ScriptureStream

Authority is specified to a certain degree.

Exodus 25:14

Example #1: Transporting the ark.

Exodus 25:14; Numbers 4:15; 7:6-9; I Chronicles 3:7-14; 15:2, 12-15

They did not seek God according to His ordinances.

Example #2: Strange fire

Example #3: Priesthood

II John 1:9

“Please go buy me a dog.”

Genesis 6:14 – “Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood.”

Singing

Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26; Acts 16:25; Romans 15:9; I Corinthians 14:15; Colossians 3:16

Do we have authority to play instruments? No, God did not authorize it.

Work of local churches

II Corinthians 8:1-4; I Corinthians 14:26; Philippians 4:15

Provide for needy saints

Provide for worship and edification

Provide for preaching

Even when my choice is not explicitly stated. I’m okay as long as I’m still within the authority.

Where is the authority for song books?

Where is the authority for a church building?

I Corinthians 14:23, 26; Acts 20:7; Hebrews 10:25

A building is just a utility to allow us to assemble.

[Sorry, due to technical difficulties, no audio or video recording is available for this lesson. -MRW]

Hebrews 12:2

Job

Job 1:20-22; 3:11

Job 27:1-6 – Job’s mindset, how he made it through his suffering.

Job was certainly miserable, but he knew God was in control.

Job 28:12, 23

Job thought about greater things to keep from dwelling on his misery.

Paul

Acts 27:35 – Paul looked for something positive in the midst of suffering.

Philippians 4:4-7

Our brains change based on how we use them. We have to train them on positive things!

[Sorry, due to technical issues, no audio or video recording is available for this lesson. -MRW]

Ephesians 5:1-3

Romans 13:8

Luke 6:27-36 – Love is not just for those who are near and dear to us.

I John 4:9-10

Romans 5:8-9

Ephesians 2:4-7

Mark 2:1-12 – Jesus heals a paralytic man. The man’s friends showed great love in moving the man to Jesus and going well out of their comfort zone opening up the roof to lower him to Jesus.

There are many ways to show love to others:

Praying for people – Ephesians 5:1; Luke 23:34; Matthew 5:43-45; John 8:44

Correcting bad behavior – Matthew 18:15-17

By forgiving – Matthew 18:21-22

Graciously serving each other – John 13:1-17

Be seeing to the physical needs of others – I John 3:17

By bestowing honor on others, regardless of apparent social status. – I Corinthians 12:21-26

By showing kindness to the loved ones of others – II Samuel 9:1-13

By using influence to help – Acts 9:27-31; Philemon 1:8-11

By helping others work out their differences – Philippians 2:2-3; Hebrews 10:24-25

Jesus is the example of brotherly love! John 15:12-13

Ephesians 5:1-3

[Sorry, due to technical issues, no audio or video recording is available for this lesson. -MRW]

I Peter 2:2-3

I Timothy 4:13

Hebrews 10:23

Colossians 3:16

I Corinthians 14:17

II Corinthians 8:4

II Corinthians 9:10-15

Why did the brethren come together in Acts 20:7?

To break bread!

I Corinthians 11:20

I Corinthians 11:23-26

The Lord’s Supper is a memorial and a declaration to others of Jesus’ death.

A memorial

The Lord’s Supper helps us remember Jesus’ sacrifice.

Romans 5:6-8

Many earthly memorials exist to help us remember important events, but none are as important as Jesus’ death.

Other memorials in the Bible:

The Passover

The stones from the Jordan (Joshua 4:5-6)

A proclamation

A fellowship

I Corinthians 11:17-34

I Corinthians 14:23-25 – Our conduct in the assembly affects how outsiders view us!

The Lord’s Supper also gives us strength. Neglecting it weakens us.

Ecclesiastes 7:2 – Memorials are for the living.

Titus 2:11-14

I Peter 1:17

Romans 6:1-4

Matthew 5:13-14 – Christians are salt and light.

Salt

Job 6:6; Ezekiel 16:4

What did Jesus mean by calling His disciples salt?

We are to be active in the way God needs us to be. We are a tool to be used for God’s purposes. God needs us to spread the gospel to a dark world.

Salt was a necessity. It represented something that was lasting. It is a preservative.

When we see salt around us, let us remember that Jesus wants us to be like salt in this world.

Light

Light brings comfort and safety. It radiates outward.

Light brings knowledge. II Corinthians 4:4-6; Psalms 119:105

Light is essential. It was created on Day 1 of Creation.

Ephesians 5:6-16

If a light is hidden, it does no good.

Ephesians 4:11-13

Sheep

Sheep are helpless and reliant on the shepherd. They have no defenses and are not smart!

Matthew 26:31

Sheep are social and need to be in a flock.

They need consistency. They won’t follow a stranger.

Jesus is our shepherd. We rely on Him totally!

Matthew 5:13-16 – It is our job to reach others and teach the truth.

Matthew 16:13-20

I Corinthians 3:9

Jude 1:3

The faith has been delivered.

Hebrews 9:15 – Jesus shed His blood for all people of all time.

Acts 20:28 – Jesus purchased local churches with His blood.

Titus 1:5; Acts 14:23 – Elders are to be ordained in local churches.

A church can exist without elders, but should desire to have them.

The church at Benchley has had elders in place for about twenty years now.

The work of these elders is assigned by God. They are to lead the flock in making harmonious decisions. They are not purely business managers, although business decisions are part of it.

Elders are first servants of God, then servants of the congregation.

I Peter 5:4

Hebrews 13:17

Jesse Jenkins is stepping down as elder at Benchley.

Conclusion to 1 Thessalonians:

Compliments – I Thessalonians 1:3, 8

End of the world – I Thessalonians 4:13-5:11; 2:19

Example/imitate/model – I Thessalonians 1:7; 2:9

Non-Christians – I Thessalonians 1:7-10; 4:13, 5; 5:6

Word/instruction/gospel – I Thessalonians 1:6, 8; 2:13

Prayer – I Thessalonians 1:2; 5:17

Persecution – I Thessalonians 1:6; 2:14-16; 3:3-4

II Thessalonians

Introduction

Some think II Thessalonians was written before I Thessalonians. It ultimately doesn’t matter much either way.

Many of the same themes from I Thessalonians are repeated in II Thessalonians. The coming Judgment is again a theme in II Thessalonians, as is the need to work hard.

II Thessalonians 1:1-5 – Love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater.

I Thessalonians 5:14; II Thessalonians 3:11

The church in Theesalonica was good but could still be better. Like each of us, it could grow!

II Corinthians 13:5

I Corinthians 11:28 – Examine yourself.

II John 1:8

Acts 20:28

Galatians 6:1-2

A Christian’s life is one of self-examination.

James 1:25

People are inclined to examine themselves by others who are not living right. This is not helpful!

II Corinthians 10:12

We should compare ourselves to the standard.

Honest self-examination is difficult.

We may fear the results of honest self-examination.

Pride makes it difficult to examine ourselves compared to the right standard.

Usually, departure from the faith is gradual.

Apostasy can creep up on us slowly.

Revelation 3:17

Though it is gradual, there are signs along the way:

Lack of spiritual appetite.

I Peter 2:2; I Corinthians 3:2

Has my spiritual appetite increased since I became a Christian, or have I grown lax?

We can’t just “hold our own.” Matthew 25:15-30

Luther Blackmon: “Being a Christian is like riding a bicycle. You either keep moving forward or you fall on your face.”

Psalms 1:1-2

Aversion to strong gospel preaching

A Christian’s life is a series of changes.

We never get to the point that we can stop progressing spiritually.

We must examine ourselves by truth.

Are we walking in truth?

Nahum 1:1-3:19

Introduction

Nahum means “consolation.”

Doom was at hand for Assyria. Ninevah had repented 150 years earlier after Jonah’s prophecy, but not was in terrible condition.

The book was written between 663 and 612 B.C., between the fall of Egypt and the fall of Assyria.

Nahum was contemporary with Jeremiah, Zephaniah, and Habakkuk.

Nahum 1

Nahum 1:3-5 – God is over all things.

God’s judgments are always right and there will be no one who can stand against them.

Nahum 2

Facing God in judgment, Ninevah is doomed.

Nahum 2:4, 6-9 – The severity of the battle.

Nahum 2:11-13 – Ninevah’s great lions (rulers) would now meet their doom.

Nahum 3

Woe to the bloody city! Ninevah had shed much blood.

Nahum 3:4 – This is probably referring to spiritual adultery – idolatry.

Nahum 3:5 – Ninevah’s nakedness would be exposed.

Nahum 3:7 – Ninevah’s destruction would be seen by all.

Nahum 3:8 – Ninevah’s destruction compared to that of Thebes (No-amon).

Nahum 3:18 – The leaders of Ninevah would slumber in dust.

Nahum 3:19 – Ninveah’s destruction would be complete and all would rejoice over their destruction.

Lessons for us:

Next up: Habakkuk

Matthew 10:13-14

Make no mistake – Jesus is the Judge!

John 5:17-30 – Jesus and the Father are united in all things.

Acts 10:42; 17:30-31 – The story of Jesus di not end with the resurrection.

II Corinthians 5:10

Judgement Day is coming.

Mark 9:31-32

Matthew 16:27 – Jesus will come and repay every man according to his deeds.

I Corinthians 11:26

Matthew 25:31-46 – Sheep separated from goats, the righteous from the unrighteous.

Matthew 13:30, 40-43

Matthew 13:47-50

Judgment will happen, whether we understand it or not!

We will see Jesus in His majesty!

Matthew 25:31-34

Philippians 2:9-11

Jesus will no longer be scorned. Every tongue will confess Him on that day!

It will be horrible for most people.

Matthew 7:!3-14

John 3:16-18

II Thessalonians 1:7-10 – Jesus will come in retribution!

Mark 8:38

II Corinthians 5:10

Accepting the gospel will pay off eternally!

II Timothy 4:1-2, 8 – Learn the Word and obey it!

Philippians 3:20

Romans 2:16

John 12:48 – Jesus’ words will judge us!