Opening Questions: What is authority? Who in your life has authority over you? How did they get that authority?
Read
Luke 4:31-37
31 Then Jesus went to Capernaum, a town in Galilee. On the Sabbath day he began to teach the people. 32 They were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority. 33 In the synagogue there was a man controlled by a demon, an evil spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice. 34 "Ha!" he said. "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the Holy One of God!" 35 "Be quiet!" Jesus said firmly. "Come out of him!" Then the demon threw the man down in front of everybody. And it came out without hurting him. 36 All the people were amazed. They said to each other, "What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits. And they come out!" 37 The news about Jesus spread throughout the whole area. (New International Readers Version)
Questions
1. In Luke 4:32, the people are amazed at Jesus’ teaching. Why?
2. What are evil spirits? What do they do? In Luke 4:33-34, how does the evil spirit respond when Jesus comes near to him?
3. What does Jesus do to the evil spirit? Why was he able to do this? Why couldn’t anyone else do this?
4. How do the people respond to what they see and hear? What conclusions do they reach about Jesus? What do we learn about Jesus from this passage?
5. Do evil spirits exist today? If so, are they involved in our lives? How? What can we do about this?
The following verses may be helpful in answering Question 5:
When the devil lies, he speaks his natural language. He does this because he is a liar. He is the father of lies. (John 8:44)
People hear the message about the kingdom but do not understand it. Then the evil one comes. He steals what was planted in their hearts. (Matthew 13:19)
I was afraid that Satan might have tempted you in some way. (1 Thessalonians 3:5)
Control yourselves. Be on your guard. Your enemy the devil is like a roaring lion. He prowls around looking for someone to chew up and swallow. (1 Peter 5:8)
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them [the evil spirits], because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)
The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. (1 John 3:8)
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:32)
Friday, September 23, 2011
Friday, September 16, 2011
Alive Forever and Ever
Opening question: If you could, would you want to live forever?
Let’s read Revelation 1:9-18:
9 I, John, am a believer like you. I am a friend who suffers like you. As members of Jesus' royal family, we can put up with anything that happens to us. I was on the island of Patmos because I taught God's word and what Jesus said. 10 The Holy Spirit took complete control of me on the Lord's Day. I heard a loud voice behind me that sounded like a trumpet. 11 The voice said, "Write on a scroll what you see. Send it to the seven churches in Asia Minor. They are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea." 12 I turned around to see who was speaking to me. When I turned, I saw seven golden lampstands. 13 In the middle of them was someone who looked like the Son of man. He was dressed in a long robe with a gold strip of cloth around his chest. 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow. His eyes were like a blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze metal glowing in a furnace. His voice sounded like rushing waters. 16 He held seven stars in his right hand. Out of his mouth came a sharp sword that had two edges. His face was like the sun shining in all of its brightness. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. Then he put his right hand on me and said, "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One. I was dead. But look! I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys to Death and Hell."
Discussion questions:
1. Who was John, and who was he writing to?
2. What does it mean to be a believer? A believer in what?
3. What does the term “royal family” mean, and how do you become a member?
4. What was John doing on the island of Patmos, taking a vacation?
5. How is the person speaking to John described?
6. Who is this person speaking to John, and from what you know, why did he die?
7. What do you think Jesus means by holding the “keys of Death and Hell”?
Let’s read Revelation 1:9-18:
9 I, John, am a believer like you. I am a friend who suffers like you. As members of Jesus' royal family, we can put up with anything that happens to us. I was on the island of Patmos because I taught God's word and what Jesus said. 10 The Holy Spirit took complete control of me on the Lord's Day. I heard a loud voice behind me that sounded like a trumpet. 11 The voice said, "Write on a scroll what you see. Send it to the seven churches in Asia Minor. They are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea." 12 I turned around to see who was speaking to me. When I turned, I saw seven golden lampstands. 13 In the middle of them was someone who looked like the Son of man. He was dressed in a long robe with a gold strip of cloth around his chest. 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow. His eyes were like a blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze metal glowing in a furnace. His voice sounded like rushing waters. 16 He held seven stars in his right hand. Out of his mouth came a sharp sword that had two edges. His face was like the sun shining in all of its brightness. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. Then he put his right hand on me and said, "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One. I was dead. But look! I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys to Death and Hell."
Discussion questions:
1. Who was John, and who was he writing to?
2. What does it mean to be a believer? A believer in what?
3. What does the term “royal family” mean, and how do you become a member?
4. What was John doing on the island of Patmos, taking a vacation?
5. How is the person speaking to John described?
6. Who is this person speaking to John, and from what you know, why did he die?
7. What do you think Jesus means by holding the “keys of Death and Hell”?
Friday, September 9, 2011
Paul & Barnabas
Opening question: What is the religion of your parents?
Lets read a true story from Acts.
8 In Lystra there sat a man who couldn't walk. He hadn't been able to use his feet since the day he was born. 9 He listened as Paul spoke. Paul looked right at him. He saw that the man had faith to be healed. 10 So he called out, "Stand up on your feet!" Then the man jumped up and began to walk. 11 The crowd saw what Paul had done. They shouted in the Lycaonian language. "The gods have come down to us in human form!" they exclaimed. 12 They called Barnabas Zeus. Paul was the main speaker. So they called him Hermes. 13 Just outside the city was the temple of the god Zeus. The priest of Zeus brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates. He and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas. 14 But the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard about this. So they tore their clothes. They rushed out into the crowd. They shouted, 15 "Why are you men doing this? We are only human, just like you. We are bringing you good news. Turn away from these worthless things. Turn to the living God. He is the one who made the heavens and the earth and the sea. He made everything in them. 16 In the past, he let all nations go their own way. 17 But he has given proof of what he is like. He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven. He gives you crops in their seasons. He provides you with plenty of food. He fills your hearts with joy." 18 Paul and Barnabas told them all these things. But they had trouble keeping the crowd from offering sacrifices to them.
Word List:
Lystra – a city in modern-day Turkey.
Lycaonian – the langage of the people living in Lystra.
gods – people or things that are worshipped or given the highest place of honor and respect.
Zeus – the Greek word for the Latin word Jupiter, one of the major Italian gods.
Hermes – the Greek word for the Latin word Mercury, one of the major Roman gods.
tore their clothes – a demonstration of extreme anger or deep sorrow.
Discussion Questions:
1. What was happening in verses 8-10?
2. How did the people of Lystra treat Paul & Barnabas?
3. Why did Paul & Barnabas get so freaked out?
4. How did Paul describe God?
5. What are some of the gods that people pay special attention to in today’s world?
6. What do you think God wants people to “turn away from” and “turn to” in 2011? Please explain.
Lets read a true story from Acts.
8 In Lystra there sat a man who couldn't walk. He hadn't been able to use his feet since the day he was born. 9 He listened as Paul spoke. Paul looked right at him. He saw that the man had faith to be healed. 10 So he called out, "Stand up on your feet!" Then the man jumped up and began to walk. 11 The crowd saw what Paul had done. They shouted in the Lycaonian language. "The gods have come down to us in human form!" they exclaimed. 12 They called Barnabas Zeus. Paul was the main speaker. So they called him Hermes. 13 Just outside the city was the temple of the god Zeus. The priest of Zeus brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates. He and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas. 14 But the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard about this. So they tore their clothes. They rushed out into the crowd. They shouted, 15 "Why are you men doing this? We are only human, just like you. We are bringing you good news. Turn away from these worthless things. Turn to the living God. He is the one who made the heavens and the earth and the sea. He made everything in them. 16 In the past, he let all nations go their own way. 17 But he has given proof of what he is like. He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven. He gives you crops in their seasons. He provides you with plenty of food. He fills your hearts with joy." 18 Paul and Barnabas told them all these things. But they had trouble keeping the crowd from offering sacrifices to them.
Word List:
Lystra – a city in modern-day Turkey.
Lycaonian – the langage of the people living in Lystra.
gods – people or things that are worshipped or given the highest place of honor and respect.
Zeus – the Greek word for the Latin word Jupiter, one of the major Italian gods.
Hermes – the Greek word for the Latin word Mercury, one of the major Roman gods.
tore their clothes – a demonstration of extreme anger or deep sorrow.
Discussion Questions:
1. What was happening in verses 8-10?
2. How did the people of Lystra treat Paul & Barnabas?
3. Why did Paul & Barnabas get so freaked out?
4. How did Paul describe God?
5. What are some of the gods that people pay special attention to in today’s world?
6. What do you think God wants people to “turn away from” and “turn to” in 2011? Please explain.
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