Category: 5c

Last week Jesus confronted the Pharisees with their hypocrisy. As He approaches His death in Jerusalem, Jesus is concerned that His disciples may fall prey to the same type of hypocrisy. Therefore, He urgently warns them to “be on their guard” against two potential traps that have ensnared the Pharisees – hypocrisy and greed.

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Audio: Coming soon

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Section 108a | Warning the Disciples about Hypocrisy

Luke 12:1-12
1 Meanwhile, when a multitude of many thousands had gathered together, so much so that they trampled on each other, he began to tell his disciples first of all, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees,¹ which is hypocrisy.² 2 But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed,³ nor hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light. What you have spoken in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops. 4 “I tell you, my friends,⁴ don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.⁵ 5 But I will warn you whom you should fear. Fear him⁶  who after he has killed, has power to cast into Gehenna.⁷ Yes, I tell you, fear him.⁸ 6 “Aren’t five sparrows sold for two assaria coins?⁹  Not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 But the very hairs of your head are all counted. Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows. 8 “I tell you, everyone who confesses me before men, the Son of Man will also confess before the angels of God; 9 but he who denies me in the presence of men will be denied in the presence of God’s angels. 10 Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man¹⁰ will be forgiven, but those who blaspheme against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 When they bring you¹¹ before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, don’t be anxious¹² how or what you will answer, or what you will say; 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that same hour what you must say.”¹³

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Group Dialog:

1. Where are they, and how would there be an opportunity to address them all? Was there something from the previous periscope(s) that explains why such a large gathering of people came to this spot?
2. How does Jesus relate to this action of trampling each other? Does Jesus use the crowd and trampling to inform his decision to pronounce the following “Beware..”?
3. Read: Matthew 7:5; Luke 6:42; Luke 13:15; 1 Timothy 5:24-25 and Galatians 2:11-14. How would you define hypocrisy?
4. How can hypocrisy affect us? How does it affect our friendships? Our testimony?
5. Do you fear what others might think about you? How might that be affecting your lifestyle and witness?
6. How have trials and difficult times in your life revealed your own failure of faith, hypocrisy, and the depth of your relationship with God?
7. What affect has your disbelief in Christs’ grace and approval had upon you?

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Notes:

Jesus openly opposed legalism and yet opened himself to those ensnared in hypocrisy to help them see the reality of God’s intent and anointing of grace. In today’s reading we have the story of an awkward dinner conversation, perhaps fodder for the old admonition against speaking of politics or religion at the table. Hypocrisy and legalism are serious obstacles to our Christian living. May we humbly abandon such foolishness and at the foot of the cross learn to live and serve in the power of the Holy Spirit.

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Audio: Coming soon.

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Section 107 | Woes against the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law while Eating with a Pharisee

Luke 11:37-54
37 Now as he spoke, a certain Pharisee asked him to dine with him. He went in, and sat at the table. 38 When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that he had not first washed himself before dinner. 39 The Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness. 40 You foolish ones, didn’t he who made the outside make the inside also?¹ 41 But give for gifts to the needy those things which are within, and behold, all things will be clean to you. 42 But woe² to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, but you bypass justice and God’s love. You ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone. 43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the synagogues, and the greetings in the marketplaces. 44 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like hidden graves, and the men who walk over them don’t know it.” 45 One of the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, in saying this you insult us also.” 46 He said, “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load men with burdens that are difficult to carry, and you yourselves won’t even lift one finger to help carry those burdens. 47 Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. 48 So you testify and consent to the works of your fathers. For they killed them, and you build their tombs. 49 Therefore also the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and apostles; and some of them they will kill and persecute, 50 that the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary.’ Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation. 52 Woe to you lawyers! For you took away the key of knowledge. You didn’t enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in, you hindered.” 53 As he said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be terribly angry, and to draw many things out of him; 54 lying in wait for him, and seeking to catch him in something he might say, that they might accuse him.

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Group Dialog:

2. What are the three woes Jesus expressed of each group?
3. How can we ensure that we ‘do justice’ and ‘love God’, rather than any lists of religious activity?
4. How have hypocrisy and legalism in your own life diminished your faith in Christ and witness of God’s grace?

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Learning objectives: Relationship with Jesus, personal obedience that enlivens our faith, personal and corporate faith, legalism, hypocrisy,  grace, the law of Moses, the Mishnah.

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Notes:

Week 92 | Section 106

In our reading today we learn many things including the nature and uniqueness of Christ, kingdom dynamics, and how the posture of our mind and soul can shape our fate. We need sight and singleness of heart, we need faith and courage to follow and act as his disciples.

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Scripture:

Section 106 | A Third Blasphemous Accusation and a Second Debate

Luke 11:14-36
14 He was casting out a demon, and it was mute.¹ When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke; and the multitudes marveled.² 15 But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons.” 16 Others, testing him, sought from him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation. A house divided against itself falls. 18 If Satan³  If there is  also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 19 But if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20 But if I by God’s finger cast out demons, then God’s Kingdom has come to you. 21 “When the strong man, fully armed, guards his own dwelling, his goods are safe. 22 But when someone stronger attacks him and overcomes him, he takes from him his whole armor in which he trusted, and divides his plunder. 23 “He that is not with me is against me. He who doesn’t gather with me scatters. 24 The unclean spirit, when he has gone out of the man, passes through dry places, seeking rest, and finding none, he says, ‘I will turn back to my house from which I came out.’ 25 When he returns, he finds it swept and put in order. 26 Then he goes, and takes seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the first.” 27 It came to pass, as he said these things, a certain woman out of the multitude lifted up her voice, and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts which nursed you!” 28 But he said,“On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it.” 29 When the multitudes were gathering together to him, he began to say, “This is an evil generation.⁴ It seeks after a sign. No sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah, the prophet. 30 For even as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so the Son of Man will also be to this generation. 31 The Queen of the South⁵ will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and will condemn them: for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, one greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, one greater than Jonah is here. 33 “No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, that those who come in may see the light. 34 The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore when your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light; but when it is evil, your body also is full of darkness. 35 Therefore see whether the light that is in you isn’t darkness. 36 If therefore your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly full of light, as when the lamp with its bright shining gives you light.”

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Group Dialog:

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Learning Objectives: Sight and Singleness of Heart

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Study Notes:

 

 

Week 91 | Sections 104-105

Today’s study envelops the story of Mary and Martha as well as Jesus’ second presentation of “The Lords Prayer”. In the two we stories we see authentic faith in action.

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Audio

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Scripture:

Section 104 | Jesus’ Visit with Mary and Martha

Luke 10:38-42
38 As they went on their way, he entered into a certain village,¹ and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.² 39 She had a sister called Mary,³ who also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.⁴ 40 But Martha was distracted⁵ with much⁶ serving, and she came up to him, and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister left me to serve alone? Ask her therefore to help me.” 41 Jesus answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.⁷”

Section 105 | Lesson on How to Pray and the Parable of the bold Friend

Luke 11:1-13
1 When he finished praying in a certain place, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray,⁸ just as John also taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say, ‘Our Father⁹ in heaven, may your name be kept holy¹⁰. May your Kingdom come. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ ”¹¹  

5 He said to them, “Which of you, if you go to a friend at midnight, and tell him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him,’ 7 and he from within will answer and say, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give it to you’? 8 I tell you, although he will not rise and give it to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence, he will get up and give him as many as he needs. 9 “I tell you, keep asking, and it will be given you. Keep seeking, and you will find. Keep knocking, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened. 11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he won’t give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, he won’t give him a scorpion, will he? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

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Group Dialog:

1. How do you balance and value both being and doing?
2. What do you make of Jesus’ willingness to be received into a “woman’s home” and teach a woman in the cultural context of his day? How might overlooking and respecting cultural norms be a blessing to some and challenging to others? How can we know when to do one or the other?

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Learning Objectives: Spiritual disciplines stimulate our faith: 1) The inward disciplines: Meditation, Prayer, Fasting, Study; 2) The outward disciplines: Simplicity, Solitude, Submission, Service 3.) The corporate disciplines: Confession, Worship, Guidance, Celebration.

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Special Prayer: O God, heavenly Father, whose Son Jesus Christ enjoyed rest and Refreshment in the home of Mary and Martha of Bethany: Give us the will to love you, open our hearts to hear you, and strengthen our hands to serve you in others for his sake; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever.

 

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Study Notes: