Opening Questions: A. In your country, how are Christian missionaries viewed? How do you think they have helped or hurt your country’s well- being and development?
B. What are some of your dreams for ways you could help bring hope to your homeland?
Read these Bible verses together:
Psalm 42:2 (written by King David) “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”
Acts 14:15b(proclaimed by followers of Jesus, Paul and Barnabas, when men tried to worship them by offering sacrifices of animals to them, after they helped a man to walk) “We too are only men, human beings like you. We are bringing good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.”
Genesis 12:1-3
The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
1.In what ways have you been blessed? Have you ever considered these as blessings from God? Why or why not?
2.Circle the 6 promises that God makes to Abram (and to us) by stating “I will”
3.Now, find the additional 2 wills. “you will” and the “all peoples on earth will”
4.What does it mean for a person (or group of people) to “be a blessing”?
5.Why does God bless people?
6.What are ways that God may want you to use the blessings you have been given to be a blessing to others, so they in turn can bless others?
God could have revealed His purpose in the form of direct commands about what He wanted to see done. Instead, God chose to reveal His purpose in the form of a promise, a promise that was both personal and immensely global: to bless all the families of the earth.
God’s purposes in poetry
Read Psalm 67 (from the Old Testament in the Bible) :
God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us. That your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations. Let the peoples praise You, O God. Let all the peoples praise You. Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for You will judge the peoples with uprightness and guide the nations on the earth. Let the peoples praise You, O God. Let all the peoples praise You.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Who is God and what is He like? - A Criminal
Opening Question: What do you think should happen to criminals, and why?
Read Matthew 26:47-56
Word list:
the Twelve – the 12 followers of Jesus.
chief priests – the religious leaders of Israel
Rabbi – teacher
Scriptures – the part of the Bible that was written before Jesus.
prophets – men who spoke for God to the people of Israel.
Q: Why did Jesus not ask to help him, like he explained in verse 53?
The following is an example of some Scripture that the prophet, Isaiah, wrote about Jesus. This was written about 700 years before Jesus was born:
“All of us are like sheep. We have wandered away from God. All of us have turned to our own way. And the Lord has placed on his servant the sins of all of us. He was beaten down and made to suffer. But he didn't open his mouth. He was led away like a sheep to be killed. Lambs are silent while their wool is being cut off. In the same way, he didn't open his mouth. He was arrested and sentenced to death. Then he was taken away. He was cut off from this life. He was punished for the sins of my people. Who among those who were living at that time could have understood those things?” (Isaiah 53:6-8)
Q: According to the Scripture above, what was going to happen to Jesus at the end of his life on earth, and why?
Read Matthew 26:57-68
Word list:
teachers of the law, elders – the religious experts and leaders of Israel.
Sanhedrin – the supreme court of Israel, made up of 71 members.
Christ / Son of God / Son of Man – the future ruler of Israel and the world, Jesus!
Q: Why didn’t Jesus say anything to defend himself, as we read in verse 63?
Q: Why did the chief priests and the Sanhedrin treat Jesus like a criminal?
Q: Who was Jesus, and why did he let the religious leaders of Israel treat him like a criminal (see Isaiah 53:6-8)?
Read Matthew 26:47-56
Word list:
the Twelve – the 12 followers of Jesus.
chief priests – the religious leaders of Israel
Rabbi – teacher
Scriptures – the part of the Bible that was written before Jesus.
prophets – men who spoke for God to the people of Israel.
Q: Why did Jesus not ask to help him, like he explained in verse 53?
The following is an example of some Scripture that the prophet, Isaiah, wrote about Jesus. This was written about 700 years before Jesus was born:
“All of us are like sheep. We have wandered away from God. All of us have turned to our own way. And the Lord has placed on his servant the sins of all of us. He was beaten down and made to suffer. But he didn't open his mouth. He was led away like a sheep to be killed. Lambs are silent while their wool is being cut off. In the same way, he didn't open his mouth. He was arrested and sentenced to death. Then he was taken away. He was cut off from this life. He was punished for the sins of my people. Who among those who were living at that time could have understood those things?” (Isaiah 53:6-8)
Q: According to the Scripture above, what was going to happen to Jesus at the end of his life on earth, and why?
Read Matthew 26:57-68
Word list:
teachers of the law, elders – the religious experts and leaders of Israel.
Sanhedrin – the supreme court of Israel, made up of 71 members.
Christ / Son of God / Son of Man – the future ruler of Israel and the world, Jesus!
Q: Why didn’t Jesus say anything to defend himself, as we read in verse 63?
Q: Why did the chief priests and the Sanhedrin treat Jesus like a criminal?
Q: Who was Jesus, and why did he let the religious leaders of Israel treat him like a criminal (see Isaiah 53:6-8)?
Friday, March 13, 2009
Who is God and what is He like? - A Lawyer
Opening Question: Have you, or someone you know, ever needed a lawyer?
Check out and discuss man’s problem with God, according to the verses below:
There isn't anyone on earth who does only what is right and never sins. - Ecclesiastes 7:20
Everyone has sinned. No one measures up to God's glory. - Romans 3:23
When you sin, the pay you get is death. But God gives you the gift of eternal life because of what Christ Jesus our Lord has done. - Romans 6:23
The royal law is found in Scripture. It says, "Love your neighbor as you love yourself." If you really keep that law, you are doing what is right. But suppose you keep the whole law, and trip over just one part of it. Then you are guilty of breaking all of it. - James 2:8,10
Q2: What is the job description of a lawyer?
Q3: How are you doing at keeping the “royal law” of God?
Q4: How would you describe Jesus’ role as a lawyer, based on the following verses:
I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. - John 14:6
There is only one God. And there is only one go-between for God and human beings. He is the man Christ Jesus. - 1 Timothy 2:5
My dear children, I'm writing this to you so that you will not sin. But suppose someone does sin. Then we have one who speaks to the Father for us. He stands up for us. He is Jesus Christ, the Blameless One. He gave his life to pay for our sins. But he not only paid for our sins. He also paid for the sins of the whole world. - 1 John 2:1,2
Q5: Why do we need Jesus as our lawyer when we stand before God on Judgment Day?
Q6: Have you hired (i.e., decided to trust, obey and follow) Jesus as your “lawyer” yet?
Check out and discuss man’s problem with God, according to the verses below:
There isn't anyone on earth who does only what is right and never sins. - Ecclesiastes 7:20
Everyone has sinned. No one measures up to God's glory. - Romans 3:23
When you sin, the pay you get is death. But God gives you the gift of eternal life because of what Christ Jesus our Lord has done. - Romans 6:23
The royal law is found in Scripture. It says, "Love your neighbor as you love yourself." If you really keep that law, you are doing what is right. But suppose you keep the whole law, and trip over just one part of it. Then you are guilty of breaking all of it. - James 2:8,10
Q2: What is the job description of a lawyer?
Q3: How are you doing at keeping the “royal law” of God?
Q4: How would you describe Jesus’ role as a lawyer, based on the following verses:
I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. - John 14:6
There is only one God. And there is only one go-between for God and human beings. He is the man Christ Jesus. - 1 Timothy 2:5
My dear children, I'm writing this to you so that you will not sin. But suppose someone does sin. Then we have one who speaks to the Father for us. He stands up for us. He is Jesus Christ, the Blameless One. He gave his life to pay for our sins. But he not only paid for our sins. He also paid for the sins of the whole world. - 1 John 2:1,2
Q5: Why do we need Jesus as our lawyer when we stand before God on Judgment Day?
Q6: Have you hired (i.e., decided to trust, obey and follow) Jesus as your “lawyer” yet?
Friday, March 6, 2009
God is a Judge
Opening Question: Have you ever broken any laws (even “minor” ones)? If so, what did you do wrong, and what was the judgment against you?
Look at the following verses from the Bible about God, the Judge:
God will judge the world in keeping with what is right. He will rule over all of its people fairly. - Psalm 9:8
The godly will get their reward. There really is a God who judges the earth. - Psalm 58:11
God will judge everything people do. That includes everything they try to hide. He'll judge everything, whether it's good or evil. - Ecclesiastes 12:14
The Father does not judge anyone. He has given the Son the task of judging. - John 5:22
He has set a day when He will judge the world fairly. He has appointed a Man to be its judge. God has proved this to all people by raising that Man from the dead. - Acts 17:31
People will be judged on the day God appoints Jesus Christ to judge their secret thoughts. That's part of my good news. - Romans 2:16
We must all stand in front of Christ to be judged. - 2 Corinthians 5:10
People have to die once. After that, God will judge them. - Hebrews 9:27
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge. He is the One who is able to save life or destroy it. But who are you to judge your neighbor? - James 4:12
Discuss the following questions:
1. How do we address judges, and why?
2. How would you describe the job of a judge?
3. What would the world be like without judges?
4. Are you afraid of God’s judgment of you? Why or why not?
5. Is there a way to escape God’s perfect judgment against us?
6. What does the last sentence in James 4:12 mean to us today?
Look at the following verses from the Bible about God, the Judge:
God will judge the world in keeping with what is right. He will rule over all of its people fairly. - Psalm 9:8
The godly will get their reward. There really is a God who judges the earth. - Psalm 58:11
God will judge everything people do. That includes everything they try to hide. He'll judge everything, whether it's good or evil. - Ecclesiastes 12:14
The Father does not judge anyone. He has given the Son the task of judging. - John 5:22
He has set a day when He will judge the world fairly. He has appointed a Man to be its judge. God has proved this to all people by raising that Man from the dead. - Acts 17:31
People will be judged on the day God appoints Jesus Christ to judge their secret thoughts. That's part of my good news. - Romans 2:16
We must all stand in front of Christ to be judged. - 2 Corinthians 5:10
People have to die once. After that, God will judge them. - Hebrews 9:27
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge. He is the One who is able to save life or destroy it. But who are you to judge your neighbor? - James 4:12
Discuss the following questions:
1. How do we address judges, and why?
2. How would you describe the job of a judge?
3. What would the world be like without judges?
4. Are you afraid of God’s judgment of you? Why or why not?
5. Is there a way to escape God’s perfect judgment against us?
6. What does the last sentence in James 4:12 mean to us today?
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