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ScriptureStream.com

// April 27th, 2010 // View Comments // Bible Study, Mark's stuff

I am happy to announce the launch of a new web site for sermon and Bible class recordings:  scripturestream.com.  Since I am now posting so many recordings here, I thought it would be better to put these on their own site, so I ran it past the elders and then set up the new site.  All recordings that are already posted here will remain here indefinitely.  All new material will be put on the new site.  There is also a Twitter feed for the new site that you can follow to get all the latest updates:  @benchleysermons.  Please check it out and let me know what you think!

Virtues and Vices, Part 9: Covetousness: Good vs. Bad

// April 12th, 2010 // View Comments // Bible Study, Mark's stuff

 

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By David Watson

Benchley, April 4, 2010

• Applications, continued:
  • Don’t (inordinately) covet material good.
    • Acts 20:33-35; I Timothy 6:6; Colossians 3:5; Luke 12:15-21,23,31
  • Fix your mind.
    • Micah 2:1-2; Mark 7:21-23; Romans 1:28-32
• Edification vs. being a stumbling block
  • Definitions
    • Romans 9:30-33; I Peter 2:8; Matthew 16:23
  • Applications
    • Edify through worship
      • I Corinthians 14:2; Hebrews 10:23-25
      • Hypocrisy:  Mark 12:38
    • Don’t make yourself stumble.
      • Matthew 5:29

Psalms 137-150

// April 10th, 2010 // View Comments // Bible Study, Mark's stuff

 

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By Jesse Jenkins

Benchley, March 31, 2010

Facts to Consider When Considering Appointing an Elder

// April 10th, 2010 // View Comments // Bible Study, Mark's stuff

 

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By Jesse Jenkins

Benchley, March 28, 2010

• The Lord’s arrangement for church structure
  • The local church is the only arrangement in the New Covenant for collective functions in the things of Christ.
  • Elders in every city.  Titus 1:5
  • Elders in every church.  Acts 14:24
• Desire
  • If a man desires the office of a bishop.  I Timothy 3:1
  • Desire is the first qualification, for without it one is not qualified.
  • The desire must be to do the work of an elder – to serve.
  • If a man’s desire is to control and run things, no church needs him.
• Example
  • Example is the next qualification to be considered.
  • As leaders of the flock, elders are to lead exemplary lives.
• Lessons from three words
  • “Presbuteros”: elders (Acts 20:17; Titus 1:5)
    • “Indicates their spiritual maturity” -Vine
    • “Indicates dignity” -Thayer
    • The word has reference to age and maturity.
    • Not only in years, but in spiritual maturity
    • …and in the congregation
    • One is to prove self (I Timothy 3:10)
    • The flock is to know him (I Thessalonians 5:12)
    • He is of such influence in the congregation that others look to him for leadership.
  • “Episkopos”: bishop, overseer (Acts 20:28; I Timothy 3:1; Titus 1:7)
    • “Indicates the character of the work undertaken” -Vine
    • “Denotes the function… Guardian, superintendent” -Thayer
  • “Poimano”:  shepherd, feed, tend (Acts 20:28; I Peter 5:2)
    • “To act as shepherd” -Vine
    • “To tend a flock… to supply the requisistes of the soul’s needs” -Thayer
    • Poimano involves:
      • Feeding (I Peter 5:1)
      • Watching for (Hebrews 13:17)
      • Leading (Hebrews 13:17) “Obey your leaders,” ESV and NASB
      • Caring for (I Timothy 3:5)
• Conclusion
  • An elder must:
    • Desire to serve.
    • Set the proper example.
    • Have spiritual age,  maturity, and dignity.
    • Be able to work with other elders.

Lessons from a Cemetary

// April 8th, 2010 // View Comments // Bible Study, Mark's stuff

 

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By David Watson

Benchley, March 28, 2010

• Death comes at any age.  (Luke 12:16-21; Psalms 90:9; Job 27:8; Luke 16)
• All people die.  (James 1:9-11)
• Therefore… the only thing that matters is living for God.  (I Corinthians 15:52-58; Hebrews 9:27; Philippians 1:20-21; Acts 17:26-27)

Inspiration of the Bible

// April 8th, 2010 // View Comments // Bible Study, Mark's stuff

 

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Inspiration of the Bible

By David Watson

Benchley, March 28, 2010

• Historical accuracy
• Prophetic fulfillment
• Scientific foreknowledge
  • the Bible remarks on scientific knowledge before it was discovered by man.
  • Egyptian knowledge of the day (Exodus 15:26)
  • Germs:  Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis
    • Humbers 19:5-22 – God’s laws for washing and handling dead bodies
  • Germs:  quarantine
    • Numbers 5:13; Leviticus 13:1-3,45-54
  • Circumcision on the eighth day
    • Genesis 17:12-14 (Leviticus 12:3)
  • Dietary regulations
    • Leviticus 11 – Moses’ instructions are still useful today.
  • Life is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11-12)
  • Ratio for ship building (Genesis 6:15 – ratio was 30:5:3)
  • Water cycle (Ecclesiastes 1:7; 11:3; Amos 9:6)
  • The earth is a “circle” (Isaiah 40:22)
  • Four types of flesh (I Corinthians 15:39)
  • Basic sanitation (Deuteronomy 23:12-14)
  • The earth is wearing out (Isaiah 51:6)
• The Bible:  from God or man?

Psalms 119-136

// April 8th, 2010 // View Comments // Bible Study, Mark's stuff

 

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By Jesse Jenkins

Benchley, March 24, 2010

The Bible Story: Tying the Testaments Together

// April 8th, 2010 // View Comments // Bible Study, Mark's stuff

 

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By Josh Vaughn

Benchley, March 21, 2010

• Major Old Testament sections:
  • Creation and the fall of man
  • Promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3)
  • Israelite nation
    • Israel under Moses
    • Israel under Joshua and the judges (Judges 2)
    • Israel under the kings
    • The fall of Israel
    • The restoration of the remnant (Isaiah 11:11)
• Major New Testament secions:
  • The life of Jesus
    • New and better Moses (Hebrews 3:1-6)
    • Offers rest to His people (Hebrews 4:9-11)
    • The true wisdom of God (Colossians 2:1-3)
    • He is divine. (Matthew 8:23-27)
    • He is the Messiah and king.  (Jeremiah 23:5-6)
  • New Testament Christianity
    • Acts 2
    • John 13:34-35
    • Temporary status
  • Judgment and eternity
    • Matthew 25:30-32
    • II Peter 3:13
• Tying the testaments together
  • Jesus is coming, Jesus is here, Jesus is coming again!
    • God selected a people.
      • Promise to Abraham (Genesis 17:17)
    • God purified the people.
      • Through the Law of Moses
      • Through the Babylonian captivity
    • God sent His Son, Jesus, among those people.  Galatians 4:4; Ephesians 1:10
  • Old Law points to the New Law
    • Galatians 3:24-26 – the law as our guardian
    • I Corinthians 10:11
    • Shadows of the Old Law
      • Animal sacrifices => Jesus’ sacrifice
      • Physical temple => spiritual temple
      • Human high priest => divine high priest
  • He allowed us a relationship with God.
    • Romans 8:12-17
    • Hebrews 9:22-28

Things That Will Help Us Live Better

// April 3rd, 2010 // View Comments // Bible Study, Mark's stuff

 

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By Jesse Jenkins

Benchley, March 21, 2010

• Appreciation for the love of God.  John 3:16; Romans 5:8
• A realization of the value of the soul.  Matthew 10:28; 16:26
• A consciousness that we will give account at the judgment.  II Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 12:37; II Corinthians 10:4-5
• A consciousness that there are just two destinies.  Matthew 25:21; 7:23
• The fact that we are by example helping lead others to either heaven or hell.  I Timothy 4:12; Matthew 15:14; 5:16; Philippians 2:14-15; 1:20
• A growing faith.  II Peter 3:18
• Encouraging words from others.  I Corinthians 1:4-5; I Thessalonians 1:2-3; Revelation 2:2-3
• Choose the right kind of associates.  I Corinthians 15:33
• Imitate Jesus’ prayer life.  Mark 1:35; Matthew 15:36; 114:23; Luke 6:12-13; Mark 14:32
• Having sins rebuked.  II Timothy 4:2; Galatians 6:1; James 5:19-20
• Take inventory of self and live each day as if it was the last; it may be!  II Corinthians 13:5

Man’s Way or God’s Way?

// April 3rd, 2010 // View Comments // Bible Study, Mark's stuff

 

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By Joel Moore

Benchley, March 21, 2010

• Isaiah 55:8-9
• Matthew 6:24
• The Word of God is our sole source of authority.  II Timothy 3:16-17
• To supplant God’s Word with your own beliefs is to commit the sin of presumption.
• This disposition was unacceptable in the Old Testament and is still unacceptable today under the New Testament. Deuteronomy 17:12-13
• Salvation
  • Man’s way:  An individual can be saved by a variety of methods and may choose the one that please him the most.
  • God’s way:  It is be baptism (immersion in water) that one gains entrance into a saved relationship with God (John 3:3-5; Galatians 3:26-27; Acts 2:38; I Peter 3:21)
    • There are, however, prerequisites to this immersion.  First, one must believe (i.e., have faith) (Romans 10:9-10,17), repent of his sins (Acts 2:38), and confess Christ as Lord (Romans 10:10).
    • After baptism, the Christian is to press on towards perfection.  Hebrews 6:1; II Peter 1:5-11
• The organization of the church
  • Man’s way:  The church may be organized in any way that is determined best by man.
  • God’s way:  In each local church, there are to be elders who lead the flock in that location (I Peter 5:1-4), deacons who help the elders (I Timothy 3:8-13), and members (Romans 12:4-5).
    • The local church must be organized to the degree to which is can be scripturally organized.
• Controlling one’s thoughts
  • Man’s way:  I can think about whatever I want.  Matthew 15:17-20
  • God’s way:  It is imperative that a Christian control his thoughts and not think about whatever he wants (II Corinthians 10:3-6).
    • Let us remember that all sin develops from desire and a response to temptation (James 1:14-15); therefore, if we control our thoughts (where desire originates and ruminates if uncontrolled), we can effectively control sin.
    • Moreover, in order to better control our thoughts, we must replace evil thoughts with good, wholesome meditation (Philippians 4:8; Psalm 1).