Tag: Purpose

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Three Two

Fishers of Men

Fishers of Men

Week 27 | Sections 40,41

Fishers of MenIn this week’s study we’re transitioning from phase two to phase three of Jesus’ ministry. Though this is week 26 for us, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist about a year before. In today’s study the five men who had been following Jesus choose to become his disciples. This is a major transition in their lives, and in the life of every disciple who since believed because of the ministry they embraced – to become fishers of men.

Scripture:

Section 40 | Matthew 4:13-16
13 Leaving Nazareth, he came and lived in Capernaum,1 which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,2 14 that it might be fulfilled3 which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, 15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, 16 the people who sat in darkness saw a great light, to those who sat in the region and shadow of death, to them light has dawned.”4

Section 415

[one_third last=”no”]Matthew 4:18-22
18 Walking by the sea of Galilee,6 he saw two brothers: Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men.” 20 They immediately left their nets and followed him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them. 22 They immediately left the boat and their father, and followed him.[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]Mark 1:16-20
16 Passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.7¯8 17 Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you into fishers for men.” 18 Immediately they left their nets, and followed him.9   19 Going on a little further from there, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately he called them, and they left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.[/one_third]
[one_third last=”yes”]Luke 5:1-11
1 Now while the multitude10 pressed on him and heard the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret. 2 He saw two boats standing by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3 He entered into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.11 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered him, “Master, we worked all night, and took nothing; but at your word I will let down the net.”12  6 When they had done this, they caught a great multitude of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 They beckoned to their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. They came, and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord.”13 9 For he was amazed, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had caught; 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will be catching people alive.”14 11 When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything, and followed him.[/one_third]

Group Dialog:

  1. What is the difference between being a follower and being a disciple? 
  2. What were these men risking, leaving, and gaining in becoming Jesus’ disciples?
  3. What might you say are the primary lessons you’ve learned thus far in your journey of faith?
  4. Are there people you know who have chosen not to respond to God’s grace? How many chances does God give to become his disciple?
  5. If you’ve made the decision to be a disciple what would you say you are learning now? To what mission are you compelled?
  6. What choices have you recently made to become more proficient as a disciple, and fisher of men?
  7. What can we learn about humility, worth,membership, and stewardship from Peter’s response and that of the other disciples?
  8. What preparation and relationships ought to exist before enlisting people into leadership roles of the local church?

Learning Objectives:

evangelism, become disciples – not just followers, vocation, trust, choice, divine abandon,  spiritual growth, humility, purpose, lifestyle, worth, value, unworthy, stewardship

Study Notes:

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Two

The Spirit of the Lord is on Me

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

Ripe for Harvest

Ripe for Harvest

Week 24 | Section 35b,c

Ripe for HarvestNo bones about it, Jesus was certain of his identity and word of his deeds were spreading as quickly as the sun was ripening the grain fields.  The air was being filled with the sweet aroma of a promise – a harvest of souls and the hope of Israel.

Scripture:

Section 35b | John 4:27-38
27 At this, his disciples came.1 They marveled that he was speaking with a woman;2 yet no one said, “What are you looking for?” or, “Why do you speak with her?”3  28 So the woman left her water pot,4 went away into the city, and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man5 who told me everything that I did.6 Can this be the Christ?”7 30 They went out of the city, and were coming to him. 31 In the meanwhile, the disciples urged him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you don’t know about.” 33 The disciples therefore said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.8 35 Don’t you say, ‘There are yet four months until the harvest?’ Behold, I tell you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, that they are white for harvest already. 36 He who reaps receives wages and gathers fruit to eternal life; that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this the saying is true, ‘One sows, and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you haven’t labored. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”9

Section 35c | John 4:39-42
39 From that city many of the Samaritans believed in him because of the word of the woman, who testified, “He told me everything that I did.”10  40 So when the Samaritans came to him,11 they begged him to stay with them. He stayed there two days.12 41 Many more believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of your speaking; for we have heard for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”13

Group Dialog:

  1. Have you ever felt as though you were fully welcome and accepted by another even though you had been feeling and treated as a social outcast by others? What was that moment like?
  2. What might have happened within the heart and mind of the Samaritan woman during this interaction? (review section 35a | John 4:5-38)
  3. What has been your response in the past when you have heard/understood Jesus’ words to you? What was the effect?
  4. What repercussions might there be to sharing or not sharing the good news with others?

Learning Objectives:

Our testimony, conviction, witness, work of God, vocation,  healing, serving others, foreknowledge, law and grace, cross-cultural ministry

Photo: Native wheat growing on the highlands of the pacific coast in Big Sur.

Study Notes:

Categories
Two

Humble Service

Humble Service

Week 22 | Sections 33, 34

Humble ServiceIn these two sections we read once again the witness of John the Baptist who personifies the humility we ought all embrace with the understanding that “He must become greater; I must become less”. We also read of the first account of Jesus’ disciples “doing ministry” – the baptizing of many – more than whom John had baptized thus far.

Scripture:

Section 33
John 3:22-36
22 After these things,1 Jesus came with his disciples into the land of Judea. He stayed there with them, and baptized. 23 John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim,2 because there was much water there. They came, and were baptized. 24 For John was not yet thrown into prison.3 25 There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John’s disciples with some Jews about purification.4¯5   26 They came to John, and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, the same baptizes, and everyone is coming to him.”6 27 John answered, “A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’7 but, ‘I have been sent before him.’8 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice.9 This, my joy, therefore is made full. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.10 31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.11  32 What he has seen and heard, of that he testifies; and no one receives his witness. 33 He who has received his witness has set his seal to this, that God is true.12 34 For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.13 36 One who believes14 in the Son has eternal life,15 but one who disobeys the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”16

Section 34
John 4:1-4
1 Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (although Jesus himself didn’t baptize, but his disciples),17   3 he left Judea, and departed into Galilee. 4 He needed to pass through Samaria.

Luke 3:19-20
19 but Herod the tetrarch,18 being reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things which Herod had done, 20 added this also to them all, that he shut up John in prison.
[one_third last=”no”]Matthew 4:12
12 Now when Jesus heard that John was delivered up, he withdrew into Galilee.19[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]Mark 1:14a20
14 Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee,[/one_third]
[one_third last=”yes”]Luke 4:14a21
14 Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit22  into Galilee,[/one_third]

Group Dialog:

  1. What rituals (especially baptism) have enriched your faith?
  2. What rituals fall short of satisfying the longing of your soul to be united and reconciled with God? Why? What danger are there in the rituals of the church today?
  3. How is the peace of God obtained? How are we purified from our sin today?
  4. In what ways do you struggle with jealousy? How have you overcome that sin?
  5. What way do pride, jealousy, and human allegiances often divide the body of Christ and the interrupt the work of God among us.
  6. What is your vocation? How have you needed to serve along side of others with a different vocation and spiritual gifts?
  7. If you have you ever experienced a commissioning, or passed on a ministry to another, how did you feel?

Learning Objectives:

disciples who make disciples, Jesus empowers and commissions the disciples to begin serving in ministry, humility of John, the bride belongs to the bridegroom,

Study Notes:

Categories
One

Becoming Strong in Spirit

Becoming Strong in Spriit

Week 7 | Section 8a,b,c

Becoming Strong in SpriitHow delighted Elizabeth and Zechariah must have been when their son was born, not only for the joy of having a child but because of their confidence of what he would be. Indeed, that is the pivotal word in our reading today – ‘be’. Our actions are tied to our being, and our being to the purposes of God. Most certainly Elizabeth and Zechariah were familiar with the saying, “raise up a child…(Prov. 22:6)” and John fulfilled his calling perfectly. May each of us have such a clear understanding of our relationship with God that we abandon any vain activity, embrace our identity as children of the covenant, and then our role in God’s master plan. May we take so seriously our duty as parents and spiritual parents that we make disciples and also point the way to the Savior, tell others of God’s mercy, grace and the horn of our salvation.

Scripture:
Luke 1:57-66 | Section 8a

57 Now the time that Elizabeth should give birth was fulfilled,1 and she gave birth to a son.2 58 Her neighbors and her relatives3 heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 On the eighth4 day, they came to circumcise5¯6 the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. 60 His mother answered,7 “Not so; but he will be called John.” 61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” 62 They made signs8 to his father, what he would have him called. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, “His name is John.”9 They all marveled. 64 His mouth was opened immediately,10   and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65 Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, “What then will this child be?”11¯12 The hand of the Lord was with him.

Luke 1:67-79 | Section 8b13¯14¯15¯16

67 His father, Zacharias, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, 68 “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people; 69 and has raised up a horn of salvation17 for us in the house of his servant David 70 (as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old), 71 salvation18 from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us; 72 to show mercy19 towards our fathers, to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath which he swore to Abraham, our father, 74 to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies,should serve him without fear, 75 In holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life. 76 And you, child, will be called a prophet20 of the Most High,for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation21 to his people by the remission of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God,whereby the dawn from on high will visit us, 79 to shine22 on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Luke 1:80 | Section 8c

80 The child23was growing,24 and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel.25

Group Dialog:

  1. What experiences have you had in which God has interrupted your routine, answered a prayer
  2. How has the wider community helped develop your faith thus far? Were your parents or god-parents active in that process?
  3. What traditions have been a “marker” helping you keep the faith and continue to grow spiritually?
  4. What role would you like to take in helping others mature spiritually?

Learning Objectives:

Obedience in faith, being-God’s child, God’s plan of redemption & reconciliation, the will of God, God’s promises, prophesy, circumcision and traditions, raise up a child, discipling others

Study Notes:

Categories
One

The Journey Begins

The Journey Begins

Week 1 | Section 1

The Journey BeginsLuke’s prologue has a distinct style using Greek reason – an appeal for response based the examination of evidence, comparative testimonies, and eyewitnesses. He clearly states his desire and intent (v.3) and states his convictions about the nature and purpose of Jesus and his understanding that is is the Christ foretold in the Old Testament.
In a similar way, we want to be clear about our desire for you as you begin this study. Its our desire not only that you come to the faith – confident in Jesus’ teaching; but also that you begin or continue your journey as his disciple; and prepare yourself to live a life of ministry that glorifies God and bears much fruit.

Scripture:
Luke 1:1-4

1 Since many have undertaken to set in order1 a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled2 among us, 2 even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses3 and servants of the word4 delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus;5 4 that you might know the certainty6 concerning the things in which you were instructed7¯8¯9

Dialog Questions:

  • If you were writing a memoir testifying to the experiences and lessons you’ve learned and heard from Jesus and others – what would you include? With whom would you want to share it? What purpose would it serve? What spiritual benefits would you want them to receive?
  • Who has passed on the faith to you? What have been the most important lessons thus far?

Study Notes: