Classes - Benchley church of Christ

EW

January 22, 2014

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  • Old Testament
    • Is it relevant to Christians?
      • Was it relevant to 1st century Christians?
        • Quoted in first gospel sermon. Acts 2:16-21
        • It was a powerful force in 1st century preaching. Acts 18:24-28
        • Constantly referenced in 1st century writings and speech by apostles and evangelists.
          • Paul, writing in Romans 1:1-4
          • Stephen, preaching in Acts 7:2-53
            • Gave short history of God’s people
            • Quoted Old Testament several times
            • Who was standing by listening?
              • Saul – Acts 8:1
      • It is relevant to us today if we with to: (Romans 15:2-4)
        • Help our neighbor
        • Be instructed
        • Be encouraged
        • Have hope
      • It foretold what was to come and gave it shape (Colossians 2:16-17)
        • John 1:15-17
        • Hebrews 8:4-5
        • Hebrews 9:8-12
        • Hebrews 10:1
        • Perspective of an object is always better if its shadow is discerned
    • What does it have to offer?
      • The complete story of salvation
      • The progression of God’s relationship with man
      • Expressions of the depth of God’s love for us
      • Examples we can live by
      • Better understanding of what God loves, hates, dislikes, etc.
      • Principles by which we can strengthen our lives
      • Insight into what the book of Hebrews is telling us
      • Understanding the Old Testament makes the New Testament more understandable
  • People who disagree with us
    • Where there disagreements in biblical or church history?
      • Abram/Lot
        • Abram – father of the faithful (Romans 4:14-21)
        • Lot - “righteous Lot” (I Peter 2:7)
      • Paul and Barnabas/men from Judea (Acts 15:1-2)
      • Paul/Barnabas (Acts 15:36-40; II Timothy 4:11)
      • Paul and his Jewish accusers (Acts 25:13-21)

For further study, see also:

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Sermons - Benchley church of Christ

JJ

January 19, 2014

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  • Moses
    • His great faith
      • Sacrifices wealth, position, and prestige to serve God (Hebrews 11:24-26)
      • The Red Sea (Exodus 14:15-22)
      • The rock in Horeb (Exodus 17:6-7)
      • The serpent on a pole (Numbers 21:4-9)
  • Nehemiah
    • His mind to work
      • “Let us rise and build” (Nehemiah 2:18)
  • Abraham
    • Love for peace among brethren
      • Strife between Lot’s and Abraham’s herdsmen (Genesis 13:7)
  • Joseph
    • Purity of life
      • Refused to sin with Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39:7-12)
      • Would not retaliate against his brethren (Genesis 50:15-21)

For further study, see also:

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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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