ScriptureStream

ScriptureStream

By Mark WatsonSociety & CultureReligion & SpiritualityChristianityPhilosophy
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ScriptureStream episodes

  • Mark, Part 20

    • Mark 15:34-16:16

    • Mark 15:46 – With the tomb being hewn out of solid rock, there was no way for anyone to sneak the body of Jesus out of some back way. In other accounts (Matthew 27:61-66), we learn that the Romans secured the tomb with a guard.

    • Mark 16:1-8 – Compare Matthew 28:1-10; John 20:17; Luke 24:1-12. The people touched Jesus after His resurrection, but Jesus told them not to cling to Him because He still had to ascend to Heaven. Luke’s account firmly puts Jesus’ resurrection on the first day of the week.

    • Mark 16:14 – Jesus expected the disciples to believe in the testimony of others, which is what He expects of us today.

    • Mark 16:16 – Some dispute this verse to get away from the baptism requirement, but other verses (such as Acts 2:38-40) clearly show that baptism is required. See also Matthew 28:18-20. If you do not believe, you cannot be baptized in the name of Jesus, so not believing implies not being baptized, which ends in condemnation.

      30 min
    • 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus, Part 8
      • I Timothy 3:8-12
      • Qualifications of deacons, continued:
        • “not fond of sordid gain” - I Timothy 3:8
        • “holding to the mystery of faith” - I Timothy 3:9
          • See Colossians 1:25 for another use of “mystery.”
          • See also II Corinthians 13:5.
          • “beyond reproach” - I Timothy 3:10
            • “must also first be tested” - “Also” here seems to be referring back to qualifications for elders. Deacons should be tested like elders are.
            • “women” - I Timothy 3:11
              • The Greek word translated “women” here can mean either “wife” or “woman” depending on the context. Since this verse occurs in the middle of a discussion on deacons and the next verse specifies that deacons must be male (i.e., be “husbands of only one wife”), the most natural interpretation would be that this is referring to the wives of deacons.
              • Qualifications for wives of deacons:
                • “dignified”
                • “not malicious gossips” - cf. II Timothy 3:3; Titus 2:3
                • “temperate” - also, sober or sober-minded. See I Timothy 3:2.
                • “faithful in all things”
                • “husbands of only one wife” - I Timothy 3:12
                  • See I Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6 (cf. I Timothy 5:9)
                  • This seems to indicate that a deacon must be married and in a scriptural marriage. If is not completely clear if a man could still be a deacon after his wife died.
                    • 30 min
                  • A Clean Heart
                    • Psalm 51:9-14 – David needed a clean heart.
                      • The Bible heart is:
                        • Intellect: That with which man understands and believes. It is the intellect of man.
                        • Emotion: That with which man loves and hates. Matthew 22:37
                        • Willpower: That with which man obeys God. Romans 6:16-17
                        • Conscience: The conscience of man – it approves or disapproves of our actions.
                        • A heart is purified by a faith that obeys. Acts 10:9; Galatians 5:6; I Peter 1:21
                        • David asked for a clean heart to be created within himself first. We must also look to purify ourselves. Colossians 3:17; Philippians 4:8
                        • Psalms 51:11-12 - What we must do to be able to pray this prayer:
                          • We must have the disposition to draw nigh to God. James 4:8
                          • We must exercise self-discipline. I Corinthians 9:27
                          • Refuse to go beyond the doctrine of Christ. II John 1:9
                            • 30 min
                          • The Sovereignty of God
                            • I Timothy 6:15; Psalms 103:19
                            • Calvinism’s view: God only allows people to make evil choices, except for the “elect,” which He allows to make good choices.
                              • Job 42:1-2?
                              • Psalms 135:6?
                              • Proverbs 21:1?
                              • James 1:13-15 – God does not cause people to sin.
                              • Bible view: God allows people to choose good or evil, but He is still sovereign as the final judge.
                                • People are free to choose between good and evil.
                                  • Genesis 3:2-3,6
                                  • Deuteronomy 30:15-20
                                  • Joshua 24:14-15
                                  • Isaiah 1:19-20
                                  • John 7:16-17 – There are two “wills” discussed here. We have to align our will with God’s will.
                                  • Romans 2:2-11; 6:12,23
                                  • II Peter 3:9
                                  • God’s sovereignty is seen in His final judgment.
                                    • John 5:28-29
                                    • II Corinthians 5:20
                                    • I Peter 1:17-19
                                    • Take responsibility for your sin!
                                    • Take responsibility for your righteousness!
                                      • Philippians 2:12; I Thessalonians 2:13
                                      • Don’t ignore the Bible!
                                      • Fear God as the sovereign judge!
                                        • Live how you want, but in the end you will answer for it!
                                          • 30 min
                                        • Mark, Part 19
                                          • Mark 15:1-34
                                          • Mark 15:1 – The Jews wanted Jesus to be a public spectacle, thus the plan to seek His crucifixion.
                                          • Mark 15:10 – Pilate knew that the leaders of the Jews envied Jesus’ power and influence.
                                          • Mark 15:15 – The Jewish law restricted punishment to a maximum of 40 lashes, of which they customarily gave only 39. The Romans had no such restriction, so there is no way to know how many lashes Jesus received here. It is reported that prisoners sometimes died from the scourging itself.
                                          • Mark 15:21 – See Luke 23:26. Simon carried the aft part of the cross while Jesus carried the fore part.
                                          • Mark 15:32 – Some have argued there is a contradiction here with Luke 23:39-43. It seems that both of the criminals reviled Jesus, but then one had a change of heart. There is no contradiction. Luke’s account just gives more detail.
                                            • 30 min
                                          • 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus, Part 7
                                            • I Timothy 3:1,8-13
                                            • I Timothy 3:1 – It is good for a man to desire to do the work of an elder, but not in the greedy sense of chasing power.
                                            • I Timothy 3:8-13 – Qualifications for deacons
                                              • Compare Romans 16:1 – Phoebe was a female servant, but not a deacon or deaconess. She does not meet the qualifications listed in I Timothy 3.
                                              • I Timothy 3:8 – Condemnation of being “addicted to much wine” does not imply that drinking a little wine is okay.
                                                • 30 min
                                              • Doesn't the Bible Say...?
                                                • II Timothy 3:16-17
                                                • We need to know what’s NOT in the Bible so we can treat it that way.
                                                  • I Corinthians 1:20; 2:1-5; Acts 17:28
                                                  • “God helps those who help themselves.” - From Aesop’s fables, via Benjamin Franklin
                                                    • See Romans 5:6
                                                    • “This too, shall pass.” - From a 10th Century English poem
                                                    • “God works in mysterious ways.” - Paraphrase of an old hymn. Compare Deuteronomy 29:29
                                                    • “Blessings in disguise.” - Compare James 1:2
                                                    • “Cleanliness is next to Godliness.”
                                                    • “To thine own self be true.” - Shakespeare, Hamlet
                                                    • I Thessalonians 2:13
                                                    • We need to refine our knowledge of what IS in the Bible so that our thinking is accurate.
                                                      • Almost in the Bible
                                                        • Eve ate an apple.
                                                        • A whale swallowed Jonah.
                                                        • There were three wise men.
                                                        • “Pride goes before a fall.”
                                                        • “Spare the rod, spoil the child.” - Compare Proverbs 13:24.
                                                        • “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” - From Roman Catholic Catechism. Compare Luke 6:31
                                                        • “Money is the root of all evil.” - Compare I Timothy 6:10
                                                        • I Corinthians 2:12-13
                                                        • We need to challenge ourselves to read and learn the actual Bible!
                                                          • John 12:48; Ephesians 3:1-5; 5:15-16
                                                          • Are these in the Bible?
                                                            • Infant baptism?
                                                            • The Sinner’s Prayer?
                                                            • “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop?”
                                                            • The Lord’s Supper?
                                                            • “Hate the sin, love the sinner?”
                                                            • Once saved, always saved?
                                                            • Elders, deacons, preachers?
                                                            • The Pope?
                                                            • Keeping the Sabbath?
                                                            • Homosexuality?
                                                              • 30 min
                                                            • Busting Some Spiritual Myths
                                                              • Myth: Spiritual growth happens automatically when you attend services weekly.
                                                                • Truth: Hebrews 5:11-14; James 1:21-27; I Timothy 3:2-7; II Peter 3:18
                                                                • Myth: Our priority as a church should be appealing to youth.
                                                                  • Truth: I Timothy 2:3-4; Titus 2:2a,3a,4,6,9a; Acts 16:1-3; II Timothy 3:10-15
                                                                  • Myth: Worship is mainly about me.
                                                                    • Truth: I Corinthians 11:17-29; John 4:23-24; Colossians 3:16-17; I Corinthians 14:12,19,26; 13:4; 14:29-31; II Corinthians 7:4-7,13-16
                                                                      • 30 min
                                                                    • 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus, Part 6
                                                                      • I Timothy 2:8-3:1
                                                                      • I Timothy 2:15 – Women (and all humanity) have been saved through childbearing in the sense that Christ the Savior was born into the world through a woman (“…God sent forth His Son, born of a woman…” - Galatians 4:4). Note the statement to the serpent in Genesis 3:15. I Timothy 2 is saying that while sin did enter the world through a woman (Eve), salvation also entered the world through a woman (Mary).
                                                                        • 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…