Opening Question: Do you like pretending? Why or why not?
Matthew 23:25-28
25 "How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders! You clean the outside of the cup and dish. But on the inside you are full of greed. You only want to satisfy yourselves. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish. Then the outside will also be clean.
27 "How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders! You are like tombs that are painted white. They look beautiful on the outside. But on the inside they are full of the bones of the dead. They are also full of other things that are not pure and clean. 28 It is the same with you. On the outside you seem to be doing what is right. But on the inside you are full of what is wrong. You pretend to be what you are not.
2 Cor. 3:16-17
16 But when anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Holy Spirit. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, freedom is also there.
Vocabulary
Pharisee - A member of an ancient Jewish sect that emphasized strict interpretation and observance of the law. A hypocritically self-righteous person.
Glory - Great honor, praise, or renown.
Discussion Questions:
1. How are the religious people described in Matt.
2. What images does Jesus use ? Can this apply to us today?
3. What needs cleansing? (Matt. 23)
4. How do you try to look to others? Why do you think looking good on the outside can be a problem?
5. What do you notice Jesus want us to focus on or prioritize in our lives?
6. What can be the dangers of pretending to be what we are not?
7. What are some reasons we wear masks? How can the mask or veil be removed?
8. What is an alternative to trying harder or rely ing on ourselves to be perfect?
Read 2 Cor. 3:16-17 again. What feelings does it evoke? Consider is there masks that you would like have the Lord take off. Ask him in prayer.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Jesus in Action
Opening question: Have you ever seen or experienced a miracle or something that seemed supernatural?
Read Matthew 8:23-34
23 After Jesus left in a boat with his disciples, 24 a terrible storm suddenly struck the lake, and waves started splashing into their boat. Jesus was sound asleep, 25 so the disciples went over to him and woke him up. They said, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" 26 But Jesus replied, "Why are you so afraid? You surely don't have much faith." Then he got up and ordered the wind and the waves to calm down. And everything was calm. 27 The men in the boat were amazed and said, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him."
28 After Jesus had crossed the lake, he came to shore near the town of Gadara and started down the road. Two men with demons in them came to him from the tombs. They were so fierce that no one could travel that way. 29 Suddenly they shouted, "Jesus, Son of God, what do you want with us? Have you come to punish us before our time?" 30 Not far from there a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 So the demons begged Jesus, "If you force us out, please send us into those pigs!" 32 Jesus told them to go, and they went out of the men and into the pigs. All at once the pigs rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned. 33 The people taking care of the pigs ran to the town and told everything, especially what had happened to the two men. 34 Everyone in town came out to meet Jesus. When they saw him, they begged him to leave their part of the country.
Discussion questions:
1. Take turns re-telling the 2 stories.
2. What do you notice about Jesus in each story?
3. Do you see anything that is hard to understand in the stories?
4. What would you be thinking, if you saw Jesus doing these things?
5. What kinds of power did Jesus show the people of his day?
6. Based on these stories, who is Jesus to you?
7. Is there a miracle that you need prayer for?
Read Matthew 8:23-34
23 After Jesus left in a boat with his disciples, 24 a terrible storm suddenly struck the lake, and waves started splashing into their boat. Jesus was sound asleep, 25 so the disciples went over to him and woke him up. They said, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" 26 But Jesus replied, "Why are you so afraid? You surely don't have much faith." Then he got up and ordered the wind and the waves to calm down. And everything was calm. 27 The men in the boat were amazed and said, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him."
28 After Jesus had crossed the lake, he came to shore near the town of Gadara and started down the road. Two men with demons in them came to him from the tombs. They were so fierce that no one could travel that way. 29 Suddenly they shouted, "Jesus, Son of God, what do you want with us? Have you come to punish us before our time?" 30 Not far from there a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 So the demons begged Jesus, "If you force us out, please send us into those pigs!" 32 Jesus told them to go, and they went out of the men and into the pigs. All at once the pigs rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned. 33 The people taking care of the pigs ran to the town and told everything, especially what had happened to the two men. 34 Everyone in town came out to meet Jesus. When they saw him, they begged him to leave their part of the country.
Discussion questions:
1. Take turns re-telling the 2 stories.
2. What do you notice about Jesus in each story?
3. Do you see anything that is hard to understand in the stories?
4. What would you be thinking, if you saw Jesus doing these things?
5. What kinds of power did Jesus show the people of his day?
6. Based on these stories, who is Jesus to you?
7. Is there a miracle that you need prayer for?
Friday, October 15, 2010
Jesus in Action
Opening Question: Complete the sentence:
Jesus is ______________________ .
Read Matthew 8:1-17
1 As Jesus came down the mountain, he was followed by large crowds. 2 Suddenly a man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus. He said, "Lord, you have the power to make me well, if only you wanted to." 3 Jesus put his hand on the man and said, "I want to! Now you are well." At once the man's leprosy disappeared. 4 Jesus told him, "Don't tell anyone about this, but go and show the priest that you are well. Then take a gift to the temple just as Moses commanded, and everyone will know that you have been healed."
5 When Jesus was going into the town of Capernaum, an army officer came up to him and said, 6 "Lord, my servant is at home in such terrible pain that he can't even move." 7 "I will go and heal him," Jesus replied. 8 But the officer said, "Lord, I'm not good enough for you to come into my house. Just give the order, and my servant will get well. 9 I have officers who give orders to me, and I have soldiers who take orders from me. I can say to one of them, 'Go!' and he goes. I can say to another, 'Come!' and he comes. I can say to my servant, 'Do this!' and he will do it." 10 When Jesus heard this, he was so surprised that he turned and said to the crowd following him, "I tell you that in all of Israel I've never found anyone with this much faith! 11 Many people will come from everywhere to enjoy the feast in the kingdom of heaven with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 12 But the ones who should have been in the kingdom will be thrown out into the dark. They will cry and grit their teeth in pain." 13 Then Jesus said to the officer, "You may go home now. Your faith has made it happen." Right then his servant was healed.
14 Jesus went to the home of Peter, where he found that Peter's mother-in-law was sick in bed with fever. 15 He took her by the hand, and the fever left her. Then she got up and served Jesus a meal. 16 That evening many people with demons in them were brought to Jesus. And with only a word he forced out the evil spirits and healed everyone who was sick. 17 So God's promise came true, just as the prophet Isaiah had said, "He healed our diseases and made us well."
Discussion questions:
1. Are there any words or phrases that you are not sure about?
2. What kinds of things do you notice or find interesting (or confusing) in these verses?
3. Do you have any questions about what Jesus said or did?
4. Do you see any examples that might be good for us to follow?
5. Who is Jesus, according to Matthew?
Jesus is ______________________ .
Read Matthew 8:1-17
1 As Jesus came down the mountain, he was followed by large crowds. 2 Suddenly a man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus. He said, "Lord, you have the power to make me well, if only you wanted to." 3 Jesus put his hand on the man and said, "I want to! Now you are well." At once the man's leprosy disappeared. 4 Jesus told him, "Don't tell anyone about this, but go and show the priest that you are well. Then take a gift to the temple just as Moses commanded, and everyone will know that you have been healed."
5 When Jesus was going into the town of Capernaum, an army officer came up to him and said, 6 "Lord, my servant is at home in such terrible pain that he can't even move." 7 "I will go and heal him," Jesus replied. 8 But the officer said, "Lord, I'm not good enough for you to come into my house. Just give the order, and my servant will get well. 9 I have officers who give orders to me, and I have soldiers who take orders from me. I can say to one of them, 'Go!' and he goes. I can say to another, 'Come!' and he comes. I can say to my servant, 'Do this!' and he will do it." 10 When Jesus heard this, he was so surprised that he turned and said to the crowd following him, "I tell you that in all of Israel I've never found anyone with this much faith! 11 Many people will come from everywhere to enjoy the feast in the kingdom of heaven with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 12 But the ones who should have been in the kingdom will be thrown out into the dark. They will cry and grit their teeth in pain." 13 Then Jesus said to the officer, "You may go home now. Your faith has made it happen." Right then his servant was healed.
14 Jesus went to the home of Peter, where he found that Peter's mother-in-law was sick in bed with fever. 15 He took her by the hand, and the fever left her. Then she got up and served Jesus a meal. 16 That evening many people with demons in them were brought to Jesus. And with only a word he forced out the evil spirits and healed everyone who was sick. 17 So God's promise came true, just as the prophet Isaiah had said, "He healed our diseases and made us well."
Discussion questions:
1. Are there any words or phrases that you are not sure about?
2. What kinds of things do you notice or find interesting (or confusing) in these verses?
3. Do you have any questions about what Jesus said or did?
4. Do you see any examples that might be good for us to follow?
5. Who is Jesus, according to Matthew?
Friday, October 8, 2010
Just Do It
Opening question: Can you tell about a time when someone did something good to you?
Read the following Bible verses:
Matthew 7:21-27
21 Not all those who say “You are our Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven. The only people who will enter the kingdom of heaven are those who do what my Father in heaven wants. 22 On the last day many people will say to me, “Lord, Lord, we spoke for you, and through you we forced out demons and did many miracles.” 23 Then I will tell them clearly, “Get away from me, you who do evil. I never knew you.” 24 Everyone who hears my words and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 It rained hard, the floods came, and the winds blew and hit that house. But it did not fall, because it was built on rock. 26 Everyone who hears my words and does not obey them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 It rained hard, the floods came, and the winds blew and hit that house, and it fell with a big crash.
James 1:22-25
22 Do what God's teaching says; when you only listen and do nothing, you are fooling yourselves. 23 Those who hear God's teaching and do nothing are like people who look at themselves in a mirror. 24 They see their faces and then go away and quickly forget what they looked like. 25 But the truly happy people are those who carefully study God's perfect law that makes people free, and they continue to study it. They do not forget what they heard, but they obey what God's teaching says. Those who do this will be made happy.
Titus 2:14
14 He gave himself for us so he might pay the price to free us from all evil and to make us pure people who belong only to him -- people who are always wanting to do good deeds.
Titus 3:8
8 This teaching is true, and I want you to be sure the people understand these things. Then those who believe in God will be careful to use their lives for doing good. These things are good and will help everyone.
John 6:28,29
28 The people asked Jesus, "What are the things God wants us to do?" 29 Jesus answered, "The work God wants you to do is this: Believe the One he sent."
Discussion questions:
1. In your own words, can you re-tell the story that Jesus told us in Matthew 7:24-27?
2. What are the 2 kinds of people that Jesus and James are talking about?
3. What kinds of people get into heaven, according to Jesus?
4. Which good things do you like to do for others at times?
5. What is the #1 thing that God wants people to do?
Read the following Bible verses:
Matthew 7:21-27
21 Not all those who say “You are our Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven. The only people who will enter the kingdom of heaven are those who do what my Father in heaven wants. 22 On the last day many people will say to me, “Lord, Lord, we spoke for you, and through you we forced out demons and did many miracles.” 23 Then I will tell them clearly, “Get away from me, you who do evil. I never knew you.” 24 Everyone who hears my words and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 It rained hard, the floods came, and the winds blew and hit that house. But it did not fall, because it was built on rock. 26 Everyone who hears my words and does not obey them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 It rained hard, the floods came, and the winds blew and hit that house, and it fell with a big crash.
James 1:22-25
22 Do what God's teaching says; when you only listen and do nothing, you are fooling yourselves. 23 Those who hear God's teaching and do nothing are like people who look at themselves in a mirror. 24 They see their faces and then go away and quickly forget what they looked like. 25 But the truly happy people are those who carefully study God's perfect law that makes people free, and they continue to study it. They do not forget what they heard, but they obey what God's teaching says. Those who do this will be made happy.
Titus 2:14
14 He gave himself for us so he might pay the price to free us from all evil and to make us pure people who belong only to him -- people who are always wanting to do good deeds.
Titus 3:8
8 This teaching is true, and I want you to be sure the people understand these things. Then those who believe in God will be careful to use their lives for doing good. These things are good and will help everyone.
John 6:28,29
28 The people asked Jesus, "What are the things God wants us to do?" 29 Jesus answered, "The work God wants you to do is this: Believe the One he sent."
Discussion questions:
1. In your own words, can you re-tell the story that Jesus told us in Matthew 7:24-27?
2. What are the 2 kinds of people that Jesus and James are talking about?
3. What kinds of people get into heaven, according to Jesus?
4. Which good things do you like to do for others at times?
5. What is the #1 thing that God wants people to do?
Friday, October 1, 2010
Love is...
Opening Question: Who has given you the best example ever of love?
Let’s read what the Bible says about love:
Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not want what belongs to others.
It does not brag. It is not proud. It is not rude. It does not look out for its own interests. It does not easily become angry. It does not keep track of other people’s wrongs. Love is not happy with evil. But it is full of joy when the truth is spoken. It always protects. It always trusts. It always hopes. It never gives up. Love never fails . . . God is love.
(1 Corinthians 13:4-8; 1 John 4:8)
Discussion Questions:
1. Are there any descriptions of love that you’re not sure you understand?
2. Can you think of an example for any of the descriptions of love?
3. Who are the most difficult people to love, and why?
4. How can we love the way the Bible says to love?
5. What do you think it means by “God is love”?
Let’s read what the Bible says about love:
Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not want what belongs to others.
It does not brag. It is not proud. It is not rude. It does not look out for its own interests. It does not easily become angry. It does not keep track of other people’s wrongs. Love is not happy with evil. But it is full of joy when the truth is spoken. It always protects. It always trusts. It always hopes. It never gives up. Love never fails . . . God is love.
(1 Corinthians 13:4-8; 1 John 4:8)
Discussion Questions:
1. Are there any descriptions of love that you’re not sure you understand?
2. Can you think of an example for any of the descriptions of love?
3. Who are the most difficult people to love, and why?
4. How can we love the way the Bible says to love?
5. What do you think it means by “God is love”?
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