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ScriptureStream

By Mark WatsonSociety & CultureReligion & SpiritualityChristianityPhilosophy
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ScriptureStream episodes

  • Christian Attitudes, Part 6
    • Review:
      • Importance of attitudes in driving actions
      • Attitudes in the parable of the good Samaritan
      • Attitudes in the sermon on the mount
        • Beatitudes
        • Living exemplary lives
        • Regard for the law
        • Seek a higher righteousness than that of the scribes and Pharisees
        • Points of the law vs. popular teachings of the time
          • Attitudes leading to murder
          • Roots of adultery, attitude of prevention
          • Likeness of divorce to adultery
          • Continuing points from the instructions of the ancients:
            • Point 3: Swearing (Matthew 5:33-37)
              • Principle: Be known for telling the truth (Ephesians 4:25)
              • This precludes the need to swear
              • Proliferation of oaths and their perceived lack of force
                • Proliferation caused by lack of force
                • Insincerity of oaths (Matthew 23:16)
                • There will be no excuses (Ecclesiastes 5:2-6; Deuteronomy 23:21-23; Revelation 22:14-15)
                • Prescribed oaths not barred (Exodus 22:10-11; Numbers 5:19)
                • Remember verse 17
                • Point 4: Getting even (Matthew 5:38-42; Exodus 21:23-25; Deuteronomy 19:18-21)
                  • Don’t
                  • Different 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, not ours to do (I Thessalonians 5:15; Proverbs 20:22; Romans 12:17-19)
                    • 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)
                        • 30 min
                      • The Work of Local Churches, Part 5
                        • There is a difference between an individual and a local church.
                          • Matthew 18:15-17 – Jesus made a distinction between three parties:
                            • “you” (an individual)
                            • “one or two more with you”
                            • “the church”
                            • I Timothy 5:16 - “she must assist them and the church must not be burdened.” The Holy Spirit made a distinction between an individual taking action and the church taking action.
                            • Some say whatever an individual has authority to do, a local church has authority to do, but…
                              • Individuals marry each other (I Corinthians 7:2-5).
                              • Individuals get jobs and make a profit (James 4:13; I Thessalonians 4:11-12).
                              • Individuals have certain family responsibilities (Ephesians 6:4; Titus 2:4-5).
                              • Local churches cannot do these things.
                              • A letter being addressed to a church does not mean that everything in that letter pertains to collective church work.
                                • I Thessalonians
                                  • I Thessalonians 1:1: “To the church of the Thessalonians”
                                  • I Thessalonians 4:11: “lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands”
                                  • I Corinthians
                                    • I Corinthians 1:2: “To the church of God which is at Corinth”
                                    • I Corinthians 7:2: “each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband”
                                    • Letters to churches sometimes address the individuals who make up those churches in their various roles. They are instructed in duties in relation to family, self, neighbors, etc., and sometimes in relation to the local church.
                                    • Likewise, a letter addressed to an individual may contain some information relevant to a local church (I Timothy 3:1-13; 5:16; Titus 1:5-9).
                                    • The Biblical distinction between an individual and a church is important because many arguments are based on the failure to make this distinction. Verses which concern individual action (such as James 1:27) are erroneously used in an effort to prove what a church is authorized to do.
                                    • When do you have local church action?
                                      • When there is a plurality of Christians acting together? No.
                                        • Matthew 18:16-17 – Here a plurality of Christians is distinct from the church.
                                        • Acts 13:1-3; 14:23 – A plurality of Christians is sent out to do the work. If a plurality of Christians is a church, you have one church appointing elders in other churches!
                                        • I Corinthians 11:22 – A distinction is made between eating a regular meal and coming together as a church to eat the Lord’s Supper.
                                        • When all the members of the local church act together?
                                          • Acts 19:39
                                          • Imagine a small church of 12 members.
                                            • What if they happen to compose a jury? No, they are not acting as a church.
                                            • What is they compose a city council? They are acting as a city council when working together in that role – not a church.
                                            • When people assemble together?
                                              • I Corinthians 14:23
                                              • Matthew 18:16
                                                • 30 min
                                              • 1 Thessalonians 5:14
                                                • I Thessalonians 1:1-7
                                                • I Thessalonians 5:14
                                                • We urge you brethren:
                                                  • Admonish the unruly
                                                    • Titus 1:9 – The word of God equips us to refute those who speak against the scriptures.
                                                    • Galatians 6:1 – We must use the word of God in gentleness.
                                                    • James 5:19-20 – We must thing of the future when the one being admonished may repent and come back and thank us.
                                                    • Encourage the fainthearted
                                                      • I Kings 19:10 – Even Elijah got discouraged.
                                                        • I Kings 19:18 – God reminded him he was not alone.
                                                        • Romans 8:18 – We have great glory ahead of us. We can’t give up!
                                                        • Help the weak
                                                          • Romans 14:1; 15:1 – Those who are strong must help the weak.
                                                          • I Thessalonians 3:1,3
                                                          • Be patient with everyone
                                                            • Next time it might be me needing the help!
                                                              • 30 min
                                                            • The Marriage Relationship
                                                              • Genesis 2:20-24 – The institution of marriage.
                                                                • Matthew 19:5
                                                                • God intended for man and wife to be inseparable. (Matthew 19:6)
                                                                • Romans 7:2-3 – God’s marriage law stands as long as both man and woman are alive.
                                                                • Ephesians 5:22-28 – The husband and wife relationship was patterned after God’s plan for the Christ-church relationship.
                                                                  • Ephesians 3:11; 1:4
                                                                  • The husband and wife relationship is the second greatest relationship man has access to on earch after man’s relationship to God.
                                                                  • Ephesians 5:31 - Two reasons man should leave father and mother and cleave to his wife:
                                                                    • Woman was created out of man.
                                                                    • Relationship is so great it should never be tampered with.
                                                                    • I Corinthians 11:8-9 – Woman was created for man.
                                                                    • I Peter 3:1-7
                                                                      • I Peter 3:7 – Husbands are to treat their wives as though she were a delicate thing.
                                                                      • Many marriage problems come from one person worrying about how they are being treated. If instead, both parties merely worried about how they were treating their spouse, many problems would go away.
                                                                      • I Corinthians 7:1-5 – Don’t be selfish – render what is due to each other to fulfill each other’s needs.
                                                                        • 30 min
                                                                      • Study of Proverbs
                                                                        • Proverbs 1:1-4 – the purpose of proverbs
                                                                        • Proverbs 3:5-6 – See Jeremiah 10:23; II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:3. Compare Proverbs 14:12.
                                                                        • Proverbs 4:23
                                                                        • Proverbs 5:15-21 – A man should be satisfied with his own wife and control his lust.
                                                                        • Proverbs 6:32 – An adulterer destroys himself.
                                                                        • Proverbs 9:10 – Wisdom begins with fear of God. See Hebrews 5:14.
                                                                        • Proverbs 11:22 – The beauty of the woman is compared to the gold ring. The woman herself is compared to a swine because of her lack of discretion.
                                                                        • Proverbs 12:4 – A good wife is like a crown for her husband. She can give him great peace in this world.
                                                                        • Proverbs 14:12 – This is the other side of Proverbs 3:5-6.
                                                                        • Proverbs 16:18 – Pride brings destruction!
                                                                        • Proverbs 18:10 – There is nothing as strong as the Lord. Those who run to God will be saved.
                                                                          • 30 min
                                                                        • Heartfelt Religion
                                                                          • Religion:
                                                                            • Acts 26:5 – a way of living
                                                                            • Galatians 1:13 – a manner of life
                                                                            • James 1:26-27 – what we do
                                                                            • The Bible heart:
                                                                              • Intellect: Matthew 9:4; Mark 2:8; Matthew 13:15
                                                                              • Emotions: Matthew 22:37-38; II Samuel 6:16; Acts 2:26; John 14:1
                                                                              • Will – power to choose: Hebrews 4:14; II Corinthians 2:1; Acts 11:23; Romans 6:17
                                                                              • Conscience – Acts 2:37; 23:1; I Timothy 1:13; Acts 26:9
                                                                              • God addresses the intellect of man. The other aspects of the heart are informed by the intellect.
                                                                                • Genesis 37:34
                                                                                • Philippians 3:3
                                                                                • I John 3:21
                                                                                • Receiving the right information and acting on it is pure and undefiled religion.
                                                                                • True heartfelt religion is doing what God says with the correct disposition!
                                                                                • Worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24).
                                                                                  • 30 min
                                                                                • Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah
                                                                                  • A little background/reminder
                                                                                    • First learn of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego along with Daniel
                                                                                      • Taken to Babylon when Nebuchadnezzar raided Jerusalem.
                                                                                      • Stood with Daniel
                                                                                      • Daniel (as an agent of God) interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.
                                                                                      • Nebuchadnezzar set up a huge gold statue, etc.
                                                                                      • They had religious conviction (Daniel 3:15-18)
                                                                                      • What about your religion?
                                                                                        • Is it a religion of conviction or convenience?
                                                                                        • “How Spiritual Are We?” PARADE magazine, October 4, 2009
                                                                                        • It’s easy to claim to be religious, but it’s hard to actually be religious.
                                                                                          • James 1:22-25
                                                                                          • Let’s look at a few practical things that may demonstrate our conviction to serving God:
                                                                                            • Our language (Titus 2:7-8)
                                                                                              • This includes euphemisms – don’t rationalize to be like the world.
                                                                                              • Exodus 20:7 – Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain.
                                                                                              • Revelation 4:11
                                                                                              • Psalms 19:14
                                                                                              • Romans 1:21
                                                                                              • Our attendance (Hebrews 10:23-25)
                                                                                                • First day of the week (Acts 20:7)
                                                                                                • At every opportunity to edify, encourage, and learn – we should be there – it speaks to our conviction.
                                                                                                • Our study habits and teaching
                                                                                                  • John 14:15 – We need to know the commandments of the Lord.
                                                                                                  • II Timothy 2:15 – The Lord expects us to be diligent to study His word.
                                                                                                  • II Timothy 2:2
                                                                                                  • Help others
                                                                                                    • James 1:27
                                                                                                    • James 2:15-16
                                                                                                    • It takes personal involvement – not just money and/or well-wishes.
                                                                                                    • Live every day as if it were our last.
                                                                                                      • James 4:13-15
                                                                                                      • Do you agree with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego?
                                                                                                      • Do you have deep, constant conviction in God?
                                                                                                        • 30 min
                                                                                                      • Christian Attitudes, Part 5
                                                                                                        • The righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, continued:
                                                                                                          • Point 1: Murder and the law (Matthew 5:21-26)
                                                                                                            • Jesus looks at the roots of murder.
                                                                                                            • Anger, contempt, hatred – murder’s mileposts (I John 3:15)
                                                                                                            • These are attitudes, under our control.
                                                                                                            • Don’t let it fester. (Ephesians 4:26-27)
                                                                                                              • So important, make it right before worshiping.
                                                                                                              • What did God say about sacrifice?
                                                                                                              • Worship not acceptable with the wrong attitude.
                                                                                                              • Don’t let legal adversity linger – get it resolved quickly.
                                                                                                              • Point 2: Adultery and the law (Matthew 5:27-30)
                                                                                                                • Where does adultery begin?
                                                                                                                • Don’t go there.
                                                                                                                • Do whatever it takes not to go there.
                                                                                                                • Point 2 ½: Marriage and divorce (Matthew 5:31-32; Genesis 2:18-25)
                                                                                                                  • Adultery was considered very bad.
                                                                                                                  • Divorce (other than for fornication) just as bad (Matthew 19:3-9)
                                                                                                                    • 30 min
                                                                                                                  • The Work of Local Churches, Part 4

                                                                                                                    [Sorry, no audio available for this lesson.]

                                                                                                                    • The Bible’s usage of “ekklesia” continued:
                                                                                                                      • Local church assembled: I Corinthians 14:26,28
                                                                                                                      • Evaluate the following:
                                                                                                                        • “I was baptized in the church.”
                                                                                                                        • “I was baptized into the church.”
                                                                                                                        • “I was baptized into the Benchley church.”
                                                                                                                        • “He’s an elder of the church.”
                                                                                                                        • “Christ is Head of the church.”
                                                                                                                        • “Christ is the head of the church, and elders oversee the church.”
                                                                                                                        • “This church established 33 A.D. This building erected in 1994.”
                                                                                                                        • The church
                                                                                                                          • Its origin: Jerusalem, 33 A.D.
                                                                                                                          • Its organization: Elders, deacons, saints, …
                                                                                                                          • The Bible uses “church” as a collective noun.
                                                                                                                            • A collective noun names (collects) a group that is composed of individual members. Examples: A team of players; a pack of wolves; an army of soldiers; a pride of lions; a colony of bats; a family composed of members.
                                                                                                                            • Just look at how the word “church” is used. Notice that the Holy Spirit uses the word to refer to a unit of people (either universal or local) who are saved.
                                                                                                                              • Acts 8:1,3
                                                                                                                              • Acts 11:26
                                                                                                                              • Acts 14:26-28
                                                                                                                              • I Corinthians 1:2
                                                                                                                              • I Corinthians 12:27-28
                                                                                                                              • Philippians 1:1 (“church” in Philippians 4:15)
                                                                                                                              • Hebrews 12:23
                                                                                                                              • Acts 2:41,27 (KJV/NKJV say “church” in Acts 2:47; Acts 5:11)
                                                                                                                              • Which is more accurate?
                                                                                                                                • The church saves.
                                                                                                                                • The church is the saved.
                                                                                                                                  • 30 min
                                                                                                                                • Be Not Afraid
                                                                                                                                  • Introduction
                                                                                                                                    • Joshua 1:9
                                                                                                                                    • Hebrews 10:31 – If one is not one of God’s people, he had better be afraid.
                                                                                                                                    • II Timothy 3:12; II Corinthians 12:7-9
                                                                                                                                    • Psalms 56:11; Hebrews 3:6
                                                                                                                                    • Be not afraid:
                                                                                                                                      • To set out boldly for heaven
                                                                                                                                        • Hebrwes 4:16
                                                                                                                                        • Hebrews 2:4
                                                                                                                                        • Ecclesiastes 12:13
                                                                                                                                        • To use our talents in the service of the Master.
                                                                                                                                          • I Corinthians 2:1-2 – Paul himself was not a great orator.
                                                                                                                                          • Matthew 25:15 – Each will be judged according to his ability.
                                                                                                                                          • To stand for the truth.
                                                                                                                                            • Ephesians 6:10-18
                                                                                                                                            • Of the past
                                                                                                                                              • God will take care of your past if you will let Him!
                                                                                                                                              • Philippians 3:8,13-14
                                                                                                                                              • Of the present
                                                                                                                                                • Hebrews 13:5; John 16:32 – God will not forsake us.
                                                                                                                                                • Of the future
                                                                                                                                                  • Matthew 10:28; II Timothy 1:12
                                                                                                                                                  • Of death
                                                                                                                                                    • The Christian has no reason to fear death.
                                                                                                                                                    • Of judgment
                                                                                                                                                      • Matthew 5:41
                                                                                                                                                      • We do not have to fear the judgment if we live and die in Christ.
                                                                                                                                                        • 30 min

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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…