Announcements, Scripture & Questions for Sunday (11/3/13)

Announcements

• Men's Breakfast is Saturday at 8:00am, Hilario will be doing his potatoes again and we will have the usual eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits, grits and gravy. If you would like to help cook or just come socialize we arrive around 6:45am.
• Hotdog Social: Sunday evening at 6:00 we will have a hotdog social in the fellowship hall. Luke Levien and Jim will be grilling hotdogs so bring a topping to share. We will have buns, mayo, mustard, and ketchup on hand.

Scripture

In the Story this week please read Chapter 29 Paul’s Mission, and Acts 13-14; 16-20; Romans 1; 3-6; 8; 12; 15; 1 Corinthians 1;3;5-6; 10; 12-13; 15;16; Galatians 1; 3; 5-6; 1 Thessalonians 1-5

Timeless Truth:  The gospel spreads to the civilized world.   

Saul began his career as a radical Jewish scholar who was so convinced the Christians were wrong that he had them imprisoned and stoned.  After an encounter with the resurrected Jesus he became a Christ-follower.  Saul became Paul (his Greek name) who proclaimed Christ to the Jews first and also to the Gentiles.  Led by the Holy Spirit, the believers in their home base of Antioch in Syria commissioned Paul and Barnabas and sent them out as missionaries to spread the news that Jesus the Messiah is raised from the dead.  Their first missionary journey took them to the island of Cyprus where they encountered a Jewish sorcerer who opposed them, and a Roman proconsul who embraced the gospel.  They set sail for the region of Galatia (present south-central Turkey).  They were invited to preach in the synagogue in Antioch, and after an initial favorable reception, they faced persecution so they turned their sights toward the Gentiles.

 

Paul was joined by Timothy, Silas, and eventually Luke for his second missionary journey.  They visited many cities in Macedonia, including Philippi where a church was begun in Lydia’s home.  The evangelists were beaten and thrown in jail where their faith convicted not only their jailer, but apparently the other prisoners as well.  Many Jews and Greeks from Thessalonica believed before Paul and Silas were sent away for their own protection.  Paul then met Priscilla and Aquila in Corinth where he was again opposed by the Jews.  But Gentiles believed, so Paul stayed and ministered there for about a year and a half.  He also wrote letters to these churches to teach and encourage them.  He wrote the Thessalonians to encourage them to continue to be the model of Christianity that they had become in expectation of the Lord’s return. 

 

After returning to his base of operations in Antioch, Paul set out on his third journey.  As he strengthened the churches in the Galatian region, Apollos showed up in Ephesus where he met Priscilla and Aquila. He was a powerful speaker and strong disciple, but needed further teaching.  Paul arrived in Ephesus, a hotbed of pagan idolatry, and as he began teaching in the synagogue, most Jews rejected his message.  He stayed more than two years teaching both Jews and Greeks.  Many people from the region came to hear him as the word spread.  Some of the Ephesians believed and left their idols and witchcraft in exchange for a new life in Christ.  This did not set well with the idol artisans who staged a riot to drive Paul out of town.  While in Ephesus, he penned letters to churches in Corinth, Galatia and Rome, though he had not yet visited there.

 

The Corinthian church had enjoyed a who’s who of early church leaders.  This privilege should have prodded them onto Christian maturity but instead they chose sides like children on a playground.  Paul chastised them for their divisiveness, corrected their immorality and answered questions that they had about spiritual gifts.  They needed to practice sacrificial love for one another.  Some were even denying the resurrection so Paul gave them a remedial lesson on the essentials of the gospel and the hope of a future resurrection.  The Galatian churches were confused by Jewish Christians who insisted they practice the Jewish ceremonial rites.  Paul’s letter is a masterpiece on Christian liberty as he defended justification by faith alone.  Paul’s pastoral desire to minister to the believers in Rome prompted him to write a letter to convey the foundations of the Christian faith.   In spite of every form of opposition, the word of God could not be contained.  God sovereignly saw to it that obstacles became opportunities for Paul and others to take the gospel “even to the ends of the earth.”

 

Questions

1. God set apart Saul (Paul) and Barnabas for foreign mission work (p. 337) to help fulfill the mandate to be witnesses “to the ends of the earth,” (Acts 1:8).  Review the list of missionaries supported by our church.  Read about each and pray for the needs that are listed for each one.  (Bring photos and ministry descriptions of missionaries supported by your church.)
2. What differences do you find in Paul’s message to the Jews in the synagogue (p. 338, 339) as compared to his message to the Gentiles (p. 340, 342)?   Discuss applications we might make today for reaching different people groups with the same gospel.  
3. Compare the conversions of Lydia and the jailer at Philippi (p. 341-342).  What differences do you find?  What similarities? 
4. What makes the Church in Thessalonica “a model to all the believers,” (p. 344-345; 1 Thess. 1:1-2:8) and what application can we make for our church if we want to be known as a model church?
5. What problem seems to be at the root of the divisions and quarrels in the Church at Corinth? (p. 351, 1 Cor. 1:10-13, 3:1-11) Do you see any lessons here for our church?
6. Read 1 Cor. 12, Rom. 12:3-8, and Eph. 4:1-7, 11-16.  Why is the human body a good metaphor for the church and how does it relate to spiritual gifts?
7. According to Paul’s letter to the Galatians, does freedom from the law grant freedom to sin (p. 355-357, Gal. 5:13-26)?  What are some results of living by the Spirit?
8. What is the relationship between righteousness and faith and why do you suppose Paul used Abraham to prove his point?  (Hint: The Jews placed their trust in keeping the Law and the fact that they had been circumcised.) 
9. Of all the books in the Bible, Paul’s letter to the Romans most clearly outlines a pattern we can follow to lead a person to Christ.  It shows man’s lost condition and makes clear what we must do to receive what God has done to correct our sad condition. This collection of verses has often been called “the Romans Road to salvation.” Trace the following verses, perhaps even marking them in your Bible.  Romans 3:23à 3:10-11à 6:23 à 5:8 à 10:9-13 à 5:1, 8:1, 8:38-39.  In 25 words or less, what are the essentials of the gospel?  (Hint:  Review 1 Cor. 15:3-4)  How do you think the Romans Road could help you share your faith in the future?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (10/27/13)

Scripture

Timeless Truth:  He is risen—spread the news! 

 

What could turn a group of gutless deserters into courageous, outspoken evangelists willing to be imprisoned and even die for their cause?  They had witnessed the resurrected Christ. He had proved Himself alive for forty days to various people in a variety of circumstances and places.  Just before His ascension, Jesus told the disciples to wait for the promised power of the Holy Spirit so that they could be witnesses to His resurrection in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.  Ten days later on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit stormed in like tongues of fire.  He empowered each disciple to declare the gospel.  Peter became the first mega-church preacher and that day three thousand new believers were baptized.  This new community of believers embraced teaching and fellowship and enjoyed the favor of nearly all the people.  All but the powerful Jewish rulers, that is.   

 

The new church continued to grow rapidly.  The apostles were even able to perform miracles similar to those Jesus had done!  As the apostles spread the word of the resurrection in Jerusalem, they incited outrage and opposition from the Jewish rulers.  Peter refused to be silenced and continued to speak in spite of orders to stop.  Even a severe flogging could not curb his zealous proclamation that Jesus was the Messiah. Stephen’s scathing sermon before the Sanhedrin showed how the Jews had repeatedly rejected God’s prophets and resisted God’s Spirit.  The Sanhedrin dragged him outside of Jerusalem to stone him.  He saw a vision of Jesus standing at the right hand of God and entrusted himself to the Lord.   

 

Sparked by the martyring of Stephen, persecution drove Christians like Philip out of Jerusalem and into outlying areas like Samaria. While the opposition grew, so did the spread of the gospel message.  A Pharisee named Saul made it his personal mission to defeat this movement once and for all, but his blinding come-to-Jesus moment on the road to Damascus really “opened his eyes.”  Meanwhile, God prepared Ananias to deliver God’s marching orders to Saul: he had a mission to be God’s witness to the Gentiles.  As Ananias laid his hands upon him, Saul’s sight was restored, and he was filled with the Holy Spirit.  Within a few short days, this persecutor of Christ became a preacher of Christ.  Needless to say, his turnaround was met with suspicion and doubt, but trusted Barnabas vouched for him to the apostles in Jerusalem.  Saul soon found himself on the receiving end of death threats, so he too was sent away from Jerusalem.  The church spread throughout Judea and Samaria as God used even persecution to achieve His Upper Story purpose of spreading the news that Jesus is the risen Messiah.

 

God’s next move was so radical that He had to prepare both Peter and Cornelius for this new revelation.  While an angel told Roman centurion Cornelius to send for Peter, Peter was given a vision of unclean animals on a sheet. A heavenly voice instructed him to eat this meat that was definitely not kosher. What Peter called impure, God now called clean.  As Peter was trying to interpret the meaning of this vision, Cornelius’ servants arrived and summoned him to their master’s home.  When he explained the gospel to a full house, the Holy Spirit was poured out on these Gentiles too!  The Holy Spirit was now available to all who believed!  Peter now knew his vision was not about food but about God’s plan to declare all people “kosher” who would believe in Christ. Peter’s ministry continued in Jerusalem where Herod Agrippa’s persecution grew deadly.  Peter was imprisoned but even prison bars could not stop God’s plan.  As his friends earnestly prayed for him, an angel miraculously freed him.  Kings, rulers and prison guards all found themselves fighting against God and helpless to stop His plan.  While the Lower Story of persecution drove believers away from Jerusalem, the Upper Story of resurrection drove many to God.  He alone can redeem even the worst of circumstances.  After all, He alone is the God who raised the dead!

 

Questions

1. Look up Ex. 3:2, 3:21, and 19:18. Why do you suppose the Holy Spirit was portrayed as tongues of fire that came to rest on each believer at Pentecost and how does His relationship to believers change after this event?
2. According to Peter’s Pentecost sermon (p. 325 or Acts 2:22-24, 36), who was responsible for Jesus death?  As a group, discuss the tension we experience between God’s sovereignty and man’s free will.  
3. What marked the community life of the believers (p. 326, 328)?  Discuss ways your church and small group help foster a similar community.  Share what is most meaningful to you personally.
4. The church grew rapidly from the beginning even in spite of growing opposition and persecution.  What factors might account for such growth then? 
5. God the Father was the most visible person of the Trinity in the Old Testament.  Jesus, God the Son, was most visible in the gospels and now God the Holy Spirit becomes prominent in Acts.  For most Christians, the Holy Spirit is the least understood person of the Trinity.   List all you learned about the Holy Spirit from this chapter. What did you learn about the empowerment of the Holy Spirit for your own life?
6. How did Stephen’s martyrdom help fulfill God’s mandate of Acts 1:8 (p. 323) beginning with Philip?  If you are comfortable, share an example from your own life of God fulfilling an Upper Story work out of a Lower Story tragedy. 
7. What accounts for the dramatic change in Saul of Tarsus from persecutor to preacher?  Do you know anyone personally who has gone from being a Christ-hater to a Christ-follower?  
8. God intended to teach Peter something even more profound than a lesson about foods through the vision of unclean animals (p. 333-334).  What was it and why was Cornelius’ conversion such a big turning point in the life of the early church?  (See Acts 11:1-3, Acts 11:15-18, Rom. 10:12-13 and Eph. 2:11-13 for further insight.)
9. What did you learn about suffering from Peter’s flogging (p. 329-330) and imprisonment (p. 334-336), and Stephen’s martyrdom (p. 330-331) that you could apply personally?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (10/20/13)

Scripture

For this week please read chapter 27 in the Story, The Resurrection. From the Bible please read Matthew 27-28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 19-21

Timeless Truth:  He is risen!

Ashamed.  Afraid.  Absent. Mere hours after they pledged never to leave Jesus—even to die with Jesus—the Eleven were nowhere near the cross as the sun began to set.  The Roman soldiers were still there though and pierced his side to prove Jesus was very, very dead.  Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, an unlikely duo, show up at the cross. These two members of the Sanhedrin shed their secret discipleship and took responsibility for burying Jesus’ body. Wrapping Him in enough spices for a king, they laid him in a nearby tomb. Remembering Jesus’ words, the Jewish authorities and Pilate secured the tomb and posted a guard there to keep the three-day resurrection story from gaining any traction.    

 

Early Sunday morning, a small band of faithful women approached His tomb wondering who could remove the rock that sealed the entrance.  Imagine their shock as an angel announced to them that Jesus was not there, “He is risen, just as He said!”  Hearing the news, Peter and John sprinted to the tomb.  They, too, found it empty.  As Mary Magdalene remained weeping, Jesus appeared to her. Later the same day, an unrecognized Jesus approached two downcast disciples on the road to Emmaus.  Evidently all of Jerusalem was abuzz with the events of the last three days.  The One whom they had trusted to redeem all of Israel had been crucified, and they were disappointed.  Some silly women even had an unbelievable angelic vision, and the tomb was empty.  But what’s a guy to do except head home to Emmaus?  Jesus admonished the two for their unbelief.  Then He used Moses and the Prophets to teach them about the Messiah.  Jesus dined with them that evening.  When their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, He disappeared from their sight, but they finally got it!  So they headed back to Jerusalem at full speed and full of joy to report their experience to the Eleven.  They were interrupted there by yet another Jesus appearance.  An empty tomb and two appearance reports later, the disciples still cowered and mistook Jesus for a ghost when He spoke to them. “Touch me and see,” He said as He showed them His hands and feet. When Jesus re-explained the Old Testament in light of all that had happened, He opened their minds so they too finally understood.    

 

Thomas was not about to believe these second-hand stories. He wouldn’t believe it until he saw the nail marks for himself. A week later, Jesus graciously appeared to Thomas and the others just so he could touch the scars for himself.  Thomas confessed, “My Lord and My God!”  Yes, now he believed that Jesus was the God-man and that He was risen indeed.  

 

Sometime later, Jesus appeared to the disciples by the Sea of Galilee. Having caught nothing all night, Jesus told these fishermen to cast their nets on the other side of the boat. The miraculous catch was so great that they could hardly get the fish into the boat.  It prompted Peter to bail out and head to the Lord.  Over a beach breakfast, Jesus three times asked Peter if he loved Him.  Then He told Peter three times to care for His sheep. The Eleven met Jesus on a Galilean mountain where He commissioned them to continue to carry out His mission by saying, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”  

 

As God, Jesus had all authority to now commission His disciples to carry out the building up of His new community of believers who would be identified with the Triune God.  They in turn could accomplish their mission because, as Emmanuel (Matt. 1:23), He would be with them to do so.  The Resurrection of Jesus Christ vindicated Him as the Son of God.  It is the cornerstone of the Christian faith and the climax of God’s great story of redemption.  The redemptive work was finished, but now there was more work to do to spread the good news, and this ragtag group of disciples were just the ones to do it, armed with the supernatural power headed their way.  

 

Questions

1. People have always had difficulty believing that Jesus was God in the flesh.   (Read 1 John 1:1, 2:22 and 4:2-3)   What details did John include in the crucifixion story for his readers to know for certain that Jesus, fully human, had truly died?  How does knowing that God came to live among us affect your daily life? 
2. For whose sake did the angel roll away the stone (p. 316)?  What other major events have been announced by angels?
3. List everything you have learned about Jesus’ resurrection body from this chapter.  Why is Jesus’ literal, physical resurrection a non-negotiable teaching of the Christian faith?  (See Romans 1:4, 4:25 and 1 Corinthians 15:17 )
4. Read 1 Corinthians 15:12-23, 42-49.  What does Jesus’ resurrection mean for you personally and for all believers?  
5. Thomas is frequently referred to as “doubting Thomas” because he refused to believe his fellow disciples’ testimony.  Then, a week after the resurrection, he confessed, “My Lord and My God!”  Do you think Thomas’ reputation is justified or do you think he has been labeled unjustly?  Why or why not?
6. What parallels can you find between Peter’s denial story (John 18:17-27) and His restoration story (p. 320, John 21:15-23)?  What does Peter’s restoration reveal about Jesus’ heart and how does it apply to you personally?
7. What does Jesus’ Great Commission on the mountain in Galilee require of all His disciples (p. 320)?  Discuss what is involved in “making disciples.”  

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (10/13/13)

Scripture
This Week Please Read Chapter 26 from the Story "The Hour of Darkness" and Matthew 26-27; Mark 14-15; Luke 22-23; John 13-14; 16-19
Timeless Truth:  It is finished! 

Knowing that His time had come, Jesus spent His last few hours with His disciples.  The Passover was approaching so they prepared a customary feast.  But this was no ordinary Passover meal; Jesus was about to change history.  At His “last supper,” He taught the disciples a significant lesson by washing their feet.  He even washed Judas’ feet, although He knew Judas would betray Him.  Then Jesus took the unleavened bread and cup of wine from the Passover meal and instituted the New Covenant, the Covenant that Jeremiah and Ezekiel had promised centuries ago.  Aware of His God-ordained destiny, Jesus clarified His relationship to the Father so that His disciples might understand what lay ahead.  He promised them that an advocate, the Spirit, would come and help after His own departure.  After a lengthy prayer to the Father for His glorification, Jesus led this rag-tag group through the night to the Garden of Gethsemane.     

 

What Peter lacked in judgment, he made up for in zeal.  Peter pledged to even die with his Lord rather than abandon Him.  But Jesus knew that He would go through His ordeal alone.  He told Peter that he would disown Him three times before dawn.  Jesus’ anguish for what was to come drove Him to agonizing prayer.  Peter and his companions quickly exchanged fidelity for forty winks while Jesus prayed, searching to see if there was any way to avoid what was awaiting Him.  He answered His own prayer when He acknowledged that He would do God’s will and not His own.   Then Jesus’ betrayer and conspirators arrived to arrest Him.  They escorted Him to Caiaphas’ kangaroo court.  No one could find legitimate charges against Jesus until He affirmed His identity—Messiah, the Son of God.  The Sanhedrin charged Him with blasphemy and sentenced Him to death.  The religious henchmen beat and belittled their legitimate King.  Watching from a safe distance, Peter denied knowing Jesus three times before the rooster crowed.  Stunned and ashamed, he left in bitter humiliation. Judas, in a sudden moment of remorse, returned the blood money and opted for a rope.  

 

Meanwhile, Pilate was stuck between a rock and a hard place.  The Jews wanted Jesus crucified, and he wanted Caesar’s sustained support.  What’s a governor of a no-name, backwater region of Rome to do?  Interrogating Jesus himself, he found no legitimate charge to pin on this man. Yet the pressure was escalating from the crowd as they threatened to turn him in to Caesar as a rebel sympathizer.  Pilate’s thug soldiers clothed, beat and crowned Jesus with contempt before they marched Him to the cross.    

 

Crucifixion was an exceptionally cruel way to die.  The public execution drew hordes of scornful onlookers.  Their jeers challenged Jesus to save Himself.  They failed to grasp that Jesus was there to save them.  One of the two criminals crucified with Jesus, however, got the picture.  His faith secured his place in paradise.  Even the creation itself testified to the enormity of this event.  As sin overcame Jesus, darkness eclipsed the whole land.

 

“It is finished,” He proclaimed.  At that very moment, the temple curtain was torn, an earthquake split rocks and tombs were opened.  It was finished.  What could compel the Son of God to endure such torture?  Finishing.  Finishing the work that the Father sent Him to do.  The debt of all sinners was put on Jesus who alone could pay it in full.  God is holy, loving and just.  His love compels Him to pursue His people, but His holiness requires justice for sin.  The mob of mockers witnessed a Lower Story drama.  A few faithful disciples witnessed a Lower Story injustice.  But God witnessed the Upper Story culmination of a plan prepared before the foundation of the world.  It was no surprise.  It was justice.  And it was finished.

 

Questions

1. In what ways does Jesus’ preparation and celebration of his final Passover meal parallel the original Passover?  What does this teach us about the purpose of Jesus’ death? (Review Exodus. 12:1-13, 21-27, John 1:29 and 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 )
2. What was Jesus trying to teach the disciples when he washed their feet?  What are some ways you can wash each others’ feet as a small group?
3. Review Jeremiah 31:34 and Ezekiel 36:26-28, where the prophets describe the new covenant.  What are some of the characteristics of the new covenant listed in these verses? How does Jesus fulfill these promises?
4. Look back at pages 305- 306.  How would you describe Jesus’ special relationship to the Father?  
5. How is the Spirit described on p. 306?  How have you experienced the Holy Spirit in your life?
6. What can we learn about Jesus and about prayer from the Garden of Gethsemane?   (p. 307-308)?
7. Compare Judas with Peter after each betrayed Jesus (p. 310).  How can you tell the difference between remorse and repentance? 
8. The Sanhedrin could find no evidence to charge Jesus (p. 309).  (Jewish Law, Deut. 17:6, required two witnesses.)  Three times Pilate declared, “I find no basis for a charge against him,” (p. 311).  Why is this important? Why was Jesus crucified?  
9. Discuss the irony of the statement, “He saved others but He can’t save himself.”  How do you feel that such a price was paid for you?
10. Compare Jesus as King to Israel’s and Judah’s former kings, and the religious leaders of Jesus’ day to Israel’s religious leaders in the past.  Why did Israel need King Jesus?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (10/6/13)

Scripture
Please Read The Story Chapter 25 Jesus, the Son of God, Matthew 17, 21; Mark 8-12, 14; Luke 9, 22; John 7-8, 11-12

Who do you say I am?  It was the most important question Peter was ever asked.  People did not know what to make of this Jesus.  He was like no other rabbi.  His claims about Himself were outrageous and way out of line if He were merely human. Two thousand years had passed since God promised Abraham that through his seed all nations would be blessed.  A thousand years had passed since God promised David that his descendant would reign forever.  Now, in Jesus, God’s marathon plan of redemption was sprinting toward its climax.  Peter’s answer to the question would change his life forever.

 

“You are the Messiah,” Peter confessed.  Then Jesus began to teach His disciples that this messianic mission included suffering, death and a resurrection from the dead.  They objected to this idea of a Messiah, but Jesus rebuked them.  His mission was set, and no one could come between Him and the cross.  In fact, He taught His disciples that they too would need to lose their lives to save them.   

 

Jesus took Peter, James and John up a mountain and gave them a glimpse of His future glorification.  When He was transfigured before their very eyes, they fell face down in fear.  Jesus had often made “I Am” statements connecting Himself to the name YHWH or “I Am.”  Then a voice from heaven stated that Jesus was the Son of God, thereby confirming His assertions.  

 

I AM the light of the world.  I AM the bread of life.  Jesus declared that failure to believe in Him would have eternal consequences—you would die in your sins.  But the Pharisees knew full well the weight of the “I AM” statements – and Jesus’ claims to be God were, to them, nothing short of blasphemy.  From then on, their hatred of Him ripened into an assassination plot.   

 

I AM the resurrection and the life.  Despite getting word that His friend Lazarus was on his deathbed, Jesus delayed His journey.  By the time He arrived, Lazarus had been entombed for four long days.  Sisters Mary and Martha mourned their brother’s death, disappointed that Jesus had not arrived in time to heal him, but Jesus assured the women that His delay was for divine glory.  At His command, Lazarus walked out of his tomb, vindicating Jesus’ assertion that He alone is the Source of life.   

 

The march toward Jerusalem continued.  His time was fast approaching, and He had to prepare the disciples for what lay ahead.  He told them that the kingdom of God is accessible to those with childlike trust and humility, not through performance.  Along the way, Jesus met a rich young man, who had performed well since childhood.  Jesus told him that discipleship, for him, would mean giving away his riches.  Unable to part with earthly wealth, the young man walked away from Jesus’ offer.  So strong is the lure of riches that, as far as the gospels record, this is the only time Jesus’ offer was refused.  

 

For the third time, Jesus told them that His work included suffering, death and a resurrection after three days.  Now, it was time for Jesus’ grand entrance.  He sent His disciples to fetch appropriate transportation, and a colt was just where Jesus said it would be.  He mounted the donkey and triumphantly rode into Jerusalem as people laid down their coats and branches on the road and hailed Him as the long awaited King, son of David!   

 

Jesus was preparing to glorify the Father’s name.  He continued to offer eternal life to all who would believe.  The incensed Pharisees instilled fear in many; some who did believe kept quiet.  But Jesus’ claims were non-negotiable; He was the only Source of eternal life, the climax and culmination of God’s redemptive plan.  Who do you say I am?  It is the single most important question that everyone must answer.    

 

Questions

1. Jesus said we must “deny ourselves” and “take up our cross;” and if we seek to save our lives we will lose them. (p. 291-292).    What are the implications of these commands for your life, such as marriage, parenting, and career ambition? 
2. Jesus was transfigured on the mountain (p. 292).  The Greek word translated transfigured is the root of the English word metamorphosis which refers to a radical change.  This same word is used in Romans 12:2 and 2 Corinthians 3:18.  What do these verses teach us about the transformation of every believer?  
3. Look up 1 John 1:5-7 and 2:8-11.  What did Jesus mean when He said that “whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (p. 294)?    What does this look like for the Christian living a typical daily life?
4. Look up Exodus 3:14, Isaiah 43:11-13, and John 5:18.  Why did Jesus’ opponents try to stone Him (p. 295)?  How might you answer the skeptic who says that Jesus never claimed to be God?
5. Up to this point, Jesus had claimed to be the bread of life, the water of life and the light of life.  And here with Mary, Martha, the disciples and a crowd of mourners, He claimed to be the resurrection and the life with another I AM statement (p. 296).  What is the relationship between belief and life?  Between belief and resurrection?
6. Why do you suppose Jesus was “deeply moved in spirit,” “troubled,” and wept?  Consider Genesis 2:17, Romans. 6:23, 1 Corinthians. 15:26, Hebrews. 2:14-15 and I Thessalonians 4:13-17.  How has your faith helped you deal with death?    
7. Three times Jesus predicted His death and resurrection (p. 291, 292, and 299; Mark 8:31, 9:30-31, 10:32-34) and followed each with a lesson on discipleship (p. 291 [Mark 8:34-38], Mark 9:33-37, Mark 10:35-45).  What principles of discipleship did Jesus teach and why would He relate them to His Passion? 
8. After Jesus entered Jerusalem as the rightful King of Israel, He cleansed the temple because some had turned it from a house of prayer into a place of corruption (p. 300).  Suppose Jesus walked into our own church.  With what would He be most pleased?  What corrections might He make?
9. At what points was Jesus’ humanity most evident to you?  His deity?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (9/29/13)

Scripture
Please Read Chapter 24 Ordinary Man, and Matthew 5-7, 9, 14, Mark 4-6, Luke 10, 15, and John 6
Timeless Truth:  Neutrality is not an option – Jesus demands a response.

One thing about this Jesus:  He never invited neutrality.  His followers called Him the Christ.  His contenders called Him a blasphemer.  Some were drawn to Him, while others could muster nothing in His presence but contempt.  His teachings were revolutionary and His miracles undeniable.  He claimed nothing less than equality with God and proclaimed Himself as the long expected Messiah.  Jesus never left sitting on the proverbial fence as an option.

He attracted criticism in spades, but He also drew crowds.  He often taught the people in parables, pithy stories that drew spiritual lessons from everyday life to reveal the “secrets” of God’s kingdom. With simple illustrations, Jesus taught that in Him, God’s kingdom had come, while exposing the religious leaders’ misguided view of religion.  Jesus’ trilogy on lostness told of a lost sheep, a lost coin and a lost son and demonstrated the value God places on a repentant heart.  In the story of the lost son, Jesus exposed the hard-heartedness of the Pharisees as the older brother’s indignity, angered by his father’s compassion.  Like this father, Jesus’ concern for sinners created an ever-widening rift with the Pharisees.  His popularity increased and so did His opposition.  Yet Jesus’ teaching ministry to the masses continued, and in the Sermon on the Mount, He taught them how to live by faith in close relationship with God. 

 

Jesus was a great teacher, but even His closest disciples struggled to grasp His true identity and purpose.  He authenticated His words with miracles that made His authority irrefutable.  The disciples were awestruck when Jesus calmed a raging storm at sea.  The people were confounded when he expelled demons from a possessed man into a herd of pigs, who promptly drowned themselves.  Who was this man?  He certainly wasn’t looking or sounding like a Messiah should.  The desperate came to Him for healing, and weren’t found wanting.  Jesus healed a woman with a bleeding disorder, while pausing to restore her dignity and commend her faith.  Meanwhile, the daughter of a synagogue leader named Jairus died.  Jesus established His authority over death by raising her back to life.  He healed two blind men, and the Pharisees exposed their own desperate lack of vision by crediting such miracles to the prince of demons.   

 

News about Jesus spread through villages and cities, homes and institutions.  Even King Herod grew interested.  He was haunted by the fear that John the Baptist might have returned from the dead, for he had ordered John’s execution. Wherever He went, people gathered around Jesus.  After one especially long day, Jesus fed more than 5,000 with five loaves of bread and a couple of fish.  The miracle was meant for more than filling empty stomachs.  He had come to fill empty lives; the real point was that He is the “bread” of eternal life.  As a result of his teachings, the people were divided.  Many turned away, but those who truly believed remained.  In one of His finest moments, Peter announced, “You have the words of eternal life…you are the Holy One of God.”  

 

Many came to Jesus with Lower Story needs, but Jesus’ mission was greater than any had imagined. He’d come to offer an Upper Story life, to fulfill the promises that began centuries ago with Abraham and David.  He’d come to offer a life of faith – faith in unseen realities, faith in who He is, and what He could do for them eternally.  The offer still stands.

 

Questions

1. You might think that Jesus spoke in parables so everyone could understand, but the disciples as well as the crowds had a hard time understanding his meaning. Why did Jesus say he spoke in parables? (p. 277) Why was this so?
2. Who was Jesus referring to when he said “those who have will be given more; as for those who do not have, even what they have will be taken from them.” What will be given or taken?
3. How are genuine believers differentiated from unbelievers in the parable of the soils? What does each of the soil types represent?  Can a “soil type” be changed? 
4. Note the setting and the target audience of the parables of the lost sheep, lost coin and lost son (p. 279-280). From the parable of the prodigal son, what do we learn about what the Father values? Do you share his values?
5. Review pages 277, 278. Based on the parables, what is the Kingdom of God?  Look up Mark 1:15.  What should be our response to the Kingdom of God? 
6. The Sermon on the Mount opens with nine statements called “the Beatitudes,” from the Latin word for “blessings.” How does someone gain these blessed qualities? (Hint:  See Rom. 3:21-23)
7. Christians believe that Jesus was fully God and fully man.  How do you see this in the episode of calming the storm (p.283-284)? What encouragement can believers today draw from this story?
8. John the Baptist languished in prison until he was finally executed.  Faithful believers are persecuted around the world in greater numbers today than ever before.  Discuss practical ways that your group could support the persecuted church around the world.  (Check out www.persecution.org .  This website provides accurate details about the persecution of Christians throughout the world.)
9. What lessons of faith and courage can be gleaned from the account of Peter walking on water (p. 288)?  
10. Identify two or three ways the crowds misunderstood Jesus’ description of their need for eternal life (p. 288-290).  How is Jesus’ message (Jn. 6:29, 35, 47) different from most people’s idea of salvation? 

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (9/22/13)

Scripture
Please Read Chapter 23 Jesus’ Ministry Begins, and Matthew 3-4:11, Mark 1-3, Luke 8, John 1-4
Timeless Truth:  Jesus:  The Messiah you’d never expect.

If God’s prophets were meant to be peculiar, John the Baptist did not disappoint. Eccentric is too mild a description for this wilderness dwelling preacher who wore odd clothes and lacked both a sense of tact and a balanced diet.  His message, though, was right in step with a long line of prophetic predecessors. He called for Israel’s repentance and baptized the penitent in the Jordan River.  

 

John was awestruck when Jesus came to be baptized by him. Then he watched in amazement as heaven opened wide and the Spirit of God came to rest on Jesus. John and those with him were astonished to hear the voice of the Father Himself broadcasting His divine approval. The community of God had gathered to bear witness to their incarnation. The Spirit then led Jesus to a lonely wilderness, where he spent the next 40 days in one-on-one combat with Satan, the enemy of God. He confronted Satan’s evil allurements and proved Himself obedient to the Father and triumphant over sin. 

 

John the Baptist denied claims that he was Messiah, pointing to Jesus and announcing, “Look, the Lamb of God.”  Andrew heard John’s message and rushed to tell his brother, Simon Peter, and others that Messiah had come.  Jesus gathered His band of followers and began training them with marvelous words and miraculous ways.  His first miracle took place when He went to a wedding in Cana with his mother, Mary, and his disciples. The wine ran out, so Mary turned to Jesus to remedy the embarrassing state of affairs. Jesus simply instructed the servants to fill six jars with water and serve the guests.  When they did, the guests marveled that finest wine had been kept such a secret until now, and Jesus’ disciples caught their earliest glimpse of the One who shared creative power with His Father.

 

The disciples became increasingly aware that Jesus was indeed their long-expected Messiah, but others were not so sure.  A religious leader called Nicodemus had a clandestine encounter with Jesus to find some answers.  Jesus’ simple reply was, “You must be ‘born again’….of the Spirit.  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  Jesus had a similar conversation with a Samaritan woman who had come to draw water from a well.  With her, he spoke of ‘living water,’ but the message was the same:  accept His gift and be saved.  When she mentioned the Messiah, Jesus confirmed His identity.  She believed and shared the news with her entire village, as the second missionary of the new Messiah. 

 

Jesus traveled the area, taught in the synagogues and healed the people.  He ousted demons and cleansed socially exiled lepers.  The crowds grew and so did His critics.  On one occasion, four men dug through the roof of a house so they could bring their paralytic friend to Him.  Before he healed him, Jesus forgave the man, while the religious teachers grew indignant over such claims.  But Jesus validated His authority by commanding the paralytic to get up and walk. The Pharisees missed the miracle and were incensed that Jesus had violated tradition by healing on the Sabbath. 

 

This Sabbath infringement, coupled with his absurd claim to be the Messiah Himself, on top of his questionable social circles, quickly turned the establishment against Him. And so the conspiracy to kill Jesus began. While many debated, questioned and wondered about Jesus’ identity, one thing was certain: Jesus was controversial.  Some saw hope, but others hated Him and wanted only to be rid of Him   John the Baptist had loved Him from the beginning but now, languishing in prison, he began to doubt as well, demonstrating that even the best of us have our faith tested under difficult circumstances. But throughout this chapter, His baptism, His triumph over temptation, His miracles and His message confirm Him as the long expected One who confounds expectations, is drawn to the least and the lost, and whose message is indeed for all, from the graduate professor to the immoral woman to the leper – the Anointed One indeed.

 

Questions

1. Identify the ways in which the God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit appear at Jesus’ baptism (p. 266).  Look up Isa. 11:1-2, 42:1 and Ps. 2:1-7.   
2. What does Jesus’ example teach us about how to resist temptation?(p. 266)? (See Eph. 6:10-17 for further insight.)
3. Upon what did the original disciples base their belief in Jesus (p. 268)?  
4. Nicodemus and the woman at the well both had conversations with Jesus (p. 269-272).  Why do they represent such a contrast? 
5. How do the biblical Satan and other evil spirits compare to popular depictions of demons in films, television, literature or art?
6. Jesus was constantly interacting with different types of people: curious Jews, antagonistic Pharisees, tax collectors, and society’s castoffs.  What can you learn about how to respond to different types of people from observing Jesus?
7. The faithful friends of the paralytic carried him to Jesus (p. 273).  If you are comfortable, share with your group a time in your own life that you had to totally depend of the faith of a Christian friend to get you through.  
8. Jesus clashed with the Pharisees who hoped to catch Him violating the Sabbath (p. 274). Doing work was punishable by death according to the Law (Ex. 31:14, Isa. 56:1-2).  Who is actually guilty of violating the Sabbath in this encounter?  
9. John the Baptist who had earlier proclaimed, “Look, the Lamb of God,” was now languishing in prison where he began to wonder about this Jesus (p. 275-276).  Look up Isaiah 35:5-6 and 61:1.  Why did Jesus answer John the way He did?  
10. John has his moment of doubt. Can doubts and faith co-exist? Do our circumstances today affect our view of Jesus’ credibility, as it did with John?