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Classes - Benchley church of Christ

Christian Attitudes, Part 17

Ed Whitt

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:

local church membership

prejudice

universal church

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Sermons - Benchley church of Christ

Redemption

David Watson

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:

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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

For further study, see also:

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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

For further study, see also:

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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!