ScriptureStream

ScriptureStream

By Mark WatsonSociety & CultureReligion & SpiritualityChristianityPhilosophy
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ScriptureStream episodes

  • 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus, Part 11
    • I Timothy 4:6-5:16
    • I Timothy 5:1 – This is referring to older men in general, not those who hold the office of an elder. Older men should be shown the proper respect.
    • I Timothy 5:3-16 – Care for needy widows. The church may care for those who are truly widows, are old enough, are faithful, and have no one else to care for them.
      • I Timothy 5:3 – See Matthew 15:4. “Honor” can include money.
      • I Timothy 5:4 – Widows with children or grandchildren should be cared for by their family.
      • I Timothy 5:8 – Take care of your relatives, especially your immediate family.
      • I Timothy 5:9-10 – A widow must be faithful and of a certain age in order for the church to care for her.
        • Is this the “widow indeed” from I Timothy 5:3,5,16?
        • What does it mean to be “put on the list”? The context is of material support.
          • 30 min
        • Sharing the Gospel During Trials
          • The story of Paul’s arrest
            • Acts 21:11-14
            • The prophecy of Agabus
            • Pleas of the brethren, “Don’t go!”
            • Paul’s resolve
            • Paul encouraged to pacify Jews (Acts 21:18-26)
            • False assumptions by an angry mob (Acts 21:27-30)
            • “Rescued” by the Romans Acts 21:31-36
            • Paul seizes the opportunity
              • Asks permission to address the mob (Acts 21:37-40)
              • His sermon (a testimonial) (Acts 22:1-21)
              • The crowd’s reaction (Acts 22:22-23)
              • Paul “protected” by the Romans
                • Roman captain ordered examination by “scourging”
                • Paul brought before the Sanhedrin (Acts 23:1-5)
                • Uses schism of Pharisees and Sadducees (Acts 23:6-9)
                • Roman captain rescues (Acts 23:10)
                • God was behind this (Acts 23:11)
                • Murder plot (Acts 23:12-15)
                • Paul’s nephew informs (Acts 23:16-22)
                • 470 Roman soldiers escort to Caesarea (Acts 23:23-33)
                • Roman Governor Felix hears accusations and defense
                • Paul teaches the Governor
                  • Acts 24:24-25 – Paul teaches:
                    • The faith in Christ
                    • Righteousness
                    • Self-control
                    • The judgment
                    • Governor Felix was afraid!
                    • A new governor comes to power
                      • Governor Porcius Festus (Acts 24:27)
                      • Approached by Jews in Jerusalem (Acts 25:1-5)
                      • Listens to accusations and Paul’s defense (Acts 25:6-8)
                      • Paul appeals to Caesar
                        • Governor Festus wants to please the Jews (Acts 25:9)
                        • Paul appeals to Caesar (Acts 25:10-11)
                        • Once accepted, must be done (Acts 25:12). See also Acts 26:31-32
                        • Paul teaches a king
                          • King Agrippa wants to hear (Acts 25:13-22)
                          • Governor Festus’ dilemma (Acts 25:24-27)
                          • Paul’s “defense” (Acts 26:1-23)
                          • Festus’ reaction (Acts 26:24)
                          • King Agrippa’s reaction (Acts 26:28)
                          • Paul’s desire (Acts 26:29)
                          • Qualities of effective evangelism
                            • Resolve
                              • Paul was willing to be imprisoned or killed
                              • What are you willing to endure?
                              • Selflessness
                                • Paul didn’t focus on defense of himself, but of the gospel
                                • Paul’s use of opportunity
                                  • What opportunities do you have?
                                  • Acts 26:18
                                  • You have an opportunity
                                    • What will you do with Jesus?
                                      • 30 min
                                    • Money and Contentment in 3 Verses
                                      • Proverbs 15:16; 22:1,7; 23:4
                                      • Ecclesiastes 5:10 – He who loves money will not be satisfied with money
                                        • Ecclesiastes 2:10-11; 4:7; 6:7
                                        • 78% of pro football players are broke or in deep financial stress within two years of retiring.
                                        • Philippians 4:11 – I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.
                                          • I Timothy 6:6-11 – True contentment does not come from money. Instead, pursue righteousness and godliness!
                                          • Contentment is an attitude – not an amount of money.
                                          • Romans 12:1-2 – We must transform ourselves by learning to be content.
                                          • I Timothy 6:17 – Do not fix your hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God.
                                            • Matthew 6:19-21 – Store up treasures in heaven, not on earth!
                                            • Psalms 62:10
                                            • Philippians 4:6-7
                                            • Luke 12:13-21 – The rich fool
                                              • 30 min
                                            • Ecclesiastes, Part 1
                                              • Ecclesiastes 1:1-2:16
                                              • Life under the sun
                                                • Full of weariness (Ecclesiastes 1:7)
                                                • No satisfaction with hearing or seeing (Ecclesiastes 1:8)
                                                • Nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9)
                                                • No remembrance of earlier things or later things (Ecclesiastes 1:11)
                                                • Toil and labor for total self-indulgence
                                                  • Vanity
                                                  • Striving after the wind
                                                  • Nothing to be gained
                                                  • The wise vs. the fool
                                                    • Wisdom is gain (Ecclesiastes 2:12)
                                                    • No lasting remembrance of the wise or foolish
                                                      • 30 min
                                                    • 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus, Part 10
                                                      • I Timothy 4:1-16
                                                      • History of celibacy and asceticism requirements by various groups.
                                                      • I Timothy 4:4 - “Everything” here does not mean absolutely everything because there are many passages that forbid certain things. This verse is specifically referring to the things listed in I Timothy 4:3.
                                                      • I Timothy 4:8 – It is good to be physically fit, but it is far better to be spiritually fit.
                                                      • I Timothy 4:10 – This is not teaching universalism (that everyone will be saved) because many other passages teach that not all will be saved. See Matthew 25:46. Jesus came to save all men, but not all will choose to receive the gift.
                                                      • I Timothy 4:12 – See Ecclesiastes 12:1. Serve God even in your youth.
                                                      • I Timothy 4:14 – See II Timothy 1:6. Paul could have been the one who laid hands on Timothy.
                                                        • 30 min
                                                      • Abraham Offering Isaac: Two Lessons About Facing Spiritual Challenges
                                                        • Genesis 22:1-19
                                                        • Consider every challenge as a step toward more complete faith.
                                                          • Abraham had three days of riding with Isaac to think about what God had asked him to do.
                                                          • James 2:20-24
                                                          • James 1:2-4
                                                          • Luke 16:18 – What if you read this and realized you were in an adulterous marriage? Wouldn’t that be a tough challenge like Abraham faced?
                                                          • Trust that God has a good ending in mind
                                                            • Leviticus 20:1-3
                                                            • Genesis 17:17-21
                                                            • Hebrews 11:17-19 – Abraham apparently thought God would raise Isaac from the dead. Abraham trusted that God would make it work out for the best in the end.
                                                            • Matthew 5:39-42
                                                            • Romans 12:19-21
                                                            • Genesis 22:3 – Abraham rose early in the morning to fulfill God’s command. When we understand what God’s command is, we need to get up and do it!
                                                              • 30 min
                                                            • Mark, Part 21
                                                              • Mark 16:14-20
                                                              • Mark 16:17-18 – See also Hebrews 2:1-4. The context here indicates that the sense is that they would be protected from certain things, including poisonous animals. It was not instructing them to go out and handle snakes or drink poison to demonstrate their faith. It covered situations like Acts 28:3-5.
                                                              • Review of the miracles of Jesus as recorded in Mark. At least 26 different occasions are recorded in which Jesus performed miracles.
                                                                • 30 min
                                                              • 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus, Part 9
                                                                • I Timothy 3:12-4:5
                                                                • Qualifications for deacons, continued:
                                                                  • I Timothy 3:12 – good managers of their children and household
                                                                    • See also I Timothy 3:4. Elders are required to have this same qualification.
                                                                    • I Timothy 3:15
                                                                      • Is “church” used here in the local or universal sense?
                                                                        • It seems to be used in the universal sense here. Either way, the point is that Christians would have to follow God’s inspired instructions in order to know how to conduct themselves. Paul was not writing just for friendship, or to pass on ordinary news.
                                                                        • “the pillar and support of the truth”
                                                                          • Saved people obey and teach God’s truth, thus they are the pillar and support of truth. See Acts 8:3; I Corinthians 1:2; 12:13,27-28; Ephesians 5:23.
                                                                          • I Timothy 4:1 – See Mark 5:7; Acts 16:17.
                                                                          • I Timothy 4:3 – There is nothing wrong with abstaining from marriage, certain foods, etc. It is wrong to bind these rules on other people as a matter of faith.
                                                                            • 30 min
                                                                          • “My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?”

                                                                            [Editor’s note: This is an unusual lesson in that it is a study of Mark 15:34 from two different perspectives. As explained in the audio file, two of the elders at Benchley (Jesse Jenkins and Kevin Scott) take different views on this passage, so each man gave a short talk explaining his perspective. Like these two men say, we encourage you to study the passage, listen to their reasoning, and decide for yourself what you believe the passage is saying. - MRW]

                                                                            • Jesse Jenkins:
                                                                              • Mark 15:34
                                                                              • Is this statement to be taken literally or as hyperbole?
                                                                              • This is hyperbole because of other statements Jesus made.
                                                                                • John 8:28-29
                                                                                • Luke 23:47-48 – This cry caused faith in those that heard it.
                                                                                • God has never forsaken one who does His will.
                                                                                  • Isaiah 59:1-2 – Only sin separates us from God.
                                                                                  • Ezekiel 18:2-4
                                                                                  • Psalms 9:10 – Jesus was certainly seeking God!
                                                                                  • Jesus was made to be a sin offering to bear away our sins. II Corinthians 5:21; I Peter 2:23
                                                                                  • Jesus plainly said that God would be with Him and not leave Him alone. John 8:29; 16:32
                                                                                  • Jesus’ last words – “Father, unto thy hand I commend my Spirit.”
                                                                                  • Psalm 22:1
                                                                                  • Kevin Scott
                                                                                    • This is literal because the context is not figurative. Psalm 22 is also literal. David felt that he had literally been forsaken by God and then presented reasons why.
                                                                                    • Just like the scapegoat had to leave the congregation to take away sin, Jesus had to separate from God to take away our sin.
                                                                                    • II Corinthians 5:14-15 – Jesus experienced death for all of us. Jesus did not taste physical death for us (because we must all physically die). He tasted spiritual death for us so that we would not have to.
                                                                                    • Matthew 18:34-35
                                                                                    • Romans 6:3-4
                                                                                    • John 8:28-29 – See John 8:16. What does it mean to be separated? What does it mean to be alone?
                                                                                    • Mark 16:14 – The closest disciples did not believe the reports of the resurrection. Jesus quoting Psalm 22 on the cross was not enough to produce faith in them.
                                                                                      • 30 min
                                                                                    • Three Attitude Adjustments in I Corinthians 4
                                                                                      • 1 Corinthians 4:1
                                                                                      • We are servants and stewards (so life is not about us)
                                                                                        • I Peter 4:10
                                                                                        • I Corinthians 4:9-13
                                                                                        • We only answer to God (so don’t chase other standards)
                                                                                          • I Corinthians 4:3-5
                                                                                          • II Corinthians 10:10,12,18 – Don’t compare yourself to others. Look to God for the standard.
                                                                                          • I Corinthians 1:20; 2:4; 3:19 – The wisdom of the world is foolishness to God.
                                                                                          • I Corinthians 4:6 – God’s standard is universal.
                                                                                          • Mark 7:1-8
                                                                                          • Everything we have is something we have received.
                                                                                            • I Corinthians 4:7-8 – All things we have are gifts from God.
                                                                                            • I Corinthians 12:6-11 – The Corinthians were competing over having the “best” spiritual gifts.
                                                                                            • I Corinthians 14:12
                                                                                            • Deuteronomy 8:17-18 – We should not boast in our wealth except as a gift from God.
                                                                                            • Ephesians 2:8-9 – Obedience allows us to reach out and take the gift of salvation that God has given us.
                                                                                            • I Corinthians 4:14
                                                                                              • 30 min

                                                                                            About ScriptureStream

                                                                                            From the publisher's feed

                                                                                            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…