Benchley, January 31, 2010

• Applications, continued:
  • Teach the gospel, continued:
    • I Peter 1:14-16; 2:9,11-12; 3:1-2
    • Acts 15:1-2 – Go back to the inspired word to get help.
  • Live the gospel – Matthew 5:13-16; I Peter 2:12
• Peace vs. distress
  • II Timothy 2:22
  • Definitions
  • Applications
    • We shouldn’t expect to find peace in the world.
      • Peace cannot be found in money, family, drink, drugs, or entertainment.
      • John 14:27; II Timothy 4:1-5 (???); Jeremiah 6:13
    • We must establish peace between ourselves and God.
      • Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 5:1-2; Colossians 1:19-23; James 2:22; Romans 8:38-39; Matthew 13:44-46

Benchley, January 24, 2010

• Applications, continued:
  • Engage in charitable giving.
    • Examples of giving from the Old Testament:  Exodus 23:10-11; Leviticus 19:9; Deuteronomy 15:1-2,7-12
    • Examples of giving from the New Testament:  Matthew 5:42; Luke 14:12; Acts 10:1-4; 20:33-35; I Timothy 6:17
  • Teach the gospel
    • Mark 14:3-9; I John 4:9
    • Recognize the need – Philippians 1:19-26; Acts 20:26-31; Hebrews 5:12
    • Recognize the obligation – Ephesians 4:1
    • Point the way to truth – John 4:28-29

By John Evans

Benchley, June 9, 2009

• Acts 17:32-34
• Galatians 1:8-10
• If we truly try to teach the truth:
  • We will prevent discouragement.
  • We will not twist the scriptures.
  • We will seek to please God rather than men.
• Sometimes people will reject the truth.
  • Matthew 7:13-14?- Most will reject the truth.
  • Acts 17:32-34?- Some will mock.
  • Acts 7:57-58?- Stephen was stoned for preaching the truth.
  • John 12:42-43?- Many believed in Jesus, but were afraid of what other people would think of their belief.
  • Matthew 14:3-4?- John the Baptist was beheaded for teaching the truth.
  • Some try to delay obedience.
  • Acts 18:5-6?- When the Jews stopped listening, Paul just kept teaching to the Gentiles.
• Sometimes even faithful Christians will leave the faith.
  • John 6:52-59,66?- Jesus’ own disciples left Him after hearing more of His teaching.
  • Hebrews 4:12
• Sometimes people need time to think about what they’ve heard.
  • Acts 17:32?- Some of Paul’s listeners needed to hear more teaching before they were convinced.
  • Don’t give up on people that are willing to study and hear you!
• Sometimes people will gladly receive the truth.
  • Acts 17:34?- Some people joined Paul.

By Jesse Jenkins

Benchley, March 8, 2009

• Matthew 18:20; II Timothy 4:2
• An individual responsibility
  • The Christian is authorized to personally teach the word.? Matthew 28:20; Acts 8:4
  • The Christian is authorized to support another to teach the word.? II John 5-8; I Corinthians 16:17
  • The Christian is authorized to support the preaching of the word collectively.? I Corinthians 9:7-14; II Corinthians 11:7-9; Philippians 4:15-17
    • In the local church where he is a member
    • In other places
• Local church is God’s specificied collective arrangement.
  • Music:? only vocal music authorized
  • Collective teaching:? only work through a local church is authorized
• No brotherhood arrangement authorized
  • Local church to support preachers
  • Local church to train preachers – no human arrangement needed.
• From local church directly to the preacher.? This is God’s way at work!

By David Watson

Benchley, February 8, 2009

• God authorized the church to provide for needy saints.
  • Acts 6:2-4
  • Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-35; Acts 6:1-3; 11:27-30; Romans 15:25-26; I corinthians 16:1-3; II Corinthians 8:3-4,14; 9:1; I Timothy 5:16,5?- only needy saints provided for.
  • Shouldn’t the church help people by doing good works?
    • Yes, but only those good works for which it was designed.
  • Can’t churches do whatever individuals do?
    • No, this is not true.? II Thessalonians 3:7-12; Ephesians 6:4; Titus 2:4-5; I Corinthians 7:2-5
  • Does the Bible ever say not to use church money another way?
    • No, but that’s not how Bible authority works.
    • God’s silence does not permit – it prohibits.
      • Colossians 3:17; I Corinthians 4:6; Acts 15:24; II John 9; Jeremiah 19:4-6; 32:35; Leviticus 10:1; Hebrews 7:14; 8:4
• God authorized the church to provide for worship and edification.
  • Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 16:1-2; Hebrews 10:23-25; I Corinthians 14:3,12,17,26,40
  • What about using church money for kitchens, fellowship halls, gymnasiums, etc.?
    • Since God did not authorize them, we cannot use church money for these things.
  • But aren’t we edifying each other when we socialize or share a meal together?
    • The Bible uses edification very specifically to mean a church assembling together to worship.
• God authorized the church to provide for the preaching of the gospel.
  • I Thessalonians 1:8; I Corinthians 9:9-14; II Corinthians 11:7-8; Philippians 4:14-18
  • What about other arrangements?
    • Since they are not authorized, they are wrong.

By Jady Stevens

Benchley, December 7, 2008

• Leviticus 10:1-3?- God must be glorified in the assembly.
• Colossians 3:17; John 4:23-24; I Corinthians 3:1; II Corinthians 10:4?- Worship in spirit and truth.
• I Corinthians 14:40,26?- Things are to be done decently and in order for edification.
• Galatians 4:13-15?- Paul’s presentation before them wasn’t flawless because of his infirmity, but that wasn’t important from a spiritual point of view.
• Singing
  • Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19-20?- for teaching, admonishing, and giving thanks.
  • The song leader should help lead the congregation in orderly worship.
  • The lyrics should be spiritually accurate and appropriate.
  • The songs should not be so difficult as to keep people from paying attention to the lyrics.
  • Things to watch out for:
    • I Corinthians 14:16-19?- The leader must be heard and understood.
    • Singing just because a soung sounds pretty.
    • Singing spiritually inaccurate lyrics.
• Preaching
  • II Timothy 4:5,2?- convince, rebuke, exhort
  • II Timothy 3:13-17?- teach from the scriptures.
  • Titus 2:1,11-15;3:1-2,8?- Paul’s instructions to Titus for preaching.
  • Things to watch out for:
    • Titus 3:9?- useless disputes should be avoided.
    • II Timothy 4:3-4?- changing the message because people don’t want to hear the old message
    • Matthew 15:9?- substituting ideas of man for doctrine from God
    • Not speaking up
    • Ephesians 4:11-15?- Fulfill the purpose and don’t just try to keep the audience entertained.
• Acts 17:26-27?- Our purpose is to seek God.