Benchley, March 14, 2010

• Individual actions
  • James 1:26-27 – Each is judged individually in these actions.
  • II Corinthians 5:10
  • I timothy 5:16
  • III John 6-9 – Gaius and Diotrephes contrasted.
• Collective action
  • Preach gospel:  approved
  • Recreation:  not approved
  • Each individual is only responsible for what he contributes into the common funds.  If the funds are not used in an approved way, all are responsible – not just the elders.
  • Philippians 4:15-17; I Corinthians 16:1-2
• Concerted actions
  • Individuals acting in concert, such as in the Lord’s Supper, prayer, Bible study, and giving.
  • Each individual is approved or not according to whether he takes part worthily or not.
• Judgment is going to be individual, not congregational, but to be approved, individuals must participate in the three kinds of actions in approved ways.

Benchley, March 14, 2010

• Freedom from the Old Covenant
  • Romans 7:1-4; Galatians 2:1-5
• Freedom from a system of law.
  • Galatians 3:23; Romans 8:2-4; Romans 3:20; Hebrews 10:2; Matthew 5:21-22,27,31-32; 7:21; Romans 3:21-24; Hebrews 9:9-15; Romans 9:30-32; 10:3-5,9-11
• Freedom from sin, but not from obedience.
  • John 8:31-34; Romans 6:20-23

• II Thessalonians 1:7-8

Benchley, March 14, 2010

• Applications, continued:
  • Covet God’s Word
    • Create interest in God’s Word
    • Ask for help.  Acts 8:26-40
    • Consider the value.  Romans 2:16
  • Covet good works.
    • I Timothy 3:1; Matthew 22:37
  • Don’t covet one who’s not your spouse.
    • Matthew 5:27-28; Exodus 20:14,17; Genesis 12:11; Esther 2:2-4,12-13; II Samuel 11:2; 13:3-4,14; Mark 6:22-23; Proverbs 6:25; I Corinthians 7:8-9 – Warnings and consequences of coveting women.
  • Don’t (inordinately) covet material goods.
    • Deuteronomy 7:25; Joshua 6:16-19; 7:20-21

Benchley, March 10, 2010

Benchley, March 7, 2010

• Respect the authority of God.  Romans 13:1
• Obey the laws of the land.
  • Romans 13:1 – Obedience is part of being in subjection.
  • Titus 3:1
  • Acts 4:17-20 – God’s law takes priority over the government laws.
  • I Peter 2:17-18
• Uphold the proper attitude toward leaders.
  • Matthew 22:17-22
  • I Peter 2:1 – Pray!

Benchley, March 7, 2010

• Applications, continued:
  • Address the causes of pride.
    • Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4) – accomplishments
    • Heritage/ancestry
    • Saul (I Samuel 9:19-10:24; 15:17-19) – power
    • Personality
  • Use strategies to achieve humility.
    • Admit our own pride and be honest with ourselves.  I John 1:8-9
    • Remember and search out our own faults.
    • Remember that we are merely human.
    • Matthew 6:1-4 – Hide your good deeds.
    • Philippians 2:3-4 – Focus on others.
    • Luke 15:15-19 – Let circumstances humble us.  II Corinthians 10:17-18
• Covetousness: good vs. bad
  • Epithumeo:  Luke 15:16; 16:20-21; 22:15
  • Applications
    • Covet God’s Word. – Matthew 13:17; Hebrews 11:13; I Peter 1:10-12; I Peter 2:2

Benchley, March 3, 2010

Benchley, February 28, 2010

By Jesse Jenkins

Benchley, February 28, 2010

• “For spiritual work and worship there is no organization larger than, smaller than, or other than the local church.”
• We read about a local church:
  • Assembling to worship (Acts 2:42; 20:7)
  • Teaching the Word.
    • To edify the saved. (Acts 20:28; I Peter 5:1-3)
    • To save the lost.  (Philippians 4:15-16)
  • Doing benevolent work under limited circumstances.  (Acts 4:34-36; I Corinthians 16:1-2)
  • Disciplining a member.  (I Corinthians 5:1-5)
• We do not read about:
  • Christians building and operating any other collectivity for any of these things, whether it be:
    • A missionary society
    • A sponsoring church
    • Truth Magazine Annual Bible Lectures
    • A college’s Annual Bible Lectures
    • A college’s daily chapel service for worship
    • A college’s daily Bible classes
    • One man soliciting and overseeing funds from many Christians for the teaching of the Word
    • A benevolent society for work assigned the local church
    • ANY collectivity other than the local church to do that which God assigned the local church