Scripture & Questions for Sunday (12/16/12)

Scripture
Luke 3:1-20 (ESV) 

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,  [2] during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.  [3] And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  [4] As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,

    "The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
    Prepare the way of the Lord,
        make his paths straight.
    [5] Every valley shall be filled,
         and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
    and the crooked shall become straight,
        and the rough places shall become level ways,
    [6] and all flesh shall see the salvation of God."

[7] He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  [8] Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.  [9] Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

[10] And the crowds asked him, "What then shall we do?"  [11] And he answered them, "Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise."  [12] Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"  [13] And he said to them, "Collect no more than you are authorized to do."  [14] Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages."

[15] As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ,  [16] John answered them all, saying, "I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  [17] His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

[18] So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people.  [19] But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother's wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done,  [20] added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.

Questions for Reflection
1.    What was John’s basic message? (3:3)
2.    Where did John the Baptist carry out his ministry? (3:3)
3.    What Old Testament prophecy was fulfilled by John the Baptist? (3:4)
4.    How sensitive was John’s welcome of the crowds who came to hear him? (3:7-8)
5.    What responses did John expect from his listeners? Why? (3:8-9)
6.    What attitude did John warn the people not to have? Why? (3:8-9)
7.    How did John describe Jesus? (3:16-18)
8.    What is repentance?
9.    When John explained repentance to people, how did it relate to the work they did in life?
10. What connection is there between repentance and forgiveness?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (12/9/12)

Scripture
Luke 12:35-48 (ESV) 

"Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning,  [36] and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.  [37] Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.  [38] If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!  [39] But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into.  [40] You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

[41] Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?"  [42] And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?  [43] Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.  [44] Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.  [45] But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk,  [46] the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful.  [47] And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating.  [48] But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

 

Questions for Reflection

1.    What is it like to wait for someone without knowing when he or she is coming?
2.    What did Jesus tell His disciples to do? (12:35)
3.    According to Jesus, what are the two traits of the one who is ready? (12:35)
4.    How long should the servants have been willing to wait? (12:38)
5.    When do important things often happen? (12:39-40)
6.    How should we act while waiting for Jesus to return?
7.    What do we learn of God’s fairness here?
8.    How much have we, individually and collectively, been given and entrusted with?
9.    How can we use wisely what God gives each of us?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (12/2/12)

Scripture
Luke 21:25-36 (ESV) 

"And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, [26] people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. [27] And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. [28] Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." [29] And he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. [30] As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. [31] So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. [32] Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. [33] Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. [34] "But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.  [35] For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  [36] But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."

Questions for Reflection
1.    What do you think of people who make predictions about the future?
2.    What do you already know about your future?
3.    For what purpose did Jesus tell the parable of the fig tree? (21:29-31)
4.    What final advice did Jesus give? (21:34-36)
5.    What does this passage teach us about the trustworthiness of Jesus’ promises?
6.    Why should we not allow our hearts to be weighed down with the anxieties of life?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (11/25/12)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Scripture
Psalm 100:1-5 (ESV) 
    A Psalm for giving thanks.
    Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
        [2]  Serve the Lord with gladness!
         Come into his presence with singing!
    [3] Know that the Lord, he is God!
        It is he who made us, and we are his;
        we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
    [4] Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
        and his courts with praise!
        Give thanks to him; bless his name!
    [5] For the Lord is good;
        his steadfast love endures forever,
        and his faithfulness to all generations.

Questions for Reflection
1.    When do you feel like shouting for joy or singing?
2.    When (in what situations or for what acts) do you expect a thank you or acknowledgment of a favor you’ve done?
3.    What attitude is recommended to accompany the praise of God’s people? (100:1, 4)
4.    Who is called to worship the Lord? (100:1-3)
5.    Why is the Lord worthy of praise? (100:1-5)
6.    How does the psalm writer describe the relationship God has with His followers? (100:3)
7.    What message comes through most clearly to you in this psalm?
8.    What does this psalm advise us to do?
9.    What should motivate us to worship God?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (11/11/12)

Scripture
James 5:13-20 (ESV) 

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. [14] Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. [15] And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. [16] Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. [17] Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. [18] Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. [19] My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back,  [20] let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Questions for Reflection
1.    What are some situations in life when most people pray?
2.    What should a person do when he or she is in trouble? Why? (5:13, 15)
3.    What should a person do when he or she is happy? Why? (5:13, 15)
4.    What should a person do when he or she is sick? Why? (5:14-15)
5.    Why is prayer important? (5:15)
6.    What is the effect of a righteous person’s prayers? (5:16)
7.    What hinders Christians from praying with confidence?
8.    What hinders Christians from confessing sins and praying for each other?
9.    If we confess our sins to God, why should anyone else have to know about it?
10. What circumstances beyond our control can we affect through prayer?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (11/4/12)

Scripture
James 5:7-12 (ESV) 

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. [8] You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. [9] Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. [10] As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. [11] Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. [12] But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your "yes" be yes and your "no" be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

Questions for Reflection
1.    What kinds of experiences try your patience?
2.    What good things in life are worth waiting for?
3.    What do we need to do as we wait for the Lord’s return to earth? (5:7)
4.    In what ways does God help us when we must endure suffering? (5:11)
5.    How does God use others to build patience in our lives?
6.    What makes it hard to wait on God’s timing?
7.    What kind of changes does God want to make in us over an extended period of time?
8.    What does it mean to stand firm as a Christian?
9.    What lessons from Job’s experience can we apply to our lives?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (10/28/12)

James 5:1-6 (ESV) 

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. [2] Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. [3] Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. [4] Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. [5] You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. [6] You have condemned; you have murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.

Questions for Reflection
1.    How much does it take to be considered rich in your community?
2.    Whom did James address in this passage? Why? (5:1)
3.    What warning did James give to rich people? (5:1-3)
4.    What misfortune lies ahead for the wealthy? (5:1-3)
5.    Who should “weep and wail”? Why? (5:1-6)
6.    How do money and riches affect our relationship with God?
7.    What does God think about people who are rich?
8.    What problems are solved by being rich?
9.    What problems are not solved by being rich?
10. How does God want us to handle money?