Christ

RD

January 19, 2014

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  • Ephesians 5:13-16
  • Jeremiah 10:8,14,21
  • Have we walked by sin in the darkness and thought that it wouldn’t get us?
  • There is a vast difference between living our lives in light and darkness. Proverbs 1:7
  • Proverbs 30:2 – We do stupid things!
  • Proverbs 3:7 – Do not be wise in your own eyes.
  • Matthew 14:30,32
  • Deuteronomy 28:29
  • Psalms 35:6
  • Psalms 82:5
  • Proverbs 4:19
  • Jeremiah 23:12
  • I John 1:6
  • Micah 3:6
  • Matthew 6:23
  • John 3:10
  • John 8:12
  • John 12:35
  • Psalms 27:1
  • Psalms 84:11
  • Matthew 5:14
  • Acts 13:47
  • Ephesians 5:8
  • Philippians 2:15
  • James 5:20
  • Psalms 119:105
  • Matthew 25:31-46 – Jesus is asked about Judgment and how to know if we are doing right.
  • I Peter 5:8
  • Jeremiah 9:23-24 – Boast only in God.
  • Psalms 119:162-168

For further study, see also:

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Classes - Benchley church of Christ

DW

January 19, 2014

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  • The social gospel
    • I Corinthians 1:2; I Thessalonians 1:1
  • What is the Social Gospel?
    • The Social Gospel is a religious movement which began in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The main idea is that Christians and churches should focus on curing the social problems of the world, such as poverty, disease, and hunger. Religious leaders back then saw this as the practical application of Christianity, and many even believed that Christ would not return until people had cleaned up society.
    • There were a number of influential books that helped to inspire the Social Gospel movement
      • Charles M. Sheldon wrote In His Steps in 1897, which is the origin of the question, “What would Jesus do?”
      • Walter Rauschenbusch wrote Christianity and the Social Crisis in 1907, which became another classic book and impetus in the Social Gospel movement. He argued that sin did not just apply to individuals, but to society as a whole.
  • What should we think about the Social Gospel?
    • The idea of helping others is good.
      • It is certainly true that we ought to help our fellow human beings any way we can.
        • “Loe your neighbor as yourself” is the second greatest commandment (Matthew 22:39)!
        • We ought to mimic the good Samaritan (Luke 10:37).
        • We must visit orphans and widows in their distress (James 1:27).
      • However, is this all that the Gospel is about? Is it even primarily what the gospel is about?
    • It emphasizes the wrong thing
      • Matthew 16:25-26 – the emphasis is on spiritual nourishment, not creating a utopia on earth
      • Why did Jesus come to earth? Matthew 1:21; Luke 19:10; John 1:29; I Timothy 1:15; Hebrews 9:26. The priority was the saving of souls.
      • Contrast this to the movement of the past century, in which emphasis is given to improving this world to the neglect of preparing for eternity.
      • The problem with the Social Gospel is not that it urges people to help others. It’s that is emphasizes the physical over the spiritual.
      • Scripture gives us the proper emphasis
        • Matthew 6:19-21.
        • Philippians 3:20 - “our citizenship is in heaven”
        • Our “hope” is laid up in “heaven” (Colossians 1:5)
        • Our inheritance is “imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away,” and it’s not here on this earth – it’s “reserved in heaven” (I Peter 4:5)
    • Is “passes the buck” regarding sin
      • A core problem with the Social Gospel worldview is that personal accountability is minimized.
      • One underlying belief which led to the movement was that people would/could not overcome sin while they were beset by the problems of an unjust society.
      • Jesus and the apostles lived in one of the most corrupt societies in the world, and yet they did not follow a Social Gospel.
        • Matthew 22:19-21. However unfair the tax burden may have been, the priority of Jesus was not tax reform.
        • Acts 5:40-42; Matthew 28:19
        • Acts 8:1-5
      • The Bible teaches us to serve God regardless of our station in life, or of the condition of the world.

For further study, see also:

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

Classes - Benchley church of Christ

EW

January 15, 2014

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  • What is time?
    • It is God’s creation. Genesis 1:1-5; Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
    • It is His to command
      • Against the Amorites – Joshua 10:10-14
      • As a sign for Hezekiah – II Kings 20:1-11
    • He is timeless – II Peter 3:8
    • Time changes us, but does not change God – Hebrews 13:8
    • It is a precious gift
      • Limited resources, we are only given so much – Psalms 90:8-10
      • We must use it wisely – Ephesians 5:13-17
      • Don’t waste it when something needs doing
        • Zaccheus – Luke 19:5-6
        • Shepherds – Luke 2:10-16
        • The jailer – Acts 16:27-33
        • Joseph and Mary – Matthew 2:13-14
      • We should have their attitude
        • Hebrews 4:7
        • Hebrews 3:13
      • We wisely use our time in all activities, not just in matters of Christian devotion – Colossians 4:5
      • It becomes more precious the less we have
        • Daniel 2:7-9
        • Romans 13:12

For further study, see also:

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Sermons - Benchley church of Christ

JJ

January 12, 2014

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  • Deuteronomy 31:9-13; Joshua 8:34-35 – God commanded His word to be read orally for the benefit of all the people.
  • Restoration of Israel was brought about by reading the law.
    • II Kings 22:10-20; Nehemiah 8:1-8
    • Deuteronomy 17:14-20 – God commanded the king to keep a copy of the law and read it.
  • In the time of Christ and the apostles, reading was a regular part of religious service.
    • Luke 4:16-20; Acts 15:21
  • When they were wrong on a particular religious question, Jesus identified their problem as a failure to read.
    • Matthew 12:3-7
    • Reading in Jesus’ day would have caused them to understand God’s marriage law. Matthew 19:4
    • Reading would have caused them not to reject Christ. Matthew 21:42
    • Reading would have caused the Sadducees to realize there was a resurrection of the dead.
  • Reading was an important part of early worship.
    • Acts 2:16-21; I Timothy 4:13; Colossians 4:16; I Thessalonians 5:27
  • Reading is sadly neglected by some members today.

For further study, see also:

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

DW

January 12, 2014

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  • Job 17:1
  • Post a sign as a daily reminder of four core truths
    • Job 7:20
    • Job 14:1 – Job said life was short and hard!
    • Four core truths:
      • This is temporary. God is going to fix all of this.
        • Even without knowing the timeline, we know that this is temporary.
        • James 5:10-11
        • Hebrews 11:10
      • God is in control, even when I don’t understand everything.
        • Job 1:12; 2:6; 13:3,22; 23:3-5
        • Job 1:20; 2:9,10; 42:3 – Job recognized that God was in control.
      • I should blame Satan, not myself or God.
        • Job 1:8; Luke 13:2-3
      • Nothing on earth is worse than Hell, or better than Heaven.
        • Matthew 25:34,41
  • Spend time with mature Christians so you can be encouraged.
    • Acts 2:46-47 – The early Christians spent a lot of time together.

For further study, see also:

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

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