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ScriptureStream episodes
- The Best Sermons Ever Preached, Part 9
- Matthew 6:1-15
- Matthew 6:1-4 – Don’t seek approval from men when practicing righteousness. Do what is right before God with the right motive and God will reward you.
- Matthew 6:5-6 – This is not saying it is wrong to pray in public. We have numerous examples of Jesus, Paul, and others doing so. The emphasis is on praying with the right motive.
- Matthew 6:10 – God’s kingdom is now here (the church), but we can still pray that God’s kingdom will grow and spread in the hearts of men.
- Matthew 6:13 – See James 1:13. God tempts no man. Compare I Corinthians 10:13. This is a prayer that we will not be drawn into temptation, especially that which we might be unable to bear. See also Psalms 141:4.
- Matthew 6:7 – It is not wrong to repeat yourself in prayer. Jesus did so in His own prayers at times (compare the use of “Father” in Jesus’ prayer in John 17). It is wrong, however, to use meaningless
30 min - Where God Records His Name
- Exodus 20:24
- Leviticus 17:1-4, 8-9 – Offerings had to be made at the right place.
- I Kings 9:1-3; 11:36 – God chose to put His name at the temple in Jerusalem.
- Offerings had to be made where God chose to record His name.
- Deuteronomy 12:5-11, 13-14 – must worship where God records His name
- I Kings 12 – Rehoboam acts foolishly and divides Israel.
- I Kings 12:22-24 – God intervenes to prevent civil war.
- God would rather have two tribes serve Him correctly than have all twelve be unified but fall away.
- I Kings 12:26-30 – Jeroboam provided additional places for the people to worship, but these were not approved by God.
- Matthew 16:13-18
- I Timothy 3:15 – The church is God’s house. That is where God has recorded His name.
- Many today try to follow Jeroboam and worship God in ways He has not authorized.
30 min - Sunday Evening Lord’s Supper
- Mark 14:22-25
- Is it wrong to have the Lord’s Supper on Sunday evening since we are supposed to “wait for one another?”
- I Corinthians 11:33
- I don’t believe so. That phrase simply addresses a specific problem in Corinth. I Corinthians 11:18-33; Acts 20:7
- We have general authority to take the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week.
- We do not have specific authority to meet at a particular time or to take the Lord’s Supper and do other things as part of the same assembly, but that does not mean that we cannot do different combinations of those things.
- Is it wrong to have the Lord’s Supper on Sunday evening since only one person (or a few) partake?
- I don’t believe so. The communion is with Christ and is not invalidated if others are not partaking correctly (or at all). I Corinthians 10:14-22; Matthew 26:29; Leviticus 7:5-6, 15; 21:6
- I Corinthians 10:14-22:
- Christian (I Corinthians 10:16-17)⇒ Cup/table of the Lord⇒ Christ
- Israel (I Corinthians 10:18)⇒ Eat sacrifices⇒ God
- Gentiles (I Corinthians 10:19-22)⇒ Cup/table of demons⇒ Idols/demons
- We have communion (sharing, fellowship, participation) with Christ! Matthew 26:29
- Why do we even have these kinds of studies?
- We are responsible for making sure we are worshiping correctly!
30 min - Foundational Bible Studies, Part 7
- God’s plan of salvation
- Introduction
- Romans 3:23; Luke 19:10
- Learn the truth
- Throughout the New Testament, there is a strong emphasis on teaching.
- Matthew 18:19-20
- Romans 10:17
- The first step toward salvation is to learn what the Bible says. Acts 17:2-4, 11
- Believe and confess that Jesus is Lord and Christ, the Son of God.
- Our faith should never be a blind faith.
- Acts 2 – Peter pointed out the prophecies made about that day. Compare Acts 8:35; 9:22; 17:2-4, 11-12; 18:28
- Romans 10:9-10 – Confession is required.
- Matthew 26:63-64; Acts 2:36; 9:20; I John 4:15
- Acts 8:37 – This particular verse is in doubt. It does not appear in the earliest manuscripts. Removing this verse does not negate the need for confession, though. Other verses teach the same thing regarding confession.
- Matthew 10:32-33 – This could be referring specifically to the teaching job the apostles were about to do. It may not be referring to confession of faith in general.
- Repent
- Acts 2:37-38; 17:30
- The word repent means, “the change the mind.”
- Hebrews 6:1; Acts 20:21
- Matthew 12:41 – Jesus calls what the people of Ninevah did repentance. Jonah 3:4-10
- II Corinthians 7:8-10 – Repentance is more than just being sorry.
- Matthew 27:3-5 – Judas was sorry but did not repent.
- Acts 9:3-6, 11, 18-20 – Paul repented and turned his life around.
- Be baptized
- Baptism means to be immersed or submerged.
- Matthew 18:18-20; Mark 16:15-16 – Jesus commissioned the apostles to teach and baptize.
- Acts 2:38, 41; 10:47-48
- Acts 8:12, 35-39 – Philip
- Acts 9:18; 22:16; 9:3-6 – Paul is baptized
- Acts 16:15, 27-34; 19:1-5 – Paul baptizing others
- Ephesians 4:5 – Only one baptism today
- Romans 6:1-4
Jesus (Physical)
Me (Spiritual)
Death
Dead to sin
Burial
Buried in baptism
Resurrection
Walk in newness of life
- I Corinthians 12:13
- Colossians 1:18- Galatians 3:27- Colossians 2:12- I Peter 3:18-22 – Like Noah, when we obey, we are saved. The power was not in Noah’s boat-building ability or the water itself.- People hurried to get baptized! Acts 2:41; 8:36; 9:18; 16:33What does baptism do?
Mark 16:16; I Peter 3:21
it saves us
Acts 2:38
it is for the forgiveness of sins
Acts 22:16
it washes away sins
Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12
it makes us partakers of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection
I Corinthians 12:13
it adds us into the “body” (the “church,” Colossians 1:18)
Galatians 3:27
it clothes us with Christ
- Are you ready to be a new person?
- Romans 6:4, 630 min - The Best Sermons Ever Preached, Part 8
- Matthew 5:33-48
- Matthew 5:33-37 – This is an extended not-but It is not a blanket prohibition on making any sort of oath. If all swearing is wrong, God Himself did wrong in Hebrews 6:18. Verse 37 is the point – we should speak truth and keep our word.
- Matthew 5:38-39 – Compare John 18:22-23; Acts 23:2-3. Both Jesus and Paul disobeyed this verse if we are never to defend ourselves. Romans 12:18-21. He was simply saying to not repay evil in kind, but return good instead.
- Matthew 5:43-48 – See John 8:39-44. We are children of God when we imitate Him.
30 min - Church Government
- Three basic kinds of church government (plus a hybrid fourth form). All can’t be right!
- Universal concept
- Local churches (or parishes) joined together under universal oversight with a universal treasury doing universal work.
- Prime example is the Catholic church, headed by the Pope.
- Brotherhood concept
- Local churches joined together under brotherhood oversight with a brotherhood treasury doing brotherhood work.
- Example: Southern Methodist Conference
- Local concept
- Autonomous local churches. Individual Christians are part of the universal church with Christ as the head.
- Local oversight
- Acts 14:23 – Elders commanded to oversee local churches
- I Peter 5:1-4 – Elders are to oversee their own flock – not other churches.
- Local treasury
- I Corinthians 16:1-2
- Local work
- This is the only structure authorized by God.
- Brotherhood + local church concept
- Local churches under the guidance of the ruling convention. Much looser than the brotherhood concept.
- They claim only local oversight, treasury, and work, but they also have brotherhood oversight, treasury, and work in some cases.
- Baptist Hour
- Buckner Children’s Home
- “Churches of Christ”
- Local churches joined together in a loose denominational structure.
- They claim only local oversight, treasury, and work, but also have elements of brotherhood oversight, treasury, and work.
- Herald of Truth – Radio program run by a church in Abilene. Many churches sent money to support the work.
- Boles Children’s Home
30 min - Evil and Suffering
- “Evil and suffering prove that either God is not good or He doesn’t exist.”
- Let’s talk about real evil and suffering in this study.
- A lot of evil and suffering come about because God created us with the ability to choose.
- Ecclesiastes 12:14
- Acts 17:30-31
- Galatians 1:3-5
- First of all, God cares about our suffering!
- Exodus 2:23-25
- Genesis 4:10
- Hebrews 12:1; 2:14, 17-18
- God is wiser than we are.
- Isaiah 55:8-9
- God knows and understands more than us. He may be bringing about good through suffering.
- Genesis 50:20
- Job 38:1-7; 40:1-9; 42:1
- Earthly suffering increases our desire for Heavenly blessings.
- James 1:2-4
- II Corinthians 12:7
- Good and bad things on earth are tiny samples of heaven and hell.
- John 4:13-14
- We’re on God’s timetable.
- Romans 8:18; II Corinthians 4:17
- II Peter 3:8
- Psalms 31:24
30 min - Foundational Bible Studies, Part 6
- Deity: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (continued)
- The Father: The leader!
- Matthew 3:16-17 – There are three distinct persons in the Godhead.
- Deuteronomy 6:4
- Genesis 1:1-2; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2 – All three played a role in creation.
- The Bible does not tell us how they came to have their roles, but we know that they work in perfect love and unity.
- Jesus Christ: The Savior!
- John 1:1, 14-18
- Philippians 2:5-8
- I Peter 2:22; Hebrews 10:4-10; I Corinthians 15:4
- Hebrews 4:15 – Jesus can sympathize with us because of His life on earth.
- Acts 18:28
- John 15:13; Romans 5:8
- The Holy Spirit: The Communicator!
- The Spirit is an actual Being, not a concept or mysterious force.
- John 16:13; I Corinthians 12:11; Acts 5:3; Hebrews 10:29; Ephesians 4:30
- The Holy Spirit’s great work has been to communicate God’s will to humanity.
- I Corinthians 2:10-13; II Peter 1:20-21; II Samuel 23:1-2 – He inspired certain people to speak and write God’s word.
- Acts 1:16 – The Spirit inspired David to write these words as scripture.
- Ephesians 3:4-5; Hebrews 3:7; 4:7; 10:15; Revelation 1:9-11; 2:7
- Acts 7:51-53 – Resisting those inspired messages could be called “resisting the Holy Spirit.”
- Many of the passages about the Holy Spirit are simply referring to what He accomplishes through the Word!
- John 16:8, 13; Acts 2:37. Compare II Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:9; James 2:8-9. The Spirit convicts people through the Word!
- In the first century, the Holy Spirit gave miraculous power to a select few.
- The Spirit was primarily sent to apostles. John 14:16-17, 25-26; 15:25-26; 16:7-13. These apostles could pass the power on to others, but those others could not pass on the power.
- I Corinthians 13:8-13 – Once the complete message was available, these gifts could cease and be done away.
- Obey the message of the Holy Spirit!
30 min - The Best Sermons Ever Preached, Part 7
- Matthew 5:27-32
- Matthew 5:29 – The emphasis here is on the heart. We must address the root of the problem.
- Matthew 5:37 – Compare Romans 7:2-3. God’s marriage law is strict, but if it was any less strict, it would result in the law not being a law at all. People would be able to marry and divorce freely as they saw fit.
- A husband would make his wife an adulteress in the same sense that men make God a liar in I John 1:8-10.
30 min - Marks of a Great Man
- The measure of a great man is not his bank account or a string of degrees. A man is not great because of what he has or who he is, but because of what he is and what he does.
- Philippians 2:5-6
- Paul was a great man because:
- He could change when he learned he was wrong
- Acts 23:6
- Acts 7:58; 8:1-3
- One who does not study, grow, and change will become dormant.
- An honest man will do what Paul did and change to obey truth.
- He could feel sorrow for sin
- I Timothy 1:12
- Acts 22:20
- II Corinthians 7:10 – Paul’s sorrow was a godly sorrow.
- He was humble, yet had self-respect
- Mark 1:15
- Philippians 3:9
- Galatians 5:6
- I Corinthians 9:27
- He was able to compare values and choose the greater
- Philippians 3:7-11
- Hebrews 11:24-26 – Moses made a similar choice
- He never looked back
- II Timothy 4:10
- Philippians 3:13-14
- Luke 9:61-62
- He had a purpose
- I Corinthians 9:26-27
- Romans 10:1-4 – We must look to Jesus for the way of righteousness.
- He had faith in the outcome
- II Corinthians 1:12
- II Timothy 2:4-8
- I Corinthians 11:1
- If we don’t believe we are living a life that will result in heaven, we need to change!
- All the money and prestige in the world cannot buy what Paul had. But if we have these things, we can face death with peace.
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…
and additional resources for Bible study.