Opening Question: How do you show your friends and family that you love them?
Let’s read and discus what the Bible says about loving your neighbor.
Luke 10:25-37
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" 27 He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself..' " 28 "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
30 In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'
36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" 37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
1 John 4:10-11
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.
Word List:
expert on the law – an expert in the religious laws that the Jewish people of Israel had to follow
priest / Levite – religious leaders of Israel
Samaritans – people who were hated by the Jews, because their blood was not 100% Jewish
two silver coins – two day’s wages (enough to stay in a motel for two months)
Discussion Questions:
Q1 What did the priest and Levite do when they saw the injured man lying on the road (31-32)?
Q2 What did the Samaritan do when he saw the injured man lying on the road?
Q3 How much money did the Samaritan spend on the injured man? How much time?
Q4 According to the story, who is the neighbor to the injured man?
Q5 Today, who has been a good neighbor to you? Who is your neighbor?
Q6 According to 1 John 4:10-11, why do you love your neighbor?
Q7 What does it mean to “love your neighbor as yourself”? How will you “love your neighbor as yourself” this week?
Friday, April 30, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Sexual Immorality
Opening Question: How would you describe the perfect marriage partner?
Let’s read about what the Bible says about sexuality immorality.
Matthew 5:27-30
27You have heard that it was said, "Do not commit adultery." 28 But here is what I tell you. Do not even look at a woman in the wrong way. Anyone who does has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, poke it out and throw it away. Your eye is only one part of your body. It is better to lose it than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. Your hand is only one part of your body. It is better to lose it than for your whole body to go into hell.
Q: What is so bad about adultery?
Q: What do you think Jesus means by “poking out your eye” and “cutting off your hand”?
1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 18-20
9Don't you know that evil people will not receive God's kingdom? Don't be fooled. Those who commit sexual sins will not receive the kingdom. Neither will those who worship statues of gods or commit adultery. Neither will men who are prostitutes or who commit homosexual acts. 10 Neither will thieves or those who always want more and more. Neither will those who are often drunk or tell lies or cheat. People who live like that will not receive God's kingdom. 11 Some of you used to do those things. But your sins were washed away. You were made holy. You were made right with God. All of that was done in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 18 Keep far away from sexual sins. All the other sins a person commits are outside his body. But sexual sins are sins against one's own body. 19 Don't you know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit? The Spirit is in you. You have received him from God. You do not belong to yourselves. 20 Christ has paid the price for you. So use your bodies in a way that honors God.
Q: How can we experience what the Corinthian Christians experienced, as we read in verse 11?
Q: What does it mean by "your bodies are temples" in verse 19?
Revelation 21:8
8 Many will have their place in the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. Those who are afraid and those who do not believe will be there. Murderers and those who pollute themselves will join them. Those who commit sexual sins and those who practice witchcraft will go there. Those who worship statues of gods and all who tell lies will be there too. It is the second death.
Q: What is the "lake of fire" and the "second death" and how can we escape it?
Revelation 22:12-15
12 Look! I am coming soon! I bring my rewards with me. I will reward each person for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega. I am the First and the Last. I am the Beginning and the End. 14 Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will have the right to come to the tree of life. They will be allowed to go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside the city are the dogs and those who practice witchcraft. Outside are also those who commit sexual sins and murder. Those who worship statues of gods, and everyone who loves and does what is false, are outside too.
Q: How can we experience what Jesus describes in verse 14?
Let’s read about what the Bible says about sexuality immorality.
Matthew 5:27-30
27You have heard that it was said, "Do not commit adultery." 28 But here is what I tell you. Do not even look at a woman in the wrong way. Anyone who does has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, poke it out and throw it away. Your eye is only one part of your body. It is better to lose it than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. Your hand is only one part of your body. It is better to lose it than for your whole body to go into hell.
Q: What is so bad about adultery?
Q: What do you think Jesus means by “poking out your eye” and “cutting off your hand”?
1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 18-20
9Don't you know that evil people will not receive God's kingdom? Don't be fooled. Those who commit sexual sins will not receive the kingdom. Neither will those who worship statues of gods or commit adultery. Neither will men who are prostitutes or who commit homosexual acts. 10 Neither will thieves or those who always want more and more. Neither will those who are often drunk or tell lies or cheat. People who live like that will not receive God's kingdom. 11 Some of you used to do those things. But your sins were washed away. You were made holy. You were made right with God. All of that was done in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 18 Keep far away from sexual sins. All the other sins a person commits are outside his body. But sexual sins are sins against one's own body. 19 Don't you know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit? The Spirit is in you. You have received him from God. You do not belong to yourselves. 20 Christ has paid the price for you. So use your bodies in a way that honors God.
Q: How can we experience what the Corinthian Christians experienced, as we read in verse 11?
Q: What does it mean by "your bodies are temples" in verse 19?
Revelation 21:8
8 Many will have their place in the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. Those who are afraid and those who do not believe will be there. Murderers and those who pollute themselves will join them. Those who commit sexual sins and those who practice witchcraft will go there. Those who worship statues of gods and all who tell lies will be there too. It is the second death.
Q: What is the "lake of fire" and the "second death" and how can we escape it?
Revelation 22:12-15
12 Look! I am coming soon! I bring my rewards with me. I will reward each person for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega. I am the First and the Last. I am the Beginning and the End. 14 Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will have the right to come to the tree of life. They will be allowed to go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside the city are the dogs and those who practice witchcraft. Outside are also those who commit sexual sins and murder. Those who worship statues of gods, and everyone who loves and does what is false, are outside too.
Q: How can we experience what Jesus describes in verse 14?
Friday, April 9, 2010
Anger
Opening Question: Can you describe the last time you got angry?
Let’s read and discuss what the Bible says about Anger, going over any difficult words:
Exodus 34:6,7
6 The LORD passed before Moses and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation."
Q: How would you describe what God is like, according to these two verses?
Q: Can you try to put verse 7 into your own words?
Proverbs 15:1
1 A gentle answer turns anger away. But mean words stir up anger.
Q: Can you give an example of what Proverbs 15:1 is saying?
James 1:19
19 My dear brothers and sisters, pay attention to what I say. Everyone should be quick to listen. But they should be slow to speak. They should be slow to get angry.
Q: What do you think is the connection between listening, speaking and getting angry?
Matthew 5:21-26
21 “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ 22 But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell. 23 So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. 25 When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 And if that happens, you surely won’t be free again until you have paid the last penny.”
Q: How do you feel when you are angry? And when someone is angry with you?
Q: Is there someone in your life that you are angry with, or who you think may be angry with you? If so, what are you going to do about it?
Let’s read and discuss what the Bible says about Anger, going over any difficult words:
Exodus 34:6,7
6 The LORD passed before Moses and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation."
Q: How would you describe what God is like, according to these two verses?
Q: Can you try to put verse 7 into your own words?
Proverbs 15:1
1 A gentle answer turns anger away. But mean words stir up anger.
Q: Can you give an example of what Proverbs 15:1 is saying?
James 1:19
19 My dear brothers and sisters, pay attention to what I say. Everyone should be quick to listen. But they should be slow to speak. They should be slow to get angry.
Q: What do you think is the connection between listening, speaking and getting angry?
Matthew 5:21-26
21 “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ 22 But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell. 23 So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. 25 When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 And if that happens, you surely won’t be free again until you have paid the last penny.”
Q: How do you feel when you are angry? And when someone is angry with you?
Q: Is there someone in your life that you are angry with, or who you think may be angry with you? If so, what are you going to do about it?
Friday, April 2, 2010
Good Friday
We watched the last 30 minutes of the Jesus movie about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Then we discussed the following questions.
Do you have any questions about what you saw?
From what you know, why was Jesus killed on a cross?
How did the men and women who followed Jesus respond to his resurrection?
If you believe that Jesus rose from the dead, can you explain why you believe this?
What difference does it make if the resurrection is true?
If you would like to know how to get a copy of the Jesus movie, please e-mail Jeff at isiwa@comcast.net
Do you have any questions about what you saw?
From what you know, why was Jesus killed on a cross?
How did the men and women who followed Jesus respond to his resurrection?
If you believe that Jesus rose from the dead, can you explain why you believe this?
What difference does it make if the resurrection is true?
If you would like to know how to get a copy of the Jesus movie, please e-mail Jeff at isiwa@comcast.net
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