ScriptureStream

The concept of denominations is not present in the New Testament.

Organization: We are not part of any earthly hierarchy.

Ephesians 5:22-24

Church in the universal sense:

Ephesians 4:4 – There is one body – the group of people saved by Christ.

Matthew 16:16-19

Hebrews 12:22-23

The Bible often describes the church in the universal sense – all those that are saved in Christ.

Church in the local sense:

Romans 16:16

I Corinthians 1:2

What’s not in the Bible: denominations

Doctrine: We simply try to study and obey the Bible (not a creed book, statement of beliefs, tradition …)

Matthew 7:21-23

John 17:17-23 – We should be unified on truth – not separated by creeds and traditions.

Ephesians 4:5, 11-14 – Let’s just read the Bible!

Failure to be unified leads to church-shopping to see whose beliefs you like best, rather than searching for truth. We should only be comparing to the Bible, not our own desires.

Identity: We are simply Christians, not a type of Christian.

Romans 6:3

Galatians 3:27

We have no Bible authority to identify ourselves as any type of Christian.

I Corinthians 1:10 – Paul tried to stop this sort of division.

I Thessalonians 2:1-20

I Thessalonians 2:1-2 – Paul had been mistreated in Philippi (Acts 16:12-40). Paul was jailed, then miraculously freed and the jailer was converted. Paul persisted in spreading the gospel with boldness.

I Thessalonians 2:3-12 – You are witnesses and so is God.

I Corinthians 11:1; Philippians 4:9 – Paul sometimes used himself as an example.

II Corinthians 12:13 – Paul was prepared to give himself to help them.

II Thessalonians 2:10

Could we use ourselves as examples to others?

I Thessalonians 2:6 – Paul could have thrown his weight around as an apostle but did not.

I Thessalonians 2:9 – Paul was worthy of wages as a preacher but did not burden them (II Thessalonians 3:8).

I Thessalonians 2:7, 11 – Paul described himself as a father or mother trying to help his children toward the end goal (I Thessalonians 2:12).

There may be times when it is permissible to do something, but it’s more beneficial if we give up personal liberties and refrain.

I Thessalonians 2:13 – Paul wrote that the word “performs its work in you who believe.” Compare Psalms 119:103-105; Acts 20:32; Romans 6:17-18; II Timothy 3:15-16; Hebrews 4:12.

I Thessalonians 2:14-16 – The Thessalonians suffered just like brethren in other churches (Acts 4:3; 17:5; Philippians 3:10; II Timothy 3:12). Suffering is a theme and point of fellowship among Christ and Christians and not a sign that Christians are doing something wrong.

I Thessalonians 2:17-20 – Paul had formed a close relationship with them and longed to see them. See Philippians 4:16. Some time had possibly passed between Acts 17:4 and Acts 17:5. He spent at least three weeks with them according to Acts 17:2.

Hebrews 8:1-2

He’s there to save us from our sins forever.

Hebrews 2:17

Leviticus 16:15, 32-34 – The high priest made atonement for all Israel once a year.

Hebrews 9:23-28; 5:6, 9-10 – Jesus made atonement for all mankind, once for all time.

The perfect high priest is in place and will always be there for us!

Hebrews 7:3-4, 7, 17, 23-25; 6:19-20

He encourages us to confess Him and never turn back.

Exodus 28 – The high priest garments.

Exodus 29:9-10, 12, 21, 29

Hebrews 5:1-3; 4:14-16 – The high priest was one of the people, so would sympathize with their weaknesses. Jesus lived and was tempted as we are, so we have an even greater advantage with Him as our high priest.

Hebrews 3:1; 10:19-23 – We can have confidence through Jesus.

Matthew 10:32-33

He has proved His love. Now it’s our turn.

Hebrews 4:15

Isaiah 59:2, 9, 15-16, 20

Hebrews 2:17-18; 9:11-14

Amos 1-9

Introduction to the book

Amos means “burden bearer.”

Message of the book: doom.

The book was written approximately 760-750 B.C.

Four major divisions of prophecy in the book:

Judgment on six nations around Judah

Damascus (Amos 1:3-5) – for cruelty in war

Gaza (Amos 1:6-8)

Tyre (Amos 1:9-10)

Edom (Amos 1:11-12) – for hatred of Israel

Ammon (Amos 1:13-15) – for cruelty to people

Moab (Amos 2:1-3) – for burning the bones of the king of Edom

Judgment on Judah (Amos 2:4-5) – for religious apostasy

Judgment on Israel (Amos 2:6-9:10)

Amos 2:6-8 – God rebukes Israel for injustice, immorality, and idolatry.

Amos 3 – Israel no longer walked with God.

Amos 4:12 – Summation of the book: “prepare to meet your God, O Israel!”

Amos 5:23; 6:5 – Some try to misuse these verses to show that instrumental worship is not approved.

II Chronicles 29:25 – Instrumental music was approved for worship under the Old Covenant.

Doing the right thing with wrong motives is not approved by God.

Amos 7:10-17 – Amos was ordered not to prophesy in Israel by Amaziah.

Messianic hope (Amos 9:11-15)

See Acts 15:13-18 (quotation of Amos 9:11-12).

This is the only optimistic message in the book!

Lessons for us:

We are going to meet God in judgment, so prepare!

God is righteous, both in punishment and blessing.

Even right acts are an insult to God if done with wrong motives.

All can be blessed in the restored tabernacle of David.

I Timothy 2:9-10 – The emphasis should be on being a godly woman. Appearance is secondary.

I Peter 3:1-4

So … how long, how tight?

Proverbs 5:18-20

Genesis 2:25; 3:7, 20 – The fig leaves covered the bare essentials, but God made them coverings to cover more.

Genesis 29:17; 39:6 – “form and appearance”: Beauty involves shape and contours – not just the face.

Esther 2:7

Lack of specifics does not mean God’s word does not powerfully direct us.

Ephesians 4:29 (language)

I Corinthians 16:2 (giving)

Titus 2:12 (substance abuse)

Love for God and others

Matthew 22:37-40

Matthew 18:6-10

I John 2:16-17 – We should not use our bodies as instruments of unrighteousness.

Romans 6:12-13; 13:13-14 – Make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

I Corinthians 6:19-7:5 – Our bodies belong to God, so we should glorify God in our bodies.

Galatians 2:20

First of all, it’s impossible to remove God from the world He created.

Colossians 1:16-17

Removing God from the world is like trying to improve the car by removing the engine!

Good science has never been at odds with good Bible interpretation.

Fake science: We know the universe began through natural causes.

“We have not explained the beginning of the cosmos at all.”

Biblical truth: Genesis 1:1

Fake science: Some races are superior to others.

Original subtitle of Origin of Species: “Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life”

Biblical truth: Genesis 1:27. We are all equal before God.

Fake science: Dinosaurs went extinct 65 million years ago.

Now we are finding soft tissue in dinosaur bones!

Biblical truth: Genesis 5, 11

Present à Christ: 2,000 years

Christ à Abraham: 2,000 years

Abraham à Adam: 2,000 years

Total age of the earth: roughly 6,000 years.

See also David’s previous sermon: The Age of the Earth

Furthermore, the world is better when God is revered and obeyed.

Proverbs 3:19-23; Psalms 119:160

Genesis 2:15-17

If we banish God, we are left with morals that are merely opinions!

John 17:17

Proverbs 14:34

I Thessalonians 2:12-14; 4:3; 5:15-22

James 1:22-25

“Men have forgotten God. That’s why all this has happened.” – Aleksandr Solzhenitzyn

Exodus 20:12 – The Law of Moses required children to honor their father and mother.

Ephesians 6:2-3 – The same law applied to Christians.

I Timothy 5:8

Malachi 1:6; Genesis 45:8; Job 29:16; Psalms 68:5; Proverbs 1:8; Psalms 103:13 – Father is used in the scripture with a more wider meaning than just the biological relationship.

What does it mean to honor father and mother?

Respect

Exodus 21:15, 17 – Striking or cursing a parent was punishable by death under the Law of Moses!

Leviticus 19:32

Proverbs 30:17

I Timothy 5:1-2

Hebrews 12:9-10 – Honor parents even if they aren’t always right. It’s not based on being right. It’s based on the underlying relationship of parent to child.

Genesis 9:20-27

Honor is not based on the quality of character of the parents.

Obedience

Ephesians 6:1-2 – Obedience is not based on parents being right. Again, it is based on the relationship.

Esther 2:20; 4:8, 14 – Esther obeyed Mordecai even though she was a grown woman and no longer under his care.

Proverbs 13:24; 23:13-14 – As the child grows older, the relationship with the father changes.

Deuteronomy 21:18-21

Ephesians 5:22f – Other relationships may supersede the parent-child relationship over time.

Ephesians 6:4

I Timothy 5:14 – Women get new duties over time as their relationships change.

Ephesians 6:5f

Provision

Mark 7:9-12 – Children are not to shirk the duty of providing for their parents.

I Timothy 5:8 – Failure to provide makes you worse than an infidel!

Although children are obligated to provide for their parents, they are not obligated to forsake their own spouse and children to spend time with parents or cater to their every whim.

II Chronicles 34:1-3 (II Chronicles 33:1-2, 21-22) – King Josiah had a terrible family, but he obeyed God! Despite his family, he started seeking God at age 16.

Matthew 22:37-38 – The greatest command: Love God with all your heart. This is our duty because we are God’s creation.

I Corinthians 10:31 – Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

I Peter 5:2 – Shepherd which flock? The one among you, that you sustain a relationship with.

Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 1:22-23 – Elders have oversight, but they are never to take the place of Christ, the head of the church (in the universal sense). Elders are not lawgivers – Jesus is.

James 4:12; Acts 5:29

Ephesians 6:4 – This verse is a good example of how duties are based on relationships. Not all people who read this letter can apply this verse – only those who are fathers. Furthermore, the fathers’ authority is circumscribed by the relationship. A father is not responsible for disciplining and teaching children that are not his own.

Acts 14:23 – Elders (plural!) were appointed in every church.

Acts 20:28 – Elders had oversight over a single flock. See also I Peter 5:2. Today it is common to have a sponsoring church arrangement, which puts elders in control to some degree of the affairs of another flock.

The authority of elders begins and ends with the local church relationship.

Acts 20:17-35

Acts 11:27-30; Philippians 1:5; 4:15-16

Very little is said about elders controlling funds in the church. Their primary concern is souls.

In Acts 11, money was sent to the elders so they could distribute it among their flock.

If elders could assume control of part of another church’s work (like the money), what would prevent them from assuming control over other things (like who the preacher is)? What would prevent them from controlling multiple churches? This is how Roman Catholicism started.

II Timothy 1:13 – Hold to the pattern!

What has God authorized churches to be engaged in?

Duties are based on relationships. We see this principle repeatedly in the Bible.

Luke 10:27, 29, 36 – The parable of the good Samaritan.

It is not a “Christian” thing to care for your neighbor, not is it a particular action we must do in order to be saved.

Christians should practice being a good neighbor like the good Samaritan. All people should do the same because of our relationship to our fellow man.

The Cancer Society is an example of a group that collects funds to advance cancer research. They don’t spend money to help people with hart problems. This is not because they do not care about heart problems, but because that is not their goal.

Romans 13:6-7 – The relationship we have with the civil government.

I Corinthians 1:9; Galatians 3:27 – A relationship with Christ.

In a collective formed around this relationship, the group would use their time and money in the realm of their relationship with Jesus:

Hebrews 4:14-16 – Prayer

Colossians 3:16-17 – Singing

II Corinthians 8:4-5 – Giving

I Corinthians 10:16 – Lord’s Supper

I Peter 2:2-3 – Teaching and edification

Examples:

Acts 2:42 – Activities of the saints immediately after Pentecost

Colossians 3:16

Why call it the church of Christ?

Romans 16:16

It is not a name. It is a description. The church has no name.

I Thessalonians 1:1 – Another descriptive phrase for a group of Christians.

Philippians 4:15-16 – Sending funds to support preaching of the gospel.

II Corinthians 8:3-5

I Timothy 5:16 – The church is not to be burdened by widows that have family to help.

Galatians 6:10 – Do good to everyone?

Galatians 5:13-15 – The context is wider than just Christians. The context includes duties as neighbors.

Galatians 5:19-21

There is nothing in this verse about collective action by a church. It is instructions for each individual Christian.

Galatians 6:1-10

James 1:27 – Should brethren visit and care for orphans and widows?

Yes, but not because they are brethren – because they are neighbors.

Job 31:16-17 – Job knew to care for widows and orphans millennia before Christ!

This verse is about personal responsibility – not collective action.

Why worry about the work of the church?

Luke 19:10 – Jesus came to seek and save the lost.

I Timothy 3:15

Involvement in other things dilutes the work for Christ.

II Timothy 1:13 – Hold to the pattern!

Luke 6:46 – Do not say, “Lord, Lord!” and stray from what Jesus says