ScriptureStream

ScriptureStream

By Mark WatsonSociety & CultureReligion & SpiritualityChristianityPhilosophy
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ScriptureStream episodes

  • Christian Attitudes, Part 9
    • Worrying about the things of this world (Matthew 6:19-34)
      • God versus wealth
        • “not/but” construction (look at vs. 24)
        • Exclusively one or the other?
          • Saving is not excluded
          • “Serve” is the key
          • If it were exclusive
            • We would have to eschew all wealth
            • We could not provide for our families
            • We could not provide for others
            • What goes first and foremost?
            • What should we count as treasure? Hebrews 11:24-26
            • Which guides us: God or wealth?
            • Wealth will fail us – God will not.
            • Don’t obsess!
              • Who is in ultimate control?
                • Years of your life (NASB)
                • Height of your stature (KJV)
                  • Idiomatic? Psalms 39:5
                  • Life span vs. stature Luke 12:26
                  • Why not leave it to Him?
                  • Is it wrong or evil to be wealthy?
                    • Who was the father of the faithful? Romans 4:11-16; Genesis 13:2
                    • God rewards diligence
                      • Daniel worked honestly and diligently
                      • Rose to the top
                      • Proverbs 10:4; 6:6-11; 13:22
                      • There were rich disciples of Jesus
                        • Joseph of Arimathea (Matthew 27:57)
                        • Zacheus also (rich publican) (Luke 19:1-10)
                        • Jesus sought the rich as well as the poor - “Seek and save the lost”
                        • Jesus knows the challenge of the rich
                          • Luke 18:24-27
                          • Luke 12:15
                          • I Timothy 6:17-19
                          • And those who seek to be rich
                            • Proverbs 28:20
                            • I Timothy 6:9-12
                            • Difference between prospering and being rich
                              • Prosper – help on one’s journey
                              • Is it wrong to prosper? III John 1:2; I Corinthians 16:1-2
                              • Why prosper? Ephesians 4:28
                              • To dedicate one’s self to prosperity?
                              • To do the things which make for prosperity?
                              • To avoid the things which destroy prosperity?
                                • 30 min
                              • The Work of Local Churches, Part 8
                                • Local churches are to provide for the preaching and teaching of the gospel (continued)
                                  • II Corinthians 11:7-9 – The church sent money directly to the preacher.
                                  • Notice that in these cases, the money was sent directly to the preacher.
                                    • There was no centralization or hierarchy to deal with.
                                    • Even in those days of rudimentary communication and travel, this was sufficient to get the job done (Colossians 1:23).
                                    • There is no authority for churches to pool money together for evangelism. Philippians 4:15 + II Corinthians 11:8?
                                    • Local churches – which should have independent function and local oversight – lose control over their money in a sponsoring church arrangement. Acts 14:23; I Peter 5:2; Acts 4:32-5:4
                                      • 30 min
                                    • Cain and Abel: 5 Simple Truths
                                      • Genesis 4:1-16
                                      • We must overcome plain old anger
                                        • Genesis 4:5
                                        • Anger itself is not necessarily sinful
                                        • Proverbs 16:32
                                        • Colossians 3:12-15 – We must learn to control anger.
                                        • Living “by faith” is “righteous”
                                          • Genesis 4:3; Hebrews 11:4 – Abel offered his sacrifice by faith. This implies that he has instruction from God about how to worship.
                                          • Doing a good thing the wrong way is “evil.”
                                            • Genesis 4:5
                                            • Leviticus 10:1-2 – Nadab and Abihu
                                            • I Samuel 15:21-22
                                            • I John 3:11-12
                                            • Everybody has a choice
                                              • Genesis 4:6-7 – God reminds Cain of his choice.
                                              • We should fess up.
                                                • Matthew 6:7-8
                                                  • 30 min
                                                • Christian Attitudes, Part 8
                                                  • Practicing your righteousness to be noticed by others.
                                                    • Beware – why? Proverbs 27:2
                                                    • If not, what?
                                                    • Left hand versus right hand – I Corinthians 12:14-27
                                                    • What about a collective prayer – is that to be “seen”? I Corinthians 14:15-17
                                                    • Why use a closet?
                                                      • Is that what is meant?
                                                      • If not, what is it? Daniel 6:9-10
                                                      • What would be meaningless repetition? I Kings 18:26-29
                                                        • Why have some used such?
                                                        • Why should we not? Isaiah 65:24
                                                        • So, no need to pray persistently? Luke 18:3-8
                                                        • Pray then “in this way” (Matthew 5:44) II Corinthians 13:7-9
                                                          • Short, simple, to the point.
                                                          • This prayer reflects
                                                            • Reverence
                                                            • Subjection
                                                            • Dependence upon Him for sustenance
                                                            • The need for His guidance and deliverance
                                                            • The need for forgiveness and to be forgiven
                                                            • A prayer that must be lived as well as prayed
                                                            • Same goes for fasting
                                                              • Keep it clean
                                                              • Look normal
                                                              • Don’t show it off
                                                              • What about fasting?
                                                                • Signified mourning
                                                                • Also devotion to prayer
                                                                  • Commanded?
                                                                  • Necessary?
                                                                  • Authorized?
                                                                  • Practical?
                                                                    • 30 min
                                                                  • The Work of Local Churches, Part 7
                                                                    • Local churches are authorized to provide for the preaching of the gospel.
                                                                      • The gospel is the power of God for salvation.
                                                                        • Romans 1:13-16 – Paul was eager to preach because he knew it would bring eternal joy to those who received it with honest and good hearts.
                                                                        • Matthew 28:18-20 – Jesus told His apostles to teach all the nations to observe His commandments.
                                                                        • I Corinthians 14:26 – Teaching of the gospel, done properly, will edify (if received properly).
                                                                        • Matthew 4:23
                                                                        • II Thessalonians 1:8 – The gospel is something that can be followed. It is more than just the death, burial , and resurrection of Jesus.
                                                                        • Local churches are to provide for the preaching and teaching of the gospel.
                                                                          • I Thessalonians 1:6-10 – This church was commended for sounding forth the word of the Lord.
                                                                          • I Corinthians 9:9-18 – Paul explains that preachers can get their living from the gospel.
                                                                          • Philippians 4:14-18 – Paul thanks the Philippian church for sending him money.
                                                                          • II Corinthians 11:7-9 – The Corinthian church should have recognized their obligation to support Paul. He took wages from other churches so that he could serve Corinth.
                                                                            • 30 min
                                                                          • A Man That Produces Faith
                                                                            • Romans 10:17
                                                                            • A message that produces faith
                                                                              • The life of Christ
                                                                                • John 1:14,18 – Jesus is a way of explaining God.
                                                                                • If you had the power of God…
                                                                                  • Would you make yourself wealthy?
                                                                                  • Would you pursue fun and pleasure?
                                                                                  • Would you show off your power?
                                                                                  • Would you always get your own way?
                                                                                  • Would you make everyone adore you?
                                                                                  • Would you punish your enemies?
                                                                                  • Philippians 2:6-8; Acts 10:38 – The humble ways Jesus used His power.
                                                                                  • Completely devoid of human vanity
                                                                                  • No concern for the petty or trivial
                                                                                  • Focused on the eternal and spiritual
                                                                                  • Yet with compassion on the suffering
                                                                                  • Selfless, humble, obedient
                                                                                    • Matthew 8:1-3 – Jesus touches and heals a leprous man.
                                                                                    • Luke 19:9
                                                                                    • John 3:4-5 – Jesus washes the disciples’ feet
                                                                                    • The teaching of Christ
                                                                                      • John 7:17-18
                                                                                      • Matthew 5:44-45 – Love your enemies.
                                                                                      • Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:31
                                                                                      • Matthew 7:3
                                                                                      • Matthew 15:11-20 – The contents of the heart are what matter.
                                                                                      • Luke 10:36
                                                                                      • Luke 12:15 – Beware of greed. Jesus’ focus was on the soul. There are more important things than material goods!
                                                                                      • The death of Christ
                                                                                        • John 3:16
                                                                                        • Romans 5:6-8 – Christ died for the ungodly.
                                                                                        • Matthew 26:39
                                                                                        • Luke 23:33-34
                                                                                        • Matthew 27:42-43 – He was openly mocked.
                                                                                        • I Corinthians 1:18 – If you can read the story of Jesus and understand it and not see the power of God, you will perish.
                                                                                        • The resurrection of Christ
                                                                                          • John 20:6-8 – The disciples discover the empty tomb.
                                                                                          • John 20:18 – Mary Magdalene announces the resurrection of Jesus.
                                                                                          • I John 1:1-2
                                                                                          • The hope of redemption in Christ
                                                                                            • II Corinthians 5:18-19
                                                                                            • Acts 13:48
                                                                                            • Conclusion
                                                                                              • The gospel message of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation.
                                                                                              • It is a message that discerns the hearer and moves us to choose.
                                                                                                • 30 min
                                                                                              • God's Most Glorious Work
                                                                                                • Acts 14:15; Genesis 1
                                                                                                • II Corinthians 3:17 – Christians are God’s new creation.
                                                                                                • The saved relationship that God created in the church is the most glorious creation of God. Ephesians 3:3-12
                                                                                                • Ephesians 1:4 – God’s plan started before creation of the world.
                                                                                                • Acts 9:15
                                                                                                • Ephesians 1:6 – Christians sit with God in heavenly places.
                                                                                                • Just as man cannot improve on God’s physical creation, man cannot improve on God’s most glorious creation – the church.
                                                                                                • Man today has the audacity to set aside God’s most glorious work by building and maintaining man-made institutions for spiritual work and worship and asserting them to be better than God’s most glorious creation.
                                                                                                • The church is the fulness of Christ; man needs no more.
                                                                                                  • 30 min
                                                                                                • God's Creation: Physical and Spiritual
                                                                                                  • Galatians 6:15
                                                                                                  • God’s creations rely upon His power.
                                                                                                    • Physical creation
                                                                                                      • Genesis 1:1-3
                                                                                                      • Three possibilities for the existence of the universe:
                                                                                                        • It always existed (violates 2nd law of thermodynamics)
                                                                                                        • It was spontaneously generated (violates 1st law of thermodynamics)
                                                                                                        • It was created (the Bible’s explanation)
                                                                                                          • Psalm 90:1
                                                                                                          • Spiritual creation
                                                                                                            • II Corinthians 5:14-19 – The plan of salvation came about through God’s initiative.
                                                                                                            • Consider how much more work God put into His spiritual creation than the physical creation. God started on it before the creation of the world.
                                                                                                            • God’s creations have purpose.
                                                                                                              • Physical creation
                                                                                                                • Genesis 1:26-30; 9:1-3,7 – God creates plants and animals for man.
                                                                                                                • Isaiah 45:18 – God formed the earth to be inhabited.
                                                                                                                • Spiritual creation
                                                                                                                  • Ephesians 2:10 – We were created to serve God.
                                                                                                                  • Psalms 148:3-5,8 – God’s creation praises Him in its existence.
                                                                                                                  • Gensis 1:25 – We are made in the image of God.
                                                                                                                  • Colossians 3:10
                                                                                                                  • Ephesians 4:22
                                                                                                                    • 30 min
                                                                                                                  • Christian Attitudes, Part 7
                                                                                                                    • Recap of previous lessons
                                                                                                                    • More on the better righteousness
                                                                                                                      • Review of Point 5: Getting even (Matthew 5:38-42; Exodus 21:23-25; Deuteronomy 19:18-21)
                                                                                                                        • Don’t
                                                                                                                        • Difference levels of perceived offense.
                                                                                                                          • People who do you actual harm
                                                                                                                          • Evil person who insults you
                                                                                                                          • One opposing you at law
                                                                                                                          • Government mandate
                                                                                                                          • People in need
                                                                                                                          • Justice is not a rendering of evil (v17)
                                                                                                                          • Resisting evil
                                                                                                                            • Would be a never-ending task for us
                                                                                                                            • Not ours to do. I Thessalonians 5:15; Proverbs 20:22; Romans 12:17-19
                                                                                                                            • Overcome rather than resist. Romans 12:21
                                                                                                                            • Results? Romans 2:4
                                                                                                                            • Don’t avenge insults (John 18:20-23)
                                                                                                                            • Be compliant to a fault when “they” come after you
                                                                                                                              • By litigation
                                                                                                                              • By government coercion (Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26)
                                                                                                                              • Point 6: Love (Matthew 5:43-48)
                                                                                                                                • Not just your neighbor – Remember Leviticus 19:18?
                                                                                                                                • Also your enemies
                                                                                                                                  • No pat on the back for loving your own – who doesn’t?
                                                                                                                                  • Why your enemies?
                                                                                                                                  • To what end? I Peter 3:8-9; Ephesians 5:1; Romans 2:3-4
                                                                                                                                  • How does this make us perfect? Romans 5:8
                                                                                                                                  • Compare v45 to v9.
                                                                                                                                  • Jesus the example.
                                                                                                                                  • Don’t put on a show (I Corinthians 12:14,21,26-27)
                                                                                                                                    • 30 min
                                                                                                                                  • The Choice of Faith
                                                                                                                                    • Hebrews 11:1 – a description of what faith does
                                                                                                                                    • Faith is a choice
                                                                                                                                      • Faith requires a choice that goes beyond observable facts.
                                                                                                                                        • John 20:29
                                                                                                                                        • II Corinthians 5:7
                                                                                                                                        • I Peter 1:8-9
                                                                                                                                        • The evidence only takes us so far.
                                                                                                                                        • Moral or spiritual choice must take us the rest of the way.
                                                                                                                                        • Faith is reasonable but not provable.
                                                                                                                                        • God has intentionally made it this way.
                                                                                                                                          • Hebrews 11:6
                                                                                                                                          • What faith? - Hebrews 11
                                                                                                                                            • It gains God’s approval. Hebrews 11:2,39
                                                                                                                                            • It pleases God. Hebrews 11:5-6
                                                                                                                                            • It shows true reverence. Hebrews 11:7
                                                                                                                                            • It shows true obedience. Hebrews 11:8
                                                                                                                                            • It shows trust. Hebrews 11:11
                                                                                                                                            • A commitment to the spiritual. Hebrews 11:13-16
                                                                                                                                            • A rejection of the physical. Hebrews 11:25-27
                                                                                                                                            • Conclusion
                                                                                                                                              • Faith is based in part on observable evidence and reason.
                                                                                                                                              • But faith will always require a choice that goes beyond what can be seen.
                                                                                                                                                • 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…