ScriptureStream

By Mark WatsonSociety & Culture Religion & Spirituality Christianity Philosophy

ScriptureStream episodes

April 25, 2021Jeremiah
Hebrews 11:32-34
Jeremiah’s work
Jeremiah began prophesying when Josiah was king and prophesied for about 50 years.
Jeremiah 1:10 – The majority of Jeremiah’s work was relaying negative messages from God. This certainly must have been tiring for Jeremiah to constantly warn and prophesy doom with only a few positive messages sprinkled in.
Jeremiah’s struggles
Jeremiah 15:16-17 – Jeremiah would have to work alone.
Jeremiah 18:18, 22; 11:19 – Enemies devised schemes against Jeremiah, some of which he was ignorant of.
Jeremiah 20:7; 12:6 – Jeremiah was mocked and laughed at – even by his own family!
Jeremiah 38:6; 37:15-16; 20:2 – Jeremiah was put into the bottom of a dry well. He was imprisoned, beaten, and put in stocks.
Jeremiah 4:10; 15:8; 20:14-18 – How did Jeremiah respond? He wished he had not been born to see such awful things.
Jeremiah 6:10; 9:2 – Jeremiah expressed skepticism. He wanted to quit!
Jeremiah 12:1 – When Jeremiah struggled with moments of weakness, he talked to God.
Jeremiah 20:7-9 – Jeremiah wanted to quit but could not.
How Jeremiah rose above his struggles
Jeremiah 10:6-7; 16:19; 20:11 – In the end, Jeremiah praised God!
Psalms 73:1-5, 13-17 – David despaired of the evil done to the righteous and the prosperity of the wicked. But then he saw the end that was coming for the wicked.
Application for us
Take your concerns to God and don’t give up!
30 min
April 25, 2021I Thessalonians 5:19-22
Acts 17:11
I Thessalonians 5:19-22
All five of the statements in this verse are related. They are not independent thoughts.
v19
See Acts 7:51. Moses commanded through writings.
Do not extinguish the message from the Holy Spirit.
The two most important words in Bible study: Keep reading! Verse 20 explains verse 19.
v20
Prophecy often means foretelling future events. It can also mean simply telling the mind of God. It can mean both foretelling and “forthtelling.”
See Jeremiah 36:19-26
v21
The meaning of “all things” is context dependent. It very rarely means absolutely all things.
I John 4:1 – Check to see whether people and messages are from God!
When we find something to be from God, we should hold tight to it. Proverbs 23:23
v22
“Evil” here refers to teaching that we examine and determine is not good. We should stay away from the teaching. It is not saying we have to literally avoid everything that appears to be evil. That is impossible and Jesus did not even do it.
Compare I Corinthians 15:33. The context is false teaching on the resurrection. The “bad company” are the false teachers on the resurrection. If you listen to them and believe there is no resurrection and no accountability, you will start acting like it!
30 min
April 25, 2021Saved Like Timothy
What must I do to be saved?
II Timothy 3:14-15 – What were these scriptures that Timothy knew? It was the Old Testament! This was sufficient to lead Timothy to salvation.
James 2:21-22 – Works here = obedience. The way we see Abraham’s faith is by his obedience. Your faith is evident not by just what you say but by what you do.
Genesis 22:1-14 – God had promised Abraham a son for 25 years, which he finally had at the age of 100. God then asked Abraham to sacrifice that same son, which surely made no sense to Abraham. God got the sacrifice He wanted – He wanted to see that Abraham was willing to make a great sacrifice to serve Him.
Three things that Abraham sacrificed and that we must also sacrifice
His logic
II Kings 5:10-14 – Naaman was told to do an illogical thing!
His emotions
Abraham knew that sacrificing his son would not be quick and painless.
Matthew 10:34-38 – We may have to sacrifice relationships to serve God, even in our own family.
His will
Matthew 16:24 – We must give up ourselves – let God rule our lives.
This is what was instilled in Timothy and must be instilled in us.
30 min
April 21, 2021Christian Attitudes, Part 10
About fasting (Matthew 6:16-18)
There is no general command for fasting in the Old Testament or New Testament. Some specific groups were commanded to fast at particular times. Other times it was done voluntarily.
Keep it clean
Fasting is not to be done for show. God will not accept it as spiritual service if it is done for show.
What about fasting?
Self-denial with purpose – Isaiah 58:3-7
Isaiah warned about fasting without dedication.
Devotion to prayer
Command
Necessity
Authorization
Practicality
Worry and service (Matthew 6:19-34)
What is prioritized? Matthew 6:19-20
What is exclusive? Matthew 6:24
Are these related?
Concern vs. worry:
Concern motivates you to address the problem. Worry only makes the problem seem worse without actually doing anything to fix it.
Exclusivity demonstrated by Moses – Hebrews 11:24-26
Choose the right priority
The rest will fall into place.
II Corinthians 9:10 – As we do good, God increases our capacity for doing good.
Obsess over wealth?
Don’t obsess – God is in control, not us.
Add a cubit?
Add an hour?
Necessity of money
“Make” a living
Share
Wealth is neither evil nor virtuous
Abraham – Romans 4:9-16; Genesis 13:2
Daniel
30 min
April 18, 2021Galatians 6
Introduction
Galatians 1:1-5
Bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:1-10)
Galatians 5:17 – Desires of the flesh.
Galatians 5:15, 19-21, 26 – Fruits of the flesh.
Galatians 5:13-14, 22-24 – Fruit of the spirit.
Galatians 6:1-10 – Will you really love your neighbor and help when they need it? The helper and the helped have fellowship together in Christ and both benefit.
Galatians 6:10 has often been used in the past to support the idea of unlimited benevolence using church funds. Money is not really in this context at all – this is about helping those in sin.
Boast … in the cross (Galatians 6:11-16)
Circumcision was a big deal under the Law of Moses, but now it was no longer a part of service to God. This was not easy for many to give up!
Galatians 5:1-6
Galatians 2:12-13
Galatians 5:4
Galatians 1:8
Ephesians 4:22-24
I Corinthians 7:19
Galatians 6:12, 14
The brand-marks of Christ (Galatians 6:17-18)
Paul was not popular for preaching Jesus.
Galatians 5:11; 1:10
II Corinthians 11:23-27 – Paul took a lot of punishment for preaching Jesus. This is the courage we should have!
Acts 14:19
II Timothy 3:12 – Christians will be persecuted!
Summary
Love God when times are hard.
Love your neighbor when they need help the most.
30 min
April 18, 2021Put on the New Self, Part 11
Put on … love
Colossians 3:14
Let us contemplate Divine love.
We ought to just stop and think about God’s love!
I John 4:10
I John 3:1
Romans 8:35-39 – This is not a shallow love!
Isaiah 59:14-17 – God’s own arm brought salvation!
The ultimate expression of that merciful love was the crucifixion of His Son.
John 3:16
Romans 5:6-8; Titus 3:3-7 – We didn’t deserve God’s love.
Let us reciprocate Divine love.
I John 4:19 – Why do we love?
I John 4:20-21 – What does loving God include?
Matthew 22:36-38; Ephesians 2:4-5 – We can love God back, but on in the same way He loves us. Ephesians 6:24
One way to love God back is to praise, honor, and show gratitude to Him. Psalms 29:1-2; Luke 17:15-18
I John 5:2-3 – Loving God includes keeping His commandments.
Revelation 2:4 – The church in Ephesus had left their first love.
Let us imitate Divine love.
I John 4:11 – God’s love for us should transform the way we live our lives.
I John 3:14-18 – Jesus’ sacrifice should motivate us to love our brothers.
Luke 15
John 13:34-35; 15:12-13 – Jesus used Himself as the example of love. The apostles did not have perfect moral character!
Love is a decision we make, a “direction of the will.” Matthew 5:43-44; Romans 5:6-8
Some thoughts to help us develop love:
John 5:28-29 – This person has an eternal soul.
Matthew 6:14-15; 7:2; 25:40 – God is watching!
I John 4:7-21 – Become an expert at love like God.
Let us prove to be neighbors.
Luke 10:25-29, 36
Mark 5:43-48
Matthew 7:6
Mark 3:5
Matthew 18:15
I Thessalonians 5:14
My job is simply to love my neighbor, and I need to be a neighbor to everyone!
30 min
April 18, 2021Bible 101: Summary of the Bible
Salvation!
II Timothy 3:15
The story of the Old Testament
Genesis 1:1, 27
God never gives dogs or trees moral commands. Man is unique in his ability to make moral decisions.
Main problem = sin
Ecclesiastes 7:29
Genesis 3:6 – Man sins.
I John 3:4 – Sin is the transgression of the law.
Isaiah 59:2 – Sin separates us from God.
Romans 5:12 – All sinned, so death spread to all men.
Ezekiel 18:20 – A man is responsible for his own sin.
God’s solution = promises to Abraham
Genesis 12:1-3, 7 – God makes three promises to Abraham:
I will make you a great nation – fulfilled in the Old Testament
in you all the families of the earth will be blessed – fulfilled in the New Testament
to your descendants I will give you land – fulfilled in the Old Testament
Genesis 50:26 – Israel is already starting to become a great nation while in Egypt.
Books of the Old Testament
Genesis – Creation, nation of Israel goes to Egypt and multiplies.
Exodus – Israel leaves Egypt
Leviticus – God’s law for the Israelites
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy 4:1-8
Joshua – Canaan settled by the Israelites
Judges – Later generations of Israelites fall away from God repeatedly, to be led back to God by judges chosen by God.
Judges 2:8-10
I Samuel, II Samuel – Beginning of the kingdom of Israel. The reigns of Saul, David, and Solomon.
I Kings, II Kings – Divided kingdom – Israel and Judah. Both kingdoms are eventually taken into captivity.
II Kings 17:5-6
Ezra, Nehemiah – Jews return and rebuild.
Nehemiah 9:1-5, 30-34 – It’s important to follow God’s law!
Jeremiah 31:31 – A new covenant was coming!
The story of the New Testament
Matthew 1:1, 16-17
John 1:14-18
Matthew 4:23 – Jesus came and proclaimed the good news.
Jesus proclaimed a spiritual kingdom, not a physical one. This confused many people.
Jesus publicly called out the hypocrisy of religious leaders, especially the Pharisees.
Matthew 27:50-54 – Jesus was crucified.
Hebrews 10:4; 9:22 – Blood is required for forgiveness of sins.
Hebrews 9:15
Acts 2:22-24, 32-41 – The full gospel is presented for the first time.
Highlights from the New Testament
Colossians 2:14 – Old Covenant no longer in effect.
Ephesians 4:4; Colossians 1:18
Ephesians 5:23
II Corinthians 5:10
Romans 10:2-3
I Corinthians 15:52
Romans 14:12
Matthew 25:46
I Corinthians 15:56-57
30 min
April 14, 2021Christian Attitudes, Part 9
To be noticed by others (Matthew 6:1-18), continued
Beware!
Meaning
Examples
Repercussion
No reward in heaven (Matthew 6:1).
Consistency
Proverbs 27:2
John 5:44
Matthew 23:25
Not for show
Left hand versus right hand – I Corinthians 12:14-27
Leading a group prayer – I Corinthians 14:15-17, 26
Where is the inner room? – Daniel 6:9-11
Places Jesus prayed
Luke 3:21 – after baptism
Matthew 14:23 – alone on a mountain
Mark 6:46 – on a mountain
Luke 6:12 – off to a mountain to pray all night
Mark 1:35
Luke 5:16
Luke 9:18
Matthew 14:19 – Before feeding the crowds.
Matthew 19:13 – Prayed over children that were brought to Him.
John 17 – With His disciples just before His betrayal
Luke 22:32
Meaningless repetition – I Kings 18:26-29
Why?
They were trying to wake up their idols!
Why not? Isaiah 65:24
God hears us!
Versus persistence – Luke 18:3-8
Earnest repeated prayer for the same thing is not vain repetition.
Pray in this manner
After a manner, not rote – II Corinthians 13:7-9; II Thessalonians 1:11
Short, simple, to the point.
About fasting
Keep it clean
What about fasting?
Self-denial with purpose – Isaiah 58:3-7
Devotion to prayer
Command
Necessity
Authorization
Practicality
30 min
April 11, 2021Sodom and Gomorrah
Introduction
Genesis 13:8-13; 19:1-13, 24-25 – Lot and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
God’s punishment (Genesis 19:24)
They were guilty of sin.
Genesis 18:20-22
God sees sin occurring on earth. He will not fail to punish that sin.
Sodom and Gomorrah became a legacy.
Deuteronomy 29:23-24
Jeremiah 23:14 – Centuries later, Sodom and Gomorrah were still remembered.
Jude 1:5-7 – The story was well known even into New Testament times!
We need to understand that God punishes!
Mark 9:43-48 – Jesus the loving savior warned about hell.
Luke 12:4-5
God’s compassion
Even in this sad and tragic story, we see God’s compassion.
Genesis 18:23-33 – God was willing to stay the destruction for the sake of ten righteous people, but even that number could not be found in Sodom and Gomorrah!
Genesis 19:14-23
II Peter 2:4-10 – God knew how to rescue Lot, and He knows how to save us, too!
We need to accept God’s compassionate offer!
Genesis 19:17, 26 – Remember Lot’s wife. Don’t look back!
Luke 17:32
Luke 9:61
Let’s put sin behind us and leave it there!
30 min
April 11, 2021Put on the New Self, Part 10
Put on … forgiveness
Colossians 3:12-13
What is forgiveness?
I John 1:9
The word forgiveness means “leave, abandon, or release.”
The same Greek word translated forgiveness is also translated to other English words:
Matthew 27:50 – “yielded up” His spirit
Matthew 4:20 – “left” their nets
Matthew 4:22 – “left” their boat and father
I Corinthians 7:11 – “divorce” his wife
God is the source of forgiveness.
Psalms 130:3
Psalms 103:10-13 – We don’t want God to deal with us according to our sins!
Acts 5:30-31; 13:3-39 – Forgiveness of sin is only through Jesus and His sacrifice.
II Chronicles 33:5-6, 9, 12-13 – Even evil king Manasseh received forgiveness after he humbled himself before God.
God is the motivation for forgiveness.
Matthew 6:12-15 – We should have an attitude of forgiveness because we are thankful for our own forgiveness.
Matthew 18:21-35; Hebrews 10:29 – People’s sins against me cannot compare with humanity’s sins against God.
Ephesians 4:32
God is the example of forgiveness.
Colossians 3:13
Does the Bible require me to forgive and forget?
This is a common phrase, but it is not found in the Bible.
Hebrews 10:17, 3 – Peter and Paul were forgiven, but their sins were recorded in Scripture. They could not be forgotten!
Genesis 50:15-21 – Joseph was willing to forgive but could not forget the sins his brothers had committed against him that put him in the position he was in. He did let go of any desire to retaliate. He showed them love.
Must one repent to be forgiven?
Matthew 18:15-17; Luke 17:3-4 – We are not instructed to jump to forgiveness.
I Corinthians 5:1-2 vs. II Corinthians 2:6-8 – If this is referring to the same man, evidently, he repented.
What about the statements from Jesus and Stephen?
Luke 23:34
Acts 2:22, 36-38; 3:13-15, 19
We should have an attitude of forgiveness.
30 min

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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…

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