Broad Street Church of Christ

Broadstreet       Church of Christ

1213 Broad Street Phenix City, Alabama

Schedule of Services
Sunday:

Bible Study
10:00 A.M.

Morning Worship
11:00 A.M.

Evening Worship
5:00 P.M.          (winter)

6:00 P.M.        (summer)
 

Wednesday:
Bible Study
7:30 P.M.

Morning Worship

Lessons from the Tower of Babel

Introduction:
a. The book of Genesis can be divided into two distinct sections: Pre-diluvian (before the flood) and Antediluvian (after the flood)

b. The 2 important stories of these periods are the story of Noah (chapter 6-9) and the story of Abraham and his descendants, which fills the remainder of the book

c. Chapters 10 and 11 form the link between these 2 story lines. Chapter 10 is a list of genealogies that begin with Noah's three sons-Shem, Ham, and Japheth-and move eventually to Terah from whom Abraham is born

d. At two points there are parentheses. The first parenthesis is 10:8-12 which tells us about Nimrod and his exploits.

8
And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.

9
He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.

10
And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.

11
Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah,

12
And Resen between Nineveh and Calah: the same is a great city.

 

The second is 11:1-9 which chronicles the building of the tower

1
And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.

2
And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

3
And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar.

4
And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

5
And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

6
And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

7
Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.

8
So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

9
Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

e. These two go together. In the first we have an emphasis on Nimrod--what he was like, what he did, what his goals were. In the second we have a treatment of the same theme but from the perspective of the people who worked with him. In each case there is a desire to build a civilization without God

I. Genesis 11:1-9- Nimrod’s Building Project:

1
And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.

2
And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

3
And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar.

4
And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

5
And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

6
And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

7
Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.

8
So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

9
Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

A. Although there were enormous geographical and ecological changes from the flood, when Noah’s family stepped from the ark they were still faced with the same challenge – living in a world that had been cursed by the presence of sin, and Satan was still on the scene, ready to seduce humans into placing themselves before God

B. As a result of their common descent from Noah, the world had one common language

III. LESSONS from the Tower of Babel:

A. Rebellion: God had commanded the descendants of Noah to "increase in number and fill the earth" - Genesis 9:1 they wanted to stay in one place - they said “let us” not a thus saith the lord!

B. A tower “whose top is in the heavens” - Some suggest that man’s arrogance and pride was so rampant, and humans were so impressed with their building skills that they thought they could reach up to God’s level

C. The Bible traces all false religions to Babylon, the site of this event. In fact Babylon symbolizes the the center of false religion (Rome in the N.T.)

II. GOD’S Judgment: God came down to see the tower the men of Babylon were building:

A. It presents perspective. God is above, we, and our works, are beneath

 ISAIAH 55:8,9

8
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

9
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

B. Earlier the builders had used the word “come” to call their council: "Come, let's make bricks.... Come, let us build ourselves a city" – Genesis 11:3,4 - t now God uses the word as He assembles His heavenly council and moves to confuse their language: "Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other" - Genesis 11: 7

IV. God’s Will is Done: they ceased building the city, the Lord scattered them upon the earth

 Genesis 11:8,9

A. The Babylonians wanted a city, but heir city was left unfinished. Nimrod's people wanted a name, but who are they now?

B. But to those who stand with God and who overcome, God promises both

 Revelation 3:12

12
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

C. The Tower of Babel and the Day of Pentecost:

1. Babel: men united in doing the will of man –

God confounded their language

2. Pentecost – the apostles doing the will of

God – the way to heaven reveled and every person hear the gospel in his own language – God and man united by man doing God’s will

 Acts 2

Conclusion:

a. The Tower of Babel is extremely significant to the epic of the Bible. The story is much more than God indiscriminately interrupting an insignificant building project

b. It is a standing monument to man’s arrogance and pride, and God’s judgment against sin

c Its lesson today is a call to obedience of God’s will!

Evening Worship

Lessons from the Life of Naaman
II Kings 5:1-8

1
Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valor, but he was a leper.

2
And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife.

3
And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.

4
And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.

5
And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.

6
And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have therewith sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy.

7
And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me.

8
And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.

INTRODUCTION:

a. About the Text:

1. Not much is known about Naaman other than what we find here

2. He had a career

b. But all we know about him is found in II Kings 5:

1. His story is significant

2. It teaches many valuable lessons

3. Let's note a few

I. Naaman was Identified by His Flaws, not His Successes:

a. Who was Naaman?

1. Captain of the host of the king of Syria

2. Great man with his master

3. Honorable

4. A Victor!

5. A mighty man of valor

b. How do we remember Naaman?

1. He was a leper

2. Leprosy is a horrible disease caused by bacterial infection

3. It attacks the nervous system disabling one's ability to feel pain

4. In advanced cases, gangrene sets in and causes parts to fall from the body

5. Today we have ways to treat the disease

6. But no such treatment was available for Naaman

7. Untreated, the disease leads to death

c. All of Naaman's successes were eclipsed by this horrible disease he had:

1. The same is true today

2. We may have multiple successes in our life, but one big failure will eclipse them all

3. The biggest failure with which man has to deal is the problem of sin

d. Every one has this problem

Romans 3:23

23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

1. This problem dooms us to separation from God

 Isaiah 59:2

2
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

2. Without treatment, we will surely die

 Romans 6:23

23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
II. Naaman Looked for the Solution from the Wrong Person:

a. Naaman had a solution to his problem:

1. Naaman had captured a Hebrew girl in battle and made her his servant

2. The girl told Naaman where he could find a cure for his disease-a prophet in Israel

b. To whom did Naaman look for the solution?

1. Naaman didn't initially go to the prophet

2. He wrote to the king of Israel

3. The king had no such power to cure Naaman of his leprosy

c. How did Naaman find the solution?

1. Elisha heard of the king's grief

2. He inquired and discovered why

3. He told the king where to tell Naaman to go for the solution to his problem

d. Where do we look for the solution to the problem of sin?

1. The wrong source:

a. Some look for the answers in family members

b. Some look for the answers in self

c. Some look for answers from the "professionals"

d. Proverbs 14:12

12
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Proverbs 16:25

25
There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

e. Jeremiah 10:23

23
O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

2, The right source:

a. Proverbs 3:5-6

5
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

b. John 8:32

32
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

 John 14:6

6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 John 17:17

17
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

III. Naaman Brought His Preconceived Expectations to Salvation:

a. Naaman finally found the right source for the solution to his problem:

1. The king of Israel evidently sent word back to Naaman about Elisha

2. Naaman came to Elisha's doorstep to be cleansed

3. Elisha, however, didn't even bother coming out of his house

4. He sent his servant out with the message of what Naaman was to do

5. Naaman, through Elisha's servant, was given the message of salvation

6. Wash in the Jordan River seven times

b. The solution to Naaman's problems wasn't what Naaman was expecting:

1. What did he expect?

2. That Elisha would come out to him

3. That he would call upon the Lord and make a show by waving his hands

4. That the rivers of his own country were cleaner than the Jordan

5. That he could wash in another river to be saved from his leprosy

c. What preconceived expectations do we bring to salvation from sin?

1. Some believe God must save them personally and directly - But Romans 10:17

17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

2. Some believe that their salvation must be a show. But James 1:21 "receive with meekness...."

3. Some believe their own "rivers" of righteousness are cleaner than God's. But Isaiah 64:6 "filty rags"

6
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

4. Some believe that their own "plan" of salvation is just as good as God's. But Romans 10:2,3

2
For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

3
For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

IV. When Naaman believed and obeyed God's message, he was saved:

a. What caused Naaman to dip in the Jordan?

1. Naaman's servants talked some sense into him

2. Why would he allow his own preconceived notions to prevent him from being cured?

3. Wouldn't you have done some great thing?

4. Why not simply go to the Jordan and wash?

5. Sometimes it takes simple people to open the eyes of the great

6. Elisha's instructions were simple: Go wash in the Jordan seven times

b. What did Naaman do?

1. So, Naaman believed that message and went

2. He washed himself in the Jordan SEVEN times

3. When he was finished washing, his leprosy was gone

4. His faith and obedience had resulted in his salvation

c. What about today?

1. Some get angry because of God's simple commands

2. They don't obey because God's commands are humbling

3. Some say that faith ALONE will save. But James 2:24 "not by faith only."

24
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

4. If we are to be saved, our faith must be completed by our obedience.

James 2:22

22
Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

5. Jesus saves those who obey Him

 Hebrews 5:9

9
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

 Revelation 22:12