ScriptureStream

ScriptureStream

By Mark WatsonSociety & CultureReligion & SpiritualityChristianityPhilosophy
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ScriptureStream episodes

  • The Functions of a Local Church
    • We do not have to guess as to the work God wants the church to do. He has authorized her to do all He wants her to do.
    • Negatively speaking, the work of the church is not to:
      • Build and operate kitchens
      • Sponsor youth camps
      • Sponsor Boy Scout troops
      • Have ball teams
      • Own and operate rental property
      • Operate a farm
      • Operate a school for reading, writing, and arithmatic
      • The work of the church is seen in its purpose:
        • To glorify God (Romans 15:6
        • Does a church glorify God by providing recreation?
        • Authorized functions for a local church
          • Assemble to worhip in Truth (Acts 20:7
          • Teach the Word to:
            • Edify the saved
            • Save the lost (Philippians 4:15-16
            • Benevolence in some circumstances
            • Discipline in some circumstances
            • Work of a local church must be done within local framework
              • No disciplinary societies
              • No worshipping societies
              • No benevolent societies (to do the work God commanded the church to do)
              • No missionary societies
              • No edifying societies (or preacher training societies)
              • The functions of a local church
                • The elders of a local church are to oversee ALL its functions!
                • Acts 20:28
                  • 30 min
                • Living By Faith: Avoiding Unfaithfulness
                  • Hebrews 3:12-4:11
                  • Act on God’s word
                    • The Israelites didn’t act on their faith when it counted.
                    • Hebrews 4:2 - The Israelites did not act on the preaching they heard.
                    • Hebrews 4:6-7 - Hearing preaching is not enough if you are disobedient.
                    • Numbers 14:6-10 - Caleb and Joshua show confidence that they can take the land.
                    • I Corinthians 5:4-5
                    • Encourage others to live by faith
                      • Numbers 13:27-14:4 - the power of discouragement
                      • Hebrews 3:12-13 - We are to encourage each other every day.
                      • We must be careful what kind of attitude and vibe we exhibit.
                      • We have to think about the power our example has on our own family. I Peter 3:1
                      • I Thessalonians 2:11-12
                      • Look past the struggle to the rest
                        • Hebrews 3:14-15
                        • Hebrews 4:7
                          • 30 min
                        • The Heavenly Places in Ephesians
                          • Possibilities:
                            • Heaven itself
                            • That which emanates from heaven
                            • The highest in a particular thing
                            • Ephesians 6:10-12 - This passage is talking about the rulers of this world. “Heavenly places” here refers to the highest leaders of the land.
                            • Ephesians 3:7-11 - This passage discusses Paul’s work in taking the gospel to the Jews, Gentiles, and highest leaders of the time. He was not preaching to celestial beings. “Heavenly places” are the highest of the leaders.
                            • Ephesians 2:4-7 - Jesus raised us up so that we could sit in the highest seat as Christians. If we do not behave according to the dignity of the seat we occupy, we bring shame upon Christ. The highest seat we can occupy on earth in God’s eyes is that of a Christian.
                            • Ephesians 1:19-21 - “Heavenly places” is referring to the highest place that Christ can sit at the throne of God.
                            • Ephesians 1:1-4 - “Heavenly places” refers to the highest blessings we can enjoy.
                              • 30 min
                            • Church Cooperation
                              • The local church is independent. It is not dependent on other local churches.
                              • Definitions
                                • Basic needs: that necessary for self-functioning, preservation
                                • Total capacity: all the unit can do
                                • Abundance: that by which total capacity exceeds basic needs
                                • Want: that by which basic needs exceeds total capacity
                                • Acts 11:27-30 - Relief sent from the brethren in Antioch to the elders in Judea.
                                • I Corinthians 16:1-2 - Churches with abundance sent contributions to churches with needy members. The contributions were sent to the church and not directly to the individual.
                                • Philippians 4:15-16 - In evangelism, contributions were sent directly from churches to an individual preacher.
                                • Nowhere in the Bible is it authorized for one church with abundance to send to another church with abundance.
                                  • 30 min
                                • Ezra and Nehemiah, Topic 7: Blessings Along the Way
                                  • Ezra 7:27-28.
                                  • Blessings recounted:
                                    • Ezra 7:6
                                    • Ezra 7:9
                                    • Ezra 7:21-23
                                    • Ezra 7:24
                                    • Ezra 7:25-28
                                    • Ezra 8:18
                                    • Ezra 8:22-23
                                    • Nehemiah 2:7-9
                                    • Nehemiah 2:18-20
                                    • Five key blessings from God
                                      • The Father’s love, mercy, and grace that is extended to us (Ephesians 2:4-9
                                      • Jesus’ blood sacrifice for sins (Hebrews 9:11-14
                                      • The Holy Spirit’s work of inspiring the scripture (II Timothy 3:16-17
                                      • The design of the local church (Hebrews 10:24-25
                                      • The hope of Heaven (II Corinthians 4:17-18
                                      • Ephesians 2:8 - We cannot do anything to save ourselves. We can only take advantage of the path to salvation that God gives us.
                                        • 30 min
                                      • Church Government
                                        • There are three forms of church government in the US today (plus a fourth form that is just a combination of two others). All of these forms cannot be right.
                                          • Universal concept: Pope and Catholic Church
                                            • Universal oversight
                                            • Universal treasury
                                            • Universal work
                                            • Brotherhood concept: Southern Methodist Conference and Southern Methodist Church
                                              • Brotherhood oversight
                                              • Brotherhood treasury
                                              • Brotherhood work
                                              • Local concept: Jesus Christ and churches of Christ
                                                • Local oversight
                                                • Local treasury: I Corinthians 16:1-2
                                                • Local work
                                                • This is the only one authorized!
                                                • Brotherhood + local church concept: Southern Baptist Convention and Baptist Church
                                                  • They claim only this: local oversight, treasury, work
                                                  • But also have this: brotherhood, oversight, treasury, work
                                                  • Baptist Hour and Buckner Children’s Home
                                                  • Some brethren have tried to copy this concept.
                                                    • Herald of Truth and Bole’s Children’s Home: both operated by a sponsoring church arrangement
                                                      • 30 min
                                                    • Living By Faith
                                                      • Habakkuk 2:4
                                                      • Serving the creator rather than the creature
                                                        • Romans 1
                                                        • Romans 1:6 - Faith requires obedience.
                                                        • Romans 1:15-17 regarding the righteousness of God.
                                                        • What does it mean to live by faith? Romans 1:18-21. If you do not live for God, you are essentially living for yourself. You are serving the creature rather than the creator.
                                                        • Romans 1:22-25 - Serving the creature is idolatry. This ithe opposite of living by faith!
                                                        • Christ living in me
                                                          • Galatians 2-3
                                                          • Galatians 2:20 - Paul was trying to live the kind of life that Jesus lived.
                                                          • Galatians 2:21 - We cannot be saved by righteousness under the law.
                                                          • Galatians 3:9-10 - The Law cursed those who would not abide by it perfectly.
                                                          • Galatians 3:11-14 - Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law.
                                                          • Enduring for the sake of a better possession
                                                            • Hebrews 10
                                                            • Hebrews 10:38 - The righteous shall live by faith.
                                                            • Hebrews 10:15-17 - If we live by faith, God will remember our sin no more. We must endure in the faith.
                                                            • Hebrews 10:36-39 - We cannot shrink back from the faith.
                                                              • 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…