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ScriptureStream episodes
- Serving Christ (when you're not a spring chicken anymore)Introduction
- Proverbs 16:31
Be realistic, but optimistic- Acts 1:16
- Psalms 71:9, 15, 5-8 – He had learned to trust in the Lord.
- Philemon 1:8-9 – Paul appealed to him as an old man. Can you do this as well?
- II Samuel 19:39-39 – Barzillai returned home and sent his servant on to help David. He aged gracefully and wisely.
- Older people are often very content. This can be a great lesson to others.
- II Corinthians 4:16
Younger folks should honor older folks- I Timothy 5:3
- Philippians 3:17
- Thank you to all of our older folks!
You ain’t done yet!- Psalms 92:12-15
- Luke 1:36 – Elizabeth bore a son in her old age.
- Luke 2:36-38 – Anna served in the temple in her old age.
- Exodus 7:7 – Moses was eighty years old when he stood before God.
- Leviticus 19:32 – Honoring the older people was part of the Law of Moses.
- I Timothy 3:6 – Elders must be men with experience.
- Example: Dr. Chibanda trained grandmothers in Zimbabwe to help those with psychological issues. The grandmothers were more effective than the doctors!
- II Timothy 1:5
- Titus 2:3-4
28 min - James 4:1-17James 4
- James 4:1 – See James 1:14; 3:13. The source of our trouble is our own lust – not God. Other people might create problems, but we must look inward and see what problems we might be causing ourselves.
- James 4:2-3 – See I John 5:14. We should not think that prayer is a magic ability to satisfy our physical desires. It should not be used as an avenue for selfishness.
- James 4:4 – See II Corinthians 11:2.
- Friendship with the world:
- John 17:15
- Ephesians 5:7
- I John 2:15
- I Thessalonians 5:22
- Romans 12:2, 9
- Romans 1:32
- Galatians 6:14
- James 4:5 – This is often presented as a quote in various translations, but there were no quotes in the original. There is no verse in the Old Testament or New Testament that matches this. The NIV translation has a good take on this – it is not a quote but something that Scripture says in general.
- James 4:6 – Pride separates us from God.
- James 4:7 – We don’t negotiate with God. He has already given us His offer. It is up to us to accept. We are more powerful than Satan. If we resist him, there is nothing else he can do.
- James 4:8 – Put the sin out of your life!
- James 4:10 – God is looking for humble hearts.
- James 4:11 – See John 7:24. Don’t let this conflict with Jesus’ commands to discern rightly. Don’t attempt to put yourself above the law.
- James 4:13 – It is not sinful to make a plan, but don’t leave God out of your plans.
- James 4:17 – The “right thing to do” is what he just said in James 4:15 – live with God in mind.
44 min - Lessons from FootballIntroduction
- Mark 1:17
- John 4:13-14, 34 – Jesus often used physical things to teach spiritual lessons.
- John 7:37-38
Self-control and discipline- I Corinthians 9:24-27
- Athletes put tremendous effort into training and preparing for their sport. They practice great discipline over themselves.
- How is my spiritual preparation and training going?
Sacrifice- II Corinthians 12:14-15
- Philippians 2:14-15
- Paul sacrificed his time, energy, and health to spread the gospel.
- II Timothy 2:8-10, 3
- There is no cause more worthy than the cause of Christ.
- Whatever it costs to serve God is worth it!
Wrong priorities- Matthew 6:25-34
- I Corinthians 6:12
- We should not be completely obsessed with anything outside of God.
- Matthew 22:37
- Ephesians 5:3
Football crowds are nothing … compared to Heaven!- Revelation 5:11-14
30 min - Holiness, Part 4Holiness of ChristScripture calls Him holy
- Mark 1:24 – I know who you are – the Holy One of God!
- Luke 1:35 – Holy One who is to be born
- Hebrews 7:26 – High Priest who is Holy
How did He demonstrate His holiness?Christ was sinless- Hebrews 4:15 – tempted as we are, yet without sin
- II Corinthians 5:21 – knew no sin
- I John 3:5 – in Him there is no sin
- John 8:12, 42-47
- If Jesus had sin, then …
- His teaching would be discredited.
- He would not have been God.
- He would have needed salvation.
- He would not be qualified to be our sacrifice.
Christ knew His purpose- Holiness of God – Jesus was sinless – perfect, unmatched
- Holiness of anything else – Jesus made the common into something special.
- John 6:38 – I am here to do the will of my Father.
- John 8:29 – I always do those things that please Him.
- John 4:34 – My food is to do the will of Him who sent me.
How should His holiness affect us?He was perfect in all holiness – without sin- How does that affect me?
- Hebrews 7:25-27 – Earthly priests needed their own sacrifices. Jesus did not.
- II Corinthians 5:20-21 – He became the sin offering for us.
40 min - Christians on CampusIntroduction
- 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.
31 min - James 3:1-18James 3James 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.
44 min - Remarks About the New Church BuildingIntroduction
- 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.
17 min - Holiness, Part 3Holiness: 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
41 min - Culture of my Family: Love for Each OtherIntroduction
- 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.
27 min - James 2:1-26James 2James 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.
45 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.