ScriptureStream

By Mark WatsonSociety & Culture Religion & Spirituality Christianity Philosophy

ScriptureStream episodes

October 13, 2024Overview of Local Church Work
Introduction
II John 1:9
We want to simply look at the Bible and do what it says.
Local churches are authorized to provide for the preaching of the gospel.
Acts 11:21-23 – “they sent Barnabas”
Acts 13:1-3 – “teachers … they sent them”
Acts 14:26-28 – “commended … they began to report”
Acts 15:1-3 – “sent on their way by the church”
I Corinthians 9:1-18 – “get their living from the gospel”
I Corinthians 14 – “for edification”
II Corinthians 11:7-9 – “I robbed other churches”
Philippians 1:3-5; 4:14-18 – “participation in the gospel”
I Thessalonians 1:6-10 – “sounded forth from you”
In the New Testament, churches sent money directly to the preacher. There was no “sponsoring church” arrangement.
In the early days of the church, the pattern from the New Testament was followed. Over time, a hierarchy developed in some local churches, which eventually led to the Catholic organization, with one Pope over all Catholic churches.
Local churches are authorized to provide for needy Christians.
Acts 2:44-45
Acts 4:32-35
Acts 6:1-3
Acts 11:27-30
Romans 15:25-27
I Corinthians 16:1-3
II Corinthians 8:3-4, 14
II Corinthians 9:1
I Timothy 5:16, 5 – “widows indeed”
Churches are authorized to provide for needy Christians.
Individuals are authorized to provide for anyone.
Acts 2:44-45
Matthew 5:42
Acts 4:32-35
Matthew 25:35-40
Acts 6:1-3
Luke 10:30-37
Acts 11:27-30
Luke 19:8
Romans 15:25-27
I Timothy 5:8
I Corinthians 16:1-3
I Timothy 6:18
II Corinthians 8:3-4, 14
Ephesians 4:28
II Corinthians 9:1
James 1:27
I Timothy 5
I Peter 4:4
I John 3:16-18
Local churches are authorized to provide for worship and edification.
The local church is a group designed for mutual encouragement as we serve God together.
I Corinthians 14:3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 17, 26, 31
Lord’s Supper – I Corinthians 11:26
Studying / preaching – I Corinthians 14:26
Giving – I Corinthians 16:1-2
Praying – Acts 12:5
Singing – I Corinthians 14:26
Assembling – Hebrews 10:24-25
41 min
October 09, 2024Dan and Bethel
Significance
Descriptive?
“From Dan to Beersheba”
Meaning the entire length of Israel
Judges 20:1; I Samuel 3:20; II Samuel 24:2, 15
Reference from united kingdom
Relevance to northern kingdom?
Dan on northern frontier
Bethel on southern frontier
Same idea
Opposites of Dan and Bethel
Topographically opposite
Geographically opposite
Spiritually opposite
Bethel
First excavated in 1927
Continuous digs to 1960
One find posited to be Abram’s altar
Canaanite tombs, houses, olive presses
Canaanite temple
Fortified around 1750 BC – Luz
City gates were found in pieces
Destroyed early 12th century BC
New settlement built after destruction
Skip to later – captured by Vespasian in 69 AD
Crusades
Crusaders took it in 12th century AD and built churches there
The name means, “House of God”
Today it is the village of Beitin
First seen in scripture in Genesis 12
Lies in the very rocky terrain of Israel’s central ridge
Jacob’s vision – Genesis 28:10-22
He used a stone as a pillow for his sleep.
After the vision, he consecrated the stone – poured oil on its top
Named it “God’s House” or Bethel
“Mansion over the hilltop”
Jacob flees to Bethel – Genesis 34-35
Canaanites had a king there
Defeated by Joshua and sons of Israel
Ceded to Benjamin
Border town
Between Ephraim and Benjamin
Between Israel and Judah after split
During conquest, Benjamites failure
Didn’t drive out Jebusites
House of Joseph went up against Bethel
The Lord was with them – Judges 1:21-22
Later (Judges 20-21)
Bethel center of ops – Israel versus Benjamin
Place of council in aftermath
Deborah judged Israel (Judges 4:5)
From under a palm tree
Between Ramah and Bethel
Samuel – circuit judge (I Samuel 7:15-17)
Four-town circuit
Bethel, Gilgal, Mizpah, Ramah
Saul’s encounter after being anointed by Samuel
Dan
Near headwaters of Jordan
Occupied more than 6,000 years ago
Abandoned about that time
Rebuilt 1,000 years later
Free-standing mud brick arches
Oldest ever found
Called Abraham’s gate
Conquered by Tuthmosis III in 15th century BC
Tel Dan Stele – 9th century BC
Stele heralded initial conquest
Assyrian Tiglath-Pileser III
Included “David King of Israel”
Other Historical info confirming scripture
Digs confirm idolatrous practices
Little mention prior to Jeroboam’s rule
Abram defeated forces of Sodom and Gomorrah there
Descriptive “north-to-south” statements
Center of northern migration of tribe of Dan
Danites impatience – spies go north (Judges 18)
Find Laish
Take small force
Seize Levite and the idols of Micha
Capture Laish, named it Dan
Jeroboam
Jeroboam’s concern
Life, power – I Kings 12:26-33
Made two golden calves
Places them in Bethel and Dan
Designated a feast
Posted priests
Made sacrifice
Prophecy of Josiah’s reforms – I Kings 13
The abominable calves
Major subject of idolatrous worship
Multiple regional cultures used calves, bulls
Egypt – where Israel spent 400 years
Crete – where Philistines frequented
Persia – to the east
Anatolea – to the north
India – farther east
Some lessons
Don’t hang our hat on a town’s reputation
Don’t compromise faith for life or power
Don’t have a “when in Rome” attitude
39 min
October 06, 2024Onesiphorus
Introduction
II Timothy 1:16-18 – Onesiphorus is only mentioned in three verses.
III John 1:12 – Demetrius only gets a commendation in one verse, but it’s a good one!
“He often refreshed me.”
Contrast II Timothy 1:15 – These men turned away from Paul in Asia.
Am I refreshing or am I something else?
I Corinthians 16:17-18
Philemon 1:4-7, 20-21
Proverbs 6:19
II Corinthians 12:20
Let us be refreshing and give people comfort and hope.
“Was not ashamed of my chains”
II Timothy 4:6 – Paul had no expectation of release.
Nero blamed the great fire in Rome (AD 64) on Christians and took that opportunity to persecute Christians. History tells us that Paul was executed in the days of Nero. It was certainly not safe to associate with Christians in those days, especially high profile ones like Paul.
Romans 1:15-16
Onesiphorus was not ashamed!
Am I ashamed of Christ, His Word, or His people?
Luke 9:26
Psalms 119:46
I Peter 4:12-19
“He eagerly searched for me and found me … and you know very well what services he rendered at Ephesus.”
Do I only help people when it’s convenient?
Romans 12:10-13
27 min
October 06, 2024Deuteronomy 23:1-24:22
Deuteronomy 23
Deuteronomy 23:1-8 – Those excluded from the assembly of the Lord
It is not entirely clear what is meant by “assembly” here. Possibly, they were to be excluded from the nation of Israel.
Deuteronomy 23:9-25 – More miscellaneous laws
Deuteronomy 23:15 – Slaves could find refuge in Israel.
Deuteronomy 23:19 – Interest on lended money cannot be charged to fellow Israelites.
Deuteronomy 23:24-25 – Travelers were allowed to take from the land on their way through, but not harvest.
Deuteronomy 24
Deuteronomy 24:1-4 – Divorce and remarriage
God set up laws even around things that were not supposed to happen in the first place. Compare Deuteronomy 17:14-20. Perhaps this was a contingency plan to limit the damage once the wrong path had been chosen. See Matthew 19:3-9. Matthew 13:8 would lend support to the idea that this was a contingency plan. See also Matthew 5:31-32.
Deuteronomy 24:5-22 – Miscellaneous laws
Deuteronomy 24:7 – Human trafficking was a capital offense!
Deuteronomy 24:16 – Everyone shall answer for his own deeds.
45 min
October 02, 2024Onesimus and Caleb
Last week
Onesimus
Runaway slave
Converted by Paul
Sent back
Slavery in 1st Century Rome
How one came into slavery
Where slaves were employed
Laws protecting slave owners, not slaves
Treatment of slaves
Treatment of slaves under Rome
Fair treatment was economically sound
Hard work often came with an allowance (peculium)
Some allowed to marry
Some made wills
Some held property
Some became close to household members
Celebrity slaves – gladiators
Usually POWs or convicted criminals
Physically fit
Sent to special school
Trained by ex-gladiator trainers
Learned combat plus protocol
Did not always die in the fight
Fighting a good fight was prerequisite for living
Some became well-known celebrities
Could be granted freedom
Paths to freedom
Process called manumissions – several types
Most common – magistrate ceremony
Master’s will
Declared free by master – apply for citizenship
Slave women
Marrying their masters
Allowed children to be born free
Least common – buying one’s own freedom
Some who gained freedom also did very well.
Eurysaces: a freed slave who opened a baking operation that made him rich.
Although being a slave in Rome made life difficult, it was not always a hopeless situation.
Slavery and the Bible
Old Testament
Curse upon Canaan (Genesis 9:25-27)
Was the “curse of Canaan” upheld in perpetuity by God?
Who were/are the descendants of Canaan and how many generations bore the curse, if it was to be borne?
Does God condemn people because of the sins of their ancestors? Ezekiel 18
Joseph sold into slavery by his brothers
Did God approve or was this part of God’s plan?
Did God condone the act?
Slaves held by Israelites
Law of Moses – Exodus 21-23
Treatment of slaves
Protects the slaves
Not the owners
Slaves to be freed after seven years
Taking of slaves
Allowed
Not allowed
God stated His distaste for his people being slaves – they were His.
Hosea 2:23; I Peter 2:10; I Corinthians 7:21
Did God approve of slavery?
Did not approve of divorce – stated so
Malachi 2:16
Mark 10:2-12 (Matthew 5:31-32; 19:3-9) – “From the beginning”
Where it starts
Exodus 21:16 – To forcibly take a slave = death
Appears forced slavery not allowed
Not restriction as to nationality or religion
Fact of slavery
We know that God did not condone forcibly taking one into slavery at the time the law was given.
He did not want an Israelite to be a slave beyond Jubilee every. Why? Leviticus 25:55
God approved of slavery as punishment – Exodus 22:2-4
Caleb
The familiar account
From Numbers 13 and 14
Spies chosen – one from each tribe (Numbers 13:2)
Caleb chosen from Judah (Numbers 13:4)
Contention upon their return (Numbers 13:25-33)
Caleb quiets their murmuring (Numbers 13:30)
Israel’s rebellion (Numbers 14:1-10)
Caleb and Joshua tear their clothes (Numbers 14:6-9)
Threat of stoning
Glory of the Lord fills the tent of meeting (Numbers 14:10)
God condemns Israel (Numbers 14:11-12)
Moses contends for Israel (Numbers 14:13-19)
God relents, passes judgment (Numbers 14:15-38)
What follows
God’s promises
Joshua and Caleb survive (Numbers 32:10-12)
Caleb now arbiter of Judah’s inheritance (Numbers 34:16-19)
More on why this has come to pass (Deuteronomy 1:34-39)
Promise of land to Caleb
Note who will possess the land
Instructions concerning Joshua – encourage him
Taking the land
Conquests of southern and northern Canaan
Conquests east of Jordan
Dividing the land (Joshua 14:5)
Caleb’s request of Joshua fulfilled (Joshua 14:6-15)
He’s got it, now he has to take it
Taking possession
Starts in Joshua 15
Caleb takes Kiriath-arba
Drives out sons of Anak (remember Numbers 13:33?)
Offered his daughter to one who took Kiriath-sepher
Othniel wins the prize
Passing it on
Caleb gives Othniel his daughter
She convinces Othniel to ask for land from Caleb
He agrees, she makes the request
Obtains Negev and its upper and lower springs
Stays in the family
Othniel becomes the first judge over Israel
Takeaways
Caleb had faith in God and His promises
Expressed that faith
Stood for God when dangerous to do so
Continued in his faith
Patience for 40 years to enter promised land
Patience for 45 years to receive his inheritance
God rewarded Caleb’s faithfulness
Fulfilled His promise to Caleb
Added to that promise – became father-in-law to the first judge of Israel
42 min
September 29, 2024Jesus vs. the Pharisees
Introduction
Luke 16:14-17
Matthew 23:23
Mark 7:9, 13
Brief overview of Jesus’ history with the Pharisees
Luke 7:30
Luke 11:37, 45
Luke 12:1
Luke 14:1-6 – Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath
Luke 15:1-32 – The joy of sinners who repent.
The Pharisees were lovers of money
Luke 16:14
The Pharisees heard all these things
Luke 11:54 – They heard, but not with righteous intent.
James 1:21
Luke 23:35
The Pharisees were exalting themselves – Luke 16:15
God is the one who justifies. The Pharisees wanted to justify themselves in other people’s eyes.
Luke 10:29
Matthew 23:35
Proverbs 21:2
Luke 7:36
Conclusion
Do not be complacent. Do not be proud or disdainful of others.
We must have a right attitude toward money and possessions.
Cultivate a humble godly attitude towards ourselves and encourage that in others.
26 min
September 29, 2024The Life of Daniel
Introduction
Thank God for the book of Daniel! Let the liberals and skeptics be ashamed and hang their heads in disgrace for their attacks upon it. - Homer Hailey
Daniel 9:23; 10:11, 19 – Daniel was “highly esteemed.”
Time period covered
Daniel 1:1 – 605 BC
Daniel 1:21 – 536 BC
The book covers about 70 years.
The word “year” occurs nine times in twelve chapters. An accident?
Historical accuracy of Daniel
Insight into the consistent character of Daniel
Why is Daniel so highly esteemed by God?
The 80+ year life of Daniel tells us.
The chronological order of the book of Daniel
Daniel 1-4 – Captivity and first interpretations of dreams and visions (605-602 BC)
50 years of silence
Daniel 7 – Vision of the four beasts (553 BC)
Daniel 8 – Vision of the ram and male goat (551 BC)
Daniel 5 – Belshazzar’s feast – conquest of Babylon (539 BC)
Daniel 9 – Vision of the seventy weeks (539/538 BC)
Daniel 6 – Daniel in the lion’s den (539/538 BC)
Daniel 10-12 – Daniel’s prayer and visions (536 BC)
The life of Daniel
Daniel 1:1 – third year of Jehoiakim (605 BC) – 18 years old
Daniel 1:1, 21
Had convictions and refused to compromise them – Daniel 1:3-13
Courteous and respectful – Daniel 1:8, 12
Good reputation with all – Daniel 1:20
Daniel 2:1 – second year of Nebuchadnezzar (602 BC) – 21 years old
Daniel 2:1
Interprets dreams: five kingdoms
Babylon
Medes-Persians
Greeks
Romans
God’s
Sought wisdom from God – Daniel 2:19-23
Gave God glory, was humble – Daniel 2:19-23
Caused king to glorify God – Daniel 2:47-48
605 BC
549 BC
547 BC
536 BC
Daniel 2:36-37
Daniel 7:4
Babylon (626-539 BC)
Daniel 2:39
Daniel 7:5
Daniel 8:3, 4, 20
Daniel 11:1-2
Media-Persia (539-330 BC)
Daniel 2:39
Daniel 7:6
Greece (330-63 BC)
Alexander the Great
Daniel 11:5
Egypt (323 BC)
Daniel 11:6
Syria (204 BC)
Daniel 8:23-25
Daniel 11:21-35
Antiochus Epiphanes (175 BC)
Daniel 11:32-35
Maccabees (168 BC)
Daniel 2:40
Daniel 7:7-8, 23-27
Daniel 11:36-45
Rome (27 BC)
Daniel’s first prophecy of Media-Persia: 605 BC
Media-Persia ascended to prominence: 539 BC
605-539 = 66 years prior to fulfillment
Daniel’s first prophecy of Greece: 605 BC
Greece ascended to prominence: 330 BC
605-330 = 275 years prior to fulfillment
Daniel’s prophecy of Alexander the Great: 547 BC
Alexander the Great rose to power: 330 BC
547-330 = 217 years prior to fulfillment
Daniel’s first prophecy of Rome: 605 BC
Rome ascended to prominence: 27 BC
605-27 = 578 years prior to fulfillment
Daniel 3-4 – second year of Nebuchadnezzar (602 BC) – 21 years old
Friends refuse to bow down to image – Daniel 3
Order to interpret king’s (Nebuchadnezzar’s) dream – Daniel 4:1-18
Spoke boldly to king: warning, advice – Daniel 4:19-27
Nebuchadnezzar turned to animal – Daniel 4:28-33
Caused king to glorify God – Daniel 4:34-36
50 years of silence
Daniel 7:1 – first year of Belshazzar (549 BC) – 74 years old
Daniel 8:1 – third year of Belshazzar (547 BC) – 76 years old
Daniel 7:1; 8:1
Vision of four kingdoms
“I desired to know” – Daniel 7:19
Continued curiosity
“I kept looking” – Daniel 7:9
Visions of oncoming kingdoms
“I sought to understand” – Daniel 8:15
Daniel 5 – first year of Darius (539 BC) – 84 years old
Daniel 9:1-2
Observing in “the books”
Speaks plainly to Belshazzar – Daniel 5:22-23
Foretells end of Babylonian kingdom; sees its fall – Daniel 5:13-31
Daniel 9 and 6 – first year of Darius (539 BC) – 84 years old
Continues his study of scriptures – Daniel 9:1
Prays for sins of his people – Daniel 9:2-19
Held in high esteem by God – Daniel 9:23
Refused to pray to king, prayed without ceasing to God – Daniel 6:1-15
Lived life above reproach – Daniel 6:4
Put God’s will above man’s – Daniel 6:13
Thrown into lion’s den – Daniel 6:16-28
Trusted God – Daniel 6:23
Caused Darius to glorify God – Daniel 6:24-28
Daniel 10-12 – third year of Cyrus (536 BC) – 87 years old
Daniel 10:1; 11:1
Held in high esteem by God – Daniel 10:11, 19
Set his heart to understand, humbled himself – Daniel 10:12
Daniel 1:1 – third year of Jehoiakim
605 BC
18 years old
Daniel 2-4 – second year of Nebuchadnezzar
602 BC
21 years old
50 years of silence
Daniel 7:1 – first year of Belshazzar
552 BC
71 years old
Daniel 8:1 – third year of Belshazzar
550 BC
73 years old
Daniel 5:31; 9:1-2; 6 – first year of Darius
539 BC
84 years old
Daniel 10-12 – third year of Darius
536 BC
87 years old
All of these age groups are represented in the Benchley congregation. Compare our character to Daniel’s at the comparable stage of life.
Thank God for the book of Daniel! Let the liberals and skeptics be ashamed and hang their heads in disgrace for their attacks upon it. - Homer Hailey
43 min
September 29, 2024The Boy with the Unclean Spirit
Introduction
Mark 9:14-29 – Jesus heals a boy with an unclean spirit.
“How long has this been happening to him?”
Jesus is asking a question He already knows the answer to.
Luke 6:6-8
John 4:16-18
For the benefit of the crowd.
John 20:30-31
Luke 9:43
To show his compassion.
John 11:32-39 – Jesus showed compassion for Lazarus.
“If you can do anything”
This situation caused the father to evaluate his own faith.
Mark 6:1-6
Matthew 8:5-10
Would Jesus marvel at your faith?
How strong is YOUR faith?
“Why could we not cast it out?”
Mark 9:28-29
Matthew 17:19-20
Lack of faith is a common problem … how do we fix it?
Luke 17:5
Prayer
Through God’s word
Romans 10:17
Things we may lose faith in
Faith in God hearing / answering our prayers
I John 5:14-15; Matthew 7:7-11
Faith in the existence of God
Romans 1:18-20; Psalm 19:1-4
Faith in God providing for us.
Matthew 6:25-34
Faith in the forgiveness of sins.
Psalms 103:8-13
26 min
September 25, 2024Onesimus
[Sorry, due to technical difficulties, the audio recording for this lesson is not available. -MRW]
Highlights from previous lesson about Abigail and David
David sends men ahead to ask Nabal for some help.
They’re snubbed, David and lineage insulted.
David determined to avenge the insult via mass capital punishment.
Abigail finds out and intercedes, David relents
Abigail tells Nabal the next day and he goes catatonic – dies 10 days later
David takes Abigail as his wife
Discussion
Don’t procrastinate
Be honest and don’t hide things from husband, wife, family member, etc.
Don’t seek vengeance, leave it to God – Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30
Could David’s throne have been destroyed by his transgression just as Saul’s throne had been?
Saul’s reaction to sin
David’s reaction to sin
It is good and right for a woman to be decisive
Courage is facing real fear rather than running from it
You can respond to a fool without dishonesty or manipulation
Speaking diplomatically can work better than being brash
You can do so respectfully rather than patronizingly
Abigail did not rely on her beauty to bail herself out
Got on her knees and put her face in the dirt
Her gentle, humble, respectful honesty dissuaded a young, brash warrior from an ill-conceived fight
When action was the right thing to do, she disregarded the danger
Could have just run off
Could have thrown Nabal under the bus
Her mainstay appeal was God’s righteousness
You can do right no matter your marital or familial situation
A woman can function properly and righteously in any situation
Her beauty is mentioned, but it does not play into any real part of the situation
Onesimus
Philemon 1:1-25
What we know:
Has Roman (Latin) name – maybe given that name as a slave
Philemon’s slave – who’s run away
Maybe took something from Philemon or owes him (Philemon 1:18-19)
Was converted in Rome by Paul
Was Paul’s valued helper
As for Paul:
Makes no excuses for Onesimus – realizes he did wrong
All things must be made right
What to do is up to Philemon
Onesimus is now much more than a slave
Had become useless to Philemon
His usefulness is by proxy now
Paul defers from his authority to Philemon’s heart
What are the implications of Paul’s letter?
Converted slave – new kind of servitude
Service to Christ is better when unhindered
I Corinthians 7:21
At the same time, not impossible or wrong
Slavery was very much a fact of life in Rome during the first century
How did one become a slave under Roman law?
Being captured during warfare and sold
Being captured by pirates and sold
Selling oneself into servitude to pay a debt
Being born into slavery
Once a slave, what was the job?
Found in every endeavor – household, government, business
Domestic help was the most common
Educated slaves taught children
Some were cooks – specialty
Even hairdressers
Some took civic positions (just as Jews in Babylon)
Librarians
Government Administrators
At the other end of the scale
Some did hard manual labor
Jobs around large estates (senatorial class)
Ag work
Mine workers – high “turnover”
Construction workers – like Israelites in Egypt
The most unfortunate were pressed into work as prostitutes
Both male and female
Roman law enforce slavery – favored the owner over the slave
Masters – life and death
Runaway – harsh punishments
Assault or kill master
Often, death
Also, deaths of associated slaves
How were they treated?
Made economic sense – treat fairly
Many gained allowances (peculium)
Marrying
Even made wills
Property holders
Some became close to master’s family members
Cicero and Tiro – personal secretary
Cicero’s brother: “I am truly thankful for what you have done with regard to Tiro, in judging his former status to be below what he deserved and preferring us to have him as a friend rather than a slave.”
0 min
September 22, 2024It's Time to Repent
Introduction
Luke 24:45-47
Luke 15:7-10
Acts 20:21
Matthew 12:41
Jonah 3 – These people repented!
Repentance is not a once-in-a-lifetime thing.
I John 1:8 – We are not perfect people.
Acts 8:13, 22 – Simon was already baptized, but needed to repent again.
Romans 1:7; 6:3; 2:1-6 – Baptized people can develop an arrogant heart that won’t repent.
II Corinthians 1:1; 7:8-9 – Paul was trying to motivate these Christians to repent.
Repentance is a practice we repeat for the rest of our lives.
Revelation 2:5, 16, 22; 3:3, 19
We can’t leave sin in our lives. We must root out all sin. Don’t be deluded into thinking a little sin is still okay.
I need to get rid of my excuses.
John 8:11
Luke 22:32
Don’t be satisfied with what is wrong in your life.
Acts 17:30-31
I Corinthians 6:9-11
We need to be like the ones we read about in the Bible that were courageous enough to repent and do better.
It’s time to grow.
Luke 19:8
Luke 3:8-14 – Bear fruits in keeping with repentance.
We need to be specific with God about what my sin is and what I need to do differently.
Act today!
27 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…

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