Categories
Two

The Spirit of the Lord is on Me

Week 26 | Section 39

The Spirit of the Lord is on MeThough Jesus had already shown sufficient evidence and declared himself to be the Messiah, when Jesus reads from the scroll the prophetic words “The spirit of the Lord is upon me…” from the scroll of Isaiah – we catch another glimpse of God’s eternal purpose and his plan to see it accomplished.

Scripture:

Luke 4:16-31a
16 He came to Nazareth,1 where he had been brought up. He entered, as was his custom,2¯3 into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.4¯5 17 The book6 of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He opened the book, and found the place where it was written, 18  “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news7 to the poor.8 and He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim release9 to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver10 those who are crushed, 19  and to proclaim the acceptable year11 of the Lord.” 20 He closed the book,12 gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him.13  21 He began to tell them,14 “Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”15 22 All testified about him, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth, and they said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”16 23 He said to them, “Doubtless you will tell me this parable, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done at Capernaum, do also here in your hometown.’ ”24 He said, “Most certainly I tell you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown.17 25  But truly I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land. 26 Elijah was sent to none of them, except to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27  There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed, except Naaman, the Syrian.”18 28 They were all filled with wrath in the synagogue, as they heard these things. 29 They rose up, threw him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill that their city was built on, that they might throw him off the cliff. 30 But he, passing through the middle of them, went his way. 31 He came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee.19¯20 


Group Dialog:

  1. What habits have you
  2. What is holding you back, what besets you?
  3. With which group do you identify most often (doubt, disdain or awe)?
  4. How and where are we to minister among unbelievers today?

Learning Objectives:

God’s eternal purpose, divine foreknowledge, Jesus’ mission, Fulfillment of prophesy, spiritual authority, spiritual disciplines, freedom, healing, wholeness, the value of traditions and customs, evangelism, witnessing, homily, sharing the good news, God’s plan of salvation for Gentiles and Jews.


Study Notes:

Categories
Two

Second Miracle in Galilee

Week 25 | Sections 36,37,28
(Broadcast on Nov 16, 2014)

Second Miracle in GalileeWhile Jesus was often performing miracles that were unmistakable divine, his teaching and presence as the Messiah was to evoke a change in heart and practice. Though some still wish to see miracles, salvation and belief come by faith – not signs. So what of our faith, what shall it yield? The answer will be limited to the power of the one in whom we put our trust.


Scripture:

Section 36 | John 4:43-45
43 After the two days he went out from there1 and went into Galilee.2   44 For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.3 45 So when he came into Galilee, the Galileans received him, having seen all the things that he did in Jerusalem at the feast,4 for they also went to the feast.

Section 37
[one_third last=”no”]Mathew 4:17
17 From that time, Jesus began to preach,5 and to say, “Repent!6 For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]Mark 1:14b-15
preaching the Good News of God’s Kingdom, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and God’s Kingdom7 is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Good News.”[/one_third]
[one_third last=”yes”]Luke 4:14b-15
and news about him spread through all the surrounding area. 15 He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.[/one_third]

Section 38 | John 4:46-54
46 Jesus came therefore again to Cana of Galilee, where he made the water into wine.8 There was a certain nobleman9 whose son was sick at Capernaum.10  47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to him, and begged him that he would come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.11 48 Jesus therefore said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders, you will in no way believe.”12  49 The nobleman said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”13  50 Jesus said to him, “Go your way. Your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way.14 51 As he was now going down, his servants met him and reported, saying “Your child lives!”15  52 So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. They said therefore to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour, the fever left him.” 53 So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” He believed, as did his whole house. 54 This is again the second sign that Jesus did, having come out of Judea into Galilee.16


Group Dialog:

  1. What is the buzz happening in you small group and church about what Jesus has said and done among you and throughout history?
  2. Discuss the importance of repentance and believing the Good News.
  3. Should we expect or pray for miracles to happen in this day and age?
  4. What must we learn of faith, trusting the word of God, the prayer of the righteous, and asking?

Learning Objectives:

Repentance, we are given grace through faith, trust in Christ, faith that heals, take Jesus at his word, promises of God, acting in faith.


Study Notes:

Categories
One

Bringing Good News

Week 9 | Sections 10,11

Bringing Good NewsJesus’ birth and the praise of the angels is the core content for every Christmas pageant. Children don their woolly ears or carry a staff and a baby is shown as candles glow and cherubs with cardboard wings sing silent night.

Our story today is similar but so much more glorious than we can imagine and more dirty than we care to think. Ah the humility of Christ, God incarnate, born from Mary’s womb to be held in the arms of shepherds and wise men – and to take residence in the soul of every believer.

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Scripture:
Luke 2:1-7 | Section 10

1 Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius1 was governor of Syria. All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem,2¯3¯4 because he was of the house and family of David; to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant. While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.5

Luke 2:8-20 | Section 11

There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.6 Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. 11 For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.” 13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude7 of the heavenly army praising God, and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men.” 15 When the angels went away from them into the sky, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 They came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough. 17 When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child. 18 All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.8


Group Dialog:

  1. Why would people not make room for a pregnant woman? Could it have something to do with the prophesies? What do you make of that?
  2. Why do you think God would have the angels appear to the shepherds? It would have been just as effective to appear to the towns people?  What message might be in this decision and how is the same seen in the life and ministry of Jesus?
  3. Talk about how these shepherds received news that this baby is the Messiah and then went out and told people and how you and your friends first responded to the idea of a Savior, the Messiah, the virgin birth, the resurrection, and the divinity of Jesus?
  4. Talk about the feeling of adoration when you see a new born and the feeling of adoration in worship.

Learning Objectives:

Shepherd king, worship, salvation for all, value everyone, patience, prayerful pondering.


Study Notes: