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Christian Attitudes, Part 14

Ed Whitt

December 18, 2013

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What forgiveness is
- The result of a combination:
  - Change of mind (repentance)
  - Request for forgiveness
  - Desire to mend the relationship (reconciliation)
    - On the part of the one forgiving (Romans 12:18; II Peter 3:9)
    - On the part of the offender
  - Accessibility to the one forgiving (II Corinthians 5:18-20)
    - Matthew 11:28-30
    - Matthew 23:37
What forgiveness is not
- It is not quid pro quo – Colossians 3:12-13
  - How did Jesus forgive us?
  - What did it cost Him?
  - What did He want in return?
- It is not forgetting
  - We remember our own sins (who can forget?)
    - Learn from the experience (James 1:2-3)
    - Gain strength against repeat offenses
  - We put them behind us and press on
    - Philippians 3:13-14 – Oops! Forget?
    - I Timothy 1:12-16 – Not forget, but put behind, set aside
    - Luke 7:36-48
    - Romans 6:23
- It is not avoiding one who you have forgiven
  - Peter and James
    - On the water (Matthew 14:26-31)
    - On the night of betrayal (Matthew 26:69-75)
    - Denying fellowship with Gentile Christians (Galatians 2:11-13)
    - Forgiveness
      - Renewed the relationship
      - The forgiven not relegated to lower state of service
      - Continued as an apostlesLed 1st Gospel sermon (Acts 2)
      - First to take the Gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 10)
      - Wrote important epistles (I and II Peter)
  - Us and others
    - We are not better than Jesus
    - Our forgiveness should be for mending, not separating (Matthew 5:23-24)
    - Our desire to forgive should be as His desire to forgive us

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Sermons - Benchley church of Christ

Lessons from Geese

Benchley sermons 2013

Marshall Taylor

December 15, 2013

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Proverbs 6:6-11
Matthew 6:26-29
Geese practice synergy.
- Mark 6:7; Luke 10:1; Ecclesiastes 4:9 – The value of working together.
Geese benefit from mutual edification.
- Hebrews 3:12-14; 10:24-25 – We benefit from the encouragement of fellow Christians.
Geese share the burden.
- Ephesians 4:16 – We should all share in the work.
Geese encourage those that lead.
- We must make sure that our honking is encouraging!
- Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 4:6
Geese care for one another.
- Ecclesiastes 4:10; Galatians 6:1-2 – We must stand with our fellow Christians when times are tough.

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Sermons - Benchley church of Christ

Connecting to the Past, Part 2: Sacrifices for Sin

David Watson

December 15, 2013

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Hebrews 9-10
We have complete forgiveness of sins and freedom from guilt!
- Hebrews 10:1-17 – The old law and sacrifices did not allow for sins to be forgiven.
- Once forgiven, God no longer remembers our sins.
- Matthew 14:1-2
- Proverbs 28:1 – Living a guilty life is miserable!
It motivates us to serve!
- Hebrews 9:1,11; 8:2; 9:12; 5:9; 9:13-14
- Hebrews 10:19-25; Titus 2:14
- Galatians 5:22-23
- Hebrews 10:26-27 – We must not reject Jesus’ sacrifice!

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Classes - Benchley church of Christ

The Work of Local Churches, Part 12

David Watson

December 15, 2013

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Notice that in all 9 passages which have to do with a church providing material goods, the ones receiving those goods were needy Christians.
- To say it another way, in every instance of a church using the Lord’s money to relieve those who were poor, it was limited to Christians who were poor.
- Sometimes this is called “limited benevolence.”
Consider some arguments which have been made:
- Acts 2:46 - “The early church broke bread from house to house.”
  - Some argue that the early Christians were living in a communal fashion through the church treasury.
  - This is not a valid conclusion. They could have simply been sharing meals with each other.
- James 1:27 - “Can’t the church practice pure and undefiled religion?”
  - This verse is talking about individual responsibilities.
  - Compare this verse to I Timothy 5:16.
- Luke 10:30-37 - “Jesus taught us to do the same as the good Samaritan.”
  - This is directed to individuals, not churches.
- II Corinthians 9:13 - “Paul said the money went to ‘them’ (needy saints) and to ‘all’ (others).”
  - This interpretation conflicts with other passages where it is repeatedly stated that this money was for the saints.

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Classes - Benchley church of Christ

Fruit of the Spirit: Patience

David Watson

December 11, 2013

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God is the ultimate example of patience (Romans 2:4; I Peter 3:20). Imagine if God had absolutely no patience with us. How would that change things for us (II Peter 3:9,15)?
Regarding a number of qualities in the Bible, we receive the benefit from God and then are to turn around and exhibit that quality ourselves. For example, we are forgiven by God, and thus we turn around and forgive others (Matthew 18:21-35). Such is the case with patience. God is patient with us; we should be patient with others. You might say that Paul was a “product” of Christ’s patience (I Timothy 1:16). He turned around and became an example of patience to people like Timothy (II Timothy 3:10). The next time we’re having trouble being patient with someone, what should we call to mind?
I Thessalonians 5:14 – be patient with everyone. See also II Timothy 4:2.
Hebrews 6:11-15; James 5:7-11 – The people of old were great examples of longsuffering. What can we learn from them?
Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 1:11; 3:12-13 – commands to be patient.
What are the practical benefits or results of a Christian being truly longsuffering?

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patience

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