Opening Question: Have you ever seen or been around sheep?
Read the following Bible verses:
Isaiah 53:6 (words of the prophet Isaiah)
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.
John 1:29 (words of John the Baptist)
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him. John said, "Look! The Lamb of God! He takes
away the sin of the world!"
John 10:11,18 (words of Jesus)
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. No one takes it from me. I give it up myself. I have the authority to give it up. And I have the authority to take it back again. I received this command from my Father.
Psalm 23:1-3 (words of King David)
The Lord is my shepherd. He gives me everything I need. He lets me lie down in fields of green grass. He leads me beside quiet waters. He gives me new strength. He guides me in the right paths for the honor of his name. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid. You are with me. Your shepherd's rod and staff comfort me.
Discuss the following questions:
1. What are some things we know about sheep? And about shepherds?
2. How are people like sheep?
3. How is Jesus like a shepherd?
4. How would you describe the shepherds of John 10 and Psalm 23?
5. What are the benefits of being one of Jesus’ sheep?
6. How can we become one of the Lord’s sheep?
Friday, August 21, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
Relationships – Part VIII
Opening question: How do you become friends with someone, and what are some things we can do to keep the friendship going?
According to the following Bible verses, what do people have to understand before they can become friends with God?
John 14:6
6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
1 Timothy 2:5
5 There is only one God. And there is only one go-between for God and human beings. He is the man Christ Jesus.
Read the following words of Jesus from John 15:9-16
9 Just as the Father has loved me, I have loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love. In the same way, I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11 have told you this so that my joy will be in you. I also want your joy to be complete. 12 Here is my command. Love each other, just as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than the one who gives his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I do not call you servants anymore. Servants do not know their master's business. Instead, I have called you friends. I have told you everything I learned from my Father. 16 You did not choose me. Instead, I chose you. I appointed you to go and bear fruit -- fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you anything you ask for in my name.
Discussion questions:
1. What are some of your observations as you re-read these verses?
2. What are some things Jesus says about friendship?
3. What does verse 14 mean to you?
4. What do you think would be some of the advantages of being friends with God?
5. So, how can we start a friendship with God, and keep it going?
According to the following Bible verses, what do people have to understand before they can become friends with God?
John 14:6
6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
1 Timothy 2:5
5 There is only one God. And there is only one go-between for God and human beings. He is the man Christ Jesus.
Read the following words of Jesus from John 15:9-16
9 Just as the Father has loved me, I have loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love. In the same way, I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11 have told you this so that my joy will be in you. I also want your joy to be complete. 12 Here is my command. Love each other, just as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than the one who gives his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I do not call you servants anymore. Servants do not know their master's business. Instead, I have called you friends. I have told you everything I learned from my Father. 16 You did not choose me. Instead, I chose you. I appointed you to go and bear fruit -- fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you anything you ask for in my name.
Discussion questions:
1. What are some of your observations as you re-read these verses?
2. What are some things Jesus says about friendship?
3. What does verse 14 mean to you?
4. What do you think would be some of the advantages of being friends with God?
5. So, how can we start a friendship with God, and keep it going?
Friday, August 7, 2009
Relationships – Part VII
Opening Question: Do you think people are basically good or evil?
Genesis 6:5, 12
The Lord saw how bad the sins of man had become on the earth. All of the thoughts in his heart were always directed only toward what was evil. God saw how sinful the earth had become. All of the people on earth were leading very sinful lives.
Jeremiah 17:9, 10
A human heart is more dishonest than anything else. It can't be healed. Who can understand it? The Lord says, “I look deep down inside human hearts. I see what is in people's minds.”
Mark 7:20-23
Jesus went on to say, “What comes out of people makes them “unclean.” Evil thoughts come from the inside, from people's hearts. So do sexual sins, stealing and murder. Adultery, greed, hate and cheating come from people's hearts, too. So do desires that are not pure, and wanting what belongs to others. And so do telling lies about others and being proud and being foolish. All those evil things come from inside a person. They make him “unclean.’ ”
Q 2. What is the main problem of the human race, according to the Bible?
Q 3. What do you think the word “heart” means, as we read in the Bible verses above?
Romans 5:8
But here is how God has shown His love for us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
2 Corinthians 5:21
Christ didn't have any sin. But God made Him become sin for us. So we can be made right with God because of what Christ has done for us.
Ezekiel 36:26
I will give you new hearts. I will give you a new spirit that is faithful to me. I will remove your stubborn hearts from you. I will give you hearts that obey Me.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Anyone who believes in Christ is a new creation. The old is gone! The new has come!
Q 4. What does it mean when it says “God made Him become sin” for us?
Q 5. What to you think “the old” and “the new” means?
Q 6. What is the solution to man’s heart problem?
Q 7. What do people have to do to solve the problem of their evil hearts?
Genesis 6:5, 12
The Lord saw how bad the sins of man had become on the earth. All of the thoughts in his heart were always directed only toward what was evil. God saw how sinful the earth had become. All of the people on earth were leading very sinful lives.
Jeremiah 17:9, 10
A human heart is more dishonest than anything else. It can't be healed. Who can understand it? The Lord says, “I look deep down inside human hearts. I see what is in people's minds.”
Mark 7:20-23
Jesus went on to say, “What comes out of people makes them “unclean.” Evil thoughts come from the inside, from people's hearts. So do sexual sins, stealing and murder. Adultery, greed, hate and cheating come from people's hearts, too. So do desires that are not pure, and wanting what belongs to others. And so do telling lies about others and being proud and being foolish. All those evil things come from inside a person. They make him “unclean.’ ”
Q 2. What is the main problem of the human race, according to the Bible?
Q 3. What do you think the word “heart” means, as we read in the Bible verses above?
Romans 5:8
But here is how God has shown His love for us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
2 Corinthians 5:21
Christ didn't have any sin. But God made Him become sin for us. So we can be made right with God because of what Christ has done for us.
Ezekiel 36:26
I will give you new hearts. I will give you a new spirit that is faithful to me. I will remove your stubborn hearts from you. I will give you hearts that obey Me.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Anyone who believes in Christ is a new creation. The old is gone! The new has come!
Q 4. What does it mean when it says “God made Him become sin” for us?
Q 5. What to you think “the old” and “the new” means?
Q 6. What is the solution to man’s heart problem?
Q 7. What do people have to do to solve the problem of their evil hearts?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)