Monthly Archives: April 2008

2007-11-09 - David Bonner - What it Means to be a Christian

 
icon for podpress  Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (11)
What it Means to be a Christian
By David Bonner
November 9, 2007

  • Malachi 1:7-10; Isaiah 64:6; 1:1-3 - God demands sincere worship and sacrifice.
  • The church:
    • Luke 12:51-52; I Peter 2:9-10 - the church is those who are called out of sin. I Peter 1:1-2
  • Saint: Ephesians 5:23-25
  • Fully surrender to Jesus.
  • Be identified with Jesus. I Peter 2:21; Romans 1:16
  • Be a part of the bride of Christ
    • Revelation 21:9; Genesis 29:18; Acts 20:28 - Jesus paid the marriage dowry for His bride with His blood. Revelation 19:6-7
  • Put Christ first. Matthew 6:33; Joshua 24:15; Colossians 3:1-2; Luke 14:26
  • Teach others. II Timothy 2:2; Matthew 28:18-20
  • Grow spiritually. I Corinthians 13:11; Matthew 18:2; Galatians 4:19; I Thessalonians 3:8
  • Be in the Lord’s army. II Timothy 2:3-4
  • To have the greatest blessings in all the world. Ephesians 1:3

2007-11-08 - David Bonner - Bible Authority

 
icon for podpress  Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (10)
Bible Authority
By David Bonner
Benchley, November 8, 2007

  • II Timothy 3:15-16 - The word of God is inspired
  • I Corinthians 4:6 - Don’t go beyond what is written
  • John 17:17 - God’s word is truth.
  • How to establish Bible authority?
    • Precept - a positive statement
    • Example - an approved example
    • Inference - something that must necessarily be implied.
Bible Generic Forbidden Expedients
  • 1810-1860 - Restoration movement. Churches of Christ arise spontaneously and become the fourth largest religious group in USA. In 1849, the American Christian Missionary Society was started. In 1869, a church added mechanical music. By 1900, 90% of the people had turned to error and became the Christian church.
  • 1900-1952 - Small remaining churches continue to grow. In 1952, the Herald of Truth was started. About 90% of the people fell into institutionalism.
  • 1952-2007 - Liberal church build gyms, social halls, are involved in unlimited benevolence.

2007-11-07 - David Bonner - How to be Happy on the Earth

 
icon for podpress  Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (11)
How to be Happy on the Earth
By David Bonner
November 7, 2007

  • I Kings 1:32-35 - Solomon declared to be the next king over Israel.
  • I Kings 2:1-4 - David instructs Solomon. v10-12 - Solomon takes over the throne.
  • Characteristics of Solomon:
    • Wisdom
      • I Kings 3:1-12 - God grants Solomon wisdom.
    • Riches
      • I Kings 4:20-31 - Solomon’s prosperity
      • I Kings 10:1-15,23 - The queen of Sheba witnesses Solomon’s riches
    • Pleasure
      • I Kings 11:1-3 - Solomon’s wives
  • Ecclesiastes 1:12-14; 2:12-17 - Wisdom is vanity.
  • Ecclesiastes 2:18-23; 4:4-6; I Timothy 6:6-10 - The vanity of riches. Ecclesiastes 5:10-17
  • Ecclesiastes 3:1-8; 2:1-11 - The vanity of seeking pleasure
  • Ecclesiastes 12:1-4 - Serving God is the key to happiness.

2007-11-05 - David Bonner - A Great Day

 
icon for podpress  Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (10)

A Great Day

By David Bonner

Benchley, November 5, 2007

2007-11-06 - David Bonner - Can the Church of Christ Trace Itself Back to the Bible?

 
icon for podpress  Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (9)
Can the Church of Christ Trace Itself Back to the Bible?
By David Bonner
Benchley, November 6, 2007
  • Acts 2 - The church starts in 33 A.D.
  • Mark 16:15-16 - The church grows.
  • I Timothy 4:1-5 - Prophecy of a falling away.
  • II Thessalonians 2:1ff - Warnings about the apostasy.
  • The truth about the church:
    • Name
    • Organization
    • Worship
      • Lord’s Supper
      • Give
      • Sing
      • Pray
      • Edify
    • Doctrine
    • Work
      • Preach
      • Relieve needy saints
  • After 100 A.D., the church gradually fell away.
  • At 606 A.D., Boniface III became the first pope.
  • In 1517 A.D., Martin Luther started the Reformation.
  • In 1534, the Church of England split from the Catholic Church.
  • In 1729, the Methodists split from the Church of England.
  • Luke 14:26 - Following Christ is the priority.

2007-11-04 - David Bonner - The Family

 
icon for podpress  Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (12)

The Family
David Bonner
November 4, 2007

  • The four parts of man: mind, body, personality, spiritual
  • Definitions:
    • Marriage: A covenant to live together as husband and wife. Malachi 2:14
    • Divorce: Breaking the covenant. The one who breaks it puts away.
    • Fornication: Unlawful sex, including adultery.
    • Adultery: While bound to one, sex with another.
    • Depart: Sundering the marriage. I Corinthians 7:10-11
    • Writing of divorce: Not the divorce, but written record of it. Matthew 5:31; Deuteronomy 24
    • Bound: Restraint; can’t remarry. I Corinthians 7:39; Romans 7:21
  • Matthew 19:3 - the Pharisees ask Jesus about divorce.
  • I Corinthians 6:16 - Definition of “two become one flesh”.
  • Mark 10:11-12; Luke 16:18 - Jesus’ teaching on divorce.
  • Romans 7:1-3 - the law of marriage and divorce.
  • I Corinthians 7:10-11 - law concerning separation from your mate.
  • Deuteronomy 10:13 - Israel commanded to keep God’s law.

2007-11-04 - David Bonner - Morality

 
icon for podpress  Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (11)

Morality
By David Bonner
Benchley, November 4, 2007

  • I Timothy 4:16 - People see your example.
  • Nine principles of morality:
    • Sinful? If so, it’s immoral.
    • Harmful? I Corinthians 6:19
    • Doubtful? Romans 14:23
    • Stumbling block? Romans 14:13
    • Wrong associations? Romans 15:33
    • Wrong fleshly appetite? I Corinthians 6:12
    • Conflict with duty as a Christian? Matthew 6:33
    • Hurt influence? Matthew 5:16
    • Would Jesus do it? I Peter 2:21
  • A few examples:
    • Gambling - it’s based on greed and therefore sinful. It’s harmful to your finances and family. It involves wrong associations, a wrong fleshly appetite, and hurts your influence.
    • Drinking - Proverbs 20:1; 23:29 - It is sinful, harmful, a stumbling block, and involves wrong associations and wrong fleshly appetites.
    • Dope - Galatians 5:19-21 - It is sinful, harmful to the body, etc.
    • Dancing - Everything connected with it is wrong!
    • Tobacco - All forms are wrong!
    • Modesty - I Timothy 2:9; Matthew 5:28

2007-11-04 - David Bonner - A Brief Study of Colossians

 
icon for podpress  Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (12)
A Brief Study of Colossians
By David Bonner
Benchley, November 4, 2007
  • Gnostics believed that all material things were evil. Since God is good, He cannot have created the earth. They believed that Jesus was a created being and thus not fully deity. They believed that Jesus created the world. They also believed that man could get closer to God by studying human philosophies. Part of Paul’s purpose in writing Colossians was to combat and refute Gnosticism.

2008-04-13 - David Watson - What is the Gospel?

 
icon for podpress  2008-04-13 - David Watson - What is the Gospel?: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (10)

What Is The Gospel?

The word gospel literally means “good news.” Let’s examine the good news about Jesus Christ.

  1. The story of Jesus.
    1. Jesus prepared people for the transition away from the Old Covenant (Matthew 5:17-18), and began revealing the New Covenant which would offer complete forgiveness of sins!
    2. This was the very reason Jesus came to earth (John 1:29, Luke 19:10), and everything else Jesus said and did was in keeping with this Divine mission.
    3. He chose 12 apostles, taught many, and exposed hypocrisy (Matthew 21:37-45, 23:13-14).
    4. Jesus’ enemies couldn’t deny the miracles He performed (John 9:16, 32-33, Matthew 15:31).
    5. Jesus was crucified, completing the perfect sacrifice for sins (Ephesians 1:7, Acts 20:28).
    6. His resurrection sealed His Lordship and our hope (I Corinthians 6:14, 15:1ff, Acts 2:36).
  1. The command of obedient faith.
    1. Salvation is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8), but most do not receive it (Matthew 7:13).
    2. What is the deciding factor? Why do some people receive this free gift and not others?
    3. God’s condition for the gift of salvation is obedience (Matthew 7:21-27, 28:18-20, Acts 10:35, II Corinthians 5:10, Philippians 2:12, Hebrews 5:9, James 2:24).
    4. Therefore, what is faith in Ephesians 2:8? It means faith which spurs one into obedient action (James 2:14-26).
  2. The steps to salvation.
    1. The first step is faith.
      1. We must believe the truth about Deity (Acts 2:36, John 8:24, Hebrews 11:6).
      2. Faith develops as a result of God’s Word affecting our hearts (Romans 10:17).
    2. The second step is repentance (Matt. 4:17, Luke 24:46-47, Acts 2:38, 17:30, II Peter 3:9).
      1. Repentance is a decision to turn away from sin and toward God (Matthew 12:41, Jonah 3:5-10) which is prompted by godly sorrow (II Corinthians 7:9-10).
      2. True repentance leads to action (Luke 3:8, Acts 26:20).
    3. The third step is confession.
      1. The Ethiopian was prompted to confess his faith (Acts 8:35-38).
      2. Confession is commanded by God (Romans 10:9-10).
    4. The fourth step is baptism.
      1. Baptism saves us (Mark 16:16, I Peter 3:21), is for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38, 22:16), makes us partakers of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4, Colossians 2:12), adds us to the church (I Corinthians 12:13, Colossians 1:18), and clothes us with Christ (Galatians 3:27).
      2. Baptism is urgent (Acts 2:41, 8:36, 16:33, 22:16).
    5. The fifth step is growth and service.
      1. Christians must always try to improve (II Peter 3:18, Hebrews 12:28).
      2. Though one is in a saved relationship with God, he has to maintain it (I Cor. 10:12).

2008-04-13 - Jesse Jenkins - Fasting

 
icon for podpress  2008-04-13 - Jesse Jenkins - Fasting: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (11)
Fasting
By Jesse Jenkins
Benchley, April 13, 2008

  • As far as I can ascertain, God never commanded a regular fast day for the Jews.
    • Leviticus 23:26-31 - possibly there was a fast involved here.
  • God did on occasion command a fast. Joel 1:14; 2:12
  • Zechariah 8:19 - the Jews sometimes fasted of their own accord.
    • Zechariah 7:5-7 - God did accept their fast when they did it unto the Lord.
    • Jeremiah 52:4 - the fast of the tenth month
    • Jeremiah 52:12-14 - the fast of the fifth month
    • Jeremiah 41:1-2 - the fast of the seventh month
  • I Samuel 7:6 - fasts could be done with God’s approval
    • I Samuel 31:13 - fasting after Saul and Jonathan’s deaths. II Samuel 1:12
    • Ezra 8:21 - fast at the river Ahava
    • Esther 4:16 - fasting for Esther
    • Psalms 35:13 - David fasted for the sick
    • Jonah 3:5 - Ninevah fasts
  • Fasting in the New Testament
    • Matthew 4:1-2 - Jesus fasts
    • Acts 9:9 - Saul fasts
    • Matthew 6:16-18 - to be acceptable, you must fast with the right motivation
    • Acts 13:1-3 - the church fasts before sending out Paul and Barnabas
    • Acts 14:23 - elders ordained with prayer and fasting
  • Summary
    • One must not fast to be seen of men.
    • Fasting is not a local church function.
    • One may fast of his own accord.
    • One may acceptable fast to God if he has the right motivation.
    • Fasting unto the Lord is not a ritual.
    • Many of us have fasted without even realizing it was a fast until later.
    • Simply put, fasting is being more concerned with spiritual things than physical things.