I believe I misrepresented the position of another Christian denomination in this sermon (Please read the transcript). A major goal in raising children is to teach them that Christians are engaged in an ongoing fight with the world, the flesh, and the devil (James 3:15). The culture of our world has changed profoundly, so that we now reject the standards of Christendom. Romans 1:21-32 teaches that when people reject God and his truth, dire consequences follow. In Matthew 19:4-6, the Lord Jesus Christ himself quoted Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 2:24, and affirmed that marriage can only be between a male and a female. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 gives us both a warning about those who continue in sexual sins and great hope by affirming there is power to change.

Elijah had been taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire. Now Elisha receives a double portion of the power of the Spirit of God -2 Kings 2-9-14-. --Elijah had met King Ahab and the prophets of Baal, and God answered with fire, proving himself to be the true God -1 Kings 18-24-. --The prophets of Baal are killed and God sends rain -1 Kings 18-40-46-.--Then Jezebel threatens Elijah -1 Kings 19-2-, and he flees in fear, a man just like us -James 5-13-18-. --The LORD releases Elijah and sends Elisha in his place. As Elisha returns to Bethel from the Jordan, 42 boys come out, mocking him, and he called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD -2 Kings 2-23-25-. --The power of life and death is in the tongue -Proverbs 18-21-.--These young men are under the curse of Deuteronomy 21-18-23.--The Old and New Covenants are contrasted in 2 Corinthians 3-3-11.--Condemnation and death mark the Old Covenant, from the man who was stoned for picking up sticks on the Sabbath -Numbers 15-32-36-, to the rebellious son of Deuteronomy 21-18-23-.--Leviticus 20-10-11 mandates death by stoning, especially in the case of incest, yet 1 Corinthians 5-1-5 instructs he be disfellowshipped from the Church, -so that the sinful nature may be destroyed, and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.---When the man repented, 2 Corinthians 2-5-6 instructed that he be restored to full fellowship in the church.--In John 8-7, the Lord Jesus ordered that only someone who had never sinned could stone this woman.

Elijah had been taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire. Now Elisha receives a double portion of the power of the Spirit of God (2 Kings 2:9-14). Elijah had met King Ahab and the prophets of Baal, and God answered with fire, proving himself to be the true God (1 Kings 18:24). The prophets of Baal are killed and God sends rain (1 Kings 18:40-46). Then Jezebel threatens Elijah (1 Kings 19:2), and he flees in fear, a man just like us (James 5:13-18). The LORD releases Elijah and sends Elisha in his place. As Elisha returns to Bethel from the Jordan, 42 boys come out, mocking him, and he called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD (2 Kings 2:23-25). The power of life and death is in the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). These young men are under the curse of Deuteronomy 21:18-23. The Old and New Covenants are contrasted in 2 Corinthians 3:3-11. Condemnation and death mark the Old Covenant, from the man who was stoned for picking up sticks on the Sabbath (Numbers 15:32-36), to the rebellious son of Deuteronomy 21:18-23). Leviticus 20:10-11 mandates death by stoning, especially in the case of incest, yet 1 Corinthians 5:1-5 instructs he be disfellowshipped from the Church, "so that the sinful nature may be destroyed, and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord." When the man repented, 2 Corinthians 2:5-6 instructed that he be restored to full fellowship in the church. In John 8:7, the Lord Jesus ordered that only someone who had never sinned could stone this woman.

As we look at the issue of slavery, several things stand out.--While slavery was permitted in both the Old and New Testaments, it was very different from the kind of slavery that existed in the United States of America from 1619 until 1865.--Under Old Testament law, slaves who ran away were protected and not to be returned to their masters -Deuteronomy 23-15-16-, and man-stealing was a death penalty offense -Exodus 21-16-.--When people became Christians, they were not commanded to release their slaves, as 1 Timothy 6-1-2 makes clear. But the seeds for the complete destruction of slavery are sown in Paul's letter to Onesimus' owner in Philemon 1-16-17.--Under both Israel's slavery and that of the Romans, slaves were taught to read and write, and they could marry.--Under Southern slavery those things were illegal, and we live with the terrible consequences of that wicked system to this day.--What are things that we can do to remedy that--

As we look at the issue of slavery, several things stand out. While slavery was permitted in both the Old and New Testaments, it was very different from the kind of slavery that existed in the United States of America from 1619 until 1865. Under Old Testament law, slaves who ran away were protected and not to be returned to their masters (Deuteronomy 23:15-16), and man-stealing was a death penalty offense (Exodus 21:16). When people became Christians, they were not commanded to release their slaves, as 1 Timothy 6:1-2 makes clear. But the seeds for the complete destruction of slavery are sown in Paul's letter to Onesimus' owner in Philemon 1:16-17. Under both Israel's slavery and that of the Romans, slaves were taught to read and write, and they could marry. Under Southern slavery those things were illegal, and we live with the terrible consequences of that wicked system to this day. What are things that we can do to remedy that?

If we carefully examine the New Testament, we must conclude that all elders are bishops, and all bishops are elders.--In Titus 1-5, Paul instructs Titus to ordain elders -------------, plural of -----------, presbuteros- in every town. These elders are all bishops according to Titus 1-7 ----------, singular of ---------, episkopos-.--In 1 Timothy 3-2 we see a fundamental requirement for an elder that is not required of a deacon- -Able to teach.- This ties back to Titus 1-9--In Acts 14-23, we read that Paul and Barnabas appointed elders -------------, plural of -----------, presbuteros- for them for EVERY church.--The Apostle Peter refers to himself as an elder in 1 Peter 5-1, -As your fellow elder ---------------, --------------, sumpresbuteros-,- and teaches that elders do the work of bishops --------------, participle of ---------, episkope-- and shepherds ----------, infinitive of --------, poimain-- -1 Peter 5-1-4-. We get the word pastor for the Latin word for a shepherd -pastor-.--In Acts 20-17 we read -Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church ----- ------------ --- ----------.---Notice in Acts 20-28, all these elders are called bishops- -Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers -----------, plural of----------, episkopos-.- --All these leaders are called pastors in the next sentence- -Be shepherds -----------, present infinitive of --------,-poimain-- of the church of God- -Acts 20-28-.--Acts 6-2 the Twelve state that they should not -neglect the word of God in order to serve tables- and so the congregation chose the Seven, so -We will devote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the word- -Acts 6-4-.

If we carefully examine the New Testament, we must conclude that all elders are bishops, and all bishops are elders. In Titus 1:5, Paul instructs Titus to ordain elders (πρεσβυτέρους, plural of πρεσβύτερος, presbuteros) in every town. These elders are all bishops according to Titus 1:7 (ἐπίσκοπον, singular of ἐπίσκοπος, episkopos). In 1 Timothy 3:2 we see a fundamental requirement for an elder that is not required of a deacon: "Able to teach." This ties back to Titus 1:9 In Acts 14:23, we read that Paul and Barnabas appointed elders (πρεσβυτέρους, plural of πρεσβύτερος, presbuteros) for them for EVERY church. The Apostle Peter refers to himself as an elder in 1 Peter 5:1, "As your fellow elder (συμπρεσβύτερος, συμπρεσβύτερος, sumpresbuteros)," and teaches that elders do the work of bishops (ἐπισκοποῦντες, participle of ἐπισκοπέω, episkopeō) and shepherds (ποιμάνατε, infinitive of ποιμαίνω, poimainō) (1 Peter 5:1-4). We get the word pastor for the Latin word for a shepherd (pastor). In Acts 20:17 we read "Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church (τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους τῆς ἐκκλησίας)." Notice in Acts 20:28, all these elders are called bishops: "Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers (ἐπισκόπους, plural of ἐπίσκοπος, episkopos)." All these leaders are called pastors in the next sentence: "Be shepherds (ποιμαίνειν, present infinitive of ποιμαίνω, poimainō) of the church of God" (Acts 20:28). Acts 6:2 the Twelve state that they should not "neglect the word of God in order to serve tables" and so the congregation chose the Seven, so "We will devote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the word" (Acts 6:4).

What we have in 2 Samuel 21-1-14 is the curse that the Gibeonites had put on Israel because King Saul had violated the covenant Israel made with them under Joshua roughly 400 years before -Joshua 9-18-20-.--Curses are real and have real consequences -2 Samuel 21-1, 2, 14- Leviticus 19-14-. --Joshua pronounced a curse regarding the rebuilding of Jericho around 1400 BC -Joshua 6-26-. Over five centuries later the conditions of that curse were met, and it was literally fulfilled -1 Kings 16-34-.--Curses go out in time but do not become effective until the conditions are met -Zechariah 5-1-4- Proverbs 26-2-.--The Lord Jesus Christ has taken our curses on himself and replaced them with his blessing -Galatians 3-10-13- Revelation 22-3-.

What we have in 2 Samuel 21:1-14 is the curse that the Gibeonites had put on Israel because King Saul had violated the covenant Israel made with them under Joshua roughly 400 years before (Joshua 9:18-20). Curses are real and have real consequences (2 Samuel 21:1, 2, 14; Leviticus 19:14). Joshua pronounced a curse regarding the rebuilding of Jericho around 1400 BC (Joshua 6:26). Over five centuries later the conditions of that curse were met, and it was literally fulfilled (1 Kings 16:34). Curses go out in time but do not become effective until the conditions are met (Zechariah 5:1–4; Proverbs 26:2). The Lord Jesus Christ has taken our curses on himself and replaced them with his blessing (Galatians 3:10–13; Revelation 22:3).

After looking at the demand the unbelieving pagans made to King David -2 Samuel 21-1-14-, we explored why it is important to address passages in the Bible that distress people.--1 Peter 3-15 commands us to put the Lord Jesus first and always to be prepared to give the reason for the Hope we have.--Most people have no hope, we must manifest the joy and peace that comes from walking with Jesus in such a way that people will ask why we are as we are.--We must answer them with gentleness. The Greek word that's translated -gentleness- is a word that means not really being hung up on your own importance -praut-s, -------- -the quality of not being overly impressed by a sense of one's self-importance,- BDAG, p. 861-.--We must answer them with respect. The Greek word there is the word for fear -ph-bos, -----, -b. reverence, respect, -. toward God . . . -. toward humans, respect,- BDAG, p. 1062-, and what does he mean to fear people-- It's not really fearing people, it's what the Christian has towards God- great respect.--We must not try to defend what people who claimed to follow Jesus did from AD 325 on, because it is apparent that most leaders did not follow the example and teachings of the Lord Jesus.--But it is important to be able to defend the Lord Jesus and his Word.