ScriptureStream

By Mark WatsonSociety & Culture Religion & Spirituality Christianity Philosophy

ScriptureStream episodes

August 19 I Samuel 5-7
43 min
August 16Common Sense Approaches to the Bible
Introduction
Ephesians 3:4
Read it to learn what it says.
Mark 8:31-32; 9:31-32 - Jesus spoke plainly and they did not understand because of their bias.
John 21:21-23
Double-check what you think you know.
Acts 17:11 - This is the attitude we need to have.
Can you point to a Bible verse to back up what you believe?
There is a lost of difference between what you know and what you think you know.
Matthew 22:23-33
Acts 2:38
Don’t over-complicate it.
Psalms 119:130
Mark 12:37 - Jesus talked to everyone!
II Timothy 2:15
Matthew 22:39 - This is a simple truth. Don’t try to overcomplicate it or find loopholes (Luke 10).
Don’t over-simplify it.
John 18:36
John 6:14
John 5:39
Isaiah 9:6
Isaiah 53:5
Daniel 2:44 - Sometimes there are details in the text that really require some thought.
Exodus 3:6
Luke 20:34-38 - Jesus rebuked them for not inferring what they should have.
29 min
August 16The New Testament Church, Part 3
What is a local church?
There is a difference between an individual and a local church.
Matthew 18:15-17
I Timothy 5:3-4, 16
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 Corinthians 2:7; 7:2-3
I Thessalonians 1:1; 4:11
A letter addressed to an individual may contain some instructions pertaining to a local church
I Timothy 1:2; 3:1-13; 5:16
Titus 1:4-9
The word “ekklesia” is a collective noun (i.e., refers to a group of people).
Acts 8:1, 3
Acts 11:26
Acts 14:26-28
I Corinthians 1:2
Philippians 1:1; 4:15
Hebrews 12:23
The Bible never uses the word “church” to refer to a group of congregations.
There is a word that means “a group of congregations”: denomination.
I Corinthians 12:12
When do you have local church action?
An individual Christian (or several Christians) doing something is not necessarily church action.
Matthew 18:15-17
I Timothy 5:16
Although … Philippians 2:25, 30; 4:14-18
Even if ALL members of a church act together, that’s not necessarily church action.
Acts 19:39
Church action isn’t determined simply by the number or percentage of members involved (Philippians 2:25), but by the nature of the action.
Church action occurs when the members act together in Christ.
I Corinthians 14:23
I Timothy 5:16
Acts 4:32-5:4
Matthew 18:15-17
Philippians 2:25, 30; 4:14-18
I Corinthians 11:17
Philippians 1:27
42 min
August 16Lessons Learned in Chiapas, Mexico
Mindset
What do you notice?
How does it make you feel?
Does it make you want to do anything?
Does looking at this picture make you wish anything was different?
Matthew 13:22 - Our possessions can become thorns to us.
Proverbs 30:7
II Corinthians 5:16; 10:3
Galatians 5:16; 6:8
My brother whom I have seen
I John 4:20
When we see our brethren, it should naturally flow that we love them.
I Thessalonians 3:6
Joy - there was so much laughter!
Colossians 3:16
The joy in them was overflowing.
Luke 13:14
I John 3:18 - Love must be more than lipservice.
Being willing to law down your life.
I John 3:16-17, 10; 5:16
I must be ready and willing to help my brother with his most important needs.
Lessons from Toniná
Genesis 11:4
The ball game … and other religious rituals
I Kings 18:26-29
Acts 12:22
Isaiah 40:6-8
A common theme
James 1:9-12
How is it possible?
Abraham jumped off a cliff
Genesis 22:10-12
Genesis 22:16
How could Abraham do it?
Hebrews 11:17 - By faith!
36 min
August 12I Samuel 3-4
I Samuel 3
I Samuel 3:8 - Why did it take Eli three times to realize this was a message from God? Eli had received word from God in the past. I Samuel 3:1 says that word of the Lord was rare in those days.
I Samuel 3:10 - Samuel slept every night near the ark of the covenant. Getting direct word from God was a big deal!
I Samuel 3:15 - Samuel was not given a fun message to deliver. This was legitimately scary for a young man. Eli had already been warned by God about the behavior of his sons, but we are not told Samuel was party to this. By giving this warning to Samuel to take to Eli, God was warning Samuel also. This may have also been a bit of a test for Samuel to see if he would be able to take bad news to people in high places. God would require this many more times in the future.
I Samuel 3:18 - To his credit, Eli accepted the judgment. However, Eli also did not act to repent and restrain his sons. We have examples in the Bible of God relenting from judgment He had planned to bring down on people because they acted swiftly to change their ways (Ninevah, for example).
I Samuel 4
I Samuel 4:3 - The Philistines assumed God was with Israel, but Israel did not consider this.
I Samuel 4:10 - Because Israel did not consult with God, they lost 4,000 men (I Samuel 4:2), then another 30,000 men.
I Samuel 4:4 - Hophni and Phineas thought God had to be with them if they had the ark of the covenant with them. This was a grace misunderstanding of how God works (not to mention a violation of God’s laws about the ark).
I Samuel 4:18 - As if the death of his sons was not enough, it seems to have been the capture of the ark that truly stunned Eli, resulting in his death.
45 min
August 09School is Around the Corner
Introduction
Ecclesiastes 12:1; 11:9-10
Challenge yourselv to be a good learner and thinker.
I Corinthians 14:20
Sometimes, learning isn’t so much about the subject itself but about learning how to learn and think.
Matthew 18:12
Matthew 21:28-32
Matthew 22:42
Jesus was always trying to get people to think.
Develop a good work ethic.
Nehemiah 1:1; 4:1, 6, 11, 17
Nehemiah 6:9, 15 - Enemies tried to trick and frighten Nehemiah, but he would not be deterred.
Get to work! Have a good attitude!
Colossians 3:23-24
Manage your time well.
Matthew 6:25, 33
Who is the most important?
Can you do your homework and your Bible lesson?
You may have to reduce school stuff to make room for God.
Be kind.
Ephesians 4:31
Acts 9:36; 10:32
Job 4:4
Younger people are looking up to you!
Even a small act of kindness goes a long way.
Learn humility.
I Corinthians 13:4-7
Proverbs 16:18
We compare ourselves with others in school, and that can lead to pride.
Romans 12:16
James 4:6
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
25 min
August 09The New Testament Church, Part 2
What does “church” mean? (continued)
The Bible’s use of “ekklesia”: universal spiritual group (continued)
Matthew 16:13-20 (Acts 2:36-41)
The term “universal church”
The word “catholic” means “universal.”
One single Savior ➡️ one, single group of saved people (church)
The Bible’s use of “ekklesia”: local spiritual group
I Corinthians 1:2
I Thessalonians 1:1
The Bible’s use of “ekklesia”: local church assembly
I Corinthians 14:4, 5, 12, 19, 23, 28, 33, 34, 35
I Corinthians 11:18, 22
The Bible’s use of “ekklesia”: Christians in certain regions
Acts 9:31
The difference between “church” and “churches”
Number
“church”
“churches”
There is only one (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:4).
There are many (Revelation 22:16; Romans 16:16).
Salvation
“church”
“churches”
Membership is equivalent to salvation (Ephesians 5:23-29; Hebrews 12:22-24; Matthew 16:13-20).
Members are not necessarily saved (I Corinthians 5), and the saved are not necessarily members (Acts 8:38-39; Revelation 1:9; III John 1:9-10).
Scope
“church”
“churches”
This refers to ALL the saved (Acts 2:47).
This refers to a limited group of (presumably) saved people functioning collectively in Divinely authorized work (Philippians 1:1).
Entrance and removal
“church”
“churches”
God decides (Acts 2:47; John 15:6).
People decide (Acts 9:26-28; I Corinthians 5:2, 7, 13).
Beginning and ending
“church”
“churches”
The church began when people were first saved by Christ (~33 A.D., Acts 2:36-47) and will never come to an end (Matthew 16:18; I Thessalonians 4:17).
They begin and end any time since Acts 2 (Acts 11:21-26; 15:41; 16:5; Revelation 2:5).
Oversight
“church”
“churches”
Jesus is the head of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23). There are no earthly leaders.
Elders are to be appointed in every church (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5).
Treasury
“church”
“churches”
There is none.
Churches collect and use money on a congregational level (I Corinthians 16:1-4; Philippians 4:15-16).
Work
“church”
“churches”
The word “church” in this sense simply refers to all saved people (Ephesians 5:23-29; Hebrews 12:22-24), but they are not a universally functioning entity.
Churches engage in lots of different actions and work.
Examples of the work of local churches:
Help needy saints in the local church (Acts 6:1-6)
Help needy saints in other churches (Romans 15:26)
Add/subtract members (Acts 9:26-28; I Corinthians 5:13)
Assembly to worship God and edify each other (I Corinthians 14:23-26)
Have overseers and deacons (Philippians 1:1)
Make decisions (I Corinthians 16:3)
Help sinners repent (Matthew 18:17)
Partake of the Lord’s Supper (I Corinthians 11:17-24)
Sing spiritual songs (I Corinthians 14:26)
Pray (I Corinthians 14:15)
Teach God’s word (I Corinthians 14:26)
Collect money (I Corinthians 16:2)
Sound forth the word (I Thessalonians 1:8)
Support preachers in other places (Philippians 4:15-16)
Romans 16:16 - This verse is sometimes cited as authority for collective action.
41 min
August 09Chiapas, Mexico Trip Report
Introduction
Acts 18:23
Acts 15:3
Acts 21:19-20
Disclaimers
Primarily my point of view
Generalizations
A unique situation
I may be slightly off on a few details, but the general observations hold true.
Pronunciation
Overview
Our work
A few names
4 key experiences
Churches visited
Based in San Cristobal
Thursday through Saturday, traveled to the Jahuaca region and stayed two nights as we visited churches in the area.
Each church told us who they wanted to speak.
Worship services were similar as you would expect, with tweaks to the order.
Larráinzar
Change in locations
Acts 17:16
Jady preached
Brooklyn taught the girls’ class
First taste of fellowship and hospitality with the Mexican brethren.
Acts 2:46
What God is doing in Chiapas
Experience #1: Sharing stories from the field
Sheily’s work in sharing the gospel
A heritage
One decision - to seek first the kingdom
Matthew 6:31-33
Dary changed jobs so he could have more time with his family and the evidence was obvious.
San Cristobal
First Sunday
Wednesday
Second Sunday
What God is doing in Chiapas
Experience #3: “I have two questions for you”
After the World Cup match ended, Dari came and said he had two questions for me.
Jesus’ prophecies in Luke 21
The gift of the Holy Spirit
One of the most fun Bible studies I’ve had.
Dari and I barely knew each other, but this is what he wanted to talk about.
GOD DID THAT.
San Julian
Our first rural church visit.
Comitán
What God is doing in Chiapas
Experience #2: I was sick, and you visited me
On our way to Comitán some started feeling sick.
Two bread bags and a roll of toilet paper
JESUS DID THAT.
Jahuaca
Francisco and Fermina hosted the Americans
They built a house to host visitors.
What God is doing in Chiapas
Experience #4: 10,000 years
As In Larráinzar, we sang after eating.
One of the last songs - Amazing Grace
Jahuaca - Gracias a Dios
Matthew 19:14
Notas y saludos
Romans 16:16
40 min
August 05I Samuel 1-2
I Samuel 1
I Samuel 1:1-18
I Samuel 1:1 - I Chronicles seems to indicate that Samuel was a Levite.
I Samuel 1:6-8 - Favoritism is very destructive in a family! This also shows how God’s original plan for one man and one woman in marriage is the best.
I Samuel 1:19-28
Hannah had promised she would give the boy to Him and God granted her request. Hannah kept her promise! She also named her son Samuel, meaning “heard by God.”
I Samuel 2
I Samuel 2:1-11 - Hannah’s prayer
I Samuel 2:12-36
Eli was both a priest and a judge in Israel (I Samuel 4:18). Eli’s sons were also priests, but did evil.
Eli ended up raising Samuel and Samuel would later make the same mistake with his own sons in I Samuel 8, which is part of the reason Israel cried out for a king.
42 min
August 02Getting Started on the Right Foot
Introduction
Hebrews 13:1 - “Let love of the brethren continue”
Ephesians 4:3, 13-15
The right authority
Matthew 21:23 - They were not sincere, but this is a legitimate question.
I Corinthians 2:10-13
Isaiah 8:19-20
Commands
Matthew 28:18-20
Luke 17:7-10
I Corinthians 7:19
I Thessalonians 4:1-2, 11
II Thessalonians 3:4-6, 10-12
II Peter 2:21-3:2
I John 2:3-4; 3:22-24; 4:21-5:3
II John 1:4-6
Examples
John 15:12
Acts 20:35
I Corinthians 4:16; 10:6-11; 11:1
Philippians 3:17; 4:9
I Thessalonians 1:6
II Thessalonians 3:7-9
Hebrews 4:11
III John 1:9-11
Implications
Genesis 2:24 ➡️ Matthew 19:3-6
Exodus 3:6 ➡️ Mark 12:26-27
Psalms 16:10 ➡️ Acts 2:24-32
Psalms 110:1 ➡️ Matthew 22:41-46; Acts 2:33-36
Matthew 9:6 ➡️ Matthew 9:2
Acts 10:10-16 ➡️ Acts 10:28 - The gospel is for all.
Acts 16:9 ➡️ Acts 16:10
When we’re trying to understand God’s will on a particular matter, we take all of the information that’s available in the Bible (in whatever for it’s in) and bring it all into a harmonious conclusion - “So this is what God wants!”
Pitfalls we want to avoid
Let’s avoid appeals to human tradition
“But we’ve always done it this way.”
Matthew 15:1-9
II Thessalonians 2:15
Let’s avoid appeals to human authorities
“Well, ol’ brother so-and-so always said …”
Matthew 15:7-9
Acts 17:11
Instead of assuming, let’s ask sincere questions.
“What do you mean by that?” “Which verses teach that?”
John 7:24
Let’s love God and each other enough to eagerly get into the text!
Hebrews 13:1
32 min

About ScriptureStream

From the publisher's feed

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…

Share ScriptureStream

Sign up to save your podcasts

ScriptureStream

ScriptureStream episodes

About ScriptureStream