Sermons - Benchley church of Christ

JJ

October 13, 2013

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  • Introduction
    • Matthew 7:13-14
    • Selfishness is the root of many if not all sins.
  • Out of self
    • Luke 9:23
    • Ephesians 4:22 – Put aside the old self.
    • II Corinthians 5:17
    • Jeremiah 10:23; Psalms 37:23; Proverbs 3:5-6 – Let the Lord direct your paths.
    • Matthew 6:33 – Seeking God must become first.
    • John 13:4-15 – Jesus washed the disciples’ feet.
  • Into Christ
    • Romans 6:7 – Baptism is the way into Christ
    • Matthew 28:18; Mark 16:15-16; Romans 10:17 – One must be taught.
    • John 8:24 – One must believe.
    • Acts 17:30 – repentance required
    • Romans 10:10 – confession required
    • II Corinthians 10:4-5
  • Into glory
    • Romans 9:27; I Corinthians 15:51
    • II Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 14:13 – One must die having lived righteously before God.
    • Hebrews 4:11
    • Psalms 126
    • Luke 17:10
    • John 5:28-29

For further study, see also:

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Sermons - Benchley church of Christ

DW

October 13, 2013

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  • I Samuel 16:7
  • I Peter 3:3
  • My appearance is important to others.
    • Genesis 38:15 – Tamar identified based on her clothes.
    • II Kings 9:30
    • Proverbs 6:25; 7:10
    • Matthew 22:11; 23:5
    • I John 2:15-17
    • Romans 13:13-14 – Make no provision for the flesh!
    • Matthew 5:27-28 – Does your dress cause others to stumble?
    • Don’t make exceptions where God’s word has not?
    • II Samuel 11:2; 13:1 – David and Amnon succumbs to lust.
    • Mark 6:22-23 – Herod’s rash vow due to lust
    • My appearance is important to God.
    • My appearance is important to my (future) spouse.
  • My appearance is important to me.
    • I Peter 3:1-4
    • I Timothy 2:8-10
    • Genesis 2:25; 3:7,21 – the coverings of Adam and Eve
    • A person’s appearance reflects their heart.

For further study, see also:

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Classes - Benchley church of Christ

EW

October 13, 2013

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  • Review:
    • Importance of attitudes in driving actions
    • Attitudes in the parable of the good Samaritan
    • Attitudes in the sermon on the mount
      • Beatitudes
      • Living exemplary lives
      • Regard for the law
      • Seek a higher righteousness than that of the scribes and Pharisees
      • Points of the law vs. popular teachings of the time
        • Attitudes leading to murder
        • Roots of adultery, attitude of prevention
        • Likeness of divorce to adultery
  • Continuing points from the instructions of the ancients:
    • Point 3: Swearing (Matthew 5:33-37)
      • Principle: Be known for telling the truth (Ephesians 4:25)
      • This precludes the need to swear
      • Proliferation of oaths and their perceived lack of force
        • Proliferation caused by lack of force
        • Insincerity of oaths (Matthew 23:16)
        • There will be no excuses (Ecclesiastes 5:2-6; Deuteronomy 23:21-23; Revelation 22:14-15)
      • Prescribed oaths not barred (Exodus 22:10-11; Numbers 5:19)
      • Remember verse 17
    • Point 4: Getting even (Matthew 5:38-42; Exodus 21:23-25; Deuteronomy 19:18-21)
      • Don’t
      • Different levels of perceived offense
        • People who do you actual harm
        • Evil person who insults you
        • One opposing you at law
        • Government mandate
        • People in need
      • Justice is not a rendering of evil (v17)
      • Resisting evil would be a never-ending task, not ours to do (I Thessalonians 5:15; Proverbs 20:22; Romans 12:17-19)
      • Don’t avenge insults (John 18:20-23)
      • Be compliant to a fault when “they” come after you
        • By litigation
        • By government coercion (Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26)

For further study, see also:

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Classes - Benchley church of Christ

DW

October 09, 2013

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  • There is a difference between an individual and a local church.
    • Matthew 18:15-17 – Jesus made a distinction between three parties:
      • “you” (an individual)
      • “one or two more with you”
      • “the church”
    • I Timothy 5:16 - “she must assist them and the church must not be burdened.” The Holy Spirit made a distinction between an individual taking action and the church taking action.
    • Some say whatever an individual has authority to do, a local church has authority to do, but…
      • Individuals marry each other (I Corinthians 7:2-5).
      • Individuals get jobs and make a profit (James 4:13; I Thessalonians 4:11-12).
      • Individuals have certain family responsibilities (Ephesians 6:4; Titus 2:4-5).
      • Local churches cannot do these things.
    • A letter being addressed to a church does not mean that everything in that letter pertains to collective church work.
      • I Thessalonians
        • I Thessalonians 1:1: “To the church of the Thessalonians”
        • I Thessalonians 4:11: “lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands”
      • I Corinthians
        • I Corinthians 1:2: “To the church of God which is at Corinth”
        • I Corinthians 7:2: “each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband”
      • Letters to churches sometimes address the individuals who make up those churches in their various roles. They are instructed in duties in relation to family, self, neighbors, etc., and sometimes in relation to the local church.
      • Likewise, a letter addressed to an individual may contain some information relevant to a local church (I Timothy 3:1-13; 5:16; Titus 1:5-9).
    • The Biblical distinction between an individual and a church is important because many arguments are based on the failure to make this distinction. Verses which concern individual action (such as James 1:27) are erroneously used in an effort to prove what a church is authorized to do.
  • When do you have local church action?
    • When there is a plurality of Christians acting together? No.
      • Matthew 18:16-17 – Here a plurality of Christians is distinct from the church.
      • Acts 13:1-3; 14:23 – A plurality of Christians is sent out to do the work. If a plurality of Christians is a church, you have one church appointing elders in other churches!
      • I Corinthians 11:22 – A distinction is made between eating a regular meal and coming together as a church to eat the Lord’s Supper.
    • When all the members of the local church act together?
      • Acts 19:39
      • Imagine a small church of 12 members.
        • What if they happen to compose a jury? No, they are not acting as a church.
        • What is they compose a city council? They are acting as a city council when working together in that role – not a church.
    • When people assemble together?
      • I Corinthians 14:23
      • Matthew 18:16

For further study, see also:

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Sermons - Benchley church of Christ

I Thessalonians 5:14
DW

October 06, 2013

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  • I Thessalonians 1:1-7
  • I Thessalonians 5:14
  • We urge you brethren:
    • Admonish the unruly
      • Titus 1:9 – The word of God equips us to refute those who speak against the scriptures.
      • Galatians 6:1 – We must use the word of God in gentleness.
      • James 5:19-20 – We must thing of the future when the one being admonished may repent and come back and thank us.
    • Encourage the fainthearted
      • I Kings 19:10 – Even Elijah got discouraged.
        • I Kings 19:18 – God reminded him he was not alone.
      • Romans 8:18 – We have great glory ahead of us. We can’t give up!
    • Help the weak
      • Romans 14:1; 15:1 – Those who are strong must help the weak.
      • I Thessalonians 3:1,3
    • Be patient with everyone
      • Next time it might be me needing the help!

For further study, see also:

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