Opening question: Who is the greatest person in the world today?
Read Matthew 18:1-7, circling difficult words:
1 The disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, 3 “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me. 6 But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come. But woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!
Discussion questions:
1. How would you define greatness?
2. Why does Jesus use a child to explain greatness?
3. What is the kingdom of heaven and how do we enter it?
4. What is the world referring to?
5. What are some examples of stumbling blocks in today’s world?
6. What does it mean to be converted?
7. Have you been converted? If so, please tell your story.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
Be Like Christ
Opening question: Who has been a good example for you to follow?
Read Philippians 2:1-11 (NIrV)
1 Are you cheerful because you belong to Christ? Does his love comfort you? Is the Holy Spirit your companion? Has Christ been gentle and loving toward you? 2 Then make my joy complete by agreeing with each other. Have the same love. Be one in spirit and purpose. 3 Don't do anything only to get ahead. Don't do it because you are proud. Instead, be free of pride. Think of others as better than yourselves. 4 None of you should look out just for your own good. You should also look out for the good of others. 5 You should think in the same way Christ Jesus does. 6 In His very nature He was God. But He did not think that being equal with God was something He should hold on to. 7 Instead, He made Himself nothing. He took on the very nature of a servant. He was made in human form. 8 He appeared as a man. He came down to the lowest level. He obeyed God completely, even though it led to His death. In fact, He died on a cross. 9 So God lifted Him up to the highest place. He gave Him the name that is above every name. 10 When the name of Jesus is spoken, everyone's knee will bow to worship Him. Every knee in heaven and on earth and under the earth will bow to worship Him. 11 Everyone's mouth will say that Jesus Christ is Lord. And God the Father will receive the glory.
Discussion questions:
1. What do you think is the most important word in the verses above?
2. Agree or disagree: It is always wrong to be proud.
3. Does verse 3 speak against the idea of competition (like in school, sports, etc.)?
4. How is Jesus Christ described?
5. Why did Jesus die on a cross?
6. Why do you think God gave Jesus the highest place and name in the universe?
7. Why should we bow to worship Jesus, and say that He is Lord?
Read Philippians 2:1-11 (NIrV)
1 Are you cheerful because you belong to Christ? Does his love comfort you? Is the Holy Spirit your companion? Has Christ been gentle and loving toward you? 2 Then make my joy complete by agreeing with each other. Have the same love. Be one in spirit and purpose. 3 Don't do anything only to get ahead. Don't do it because you are proud. Instead, be free of pride. Think of others as better than yourselves. 4 None of you should look out just for your own good. You should also look out for the good of others. 5 You should think in the same way Christ Jesus does. 6 In His very nature He was God. But He did not think that being equal with God was something He should hold on to. 7 Instead, He made Himself nothing. He took on the very nature of a servant. He was made in human form. 8 He appeared as a man. He came down to the lowest level. He obeyed God completely, even though it led to His death. In fact, He died on a cross. 9 So God lifted Him up to the highest place. He gave Him the name that is above every name. 10 When the name of Jesus is spoken, everyone's knee will bow to worship Him. Every knee in heaven and on earth and under the earth will bow to worship Him. 11 Everyone's mouth will say that Jesus Christ is Lord. And God the Father will receive the glory.
Discussion questions:
1. What do you think is the most important word in the verses above?
2. Agree or disagree: It is always wrong to be proud.
3. Does verse 3 speak against the idea of competition (like in school, sports, etc.)?
4. How is Jesus Christ described?
5. Why did Jesus die on a cross?
6. Why do you think God gave Jesus the highest place and name in the universe?
7. Why should we bow to worship Jesus, and say that He is Lord?
Friday, June 3, 2011
Fool's Pride
Opening question: What is one of the best choices you have ever made?
Let’s read what the Bible says about the way we should or should not exercise our will:
Luke 12:16-21
16 Then Jesus told them this parable: There was once a rich man who had land which bore good crops. 17 He began to think to himself, I don’t have a place to keep all my crops. What can I do? 18 This is what I will do, he told himself; I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, where I will store the grain and all my other goods. 19 Then I will say to myself, “Lucky man! You have all the good things you need for many years. Take life easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” 20 But God said to him, “You fool! This very night you will have to give up your life; then who will get all these things you have kept for yourself?” 21 And Jesus concluded, “This is how it is with those who pile up riches for themselves but are not rich in God’s sight.”
James 4:13-16
13 Now listen to me, you that say, “Today or tomorrow we will travel to a certain city, where we will stay a year and go into business and make a lot of money.” 14 You don’t even know what your life tomorrow will be! You are like a puff of smoke, which appears for a moment and then disappears. 15 What you should say is this: “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.” 16 But now you are proud, and you boast; all such boasting is wrong.
Matthew 26:39
39 He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
Discussion:
1. How would you describe the men in the 2 stories?
2. Is it wrong to be proud?
3. What’s wrong with wanting to be rich?
4. How would you compare the way the men and Jesus made their choices?
5. What’s the “cup of suffering” that Jesus was talking about?
6. Why was Jesus willing to drink the cup?
7. How can we benefit today from the way Jesus chose to do God’s will 2000 years ago?
Let’s read what the Bible says about the way we should or should not exercise our will:
Luke 12:16-21
16 Then Jesus told them this parable: There was once a rich man who had land which bore good crops. 17 He began to think to himself, I don’t have a place to keep all my crops. What can I do? 18 This is what I will do, he told himself; I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, where I will store the grain and all my other goods. 19 Then I will say to myself, “Lucky man! You have all the good things you need for many years. Take life easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” 20 But God said to him, “You fool! This very night you will have to give up your life; then who will get all these things you have kept for yourself?” 21 And Jesus concluded, “This is how it is with those who pile up riches for themselves but are not rich in God’s sight.”
James 4:13-16
13 Now listen to me, you that say, “Today or tomorrow we will travel to a certain city, where we will stay a year and go into business and make a lot of money.” 14 You don’t even know what your life tomorrow will be! You are like a puff of smoke, which appears for a moment and then disappears. 15 What you should say is this: “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.” 16 But now you are proud, and you boast; all such boasting is wrong.
Matthew 26:39
39 He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
Discussion:
1. How would you describe the men in the 2 stories?
2. Is it wrong to be proud?
3. What’s wrong with wanting to be rich?
4. How would you compare the way the men and Jesus made their choices?
5. What’s the “cup of suffering” that Jesus was talking about?
6. Why was Jesus willing to drink the cup?
7. How can we benefit today from the way Jesus chose to do God’s will 2000 years ago?
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