Tag: acceptance

Categories
Five

Faith and Family

Faith and Family

Week 54 | Section 63

Faith and FamilyIn the midst of a very long day in the life of Christ we learn something of the family of God. Yet if we are to be part of the family of God we must understand and accept Jesus to be the Messiah our Savior, and align our lives toward God’s eternal purpose – to reconcile the world to himself. In this manner we can fulfill the great commission and maintain the bonds of peace and bear good fruit from good seed the within our hearts.

Scripture:

[one_third last=”no”]Matthew 12:46-50
46 While he was yet speaking to the multitudes,1 behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, seeking to speak to him. 47 One said to him, “Behold, your mother and your brothers2 stand outside, seeking to speak to you.”3 48 But he answered him who spoke to him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 49 He stretched out his hand towards his disciples, and said, “Behold, my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will4 of my Father who is in heaven,5  he is my brother, and sister, and mother.”6[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]Mark 3:31-35
31 His mother and his brothers came, and standing outside, they sent to him, calling him. 32 A multitude was sitting around him, and they told him, “Behold, your mother, your brothers, and your sisters are outside looking for you.” 33 He answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 Looking around at those who sat around him, he said, “Behold, my mother and my brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God is my brother, my sister, and mother.”7 [/one_third]
[one_third last=”yes”]Luke 6:19-21
19 His mother and brothers came to him, and they could not come near him for the crowd. 20 Some people told him, “Your mother and your brothers stand outside, desiring to see you.” 21 But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers8 are these who hear9 the word10 of God, and do it.”11[/one_third]

Group Dialog:

  1. What does it look like when a person is doing the will of the Father?
  2. What is the common purpose and identity of the family of God?
  3. How is the church strengthened when we share this common identity?
  4. What causes you to forget/neglect the invitational imperative to share in the ministry of reconciliation?
  5. What forces divide us from functioning as the family of God?
  6. What should our intent and behavior be toward those who are not yet part of the family of God?

Learning Objectives:

There is a common bond among us – when we are believers and followers of Jesus, the family of God; members in the family must believe in the identity of Jesus Christ, his ministry of redemption, and then take part in (DO) the ministry of reconciliation fulfilling the Great Commission as faithful stewards of our vocation.

Study Notes:

Categories
Two

Temptations of Christ

Temptations of Christ

Week 16 | Section 25

Temptations of ChristImmediately after Jesus was baptized he was led into the desert by the Holy Spirit and there he was tempted fiercely by Satan. Just after his baptism having heard God affirm him saying “you are my Son”, Satan jumps on the opportunity to confuse Jesus by trying to undermine his identity, distort God’s Word, and redirect his purpose. Wonderfully, Jesus spiritual foundation, knowledge of Scripture, and integrity protected him being deceived.

Scripture:
[one_third last=”no”]Matt 4:1-11
1 Then Jesus was led]note]Heb 2:18, 4:15[/note] up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.1 2 When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterward. 3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”2 4 But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’ ”3 5 Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you.’ and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you don’t dash your foot against a stone.’ ” 7 Jesus said to him, “Again, it is written, ‘You shall not test the Lord, your God.’ ” 8 Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory. 9 He said to him, “I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me.”4 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’ ”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and served him.[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]Mark 1:12-13
12 Immediately the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness. 13 He was there in the wilderness forty days tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and the angels were serving him.[/one_third]

[one_third last=”yes”]Luke 4:1-13
1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness 2 for forty days,5 being tempted by the devil. He ate nothing in those days. Afterward, when they were completed, he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’ ”6 5 The devil, leading him up on a high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 The devil said to him, “I will give you all this authority, and their glory, for it has been delivered to me; and I give it to whomever I want.[The Devil indeed had the authority to do so (Rev 11:15), but the temptation was to get the Messiah to forfeit his Eternal purpose for temporal authority. Had he done so we would not have a Savior. Jesus is clear about this point (John 18:36) as were the Apostles 2Cor 4:17; Eph 2:2; 6:12.[/note]¯7

7 If you therefore will worship before me, it will all be yours.” 8 Jesus answered him, “Get behind me Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’ ”8 9 He led him to Jerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down from here, 10 for it is written, ‘He will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you;’ 11 and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest perhaps you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”9 12 Jesus answering, said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ” 13 When the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him until another time.10[/one_third]

Group Dialog:

  1. Give some thought to the question, How does temptation most often come upon you?
  2. From today’s lesson what can you learn about temptation and overcoming it?
  3. What Scripture passages have given you most resolve and fortitude to resist temptation and fulfill the ministry to which God has called you? (2Tim 1:6; James 4:7)
  4. Which of these temptations is most difficult for you? 1. Fear of scarcity; 2. Worldly possessions and social opinion; 3. Self reliance vs trusting God to lead and guide.

Learning Objectives:

Baptism, Trinity, Deity & Humanity of Christ, sin, humility, acceptance, angels, heavenly ranks, devil, temptation, overcoming temptation

Study Notes:

Categories
Two

Jesus’ Baptism

Jesus' Baptism

Week 15 | Section 24

Jesus' BaptismToday we begin the second phase of Jesus ministry, which we will study over the next two months. In history these events took place over a period of about 12-15 months.

Now Jesus’ baptism, the event in today’s story, occurs when he is about 30 years old. John had been baptizing folks for over six months and had prophesied that one day one greater than he would come. Well that was the day. Though without sin, Jesus modeled for those present and all humanity the imperative and principle attitude and action of salvation and ministry – humility and acceptance.

Bethany on the East side of the Jordan River | Sonlife Video

This video is provided by Sonlife – one of our Ministry Partners.

Section 24
[one_third last=”no”]Mat 3:13-17
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.1 14 But John would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?”2 15 But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.”3 Then he allowed him. 16 Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him. 17 Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”4[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]Mark 1:9-11
9 In those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

 

 

10 Immediately coming up from the water, he saw the heavens parting,5 and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.6 11 A voice came out of the sky, “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”7¯8[/one_third]
[one_third last=”yes”]Luke 3:21-23a

 

 

 

 

21 Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus also had been baptized,9¯10 and was praying. The sky was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form like a dove on him; and a voice came out of the sky, saying “You are my beloved Son. In you I am well pleased.” 23 And Jesus himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years of age.11[/one_third]

Group Dialog:

  1. What is the work of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in this section?
  2. What does it take for Jesus to please God? What had he done?
  3. Who am I in the eyes of God? How is this reflected in my actions, thoughts, and feelings?
  4. What way can we pass on a blessing to others this week?

Learning Objectives:

Baptism, Trinity, Deity & Humanity of Christ, sin, humility, acceptance, prayer, discernment of God’s activity among us, grace, acts of righteousness, pleasing God,

Study Notes: