Dr. Bingham’s Lesson for May 27, 2012
“Be a servant to others as Christ also was” – Philippians 2:1-29
The church at Philippi during Paul’s day had become concerned with betterment. They had succumbed to concertism, which is a gathering for no more reason than to see the show; no one is concerned with anyone else in the crowd; they are just their together. So many of our churches today have also succumbed to concertism. They show up because that is where the service is held; but they do not come to get connected or do anything sacrificial for the church.
Philippians 2:1-4
If we are in any way blessed by Christ, the relationship to Christ carries with it the necessity to be in relationship with each other.
Consider others as better than yourselves. We need to come together to treat others better than ourselves.
Three examples of this behavior — Jesus Christ, Paul himself, and two others, Timothy and Epaphroditus; Christ, an apostle, and two disciples.
Philippians 2:5-11
Though Jesus was God and entitled to be served, He did not come to be served but to serve.
These verses have been translated in several ways. Verse 7 begins in one translation as “but emptied Himself.” This has led to heretical interpretations which have Jesus emptying Himself of some of His divine attributes. But this is not the case; Jesus remained fully God. Better translations are “but made Himself nothing” or “but made Himself of low esteem.” If Jesus loses just one attribute of divine nature, He ceases to be God. What Christ emptied Himself of was the right to be served. He is the only one in the Universe entitled to be served.
There will come a day, however, when Christ shall exercise His right to be served and every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Philippians 2:16-18
As Christ has emptied Himself of the right to be served, we must also not insist on being served but freely serve others.
Verse 17 connects with verse 7. Christ and Paul should be thought of in this chapter as drink offerings.
Concertism is not Christian.
Philippians 2:19-24
Timothy considered the interests of the Philippians ahead of his own.
Philippians 2:25-29
Epaphroditus imitated the example of Jesus Christ in serving the Philippian church to the point of almost dying.
Dr. Bingham’s Lesson for May 20, 2012
Easter Message
“Believing without Seeing” – John 20:1-29
Introduction: Vincenzo Camuccini’s painting of The “Incredulity of Saint Thomas,” located in a small chapel in Saint Peter’s Basilica.
John 20:1-2 – Mary Magdalene saw something but her interpretation was not of faith. Our flesh always jumps to an interpretation that is always faithless.
John 20:3 – Everybody’s running but not in faith.
John 20:4-9 – John believed Christ had risen because he saw with his own eyes that his body was missing.
John 20:19-20 – Jesus shows the disciples His hands and side. Their fear was turned to joy because they saw.
John 20:24-25 – Thomas, who was not present, declares that he will not believe unless he sees.
John 20:26-29 – Thomas believed because he saw and not because he relied on scripture or the apostle’s word. Faith is nothing more than taking the prophets and the apostles at their word. Blessed are those who have not seen yet believe.
Dr. Bingham’s Lesson for May 13, 2012
Guest speaker: Kevin Dodge
“Being a Christian in a Cultural Christian World — Part II” – Judges 6:25-40
The best way to start breaking through the fog of a culture that is really confused is to sometimes read the people who have stood the test of time.
Augustine’s Confessions was a best seller in its day (written between 397 & 400 AD). As a young man, Augustine’s seeking mind turned to Manichaeism, which was a combination of Greek and Persian, Zoroastrian philosophy, seeking to resolve the dilemma of a loving God allowing evil and intense suffering. Manichaeism’s “solution” was to formulate the existence of two worlds, one good (characterized by light) and one evil (characterized by darkness). In a clash between the two worlds, man, originally of the light, became trapped in the world of darkness but retained some light. This type of philosophy is known as dualism and arises out of Gnosticism, which is of Jewish origin and later took on some elements of Christianity.
Augustine eventually rejected Manichaeism and became a great rhetorician and teacher of rhetoric and later became involved with Christians. One day, while feeling the need to become a Christian, he was in a courtyard and cried out to God how to become a Christian; then he heard a child playing a game and saying, “Pick up and read.” Augustine opened his Bible and it fell open randomly to Romans 13:13-14 and Augustine read, understood, and was converted.
Augustine’s life changed dramatically after this. Augustine, who had lived a thoroughly pagan life, living with a concubine, delighting in the bloody spectacles in the Colosseum, involved with Manichaeism, who found the only meaning to his life in fleshly pursuits, became Christianity’s foremost advocate and teacher. He joined with a group of Christian men who gathered to study together and eventually they found themselves in the North African City of Hippo, seeking a permanent place for their group. On entering the church of Hippo, the congregation, on learning that he was the famous orator of Rome, immediately made him their pastor.
Again, we are reminded that God can make great use of any life, no matter how far from Him that life has degenerated, if he will only turn to the Son of God in faith, submission, and reliance on the completed work of Jesus on the cross.
Judges 6:22
Gideon begins as a man confused about who God is and thus behaved in a confused, timid way. But in verse 22, we hear him exclaim that he has seen the angel of the Lord face to face. Now his life begins to change to that of a mighty warrior for God.
Judges 6:25-32
In addition to being a storm god, Ba’al was a fertility god and, in an agrarian culture, he was particularly important. His followers believed that, at the approach of winter, Ba’al went down into the nether world, allowing plant life to go dormant, and the only way to entice him back up to revive plant life and have crops was to have sex on his altar. This was the rationale of having temple prostitutes. The Asherah pole represented the female goddess-consort to Ba’al and was covered with sexual symbols.
Gideon is instructed by God to tear down the town’s altar to Ba’al and to build in its place an altar to Yahweh and use the Asherah pole as fuel for the fire of the altar.
When the town reacts by seeking to kill Gideon, Gideon’s father, Joash, deflects them by telling the town’s people that if Ba’al is a god, he can defend his own altar. So the town’s people decided to leave it to Ba’al, naming Gideon Jerub-Ba’al, meaning “Ba’al will contend with him.”
Judges 6:33-35
When the Midianites, Amalekites, and other eastern peoples join forces, cross the Jordan, and encamp in the valley of Jezreel, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon and He blew a trumpet, gathering the Abiezrites to follow him. Messengers were sent to the rest of Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali so that they would join him.
Judges 6:36-40
But Gideon is still not sure about this and still not sure who God is and calls Him Elohim, the more generic name for God, and instructs God in doing another sign for him. God is patient with him and provides the desired sign.
Do not take Gideon’s actions as a pattern for deciding the course of your life. This is not a Christian way to make a decision.
Gideon isn’t trying to decide a course of action; he is really trying to find out if he is actually talking to God. He is still trying to find out who God is. It turns out that Ba’al, besides being a storm god and god of agriculture, is also a god of dew.
The Christian should use the wisdom of the Scriptures and supplement it with the light God has given him and the wisdom of the Christian community.
Hebrews 11:32
Saving faith is composed of knowledge, perseverance, and trust (or reliance). This verse in Hebrews is concerned with the perseverance aspect of faith.
This is difficult, and we need each other to persevere.
Dr. Bingham’s Lesson for May 6, 2012
Guest speaker: Kevin Dodge
“Being a Christian in a Cultural Christian World — Part I” – Judges 6:1-24
The author of the book of Judges is thought to be Samuel.
The second generation of Israelites after the Exodus invaded the land of Canaan.
God’s plan was for Israel to be a light to the rest of the nations. But in Judges, we see that they fell far short of that goal by assimilating idolatry into their religious life. From time to time, God allowed them to be taken over or oppressed by neighboring nations and then eventually, when they had repented, providing them a deliverer who would restore their independence.
Judges 6:1-6
Israel did evil in the sight of God and the Midianites, primarily, and the Amalikites invaded the land and left the Israelites impoverished.
Judges 6:7-10
Israel cried out to God and god sent a (man) prophet to tell them where they went wrong.
Judges 6:11-12
The angel of the Lord appears to Gideon. The angel of the Lord is generally taken to be the pre-incarnate Christ, “Yahweh is with you, mighty warrior.” Gideon is a leading man in his community.
Judges 6:13-18
Gideon disputes what the Lord has said to him. But God tells him that He is sending him.
Gideon evidently does not recognize that he is talking to God. But Gideon asks for a sign.
Judges 6:19-24
Gideon prepares an offering to the Lord and the angel of the Lord touches the offering with his staff and fire consumes the offering. Gideon now believes.
It is hard to live as a true Christian in a nominally Christian culture.
Romans 12:1-2
We need to live with Christian distinctives in a cultural Christian world. Be all-in as a Christian. Allow yourself to stand out. Be in the world but not of the world.
Dr. Bingham’s Lesson for April 29, 2012
Series in Mark
“Let not your Hearts be Troubled” – John 14:1-16:7
“Something is Missing from our World — continued” – Mark 14:1-9
John 14:1-3
The stark reality pervading much of the New Testament is the physical absence of Jesus.
“Let not your heart be troubled” is a preparatory statement to all that Jesus will subsequently say.
The first reason that we should not be troubled is that Jesus has left to prepare a place for us to spend eternity.
The second reason is that we have His promise to return.
John 14:12
The third reason we shouldn’t be troubled in His absence is that we, particularly the apostles, will be doing greater things than what Jesus has been doing.
John 16:5
A quick look around at the world should be enough for you to grieve that Jesus is not here with us.
In John, Jesus is giving us reasons why our sorrow and grief should be mitigated.
John 14:15-16
Jesus recognizes that while He was with the disciples His presence and guidance was a comfort to His followers; He was available to answer all their questions. But in going away, Jesus is sending another in His place to be a comforter to us, and in particular, the apostles. The Greek word used to describe the Comforter is paraclete, which means more than comforter; it carries also the idea of one called along side, a counselor, and an advocate. He is called the Spirit of Truth, God the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is identical to Jesus in nature and in what He can do, though not identical as to person.
In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit was not present with anyone permanently. We find David in Psalm 51:11, after his great sin of adultery, pleading with God not to take from him the Holy Spirit. But He is with us forever, to comfort and advise.
John 14:25-26
Let not your hearts be troubled. We have the writings of the New Testament because Jesus left and the Holy Spirit came.
John 14:17
The Holy Spirit will minister internally. That part that we cannot touch or do anything about is where He will minister.
John 14:18
The first way Jesus will come to you is at the end of the age when He returns.
The second way Jesus will come to you is by the Holy Spirit, so that when He comes He will be conveying the presence of Jesus Christ to you.
John 15:26-27
The Holy Spirit empowers us to be witnesses of Jesus.
John 16:6-7
It is for our good that Jesus went away. The Holy Spirit had to come within us so He could have a ministry to the world. We worship a trinitarian God. We are not just Jesus-worshipers. As Christians, we are also worshipers of the third person of the Trinity.
Dr. Bingham’s Lesson for April 22, 2012
Series in Mark
“Something is Missing from our World” – Mark 14:1-9
One of the themes in Mark is that most people respond to Jesus in inappropriate ways. Those who have responded to Jesus appropriately we call the church. So most of the people in the house of Simon the Leper respond to the woman’s act of pouring perfume on Jesus’ head by saying that it was a great waste. They don’t realize that Jesus is leaving. The only one who understands this is the woman.
John 16:5-11, 16
Even though we are saved, forgiven, and redeemed and we have the promise of resurrection from the dead and eternal life in the kingdom of God, there is a big hole in our world — Jesus has left it. This is something for you to grieve about, something to feel pain about. Some people will tell you that you have all you need as a Christian right now. But they just don’t get it.
Mark 13:1-2, 5, 9, 12-13, 17
Things are not right with our world because Jesus is not here. Something is missing from our world and we should be grieved because of it.
Mark 13:26-27
When Jesus returns there won’t be any mistake about it because He will come in the clouds and the dead will be raised from one end of the earth to the other. It will be something you have never seen or imagined before.
We are a people without our Lord. Every day should be a day we cry out for our Lord. We are a people in waiting.
“Even so, come Lord Jesus.”
Dr. Bingham’s Lesson for April 15, 2012
Guest speaker: Kevin Dodge
“Suffering is Mitigated by Confidence in the Resurrecton” – Psalm 16:1-10
We can have confidence in God in the midst of suffering because God’s providence extends beyond the grave.
Psalm 16:1
David uses the term El for God. This term was used in all the surrounding cultures to denote the chief god, but, in Israel, to denote the one and only God.
Psalm 16:2
Here, David uses the term Yahweh for God. This name for God was introduced to Israel by way of Moses at the burning bush. It means “I am that I am” and speaks of the perfection, completeness, and self-existence of God. (Exodus 3:14)
David then refers to God as his Lord, Adonai, meaning master.
David understands that he has no righteousness of his own.
Psalm 16:3
David delights in the saints, the people of God.
Psalm 16:4
David relies on God’s grace and not on appeasement, as the pagans surrounding Israel do.
Psalm 16:5-6
This is an allusion to the book of Joshua, in which the tribes received their promised inheritance. David was of the tribe of Judah (1 Chronicles 2:3-15).
Psalm 16:7
The night is when one meditated on the law, the scriptures.
Psalm 16:8-9
David has confidence that he will dwell securely because he has put God in first place in his life. The right hand has significance in a military setting; a combatant holds a shield in his left hand and holds a sword with his right. The left has protection from his shield but the right is more vulnerable because he can be struck when he has his sword raised. So, with God on his right, he has protection there also.
Psalm 16:10
This psalm was quoted by Peter in the book of acts. It is foundational to the Christian faith.
Luke 24:44-45
Jesus informs His disciples that the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms have written about Him. They must be understood in the context of His coming.
Acts 2:22-32
Here, Psalm 16:8-10 is put in its right context.
We will all experience suffering but we can have confidence that at the end of our days our souls will rest securely in the hope of the resurrection from the dead.
Dr. Bingham’s Lesson for April 8, 2012
Easter Message
“What is the Composition of your Spiritual Parachute?” – Romans 1:18-32
Romans 1:18-20
Creation screams out God’s divine nature and His eternal power. God should never be confused with His creation.
But man suppressed this reality.
Romans 1:21-23
What you think about God determines every other dimension of your existence.
Suppression eventually progresses to exchange.
If you muffle anything the Bible is telling you about God, you will eventually believe something about God that is false.
Romans 1:24-25
Whatever you think about God trickles down into your worship. The most important thought you can have is what you think about God.
Romans 1:26-27
Whatever you think about God also trickles down into your behavior; so that a false belief about God results in natural relationships exchanged for the unnatural.
Romans 1:28-32
Every other imaginable wickedness also follows.
What you think about God will either purify you or corrupt you.
Romans 4:4-8
If you believe that God is a God who gives righteousness to those, who have no righteousness of their own, through His Son Jesus Christ, Paul wants you to know that all of your transgressions have been forgiven and you have been declared utterly, completely, and thoroughly righteous, not on the basis of your righteousness, for you have none of your own, but completely on the basis of the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
Romans 4:17-21
Know also that God is the God who raises the dead.
Dr. Bingham’s Lesson for April 1, 2012
“The Greatest Commandment” – Mark 12:28-37
Mark 12:28-34
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
There is only one God. Therefore you owe Him all your love. When there is only one of something it requires your all. Obedience always begins with doctrine.
In the West, we don’t have a pantheon of gods, but we, nevertheless, have a multitude of gods. Devotion to anything that takes your attention away from God acts like an idol.
Loving God also involves loving your neighbor. Truly loving your neighbor is always in accordance with God’s commands. Never relate to your neighbor in a way that is against the standards of loving God. In most situations, loving God and loving your neighbor are indivisible.
1 John 4:19-20
The first commandment to love requires the second.
The teacher of the law commends Jesus and Jesus commends the teacher of the law but in a reserved way. The teacher was not far from the kingdom of God but not quite there yet.
Mark 12:35-37
Jesus follows this discussion with a discussion of the identity of Christ.
The teachers of the law were okay with thinking of the Christ as the physical son of David. But Jesus quotes to them Psalm 110:1, in which David calls the Christ Lord. The last time we heard mention of the Lord was in the commandment to love the Lord your God with all your heart. You are to understand that the Christ is the Lord God of Israel made flesh and that Jesus is that one, the Christ, the Lord God of Israel, a descendant of David.
Being Christian means that in our love of Jesus Christ, in our adoration of Him, in our faith that He is the incarnate God of the universe, we are to love Him by keeping His commandments, the first of which is to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Dr. Bingham’s Lesson for March 25, 2012
Series in Mark
“Marriage and the Resurrection” – Mark 12:18-27
Mark 12:18-25
People who do not know the scriptures doubt the power of God, because the scriptures loudly proclaim His power. Many people in the church think that when they die they will continue in a state of existence without a body forever; they aren’t expecting to be resurrected physically. We will, however, always be human. This passage does not teach that we become angels, only that in the resurrection we are like angels in not marrying. When we die, our spirits do go immediately to be with the Lord in heaven, but there will come a day when our spirits are united with a new version of our old bodies that is incorruptible, immortal, and glorious.
Mark 12:26-27
Jesus could have gone to Daniel 12, which clearly talks about the resurrection or He could have gone to Psalm 16 or to other passages, but He chose to go to Exodus 3, in which the Lord appears to Moses from a bush that appears to burn.
Jesus presents the resurrection as an essential component of the Christian faith.
Exodus 3:1-7, 2:23-25
Twice in these passages, Moses reminds everyone that God has made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The covenant involved giving something not only to their descendants but to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, themselves.
Genesis 17:8
The land of Canaan is promised as an everlasting possession not only to Abraham’s descendants but to Abraham, personally, forever.
If God is going to give the land of Canaan to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants forever then God must raise them from the dead. Death ends the marriage covenant but death does not end the covenant God made with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants.
