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ScriptureStream

By Mark WatsonSociety & CultureReligion & SpiritualityChristianityPhilosophy
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ScriptureStream episodes

  • “Turned to the Lord” – Acts 11:21
    • Acts 11:20-24
      • What turning to the Lord is NOT:

      • Blind obedience – Ephesians 4:22-24; 3:16-17

      • Just adding church to my schedule – Hebrews 10:19-25

      • Trying to earn salvation by doing enough good deds.

        • Romans 4:1-5, 11-12, 23-25

        • Abraham was justified because he believed God, which resulted in his obedience.

        • We can’t earn salvation!

          What turning to the Lord IS:

          • It’s a complete surrender …

            • Matthew 13:44-46; Galatians 2:20

            • … that results in faithful obedience.

              • Acts 11:27-30

              • When I turn to the Lord …

                • My wardrobe will change – I Timothy 2:9-10

                • My language will change – Ephesians 5:4

                • My social media habits will change – Ephesians 5:3

                • My reputation will change – Acts 9:26; II Timothy 3:10

                  30 min
                • Romans, Part 1
                  Introduction (Romans 1:1-17)
                  • Romans 1:1 – See Acts 9:15; Romans 2:17; 11:13. Paul is the writer. The theme of the book is that salvation is for everyone!
                  • Romans 1:5 – Paul was made an apostle to bring about obedience in all the nations. Compare Romans 16:26.
                  • Romans 1:6 – The people were “called” by the gospel.
                  • Romans 1:7 – The people in Rome apparently had a good reputation in the world.
                  • Romans 1:11-12 – The spiritual gift he is referring to may be the encouragement they receive from each other’s faith.
                  • Romans 1:15 – We should also be eager to preach the gospel.
                  • Romans 1:16-17 – The gospel is the universal solution to the problem of sin. This is the theme of the book. Compare Romans 10:3.
                    • “from faith to faith” – This could mean “from the gospel to a believing faith.”
                      • Five-word outline of Romans:
                      1. Condemnation – All of us are guilty of sin and justly condemned by God.
                      2. Christ – Thankfully, we are justified through faith in Jesus Christ!
                      3. Choice – We must choose to die to sin, a system of perfect law-keeping, and the flesh.
                      4. Children – ALL people can be children of God, whether Jews or Gentiles.
                      5. Conduct – Given God’s love, His people ought to conduct themselves accordingly.
                        6. Condemnation (Romans 1:18-3:20)
                        • Unrighteous people are condemned (Romans 1:18-32).
                        • Romans 1:19-20 – God expected people to glorify Him! We should honor Him and give thanks.
                        • Romans 1:24, 26, 28 – God “gave them up” because they chose to sin.
                        • Romans 1:26-27 – This is a clear condemnation of homosexuality. See also I Corinthians 6:9-11 and I Timothy 1:10. The “due penalty” could be either physical issues, spiritual penalties, or both.
                        • Romans 1:29-31 – The “rollcall of the hell bound.”
                        • Romans 1:32 – See Romans 6:23. This is probably referring to spiritual death.
                          • 30 min
                        • Putting Our Suffering into Perspective
                          Introduction
                          • How can God allow suffering to occur?
                            • God allows us the freedom of choice

                            • Genesis 2:16-17; 3:6 – Adam and Eve had the freedom of choice.

                            • Joshua 24:14-15

                            • If there were no consequences, it wouldn’t really be freedom of choice.

                            • Luke 23:39-43

                            • Sometimes the choices of others cause our suffering. Sometimes it is our own choices.

                            • I Peter 4:14-16

                            • We need to make the right choices!

                              • I Timothy 4:8

                              • II Timothy 3:12

                                The world is a temporary stop on the way to eternity.
                                • Hebrews 11:13-16
                                • Eternity will far outshine whatever suffering we endure here.
                                • I Peter 2:11
                                • Job 3:17
                                • Romans 8:17-18 – Suffer now, glory later.
                                • II Corinthians 4:17-5:1
                                  • If our attitude is right, we benefit from suffering.
                                  • James 1:2-4
                                  • I Peter 1:6-9
                                  • When did you pray the hardest? When you were suffering!
                                  • Psalms 119:65-68
                                  • There is good that can come from suffering.
                                  • II Corinthians 12:7-10 – We can get to the place Paul was if we have the right attitude.
                                  • II Corinthians 1:8-10
                                    • Jesus suffered.
                                    • I Peter 2:21-23
                                    • Jesus suffered for a time and now I suffer for a time.
                                      • Conclusion
                                      • Let us not let suffering be a stumbling block!
                                        • 30 min
                                      • Love Truth
                                        What is the most foundational pursuit?
                                        • To love, seek, and do what is true.
                                        • John 3:16-21
                                        • John 4:1
                                          • Culture of truth
                                          • Context of truth is universal.
                                          • Truth is loved, sought, held to
                                          • Encourage honest discussions
                                          • Questions answered with truth in a spirit of love
                                          • Never settle
                                          • All levels of seekers welcome
                                          • Spread culture to all spheres of influence
                                            • Questions
                                            • How do you teach someone the gospel if they don’t believe there is a God or the Bible is His word?
                                            • What evidence convinces you the Bible is from God and that there is a God?
                                            • What evidence is there that the texts are the words of God and have been copied accurately?
                                              • How were the Bible texts originally composed?
                                              • Hebrews 1:1-2 – Transmission history of about 1000 years (1000 years for the Old Testament, 50 years for the New Testament).
                                              • How?
                                                • God speaking to us through prophets, Jesus, and apostles.
                                                  • Composition of the Old Testament
                                                  • Purpose of the New Testament
                                                  • Ten commandments – Deuteronomy 10
                                                  • Moses wrote the words of the law in a book.
                                                  • The “law of Moses” became a formal law.
                                                  • Torah (first 5 books)
                                                  • Historical books – 1, 2 Samuel, 1, 2 Kings, 1, 2 Chronicles
                                                  • The proverbs
                                                  • The psalms
                                                  • Writings of the prophets
                                                    • Composition of the New Testament
                                                    • Christians did not have a compiled New Testament for about 400 years after Jesus’ time.
                                                    • At first, the gospel spread orally.
                                                    • Move from oral to written transmission follows the needs of the church
                                                    • Period of composition: 30s AD to just before the end of the first century
                                                    • Authors: primarily apostles
                                                    • Purpose of the writings
                                                      • The “Original Bible”

                                                      • Production of the autographs was recorded in the Bible.

                                                      • The Old Testament and New Testament both state they were inspired by God

                                                        • I Chronicles 28:19

                                                        • Jeremiah 21:1; 36:1-2

                                                        • II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 3:15-16

                                                        • Why don’t we have the originals?

                                                          • Original materials wore out.
                                                            • Witnesses to the Old Testament text

                                                            Greater weight:

                                                            Primary sources; Copies of ancient Hebrew manuscripts

                                                            Dead Sea Scrolls; Masoretic text

                                                            Secondary sources; Versions: ancient translations into other languages

                                                            Septuagint; Latin vulgate

                                                            Tertiary sources: Paraphrase of the Hebrew text

                                                            Lesser weight:

                                                            Quaternary sources: Quotations of the Hebrew text in Greek

                                                            Dead Sea Scrolls
                                                            • Probably produced in Hasmonean period (152-63 B.C.) and early Roman period (63 B.C. – 68 A.D.).
                                                              • Witnesses to New Testament text

                                                              Greater weight

                                                              Manuscripts

                                                              Written in Greek

                                                              To date, 5745 known manuscripts.

                                                              New Testament versions

                                                              Translations into other languages

                                                              15,000-20,000 such documents, ranging in date from 3rd to 16th centuries AD

                                                              Lesser weight

                                                              Citations

                                                              Citations of the New Testament in sermons, commentaries, letters, etc.

                                                              Over 1 million known citations, ranging in date from 1st to 13th centuries AD

                                                              Textual criticism
                                                              • Process of diligent appraisal and comparison of texts.
                                                                • Recovering the Old Testament text

                                                                • Two basic steps:

                                                                  • Look at Masoretic text

                                                                  • Compare Dead Sea Scrolls

                                                                    Recovering the New Testament text
                                                                    • Compare available manuscripts
                                                                      • Reference materials
                                                                      • Randall Price, Searching for the Original Bible
                                                                        • Conclusion
                                                                        • III John 1:1-4
                                                                          • 30 min
                                                                        • Entitlement, Part 2
                                                                          What does entitlement mean?
                                                                          • I deserve something. Society owes me.
                                                                            • Does our society struggle with the concept of entitlement?
                                                                            • Yes!
                                                                              • Parenting – raising our kids and avoiding entitlement.
                                                                              • Disciplining a child can help guide the child away from entitlement.
                                                                              • Hebrews 12:3-11
                                                                                • Our society – dealing with entitlement in others!
                                                                                • II Timothy 1:7
                                                                                • Pursuing contentment rather than happiness?
                                                                                • I Timothy 6:6-12
                                                                                • Hebrews 13:5-6
                                                                                  • Our spiritual family – keeping the entitlement culture out!
                                                                                  30 min
                                                                                • Christian Attitudes, Part 20
                                                                                  The church and its members
                                                                                  Biblical description of the church

                                                                                  • Universal

                                                                                    • Hebrews 12:15-24 – Old Covenant vs New Covenant

                                                                                    • Acts 9:31 – The size of the church (in the universal sense) multiplied.

                                                                                    • Local church

                                                                                      • Galatians 1:21-24

                                                                                      • I Corinthians 1:1-3

                                                                                        Universal church
                                                                                        • Jesus said He would build it – Matthew 16:18
                                                                                        • Bought it with His blood – Acts 20:28
                                                                                        • Loves it and gave Himself for it – Ephesians 5:25-29
                                                                                        • Wants it pure, blameless, holy – Ephesians 5:27
                                                                                        • Maintained in His word – John 17:17
                                                                                        • His body – Romans 12:4-5
                                                                                          • Church – body of Christ
                                                                                          • We are not just individuals
                                                                                          • Members of each other
                                                                                          • One body – I Corinthians 10:16-24
                                                                                          • Seek our neighbors’ good
                                                                                          • Desire that all be pure – Colossians 1:21-23
                                                                                          • All the saved are added to it – Acts 2:41, 47
                                                                                            • Local church

                                                                                            • Where all collective activities are undertaken – Acts 20:7

                                                                                              • Saints have much or most Christian associations – Acts 2:44-47

                                                                                              • Analogy of the body – I Corinthians 12:12-27

                                                                                                • Baptized, obedient believer is member of the body

                                                                                                • We all work together – Philippians 2:1-4

                                                                                                  • Single-minded purpose

                                                                                                  • Part of a whole, each member has a purpose, value – Ephesians 4:11-16

                                                                                                    30 min
                                                                                                  • Bible 101: Original Meaning
                                                                                                    Introduction
                                                                                                    • Colossians 2:21 – “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”
                                                                                                    • Colossians 2:20-22 – Context.
                                                                                                      • Consider the original meaning …
                                                                                                      … in that culture.
                                                                                                      • Proverbs 31:31 – “let her works praise her in the gates”
                                                                                                        • “Gates” was a common cultural idiom.
                                                                                                        • Matthew 5:20 – “scribes and Pharisees”
                                                                                                          • Matthew 23:1-3; Mark 7:3 – More information about scribes and Pharisees and why Jesus rebuked them.
                                                                                                          • Matthew 18:17 – “as a Gentile and a tax collector”
                                                                                                            • In that culture, Gentiles and tax collectors were hated and the Jews would not associate with them.
                                                                                                              • … to those people.
                                                                                                              • Jeremiah 29:11 – “… plans for welfare”
                                                                                                                • The context is the exile in Babylon.
                                                                                                                • John 16:13 – “the Spirit … will guide you into all truth”
                                                                                                                • I Corinthians 7:27 – “Do not seek a wife.”
                                                                                                                  • … using those words.

                                                                                                                  • “Samaritan”

                                                                                                                    • This word has a good connotation today, but it didn’t then!

                                                                                                                    • John 4:9

                                                                                                                    • John 8:48 – They used it as a bad name to call someone!

                                                                                                                    • “church”

                                                                                                                      • Acts 8:3 – The word church means “people.”

                                                                                                                      • “fellowship”

                                                                                                                      • “baptism”

                                                                                                                        Even if specifics have changed, find what is relevant to us.

                                                                                                                        • Jeremiah 29:11

                                                                                                                        • I Corinthians 14

                                                                                                                          • I Corinthians 14:5 – Our concern should be edification.

                                                                                                                          • I Corinthians 14:40 – Worship should be orderly.

                                                                                                                          • II Timothy 3:15 – Young people can study scripture. The Old Testament is valuable to study.

                                                                                                                          • None of the Bible was written to us, but it was written for us!

                                                                                                                            Beware of wild interpretations that stray from the original meaning.
                                                                                                                            • Example: “Puff the Magic Dragon”
                                                                                                                            • Example: Jehovah’s Witnesses and Daniel 4:23-25
                                                                                                                              • Bringing it all together

                                                                                                                              • Test case: Matthew 24

                                                                                                                                • Matthew 24:1-2 – The destruction of the temple was the context.

                                                                                                                                • Matthew 24:34 – The events would happen within the lifetime of those present. The temple was destroyed in 70 A.D., which fits the prophecy by Jesus.

                                                                                                                                  30 min
                                                                                                                                • Job and Ecclesiastes, Part 12
                                                                                                                                  • Ecclesiastes 10:3-12:14
                                                                                                                                  • Ecclesiastes 10:5-7 – One’s wisdom does not always benefit him.
                                                                                                                                  • Ecclesiastes 10:8-11 – One does not always see the benefit of his hard work.
                                                                                                                                  • Ecclesiastes 10:12-14 – Having a lot to say does not mean one is wise.
                                                                                                                                  • Ecclesiastes 10:15 – A fool has trouble doing simple things and what he does accomplish is much more difficult.
                                                                                                                                  • Ecclesiastes 10:16-20 – The importance of kings and the influence of their leadership: a king should be a good steward and not lazy. Be careful what you say, even in private. Words have a way of getting out.
                                                                                                                                  • Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 – Work and maybe you will see a return.
                                                                                                                                  • Ecclesiastes 11:3-4 – There is always an excuse not to work. If you focus too much on the risks, you will never do anything. See Proverbs 22:13.
                                                                                                                                  • Ecclesiastes 11:5-6 – Work because you don’t know what will prosper.
                                                                                                                                  • Ecclesiastes 11:7-10 – Enjoy the days of your youth!
                                                                                                                                  • Ecclesiastes 12:1 – Compare Genesis 8:1; Exodus 20:8; Jeremiah 15:15; 31:34. “Remember” is not just about mental recall. It’s about picking a direction of action.
                                                                                                                                  • Ecclesiastes 12:2-5 – Solomon may be figuratively talking about the ailments of old age.
                                                                                                                                  • Ecclesiastes 12:8 – Solomon ends where he began – vanity (Ecclesiastes 1:2).
                                                                                                                                  • Ecclesiastes 12:9-10 – Solomon left behind a tremendous body of work.
                                                                                                                                  • Ecclesiastes 12:11-12 – Books are wearying!
                                                                                                                                  • Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 – Solomon’s conclusion – fear God and keep His commandments. This applies to all of us.
                                                                                                                                    • 30 min
                                                                                                                                  • Do You Need Another Reason NOT to Sin?
                                                                                                                                    Introduction
                                                                                                                                    • Isaiah 59:2 – Sin separates us from God.
                                                                                                                                    • Deuteronomy 6:24; I Timothy 4:8 – Not sinning is a benefit now and in eternity.
                                                                                                                                      • Sin invites trouble to my life!
                                                                                                                                      • II Samuel 11:2-15; 12:14 – David’s sin with Bathsheba.
                                                                                                                                        • David caused the death of Uriah and of his infant child.
                                                                                                                                        • Hebrews 12:15-17 – Esau could never recover what he lost when he gave away his birthright.
                                                                                                                                        • Luke 13:4-5
                                                                                                                                          • Sin gives me a guilty conscience.
                                                                                                                                          • Genesis 42:21-22; 50:15
                                                                                                                                          • Matthew 27:3-5 – Judas hanged himself in guilt!
                                                                                                                                          • Hebrews 9:14
                                                                                                                                          • I Corinthians 15:9; Ephesians 3:8 – Paul carried his guilt of persecuting Christians the rest of his life.
                                                                                                                                          • I Timothy 1:15; Acts 24:16 – Paul tried to put his sin behind him the rest of his life.
                                                                                                                                            • Sin might ruin my conscience.
                                                                                                                                            • I Timothy 4:2
                                                                                                                                            • Titus 1:15 – It’s possible to defile your conscience.
                                                                                                                                            • Ephesians 4:17-19
                                                                                                                                              • Sin gets me into bad habits.
                                                                                                                                              • Acts 8:9-10, 18-19
                                                                                                                                              • Hebrews 10:25 – Missing worship can become a habit.
                                                                                                                                                • My sin affects others.
                                                                                                                                                • Galatians 2:11-13 – Barnabas was caught up in Peter’s hypocrisy.
                                                                                                                                                • Luke 17:1-2
                                                                                                                                                • Our lives are like ripples in a pond – we affect others.
                                                                                                                                                • Even if no one else is aware of your sin, you are a different person because of your sin. You are not as spiritually-minded as you could be otherwise.
                                                                                                                                                  • 30 min

                                                                                                                                                About ScriptureStream

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                                                                                                                                                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…