Tag: correction

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Five

Double-minded and Backbiting

Double-minded and Backbiting

Week 52 | Section 61

Double-minded and BackbitingOur reading today is one of three passages in the Harmony of the Gospels that render ink to the harsh saying of Jesus.

In this instance, Jesus calls the pharisees “a brood of vipers” and challenges not only their logic but their motives and priorities.

This is a passage that many irenic Christians would rather skip over, however it provides disciples the opportunity to explore several important spiritual truths including: conflict, kingdom-mindedness, peace-keeping, discernment, admonishment, spiritual warfare, the day of judgement, and Christian virtue.

[one_half last=”no”]Scripture:
Matthew 12:22-37

22 Then one possessed by a demon, blind and mute, was brought to him1 and he healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.2 23 All the multitudes were amazed, and said, “Can this be the son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees3  heard it, they said, “This man does not cast out demons, except by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons.”4¯5 25 Knowing their thoughts,6 Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?7 27 If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your children cast them out?8 Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then God’s Kingdom has come upon you.9  29 Or how can one enter into the house of the strong man, and plunder his goods, unless he first bind the strong man? Then he will plunder his house. 30 “He who is not with me is against me, and he who doesn’t gather with me, scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against10 the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in that which is to come. 33 “Either make the tree good, and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You offspring of vipers,11¯12¯13 how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. 35 The good man out of his good treasure brings out good things, and the evil14 man out of his evil treasure brings out evil things.15  36 I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.16 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”17¯18[/one_half][one_half last=”yes”]Scripture:

Mark 3:20-30

20 The multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. 21 When his friends heard it, they went out to seize him: for they said, “He is insane.”

22 The scribes19  who came down20 from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul,” and, “By the prince of the demons he casts out the demons.” 23 He summoned them, and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan?21 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.22 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 If Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he can’t stand, but has an end.

27 But no one can enter into the house of the strong man to plunder, unless he first binds the strong man; and then he will plunder his house. 28 Most certainly I tell you, all sins of the descendants of man23 will be forgiven, including their blasphemies with which they may blaspheme; 29 but whoever may blaspheme against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation.”  30 —because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.”[/one_half]

Group Dialog:

  1. How has fear caused you to react irrationally in the past?
  2. Talk about the difference between intuition and the spiritual gift of discernment.
  3. Have you ever felt the Lord admonish you? What lesson did you learn? How did your attitudes and actions change afterwards?
  4. Do we care more about church growth or our personal well-being or are we most concerned with advancing the Kingdom of God? What would it look like if we shifted our priorities in ministry to be the Kingdom of God?
  5. What is the fruit of your current ministry? If there is little, can you identify that you are in a season of ministry? Which one? What are you and the team doing then to pass through this season and prepare yourself for the fruit bearing season?
  6. How do you think we should deal with conflict, differences of opinion, or wrong teaching within your congregation, the Church, or your community?

Study Notes:

Categories
Two

Zeal for your House

Zeal for Your House

Week 20 | Sections 30, 31

Zeal for Your HouseThis week while we read about Jesus cleansing the temple, we are challenged to examine ourselves, our traditions and the busyness and commerce we’ve allowed and perhaps even brought into our local church.

Being a disciple is all about having a relationship with God, not programs and products. What have we busied ourselves with that in truth, undermines the very foundations of our faith?

Scripture:
Section 30 | John 20:12
12 After this,1 he went down to Capernaum,2 he, and his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they stayed there a few days.

Section 31 | John 2:13-22
13 The Passover3 of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.4 14 He found in the temple those who sold5 oxen, sheep, and doves, and the changers of money sitting. 15 He made a whip of cords, and threw all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out6 the changers’ money and overthrew their tables.7 16 To those who sold the doves, he said, “Take these things out of here! Don’t make my Father’s8 house a marketplace!”17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will eat me up.”9¯10 18 The Jews11 therefore answered him, “What sign do you show us, seeing that you do these things?”12 19 Jesus answered them,“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”13  20 The Jews therefore said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple! Will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he spoke of the temple of his body.14This is the second time that Jesus speaks of his resurrection.  22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he said this, and they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

Group Dialog:

  1. What needs to be cleansed out (again) of our life?
  2. What traditions need to be cleansed from the practice of our congregation.
  3. How would you rank your zeal? Allegiance to Jesus? Your identity known to others as one of Jesus’ disciples?
  4. What revelations have you had that caused a radical life change?
  5. What ways have you been closed off to the truth, and the revelation of God?
  6. What is it you want to experience when you gather as the church?
  7. What does it mean to be the church?

Learning Objectives:

Applying the truth we know, let the seed of truth and the Gospel grow in you, rid our lives of false idols, be the church, trust in the power of the risen Lord, divine authority

Study Notes: