Tag: sin

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Five

We Want a Sign

We Want a Sign

Week 53 | Section 62

We Want a SignThe pharisees remain antagonistic, doubting the signs they have already seen and the testimony of Jesus and John the Baptist. While they wished to have him tried and killed, they would have to sway the masses. But Jesus continued to win the hearts of the people, not by any campaign but by living with integrity as the Messiah, the Lord who saves.

Scripture:

Matthew 12:38-45
38 Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”1¯2¯3 39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign,4 but no sign5will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet.6 40  For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.7 41  The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah;8¯9 and behold, someone greater than Jonah is here.10¯11 42  The queen of the south12 will rise up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth13 to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, someone greater than Solomon is here. 43  When an unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he passes through waterless places, seeking rest, and doesn’t find it. 44  Then he says, ‘I will return into my house from which I came out,’ and when he has come back, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45  Then he goes, and takes with himself seven other spirits more evil than he is, and they enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the first. Even so will it be also to this evil generation.”14¯15¯16¯17

Group Dialog:

  1. What do you want/require before obeying God?
  2. How was Jesus confirmed and approved for ministry? Did he require the blessing of the Pharisees?
  3. How have you heard God speak to you? (In the Word, in prayer, through another person).
  4. How can your current situation affect your response time when convicted?
  5. Have you made yourself available to God? What evidence is there in your calendar that your relationship with God and his Kingdom purposes are your priority?
  6. In what ways are you still trying to live by your own power, by your own rules, your own methods? What aspects of your thoughts, your life , your ministry have you not yet yielded to the Holy Spirit’s control?

Learning Objectives:

Jesus’ substitutionary sacrifice, admonishment, Great commission, sin, repentance, change of heart, worship,

Study Notes:

Categories
Two

Living Water

Living Water

Week 23 | Section 35a

Living WaterIn today’s study we explore the message and meaning of Jesus’ interaction with the Samaritan woman at the well. Its a message of truth, honor, and love in which Jesus offers freedom, a future, and the promise of living water sure to satisfy her every thirst.

Scripture:

John 4:5-26
5 So he came1 to a city of Samaria,2 called Sychar,3 near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son, Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well4 was there. Jesus therefore, being tired from his journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.5 7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water.6 Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. 9 The Samaritan woman therefore said to him, “How is it that you, being a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. So where do you get that living water?7¯8 12 Are you greater than our father, Jacob, who gave us the well,9 and drank of it himself, as did his children, and his livestock?”10  13 Jesus answered her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst again; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water,13

Group Dialog:

  1. When have you felt “left out”? What emotions sweep through you in such instances? How might you imagine this woman was feeling?
  2. How has the grace of God overcome your shame, guilt and restored your dignity?
  3. What sin and activities result in creating social outcasts in your community?
  4. How might you have expected Jesus to interact in this instance? How do the actual events change and challenge your under of God’s grace and our resulting behavior?
  5. What cultures (sub-cultures) and pains do you feel called to reach?
  6. How does the expectation of conformity injure the soul?
  7. What then can we learn about discipling others from this lesson?
  8. Pray for those who feel rejected, and extend the grace of God to them this week.

Learning Objectives:

receive the gifts of God grace, let your soul be renewed and behavior will change, respect, love the sinner, the foreknowledge of Jesus, mercy, discipleship

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
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: