Opening question: Are you going to Mt Baker?
Read Matthew 9:18-34
18 While Jesus was saying this, a ruler came. He got down on his knees in front of Jesus. He said, "My daughter has just died. But come and place your hand on her. Then she will live again." 19 Jesus got up and went with him. So did his disciples. 20 Just then a woman came up behind Jesus. She had a sickness that made her bleed. It had lasted for 12 years. She touched the edge of his clothes. 21 She thought, "I only need to touch his clothes. Then I will be healed." 22 Jesus turned and saw her. "Dear woman, don't give up hope," he said. "Your faith has healed you." The woman was healed at that very moment. 23 When Jesus entered the ruler's house, he saw the flute players there. And he saw the noisy crowd. 24 He said, "Go away. The girl is not dead. She is sleeping." But they laughed at him. 25 After the crowd had been sent outside, Jesus went in. He took the girl by the hand, and she got up. 26 News about what Jesus had done spread all over that area. 27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him. They called out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" 28 When Jesus went indoors, the blind men came to him. He asked them, "Do you believe that I can do this?" "Yes, Lord," they replied. 29 Then he touched their eyes. He said, "It will happen to you just as you believed." 30 They could now see again. Jesus strongly warned them, "Be sure that no one knows about this." 31But they went out and spread the news. They talked about him all over that area. 32 While they were going out, another man was brought to Jesus. A demon controlled him, and he could not speak. 33 When the demon was driven out, the man spoke. The crowd was amazed. They said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel." 34 But the Pharisees said, "He drives out demons by the power of the prince of demons."
Discussion:
1. What was the problem in each of the 4 situations that Jesus encountered?
2. What do you guess were the feelings of the 4 people before and after they got in touch with Jesus?
3. What was different about the way the crowd and the Pharisees reacted to Jesus? Why the difference?
4. What do you think Jesus meant in verse 29?
5. What is faith, and how was it demonstrated in each situation?
6. Is there a situation in your life that you need to believe Jesus for?
Friday, November 12, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
Suffering
We watched these two videos about Nick Vujicic: one, two
Opening question: What were you think as you watched the video?
Read John 9:1-11
1 As Jesus went along, he saw a man who was blind. He had been blind since he was born. 2 Jesus' disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned? Was this man born blind because he sinned? Or did his parents sin?" 3 "It isn't because this man sinned," said Jesus. "It isn't because his parents sinned. This happened so that God's work could be shown in his life. 4 While it is still day, we must do the work of the One who sent me. Night is coming. Then no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." 6 After he said this, he spit on the ground. He made some mud with the spit. Then he put the mud on the man's eyes. 7 "Go," he told him. "Wash in the Pool of Siloam." Siloam means Sent. So the man went and washed. And he came home able to see. 8 His neighbors and those who had earlier seen him begging asked questions. "Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?" they asked. 9 Some claimed that he was. Others said, "No. He only looks like him." But the man who had been blind kept saying, "I am the man." 10 "Then how were your eyes opened?" they asked. 11 He replied, "The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed. Then I could see."
Discussion questions:
1. Try to re-tell the story of Jesus and the man who was born blind.
2. What happened when the man returned to his home?
3. What do Nick and the man in John 9 have in common? What is different?
4. What is “God’s work”?
5. How was Jesus a “light” to the blind man, and to Nick?
6. What is the connection between Jesus’ words and the man’s action, as we see in verses 7 & 11?
7. Like Nick and the man born blind, how can we face our “hopeless” situations?
Opening question: What were you think as you watched the video?
Read John 9:1-11
1 As Jesus went along, he saw a man who was blind. He had been blind since he was born. 2 Jesus' disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned? Was this man born blind because he sinned? Or did his parents sin?" 3 "It isn't because this man sinned," said Jesus. "It isn't because his parents sinned. This happened so that God's work could be shown in his life. 4 While it is still day, we must do the work of the One who sent me. Night is coming. Then no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." 6 After he said this, he spit on the ground. He made some mud with the spit. Then he put the mud on the man's eyes. 7 "Go," he told him. "Wash in the Pool of Siloam." Siloam means Sent. So the man went and washed. And he came home able to see. 8 His neighbors and those who had earlier seen him begging asked questions. "Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?" they asked. 9 Some claimed that he was. Others said, "No. He only looks like him." But the man who had been blind kept saying, "I am the man." 10 "Then how were your eyes opened?" they asked. 11 He replied, "The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed. Then I could see."
Discussion questions:
1. Try to re-tell the story of Jesus and the man who was born blind.
2. What happened when the man returned to his home?
3. What do Nick and the man in John 9 have in common? What is different?
4. What is “God’s work”?
5. How was Jesus a “light” to the blind man, and to Nick?
6. What is the connection between Jesus’ words and the man’s action, as we see in verses 7 & 11?
7. Like Nick and the man born blind, how can we face our “hopeless” situations?
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