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ScriptureStream episodes
- Let's read the gospel of John this week!What?
- Three chapters a day for seven days, starting today.
- John 1:1
Why?- Because Bible reading is really important and this can be a great way to give ourselves a jumpstart!
- Deuteronomy 17:14-20 – Kings were to write a copy of God’s law and then read it!
- Luke 4:16
- I Timothy 4:13
Where?- At home.
- Colossians 4:16
- In a private Facebook group if you want.
- Read the text first and then go to the group.
Who?- All of us
- Psalms 119:18, 38, 72, 97-105
- Get the kids involved!
- Joshua 4:6-7 – Every child that saw this would ask about it and be reminded.
- II Timothy 3:14
When?- Reading schedule:
- Sunday: John 1-3
- Monday: John 4-6
- Tuesday: John 7-9
- Wednesday: John 10-12
- Thursday: John 13-15
- Friday: John 16-18
- Saturday: John 19-21
- Luke 8:14 – The busy-ness of life can get in the way!
- Luke 10:38-42
How?- Just John
- Acts 17:11
- Read only the text! Do not read commentaries or other people’s comments on the text.
- “How does it read to you?”
- Luke 10:25 – This is something we can understand.
27 min - The New Testament Church, Part 6Local churches are authorized to provide for the preaching of the gospel, continuedObservation: The gospel was taught.
- II Corinthians 11:7
- I Corinthians 15:1-5
- Matthew 4:23
- II Thessalonians 1:8
- I Peter 4:17
- Matthew 28:18 – Compare Mark 16:15-16.
- It’s possible to think of the gospel as less than it is or more than it is. Many today see the church as a kind of community improvement project.
- Romans 1:13
- We have the joy of spreading God’s message to others.
Observation: Encouragement of preachers was important (not just money).- Acts 13:1, 2; 14:26-28
Local churches are authorized to provide for worship and edificationThe local church is a group designed for mutual encouragement as we serve God together.- The benefit of a group.
- I Corinthians 14:3-6, 12, 17, 26, 31
- Atheist mega-churches?
- Lord’s Supper
- Acts 20:7, 16, 6 – Paul made extra effort to be with them.
- Studying/preaching
- I Corinthians 14:26
- I Timothy 4:6, 16; II Timothy 4:1-5
- Giving
- I Corinthians 16:1-2; II Corinthians 8:1-7; 9:1-2
45 min - Is the Word of God Performing Its Work in Me?Introduction
- I Thessalonians 2:13-14
- God’s word is meant to work in people.
- I Thessalonians 3:6; 4:1; 5:11
- Acts 17:2
- Luke 11:27-28 – Jesus emphasized the importance of doing God’s will.
Do I listen to warnings about sin?- Psalms 119:9
- Matthew 5:28 – Warning about lust.
- Romans 1:29 – Warning about gossip.
- I John 2:16 – Warning about pride.
- James 1:21-26 – Don’t just see your sin and walk away. Fix it!
Do I take the initiative to do good?- James 1:27
- It is not anyone else’s job to tell us what good we need to do. We must work to study God’s word and figure it out for ourselves.
- II Peter 1:5-8 – I need to work on these things.
Do I make opportunities to teach?- II Timothy 3:16-17
- Titus 1:9-11
- Acts 8:4
- We need to know God’s wrd so that we can teach ourselves and others effectively.
- We should pray, “Please give me a teaching opportunity I can handle.”
- If someone asks you something you don’t know, admit that you don’t know. That will teach them also. Then show them how to study and find out.
- Acts 26:9
- Psalms 1:1-3 – We should be like strong, healthy trees nourished by God’s word.
30 min - RuthRuthLoyalty and dedication
- Leaves her homeland
- Commits to going with Naomi – Ruth 1:16-17
- Naomi’s God becomes her God
- Do we have the committed loyalty to God that Ruth had?
- Matthew 9:35 – The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few.
- I Corinthians 3:5 – Paul planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.
Didn’t do things for glory or to seek attention- Luke 17:7 – We are good-for-nothing slaves; we’ve only done our duty.
Boaz wanted to bless her and Naomi wanted her to be taken care of- Leviticus 25:48; Numbers 35:19; Leviticus 25:25; Deuteronomy 25:5 – Responsibilities for the family redeemer.
- Ruth 4
- What did this lead to by continuing the family live for Elimelech?
- Ruth 4:18-22
- Judges 10:6 – Ruth grew up in an idolatrous nation, but she turned to God.
39 min - Have You Forgotten?Introduction
- I Corinthians 11:23-25 – “in remembrance of me”
Go to the garden for deeper faith and love- Song – vs. 1-2
- Christ’s agony in the garden
- Matthew 26:31, 36-47, 56; Luke 22:44
- Christ’s attitude in the garden
- Matthew 26:39, 42; John 4:34; 10:11, 18
Go to the cross for stronger faith and love- Song – vs. 3-4
- Christ’s suffering on the cross
- Matthew 27:27
- Christ’s willingness to suffer, although innocent
- Matthew 27:38-40, 44; I Peter 2:21-24
- Christ’s love for all
- Romans 5:8; John 3:16
Turn again to the world with a changed perspective- Song – vs. 5
- Changing our perspective towards Christ
- I Peter 2:21; John 14:15; I John 5:3
- Changing our perspective towards those around us
- II Corinthians 5:14-15; Mark 16:15-16
35 min - Spiritual Characteristics of the ChurchSpiritual nature of the church
- Also spoken of as the kingdom
- Church – called out – I Peter 2:9; Ephesians 5:8
- Kingdom
- Jesus – not of this world – John 18:36
- Not physical – Romans 14:17
- Entered through a spiritual change – John 3:3-5
- Don’t conform to this world – Romans 12:2
- Things of this world are contrary to the kingdom – John 12:31; Ephesians 2:1-2
- Saved from this world into the kingdom – Colossians 1:11-14
Membership in the church- Membership in the church – Acts 2:46
- There is one way in – Matthew 7:13-14
- Jesus maintains the list of those allowed to enter – Revelation 21:27
- II Peter 1:10-11
Structure- Designer and builder – Hebrews 11:9-10
- Physical death powerless to stop it – Matthew 7:13-14
- Foundation – I Corinthians 3:8-11
- Foundation stones – Revelation 21:14
- Foundation and corner stone – Ephesians 2:19-22
- Walls – I Peter 2:4-6
Relationships- Heavenly Father – whose Father?
- Matthew 10:32-33; Ephesians 1:3
- Luke 20:34-36; Romans 9:26
- What does that make us? Luke 8:19-21
- How can this be? John 1:12-13; Romans 8:12-17; Galatians 4:1-7; Ephesians 1:5-6
- What special right do we attain? Hebrews 9:15
Inheritance – reward- Eternal life
- Matthew 25:46; John 3:16; Romans 6:22; Galatians 6:8
- Rest – Hebrews 4:9
- Presence – John 14:2-3
- Lots of space – John 14:2-3
- Likeness of Christ – I John 3:2
- Rooms vs. mansions
- John 14:2
37 min - Music in Worship of GodDoes it really matter if we use mechanical instruments of music in worship?David used instruments of worship in the Old Testament
- If instrumental music could be brought into modern times under the New Covenant, we must also bring over polygamy, observing the Sabbath, animal sacrifices, etc.
- We are under the New Covenant now.
- Hebrews 1:2
- Hebrews 7:12, 18
- Galatians 3:24-25
- II John 1:9; Colossians 3:17
Verses about music in New Testament worship- Acts 16:25
- Romans 15:9
- I Corinthians 14:15
- Ephesians 5:19
- Colossians 3:16
- Hebrews 2:12
- James 5:13
- All of these verses specifically say to sing!
What about instruments used in heaven?- Revelation 5:8
- Heaven is a different place with different rules. We are not yet in heaven!
The word “psalmos”- The definition does not necessarily include an instrument. If an instrument was included in the definition, use of an instrument would always be required.
The word “psallo”- It means “to pluck.” The context must indicate what is being plucked.
- In Ephesians 5:19, the context indicates vocal music from the heart.
“Jesus didn’t say not to.”- But Jesus told us what to do. That eliminates all other possibilities.
Makes no difference, God’s not that “picky” … (and it’s just church of Christ tradition anyway)- Was God just being “picky?”
- Genesis 3 – They just ate a piece of fruit!
- Leviticus 10:1-2 – They just used a different fire!
- II Samuel 6:6-8 – Uzzah was just trying to keep the ark from falling.
- Galatians 2:11-14 – Peter just chose not to eat with the Gentiles!
- What we say and do makes a difference to God.
- Colossians 3:17
- II John 1:9
- II Thessalonians 1:7-9
40 min - What is Sin?Introduction
- Galatians 5:19-20
Words and phrases that God uses to tell us what sin isGeneral description- Galatians 4:8-9
- Weak
- Beggarly elements
- Bondage
- Romans 6:17
- Slaves of sin
- Romans 6:13
- Instruments of unrighteousness
- Matthew 18:11
- Lost
- Revelation 3:17
- Wretched
- Miserable
- Poor
- Blind
- Naked
Infirmities- Matthew 9:11-12
- Sick
- II Timothy 2:16
- Cancer
- Hebrews 5:11
- Dull of hearing
- Matthew 23:19
- Fools
- Blind
- John 8:12
- Walking in darkness
Filthiness- II Peter 2:21
- Vomit
- Mire
- Matthew 23:27
- Dead man’s bones and all uncleanness
Conclusion- God uses these words to show us how we should think about ourselves when we sin.
- James 1:21-25
- I Corinthians 6:9
- Hebrews 10:22
- I Peter 3:21
- Revelation 7:14
- Luke 4:18
- All of these things are choices we make. We can make other choices!
- Acts 26:18
- Psalms 51:7
43 min - The Religion of SelfIntroduction
- II Timothy 3:1-5
Completely dedicated to self- Philippians 3:19
- Example: The Church of Satan
- They worship themselves!
- Satanists place themselves at the center of their worldview.
- Genesis 6:5
- Genesis 18:20; 19:4, 24
- Example: The Satanic Temple
- They do not believe in the actual existence of Satan.
- They try to use the courts to advance their agenda.
- “Thyself is thy master.”
- James 5:1, 5
Still dedicated to self, but pretending to serve God- James 4:4 – Friendship with the world is enmity with God.
- Matthew 6:24 – No one can serve two masters.
- Matthew 22:37
- Galatians 5:19-24 – If I disobey some of God’s laws, am I really obeying Him in anything?
- Mark 10:17-23
- Has the Bible really changed me?
Completely dedicated to God- I Samuel 13:14
- I Kings 15:5
- Psalms 51:1-4, 16-19 – David wasn’t perfect, but he kept coming back to God.
33 min - The New Testament Church, Part 5Local churches are authorized to provide for the preaching of the gospel, continuedOverview of New Testament passages, continued
- Acts 11:21-23 – “they sent Barnabas”
- Acts 13:1-3 – “teachers … they sent them”
- Acts 14:26 – “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”
- The general principal is that those who work should receive compensation for their work.
- Apparently, the Corinthians never paid Paul while he worked with them and he did not ask because he knew their spiritual maturity level was not high enough. See Acts 18:1-5. When Silas and Timothy arrived, Paul turned completely to teaching and preaching.
- I Corinthians 9:13 – See Nehemiah 13:10-14. Nehemiah reprimanded the people for not handling the tithes correctly and paying the priests as they should.
- I Corinthians 9:14 – A preacher has authority to be supported by his work.
- I Corinthians 14 – “for edification”
- I Corinthians 14:1-4, 26-33, 40 – In the days of spiritual gifts, those gifts could be controlled. The focus was always to be edification for those who heard. Things were to be done properly and in order.
- We no longer have spiritual gifts, but we have assemblies that need to be done properly and in order, with the focus being edification.
- II Corinthians 11:7-9 – “I robbed other churches”
- This is figurative language. He’s making the point that the church in Corinth should have supported him but did not.
- Philippians 1:3-5; 4:14-18 – “participation in the gospel”
- The church can send money to someone preaching the gospel in another place.
- I Thessalonians 1:6-10 – “sounded forth from you”
Observation: The money was sent directly to the preacher.- Acts 15:3 – Antioch to Paul and Barnabas
- I Corinthians 9:1-18 – Corinth should have paid Paul.
- Philippians 4:14-15 – Philippi to Paul
- II Corinthians 11:7-9 – Multiple churches sending money to Paul.
- There were no additional organizations involved. The money was sent directly to the preacher.
- In modern times, the sponsoring church arrangement has developed, in which multiple churches send money to a single church, which then supports a preacher.
- First, there is no authority for churches to pool money together for evangelism.
- II Corinthians 11:8; Philippians 4:15 – Was Philippi the sponsoring church? There is no reason to connect these two passages. There is no evidence this was the same occasion.
- Second, local churches – which should have independent function and local oversight – give away control of the money they send.
- Acts 14:23; I Peter 5:1-2
- We never read anything of a collective larger than a local church.
- Wayne Goforth, “Why I Left the Institutional Position”
- Stick to the simple New Testament pattern!
44 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…
and additional resources for Bible study.