Classes - Benchley church of Christ

DW

January 12, 2014

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  • Consider some arguments which have been made, continued:
    • II Corinthians 9:13 - “Paul said the money went to ‘them’ (needy saints) and to ‘all’ (others).”
      • The context includes more than just giving.
      • Acts 10:28; 11:1; Galatians 2:11-13 – The prejudice between Jews and Gentiles.
      • Romans 15:5,27 – Paul was trying to make the point in II Corinthians that Gentiles were sending money back to help the Jews.
      • All the other verses referencing sending money from the church was to help needy saints. This passage is talking about both the money and the message that was sent. The message was sent to all Jewish saints.
    • “Even the Old Covenant provided for the needy, and the New Covenant is better than the Old Covenant.”
      • The Old Covenant dictated civil authority while the New Covenant does not. The New Covenant does provide for needy people, just not through the church.
    • Galatians 6:10 – “The church should ‘do good to all people,’ not just Christians.”
      • Although the letter of Galatians was written to churches, this particular verse is addressing individuals.
      • In this context, it’s the spiritual good of helping to beat the burden of one caught in a trespass. We ought to use every chance we get to help people overcome sin, especially our brethren (cf. James 5:19-20).
      • This verse is addressing spiritual things and not material things.

For further study, see also:

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Classes - Benchley church of Christ

EW

January 08, 2014

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  • The church as Biblically described
    • Universal church – Hebrews 12:15-24; Acts 9:31
    • Local congregation – Galatians 1:21-24; I Corinthians 1:1-3
    • Both have members
    • Let’s look at a Christian’s attitudes with respect to:
      • The universal church
      • The local church
      • Other church members
  • The universal church
    • This is what Jesus said He would build – Matthew 16:18
    • He bought it with His blood – Acts 20:28
    • Jesus loves the church and gave Himself for it – Ephesians 5:25-29
      • He wants His church to be pure, blameless, and holy - Ephesians 5:27
      • He both nourishes and cherishes His church - Ephesians 5:29
      • That comes from baptism and from His word - Ephesians 5:26
      • It is maintained in His word - John 17:17
    • Referred tp as His body – Romans 12:4-5
      • We are not just individuals
      • We are members of each other
      • As such, we are one body – I Corinthians 10:16-24
        • We should seek our neighbor’s good
        • We should desire that all be pure – Colossians 1:21-23
    • If you’ve been saved, you’ve been added to it – Acts 2:41,47
  • The local church
    • Where all collective activities are undertaken
      • Worship – Acts 20:7
    • Where saints have much or most of their Christian associations – Acts 2:44-47
    • Analogy of the body – I Corinthians 12:12-27
      • If one is a baptized believer, one is a member of the body
      • As such, each member is part of the whole
      • We all work together – Philippians 2:1-4
        • We maintain a single-minded purpose
        • Each member has value in this
      • Each member has function – Ephesians 4:11-16
    • This body assembles and associates for purpose
      • Keep each other in paths of righteousness – Hebrews 3:12-19
      • Encourage and stimulate fellow Christians – Hebrews 10:23-25
      • Maintain our focus as a congregation – I Corinthians 9:24-27
      • Maintain our identity as Christians and as a church – Revelation 2:2-6
  • In summary:
    • Remember who we are
      • Members of our Savior’s church
      • Members of our local church
      • Members of one another
    • Treasure what Jesus treasured
      • His church
      • Its members
      • Its message to the world

For further study, see also:

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

Sermons - Benchley church of Christ

DW

January 05, 2014

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  • What is redemption?
    • Exagorazo [1805] means “ ‘to buy out’ … especially of purchasing a slave with a view to his freedom” (Vine)
    • Lutroo [3084] has a similar meaning: “to release on receipt of ransom” (Vine)
    • Ephesians 1:7,13-14
    • Colossians 1:13-14
    • Hebrews 9:12
  • Steps to redemption
    • Faith – Acts 2:36-37; John 8:24; Hebrews 11:6; Romans 10:17
    • Repentance – Acts 2:38; 17:30; Luke 24:46-47; II Peter 3:9; II Corinthians 7:9-11; Matthew 12:41; Jonah 3:5-10; Matthew 3:1-2
    • Confession – Acts 8:35-39; Romans 10:9-10
    • Baptism – Romans 3:21
      • What does baptism do?
        • Is saves us. Mark 16:16; I Peter 3:21
        • It is for the forgiveness of sins. Acts 2:38
        • It washes away sins. Acts 22:16
        • It makes us partakers of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12
        • It adds us into the “body” (the “church,” Colossians 1:18). I Corinthians 12:13
        • It clothes us with Christ. Galatians 3:27
      • Therefore, without baptism
        • We aren’t saved.
        • We do not have forgiveness of sins.
        • Our sins are not washed away.
        • We are not partakers of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.
        • We are not added to the “body” (the “church”).
        • We are not clothed with Christ.
      • Baptism is urgent
        • Acts 2:41; 8:36; 16:33; 22:16
    • Growth and service – II Peter 3:18; Hebrews 12:28; Titus 2:11-14; I Peter 1:14-19

For further study, see also:

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

Classes - Benchley church of Christ

DW

January 05, 2014

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  • Examining yourself
    • Haggai 1:1-9
    • Psalms 119:59
    • Lamentations 3:40
    • Matthew 7:1-5
    • II Corinthians 13:5
  • How about making some “consider your way” cards?
    • Luke 10:35 – Am I using my money for good?
    • Proverbs 26:20 – Have I been gossiping?
    • Galatians 5:22 – When people see me, do they see the joy a Christian should have?
    • Acts 11:23 – Do I encourage others to serve the Lord?
  • Praying
    • Praying in Acts
      • No one was “above” praying to God. Acts 1:13-14; 6:4; 20:36
      • Prayers were actually heard by God. Acts 10:4, 31; 12:5; 8:22
      • Prayer was a habit. Acts 1:14; 2:42; 10:2,30,9; 12:5,12; 16:25
    • Make a plan that is specific and realistic!
  • Reading the Bible
    • Hosea 4:1-6
    • Psalms 119:105
    • Psalms 1:1-2
    • I Timothy 4:1,6

For further study, see also:

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

Classes - Benchley church of Christ

EW

January 01, 2014

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  • God is the ultimate authority. Ephesians 1:18-23
    • All other authority is under Him. Colossians 2:8-10
    • To defy authority is to defy Him. II Peter 2:9-10
  • God has ordained governments. Romans 13:1-7
    • For a purpose (vs 4)
    • With the right to sustain themselves (taxation) vs 6)
    • His expectation is for us to submit to their rule (vs 1)
  • God has supremacy over governments
    • God and government don’t always agree
    • Government sometimes usurps God’s authority
      • Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3)
      • Daniel (Daniel 6)
      • Peter (Acts 4)
  • God uses governments for His purposes
    • Pharaoh (Exodus 10:1-2)
    • Cyrus (Isaiah 44:28-45:3; 46:8-11)
  • God’s people have served in governments in times past
    • Joseph served government officials and was himself a government official
      • The head of Pharaoh’s bodyguard (Genesis 39:1-4)
      • Special assistant to the head jailer (Genesis 39:20-23)
      • Pharaoh’s “prime minister” (Genesis 41:41-44)
    • Daniel served kings as a top administrator
      • To Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2:48-49)
      • To Belshazzar (Daniel 5:29)
      • To Darius (Daniel 6:1-2)
      • To Cyrus (Daniel 6:28)
  • We should maintain respect for government authority
    • King Saul was a government official
    • King David was a government official
      • Saul was king
      • Saul had sinned and his throne was rejected by God (I Samuel 15:24-28)
      • David had been anointed to take his place (I Samuel 16:13)
      • David still held Saul in reverence (I Samuel 24:1-6)
    • Festus was a Roman official
      • Corrupt and evil government
      • Treated with respect by an Apostle of Christ (Acts 24:25-27; 26:24-25)
  • It is okay to disagree with government
    • Speaking out against an official’s misdeeds is not wrong
    • John the Baptist did so (Matthew 14:1-4)
    • It is our duty to reveal evil for what it is (Ephesians 5:11-13)
    • It is wrong to do so unkindly or with disrespect (II Peter 2:10)
  • We should maintain our respect for authority
    • Recognize its place and be subject to it
    • Be ready to stand for what is right, but with respect and propriety
    • Appeal to its guarantees of safety and protection
    • Serve it with diligence and Godliness if and when called upon
    • Defer to the Greater Power when usurped by earthly authority

For further study, see also:

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

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