Opening Question: What one of the greatest blessing you have ever experienced?
Introduction: In Matthew 5:1-13, Jesus teaches The Beatitudes. The Beatitudes are a series of blessings, with a promise attached to each one. The promises are experienced as we put our faith in Jesus and obey him.
Read the following out loud, and then again silently:
Jesus saw the crowds. So he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him. Then he began to teach them. He said,
(3)“Blessed are those who are spiritually needy. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
Blessed are those who are sad. They will be comforted.
Blessed are those who are free of pride. They will be given the earth.
Blessed are those who are hungry and thirsty for what is right. They will be filled.
Blessed are those who show mercy. They will be shown mercy.
Blessed are those whose hearts are pure. They will see God.
Blessed are those who make peace. They will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who suffer for doing what is right. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
Blessed are you when people make fun of you and hurt you because of me. You are also blessed when they tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me. Be joyful and glad. Your reward in heaven is great. In the same way, people hurt the prophets who lived long ago.”
Discuss the following:
1. Starting with verse 3, explain each blessing and the promise that goes with it.
2. Which promise do you think is the greatest of all? Explain.
3. Which blessing sounds the most difficult to experience, and why?
4. Have you experienced any of these blessings in your life?
5. Which blessing do you want to experience more consistently in your life?
Friday, February 26, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
God Loves You!
Opening question: Who has shown you the most love, and in what way(s)?
Let’s read what the Bible says about love:
Matthew 5:44, 45
44 Here is what I tell you: Love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you. 45 Then you will be sons of your Father, who is in heaven. He causes his sun to shine on evil people and good people. He sends rain on those who do right and those who don't.
Galatians 5:22, 23
22 The fruit the Holy Spirit produces is love, joy and peace. It is being patient, kind and good. 23 It is being faithful and gentle and having control of oneself.
Romans 5:8
8 Here is how God has shown his love for us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 John 4:7-12
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born again, because of what God has done. That person knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 How did God show his love for us? He sent his one and only Son into the world. He sent him so we could receive life through him. 10 What is love? It is not that we loved God. It is that he loved us and sent his Son to give his life to pay for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we should also love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love one another, God lives in us. His love is made complete in us.
Discussion questions:
1. Which description of God’s love do you like the most, and why?
2. Which of the verses above is the hardest to swallow?
3. Have you ever had someone in your life that was hard to love? Explain.
4. How are we supposed to love hard-to-love people, since we are so weak?
5. What’s the difference between God’s love and human love?
6. What are some ways that we can put our love into action?
Let’s read what the Bible says about love:
Matthew 5:44, 45
44 Here is what I tell you: Love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you. 45 Then you will be sons of your Father, who is in heaven. He causes his sun to shine on evil people and good people. He sends rain on those who do right and those who don't.
Galatians 5:22, 23
22 The fruit the Holy Spirit produces is love, joy and peace. It is being patient, kind and good. 23 It is being faithful and gentle and having control of oneself.
Romans 5:8
8 Here is how God has shown his love for us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 John 4:7-12
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born again, because of what God has done. That person knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 How did God show his love for us? He sent his one and only Son into the world. He sent him so we could receive life through him. 10 What is love? It is not that we loved God. It is that he loved us and sent his Son to give his life to pay for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we should also love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love one another, God lives in us. His love is made complete in us.
Discussion questions:
1. Which description of God’s love do you like the most, and why?
2. Which of the verses above is the hardest to swallow?
3. Have you ever had someone in your life that was hard to love? Explain.
4. How are we supposed to love hard-to-love people, since we are so weak?
5. What’s the difference between God’s love and human love?
6. What are some ways that we can put our love into action?
Friday, February 5, 2010
The Story of the Lost Son
Opening question: Did you ever want to run away from home when you were growing up?
Let’s read a story that Jesus told, found in Luke 15:11-24
11 (Jesus speaking) “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger son spoke to his father. He said, ‘Father, give me my share of the family property.’ So the Father divided his property between his two sons. 13 Not long after that, the younger son packed up all he had. Then he left for a country far away. There he wasted his money on wild living. 14 He spent everything he had. Then the whole country ran low on food. So the son didn't have what he needed. 15 He went to work for someone who lived in that country, who sent him to the fields to feed the pigs. 16 The son wanted to fill his stomach with the food the pigs were eating. But no one gave him anything. 17 Then he began to think clearly again. He said, 'How many of my father's hired workers have more than enough food! But here I am dying from hunger! 18 I will get up and go back to my father. I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven. And I have sinned against you. 19 I am no longer fit to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers." ' 20 So he got up and went to his father. While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him. He was filled with tender love for his son. He ran to him. He threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son.' 22 But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattest calf and kill it. Let's have a big dinner and celebrate. 24 This son of mine was dead. And now he is alive again. He was lost. And now he is found.' So they began to celebrate."
Discussion Questions:
1. How would you describe the son in this story?
2. Why do you think the son might have wanted to leave his father so much?
3. What was the son’s life like when he was away from his father?
4. How would you describe the father?
5. How is this story a picture of God and his love for sinners (mankind)?
6. What is something about the son that we should copy, and why?
Let’s read a story that Jesus told, found in Luke 15:11-24
11 (Jesus speaking) “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger son spoke to his father. He said, ‘Father, give me my share of the family property.’ So the Father divided his property between his two sons. 13 Not long after that, the younger son packed up all he had. Then he left for a country far away. There he wasted his money on wild living. 14 He spent everything he had. Then the whole country ran low on food. So the son didn't have what he needed. 15 He went to work for someone who lived in that country, who sent him to the fields to feed the pigs. 16 The son wanted to fill his stomach with the food the pigs were eating. But no one gave him anything. 17 Then he began to think clearly again. He said, 'How many of my father's hired workers have more than enough food! But here I am dying from hunger! 18 I will get up and go back to my father. I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven. And I have sinned against you. 19 I am no longer fit to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers." ' 20 So he got up and went to his father. While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him. He was filled with tender love for his son. He ran to him. He threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son.' 22 But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattest calf and kill it. Let's have a big dinner and celebrate. 24 This son of mine was dead. And now he is alive again. He was lost. And now he is found.' So they began to celebrate."
Discussion Questions:
1. How would you describe the son in this story?
2. Why do you think the son might have wanted to leave his father so much?
3. What was the son’s life like when he was away from his father?
4. How would you describe the father?
5. How is this story a picture of God and his love for sinners (mankind)?
6. What is something about the son that we should copy, and why?
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