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Classes - Benchley church of Christ

Creating Spiritual Habits

David Watson

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

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Classes - Benchley church of Christ

Christian Attitudes, Part 16

Ed Whitt

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

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Sermons - Benchley church of Christ

Together With Jesus

Benchley sermons 2013

Jesse Jenkins

December 29, 2013

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“Together” is a very comforting concept.
The question should never be, “Do I have to assemble Sunday night or Wednesday night?”
Together with Jesus
- Crucified together with Jesus – Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:4; I Peter 4:3-4
- Buried together with Jesus – Romans 6:4
- Raised up together with Jesus – Romans 6:5
- Made alive together with Jesus – Ephesians 2:1-5
- Sit together with Jesus – Ephesians 2:6
- Suffer together with Jesus – Romans 8:17; II Timothy 3:12; I Peter 4:16; Philippians 3:8-10; Acts 5:41-42; James 2:2-3
- Heirs together with Jesus – Romans 8:17
- Glorified together with Jesus – Romans 8:18
If heaven is worth anything, it is worth everything!
Just think – eternally with Jesus!