Categories
Five

The Kingdom of Heaven (part four)

Week 58 | Sections 64 h,i,j,k

White House Inn, VermontNo doubt you’re presently on some kind of quest – searching or yearning for something. Perhaps its for something material, an adventure, or a better job; or perhaps its for something more significant such as a companion, love, forgiveness – but whatever kind of treasure you’ve been giving it your all, or day and night its been consuming your thoughts. In this age Jesus’ words are as poignant as the shovel with which one man hid in a field. Where is your treasure?


Scripture

Section 64h | Matthew 13:44
44 “Again,1 the Kingdom of Heaven2 is like treasure3 hidden in the field, which a man found,4¯5 and hid. In his joy,6 he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.7

Section 64i | Matthew 13:45-46
45 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a merchant seeking8 fine pearls,9 46 who having found one pearl of great price,10 he went and sold all that he had, and bought it.11

Section 64j | Matthew 13:47-50
47 “Again,12 the Kingdom of Heaven is like a dragnet, that was cast into the sea, and gathered some fish of every kind, 48 which, when it was filled, they drew up on the beach. They sat down, and gathered the good into containers, but the bad they threw away.13 49 So will it be in the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked from among the righteous, 50 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.”

Section 64k | Matthew 13:51-53
51 Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?” They answered him, “Yes, Lord.”14 52 He said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been made a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a householder, who brings out of his treasure new and old things.”15 53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he departed from there.16


Group Dialog:

  1. Have you ever dreamed of discovering a hidden treasure, time capsule, or an undiscovered artifact of great worth?
  2. What makes His Kingdom so valuable, so priceless?
  3. Can a person experience the full joy of such a treasure without surrendering to the Lordship of Christ? Can they experience part of the joy? If it would be possible, what might be lost in the shuffle between two kingdoms?
  4. After Jesus death the Holy Spirit was sent to infill and guide the disciples. Share some of your recent experiences of being guided by the Holy Spirit and surrender to the Lordship of Christ in your life?

Learning Objectives: surrender all, recognize Christ worth, spiritual aspiration, materialism, treasures, desire of your heart, life purpose, integrity, fulfillment of the Gospel, grace on the cross, victory in the resurrection, Lordship of Christ, working in the kingdom of God.


Photo: At the White House Inn, Vermont for a family wedding Sept-2012.


Study Notes:

Categories
Five

The Kingdom of Heaven – part two

Week 56 | Sections 64c,d,e

The Kingdom of HeavenLast week we introduced this series of parables about the Kingdom of Heaven which Jesus told his disciples over the course of a very long day (section 61-65). In part two we learn with the disciples a bit more about the end of times, the perseverance, pains, and perils along the journey.


Scripture:

Section 64c | Mark 4:26-29
26 He said, “God’s Kingdom1 is as if a man should cast seed on the earth, 27  and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, though he doesn’t know how.2¯3¯4 28 For the earth bears fruit: first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29  But when the fruit is ripe, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”5 

Section 64d | Matthew 13:24-30
24 He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while people slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel weeds also among the wheat, and went away. 26 But when the blade sprang up and produced fruit, then the darnel weeds appeared also. 27 The servants6  of the householder came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where did these darnel weeds come from?’ 28 “He said to them, ‘An enemy7 has done this.’ “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and gather them up?’ 29 “But he said, ‘No, lest perhaps while you gather up the darnel weeds, you root up the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First, gather up the darnel weeds, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

[one_half last=”no”]Section 64e | Matthew 13:31-32
31 He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field; 32 which indeed is smaller than all seeds. But when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches.”8[/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]Mark 4:30-32
30 He said, “How will we liken God’s Kingdom? Or with what parable will we illustrate it? 31 It’s like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, though it is less than all the seeds that are on the earth, 32 yet when it is sown, grows up, and becomes greater than all the herbs, and puts out great branches, so that the birds of the sky can lodge under its shadow.”9[/one_half]

Group Dialog:

  1. Why is the idea of the Kingdom Heaven so important?
  2. If not for the Kingdom of Heaven, why do you live, labor, and love?
  3. What would you like to change now to ensure your spiritual vitality and viable service for the Kingdom and purposes of God?

Learning Objectives:

The importance of our heavenly priority, spiritual disciplines to further our spiritual vitality and service in ministry, the hope of heaven.


Photo: An organic field in the Salinas Valley, CA. There they rotate crops to enrich the soil, they till the soil, prepare the field for each crop, sow the seeds, send out the laborers week after week to maintain the crop for a bountiful harvest.


Study Notes:

Categories
Two

Behold, the Lamb of God

Week 17 | Section 26, 27

Behold, the Lamb of GodWord of John the Baptist’s ministry reached Jerusalem and concerned enough of the Jews there that they sent the a cadre of priests and scholars to investigate. Was he Elijah? The Prophet? or the Messiah? Why was John baptizing folks? In humility, John replied, I am “a voice” and I my role is to “make straight the way of the Lord”. These were familiar words to such learned Jews that should have resounded as good news, but perhaps it was their self-interest for personal significance that prevented them from responding to the good news. Let those who have ears to hear, hear what the spirit has to say.


Scripture:

Section 26
John 1:19-28
19 This is John’s1¯2 testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem3¯4 to ask him, “Who are you?”¯5  20 He declared, and didn’t deny, but he declared, “I am not the Christ.”6 21 They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?”7 He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?”8 He answered, “No.” 22 They said therefore to him, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness,9 ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” 24 The ones who had been sent were from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize in water,10 but among you stands one whom you don’t know.11 27 He is the one12 who comes after me, who is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to loosen.” 28 These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.13

Section 27
John 1:29-34
29 The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold,the Lamb of God,14¯15 who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me.’16  31 I didn’t know him,17 but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that he would be revealed to Israel.” 32 John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him. 33 I didn’t recognize him, but he18 who sent me to baptize in water, he said to me, ‘On whomever you will see the Spirit descending and remaining on him is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”19


Group Dialog:

  1. What anxieties have upset your life? Were they God-sent or spawn in fear, doubt, and uncertainty?
  2. What is your vocation in ministry?
  3. What experiences do you have of receiving foreknowledge?
  4. How do you discern the will of God, and the activity of God in your life?
  5. How does one go about testing to know whether what is begin preached is accurate, true, honoring God, and faithful to the Scriptures?
  6. What are the names of Jesus which offer you most comfort, courage and confidence?

Learning Objectives:

vocation, humility, commitment, disciple, servant-leadership, service, Messiah, prophesy, discernment, spiritual gifts, christian community, God’s perfect timing, responsibility of spiritual leaders


Study Notes:

 

 

 

Categories
One

Becoming Strong in Spirit

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: