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.
All times
Eastern
Morning Worship
Learning How To Love
Introduction:
a. It is good to understand what love is -It is good to understand the
elements of love
b. In order to really love there is some things we need to experience
ourselves first before we can truly reach out and love others
I. Experience God's love:
A. God's love for man is unconditional
17
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and
grounded in love,
18
May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length,
and depth, and height;
19
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be
filled with all the fulness of God.
8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us.
3
For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving
divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating
one another.
4
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
b. we need to keep in mind, however, that the benefits of God’s love for man
are conditional
35
Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of
reward.
36
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye
might receive the promise.
37
For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not
tarry.
Hab
2:3
38
Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall
have no pleasure in him.
Hab
2:4
39
But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that
believe to the saving of the soul.
17
Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul
delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins
behind thy back.
B. Ponder the following:
1. We are conditioned individuals -
We tell small children when they do something good that they are a good
boy/girl. However, when they do something bad we tell them that bad people
do that activity
2. We learn" What you do is what you are
3. Thus, we become convinced that God's love is the same way. We develop our
view of God's love through the love that parents have for us
C. Picture of God's love:
1. Relationship he desires of us
Husband/wife
5
For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy
Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be
called.
2
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to
one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
Father/child
12
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of
God, even to them that believe on his name:
5
To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption
of sons.
2. God is forgiving
6
And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God,
merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
3. He is endless
3
The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with
an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
20
And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it:
fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee;
he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the
work for the service of the house of the LORD.
D. REALIZE:
1. We are blessed
17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from
the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of
turning.
2. God cares for us
6
Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall
bless us.
7
God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.
II. Remember you are of value:
A. Negative self image that so many have:
1. Result of negative feed back from the world
2. We base self image on what others say about us
3. Result-affect the way we act and react to people
B. We have worth:
1. God made us in His image
26
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them
have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and
over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that
creepeth upon the earth.
27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him;
male and female created he them.
Matt
19:4
Mark
10:6
6
Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image
of God made he man.
28
For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your
own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
2. God gives us the privilege of being His
1
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should
be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it
knew him not.
2
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we
shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for
we shall see him as he is.
3
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is
pure.
3. God saves us
31
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against
us?
32
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall
he not with him also freely give us all things?
33
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that
justifieth.
34
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen
again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession
for us.
C. How to develop your self worth:
1. Don't compare yourself to others
4
But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in
himself alone, and not in another.
12
For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some
that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and
comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
2. Look above. Look at what you have been given and what has been done for
you
18
For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
1
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where
Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with
him in glory.
III. Allow yourself to feel:
A. We have been trained to be self centered. When we were born we learned to
cry and we got either a bottle, our diaper changed, or Mama to hold us and
love us. God tells us not to think selfishly but to think selflessly
32
For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also
love those that love them.
24
Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
B. True love comes from the heart
7
Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my
heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of
the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
C. Beware:
1. This change is difficult. There will be some pain and natural resistance.
You will be pushed out of your comfort zone
2. We need to know that God's way is love
8
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
27
For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have
believed that I came out from God.
11
Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind,
live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
Conclusion:
A. we are taught the love of god from his word
B. realize your worth in the eyes of God
C. allow yourself to be taught and trained in the loving way of the lord!
Loving God by Listening to God
Introduction:
a. Are you listening?
b. The art of listening. Listening takes, energy, concentration, time, and
effort
c. Listening is vital to a relationship
d. Do you listen to GOD? Are you listening?
I. God speaks today:
A. Affirmation. God speaks to us today
B. Some say that God speaks by dreams, directly in the middle of the night,
some incidents or a "sign" - The fact is that God does not speak through
these means today
C. God communicates to us today by means of his word-the Bible
12
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged
sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the
joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the
heart.
D. The Bible is God's revelation
9
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered
into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love
him.
Isa 64:4
10
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth
all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in
him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is
of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth,
but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with
spiritual.
14
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they
are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are
spiritually discerned.
15
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no
man.
16
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we
have the mind of Christ.
Isa
40:14
It is the breath of God
16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
e. The Bible speaks to and EQUIPS THE entire man
104
Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
f. It is God's instruction book
3
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain
unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to
glory and virtue:
4
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by
these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the
corruption that is in the world through lust.
2
Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ,
and of all things that he saw.
6
And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God
of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things
which must shortly be done.
7
Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the
prophecy of this book.
8
And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen,
I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these
things.
g. THE PURPOSE is to give instruction, wisdom, judgment, and knowledge
2
To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
3
To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
4
To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
5
A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding
shall attain unto wise counsels:
h. God's purpose in communicating to us:
1. Present the truth
3
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common
salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye
should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the
saints.
9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness;
but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but
that all should come to repentance.
2. That we may conform to his truth
29
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the
image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
12
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in
word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
17
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
18
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord,
are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit
of the Lord.
for his glory
31
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory
of God.
3. Tell others the truth
19
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and,
lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
2
And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same
commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
II. Our attitude toward God's message:
A. Attitude affects altitude
7
For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee;
but his heart is not with thee.
B. Various attitudes toward God. Do you see him as a loving or demanding
father, intimate or distant friend, patient or intolerant teacher, gentle or
angry guide, understanding or insensitive counselor, a generous or reluctant
provider
C. Attitudes to have toward God's words:
1. Submissive
6
Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing
the will of God from the heart;
22
And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and
sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better
than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
Mark 12:33
13
For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity
which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained
them not.
2. Trusting
15
Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own
ways before him.
III. Why we don't listen to God:
A. Don't have a relationship with God
B. Poor self image- not worthy. We are made in the likeness of God
1
O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
C. False sense of not being “savable” - Such was taken care of at the cross
21
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be
made the righteousness of God in him.
D. God directed anger
E. Harboring sin instead of repenting
8
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in
us.
9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and
to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not
in us.
30
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men
every where to repent:
31
Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in
righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given
assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
Conclusion:
A. Open your heart
41
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day
there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
B. Let God speak-listen, listen as if your life depends upon it
48
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him:
the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
20
Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
22
And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth
God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from
God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of
thee.
23
Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away
with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
24
And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for
them, and he had called together his kinsmen and near friends.
25
And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet,
and worshipped him.
26
But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
27
And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come
together.
28
And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man
that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God
hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
29
Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I
ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?
30
And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the
ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in
bright clothing,
31
And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in
remembrance in the sight of God.
32
Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he
is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he
cometh, shall speak unto thee.
33
Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art
come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things
that are commanded thee of God.
