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.

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)

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

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

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 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, 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