ScriptureStream

By Mark Watson

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 a... more

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How many episodes does ScriptureStream have?

The podcast currently has 3,198 episodes available.

ScriptureStream episodes:

August 24, 2025Christians on Campus
Introduction
I Peter 1:7
Academic integrity
II Corinthians 8:20-21 – It would have been easy for Paul to steal some of the money, but he didn’t want his integrity to be questioned.
Ephesians 4:25
Colossians 3:23
We are now in the age of AI. Texas A&M University is trying to crack down on cheating via generative AI.
This could be a challenge if you are not cheating, but you see cheaters getting away with it and having a much easier time in school.
Independent faith
Hebrews 11:1-3, 6-7
Romans 10:17
I must read and come to my own faith.
Noah built the ark because of his faith.
Asking questions is the way to develop faith.
Ephesians 6:16
Pure dress
Romans 6:12-14 – Am I using my body as an instrument of unrighteousness?
Romans 13:13-14
Be careful of the effect your clothing has on others.
Luke 17:1-2 – Woe to those who cause others to stumble.
Budgeted time
Ephesians 5:15-16
Luke 8:14
Plan and be deliberate with how you use your time.
Psalms 1:1-3
Make a resolution to put God first!
Faithful friends
Mark 3:31-35 – Jesus was emphasizing the closeness of His spiritual family.
II Peter 1:1
There are many clubs and groups to be involved with. Take advantage of the people in this room! Spend time with the people that you have the most important things in common with.
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31min
August 24, 2025James 3:1-18
James 3
James 3:1-12
James 3:1 – Be careful about being teachers. We have plenty of authority to teach, but we must be careful with that responsibility.
James 3:2 – If you can control your tongue, you are doing well! This is something we must constantly work on.
James 3:3 – Proverbs 20:21 – Speech is powerful!
James 3:6 – A single word or sentence can have enormous consequences.
James 3:7-8 – We can control so many creatures, but not the tongue.
James 3:13-18
James 3:13 – Wisdom is shown by good behavior.
James 3:17
Pure – wisdom that is true
Peace-loving – not inclined to break the peace unless necessary.
Reasonable – able to be reasoned with
Full of mercy – Mercy is not weakness. Our example is God’s mercy.
Impartiality – without prejudice or bias
James 3:18 – Peacemakers create the fruit of righteousness.
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44min
August 24, 2025Remarks About the New Church Building
Introduction
I Corinthians 14; Acts 20:7 – It’s God’s will that local churches assemble. Buildings are authorized under this general authority.
Let’s keep our focus on the spiritual.
Matthew 23:5, 23-24
Let’s thank God for the building.
Acts 2:46; 3:11; 5:12 – Where did the first Christians meet? Solomon’s portico.
Isn’t the need for a new building a wonderful problem to have?
Many brethren in the world do not enjoy such comforts.
Let’s not compromise the gospel to fill the pews.
Galatians 1:10
Wherever we worship, let’s try to do it well.
Philippians 4:17
In matters of judgment, let us practice love.
Romans 14:13
Let us be kind, patient, and loving.
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17min
August 20, 2025Holiness, Part 3
Holiness: Its expression in scripture
God’s name is holy (Matthew 6:9; Luke 1:49)
Before scribes would write the name of God, they would change clothes, purify themselves, and use a different quill and different ink.
Using the name of God correctly shows respect and humility. It shows the right mindset.
There are many different names for God in scripture which emphasize different aspects of His character.
Godhead (John 17:11; Mark 1:24; Acts 5:3)
Holiness: Its emphasis
Holiness is the attribute that defines His other attributes:
God’s love is holy
God’s mercy is holy
God’s judgment is holy
God’s justice is holy
God’s goodness and severity is holy
God’s patience is holy
God’s … is holy
It’s the bedrock of God’s glory.
Holiness: Its implication
Leads to conviction of guilt
Isaiah 6:5 – Isaiah’s recognition of Holiness, I am not worthy
Luke 5:8 – Peter falls to his knees – why?
II Corinthians 7:8-11 – Godly sorrow
Produces careful obedience
Leviticus 10 – Nadab and Abihu … didn’t approach God properly
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41min
August 17, 2025Culture of my Family: Love for Each Other
Introduction
God formed the family at the very beginning. It is a critical relationship.
God uses “family” in both physical and spiritual relationships.
I Corinthians 4:14-17 – Paul uses familial terms about them and about Timothy.
I Timothy 3:4-5 – Family is involved in the qualifications for an elder.
Love each other!
Matthew 22:37-40 – Love for others is one of the greatest commandments.
Matthew 5:43-46 – Love even your enemies. If your family members are your enemies, love them also!
John 3:16 – God loved the world full of sinners!
Romans 5:6-8 – God loved us while we were sinners. My love should be based on God, who loves all unconditionally. God demonstrates His love. He is active in His love. If I love my family, I will take action.
Sacrifice for each other!
Hebrews 13:16, 15 – Doing good and sharing are sacrifices that God is pleased with.
Worshiping God is good, but we have obligations beyond that.
When is the last time you sacrificed in some way for your family?
Philippians 2:4 – Look out for the interests of others.
John 15:12-13 – If Jesus sacrificed His life for sinners, what will I sacrifice for my family?
Help and encourage each other!
I Thessalonians 2:7, 11 – Paul said he was as close as a nursing mother to them.
I Timothy 5:1-2 – Help and encourage others like family.
Galatians 6:1-2 – Help bear one another’s burdens.
Proverbs 17:17
Forgive each other!
Matthew 6:12-15 – If we do not forgive others, God will not forgive us! See also Colossians 3:13; Ephesians 4:32.
II Corinthians 2:6-8 – When one comes back and makes things right, forgive and rejoice!
Parents, help your children to feel sorry rather than forcing them to say they are sorry. The words will come if the thoughts are sincere.
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27min
August 17, 2025James 2:1-26
James 2
James 2:1-4
James 2:1 – Faith and favoritism do not go together.
James 2:2-4 – In those days, the senatorial class wore gold rings. The peasant class would typically only have a single cloak and would likely be dirty. We might be tempted to make friends with the wealthy people for our own evil motives (business deals, etc.). We should instead emphasize what is common. We should have the attitude from Luke 6:5 and love all men.
James 2:5-7
You can serve God or not whether you are rich or poor. The poor were often especially responsive to the gospel. The gospel is an avenue by which the poor can be elevated. See Proverbs 30:9; Matthew 19:24; 13:22. Do not reject someone that God accepts.
Something was apparently going on where the rich were oppressing people.
James 2:7 – The rich people of that day had apparently been blaspheming the name of Christ or Christians in general.
James 2:8-13
James 2:8 – “Love your neighbor as yourself” is called the royal law. It goes all the way back to Leviticus 19:18 and was repeated several times afterwards, including Matthew 22:39.
James 2:10 – If you break any part of the law, you are guilty of the law as a whole.
James 2:12 – The law of liberty gives us liberty from sin – not from laws or obligations to God.
James 2:13 – God causes our behavior to come back around and meet us. If we do not forgive, God will not forgive us. Matthew 18:35
James 2:14-26
James 2:14 – Faith means nothing without action behind it.
James 2:15-16 – If someone is in legitimate need and your faith is not sufficient to act in helping the person, your faith is dead.
James 2:19 – The demons also believe in God. Clearly their faith is not sufficient. See Luke 4:33-34; Acts 19:15.
James 2:21-23 – Exhibit A: Abraham was justified by acting on his faith and sacrificing his son Isaac. Compare justification in Titus 3:7; Romans 5:9; I Corinthians 6:11. How are we justified? By all of these things!
Genesis 22:1-18 – Abraham offered Isaac.
Hebrews 11:17 – Abraham acted out of faith!
It is not faith or works. Abraham showed his faith by his works of obedience.
James 2:24 – Man is not justified by faith alone.
James 2:25 – Exhibit B: Rahab was justified by her active faith.
Hebrews 11:31
James 2:26 – Faith without works is like a body without a spirit – it is just a corpse.
See Romans 4:1-5. Is this saying the opposite of what we just read? No. It is comparing “works” here to wages that are due to a working man. It is pointing out that we do not earn our way to heaven. We are justified because God has forgiven our sins.
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45min
August 17, 2025The Authority of Jesus
Introduction
Authority – the right to exercise power
Jesus has authority
Matthew 1:1
Matthew 2:1-2
Matthew 3:1-3, 11-12 – The kingdom was coming! Jesus is described as coming with authority!
Matthew 4:3, 12-17, 23-25 – Even Satan addressed Jesus as having authority. Who has authority to heal like Jesus did?
Matthew 5:7, 21-22, 28, 32, 34, 39, 44 - The Sermon on the Mount shows Jesus’ authority even more. Jesus said, “I say to you …” Even Old Testament prophets did not phrase it like this.
Matthew 7:26, 28 – “these words of mine”
Matthew 9:6 – Jesus had authority to heal and forgive sins.
Matthew 16:16 – They recognized He had authority
Matthew 21:23 – Leaders questioned His authority, but never bested Him.
Matthew 24:34
That authority was delegated to inspired men who wrote it down.
Matthew 28:16-20 – What gave the disciples the right to go out and teach? Jesus had authority to tell them to do so. Jesus delegated it to them.
John 14:26
John 16:13-15 – There was perfect harmony between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
I Corinthians 1:1 – Paul had authority because Jesus called him.
I Corinthians 4:17
I Thessalonians 2:13
Acts 20:17, 32
We should submit to that authority.
Matthew 7:24-27 – Do I love and respect Jesus enough to do what He says?
Matthew 15:3 – Do we follow the traditions of the day or obey Jesus? We have no right to replace Jesus’ authority.
Colossians 2:20-23 – They were doing things that were a self-made religion.
II Thessalonians 3:6 – This tradition was passed down from the apostles. It was authoritative!
We should not be timid about using and declaring His authority.
II Thessalonians 2:15 – Why should they hold to those traditions? Because they were authoritative.
We should not be afraid to call something sinful based on God’s word.
I Timothy 4:1-6, 11, 16 – He was not telling Timothy to just get along if error comes along. Timothy was to point out error to the brethren.
Titus 1:9
What gives any man the right to tell another he is wrong? The word of God.
Titus 2:15 – This can also be translated as, “show that you have every right to command.”
I John 2:3-6
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31min
August 13, 2025Holiness, Part 2
Holiness begins with God
Greek: hagios – sacred, physically pure, morally blameless, ceremonially consecrated, set apart
The Bible uses the word “holy” in two different ways:
Holiness of God – refers to unmatched majesty of His incomparable being
Holiness of anything else – something / someone that has been separated from the “common.”
The word “saint” comes from hagios.
Holiness: Its expression in scripture
“Holy, holy, holy” – Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8
All of God’s attributes come from His holiness.
God is set apart – I Samuel 2:2
Hannah’s prayer points out how no one is holy like God. There is one God and no one is like Him.
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40min
August 10, 2025The Ethiopian Eunuch
This man was serious about serving God!
Acts 8:26-28 – This man was likely a proselyte. He was a treasurer for the queen of Ethiopia, who held the title Candace (it was a title like Pharaoh, not a name). This man traveled possibly 1,000 miles, a journey that could have taken six months.
In today’s money, it would have cost several thousand dollars to have a personal copy of the book of Isaiah.
Luke 8:11-15 – This Ethiopian seemed to have a good heart.
The Old Testament mysteries are revealed in the New Testament.
Acts 8:29-35 – This is a quote from Isaiah 53:7-8.
Isaiah contains four “servant songs.” Once of these is in Isaiah 53.
Isaiah 53:1-2, 5-7 – We understand this is Jesus, but the Ethiopian didn’t know that yet.
I Corinthians 2:6-13
Deuteronomy 23:1 – If this man was physically emasculated, he would have been under restriction under the Law of Moses.
Philip preached Jesus and the man wanted to be baptized.
Acts 8:35-40 – Acts 8:37 may not have been in the original manuscripts. It was likely a marginal note that got included in the text. Having it in the text or not does not change any doctrinal points, though.
How did the Ethiopian know he needed to be baptized?
Acts 8:4-5 (“preaching the word”) Acts 8:12 (baptism)
Acts 8:35 (“he preached Jesus to Him”) Acts 8:36 (baptism)
The Holy Spirit was involved, but the man still had to make his own decision.
Acts 6:6
Acts 8:6 – Philip was doing miracles.
Acts 8:26, 29 – The Holy Spirit was highly involved in Philip meeting the Ethiopian. The Holy Spirit connected the eunuch to a man who could answer his questions. Then it was up to the Ethiopian to decide what he wanted to do. We don’t see any Calvinist ideas of God overriding man’s free will here.
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30min
August 10, 2025James 1:13-27
James 1, continued:
James 1:13-18
James 1:13 – See Matthew 4:1; Hebrews 4:15. How was Jesus tempted if God cannot be tempted? Some argue that this means Jesus was not deity, but that view conflicts with many other passages in the Bible. See John 14:30. Satan tried to tempt Jesus, but there was no desire in Jesus at all to do anything evil.
Genesis 22:1; Hebrews 11:17 – “testing”
Deuteronomy 8:2
Judges 2:21-22
II Chronicles 32:31
James 1:14-15 – We are tempted because of our own lust.
Lust (restrained) ➡ Sin (unrestrained lust and/or action) ➡ Death (separation from God; Isaiah 59:2; Romans 6:23)
Sexual desire (I Corinthians 7:3) ➡ Sin (Matthew 5:28 and/or Hebrews 13:4) ➡ Death (separation from God; Isaiah 59:2; Romans 6:23)
Desire for money (I Timothy 5:8) ➡ Sin (Colossians 3:5 and/or Ephesians 4:28) ➡ Death (separation from God; Isaiah 59:2; Romans 6:23)
James 1:16-17 – God gave the desire, but we must keep it in check. God gives us all good things.
James 1:18 – James might be saying they were the first generation of Christians.
James 1:19-21
James 1:19 – God created our bodies and knows how they work. He says slow down your anger.
James 1:21 – Remove the bad and put in the good.
James 1:22-27
James 1:22 – If we know God’s word, but aren’t doing it, that’s a problem.
James 1:25 – Because of the law of liberty, we are free from sin. Seem James 2:12. We will (I Corinthians 9:2) be judged by this law. Romans 6:18
James 1:26 – Compare James 1:16, 21. Don’t deceive yourself about your position with God if you are not truly serving Him.
James 1:27 – In those days, widows and orphans were in particularly dire straits.
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44min

FAQs about ScriptureStream:

How many episodes does ScriptureStream have?

The podcast currently has 3,198 episodes available.