ScriptureStream

ScriptureStream

By Mark WatsonSociety & CultureReligion & SpiritualityChristianityPhilosophy
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ScriptureStream episodes

  • Luke 16
    Luke 16
    • Luke 16:16 - Compare the other use of “force his way into it” in Matthew 11:12. In the original language, this is a very unusual phrase - only occurring twice in the New Testament.
      • Luke 16:1-13 - Parable of the unjust steward.
      • The lesson here seems to be the importance of being wise in all your dealings - not so much in the dishonesty perpetrated by the steward. If we can’t be faithful with the relatively less valuable earthly goods, how can we be faithful with much more valuable spiritual things?
        • Luke 16:19-31 - The rich man and Lazarus
        43 min
      • Learning How to Trust a God Who Cannot Lie
        Introduction
        • Titus 1:1-4
          • God promises the end, but I must faithfully travel the path.
          • Genesis 12:5-7 - Abraham was already in Canaan when he received the land promise.
            • Abram :arrow_right: Egypt
            • Abram :arrow_right: Canaan
            • Joseph :arrow_right: Slave in Egypt
            • Family multiplies into nation, forced into slavery.
            • Moses delivers from Egypt.
            • 40 years wandering
            • Conquest of land
            • Genesis 37:2-11 - Joseph dreams of his family bowing down to him.
              • Brothers sell him to Midianites
              • Midianites sell him to Potiphar
              • False accusations :arrow_right: jail
              • Interprets two dreams of fellow prisoners
              • Forgotten in jail two more years
              • Interprets Pharaoh’s dream, given high position
              • Faming brings family to Egypt
                • Genesis 42:6
                • I Corinthians 10:13
                  • Sometimes, God makes the result contingent on my response.
                  • Deuteronomy 28:1-68 - Israel would be blessed or cursed based on their actions.
                  • Colossians 1:21-23
                  • Hebrews 3:1-11, 14 - Notice the word “if!”
                  • Hebrews 4:1
                    • I must trust God to handle things I know nothing about.
                    • Genesis 17:15-21 - The promise would come through Isaac.
                    • Genesis 22:2 - Abraham told to sacrifice Isaac!
                    • Hebrews 11:17-19 - Abraham knew God could resurrect Isaac if He wanted to.
                    • I John 5:14
                      • 24 min
                    • Challenges as Benchley Grows, Part 3
                      We must teach and study the Bible. (Let’s not compromise the gospel so we can fill the pews.) (continued)
                      More people means more beliefs, more backgrounds, and more perspectives.
                      • Romans 15:1
                      • Galatians 1:10
                      • II Timothy 4:1-5
                        • We ought to treat visitors with love, as Jesus would.
                        • I Corinthians 14:22-25 - What do unbelievers think of us when they join our assembly? Do they see that God is among us?
                          • Follow Jesus’ example.
                          • Matthew 5:16 - Our goal should be to glorify God and cause others to want to glorify God.
                          • Luke 19:1-10 - How did Jesus treat prospective disciples?
                          • Luke 13:34 - Jesus wanted to help and save everyone.
                          • Luke 22:31
                          • Luke 23:33 - Jesus even prayed for His murderers!
                          • Mark 10:13-16
                          • Luke 7:39
                            • Consider Thom Rainier’s data
                            Top 10 responses as to why people did not return to a particular church.
                            1. The stand-and-greet time in the worship service was unfriendly and awkward.
                            2. Unfriendly church members.
                            3. Unsafe and unclean children’s areas.
                            4. No place to get information on the church.
                            5. Bad church website.
                            6. Poor signage.
                            7. Insider church language.
                            8. Boring or bad church services.
                            9. Members telling guests they were in the wrong pew or chair.
                            10. Dirty facilities.
                              11. Top 10 responses from happy guests
                              1. Someone asked the guest to sit with her.
                              2. People introduced themselves to the guests.
                              3. There was clear signage.
                              4. There was a clearly marked welcome center.
                              5. The kids loved the children’s area.
                              6. The children’s area was secure and sanitary.
                              7. Guest parking was clearly visible.
                              8. The church did not have a stand-and-greet time.
                              9. The members were not pushy.
                              10. The guest card was simple to complete.
                                11. Develop genuine love and concern.
                                • II Peter 3:9
                                • II Corinthians 7:2; 11:28
                                  • Be aware of how we sound to others.
                                  • I Corinthians 9:19-23
                                  • Acts 22:2-3 - Paul tailored his speech and approach to the audience at the time.
                                    • 46 min
                                  • The Lord's Supper
                                    Introduction
                                    • Acts 20:7
                                      • Jesus institutes this memorial (Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 22)
                                      • Matthew 26:17-19 - Jesus was instituting a memorial of an event that had not yet happened. God did the same with the Passover.
                                      • Exodus 12:13, 5
                                      • John 19:31
                                      • I Corinthians 5:7 - Christ, our Passover has been sacrificed.
                                      • Matthew 26:26-29
                                      • Exodus 20:1-17; 24:3-8
                                      • Hebrews 9:18
                                      • Matthew 26:28
                                      • I Corinthians 10:16-17
                                        • Paul corrects some abuses
                                        • I Corinthians 11:17-22
                                          • I Corinthians 11:21 - “Drunk” here seems to just mean the opposite of “hungry.” Some had plenty and some had none.
                                          • I Corinthians 11:23-26 - “Bread” and “cup” here are used as metaphors for Jesus’ body and blood.
                                          • I Corinthians 11:27-29 - We must partake of the Lord’s Supper reverently.
                                          • I Corinthians 11:30-32 - Partaking incorrectly can cause spiritual illness.
                                            • When I partake of the Lord’s Supper
                                            • I commune with Christ.
                                            • I should think about the death of Jesus.
                                              • He sacrificed Himself on the cross for my sins.
                                              • He established a New Covenant for the world.
                                              • I should take it seriously.
                                                • 30 min
                                              • Luke 15
                                                Luke 15
                                                Luke 15:1-7 - Parable of the lost sheep
                                                • Luke 15:4 - Pharisees would have likely held a dim view of the Jewish shepherds because they would often be ceremonially unclean, either from caring for sick or dying animals or tending their flocks on the Sabbath.
                                                  • Luke 15:8-10 - Parable of the lost coin
                                                  • Luke 15:8 - Like a shepherd (Luke 15:4), a woman would be a similarly discounted person to the Pharisees.
                                                    • Luke 15:11-32 - Parable of the prodigal son
                                                    • Luke 15:13 - It’s interesting to note that the father does not try to stop the son from his foolish decisions. This parallels how God allows us free will even though it can take us away from Him.
                                                    • Luke 15:15 - For a Jewish boy, feeding swine would just about be the worst possible job.
                                                    • Luke 15:22-24 - The father restored his status immediately. There is no fussing, no probation period. See Ephesians 2:1-10.
                                                    • Luke 15:32 - The older brother did not understand this had to do with mercy and not merit.
                                                      • 43 min
                                                    • Mothers are a Blessing
                                                      Introduction
                                                      • Psalms 127:3
                                                        • Mothers are a great source of tender, merciful love.
                                                        • I Thessalonians 2:7
                                                        • The Oneida Community
                                                          • Tried to abolish marriage (“free love” or “complex marriage”) and adopt the “rules of heaven” (where there is no marriage).
                                                          • The experiment failed after thirty years.
                                                          • Philippians 2:4 - Mothers look our for the needs of others.
                                                          • Matthew 15:21
                                                            • The rest of us should value and encourage mothers.
                                                            • Proverbs 31:25-31
                                                            • Ephesians 6:2 - Honor your father and mother.
                                                            • Galatians 4:4
                                                            • Mark 6:1-3
                                                              • Mothers, look to the Bible for wisdom.
                                                              • Colossians 3:16
                                                              • II Timothy 1:5 - How many people did Timothy end up teaching?
                                                              • II Timothy 3:14-15
                                                              • Proverbs 29:15
                                                              • Proverbs 31:1, 3, 5, 8, 26
                                                              • The greatest thing mothers can do is teach their children God’s word.
                                                              • Proverbs 1:8; 6:20
                                                                • 25 min
                                                              • Challenges as Benchley Grows, Part 2
                                                                Avoid cliques that discourage or do harm.
                                                                • Matthew 7:12
                                                                • Matthew 22:39
                                                                • Luke 10:36-37
                                                                • James 2:1-8
                                                                • Look for people to include - not exclude.
                                                                • Romans 12:9-18
                                                                  • Just being part of a group is not sinful.
                                                                  • Psalms 135:4 - God didn’t do anything wrong by creating this group of people.
                                                                  • Mark 3:13-14 - Jesus selected the twelve apostles. He did nothing wrong by selecting this special group.
                                                                    • Let’s learn to appreciate other people and learn from our differences.
                                                                    • Acts 11:19
                                                                    • Matthew 13:53-58 - Those in Jesus’ hometown would have had everything in common with Him, yet they were offended at Him.
                                                                    • Acts 2:9-11, 46-47
                                                                      • We must teach and study the Bible. (Let’s not compromise the gospel so we can fill the pews.)
                                                                      • Acts 15:35; 13:1
                                                                      • Acts 18:1-4, 8, 11
                                                                      • I Corinthians 4:17
                                                                      • I Corinthians 14:26
                                                                      • Acts 20:17, 28, 32
                                                                      • Throughout the New Testament, the building itself was never the focus.
                                                                        • 45 min
                                                                      • When Should I Pray?
                                                                        Introduction
                                                                        • Acts 10:1-4 - God was listening to the prayers of Cornelius!
                                                                          • When I am in trouble
                                                                          • Psalms 34:15-19
                                                                          • Jonah 2:1-2, 7-10 - “There are no atheists in foxholes and rubber rafts.”
                                                                          • II Chronicles 20:3-4, 12 - Jehoshaphat was afraid and sought the Lord. The nation saw that example and followed.
                                                                            • When I am blessed
                                                                            • Luke 17:12-19 - One of the healed lepers returned to thank and praise God.
                                                                            • Luke 6:35
                                                                            • Deuteronomy 6:11-12
                                                                            • I Thessalonians 5:16-18
                                                                              • When I am confused
                                                                              • James 1:5
                                                                              • II Timothy 3:17
                                                                              • Psalms 25:1-5 - “Make me know your ways, O Lord”
                                                                                • When I am tempted
                                                                                • Matthew 6:13
                                                                                • Matthew 26:41
                                                                                • Psalms 141:3
                                                                                • Hebrews 4:15-16
                                                                                • I Corinthians 10:13
                                                                                  • When I am thinking of others
                                                                                  • James 5:13-16
                                                                                  • Psalms 23:5; Hebrews 1:9
                                                                                  • I Timothy 2:1-4
                                                                                  • Ephesians 6:18-19
                                                                                  • Job 42:10
                                                                                    • 26 min
                                                                                  • Luke 14
                                                                                    Luke 14
                                                                                    • Luke 14:1 - They were laying in wait to try to trap Jesus in any small thing they would consider a mistake.
                                                                                    • Luke 14:6 - See Luke 6:1-5; 13:10-17. They showed more care for their animals on the Sabbath than for this woman.
                                                                                    • Luke 14:10-11 - See Proverbs 25:6. We must eliminate this prideful attitude.
                                                                                    • Luke 14:12-14 - Humble yourself!
                                                                                    • Luke 14:15-24 - Jesus came to the Jews first, but then brought His message to everyone. Likewise, we should try to share the gospel with everyone without pre-judging how we think they will react.
                                                                                    • Luke 14:27 - Compare Luke 9:23; Romans 6:1-11. This is a radical new way of dealing with sin. See Galatians 2:20; 5:24. We must die to sin.
                                                                                      • 42 min
                                                                                    • What Faith Produces
                                                                                      Introduction
                                                                                      • Genesis 12:7; 13:17; 15:18; 17:8 – God promised them the land of Canaan.
                                                                                      • Exodus 3:8
                                                                                      • Exodus 12:25
                                                                                      • Numbers 13:1-2 – Men are sent to spy out the land of Canaan.
                                                                                      • Numbers 13:23 – This was a land filled with blessings!
                                                                                      • Numbers 13:25-29 – Ten spies gave a discouraging report.
                                                                                        • TRUST in God’s word
                                                                                        • Numbers 13:30-33 – Caleb tried to give a positive report.
                                                                                        • Numbers 14:6-10 – Caleb and Joshua were looking to God. They could take the land because God said he would make it happen!
                                                                                        • Hebrews 13:4
                                                                                        • Can I really forgive people?
                                                                                        • Proverbs 29:25
                                                                                          • COURAGE to stand in the minority, when even brethren are weak
                                                                                          • Numbers 13:31
                                                                                          • Numbers 14:10 – The congregation wanted to stone those who did have faith.
                                                                                          • Isaiah 40:8, 23-24, 28-31
                                                                                          • Romans 12:10
                                                                                          • Hebrews 13:3
                                                                                          • Acts 20:17, 28
                                                                                            • CONFIDENCE in God’s control of the future
                                                                                            • Numbers 14:28-38
                                                                                            • Romans 4:17 – This is quoting Genesis 17:5. God said this to Abraham when Abraham was 99 years old and Isaac was not yet born. The very fact that the Israelites existed was proof God kept His promises.
                                                                                            • Joshua 21:43
                                                                                            • I Timothy 1:8-10 – Am I willing to stand where God says I should stand?
                                                                                            • The future does not belong to the giants of today. It belongs to God.
                                                                                              • 31 min

                                                                                            About ScriptureStream

                                                                                            From the publisher's feed

                                                                                            Just the gospel, plainly spoken. ScriptureStream compiles lessons presented at the Benchley church of Christ, located just north of Bryan, TX. Visit ScriptureStream.com for full notes on each lesson…