Category Study

James 2: Respect of Persons

The Preacher 1 Comment

Who’s your NEIGHBOR?

love your NEIGHBOR as yourself.

Borger Bulletin 02/27/22

Lu 10:29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my NEIGHBOR?”

Mt 22:39 “And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ [Jas 2:8; Gal 5:14; Rom 13:9-10]

  1. N-NAAMAN was neighbor of a stolen servant girl. 2King 5
  2. E-EVERYBODY is your neighbor.
    1. Lu 10:36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
    1. even ONLINE!!!
  3. I-INVITE them to worship? Jas 2:1-7.
  4. G-GOOD WORKS or lack thereof?
    1. Tit 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
    1. Tit 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
    1. Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
    1. Tit 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
    1. Tit 3:14 And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
    1. GOOD PEOPLE ONLY?
      1. Lu 7:39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
      1. Mt 9:10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
  5. H-HATE YOUR ENEMY?
    1. Mt 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
    1. After you got your pound of flesh Could you invite them to worship? Luke 6:27-36
  6. B-BORDER of your house.
    1. Pr 27:10 Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend, Nor go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away. Prov 3:29
    1. After a land dispute could you invite them to worship?
    1. What about foreigners? Ex 12:49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you. Ex 22:21
      1. Ex 23:9 Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
    1. Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; Heb 13:2
  7. O-OUGHT to pursue peace.
    1. Rom 15:2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
    1. Rom 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
    1. Mr 9:50; Ro 14:19; Heb 12:14
  8. R-RECRIPROCAL neighbors?
    1. Lu 14:12 Then He also said to him who invited Him, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid.
    1. After disregarding your poor neighbor could you invite them to worship?
    1. RESPECT of PERSONS. Jas 2:1-13

The Franklin and Juniper church of Christ begins an overview study of the book of James (July 2023). If you live in the Borger area, We invite you to join us at 6:30pm each Wednesday night for the next few weeks.

Click here for an overview chart of the Book of James.

The Parable of the TARES.

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Kingdom Parables of Jesus in Matthew

The Parable of the TARES.

“24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up 29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” (Matt 13:24-30).

Jesus spoke in parables. Some were very plain, some a bit more difficult, and still others He gives the meaning as He does in this parable (36-40).

Let us understand and apply the parable of the TARES.

TARES appear to look like wheat, but are really a kind of undesirable grass, a weed. It is TOXIC to man and to most herbivore animals. “The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.” In the explanation, Jesus said, “The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;” (38). All men look the same on the outside. We will only know them by their fruits. Jesus said in another parable, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit” (Matt 7:15-18).

False teachers are TOXIC to sound doctrine. It is a poison that can destroy the soul of the righteous if we’re not careful. This is the world we live in.

They are sown and intermixed AMONG the wheat. Therefore, they grow up together and their proximity to the wheat makes it very difficult to remove without also harming the good plants. “But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.”

We live in a dangerous world full of false teachers that appear and live among us. Peter wrote, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction” (2Pet 1:1). We need to heed the warning lest we fall. “And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.”

Our gut reaction is to ROOT them up now and get RID of them so the wheat doesn’t suffer, or get choked out (cf. Matt 13:7). We want them out now! “But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.” Why does the Lord allow this to go on? I don’t know all the reasons of the Lord, but here we’re given a clue. It’s to spare the good plant. The fact that He allows them to remain is evidence that it is wise to do so. Allowing something to exist is not approval.

The Tares are the ENEMIES teachings of the wicked one who is the Devil. This can be compared to the seed, in the parable of the Sower in an earlier parable (vs 13:18), which is the word of God. The seed in that parable produces Saints. It stands to reason that the tares are the teachings of the Devil that produces false teachers. “The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.” (38-39).

Jesus warned of false teachers Matt 7:15-20. Paul warned of false teachers (Rom 16:17-18). Peter warned of false teachers (2Peter 2). John warned of false teachers (2John 9). Jude warns of them also. “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:4). Perhaps there’s something to this?

The Lord’s response implies that we are to Keep SUPPORTING the good plants. “Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.”

In the harvest, which is the end of the world, God will take care of the GOOD and the BAD. “The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” (Matt 13:39-42).

The lesson of the TARES is plain. Beware of the TOXIC Teaching of false teachers. They live AMONG us, and appear to look like us. We will know them by their fruit. REMAIN faithful till the end when the Lord’s REAPERS will take care of the problem once and for all. The ENEMY can’t hurt us while we remain faithful (cf. Jas 4:7-8). Continue to SPEAK the things which are proper for sound doctrine (Titus 2:1).

With the Lord’s help, His word, and our prayers, we can endure this. We’re all in this together. “Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (43).

–Agape,

Spencer

At the Franklin & Juniper st church of Christ, we do not claim to be perfect people, but we strive to be a local church of Christ sound in its teaching, sound in its actions, and united in the bond of peace.

Here we believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God. Thus, we insist upon Bible authority for everything that we teach and practice (Col 3:17).

We teach what people in the first century were taught, believe what they were taught to believe, and do what they were taught to do.  

We want you to feel welcomed. We will not ask you to believe anything unless we can give you Bible authority for it.

“The churches of Christ salute you!”  [Rom 16:16]

There’s Death in the POT

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Today’s reading is so good that I had to share it with you.

Proverbs 19:27 KJV

“Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.”

It reminded me of a story in 2Kings 4:38-41.

“And Elisha returned to Gilgal, and there was a famine in the land. Now the sons of the prophets were sitting before him; and he said to his servant, “Put on the large pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets.” So one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered from it a lapful of wild gourds, and came and sliced them into the pot of stew, though they did not know what they were. Then they served it to the men to eat. Now it happened, as they were eating the stew, that they cried out and said, “Man of God, there is death in the pot!” And they could not eat it.”

I use this story to make the point about eating a drinking from secular pots in our studies. Far too many times we drink from secular pots and wonder why we have division. Paul warned of this problem of listening to unsound doctrine. 2 Timothy 4:3 KJV

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;”

“Man of God, there is death in the pot!”

I’ve noticed gospel preachers consuming books by well known false teachers. Francis Chan, Joel Osteen, Rick Warren, Jakes, and the like.

“Man of God, there is death in the pot!”

Let us return to the old paths. The scriptures shall make us wise unto salvation. 2 Timothy 3:15-17 KJV

“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

Jesus is the bread of Life. “And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” John 6:35

Man of God, there is LIFE in that pot!

Agape,

Spencer

1John 2:3-11: 2 tests of fellowship.

The Preacher 1 Comment

TESTS of FELLOWSHIP:

Test ONE: 1John 2:3-6. If we keep His commandments.

And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Test TWO: 1John 2:7-11. If we love the brethren.

Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

The Franklin and Juniper church of Christ had an overview study of the book of 1John. If you live in the Borger area, We invite you to join us at 9:30am each Sunday Morning for the next few weeks.

Click here for the Overview Chart and links to other study outlines in this series.

SERMON: 3 things SIN will always do.

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3 things SIN will always do.

Sin SEPARATES us from God. Is 59:1-2.

Sin Takes us farther than we wanted to go.

JUDAS went from disciple, to thief, to the betrayer.

Jesus knew Judas was a betrayer. John 6:70
Jesus knew Judas was an Underhanded thief. John 12:6
Judas Delivered Jesus to Die. John 18:2-3
Judas betrayed Jesus with A Kiss. Luke 22:47
Judas was already Satan’s minister. John 13:27;

“Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” [Jas 1:15].

2Tim 3:13 Wax worse & worse.

It IMPRISONS us. John 8:34

It Keeps us longer than we INTENDED to stay.

JUDAS plotted for 30pcs of silver. Mat 26:14-16; But couldn’t undo what He had done. Matt 27:3-10.

2Pet 2:19. in bondage. Rom 6:16.

Luke 15:11-17. Swine Feeder

we have NOTHING to repay. Rom 6:23

Sin will cost us more than we wanted to pay.

JUDAS Hangs himself. Giving back the money didn’t fix his sin. He sought his own solution, not God’s. Mt 27:5; Ac 1:18.

“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” Matt 16:26.

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Luke 7:42, Nothing to repay

This sermon was preached Sunday morning at the Franklin and Juniper st church of Christ on July 16, 2023 by spencer blackwelder

Click here to read an article about why we’re different.

James 1:5 God GIVES

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God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 1:5

God is the Giver. 3:18. Jas 1:17.
It shall be. 1:6 no doubting.
Voluminously. Liberally. Luke 6:38.
Every Saint that asks. If… we read 1:25; 4:2-3.
Shameless. Reproaches not. Upbraid not. God does not give reluctantly.

See 1Kings 3:3-14 When Solomon asked for wisdom.

The Franklin and Juniper church of Christ begins an overview study of the book of James. If you live in the Borger area, We invite you to join us at 6:30pm each Wednesday night for the next few weeks.

Click here for an overview chart of the Book of James.

1John: chap 1 Fellowship defined

The Preacher 1 Comment

Biblical FELLOWSHIP is SHARED experiences.

We have SHARED in…

SAME purpose. 1Cor 1:10; Eph 4:4-6.
HEART. Phil 1:7
ACTION. Phil 4:14-15
RESOURCES. Acts 2:42; Heb 10:34
EACH MEMBER. does its part. Rom 12; 1Cor 12:12-25; Eph 4:16.
DIFFICULTY. Heb 10:33

The Franklin and Juniper church of Christ begins an overview study of the book of 1John. If you live in the Borger area, We invite you to join us at 9:30am each Sunday Morning for the next few weeks.

Click here for the Overview Chart and links to other study outlines in this series.

1John: chapter 1 We Saw

The Preacher 1 Comment

1John 1:1-4 Eyewitnesses saw Jesus.

We Saw, Held.   1John 1:1-4; 4:14.

Inspired because.   John 16:13; Acts 1:8.

Touched Him.   John 20:27. 1Jo 1:1.

No Fear.   Act 4:13.

Eyewitness of Paul.   Act 26:13.

Signs.   Acts 2:22.

Suffering.   Act 4:20.

The Franklin and Juniper church of Christ begins an overview study of the book of 1John. If you live in the Borger area, We invite you to join us at 9:30am each Sunday Morning for the next few weeks.

Click here for the Overview Chart and links to other study outlines in this series.

a Study of 1John

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The Franklin and Juniper church of Christ begins an overview study of the book of 1John. If you live in the Borger area, We invite you to join us at 9:30am each Sunday Morning for the next few weeks.

Introduction:

What a Saint KNOWS from 1John.

1John 1:

Eyewitness testimony (1:1-4)

Biblical Fellowship (1:5-10)

What is TRUTH?

1John 2:

What does ADVOCATE & PROPITIATION mean? 1John 2:1-2

Two tests of Fellowship. 1John 2:3-11

Assurance for all Ages. 1John 2:12-14

who is the ANTICHRIST? 1John 2:18-23

1John 3:

Overview of 1John 3.

Looking up in Hope. 1John 3:1-3

How do we KNOW when we’ve gone from death to life? 1John 3:14-15

The CHILD of God can know. 1John 3:19-24

(coming soon)

1John 4:

The test of antichrist. The spirit of error vs the spirit of truth. 1John 4:1-6

Love CASTS out fear.

(coming soon)

1John 5:

(coming soon)

James: God brings GIFTS

The Preacher 1 Comment

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above…

The gift of GRACE. Eph 2:8-9.

The gift of the INSPIRED word.  2Tim 3:15-17.

The gift of FRUITFUL seasons.   Acts 14:15-17.

The gift of earthly TREASURE. Mat 7:11. to Give & to share. Eph 4:28.

The Gift of SALVATION.   Acts 2:38; Rom 6:23.

The Franklin and Juniper church of Christ begins an overview study of the book of James. If you live in the Borger area, We invite you to join us at 6:30pm each Wednesday night for the next few weeks.

Click here for an overview chart of the Book of James.