ScriptureStream

ScriptureStream

By Mark WatsonSociety & CultureReligion & SpiritualityChristianityPhilosophy
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ScriptureStream episodes

  • Acts 20:7-21:7
    Third preaching journey (Acts 18:23-21:17), continued:
    Asia, Macedonia, and Achaia (Acts 20:1-16), continued:
    • There has been some debate about exactly when Paul partook of the Lord’s Supper due to questions around whether Luke was using Jewish timekeeping (a day is sunset to sunset) or Roman timekeeping (a day goes from midnight to midnight). From the context, it is clear that the only way this passage makes sense is for Paul to have taken the Lord’s Supper on a Sunday, then preached and talked to them overnight before departing on Monday.
      • Farewell to the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:17-38)
      • Acts 20:25 – See Acts 9:15-16. Paul knew he was about to suffer and was offering his farewells.
      • Acts 20:28 – Compare I Peter 5:1-2. Together, these passages show that elders, bishops, overseers, pastors, shepherds, and presbyters are all the same office or position in the local church.
      • Acts 20:35 – We don’t have other records of Jesus saying, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” The help referred to here could be either physical or spiritual.
        • End: Jerusalem (Acts 21:1-17)
        • Acts 21:4 – Did Paul disobey by going to Jerusalem? That seems unlikely. It’s possible that the disciples themselves were concluding that Paul shouldn’t go to Jerusalem because of the prophecies of what would happen to him there.
          • 45 min
        • Imitating the Corinthians
          They had to be Christians in an un-Christian world.
          • I Corinthians 1:2; 11:1
          • This was not an easy or popular thing to do!
          • I Corinthians 1:18-20 – The Corinthians had to combat so-called intellectuals and their theories.
            • They had to be moral despite rampant immorality.
            • I Corinthians 6:9-11
            • I Corinthians 10:14; 12:2 – They were dealing with idolatry!
            • I Corinthians 5:9-10; 15:33; II Corinthians 6:14, 17 – Be careful of immoral influences!
            • Even though they had difficulties, they did their best to serve God.
            • I Corinthians 4:16, 21 – The same standard was required of everyone!
              • They had to be faithful even when their brethren were not.
              • I Corinthians 3:3; 5:1-2; 11:20; 15:12
              • II Corinthians 5:17
              • I Corinthians 16:13 – Be strong! Stand firm!
              • I Corinthians 11:19
              • II Corinthians 7:4, 9
              • Be godly regardless of your circumstances!
                • 35 min
              • Mark 4:1-34
                Mark 4
                The parables of Jesus
                • Jesus often usen parables. There are about forty-one parables total in the gospels, but Mark records five.
                • A parable places one thing next to another with a view to comparison.
                • Why teach in parables?
                  • Mark 4:11 – So Jesus could teach His disciples in private.
                  • What are they about?
                    • Generally, to teach what the kingdom “at hand” is like.
                    • How should we interpret them?
                      • Don’t look for lessons in every small detail.
                      • Let Jesus explain!
                        • The kingdom is like a sower (Mark 4:1-20)
                        • Mark 4:15 – Compare Luke 8:11. The seed is the word of God. The wayside is people who hear the word, but don’t grow with any depth.
                        • Mark 4:16-17 – The rocky place – people who hear the word but will not endure persecution.
                        • Mark 4:18-19 – The thorns – people who hear, but the word of God is choked out by the cares of the world.
                        • Mark 4:20 – The good ground that bears fruit.
                        • The kind of heart determines the reception and relation to God’s word. We determine what type of heart we have!
                          • Lamp under a bushel (Mark 4:21-25)
                          • Compare Matthew 10:27. We should proclaim God’s word! See also Acts 13:47.
                          • Be lights of God’s world. Teach and do God’s word!
                            • The growing seed (Mark 4:26-27)
                            • Compare I Corinthians 3:6-9. We are laborers together with God. We plant and water, but God gives the increase in His own time.
                            • See Galatians 1:7. We have no right to cross-breed or modify the message. See also Romans 1:16; I Peter 2:5. God’s church is not for entertainment or a social club.
                              • The kingdom is like a mustard seed (Mark 4:30-34)
                              • The kingdom, from a small beginning, grows to a place of strength and comfort for those therein. Remember the figure of the kingdom in Daniel 2.
                                • The wicked vinedressers (Mark 12:1-12)
                                • See I Peter 2:8. Unlike other parables, the Jewish leaders immediately understood the parable and knew He was condemning them.
                                  • 38 min
                                • A Completely Different Way of Looking at the World
                                  Introduction
                                  • II Corinthians 5:17
                                    • Created vs. evolved
                                    • Genesis 1:1, 27
                                    • Genesis 9:6 – Why is man’s life different? Because we are made in the image of God.
                                    • Matthew 10:28
                                    • There is no sense of “ought” if God did not create us.
                                    • Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn – “Men have forgotten God; that’s why all this has happened.”
                                    • I Corinthians 8:10-11
                                      • Loving vs. selfish
                                      • Matthew 18:1-4 – We must have the humility of a child!
                                      • Matthew 19:30; 20:16
                                      • A Christian views things differently!
                                      • Acts 8:13, 18
                                      • II Corinthians 5:14-15
                                      • How does love change my schedule? My money habits?
                                        • Optimistic vs. pessimistic
                                        • Matthew 12:20 – God doesn’t want to give up on us! He sees the potential that is there.
                                        • I Corinthians 13:7
                                        • John 3:16
                                          • 33 min
                                        • Acts 18:23-20:11
                                          Third preaching journey (Acts 18:23-21:17)
                                          Apollos (Acts 18:23-28)
                                          • Priscilla was a great example of a woman serving the Lord. This is a great example of proper attitudes in teaching and learning. Apollos is a great example of humility in learning.
                                          • See I Corinthians 16:12
                                            • Ephesus (Acts 19:1-41)
                                            • Acts 19:1-7 – If we have had a different baptism, this passage shows you should be baptized again in the correct way.
                                            • Acts 19:13-15 – Archaeological digs have since found a number of artifacts referring to Jesus and having various incantations similar to what is quoted here.
                                              • Asia, Macedonia, and Achaia (Acts 20:1-16)
                                              • Acts 20:7 – Compare Acts 2:42, 46. The context must indicate whether “breaking bread” refers to the Lord’s Supper or not. This seems to be referring to the Lord’s Supper, while Acts 20:11 refers to a common meal.
                                                • 44 min
                                              • Called by God
                                                Introduction
                                                • What does it mean to be “called by God?” People today seem to have a different understanding of it than what it meant in Bible times. Especially “called by God” to do something specific. Can we say the same today?
                                                  • We are all called to SALVATION by the gospel.
                                                  • II Thessalonians 2:14; 1:11-12
                                                  • I Corinthians 1:2-6
                                                    • There is no doubt that God called specific people to do specific things for Him in the Bible.
                                                    • Jeremiah 1:4
                                                    • Hebrews 5:1-4
                                                    • Acts 9:3 – There was a specific thing God wanted Paul to do.
                                                    • Acts 13:2
                                                      • But God’s direct intervention in Bible times cannot be generalized to everyone.
                                                      • Jeremiah 29:11, 1 – This was a letter to the exiles in Babylon.
                                                      • Romans 10:14-15
                                                      • Acts 16:6-10
                                                      • Esther 4:14
                                                        • Caution: I might interpret signs and violate God’s will.
                                                        • I Samuel 24:1-7 – David’s men just knew this was a sign from God.
                                                        • Matthew 19:9 – We know this is God’s will. If we feel we are receiving signs to divorce, we know that any signs could not go against God’s written will.
                                                          • Instead of looking for signs, just get to work obeying the Bible.
                                                          • Ephesians 2:10; 4:25-28
                                                          • Luke 7:28-30
                                                          • II Peter 1:10
                                                            • 33 min
                                                          • Mark 3:7-30
                                                            Mark 3, continued:
                                                            • Mark 3:22 – See John 11:48-50. The Jews were afraid of losing their power.
                                                            • Mark 3:28-30 – The “Holy Spirit” here could be referring to the “divine nature of Christ.” They were denying Jesus’ deity and attributing it to Satan.
                                                              • Matthew 12:34 – Matthew records Jesus’ strong description of His accusers.
                                                              • John 12:37
                                                              • Matthew 13:14-15
                                                              • Acts 28:25-27
                                                              • John 12:37-41 – Isaiah showed that the underlying sin was hardness of heart.
                                                              • The “eternal sin,” therefore, was a wicked mindset that would follow these hardened rebels into eternity, where an “eternal judgment” (Hebrews 6:2) would be pronounced, and an “eternal punishment” of unending misery awaited them (Matthew 25:46), because there is no post-mortem plan of salvation (Hebrews 9:27). So, we see the final end Jesus announced upon those who deny the power and word of God, attributing it to another source, in this case, Satan.
                                                              • Is it possible to be guilty of this sin today? Yes! See John 20:29; I Peter 1:8-9. If someone persistently rejects the New Testament evidence that supports Jesus’ credibility, hasn’t he in principle done the same as these Pharisees?
                                                                • 39 min
                                                              • The Simplicity of God's Plan
                                                                Introduction
                                                                • Romans 1:16-17
                                                                • II Corinthians 11:3; 4:3-4
                                                                • Ephesians 5:17; 3:3-4
                                                                • Luke 10:21
                                                                  • The simple, yet thrilling, account of the cross
                                                                  • Matthew 27:46
                                                                  • Romans 5:6-8
                                                                  • Philippians 2:5-8
                                                                  • I John 4:14; 2:2
                                                                  • John 3:16-17
                                                                  • Hebrews 2:9
                                                                  • I Peter 1:18-19
                                                                  • I Corinthians 15:57
                                                                  • II Corinthians 8:9
                                                                  • Acts 10:34
                                                                  • Hebrews 2:9
                                                                  • Revelation 22:17
                                                                  • Titus 3:5
                                                                  • Ephesians 2:8-9
                                                                  • I Corinthians 1:18, 22-24
                                                                    • The simple requirements to be numbered among the redeemed
                                                                    • Mark 16:15-16
                                                                    • Acts 2:38
                                                                    • II Corinthians 5:7
                                                                    • Romans 10:17
                                                                    • John 3:3, 5
                                                                    • I Peter 1:22-23
                                                                    • Romans 10:1, 16
                                                                    • I Corinthians 15:1-4
                                                                    • Romans 6:17-18, 1-5
                                                                    • II Corinthians 5:17
                                                                    • Galatians 3:26-27
                                                                    • Acts 8:5, 12, 35-39
                                                                      • The simple worship of the Lord’s church
                                                                      • II Peter 1:1
                                                                      • Acts 20:7
                                                                      • The elements of worship:
                                                                        • Teaching
                                                                          • Acts 2:42; 20:32
                                                                          • II Timothy 2:15
                                                                          • Psalms 119:97, 103
                                                                          • Giving
                                                                            • I Corinthians 16:1-2
                                                                            • II Corinthians 9:7
                                                                            • Lord’s Supper
                                                                              • Matthew 26:26-28
                                                                              • I Corinthians 11:26
                                                                              • Acts 20:7
                                                                              • Praying
                                                                                • Hebrews 4:16
                                                                                • Acts 2:42
                                                                                • I Thessalonians 5:17, 25
                                                                                • Singing
                                                                                  • Colossians 3:16
                                                                                  • Ephesians 5:19
                                                                                  • John 4:24
                                                                                  • II John 1:9
                                                                                  • I Peter 4:11
                                                                                  • Colossians 3:17
                                                                                    • The simple and great organization of the Lord’s kingdom
                                                                                    • Philippians 1:1
                                                                                    • II Peter 1:1
                                                                                    • Romans 16:16
                                                                                    • I Corinthians 1:2
                                                                                    • Colossians 1:18
                                                                                    • Ephesians 1:22-23
                                                                                    • II Timothy 3:16-17
                                                                                    • Acts 20:28
                                                                                    • I Peter 5:2
                                                                                    • Ephesians 3:21, 10
                                                                                    • Acts 11:27-30 – care for needy saints
                                                                                    • I Corinthians 16:1
                                                                                    • Ephesians 4:16
                                                                                    • I Thessalonians 1:8 – proclaim the word of the Lord
                                                                                      • Conclusion
                                                                                      • Jeremiah 6:16
                                                                                      • II Corinthians 11:3, 14-15
                                                                                      • Matthew 7:13-15
                                                                                      • II Thessalonians 2:10-12
                                                                                      • II John 1:9
                                                                                      • Colossians 3:17
                                                                                      • Philippians 4:9
                                                                                      • Psalms 119:161
                                                                                      • II Corinthians 11:3
                                                                                      • Mark 16:15-16
                                                                                      • Acts 22:16
                                                                                        • 33 min
                                                                                      • Cup
                                                                                        The cup Jesus drank
                                                                                        • Matthew 26:36-42
                                                                                        • Mark 14:35-36
                                                                                        • Luke 22:42-44
                                                                                        • John 18:10-11
                                                                                        • Matthew 20:17-19 – Jesus foretells His death.
                                                                                        • Matthew 20:20-23; Mark 10:38-40
                                                                                          • What is the “cup” referred to in these verses?
                                                                                          • Genesis 40:13 – literal cup
                                                                                          • Genesis 44:1 – literal cup
                                                                                          • Matthew 23:26-27 – literal cup as a figure
                                                                                          • Psalms 16:5 – figure
                                                                                          • Psalms 23:1-6 – blessings
                                                                                          • Psalms 116:13 – blessings
                                                                                          • Jeremiah 16:7 – advice, blessings
                                                                                          • Psalms 11:6 – suffering
                                                                                          • Psalms 75:8 – symbol of the wrath of God
                                                                                          • Isaiah 51:17, 22 – wrath of God
                                                                                          • Jeremiah 25:15, 17, 28 – wrath of God
                                                                                          • Jeremiah 51:7 – wrath of God
                                                                                          • Lamentations 4:21 – curses
                                                                                          • Ezekiel 23:31-33 – curses
                                                                                          • Habakkuk 2:16 – curses
                                                                                          • Zechariah 12:2 – curses
                                                                                          • Revelation 14:10 – curses
                                                                                            • Joshua renews the covenant
                                                                                            • Joshua 8:34
                                                                                            • Matthew 10:42 – cup is a figure for any need a person may have
                                                                                            • Mark 10:38-40
                                                                                            • I Corinthians 10:16:22
                                                                                            • I Corinthians 11:25-29
                                                                                              • 38 min
                                                                                            • Mark 1:16-3:6
                                                                                              Mark 1, continued:
                                                                                              Jesus calls disciples and appoints the twelve
                                                                                              • Mark 1:16-20; 2:13-14; 3:13-21
                                                                                              • When Jesus appointed the twelve, there appear to have been others there with Him, which was important when a replacement was needed for Judas. The requirement for a man to be appointed an apostle was that he had been with them the entire time (Acts 1:21-26).
                                                                                                • Apostle
                                                                                                Cause of death (most from history - ?)
                                                                                                Simon Peter
                                                                                                Crucified upside down
                                                                                                Andrew, Peter’s brother
                                                                                                Crucified
                                                                                                James, son of Zebedee
                                                                                                Beheaded by Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:2)
                                                                                                John, son of Zebedee
                                                                                                Exiled, died of old age
                                                                                                Matthew
                                                                                                Beaten, then crucified
                                                                                                Bartholomew
                                                                                                Crucified
                                                                                                Philip
                                                                                                Speared to death
                                                                                                Thomas
                                                                                                Crucified
                                                                                                Simon, the zealot
                                                                                                Stoned to death
                                                                                                James, son of Alphaeus
                                                                                                Stoned to death
                                                                                                Judas Iscariot
                                                                                                Suicide by hanging (Matthew 27:5)
                                                                                                Matthias (replaced Judas)
                                                                                                Stoned or died of old age (???)
                                                                                                Paul (selected by Jesus)
                                                                                                Killed by Nero (II Timothy 4:6)
                                                                                                • Mark 6:7-13 – The apostles were sent out in pairs, given power over unclean spirits, and told not to take money or supplies with them. Note that miracles were secondary to teaching! Miracles could not and cannot save! Romans 1:16; Acts 11:14; James 1:21
                                                                                                • Mark 1:21-28 – Jesus taught as one having authority. Even the unclean spirits obeyed Him. He told the unclean spirits not to tell people who He was, possibly to avoid endorsements from disreputable sources.
                                                                                                • Mark 1:35-39 – Jesus came to teach.
                                                                                                  • Mark 2
                                                                                                  • Mark 2:1-12 – Jesus forgives a man’s sins who was brought to Him for healing.
                                                                                                  • Mark 2:18-22 – There was a right time and place for fasting.
                                                                                                  • Mark 2:23-28 – The Sabbath was made for man!
                                                                                                    • Mark 3
                                                                                                    • Mark 3:1-6 – Jesus is grieved at their hard hearts when they try to trap Him with regard to the Sabbath.
                                                                                                      • 40 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…