ScriptureStream

By Mark Watson

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 a... more

5

55 ratings

Download on the App Store

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

FAQs about ScriptureStream:

How many episodes does ScriptureStream have?

The podcast currently has 3,198 episodes available.

ScriptureStream episodes:

February 25, 2024 "Simon ... do you love me more than these?"
...more
42min
February 25, 2024 Have I Really Forgiven?
...more
35min
February 21, 2024Apologetics, Part 3
Age of the earth
Why does the age of the earth matter?
Dr. Rogers: Does the Hebrew word yom endorse an old earth?
The word can be used either literally or figuratively.
Figurative: Genesis 2:4, 17
Literal in cases where it is used with the number of a day (first day, second day, etc.).
Other references to Creation
Exodus 20:11
Mark 10:6
Could the God described in the Bible create the earth in 6, 24-hour days?
Could the God described in the Bible create the earth across billions of years?
Based on the evidence available, which do you believe?
Age of the earth estimations from Biblical records
Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus
Tracing Jesus’ lineage through Joseph
Establishes a paternal link to David
Legal right to inherit throne
Age of earth: 7,307 years
Date of creation: 5284 BC
Luke’s genealogy of Jesus
Traces Jesus’ lineage through Mary
Establishes a blood link to David
Blood right to inherit throne
Age of earth: 8,596 years
Date of creation: 6573 BC
Underlying assumptions of this Biblical timeline
The “days” of creation were literal, 24-hour days.
No gaps in genealogies presented in the Biblical record.
Where we don’t have the age of the father at the birth of the next person in a lineage, this timeline uses an “average lifespan” for that timespan.
Assuming there are no gaps in the genealogies presented in the Bible, this makes the timeline longer than actual.
...more
43min
February 18, 2024Abraham
Introduction
Genesis 12:1-3, 11-12 – God’s promises to Abraham.
God’s promises
Genesis 12:1-7
I will make you a great nation.
Genesis 21:5
Exodus 1:7-9, 20
Deuteronomy 26:5
Genesis 14:13 – “Abram the Hebrew”
Romans 4:18-22
FULFILLED! Abraham became the father of the Hebrew nation.
To your descendants I will give this land.
Joshua 1:1-6; 21:43-45
Nehemiah 9:7-8
FULFILLED! The nation lived in the land of promise.
In you all the families of the earth will be blessed.
Matthew 1:1, 2-16; 3:8-9
Acts 3:13-15, 19, 25-26
FULFILLED! Abraham’s descendant, Jesus, became the Savior of the world.
Abraham’s exemplary faith
Hebrews 11:8-10, 13-19
John 8:31-33, 37-47
Romans 4:9-17, 23-24
Romans 9:6-8
Galatians 3:6-9, 26-29
...more
27min
February 18, 2024Bible 101: Figurative Language
Introduction
Matthew 26:26-29 – Some take this literally. This is a metaphor. It was figuratively his body and blood.
Why does God use figurative language?
Figures make language more vivid, interesting, memorable, and powerful.
I Peter 5:8
II Peter 2:21-22
How about the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15)?
The basic message is that we should rejoice when sinners repent, but by presenting that as a parable, Jesus turns it into a memorable story.
When should we take a word or phrase figuratively?
A good rule of thumb is to understand a passage literally unless there is a good reason to believe otherwise:
When it is said to be figurative.
John 2:18-21
Ephesians 6:17
Isaiah 9:2
When a literal understanding contradicts another passage.
Mark 1:5; Luke 7:29-30 – Not absolutely all people came out to obey Jesus.
When it matches a pattern of figurative language in other passages.
John 6:27; I John 3:18; I Peter 3:3 – Not-but passages.
When a literal understanding contradicts known facts or common sense.
John 3:3
When should we NOT take a word or phrase figuratively?
When a literal understanding simply contradicts our beliefs.
I Corinthians 7:1
...more
46min
February 18, 2024Understanding the Church of the New Testament
Introduction
Acts 8:1-3 – The church was the people. Not a building!
Romans 16:5
Acts 20:17, 28-30 – The trouble to come was that people would be drawn away. This was spiritual work to guard the people.
The word “church”
The word translated church in the New Testament simply means, “a called out group” or “assembly.” The word itself does not have a spiritual connotation.
Acts 19:32 – The word “assembly” here is ekklesia, often translated “church.”
Universal sense (all saved people everywhere)
Ephesians 5:22-28 – Christ died to save the church.
Ephesians 4:4 – There is one body (one church) because there is one savior.
Matthew 16:16-19 – Jesus was establishing a group of people who were saved.
Acts 2:38
Hebrews 12:22-23 – The people’s names are written in heaven.
Luke 10:20
Local sense (saved people working together as a congregation)
Romans 16:16
I Corinthians 1:2
The church does not save; it is the saved.
Acts 4:12 – Jesus is the savior – not the church!
Don’t think of the “church of Christ” as a denomination with a creed.
“Church of Christ” is a description – not a name.
Churches are described with many names in the New Testament:
Romans 16:16
I Corinthians 11:16
I Thessalonians 2:14
I Corinthians 14:30
Acts 11:22
Romans 16:1
I Corinthians 1:2
I Thessalonians 1:1
Acts 8:12
There should not be such a thing as “church of Christ” doctrine.
There is only the doctrine of God.
Let’s just objectively seek the truth!
...more
35min
February 14, 2024Apologetics, Part 2
Introduction to apologetics, continued:
What do you hope to gain from this study of apologetics?
Internal motivations
Answer questions you have yourself – Mark 9:24
Stronger personal faith – know why you believe – Luke 17:5; Colossians 2:6-7
Defend your own faith against attacks – II Timothy 3:13-15
External motivations
Better able to answer questions of seekers (children, friends, coworkers) – Ephesians 4:11-14
Persuade those in error – but to what end? Philippians 1:15-17
“Win” an internet debate – Matthew 7:6
Defeat opposition – to what end? Matthew 6:2, 5, 16
Plant a seed – I Corinthians 3:6; Mark 4:31-32; Luke 8:11-15; 13:6-9
Purpose in apologetics
I Peter 3:15 – Ready to make a defense – but in what way?
I Peter 3:8-9, 15 – our attitudes
I Peter 3:11 – seek peace
I Peter 3:12-14 – fearless
I Peter 3:16 – our conduct
I Peter 3:18 – Christ’s suffering led me to our sanctification.
What must our willingness to suffer for Christ do for others?
Final thoughts
Luke 12:11-12
Jesus told his disciples not to prepare beforehand what they would say, because the Holy Spirit would teach them in that very hour what they should say.
That promise was not made to us, but we can learn from it.
Luke 21:12-15
Similar instructions, promise worded differently. He would give them wisdom and utterance no opponent could refute.
Their persecution would lead to an opportunity for testimony.
Faith and science
What is faith?
Personal conviction that something is true when the believer has no first-hand knowledge of it.
Romans 8:24
II Corinthians 5:7
Hebrews 11:1
How do we develop faith?
Discuss
Testimony
Observation of evidence (as opposed to direct observation)
Secondary, tertiary, etc.
Reasoning
Luke 24; John 20:25-31
What are some everyday things we believe or take for granted?
What is science?
Testing of theory against evidence
How does science work?
...more
43min
February 11, 2024Attitudes Toward Money
Introduction
Luke 8:7
You can’t chase contentment; you have to learn it.
Philippians 4:11-12
I Timothy 6:6-9
Ecclesiastes 2:10-11
Ecclesiastes 5:10
Pay attention to lifestyle creep.
Deuteronomy 6:10 – If they were being warned when they were living in those conditions, what about us?
Matthew 16:24-26
Physical things are not bad on their own, but they must not distract us from spiritual matters.
Beware of social comparisons.
Luke 12:13-15, 21
Exodus 20:17 – Don’t covet what others have.
Ephesians 5:3
Use money as a tool for God’s work.
I Timothy 6:18
I John 3:17
Proverbs 19:17
Deuteronomy 24:19
I Peter 4:9
Matthew 25:43
...more
29min
February 11, 2024Bible 101: Context and Harmony
Context
Psalm 14:1 – “there is no God”
Do you believe the Bible?
This verse is taken out of context!
Studying the context means reading the surrounding verses to help you understand what a word or phrase means.
Examples:
Foxes – Matthew 8:20; Luke 13:31-32
Love – II Samuel 13:1; Ephesians 5:25; Song of Solomon 1:2
How do you study the context?
Just read the verses before and after.
The headings in your Bible may be helpful.
Glance at an outline in a study Bible, commentary, or Bible dictionary.
Pay attention to connecting words.
Harmony
Make sure to also consider how this passage harmonizes with the rest of the Bible.
Matthew 4:5-7
Hebrews 9:12
How do you study harmony?
General knowledge of the Bible
Use cross references
Use digital search features or paper concordance
Use topical Bibles
Examples:
Psalm 2
Psalm 2:1 has a cross reference to Acts 4:25-26, showing that part of the psalm was quoted there.
Philippians 4:13
Homework
Do you believe the Bible is literal?
Open your Bible to any page. Can you find a figure of speech?
...more
46min
February 11, 2024Men, Lead Your Kids
Introduction
Ephesians 6:1-4
I Timothy 3:4-5
You can’t expect your wife to do your job for you!
Be there.
Genesis 26:3
Exodus 33:14-16
Joshua 1:5 – God would be with him.
Psalms 38
Matthew 28:20
Luke 13:25-29 – Hell is being away from God’s presence.
Everything we read about what a family needs requires the father to be there.
Philippians 3:17 – Follow good examples. How can our kids follow our example if we aren’t there?
Surveys show that if the father is the first to become a Christian in a family, there is a 93% chance that others in the family will follow. If a child or the mother is the first, the probability is significantly lower.
Discipline them in a way that yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
Hebrews 12:7-11
Proverbs 13:24 – Sometimes tough discipline is necessary.
Proverbs 19:18
Proverbs 23:13-14; 29:15
Exhort and encourage and implore them to follow God’s path.
I John 3:16
Matthew 18:21-35
I Thessalonians 2:5-12
...more
35min

FAQs about ScriptureStream:

How many episodes does ScriptureStream have?

The podcast currently has 3,198 episodes available.