Talking About Jesus

Blind Man Sees

2012-01-06T22:37:00.000-08:00

Opening question: What do you think it would be like to be blind?

Let’s read about this miracle:

John 9:1-7
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.

Vocabulary: sin – wrong behavior; Pool of Siloam – one of many pools around the city of Jerusalem

1) Describe the life of the blind man in the story.
2) What would it be like to be blind in your culture?
3) How was Jesus the ‘Light of the world’ to this blind man?
4) Is it easy or difficult to believe this miracle really happened? Explain.

John 9:35-41
35 Jesus heard that the Pharisees had thrown the man out. When He found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" 36 "Who is He, sir?" the man asked. "Tell me, so I can believe in Him."
37 Jesus said, "You have now seen Him. In fact, He is the one speaking with you." 38 Then the man said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped Him. 39 Jesus said, "I have come into this world to judge it.
I have come so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind." 40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard Him say this. They asked, "What? Are we blind too?" 41 Jesus said, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, you remain guilty."

Vocabulary: Pharisees – the religious rulers of Israel 2000 years ago; Son of Man – one of Jesus’ titles

5) How did the Pharisees treat the blind man?
6) What kind of blindness was Jesus talking about in verses 39 and 41?
7) How did the man born blind respond to Jesus?
8) What does it mean to ‘believe’ and to ‘worship’?
9) Do you believe and worship Jesus? If so, explain why?

Jesus is our God who sets us free

2011-12-09T14:40:00.000-08:00

How can we be freed from sin?
John 8:31-36
31 So Jesus said to those who believed in him, If you obey my teaching, you are really my disciples; 32 you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
33 We are the descendants of Abraham, they answered, and we have never been anybody's slaves. What do you mean, then, by saying, You will be free?
34 Jesus said to them, I am telling you the truth: everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave does not belong to a family permanently, but a son belongs there forever. 36 If the Son sets you free, then you will be really free.

1. What do you think Jesus meant when he said: “everyone who sins is a slave of sin.” (v. 34)?
2. What does it mean to be free from the slavery of sin?
3. Jesus tells us that the truth will set us free from the slavery of sin. What do you think is this truth?
4. Jesus also tells us that the Son sets us free. Who is the Son and how do you think he sets us free from the slavery of sin?

Jesus is greater than Abraham
John 8:51-59
51 I am telling you the truth: whoever obeys my teaching will never die.
52 They said to him, Now we know for sure that you have a demon! Abraham died, and the prophets died, yet you say that whoever obeys your teaching will never die. 53 Our father Abraham died; you do not claim to be greater than Abraham, do you? And the prophets also died. Who do you think you are?
54 Jesus answered, If I were to honor myself, that honor would be worth nothing. The one who honors me is my Father—the very one you say is your God. 55 You have never known him, but I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I obey his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he was to see the time of my coming; he saw it and was glad.
57 They said to him, You are not even fifty years old—and you have seen Abraham?
58 I am telling you the truth, Jesus replied. Before Abraham was born, I Am.
59 Then they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and left the Temple.

5. In v. 51, Jesus says: “I am telling you the truth: whoever obeys my teaching will never die.” What do you think he means?
6. In v. 37, Jesus says: “I know you are Abraham's descendants.” Who is Abraham? Why do the people—the Israelites—call him their “father”? Why was he so respected?
7. At the end of the video, Jesus says: “Before Abraham was born, I Am.” What do you think this means? Why do you think the crowd got so mad?

Exodus 3:13-15
13Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” 14God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” 15God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.

8. What did we learn about Jesus this week?

Jesus is the Light

2011-12-02T22:18:00.000-08:00

Read John 8:1-12
1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until on Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” 12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Discussion:
Word meanings: circle the words you do not know and discuss

1. Why did the Pharisees bring this woman to Jesus? What exactly was the trap?
2. What did the Mosaic Law demand when someone was charged with adultery (read Leviticus 20:10 and Deuteronomy 22:22)
3. What did Jesus do in verse 6? Why do you think Jesus did that?
4. How did Jesus turn the question back on the accusers? (verse 7)
5. How does Jesus show both justice and mercy in verse 11?
6. Jesus says he is the “light of the world”. What do you think is the connection between light and life? How might this apply to the story we just read?

Streams of Living Water

2011-11-25T22:14:00.000-08:00

Opening question: Share a time when you were very thirsty.

Let’s read John 7:37-39
37 It was the last and most important day of the Feast. Jesus stood up and spoke in a loud voice. He said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 Does anyone believe in Me? Then, just as Scripture says, streams of living water will flow from inside him.” 39 When He said this, He meant the Holy Spirit. Those who believed in Jesus would receive the Spirit later. Up to that time, the Spirit had not been given. This was because Jesus had not been glorified yet.

Questions:
1. In your own words, try to retell what happened on the last day of the Feast.
2. What kind of ‘thirst’ do you think Jesus was speaking of?
3. Do you think spiritual thirst is real? Explain.
4. If anyone is spiritually thirsty, what should they do, according to Jesus?
5. What does it mean to ‘believe in’ Jesus?
6. What are ‘streams of living water’ and where do they come from?
7. Have you begun to drink this ‘living water’ yet? If so, what is it like?

Twelve Baskets

2011-11-18T22:08:00.000-08:00

Opening question: What is your favorite kind of food?

Read John 6:1-13
1 Sometime after this, Jesus crossed over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. It is also called the Sea of Tiberias. 2 A large crowd of people followed him. They had seen the miraculous signs he had done on those who were sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside. There he sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Feast was near. 5 Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him. So he said to Philip, "Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?" 6 He asked this only to put Philip to the test. He already knew what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, "Eight months' pay would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!" 8 Another of his disciples spoke up. It was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 9 He said, "Here is a boy with five small loaves of barley bread. He also has two small fish. But how far will that go in such a large crowd?" 10 Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down. The number of men among them was about 5,000. 11 Then Jesus took the loaves and gave thanks. He handed out the bread to those who were seated. He gave them as much as they wanted. And he did the same with the fish. 12 When all of them had enough to eat, Jesus spoke to his disciples. "Gather the leftover pieces," he said. "Don't waste anything." 13 So they gathered what was left over from the five barley loaves. They filled 12 baskets with the pieces left by those who had eaten.

Discussion:
1. What were some of your thoughts while watching the video?
2. Try to retell what happened in your own words.
3. What does verse 6 mean to you?
4. What do we learn about Jesus?
5. How can this story apply to our lives?

Nicodemus

2011-10-21T22:12:00.000-07:00

Read John 3:1-7 (NIrV)
1 There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus. He was one of the Jewish rulers. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. We know that God is with you. If he weren’t, you couldn’t do the miraculous signs are doing.” 3 Jesus replied, “What I’m about to tell you is true. No one can see God’s kingdom without being born again.” 4 “How can I be born again when I am old?” Nicodemus asked. “I can’t go back inside my mother! I can’t be born a second time!” 5 The Jesus answered, “What I’m about to tell you is true. No one can enter God’s kingdom without being born through water and the Holy Spirit. 6 People give birth to people. But the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised when I say, ‘You must all be born again.’

Question 1: Who came to Jesus by night? What conclusion had he reached about Jesus?
Question 2: What did Jesus say one must do to enter the kingdom of God?
Question 3: What two births did Jesus contrast in verse 6? What do you think is the difference between the two births?

Read John 3:16-21 (NIrV)
16 “God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son. Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life. 17 “God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world. He sent his Son to save the world through him. 18 Anyone who believes in him is not judged. But anyone who does not believe is judged already. He has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 “Here is the judgment. Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light. They loved darkness because what they did was evil. 20 “Everyone who does evil things hates the light. They will not come into the light. They are afraid that what they do will be seen. 21 But anyone who lives by the truth comes into the light. He does this so that it will be easy to see that that he has done is with God’s help.

Question 4: According to Jesus, what is the gift for those that believe in him? What do those who do not believe in Jesus receive?
Question 5: What do you think people need to be saved from?
Question 6: Why do you think some people love darkness rather than light, but other people love it? Give some applications to illustrate the idea.

Read John 3:31-36 (NIrV)
31 “The One who comes from above is above everything. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks like someone from the earth. The One who comes from heaven is above everything. 32 He gives witness to what he has seen and heard. But no one accepts what he says. 33 Anyone who has accepted it has said, “Yes God is truthful.” 34 The One whom God has send speaks God’s words. God gives the Holy Spirit without limit. 35 “The Father loves the Son and has put everything into his hands. 36 Anyone who says no to the Son will not have life. God’s anger remains on him.”

Question 7: In verse 33, what does it mean to say that ‘God is truthful’?
Question 8: What is the consequence of believing or not believing?

the Authority of Jesus

2011-09-23T22:01:00.000-07:00

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)

Alive Forever and Ever

2011-09-16T12:20:00.000-07:00

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”?

Paul & Barnabas

2011-09-09T12:17:00.000-07:00

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.

the 10 Commandments

2011-08-26T21:42:00.000-07:00

Opening question: What do you think should be Rule #1 for all the people of the world?

Let’s read the 10 Commandments (from Exodus 20:3-17), given by God to the nation of Israel about 3500 years ago:

1 Do not put any other gods in place of Me.

2 Do not make statues of gods that look like anything in the sky or on the earth or in the waters. Do not bow down to them or worship them. I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God. I punish the children for the sin of their parents. I punish the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of those who hate Me. But for all time to come I show love to all those who love Me and keep my commandments.

3 Do not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will find guilty anyone who misuses His name.

4 Remember to keep the Sabbath day holy. Do all of your work in six days. But the seventh day is a Sabbath in honor of the LORD your God. Do not do any work on that day. The same command applies to your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and your animals. It also applies to any foreiners who live in your cities. In six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth. He made the oceans and everything in them. But He rested on the seventh day. So He blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

5 Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long time in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

6 Do not commit murder.

7 Do not commit adultery.

8 Do not steal.

9 Do not give false witness against your neighbor.

10 Do not long for anything that belongs to your neighbor. Do not long for your neighbor's house, wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey.

Discussion questions:
a - Circle any difficult words.
b - What is a commandment?
c - Make up a 2011 version of commandment #10?
d - What do you think was the purpose of these commandments?
e - What happens if we obey or disobey God’s commandment(s)?
f - Which commandment do you think is the most important one? Why?
g - Which commandment do you think is the most difficult to obey? Explain.
h - Why should anyone obey the 10 commandments in 2011?

The Church at Laodicea

2011-08-19T18:13:00.000-07:00

Opening question: If you could invite any famous person for dinner, whom would you ask? Why?

Let’s read about a church that Jesus spoke to 2000 years ago:

Revelation 3:14-22
14 This is what you must write to the angel of the church in Laodicea: I am the one called Amen! I am the faithful and true Witness and the Source of God's creation. Listen to what I say. 15 I know everything you have done, and you are not cold or hot. I wish you were either one or the other. 16 But since you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 You claim to be rich and successful and to have everything you need. But you don't know how bad off you are. You are pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. 18 Buy your gold from Me. It has been refined in a fire, and it will make you rich. Buy white clothes from Me. Wear them and you can cover up your shameful nakedness. Buy medicine for your eyes, so that you will be able to see. 19 I correct and punish everyone I love. So make up your minds to turn away from your sins. 20 Listen! I am standing and knocking at your door. If you hear My voice and open the door, I will come in and we will eat together. 21 Everyone who wins the victory will sit with Me on My throne, just as I won the victory and sat with My Father on His throne. 22 If you have ears, listen to what the Spirit says.”

Discussion questions:
1. How is Jesus described in these verses?
2. How did the church people in Laodicea feel about themselves? And how did God feel about this church?
3. What does it mean to be “lukewarm” about something?
4. What does Jesus tell the people to do in verse 18?
5. What do you think the words “gold” and “white” and “medicine” might be talking about?
6. What promises does Jesus give to those who listen to Him?
7. According to Jesus, what are true riches and success?

Refurbished

2011-08-12T21:40:00.000-07:00

Opening question: Have you ever bought something that was refurbished?

Read the following from the Bible about how man’s fellowship with God was ruined / refurbished

Broken fellowship -- Ecclesiastes 7:29
God created people to be virtuous, but they have each turned to follow their own downward path.

How it happened -- Genesis 3:1-8
1 The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the LORD God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” 2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’” 4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” 6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. 8 When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees.

The result -- Romans 5:12; 6:23a
12 Adam sinned, and that sin brought death into the world. Now everyone has sinned, and so everyone must die. 23 The wages of sin is death.

The repair -- 1 Peter 3:18
18 Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.

Fellowship refurbished -- 1 John 1:3,4
3 We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard, so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things so that you may share our joy.

Discussion questions:
1. What was mankind’s problem in the very beginning stages of the human race?
2. What were some of the results of man’s choice to ignore God?
3. How did God repair man’s sin problem?
4. Do you think it’s important to have fellowship with God and with other people? Explain.
5. How can we experience being refurbished in our fellowship with God, and with others?
6. Have you been, or are you being, refurbished spiritually? Tell your (ongoing) story.

the Heart of Man

2011-08-05T21:33:00.000-07:00

Opening question: Do you think human nature is basically good or evil?

Let’s read what Jesus says about human nature:

Mark 7:1-8, 14-23
1 The Pharisees gathered around Jesus. So did some of the teachers of the law. All of them had come from Jerusalem. 2 They saw some of his disciples eating food with "unclean" hands. That means they were not washed.
3 The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands to make them pure. That's what the elders teach. 4 When they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they wash. And they follow many other teachings. For example, they wash cups, pitchers, and kettles in a special way. 5 So the Pharisees and the teachers of the law questioned Jesus. "Why don't your disciples live by what the elders teach?" they asked. "Why do they eat their food with 'unclean' hands?" 6 He replied, "Isaiah was right. He prophesied about you people who pretend to be good. He said,
" 'These people honor me by what they say. But their hearts are far away from me. 7 Their worship doesn't mean anything to me. They teach nothing but human rules.' 8 You have let go of God's commands. And you are holding on to the teachings that men have made up."

14 Again Jesus called the crowd to him. He said, "Listen to me, everyone. Understand this. 15 Nothing outside of you can make you 'unclean' by going into you. 16 It is what comes out of you that makes you 'unclean.' " 17 Then he left the crowd and entered the house. His disciples asked him about this teaching. 18 "Don't you understand?" Jesus asked. "Don't you see? Nothing that enters people from the outside can make them 'unclean.' 19 It doesn't go into the heart. It goes into the stomach. Then it goes out of the body." In saying this, Jesus was calling all foods "clean." 20 He went on to say, "What comes out of people makes them 'unclean.' 21 Evil thoughts come from the inside, from people's hearts. So do sexual sins, stealing and murder. Adultery, 22 greed, hate and cheating come from people's hearts too. So do desires that are not pure, and wanting what belongs to others. And so do telling lies about others and being proud and being foolish. 23 All those evil things come from inside a person. They make him 'unclean.' "

Word list:
Pharisees – a group of religious leaders of Israel 2000 years ago.
the law – the rules that God gave to the people of Israel.
Jerusalem – the capital of Israel.
unclean – unqualified to enter heaven; unacceptable to God.
elders – leaders.
Isaiah – a prophet of Israel, who lived about 700 years before Jesus.
prophesied – when someone speak for God to the people.
adultery – having sex with someone who is already married.

Discussion questions:
1. Does your culture have any rules that everyone is supposed to follow?
2. What are some human rules that you think everyone should follow?
3. Are you familiar with any of God’s rules? If so, which ones do you think are the most important ones?
4. Are we born with a clean heart, or does it have to become clean somehow? Explain
5. So, how can our hearts become clean, so we can become acceptable to God, and enter heaven someday?

Don't Love the World

2011-07-29T17:55:00.000-07:00

Opening question: What do you like the most about the world we live in?

Read the following story about the people of the world, from God’s point of view:

Genesis 11:1-9
1 At one time, the whole Earth spoke the same language. 2 It so happened that as they moved out of the east, they came upon a plain in the land of Shinar and settled down. 3 They said to one another, "Come, let's make bricks and fire them well." They used brick for stone and tar for mortar. 4 Then they said, "Come, let's build ourselves a city and a tower that reaches Heaven. Let's make ourselves famous so we won't be scattered here and there across the Earth." 5 GOD came down to look over the city and the tower those people had built. 6 GOD took one look and said, "One people, one language; why, this is only a first step. No telling what they'll come up with next -- they'll stop at nothing! 7 Come, We'll go down and garble their speech so they won't understand each other." 8 Then GOD scattered them from there all over the world. And they had to quit building the city. 9 That's how it came to be called Babel, because there GOD turned their language into "babble." From there GOD scattered them all over the world.

James 4:4,5
4 You're cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and His way. 5 And do you suppose God doesn't care? The proverb has it that, "He's a fiercely jealous lover."

1 John 2:15-17
15 Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. 16 Practically everything that goes on in the world -- wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important -- has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from Him. 17 The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out -- but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.

Discussion questions:
1. What do you think “the world” is referring to in the verses above?
2. Why do you think God wanted to keep the people from building their tower?
3. Agree or disagree: Jealousy is always wrong.
4. What is a “fiercely jealous lover”? Can you think of a possible example?
5. What’s wrong with “wanting” something?
6. What does it mean to be “set for eternity”?
7. How can we be set for eternity?

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

2011-07-22T18:08:00.000-07:00

Opening question: What do you do when you do something wrong?

Read the following from the Bible:

Luke 18:9-14
9 Jesus told this parable to certain people who had convinced themselves that they were righteous and who looked on everyone else with disgust. 10 “Two people went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself with these words, ‘God, I thank You that I’m not like everyone else -- crooks, evildoers, adulterers -- or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week. I give a tenth of everything I receive.’ 13 But the tax collector stood at a distance. He wouldn’t even lift his eyes to look toward heaven. Rather, he struck his chest and said, ‘God, show mercy to me, a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this person went down to his home justified rather than the Pharisee. All who lift themselves up will be brought low, and those who make themselves low will be lifted up.”

Difficult words:
parable – an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.
righteous – to be right with God.
Pharisee – a religious leader of Israel.
tax collector – those who works for Rome (e.g., hated by the Jews), who would often keep some of the money they collected for themselves.
fast – to go without food to show devotion to God.
give a tenth – to give 10% of your income to support the work of God.
mercy – when you don’t get what you deserve (i.e., some kind of punishment).
sinner – one who is doing what is wrong against God, others, or him/herself.
justified – being pronounced right with God.
lift yourself up – to think/talk too highly about yourself.

Discussion questions:
1. How would you describe the two men in the story?
2. How would you compare the two prayers?
3. Thought question: How would you grade yourself before God?
4. What do you think the main point of the parable is?
5. How do the following Bible verses help us understand more about sin and being righteous or justified?

Roman 3:23,24
23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

1 John 2:1,2; 1:9
1 My dear children, I'm writing this to you so that you will not sin. But suppose someone does sin. Then we have One who speaks to the Father for us. He stands up for us. He is Jesus Christ, the Blameless One. 2 He gave His life to pay for our sins. But He not only paid for our sins. He also paid for the sins of the whole world. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

the Lord's Prayer

2011-07-15T18:05:00.000-07:00

Opening question: If you could ask God anything, what would it be?
Read what Jesus says about prayer:

Matthew 6:7-13
7 When you pray, do not keep talking on and on the way ungodly people do. They think they will be heard because they talk a lot. 8 Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need even before you ask him. 9 This is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored. 10 May your kingdom come. May what you want to happen be done on earth as it is done in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our sins, just as we also have forgiven those who sin against us. 13 Keep us from falling into sin when we are tempted. Save us from the evil one.'

Matthew 7:7-11
7 Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. 8 Everyone who asks will receive. He who seeks will find. The door will be opened to the one who knocks. 9 Suppose your son asks for bread. Which of you will give him a rock? 10 Or suppose he asks for a fish. Which of you will give him a snake? 11 Even though you are evil, you know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more will your Father who is in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Discussion questions:
1. What is prayer?
2. Do you ever pray? If so, what do you pray about?
3. What can we learn about God from these verses?
4. Is there anything that Jesus teaches about prayer that you don’t understand?
5. What do you like about what Jesus has to say? Why?
6. What do you need a lot of prayer for?
7. Close in a time of prayer.

Christians and the World

2011-07-01T18:03:00.000-07:00

Opening Question: Complete this sentence:
I hate ____________________________________.

Read John 15:18-27, circling any words you’re not sure about:

18 If the people of this world hate you, just remember that they hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, its people would love you. But you don't belong to the world. I have chosen you to leave the world behind, and that is why its people hate you. 20 Remember how I told you that servants are not greater than their master. So if people mistreat me, they will mistreat you. If they do what I say, they will do what you say. 21 People will do to you exactly what they did to me. They will do it because you belong to me, and they don't know the one who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Everyone who hates me also hates my Father. 24 I have done things that no one else has ever done. If they had not seen me do these things, they would not be guilty. But they did see me do these things, and they still hate me and my Father too. 25 That is why the Scriptures are true when they say, "People hated me for no reason." 26 I will send you the Spirit who comes from the Father and shows what is true. The Spirit will help you and will tell you about me. 27 Then you will also tell others about me, because you have been with me from the beginning.

Discussion questions:
1 - Who is speaking? And who else is He speaking about?
2 - Why would anyone hate Jesus?
3 - Have you ever hated, or been hated? Explain.
4 - Where does hatred come from, and what’s the solution for it?
5 - What is the Spirit’s job, as Jesus explains?
6 - What is our job, as followers of Jesus?
7 - What will happen if we do our job as followers of Jesus, according to Jesus? What does Jesus say about that?

Stumbling Blocks

2011-06-24T18:00:00.000-07:00

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.

Be Like Christ

2011-06-10T18:42:00.000-07:00

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?

Fool's Pride

2011-06-03T19:21:00.000-07:00

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?

Remember Jesus

2011-05-27T19:18:00.000-07:00

Opening question: Can you share one of your most pleasant memories?

Read Isaiah 53:1-12
Note: Isaiah was a prophet of Israel, who lived about 700 years before Jesus was born. He gave messages from God about the corrupt condition of Israel. And he predicted the coming of Jesus 700 years later. He also spoke about the future of planet earth.

1 Who has believed what we've been saying? Who has seen the Lord's saving power? 2 His servant grew up like a tender young plant. He grew like a root coming up out of dry ground. He didn't have any beauty or majesty that made us notice him. There wasn't anything special about the way he looked that drew us to him. 3 Men looked down on him. They didn't accept him. He knew all about sorrow and suffering. He was like someone people turn their faces away from. We looked down on him. We didn't have any respect for him. 4 He suffered the things we should have suffered. He took on himself the pain that should have been ours. But we thought God was punishing him. We thought God was wounding him and making him suffer. 5 But the servant was pierced because we had sinned. He was crushed because we had done what was evil. He was punished to make us whole again. His wounds have healed us. 6 All of us are like sheep. We have wandered away from God. All of us have turned to our own way. And the Lord has placed on his servant the sins of all of us. 7 He was beaten down and made to suffer. But he didn't open his mouth. He was led away like a sheep to be killed. Lambs are silent while their wool is being cut off. In the same way, he didn't open his mouth. 8 He was arrested and sentenced to death. Then he was taken away. He was cut off from this life. He was punished for the sins of my people. Who among those who were living at that time could have understood those things? 9 He was given a grave with those who were evil. But his body was buried in the tomb of a rich man. He was killed even though he hadn't harmed anyone. And he had never lied to anyone. 10 The Lord says, "It was my plan to crush him and cause him to suffer. I made his life a guilt offering to pay for sin. But he will see all of his children after him. In fact, he will continue to live. My plan will be brought about through him. 11 After he suffers, he will see the light that leads to life. And he will be satisfied. My godly servant will make many people godly because of what he will accomplish. He will be punished for their sins. 12 So I will give him a place of honor among those who are great. He will be rewarded just like others who win the battle. That is because he was willing to give his life as a sacrifice. He was counted among those who had committed crimes. He took the sins of many people on himself. And he gave his life for those who had done what is wrong.

Discussion questions:
1. Any difficult words or phrases?
2. Name all the different personalities you can find in the verses above.
3. How is Jesus described?
4. What was His mission?
5. What are some of the results of His death (and resurrection)?
6. Who did Jesus die for?
7. How can we benefit from the death and resurrection of Jesus?

The Lord is my Shepherd

2011-05-20T18:29:00.000-07:00

Opening Question: Tell us about one of your needs that you want God to provide for.

Read this Psalm out loud and slowly 3 times
Psalm 23 (ESV)
A PSALM OF DAVID
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Word Meanings:
pasture: A land covered with grass for grazing animals;
righteousness: morally upright, without guilt or sin;
rod: a stick of wood or metal;
staff: stick or cane;
anoint: apply or pour oil;
dwell: to live as a resident

Questions
1. This is the best known Psalm of all the 150 Psalms. Why do you think so?

2. Which section of the Psalm best describes your need that you shared with the group?

3. What images or emotions come to your mind when you close your eyes and think of:
- A shepherd
- Valley of the shadow of death
- Anoint someone’s head with oil
- Green pastures and still waters
- A rod and a staff
- An overflowing cup

4. Based on this Psalm, what do you think about the Personality of God?

5. Which of the promises made in the above Psalm do you need to personally claim and apply in your life today?

6. Match each row on the left from Psalm 23 with the promises of the LORD. Either draw arrows or write down the letter that matches the promise. Some of them are done for you. (It is okay to have multiple different answers.)

7.Read these verses from the New Testament that show how God fulfills the promises of Psalm 23 in Jesus Christ.

John 10:11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

John 10:9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.

John 7:37 If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.

John 6:35 I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 11:25 I am the resurrection and the life, whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
Hebrews 12:6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.
Revelations 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Jesus and the Samaritan Woman

2011-05-13T19:15:00.000-07:00

Read John 4:4-26

4 Jesus went back to Galilee. He had to go through Samaria. 5 He came to a town in Samaria called Sychar. It was near the piece of land Jacob had given his son Joseph. 6 Jacob's well was there. Jesus was tired from the journey. So he sat down by the well. It was about noon. 7 A woman from Samaria came to get some water. Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" 8 His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew. I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" She said this because Jews don't have anything to do with Samaritans. 10 Jesus answered her, "You do not know what God's gift is. And you do not know who is asking you for a drink. If you did, you would have asked him. He would have given you living water." 11 "Sir," the woman said, "you don't have anything to get water with. The well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 "Our father Jacob gave us the well. He drank from it himself. So did his sons and his flocks and herds. Are you more important than he is?" 13 Jesus answered, "All who drink this water will be thirsty again. 14 But anyone who drinks the water I give him will never be thirsty. In fact, the water I give him will become a spring of water in him. It will flow up into eternal life." 15 The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water. Then I will never be thirsty. And I won't have to keep coming here to get water." 16 He told her, "Go. Get your husband and come back." 17 "I have no husband," she replied. Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands. And the man you have now is not your husband. What you have just said is very true." 19 "Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our people have worshiped on this mountain for a long time. But you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem." 21 Jesus said, "Believe me, woman. A time is coming when you will not worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know. We worship what we do know. Salvation comes from the Jews. 23 "But a new time is coming. In fact, it is already here. True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. They are the kind of worshipers the Father is looking for. 24 "God is spirit. His worshipers must worship him in spirit and in truth." 25 The woman said, "I know that Messiah, who is called Christ, is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." 26 Then Jesus said, "I, the one speaking to you, am he."

1. Go over any difficult words.
2. Try to put the story into your own words.
3. Is there a conflict between men and women in your culture?
4. Does racism exist in your culture? If you think so, why?
5. How does Jesus address the two issues above?
6. What does it mean to worship God in spirit and in truth?
7. What is the relationship between worship and God and Jesus?

Lord of the Sabbath

2011-05-06T21:19:00.000-07:00

Opening Question: What do you like to do when you take time to rest?

Read Luke 6:1-11
1 Now it happened that He was passing through some grain fields on a Sabbath; and His disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating the grain. 2 But some of the Pharisees said, "Why do you do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?" 3 And Jesus answering them said, "Have you not even read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him, 4 how he entered the house of God, and took and ate the consecrated bread which is not lawful for any to eat except the priests alone, and gave it to his companions?" 5 And He was saying to them, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." 6 On another Sabbath He entered the synagogue and was teaching; and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. 7 The scribes and the Pharisees were watching Him closely to see if He healed on the Sabbath, so that they might find reason to accuse Him. 8 But He knew what they were thinking, and He said to the man with the withered hand, "Get up and come forward!" And he got up and came forward. 9 And Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to destroy it?" 10 After looking around at them all, He said to him, "Stretch out your hand!" And he did so; and his hand was restored. 11 But they themselves were filled with rage, and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.

Word list:
Sabbath - the last day of the week for the Jews (Saturday).
disciples - followers.
synagogue - place of worship and fellowship for the Jews.
withered - twisted and shortened.
scribes – experts in all the religious laws the Jews had added to God’s laws.
rage – extreme anger.

Discussion Questions:
1. What do you like the most about these stories?
2. Is there anything that you don’t quite understand?
3. Say something about the scribes and the Pharisees.
4. What do you think Jesus meant in verse 5?
5. Agree or disagree: Jesus taught that it’s OK to break rules.
6. How can we apply these 2 stories to our lives today?

A Fish Story

2011-04-29T21:16:00.000-07:00

Opening question: Have you ever caught a fish?

Read Luke 5:1-11
1 One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. 2 He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 3 Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” 5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” 6 And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! 7 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking. 8 When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me -- I’m too much of a sinner to be around you.” 9 For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. 10 His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed. Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” 11 And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.

Discussion:
1. Go over any difficult works or phrases.
2. Describe in your own words what happened in this story.
3. How did Jesus know where there would be so many fish?
4. Why did Peter ask Jesus to leave?
5. What did Jesus mean in verse 10?
6. How did Simon, James and John respond to the actions and words of Jesus? Explain.
7. What does it mean to you to “leave everything and follow Jesus”?

A Parable of the Cross

2011-04-22T17:51:00.000-07:00

Most (“The Bridge”) is a film about a father who decides he must crush to death his own son, whom he loves very much, in order to save the lives of many others. This story is a parable, because it teaches us about what God the Father did to his own Son on the cross. Isaiah 53:10 says that “it was the LORD's will to crush him.” Let us look at the story of The Bridge and see what it shows us about God and the meaning of the death of Jesus on the cross.

1. Why do you think the father is sad when he is having tea with his son? Is God ever sad? What do you think might make God sad? What do the following verses tell us about this?

The LORD saw how bad the sins of man had become on the earth. All of the thoughts in his heart were always directed only toward what was evil. The LORD was very sad that he had made man on the earth. His heart was filled with pain. (Genesis 6:5-6, NIRV)

This verse refers to a time when a good friend of Jesus died, and many people were grieving:
Jesus saw her crying. He saw that the Jews who had come along with her were crying also. His spirit became very sad, and he was troubled. "Where have you put him?" he asked. "Come and see, Lord," they replied. Jesus cried. (John 11:33-35, NIRV)

2. In the film, when the train comes too early, the bridge is up and the son is trapped where the bridge must come down. The father must decide between crushing his son or letting the people on the train die. In what way is this like the decision God had to make?

All have sinned. The payment for sin is death. (Romans 3:23, 6:23)

Christ didn't have any sin. But God made him become sin for us. So we can be made right with God because of what Christ has done for us. (2 Corinthians 5:21, NIRV)

But the servant was pierced because we had sinned. He was crushed because we had done what was evil. He was punished to make us whole again. His wounds have healed us.
(Isaiah 53:5, NIRV)

How can we become healed because of what Christ has done for us?

3. In the end of the film, the father is in a new city. There he recognizes a woman from his former neighborhood, who had been on the train. She had been a drug addict, pregnant, alone, and very unhappy. But now she has a new life. She and her baby boy are healthy and happy. When the father sees this, he rejoices. How is this like the joy the Father and Jesus experience?

Jesus said: "I tell you, it will be the same in heaven. There will be great joy when one sinner turns away from sin.” (Luke 15:7 NIRV)

Jesus was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. (Hebrews 12:2, NLT)

When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, my righteous servant will be satisfied. (Isaiah 53:11, NLT)

4. The son in the film died, just like Jesus died, so that others could live. But unlike the son in the film, Jesus rose from death a few days later. He is alive. Happy Easter!

Jesus at Work

2011-04-15T17:31:00.000-07:00

Opening question: What kind of work do you like doing?

Read Luke 4:31-43
31 Jesus went to the town of Capernaum in Galilee and taught the people on the Sabbath. 32 His teaching amazed them because he spoke with power. 33 There in the Jewish meeting place was a man with an evil spirit. 34 He yelled out, "Hey, Jesus of Nazareth, what do you want with us? Are you here to get rid of us? I know who you are! You are God's Holy One." 35 Jesus ordered the evil spirit, "Be quiet and come out." The demon threw the man to the ground in front of everyone and left without harming him. 36 They all were amazed and kept saying to each other, "What kind of teaching is this? He has power to order evil spirits out of people!" 37 News about Jesus spread all over that part of the country. 38 Jesus left the meeting place and went to Simon's home. When Jesus got there, he was told that Simon's mother-in-law was sick with a high fever. 39 So Jesus went over to her and ordered the fever to go away. Right then she was able to get up and serve them a meal. 40 After the sun had set, people with all kinds of diseases were brought to Jesus. He put his hands on each one of them and healed them. 41 Demons went out of many people and shouted, "You are the Son of God!" But Jesus ordered the demons not to speak because they knew he was the Messiah. 42 The next morning Jesus went out to a place where he could be alone, and crowds came looking for him. When they found him, they tried to stop him from leaving. 43 But Jesus said, "People in other towns must hear the good news about God's kingdom. That's why I was sent."

Word List:
Sabbath -- the day of rest for the Jews. Saturday for us.
evil spirits / demons -- angels that are constantly at war with God.
Son of God -- the second person of the Trinity (Trinity, or Tri-Unity, means 3-in-1. The Bible teaches there are 3 persons in one God -- Father, Son and Holy Spirit -- who operate in perfect harmony with each other).
Messiah -- anointed one. (Anoint means rub. Throughout time, cultures have used nice-smelling oils for various reasons, like perfume, cologne, cosmetics, burial preparation, and even in ceremonies to install their kings).
good news -- the message that we can be forgiven of all our sins, and be given power to live a new life of love.
God’s kingdom -- a system in which everyone surrenders to God and serves Him as their chosen King.

Discussion questions:
1. What was Jesus doing in the verses above?
2. How would you describe demons?
3. Say something about the different kinds of people that Jesus helped.
4. Any comments about the way Simon’s mother-in-law responded to being healed?
5. Jesus gave a lot of orders (see verses 35, 39, 41). Comments?
6. What would the world be like if Jesus was King, and everyone was serving Him?
7. How can we join Jesus, and help spread the good news about God’s kingdom?

Job Description of Jesus

2011-04-08T17:35:00.000-07:00

Opening question: Can you describe the job you now have, or you hope to have in the future?

Let’s read about Jesus’ job description, found in Luke 4:14-22

14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Holy Spirit. News about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. 16 Jesus went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. On the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue as he usually did. And he stood up to read. 17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He unrolled it and found the right place. There it is written,

18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me. He has anointed me to tell the good news to poor people. He has sent me to announce freedom for prisoners. He has sent me so that the blind will see again. He wants me to free those who are beaten down. 19 And he has sent me to announce the year when he will set his people free."

20 Then Jesus rolled up the scroll. He gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were staring at him. 21 He began by saying to them, "Today this passage of Scripture is coming true as you listen." 22 Everyone said good things about him. They were amazed at the gracious words they heard from his lips. "Isn't this Joseph's son?" they asked.

Word List:
Galilee – the region where Jesus was from.
Holy Spirit – the 3rd member of the trinity (3-in-1, Father + Son + Holy Spirit = God)
synagogue – a place where the Jews met for fellowship.
Nazareth – the city where Jesus was raised.
Sabbath – the day of rest for the Jews, Saturday.
scroll – a paper-like material that was written on, and kept rolled up.
prophet Isaiah – one of God’s messengers to Israel, who lived about 700 years before Jesus was born.
anoint – to pour or put on a perfume-like oily substance.
Scripture – the word of God, the Bible.
gracious – beautiful, pleasant.
Joseph – the step-father of Jesus (Jesus’ real father was God).

Discussion questions:
1. How would you put what Jesus said into your own words?
2. What do the following words mean to you? Poor_______ Prisoners_______ Blind_______ Beaten down________
3. Have you ever felt poor, imprisoned, blind or beaten down emotionally or spiritually? Please explain.
4. How can Jesus set people free today?
5. Has Jesus set you free in any way? If so, please share how?

Who is Jesus?

2011-03-25T17:18:00.000-07:00

Opening question: What does the name "Jesus Christ" make you think of?

Read Mark 2:1-12
1 A few days later, Jesus entered Capernaum again. The people heard that he had come home. 2 So many people gathered that there was no room left. There was not even room outside the door. And Jesus preached the word to them. 3 Four of those who came were carrying a man who could not walk. 4 But they could not get him close to Jesus because of the crowd. So they made a hole in the roof above Jesus. Then they lowered the man through it on a mat. 5 Jesus saw their faith. So he said to the man, "Son, your sins are forgiven." 6 Some teachers of the law were sitting there. They were thinking, 7 "Why is this fellow talking like that? He's saying a very evil thing! Only God can forgive sins!" 8 Right away Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? 9 Is it easier to say to this man, 'Your sins are forgiven'? Or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? 10 I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." Then Jesus spoke to the man who could not walk. 11 "I tell you," he said, "get up. Take your mat and go home." 12 The man got up and took his mat. Then he walked away while everyone watched. All the people were amazed. They praised God and said, "We have never seen anything like this!"

Discussion questions:
1. Make a list of all the different people in this story.
2. What were the teachers thinking, and how did Jesus know their thoughts?
3. What is the answer to Jesus’ question in verse 9?
4. How did the 4 men demonstrate their faith in Jesus?
5. How did Jesus help the man who could not walk?
6. What are some things we learn from this story?

Stones

2011-03-11T18:10:00.000-08:00

Opening question: Where to you look to find complete security?

Read John 10:22-33 out loud, and then again silently:

22 Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” 29 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 29 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.” 31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” 33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”

Word list:
Festival of Dedication – a Jewish holiday celebrating the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem, which had been destroyed by the Babylonians hundreds of years earlier.
Solomon’s Colonnade – an area outside the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem.
the Jews – the religious leaders of the nation of Israel 2000 years ago.
suspense – a period of waiting to find out about something; mental uncertainty.
Messiah – anointed one. Anoint means to put oil on, expressing a special blessing. In Jewish history, when a man became king they would pour oil on his head, symbolizing God’s blessing. “Messiah” is a Hebrew word, and Hebrew is the language of the Jews of Israel. In the Greek language, Messiah is translated “Christ”.
works (see verse 29) – miracles.
snatch – to grab or take away quickly.
Father – God.
blasphemy – speaking against God.
mere – being nothing more or nothing better than something else.

Discussion:
1. Retell what’s happening in this account of Jesus.
2. Why does Jesus call his followers “sheep”?
3. What does Jesus promise his followers?
4. What is the relationship between Jesus and God?
5. Why did the Jews get so angry at Jesus?
6. Do you believe Jesus was (and is) God? Explain.

Alive in Christ

2011-03-04T18:05:00.000-08:00

Read Ephesians 2:1-10 together as a group. Then take a few minutes to read it again silently:

1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil — the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. 4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. 8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Word list:
sins - the bad things we think, say or do OR the good things that we don’t think, say or do.
the devil - Satan, the evil being fighting against God and good.
inclinations - desires.
mercy - when you don’t get the punishment you deserve.
Christ - Jesus, the Son of God, the Savior of the word.
grace - when you get something you don’t deserve.
heavenly realms - the place where heaven is.
salvation - the process of being saved from God’s anger.
masterpiece - a beautiful work of art.

Discussion:
1. Make a list of words that sound:
Negative
Positive
2. What is our condition before we believe in Christ? And after?
3. What kind of deadness is verse 1 talking about?
4. Agree or disagree: If someone lives a good life on earth, they should be allowed to go to heaven.
5. What’s the difference between “gift” (see verse 8) and “reward” (see verse 9)?
6. What are some good things we can do after we become believers in Christ?
7. Why do we need to be “created anew” and how can that happen to us?

You Must be Born Again

2011-02-25T12:16:00.000-08:00

Opening question: Have you ever wished you could start life over again?

Read John 3:1-9

1 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus, who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born again.” 4 “How can anyone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” 9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

Discussion Questions:
1. Any difficult words?
2. How are Nicodemus and Jesus described?
3. What’s happening in this encounter between Nicodemus and Jesus?
4. What is flesh? And spirit?
5. What is the kingdom of God?
6. Why do we need to be born again to see and enter the kingdom of God?
7. What does it mean to be born again, and how can we experience this second birth?

From Death to Life

2011-02-18T22:35:00.000-08:00

Opening question: What is the greatest gift we can receive and give?

Read Romans 5:12-21

12 Adam sinned, and that sin brought death into the world. Now everyone has sinned, and so everyone must die. 13 Sin was in the world before the Law came. But no record of sin was kept, because there was no Law. 14 Yet death still had power over all who lived from the time of Adam to the time of Moses. This happened, though not everyone disobeyed a direct command from God, as Adam did. In some ways Adam is like Christ who came later. 15 But the gift that God was kind enough to give was very different from Adam's sin. That one sin brought death to many others. Yet in an even greater way, Jesus Christ alone brought God's gift of kindness to many people. 16 There is a lot of difference between Adam's sin and God's gift. That one sin led to punishment. But God's gift made it possible for us to be acceptable to him, even though we have sinned many times. 17 Death ruled like a king because Adam had sinned. But that cannot compare with what Jesus Christ has done. God has been so kind to us, and he has accepted us because of Jesus. And so we will live and rule like kings. 18 Everyone was going to be punished because Adam sinned. But because of the good thing that Christ has done, God accepts us and gives us the gift of life. 19 Adam disobeyed God and caused many others to be sinners. But Jesus obeyed him and will make many people acceptable to God. 20 The Law came, so that the full power of sin could be seen. Yet where sin was powerful, God's kindness was even more powerful. 21 Sin ruled by means of death. But God's kindness now rules, and God has accepted us because of Jesus Christ our Lord. This means that we will have eternal life.

Discuss the following:

1.list some things that are the opposite of something else:

Note: About 2000 years after Adam lived, God raised up a leader for the Jews, the people of Israel. His name was Moses. At one point, God gave Moses a list of rules, called the Law. The Law was supposed to govern the way the Jews were to relate to each other and to God.

2. Do you think the Law that God gave to the people of Israel was positive or negative? Explain.
3. Why is “death” compared to being like a “king” in verse 17?
4. How is God described throughout these verses?
5. How many times is the word “gift” used, and why do you think it’s repeated so many times?
6. What did Jesus do about Adam’s sin, which was passed down to his children and to the rest of the human race?
7. What is “God’s gift” and how can we receive it?

The Prodigal Son

2011-01-21T12:13:00.000-08:00

Opening question: Can you think of anyone who has lived, or is living, a wild and crazy life?

Read and look over the following story that Jesus told:

11 "There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger son spoke to his father. He said, 'Father, give me my share of the family property.' So the father divided his property between his two sons. 13 Not long after that, the younger son packed up all he had. Then he left for a country far away. There he wasted his money on wild living. 14 He spent everything he had. Then the whole country ran low on food. So the son didn't have what he needed. 15 He went to work for someone who lived in that country, who sent him to the fields to feed the pigs. 16 The son wanted to fill his stomach with the food the pigs were eating. But no one gave him anything. 17 Then he began to think clearly again. He said, 'How many of my father's hired workers have more than enough food! But here I am dying from hunger! 18 I will get up and go back to my father. I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven. And I have sinned against you. 19 I am no longer fit to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers." 20 So he got up and went to his father. While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him. He was filled with tender love for his son. He ran to him. He threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son.' 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattest calf and kill it. Let's have a big dinner and celebrate. 24 This son of mine was dead. And now he is alive again. He was lost. And now he is found.' So they began to celebrate." (Luke 15:11-24)

Discussion questions:
1. Try to retell the story, putting it into your owns words.
2. How would you describe the son?
3. What do you think is one of the key words in this story? Explain.
4. Make a list of all the actions of the father toward his prodigal son.
5. In what way was the son "dead" and how did he come "alive again"?
6. How does this story illustrate man’s relationship with God?
7. As this story illustrates, what do we have to do before our relationship with God can be restored?

the boy Jesus

2011-01-07T17:36:00.000-08:00

Opening Question: What was the highlight of your winter vacation?

Take turns reading the verses in Luke 2:41-52

41 Every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. 42 When he was 12 years old, they went up to the Feast as usual. 43 After the Feast was over, his parents left to go back home. The boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But they were not aware of it. 44 They thought he was somewhere in their group. So they traveled on for a day. Then they began to look for him among their relatives and friends. 45 They did not find him. So they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courtyard. He was sitting with the teachers. He was listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at how much he understood. They also were amazed at his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were amazed. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been worried about you. We have been looking for you everywhere." 49 "Why were you looking for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" 50 But they did not understand what he meant by that. 51 Then he went back to Nazareth with them, and he obeyed them. But his mother kept all these things like a secret treasure in her heart. 52 Jesus became wiser and stronger. He also became more and more pleasing to God and to people.

Word List:
Passover Feast – a major holiday for Jewish people 2000 years ago, and today as well.
Jerusalem – spiritual capital of Israel, and the city where Jesus was crucified (killed on a cross).
Temple courtyard – the place outside the temple in Jerusalem, where the people of Israel, the Jews, worshipped God.
Father – another word for God. The Bible tells us there is one God, with 3 personalities (or titles) – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They are all equally the one, true Creator of the universe, the Trinity.
Nazareth – a small city, about 65 miles north of Jerusalem, where Jesus grew up.

Discussion:
1. How would you retell this story, using your own words?
2. Based on the story, what kind of child was Jesus?
3. Agree or disagree: Jesus was being disrespectful toward his parents.
4. What do you think Jesus’ parents were thinking and feeling when they realized he was missing?
5. What was Jesus doing in the temple; why did he end up there?
6. Which was more important to Jesus – his relationship to his “father” or his “Father”? Explain.
7. Just about all we know about the next 18 years of Jesus’ life is found in verse 52. How do you think he was pleasing to God and to people?

The Shepherds, the Angels, and Jesus

2010-12-10T14:44:00.000-08:00

Opening question: What is one of the best gifts you have ever received, and why?

Read Matthew 2:1-20, asking and answering all the Who, What, Where, When, Why and How questions you can think of:

1 In those days, Caesar Augustus made a law. It required that a list be made of everyone in the whole Roman world. 2 It was the first time a list was made of the people while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be listed. 4 So Joseph went also. He went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea. That is where Bethlehem, the town of David, was. Joseph went there because he belonged to the family line of David. 5 He went there with Mary to be listed. Mary was engaged to him. She was expecting a baby. 6 While Joseph and Mary were there, the time came for the child to be born. 7 She gave birth to her first baby. It was a boy. She wrapped him in large strips of cloth. Then she placed him in a manger. There was no room for them in the inn. 8 There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby. It was night, and they were looking after their sheep. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them. And the glory of the Lord shone around them. They were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy. It is for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord. 12 Here is how you will know I am telling you the truth. You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger." 13 Suddenly a large group of angels from heaven also appeared. They were praising God. They said, 14 "May glory be given to God in the highest heaven! And may peace be given to those he is pleased with on earth!" 15 The angels left and went into heaven. Then the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem. Let's see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby. The baby was lying in the manger. 17 After the shepherds had seen him, they told everyone. They reported what the angel had said about this child. 18 All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary kept all these things like a secret treasure in her heart. She thought about them over and over. 20 The shepherds returned. They gave glory and praise to God. Everything they had seen and heard was just as they had been told.

In Touch with Jesus

2010-11-12T18:26:00.001-08:00

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?

Suffering

2010-11-05T19:38:00.000-07:00

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?

Removng our Masks - Revealing our true Identity

2010-10-29T18:39:00.000-07:00

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.

Jesus in Action

2010-10-22T19:41:00.000-07:00

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?

Jesus in Action

2010-10-15T18:52:00.000-07:00

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?

Just Do It

2010-10-08T19:07:00.000-07:00

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?

Love is...

2010-10-01T19:04:00.000-07:00

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”?

Baptism of the Man from Ethiopia

2010-09-10T12:06:00.000-07:00

Opening Question: Have you ever seen someone get baptized?

Read Acts 8:26-39
26 An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip. "Go south to the desert road," he said. "It's the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." 27 So Philip started out. On his way he met an Ethiopian official. The man had an important position. He was in charge of all the wealth of Candace. She was the queen of Ethiopia. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship. 28 On his way home he was sitting in his chariot. He was reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Holy Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot. Stay near it." 30 So Philip ran up to the chariot. He heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you're reading?" Philip asked. 31 "How can I?" he said. "I need someone to explain it to me." So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Here is the part of Scripture the official was reading. It says, "He was led like a sheep to be killed. Just as lambs are silent while their wool is being cut off, he did not open his mouth. 33 When he was treated badly, he was refused a fair trial. Who can say anything about his children? His life was cut off from the earth." 34 The official said to Philip, "Tell me, please. Who is the prophet talking about? Himself, or someone else?" 35 Then Philip began with that same part of Scripture. He told him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water. The official said, "Look! Here is water! Why shouldn't I be baptized?" 37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The official answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” 38 He gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the official went down into the water. Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away. The official did not see him again. He went on his way full of joy.

Word List:
angel –
prophet –
Holy Spirit –
chariot –
Scripture –
cut off –
baptized -

Discussion Questions:
1. How would you re-tell this story in your own words?
2. Do you have any questions about this story?
3. How would you describe Philip and the man from Ethiopia?
4. Who can explain what the man from Ethiopia was reading?
5. Why was important to “believe with all your heart”?
6. What do we have to believe before getting baptized?
7. Why do you think the man from Ethiopia went back to his country “full of joy”?

The Roman Road

2010-09-03T21:00:00.000-07:00

Opening Question: How’s your journey down the road of life going so far?

Read the following:
Romans 1:19,20
19 People know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities -- His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

Romans 3:23
Everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

Romans 5:8
God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

Romans 6:23
The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 10:9-13
9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in Him will never be disgraced.” 12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on Him. 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.”

Word List:
Sin, Standard, Wages, Confess, Saved, Disgrace, Jew, Gentile

Discuss the following:
1. Do you believe that a BIG BANG or a BIG GOD created the universe? Explain.
2. What do you think is the worst sin that can be committed?
3. How would you describe God’s love? Give an example.
4. What kind of “death” do you think Romans 6:23 is talking about?
5. In your opinion, what is “eternal life”?
6. What does it mean to be “saved”?
7. How can we be have eternal life and be saved?

Sword

2010-08-13T19:22:00.000-07:00

Opening question: What do people say about you?

Read out loud and silently the following Bible verses:

Matthew 10:32-39
32 All those who stand before others and say they believe in me, I will say before my Father in heaven that they belong to me. 33 But all who stand before others and say they do not believe in me, I will say before my Father in heaven that they do not belong to me. 34 Don't think that I came to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 I have come so that "a son will be against his father, a daughter will be against her mother, a daughter-in-law will be against her mother-in-law. 36 A person's enemies will be members of his own family. " (Micah 7:6) 37 "Those who love their father or mother more than they love me are not worthy to be my followers. Those who love their son or daughter more than they love me are not worthy to be my followers. 38 Whoever is not willing to carry the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Those who try to hold on to their lives will give up true life. Those who give up their lives for me will hold on to true life.

John 12:42,43
42 Many believed in Jesus, even many of the leaders. But because of the Pharisees, they did not say they believed in him for fear they would be put out of the synagogue. 43 They loved praise from people more than praise from God.

John 15:5
5 I am the vine, and you are the branches. If any remain in me and I remain in them, they produce much fruit. But without me they can do nothing.

Philippians 4:13
13 I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength.

Word list:
Pharisees – a powerful religious organization that ruled Israel 2000 years ago.
synagogue – the place where the Jewish people would meet every Saturday for worship.

Discussion questions:
1. What problem did the Jewish leaders face, as we read in John 12?
2. Why do we care so much about what people think about us?
3. How important are your parents’ thoughts about you?
4. Why do you think Jesus used the word “sword”?
5. What do you think it means to “carry the cross”?
6. Where does the believer’s strength to tell others about Jesus come from?

Peace

2010-08-06T13:34:00.000-07:00

Opening Question: Did you have a peaceful week? If so, give an example.

Let’s read what the Bible says about peace:

Isaiah 9:6
6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Matthew 5:9
9 God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.

Romans 5:1
1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.

Colossians 1:20
20 and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

1 Peter 3:8-12
8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. 9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it. 10 For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. 11 Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. 12 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”

Let’s discuss what we just read about peace:
1)What does “peace” mean to you?
2)Who is the “child” mentioned in the first verse above, and how is he the “prince of peace”?
3)How can we have peace with God?
4)What does it mean to “work for” and “search for” peace?
5)Can you think of some examples of the lack of peace today in the world? In your country? In your life?
6)Thought question: Is there anyone that you need to make peace with, besides God?

Revelation of Jesus - Part 4

2010-07-30T19:04:00.000-07:00

Opening Question: What has been the highlight of your summer so far?

Read 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 out loud as a group, and again silently by yourself:

11 We know what it means to have respect for the Lord. So we try to help other people to understand it. What we are is plain to God. I hope it is also plain to your way of thinking. 12 We are not trying to make an appeal to you again. But we are giving you a chance to take pride in us. Then you can answer those who take pride in how people look rather than in what is really in their hearts. 13 Are we out of our minds? That is because we want to serve God. Does what we say make sense? That is because we want to serve you. 14 Christ's love controls us. We are sure that one person died for everyone. And so everyone died. 15 Christ died for everyone. He died so that those who live should not live for themselves anymore. They should live for Christ. He died for them and was raised again. 16 So from now on we don't look at anyone the way the world does. At one time we looked at Christ in that way. But we don't anymore. 17 Anyone who believes in Christ is a new creation. The old is gone! The new has come! 18 It is all from God. He brought us back to himself through Christ's death on the cross. And he has given us the task of bringing others back to him through Christ. 19 God was bringing the world back to himself through Christ. He did not hold people's sins against them. God has trusted us with the message that people may be brought back to him. 20 So we are Christ's official messengers. It is as if God were making his appeal through us. Here is what Christ wants us to beg you to do. Come back to God! 21 Christ didn't have any sin. But God made him become sin for us. So we can be made right with God because of what Christ has done for us.

Try to find the following questions from the verses above:
1) Is there anything hard to understand in any of the verses above?
2) How does God see us before and after we are right with God?
3) Who was Jesus Christ, and what was his mission?
4) How can we be made right with God?
5) Is there something in your life that needs to be made right with God?
6) What is the primary job of the Christian?

PCU and GKU

2010-07-23T15:49:00.000-07:00

Dan Brannen led the study portion of ICF on Friday. The following is a brief description:

Imagine that we are high school students, touring different universities. The two universities we get to tour today are Politically Correct University (PCU) and God's Kingdom University (GKU).

At the PCU tour, we learned about how to distinguish between values. PCU gave us a value (like running away from bears), and we had to choose whether it was a 1 - personal value, 2 - cultural value, or 3 - universal value. Individuals were asked why they thought the value was one of the three. Some of the other values were speaking Arabic, speaking Arabic as a foreign language, and wearing white mourning robes for 30 days.

During the GKU, we learned that we need to determine our values based on God's book - the Bible. We base our values on what the KING wants and what His Book (the Bible) says, not on our personal opinion or on what the culture around us tells us. Like the PCU tour, we had to choose between 3 categories. The categories are 1 - celebrate/embrace, 2 - reject, and 3 - redeem. The celebrate category includes values that are in-line with the Bible and should be enjoyed and celebrated. The reject category includes things in-which the Bible teaches against. And the redeem category includes values which are wrong, but which can be turned into something good. Like before, individuals were asked to state why they picked each category for the value stated. Some of the values included wearing a jade dragon, having more than one wife, arranged marriages, and "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas".

As students of GKU, we would learn that we should not reject all of the cultural values of the country that we live in. As the three categories suggest, there are some values that should be embraced and others that should be rejected, and others that need to be redeemed. Some of the verses that address these issues are 1 John 2:15-17, Matthew 5:13-16, Phillipians 2:14-15, and Ephesians 5:8-11. I encourage you to look them up right now.

After touring these two university and participating in the games where we had to decide what category each value fit into, which university do you want to go to? Why? What are some of your thoughts about it?

Revelation of Jesus - Part 3

2010-07-16T15:43:00.000-07:00

Opening question: If God was a man, what do you think that man be like?

Let’s read about Jesus out loud the first time, and then again silently, circling any words that you’re not sure about:

John 1:1-3, 14
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made. Without him nothing was made that has been made.

John 10:28-33
28 "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one." 31 Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him. 32 But Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?" 33 "We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God."

1 John 5:11-13
11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He who has the Son has life. He who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

John 17:3
3 "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."

Thought Questions:
1) Is there anything that you don’t understand in the Bible verses above?
2) According to the Bible, what’s the relationship between God and Jesus?
3) If Jesus is the one, true Creator God, how can Jesus help people today and in the future?
4) Have you come to the point in your life where you know for sure -- 100% -- that you’re going to heaven?
5) If you were to die tonight and stand before God, and He asked you, “Why should I let you into my heaven?” what would your answer would be?
6) How can we know for sure that we have eternal life, according to the verses above?
7) Why do you think it might be good to know for sure that you’re going to heaven?

Revelation of Jesus - Part 2

2010-07-09T16:34:00.000-07:00

Opening Question: Do you like to get new things?

Read Revelation 21:5-8; 22:12-17, 20 out loud in your group, and again silently and slowly.

Revelation 21:5-8
5 He who was sitting on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down. You can trust these words. They are true." 6 He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last. I am the Beginning and the End. Anyone who is thirsty may drink from the spring of the water of life. It doesn't cost anything! 7 Anyone who overcomes will receive all this from me. I will be his God, and he will be my child. 8 But others 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."

Revelation 22:12-17, 20
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. 16 I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this witness for the churches. I am the Root and the Son of David. I am the bright Morning Star." 17 The Holy Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" Let those who hear say, "Come!" Anyone who is thirsty should come. Anyone who wants to take the free gift of the water of life should do so." 20 He who gives witness to these things says, "Yes. I am coming soon."

Thought Questions:
1. What does you wish Jesus would make new in today’s world?
2. Make a list of all the descriptions of Jesus.
3. What is your favorite description of Jesus, and why?
4. What do you think the following represent: water of life, second death, robes, tree of life, the city, dogs
5. What do you think it means for people to “wash their robes”?
6. How can people escape the “lake of fire”?
7. How can people “drink from the spring of the water of life” and “come to the tree of life”?

Revelation of Jesus - Part 1

2010-07-02T16:27:00.000-07:00

Opening Question: Have you ever been shocked to see someone for some reason?

Read Revelation 1:4-18 out loud as a group, and then again silently.

4 I, John, am writing this letter. I am sending it to the seven churches in Asia Minor:

May grace and peace come to you from the One who is, and who was, and who will come. May grace and peace come to you from the seven spirits who are in front of God's throne. 5 May grace and peace come to you from Jesus Christ. What Jesus gives witness to can always be trusted. He was the first to rise from the dead. He rules over the kings of the earth. Give glory and power to the One who loves us! He has set us free from our sins by pouring out his blood for us. 6 He has made us members of his royal family. He has made us priests who serve his God and Father. Give him glory and power forever and ever! Amen.

7 Look! He is coming with the clouds! Every eye will see him. Even those who pierced him will see him. All the nations of the earth will be sad because of him. This will really happen! Amen.

8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last," says the Lord God. "I am the One who is, and who was, and who will come. I am the Almighty." 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 a 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."

Thought Questions:
1) Is there anything that you have a hard time understanding?
2) What is your favorite description of Jesus, and why?
3) Who is Jesus? Explain.
4) What has Jesus done for us, according to these verses?
5) How can we be “freed from our sins” like we read in 1:5?
6) What difference does it make, if Jesus is “alive forever and ever”?

Temptation

2010-06-18T14:35:00.000-07:00

Opening Question: Have you ever been tempted in any way?

Read Matthew 4:1-11 / Luke 4:1-13

1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." 4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" 5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 So if you worship me, it will all be yours." 8 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'" 9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written: 'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; 11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" 12 Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time, and angels came and attended him.

Questions:
1) Are there any words, or verses, that you don’t quite understand?
2) Who is the “devil” and what is he like, according to this part of the Bible?
3) What does it mean to be “tempted”?
4) How did Jesus respond to the devil’s temptations? Discuss.
5) Who was involved with Jesus before and after he was tempted? Explain.
6) How can we respond when we are tempted to do something that’s against God or against other people?

Praise God

2010-06-11T14:55:00.000-07:00

Opening Question: What are you most thankful about this past school year?

1. What does it mean to “praise”?
2. What do you notice people like to praise, besides God? Give examples.
3. What do you notice about praise in the following passage from the Bible:

18 God shows His anger from heaven. It is against all the godless and evil things people do. They are so evil that they say no to the truth. 19 The truth about God is plain to them. God has made it plain. 20 Ever since the world was created it has been possible to see the qualities of God that are not seen. I'm talking about His eternal power and about the fact that He is God. Those things can be seen in what He has made. So people have no excuse for what they do. 21 They knew God. But they didn't honor Him as God. They didn't thank Him. Their thinking became worthless. Their foolish hearts became dark. 22 They claimed to be wise. But they made fools of themselves. 23 They would rather have statues of gods than the glorious God who lives forever. Their statues of gods are made to look like people, birds, animals and reptiles. 24 So God let them go. He allowed them to do what their sinful hearts wanted to. He let them commit sexual sins. They polluted one another's bodies by what they did. 25 They chose a lie instead of God's truth. They worshiped and served created things. They didn't worship the Creator. But He must be praised forever. Amen.
Romans 1:18-25

4. What does the verse below say to you?

11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power. For thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.
Revelation 4:11

5. What does the following Bible verse mean to you?

6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!
Psalm 150:6

6. How would you explain the connection between praising God and serving man, like we see below?

15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. 16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Hebrews 13:15,16

7. Close in praise.

The Widow and the Oil

2010-06-04T20:21:00.000-07:00

Opening Question: Do you believe in miracles?

Read 2 Kings 4:1-7
1 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha. She said, "My husband is dead. You know how much respect he had for the Lord. But he owed money to someone. And now that person is coming to take my two boys away. They will become his slaves." 2 Elisha replied to her, "How can I help you? Tell me. What do you have in your house?" "I don't have anything there at all," she said. "All I have is a little olive oil." 3 Elisha said, "Go around to all of your neighbors. Ask them for empty jars. Get as many as you can. 4 Then go inside your house. Shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all of the jars. As each jar is filled, put it over to one side." 5 The woman left him. After that, she shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her. And she kept pouring. 6 When all of the jars were full, she spoke to one of her sons. She said, "Bring me another jar." But he replied, "There aren't any more left." Then the oil stopped flowing. 7 She went and told the man of God about it. He said, "Go and sell the oil. Pay what you owe. You and your sons can live on what is left."

Discussion:
1. Try to tell this story again in your own words.
2. Describe what the following characters did:

The widow -
Elisha -
The widow’s sons -
God -

3. What do you think the widow felt before and after the miracle? Why?
4. What do you have that God can multiply and use for your own good, and for the good of others?
5. What can we learn from this story?
6. What do the following promises from the Bible say to you?

God is able to do far more than we could ever ask for or imagine. He does everything by his power that is working in us. Ephesians 3:20

My God will meet all your needs. He will meet them in keeping with his wonderful riches that come to you because you belong to Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

God did not spare his own Son. He gave him up for us all. Then won't he also freely give us everything else? Romans 8:32

Hope and a Future

2010-05-28T20:12:00.000-07:00

Opening Question: What do you hope for in the future?

Read Jeremiah 29:1-14
1 The prophet Jeremiah sent the following letter from Jerusalem to Babylonia. It was for the Jewish elders who were still alive there. It was also for the Jewish priests and prophets in Babylonia. And it was for all of the other Jewish people Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem to Babylon. 2 It was sent to them after Jehoiachin, the king of Israel, had been forced to leave Jerusalem. His mother and the court officials were taken with him. The leaders of Judah and Jerusalem and all of the skilled workers had also been forced to go to Babylon. 3 Jeremiah gave the letter to Elasah and Gemariah. And Zedekiah, the king of Judah, sent them with the letter to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. Here is what the letter said:

4 The Lord who rules over all is the God of Israel. He speaks to all those he forced to go from Jerusalem to Babylon. He says, 5 “Build houses and settle down. Plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Get married. Have sons and daughters. Find wives for your sons. Give your daughters to be married. Then they too can have sons and daughters. Increase your numbers there. Do not let the number of your people get smaller. 7 Also, work for the success of the city I have sent you to. Pray to the Lord for that city. If it succeeds, you too will enjoy success.” 8 The Lord who rules over all is the God of Israel. He says, “Do not let the prophets trick you. Do not be fooled by those who claim to have secret knowledge. Do not listen to people who try to explain their dreams to you. 9 All of them are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” announces the Lord. 10 The Lord says, “You will be forced to live in Babylonia for 70 years. After they are over, I will come to you. My gracious promise to you will come true. I will bring you back home. 11 I know the plans I have for you,” announces the Lord. “I want you to enjoy success. I do not plan to harm you. I will give you hope for the years to come. 12 Then you will call out to me. You will come and pray to me. And I will listen to you. 13 When you look for me with all your heart, you will find me. 14 I will be found by you,” announces the Lord. “And I will bring you back from where you were taken as prisoners. I will gather you from all of the nations. I will gather you from the places where I have forced you to go,” announces the Lord. “I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you away.”

Discussion Questions:
1. Why do you think God told Israel to build, plant, marry, have children, work hard and pray for their host country, when they were being treated like prisoners?
2. What was the warning that God gave to the people of Israel?
3. What was the “gracious promise” God was making to Israel?
4. What did God want from Israel? What does he want from us?
5. Does God promise anything to mankind today?

Abraham and Isaac

2010-05-14T21:56:00.000-07:00

We began by watching a short movie on Abraham's willing obedience to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. Please read the account for yourself in Genesis 22.

Opening Question: What was the highlight and/or lowlight of your week?

Discussion:
1. Try to tell the story of Abraham and Isaac again in your own words.
2. How would you describe Abraham’s relationship with Isaac before and after the test?
3. Agree or disagree: God was mean and cruel to test Abraham in such an extreme way.
4. What do you think about the animal that was caught by its horns in the bush?
5. Make a list of the most important people, things, or desires of your life:
- People
-Things
-Desires
6. Does God have the right to take away anything from our lives? Why or why not?
7. What can we learn about God from this story?

Abram's Reward

2010-05-07T14:42:00.000-07:00

We watched a short movie based on Genesis 12 to 15:6. It is about the call of Abram through Abram's rescue of Lot. Then we discussed the following questions in small groups.

1) How was Abram’s trust in God, love for people, and generosity demonstrated . . .
In his choice to leave his country?
During his discussion with Lot about where to live?
In his response to learning about Lot’s capture?
In his relationship with Melchizedek, the king of Salem and prince of God?

2) Why did God tell Abram to count the stars?

3) God said to Abram, “I am your shield, your very great reward.”
In which area of your life do you need God to be “your shield”? Why?
Is God a “your very great reward” right now? Explain.

4) How would you score yourself, according to the following values in life:
My comfort <1-----2-----3-----4-----5> Serving people?
Acquiring more <1-----2-----3-----4-----5> Living on Less?
Keeping for myself <1-----2-----3-----4-----5> Generosity to others?

5) Which of Abram’s characteristics would you like to experience in your own life, and why?

the Good Samaritan

2010-04-30T14:37:00.000-07:00

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?

Sexual Immorality

2010-04-16T20:53:00.000-07:00

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?

Anger

2010-04-09T18:54:00.000-07:00

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?

Good Friday

2010-04-02T18:23:00.000-07:00

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

Little Children

2010-03-26T18:15:00.000-07:00

Opening Question: What do you like about little children?

Q: What did you think about the slide show? (We watched a slide show of pictures someone had taken of an orphanage in Haiti where they had the devastating earthquake in January.)
Q: Why would someone want to go to all the trouble to start an orphanage?

Bible verses and discussion questions:
Mark 10:13-16
13 People were bringing little children to Jesus. They wanted him to touch them. But the disciples told the people to stop. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was angry. He said to his disciples, "Let the little children come to me. Don't keep them away. God's kingdom belongs to people like them. 15 What I'm about to tell you is true. Anyone who will not receive God's kingdom like a little child will never enter it." 16 Then he took the children in his arms. He put his hands on them and blessed them.

Q: What’s going on in this story?
Q: Why do you think the disciples told the people to stop and Jesus got angry?
Q: What does it mean to receive God’s kingdom like a little child?

John 1:12
Some people accepted Jesus. They believed in his name. He gave them the right to become children of God.

Ephesians 1:5
God decided long ago to adopt us as his children. He did it because of what Jesus Christ has done. It pleased God to do it.

1 John 3:1
How great is the love the Father has given us so freely! Now we can be called children of God. And that's what we really are!

Q: How can people become a part of God’s family?
Q: What other thoughts or questions to you have?

guest speaker

2010-03-12T18:28:00.000-08:00

Today we had a guest speaker who came and spoke about what God is doing in the Middle East.

the Beatitudes

2010-02-26T18:23:00.000-08:00

Opening Question: What one of the greatest blessing you have ever experienced?

Introduction: In Matthew 5:1-13, Jesus teaches The Beatitudes. The Beatitudes are a series of blessings, with a promise attached to each one. The promises are experienced as we put our faith in Jesus and obey him.

Read the following out loud, and then again silently:

Jesus saw the crowds. So he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him. Then he began to teach them. He said,

(3)“Blessed are those who are spiritually needy. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

Blessed are those who are sad. They will be comforted.

Blessed are those who are free of pride. They will be given the earth.

Blessed are those who are hungry and thirsty for what is right. They will be filled.

Blessed are those who show mercy. They will be shown mercy.

Blessed are those whose hearts are pure. They will see God.

Blessed are those who make peace. They will be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who suffer for doing what is right. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

Blessed are you when people make fun of you and hurt you because of me. You are also blessed when they tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me. Be joyful and glad. Your reward in heaven is great. In the same way, people hurt the prophets who lived long ago.”

Discuss the following:
1. Starting with verse 3, explain each blessing and the promise that goes with it.
2. Which promise do you think is the greatest of all? Explain.
3. Which blessing sounds the most difficult to experience, and why?
4. Have you experienced any of these blessings in your life?
5. Which blessing do you want to experience more consistently in your life?

God Loves You!

2010-02-12T20:55:00.000-08:00

Opening question: Who has shown you the most love, and in what way(s)?

Let’s read what the Bible says about love:

Matthew 5:44, 45
44 Here is what I tell you: Love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you. 45 Then you will be sons of your Father, who is in heaven. He causes his sun to shine on evil people and good people. He sends rain on those who do right and those who don't.

Galatians 5:22, 23
22 The fruit the Holy Spirit produces is love, joy and peace. It is being patient, kind and good. 23 It is being faithful and gentle and having control of oneself.

Romans 5:8
8 Here is how God has shown his love for us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1 John 4:7-12
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born again, because of what God has done. That person knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 How did God show his love for us? He sent his one and only Son into the world. He sent him so we could receive life through him. 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. 12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love one another, God lives in us. His love is made complete in us.

Discussion questions:
1. Which description of God’s love do you like the most, and why?
2. Which of the verses above is the hardest to swallow?
3. Have you ever had someone in your life that was hard to love? Explain.
4. How are we supposed to love hard-to-love people, since we are so weak?
5. What’s the difference between God’s love and human love?
6. What are some ways that we can put our love into action?

The Story of the Lost Son

2010-02-05T20:48:00.000-08:00

Opening question: Did you ever want to run away from home when you were growing up?

Let’s read a story that Jesus told, found in Luke 15:11-24

11 (Jesus speaking) “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger son spoke to his father. He said, ‘Father, give me my share of the family property.’ So the Father divided his property between his two sons. 13 Not long after that, the younger son packed up all he had. Then he left for a country far away. There he wasted his money on wild living. 14 He spent everything he had. Then the whole country ran low on food. So the son didn't have what he needed. 15 He went to work for someone who lived in that country, who sent him to the fields to feed the pigs. 16 The son wanted to fill his stomach with the food the pigs were eating. But no one gave him anything. 17 Then he began to think clearly again. He said, 'How many of my father's hired workers have more than enough food! But here I am dying from hunger! 18 I will get up and go back to my father. I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven. And I have sinned against you. 19 I am no longer fit to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers." ' 20 So he got up and went to his father. While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him. He was filled with tender love for his son. He ran to him. He threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son.' 22 But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattest calf and kill it. Let's have a big dinner and celebrate. 24 This son of mine was dead. And now he is alive again. He was lost. And now he is found.' So they began to celebrate."

Discussion Questions:
1. How would you describe the son in this story?
2. Why do you think the son might have wanted to leave his father so much?
3. What was the son’s life like when he was away from his father?
4. How would you describe the father?
5. How is this story a picture of God and his love for sinners (mankind)?
6. What is something about the son that we should copy, and why?

Don't Worry

2010-01-08T17:21:00.000-08:00

Opening Question: What do you worry about the most these days?
Let’s read what Jesus taught about worry, in Matthew 6:25-34.

1. What did Jesus say about God’s relationship with birds and flowers and his children?
2. What do you think Jesus meant in verse 33?
3. What are some of the common signs of worry?
4. How can we trade worry for peace and joy, according to Paul, in Philippians 4:4-9?

Close in prayer.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T18:18:00.000-08:00

Opening question: Do you have a New Year’s resolution for 2010?

2. What changes would you like to see take place in the following areas of your life:

Mental
Physical
Verbal
Social
Spiritual

3. Why is it sometimes hard to keep the promises we make?

4. What do the following verses say about our power to change ourselves and the power of Jesus to help us change?

John 15:5
Philippians 4:13

5. What are some resources that can help us experience change in our lives?

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

2009-12-04T15:15:00.000-08:00

Opening Question: What does Christmas mean to you?

Read Luke 1:26-38 out loud, and then again silently:

26 In the sixth month after Elizabeth had become pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee. 27 He was sent to a virgin. The girl was engaged to a man named Joseph. He came from the family line of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 The angel greeted her and said, "The Lord has given you special favor. He is with you." 29 Mary was very upset because of his words. She wondered what kind of greeting this could be. 30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary. God is very pleased with you. 31 You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. You must name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a king like his father David of long ago. 33 He will rule forever over his people, who came from Jacob's family. His kingdom will never end." 34 "How can this happen?" Mary asked the angel. "I am a virgin." 35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come to you. The power of the Most High God will cover you. So, the Holy One that is born will be called the Son of God. 36 Your relative Elizabeth is old. And even she is going to have a child. People thought she could not have children. But she has been pregnant for six months now. 37 Nothing is impossible with God." 38 "I serve the Lord," Mary answered. "May it happen to me just as you said it would." Then the angel left her.

Word List:
angel Gabriel – God’s top messenger.
virgin – one who hasn’t had a sexual relationship with the opposite sex.
David & Jacob – two of the famous leaders of Israel.
kingdom – a nation ruled by a king.

Discussion Questions:
1. Who can summarize what is going on in this story?
2. List all the information you can find about God in these verses.
3. How would you feel if you were in Mary’s shoes?
4. What is Mary’s attitude in verse 34? How about in verse 38?
5. Do you have any questions about this story?

You Must Be Born Again

2009-10-30T16:00:00.000-07:00

Opening Question: If you could be born all over again, what kind of person would you like to be?

Read John 3:1-8 out loud as a group, and then again silently by yourselves:

1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Word List:
Pharisees – member of the main religious party of Israel 2000 years ago
Rabbi – a spiritual leader and teacher
signs – miracles
kingdom – a group of people who are ruled by a king
womb – where unborn babies develop for 9 months before they are born
flesh – physical life
marvel – to wonder what something might mean

Discussion Questions:
1. Choose 3 people from your group to be the narrator, Nicodemus and Jesus. Now act it out!
2. What do the words “born of water” mean to you? And “born of the Spirit”?
3. When you see the word “king,” what do you think of?
4. Describe your idea of a perfect kingdom.
5. What would be the benefits of letting God become your King?
6. Why does Jesus compare “the wind” with being born again?
7. So, how can people become born again?

Jesus Heals the Official’s Son

2009-10-23T16:26:00.000-07:00

Opening Question: How would you describe the family you grew up in?

Let’s read John 4:43-54

46 So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” 49 The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. 51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!” 52 Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself believed, and his whole household. 54 This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.

Word List:
Cana of Galilee – a small town in the northern part of the nation of Israel.
Nobleman – someone who is at the highest level of society.
Capernaum – another small town in Galilee.
Judea – the southern part of Israel.
signs and wonders – miracles.

Discussion questions:
1. Who can re-tell last week’s story about Jesus turning water into wine at a wedding in Cana?
1. How would you re-tell this story?
2. What can we say about the nobleman?
3. What was so miraculous about this story?
4. What do you think Jesus meant in verse 48?
5. Why is it so hard for some people to believe in miracles?
6. What exactly does it mean to “believe”?
7. What miracle to you wish Jesus would do for you, or for someone else you know?

Jesus Changes Water to Wine

2009-10-16T16:22:00.000-07:00

Opening Question: If God were to became a man, what would He be like?

Let’s read about Jesus in John 2:1-11

1 On the third day there was a wedding. It took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there. 2 Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." 4 "Dear woman, why do you bring me into this?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come." 5 His mother said to the servants, "Do what he tells you." 6 Six stone water jars stood nearby. The Jews used water from that kind of jar for special washings to make themselves pure. Each jar could hold 20 to 30 gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water." So they filled them to the top. 8 Then he told them, "Now dip some out. Take it to the person in charge of the dinner." They did what he said. 9 The person in charge tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He didn't realize where it had come from. But the servants who had brought the water knew. Then the person in charge called the groom to one side. 10 He said to him, "Everyone brings out the best wine first. They bring out the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink. But you have saved the best until now!" 11 That was the first of Jesus' miraculous signs. He did it at Cana in Galilee. Jesus showed his glory by doing it. And his disciples put their faith in him.

Discussion questions:
1. What are some observations we can make after reading this story?
2. What could Jesus have meant by, "My time has not yet come"?
3. How might we describe the person in charge of the dinner before and after the miracle?
4. How did changing the water to wine show Jesus' glory?
5. How did the disciples respond to Jesus' miracle, and why is that important?
6. Have you put your faith in Jesus yet? If so, how has he "filled" you with his "best"?

The Word of God - Part II

2009-10-09T18:04:00.000-07:00

Opening Question: If you were God, what would you say to the people of the world?

Read the following verses out loud, and then again silently:

1 In the beginning, the Word was already there. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were made through him. Nothing that has been made was made without him. 4 Life was in him, and that life was the light for all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness. But the darkness has not understood it. 6 A man came who was sent from God. His name was John. 7 He came to give witness about that light. He gave witness so that all people could believe. 8 John himself was not the light. He came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. 10 The Word was in the world that was made through him. But the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to what was his own. But his own people did not accept him. 12 Some people did accept him. They believed in his name. He gave them the right to become children of God. 13 To be a child of God has nothing to do with human parents. Children of God are not born because of human choice or because a husband wants them to be born. They are born because of what God does. 14 The Word became a human being. He made his home with us. We have seen his glory. It is the glory of the one and only Son. He came from the Father. And he was full of grace and truth. 18 No one has ever seen God. But God, the one and only Son, is at the Father's side. He has shown us what God is like.
John 1:1-14,18

Q 1. Circle all the ways in which “the Word” is described by John.
Q 2. What do you think is the connection between Word and light and life?
Q 3. The Word was full of glory, grace and truth. What do these words mean to you?
Q 4. Who is the Word, and how do we know?
Q 5. What does it mean to “believe in the name” of Jesus?
Q 6. How do we “receive” Jesus?
Q 7. Have you received Jesus yet? If so, what difference has that made in your life?

The Word of God – Part I

2009-10-02T19:34:00.000-07:00

Opening Question: What are some helpful words people need to hear in different situations?

Read: Christians believe the Bible is the Word of God. What do the following verses say about God’s word (also called Scripture)?

How can a young person keep his life pure? By living in keeping with Your word. Psalm 119:9

I have hidden Your word in my heart so that I won't sin against you. Psalm 119:11

Your word is like a lamp that shows me the way. It is like a light that guides me. Psalm 119:105

Jesus answered, "It is written, 'Man doesn't live only on bread. He also lives on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Matthew 4:4

Heaven and earth will pass away. But My words will never pass away. Matthew 24:35

The word of God is living and active. It is sharper than any sword that has two edges. It cuts deep enough to separate soul from spirit. It can separate joints from bones. It judges the thoughts and purposes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

God has breathed life into all of Scripture. It is useful for teaching us what is true. It is useful for correcting our mistakes. It is useful for making our lives whole again. It is useful for training us to do what is right. 2 Timothy 3:16

Q2. What is the purpose of words?

Q3. Can you remember a time when a word helped you? Hurt you?

Q4. Why are words so powerful -- for good or for evil?

Q5. Can you think of some helpful words you can share with someone in your life? If so, plan a time when you will try to share them.

Prayer

2009-09-25T19:31:00.000-07:00

Opening question: If you could ask God any question you wanted to ask, what would it be?

Q2. How do we know there’s a God out there somewhere who can listen to us?
Q3. Have you ever prayed to God? If so, what did you pray?

Read and talk about the following words from the Bible about prayer:

Ask, and it will be given to you. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. Everyone who asks will receive. He who searches will find. The door will be opened to the one who knocks. Suppose your son asks for bread. Which of you will give him a stone? Or suppose he asks for a fish. Which of you will give him a snake? Even though you are evil, you know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more will your Father who is in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:7-11

Discuss what the Bible says about unanswered prayer in the following verses:

But your sins have separated you from your God. They have caused him to turn his face away from you. So he won't listen to you. Isaiah 59:2

When you ask for something, you don't receive it. Why? Because you ask for the wrong reason. You want to spend your money on your sinful pleasures. James 4:3

Q4. What are the conditions for answered prayer, according to the following?

There is only one God. And there is only one go-between for God and human beings. He is the man Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5

There is one thing we can be sure of when we come to God in prayer. If we ask anything in keeping with what he wants, he hears us. If we know that God hears what we ask for, we know that we have it. 1 John 5:14,15

Without faith it isn't possible to please God. Those who come to God must believe that he exists. And they must believe that he rewards those who look to him. Hebrews 11:6

Pray for each other in your group.

Peace

2009-09-18T19:24:00.000-07:00

Opening Question: What do you think of when you see or hear the word PEACE?

Q2. Do you think the world is going to become more peaceful or less in the future?
Q3. What do you think are some of the main enemies of peace between people / nations?
Q4. What are some of the reasons we don’t experience peace in our own lives sometimes?

Let’s read what the Bible says about peace:

"There is no peace for those who are evil," says the Lord. Isaiah 48:22

Turn away from evil, and do good. Look for peace, and go after it. Turn away from evil, and do good. Look for peace, and go after it. Psalm 34:14

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Q5. How can we “go after” peace?
Q6. Who is this “child” that Isaiah spoke of, and how can he become our Prince of Peace?
Q7. If Jesus is your Prince of Peace, how does He help you experience peace?

Read and discuss what Jesus said about peace:

I am leaving you with a gift -- peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. John 14:27

I have told you these things, so that you can have peace because of me. In this world you will have trouble. But cheer up! I have won the battle over the world. John 16:33

How can we have peace, according to the following verses?
Those who love your instructions have great peace and do not stumble. Psalm 119:165

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Isaiah 26:3

Don’t worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6,7

Appologies

2009-09-11T19:22:00.000-07:00

Opening Question: Have you ever had to use one of the following expressions, and why? 1) Pardon me, 2) Excuse me, 3) I’m sorry, 4) Forgive me, 5) I apologize, 6) My fault

Q2. We have all sinned in at least 5 ways -- word, thought, action, omission, motive. Define each one, and give an example.

Read and discuss what the Bible says about sin and forgiveness:

Psalm 32:1-5
1 Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! 2 Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! 3 When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. 4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. 5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.

Psalm 51:1-5
1 Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. 2 Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. 3 For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. 4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say,
and your judgment against me is just. 5 For I was born a sinner -- yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.

1 John 1:9
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

Q3. What is our responsibility when we sin? And God’s responsibility?

Q4. How is God described in the following Bible verses:

1 John 4:8
God is love.

1 Corinthians 13:5
Love keeps no record of being wronged.

Hebrews 10:17
I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.

Q5. What is the purpose in asking forgiveness from God and others?

Q6. What if someone doesn’t act like they forgive us after we admit our fault to him or her?

Q7. Is there a sin that you need to admit to God and to someone you know?

Relationships – Part X

2009-09-04T23:09:00.000-07:00

Opening Question: What is the most costly thing you have ever paid for, and how did you feel before you paid the price?

Let’s read about the price God paid, so we could become friends with Him:

He was pierced because we had sinned. He was crushed because we had done what was evil. He was punished to make us whole again. His wounds have healed us. All of us are like sheep. We have wandered away from God. All of us have turned to our own way. And the Lord has placed on Him the sins of all of us. Isaiah 53:5,6

No one has greater love than the one who gives His life for His friends. John 15:13

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. John 10:11

He himself carried our sins in His body on the cross. He did it so that we would die as far as sins are concerned. Then we would lead godly lives. His wounds have made you whole. 1 Peter 2:24

Christ died for sins once and for all time. The One who did what is right died for those who don't do right. He died to bring you to God. His body was put to death. But the Holy Spirit brought Him back to life. 1 Peter 3:18

God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son. Anyone who believes in Him will not die but will have eternal life. John 3:16

Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow You!" "What I'm about to tell you is true," Jesus replied. "Has anyone left home or family or fields for Me and the good news? They will receive 100 times as much in this world. They will have homes and families and fields. But they will also be treated badly by others. In the world to come they will live forever." Mark 10:28-30

Discuss the following questions:
1. Does is cost anything to have a relationship with someone?
2. What did it cost God to establish a relationship with us?
3. Why did God go to all the trouble to provide this relationship for us?
4. Does it cost anything to have a relationship with God?
5. What does Jesus promise to those who follow Him?
6. Are you willing to pay the price to follow Jesus all the way?

Relationships – Part IX

2009-08-21T23:08:00.000-07:00

Opening Question: Have you ever seen or been around sheep?

Read the following Bible verses:

Isaiah 53:6 (words of the prophet Isaiah)
All of us are like sheep. We have wandered away from God. All of us have turned to our own
way. And the Lord has placed on his servant the sins of all of us.

John 1:29 (words of John the Baptist)
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him. John said, "Look! The Lamb of God! He takes
away the sin of the world!"

John 10:11,18 (words of Jesus)
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. No one takes it from me. I give it up myself. I have the authority to give it up. And I have the authority to take it back again. I received this command from my Father.

Psalm 23:1-3 (words of King David)
The Lord is my shepherd. He gives me everything I need. He lets me lie down in fields of green grass. He leads me beside quiet waters. He gives me new strength. He guides me in the right paths for the honor of his name. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid. You are with me. Your shepherd's rod and staff comfort me.

Discuss the following questions:
1. What are some things we know about sheep? And about shepherds?
2. How are people like sheep?
3. How is Jesus like a shepherd?
4. How would you describe the shepherds of John 10 and Psalm 23?
5. What are the benefits of being one of Jesus’ sheep?
6. How can we become one of the Lord’s sheep?

Relationships – Part VIII

2009-08-14T20:42:00.000-07:00

Opening question: How do you become friends with someone, and what are some things we can do to keep the friendship going?

According to the following Bible verses, what do people have to understand before they can become friends with God?

John 14:6
6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

1 Timothy 2:5
5 There is only one God. And there is only one go-between for God and human beings. He is the man Christ Jesus.

Read the following words of Jesus from John 15:9-16

9 Just as the Father has loved me, I have loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love. In the same way, I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11 have told you this so that my joy will be in you. I also want your joy to be complete. 12 Here is my command. Love each other, just as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than the one who gives his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I do not call you servants anymore. Servants do not know their master's business. Instead, I have called you friends. I have told you everything I learned from my Father. 16 You did not choose me. Instead, I chose you. I appointed you to go and bear fruit -- fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you anything you ask for in my name.

Discussion questions:
1. What are some of your observations as you re-read these verses?
2. What are some things Jesus says about friendship?
3. What does verse 14 mean to you?
4. What do you think would be some of the advantages of being friends with God?
5. So, how can we start a friendship with God, and keep it going?

Relationships – Part VII

2009-08-07T23:04:00.000-07:00

Opening Question: Do you think people are basically good or evil?

Genesis 6:5, 12
The Lord saw how bad the sins of man had become on the earth. All of the thoughts in his heart were always directed only toward what was evil. God saw how sinful the earth had become. All of the people on earth were leading very sinful lives.

Jeremiah 17:9, 10
A human heart is more dishonest than anything else. It can't be healed. Who can understand it? The Lord says, “I look deep down inside human hearts. I see what is in people's minds.”

Mark 7:20-23
Jesus went on to say, “What comes out of people makes them “unclean.” Evil thoughts come from the inside, from people's hearts. So do sexual sins, stealing and murder. Adultery, greed, hate and cheating come from people's hearts, too. So do desires that are not pure, and wanting what belongs to others. And so do telling lies about others and being proud and being foolish. All those evil things come from inside a person. They make him “unclean.’ ”

Q 2. What is the main problem of the human race, according to the Bible?
Q 3. What do you think the word “heart” means, as we read in the Bible verses above?

Romans 5:8
But here is how God has shown His love for us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

2 Corinthians 5:21
Christ didn't have any sin. But God made Him become sin for us. So we can be made right with God because of what Christ has done for us.

Ezekiel 36:26
I will give you new hearts. I will give you a new spirit that is faithful to me. I will remove your stubborn hearts from you. I will give you hearts that obey Me.

2 Corinthians 5:17
Anyone who believes in Christ is a new creation. The old is gone! The new has come!

Q 4. What does it mean when it says “God made Him become sin” for us?
Q 5. What to you think “the old” and “the new” means?
Q 6. What is the solution to man’s heart problem?
Q 7. What do people have to do to solve the problem of their evil hearts?

Relationships – Part VI

2009-07-31T20:40:00.000-07:00

Opening Question: How would you explain what “sin” is?

Read: Romans 5:12, 14-19, 21

12 Sin entered the world because one man sinned. And death came because of sin. Everyone sinned, so death came to all people. 14 Death ruled from the time of Adam to the time of Moses. Death ruled even over those who did not sin as Adam did. He broke God's command. But he also became a pattern of the one who was going to come. 15 God's gift is different from Adam's sin. Many people died because of the sin of that one man. But it was even more sure that God's grace would also come through one man. That man is Jesus Christ. God's gift of grace was more than enough for the whole world. 16 The result of God's gift is different from the result of Adam's sin. God judged one sin. That brought guilt. But after many sins, God's gift made people right with Him. 17 One man sinned, and death ruled because of his sin. But we are even more sure of what will happen because of what the one man, Jesus Christ, has done. Those who receive the rich supply of God's grace will rule with Christ in His kingdom. They have received God's gift and have been made right with Him. 18 One man's sin brought guilt to all people. So also one right act made all people right with God. And all who are right with God will live. 19 Many people were made sinners because one man did not obey. But one man did obey. That is why many people will be made right with God. 21 Sin ruled because of death. So also grace rules in the lives of those who are right with God. The grace of God brings eternal life because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done.

Discussion Questions:
1. Where did sin come from, according to these verses?
2. Do you see sin “ruling” in the world today? If so, give an example.
3. Which sin(s) do you hate the most, and why?
4. What is the solution to sin, according to these verses?
5. How exactly did Jesus take care of the sin problem?
6. What is “grace” (see verse 21), and what does it mean for grace to “rule in our lives”?
7. How can we “get right” with God, so that His grace rules over us?

Relationships – Part V

2009-07-24T23:00:00.000-07:00

Opening Question: Did you ever disobey your parents when you were growing up? Why did you do it, and what were the results?

Read the following verses from Genesis 3:1-13

1 The serpent was more clever than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. The serpent said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat the fruit of any tree that is in the garden'?" 2 The woman said to the serpent, "We can eat the fruit of the trees that are in the garden. 3 But God did say, 'You must not eat the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden. Do not even touch it. If you do, you will die.' " 4 "You can be sure that you won't die," the serpent said to the woman. 5 "God knows that when you eat the fruit of that tree, you will know things you have never known before. You will be able to tell the difference between good and evil. You will be like God." 6 The woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good to eat. It was also pleasing to look at. And it would make a person wise. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her. And he ate it. 7 Then both of them knew things they had never known before. They realized they were naked. So they sewed fig leaves together and made clothes for themselves.8 Then the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking in the garden. It was the coolest time of the day. They hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.9 But the Lord God called out to the man. "Where are you?" he asked. 10 "I heard you in the garden," the man answered. "I was afraid. I was naked, so I hid." 11 The Lord God said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten the fruit of the tree I commanded you not to eat?" 12 The man said, "It was the woman You put here with me. She gave me some fruit from the tree. And I ate it." 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What have you done?" The woman said, "The serpent tricked me. That's why I ate the fruit."

Discussion Questions:
1. What are some of your observations about the serpent? And the woman?
2 What do you think the serpent was trying to accomplish?
3. Describe everything that happened after the woman and the man ate the forbidden fruit.
4. Who do you think was to blame for what happened in the garden?
a) the woman b) the man c) the serpent d) God e) a-d
5. Why do you think the woman and the man decided to disobey God?
6. How do you imagine God felt after all this took place?
7. How does this story relate to our lives today?

Relationships – Part IV

2009-07-17T20:37:00.000-07:00

Opening Question: What is your favorite kind of fruit? And vegetable?

Q 2. Which blessings are you most thankful to God for?

Q 3. Which freedoms are most important, in your opinion?

Q 4. Read and discuss the relationship between God and man in the very beginning stage of history, according to Genesis 1:1, 26-29; 2:8,9,15,16,17 below:

26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." 29 Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 8 Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground -- trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

Q 5. Why do think God put a restriction on man’s freedom?
Q 6. Can you think of some modern day examples of restrictions that are placed on us?
Q 7. Are restrictions good or bad? Explain.
Q 8. What did God say would happen if His restriction was ignored by the man?

Relationships – Part III

2009-07-10T20:34:00.000-07:00

Opening Question: What’s the most important relationship in your life?

Q 2. What are the ingredients that go into a good relationship with someone?

Discuss what the following verses from the Bible say about a relationship with God:

John 4:23,24
True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. They are the kind of worshipers the Father is looking for. God is spirit. His worshipers must worship him in spirit and in truth.

John 3:3
Jesus replied, "What I'm about to tell you is true. No one can see God's kingdom without being born again."

John 17:3
And what is eternal life? It is knowing you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

Romans 8:38,39
I am absolutely sure that not even death or life can separate us from God's love. Not even angels or demons, the present or the future, or any powers can do that. Not even the highest places or the lowest, or anything else in all creation can do that. Nothing at all can ever separate us from God's love because of what Christ Jesus our Lord has done.

Hebrews 13:5
God has said, "I will never leave you. I will never desert you."

Q 3. How is it possible to have a relationship with God in this material world?
Q 4. What keeps people from having a relationship with God?
Q 5. How does someone start a relationship with God?

Relationships – Part II

2009-07-03T18:24:00.000-07:00

"Everyone is born to have a horizontal and a vertical relationship. The horizontal relationship is with other people. The vertical relationship is with God. The quality of our horizontal relationship with people depends on the quality of our vertical relationship with God."

Q1)What are some things that can destroy relationships?
Q2)Have you ever experienced a broken relationship?
Q3)How can broken relationships be restored?
Q4)Discuss what the following Bible verses say about difficult relationships:

Luke 6:27-36
27 "Here is what I tell you: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who call down curses on you. And pray for those who treat you badly. 29 Suppose someone hits you on one cheek. Turn your other cheek to him also. Suppose someone takes your coat. Don't stop him from taking your shirt. 30 Give to everyone who asks you. And if anyone takes what belongs to you, don't ask to get it back. 31 Do to others as you want them to do to you. 32 Suppose you love those who love you. Should anyone praise you for that? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. 33 And suppose you do good to those who are good to you. Should anyone praise you for that? Even 'sinners' do that. 34 And suppose you lend money to those who can pay you back. Should anyone praise you for that? Even a 'sinner' lends to 'sinners,' expecting them to pay everything back. 35 But love your enemies. Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then you will receive a lot in return. And you will be sons of the Most High God. He is kind to people who are evil and are not thankful. 36 So have mercy, just as your Father has mercy. "

Q5)Which verse do you like the most? The least?
Q6)What do you think was Jesus’ main point?
Q7)Which of the following do you believe:
a)What Jesus commands is easy.
b)What Jesus commands is impossible.
c)Jesus did what He commanded His followers to do.
d)What Jesus commands is possible, if we try really hard.
e)What Jesus commands is possible, only with His help.
Q8)How can Jesus help us to do what He commanded His followers to do 2000 years ago?

Relationships – Part I

2009-06-26T17:37:00.000-07:00

Everyone is born to have both a horizontal and a vertical relationship. The horizontal relationship is with other people. The vertical relationship is with God.

Discussion Questions:
Q1. Who has been the most important relationship in your life?
Q2. Why are relationships so important?
Q3. What should be the most important relationship, according to the following verses:

36 "Teacher," he asked, "which is the most important commandment in the Law?" 37 Jesus replied, " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and most important commandment. 39 And the second is like it. 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.' (Matthew 22:36-39)

Q4. Why must your our relationship with God be #1?

Read the following verses:
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born again because of what God has done. That person knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 How did God show his love for us? He sent his one and only Son into the world. He sent him so we could receive life through him. 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. 12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love one another, God lives in us. His love is made complete in us. 19 We love because he loved us first. 20 Anyone who says he loves God but in fact hates his brother or sister is a liar. He doesn't love his brother or sister, whom he has seen. So he can't love God, whom he has not seen. 21 Here is the command God has given us. Anyone who loves God must also love his brothers and sisters. (1 John 4:7-12, 19-21)

Q5. What do these verses mean to you?

Jesus calls his followers “Friends”

2009-05-22T17:31:00.000-07:00

Opening Questions:
What did you think of the video clip of Jesus and his followers? What did you notice about Jesus?

In your family, work environment, at school, with your professor/advisor, do you feel more like a servant or a friend to those in authority over you?

Read John 15:9-17

Discussion Questions:
1. What is joy?
2. How does Jesus describe “complete joy” ? Do you agree?
3. According to the passage, what is the greatest love?
4. Who are Jesus’ friends?
5. Do you think Jesus should call his followers servants or friends? Why?
6. What explanation does Jesus give for calling his followers friends?
7. Jesus invites each of us to be His fruitful friends. What is your response to that?

Bonus Questions:
8. On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate your “joy factor” right now?
9. Love gives generously, accepts unconditionally, but also draws near personally and discloses vulnerably.

God is a Savior

2009-04-17T18:25:00.000-07:00

Opening Question: Have you ever been saved, or saved someone, from a dangerous situation?

Q 2: According to the following Bible verses, what is God like?

I want you to know Me and believe in Me. I want you to understand that I am the one and only God. Before Me, there was no other God at all. And there will not be any God after Me. I am the one and only Lord. I am the only one who can save you. (Isaiah 43:10,11)

All of you who live anywhere on earth, turn to Me and be saved. I am God. There is no other God. (Isaiah 45:22)

Give praise to the One who is able to keep you from falling into sin. He will bring you into His heavenly glory without any fault. He will bring you there with great joy. Give praise to the only God. He is our Savior. Glory, majesty, power and authority belong to Him. Give praise to Him through Jesus Christ our Lord. Give praise to the One who was before all time, who now is, and who will be forever. Amen. (Jude 24,25)

Q 3: Why do we need a Savior? What do you think we need to be saved from?
Q 4: According to the verses below, what do we have to do to be saved?

Say with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord." Believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead. Then you will be saved. With your heart you believe and are made right with God. With your mouth you say that Jesus is Lord. And so you are saved. Scripture says, "The one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame. There is no difference between those who are Jews and those who are not. The same Lord is Lord of all. He richly blesses everyone who calls on Him." Scripture says, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:9-13)

The kindness and love of God our Savior appeared. He saved us. It wasn't because of the good things we had done. It was because of His mercy. He saved us by washing away our sins. We were born again. The Holy Spirit gave us new life. God poured out the Spirit on us freely because of what Jesus Christ our Savior has done. His grace made us right with God. So now we have received the hope of eternal life as God's children. (Titus 3:4-7)

Q 5: What are some of the results of being saved, as we read in the verses above?
Q 6: Are you saved? If so, what difference does it make in your life from day to day?
Q 7: What can we do to help other people be saved?

Marcia Kwon

2009-04-03T18:21:00.000-07:00

Marcia Kwon was our guest speaker. She shared with us what she will be doing in Nepal as a missionary with Wycliffe Bible Translators.

Opening Question: Why did Marcia say she is going to Nepal? What do you think about her decision?

In the book of Revelation 7:9-10, John, a disciple of Jesus, recorded a vision his saw of heaven. Here’s what he saw:
After this [John] looked and there before [John] was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb (Jesus). They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:
"Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb."

•What do you think the people are doing in these verses? (A: They were worshiping God.)
•What does it mean to worship God? (A: Giving glory to God.)
•Who do you think are present before the throne (in heaven) in John’s vision? Do you think your people are included in this vision?
•Do you think God is worthy of our worship? Why, or why not?

Read Romans 10:9-15 together:
…if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

•How can you be saved? (lines 1 and 2)
•Who can be saved? (lines 3-5)
•What does is mean to be “saved” and “never be put to shame” (lines 3-5)
•What does this passage imply about being a blessing to others? Why does God send his people into the world? (lines 4-8)

A challenge to think about this week:

“Attempt great things for God; expect great things from God.” – William Carrey, a famous missionary to India. Before William Carrey became a missionary, he was a shoe maker. Besides bringing the gospel to India, William Carrey also accomplished a lot of great things for God and for the people. He helped people with his medical knowledge. He helped people with his knowledge about farming and plants. He translated the Bible into 9 different languages in India.

•Is there anything you can attempt for God?
•What do you think we can expect from God?

The Living God is a Missionary God (We are blessed to be a blessing)

2009-03-27T16:08:00.000-07:00

Opening Questions: A. In your country, how are Christian missionaries viewed? How do you think they have helped or hurt your country’s well- being and development?
B. What are some of your dreams for ways you could help bring hope to your homeland?

Read these Bible verses together:
Psalm 42:2 (written by King David) “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”

Acts 14:15b(proclaimed by followers of Jesus, Paul and Barnabas, when men tried to worship them by offering sacrifices of animals to them, after they helped a man to walk) “We too are only men, human beings like you. We are bringing good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.”

Genesis 12:1-3
The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

1.In what ways have you been blessed? Have you ever considered these as blessings from God? Why or why not?
2.Circle the 6 promises that God makes to Abram (and to us) by stating “I will”
3.Now, find the additional 2 wills. “you will” and the “all peoples on earth will”
4.What does it mean for a person (or group of people) to “be a blessing”?
5.Why does God bless people?
6.What are ways that God may want you to use the blessings you have been given to be a blessing to others, so they in turn can bless others?

God could have revealed His purpose in the form of direct commands about what He wanted to see done. Instead, God chose to reveal His purpose in the form of a promise, a promise that was both personal and immensely global: to bless all the families of the earth.
God’s purposes in poetry

Read Psalm 67 (from the Old Testament in the Bible) :
God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us. That your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations. Let the peoples praise You, O God. Let all the peoples praise You. Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for You will judge the peoples with uprightness and guide the nations on the earth. Let the peoples praise You, O God. Let all the peoples praise You.

Who is God and what is He like? - A Criminal

2009-03-20T12:29:00.000-07:00

Opening Question: What do you think should happen to criminals, and why?

Read Matthew 26:47-56

Word list:
the Twelve – the 12 followers of Jesus.
chief priests – the religious leaders of Israel
Rabbi – teacher
Scriptures – the part of the Bible that was written before Jesus.
prophets – men who spoke for God to the people of Israel.

Q: Why did Jesus not ask to help him, like he explained in verse 53?

The following is an example of some Scripture that the prophet, Isaiah, wrote about Jesus. This was written about 700 years before Jesus was born:

“All of us are like sheep. We have wandered away from God. All of us have turned to our own way. And the Lord has placed on his servant the sins of all of us. He was beaten down and made to suffer. But he didn't open his mouth. He was led away like a sheep to be killed. Lambs are silent while their wool is being cut off. In the same way, he didn't open his mouth. He was arrested and sentenced to death. Then he was taken away. He was cut off from this life. He was punished for the sins of my people. Who among those who were living at that time could have understood those things?” (Isaiah 53:6-8)

Q: According to the Scripture above, what was going to happen to Jesus at the end of his life on earth, and why?

Read Matthew 26:57-68

Word list:
teachers of the law, elders – the religious experts and leaders of Israel.
Sanhedrin – the supreme court of Israel, made up of 71 members.
Christ / Son of God / Son of Man – the future ruler of Israel and the world, Jesus!

Q: Why didn’t Jesus say anything to defend himself, as we read in verse 63?
Q: Why did the chief priests and the Sanhedrin treat Jesus like a criminal?
Q: Who was Jesus, and why did he let the religious leaders of Israel treat him like a criminal (see Isaiah 53:6-8)?

Who is God and what is He like? - A Lawyer

2009-03-13T22:19:00.000-07:00

Opening Question: Have you, or someone you know, ever needed a lawyer?

Check out and discuss man’s problem with God, according to the verses below:

There isn't anyone on earth who does only what is right and never sins. - Ecclesiastes 7:20

Everyone has sinned. No one measures up to God's glory. - Romans 3:23

When you sin, the pay you get is death. But God gives you the gift of eternal life because of what Christ Jesus our Lord has done. - Romans 6:23

The royal law is found in Scripture. It says, "Love your neighbor as you love yourself." If you really keep that law, you are doing what is right. But suppose you keep the whole law, and trip over just one part of it. Then you are guilty of breaking all of it. - James 2:8,10

Q2: What is the job description of a lawyer?
Q3: How are you doing at keeping the “royal law” of God?
Q4: How would you describe Jesus’ role as a lawyer, based on the following verses:

I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. - John 14:6

There is only one God. And there is only one go-between for God and human beings. He is the man Christ Jesus. - 1 Timothy 2:5

My dear children, I'm writing this to you so that you will not sin. But suppose someone does sin. Then we have one who speaks to the Father for us. He stands up for us. He is Jesus Christ, the Blameless One. He gave his life to pay for our sins. But he not only paid for our sins. He also paid for the sins of the whole world. - 1 John 2:1,2

Q5: Why do we need Jesus as our lawyer when we stand before God on Judgment Day?
Q6: Have you hired (i.e., decided to trust, obey and follow) Jesus as your “lawyer” yet?

God is a Judge

2009-03-06T22:16:00.000-08:00

Opening Question: Have you ever broken any laws (even “minor” ones)? If so, what did you do wrong, and what was the judgment against you?

Look at the following verses from the Bible about God, the Judge:

God will judge the world in keeping with what is right. He will rule over all of its people fairly. - Psalm 9:8

The godly will get their reward. There really is a God who judges the earth. - Psalm 58:11

God will judge everything people do. That includes everything they try to hide. He'll judge everything, whether it's good or evil. - Ecclesiastes 12:14

The Father does not judge anyone. He has given the Son the task of judging. - John 5:22

He has set a day when He will judge the world fairly. He has appointed a Man to be its judge. God has proved this to all people by raising that Man from the dead. - Acts 17:31

People will be judged on the day God appoints Jesus Christ to judge their secret thoughts. That's part of my good news. - Romans 2:16

We must all stand in front of Christ to be judged. - 2 Corinthians 5:10

People have to die once. After that, God will judge them. - Hebrews 9:27

There is only one Lawgiver and Judge. He is the One who is able to save life or destroy it. But who are you to judge your neighbor? - James 4:12

Discuss the following questions:
1. How do we address judges, and why?
2. How would you describe the job of a judge?
3. What would the world be like without judges?
4. Are you afraid of God’s judgment of you? Why or why not?
5. Is there a way to escape God’s perfect judgment against us?
6. What does the last sentence in James 4:12 mean to us today?

Who is God and what is He like? Part 6

2009-02-20T22:13:00.000-08:00

Opening question: Have you ever tried to be perfect at something?

Read the following about who God is and what He is like:

Lord, who among the gods is like You? Who is like You? You are majestic and holy. Your glory fills me with wonder. You do wonderful miracles. Because Your love is faithful, You will lead the people You have set free. Because You are so strong, You will guide them to the holy place where You live. - Exodus 15:11,13

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord who rules over all. The whole earth is full of His glory. - Isaiah 6:3

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God who rules over all. He was, and He is, and He will come. - Revelation 4:8

Now read about what we to do and be, if we want to have a relationship with God:

Dear friends, let us make ourselves pure from everything that pollutes our bodies and spirits. Let us be completely holy. We want to honor God. - 2 Corinthians 7:1

We must love what is good. We must control our minds and feelings. We must do what is right. We must be holy. We must control what his body longs for. - Titus 1:8

Try your best to live in peace with everyone. Try to be holy. Without holiness no one will see the Lord. - Hebrews 12:14

Discuss the following:
1. What does it mean to be holy?
2. Why should we be holy?
3. How are we doing at being holy?
4. Is it possible to be completely holy?
5. How can unholy people become holy, and have a relationship with holy God?

Who is God and what is He like? Part 5

2009-02-13T21:00:00.000-08:00

Opening question: How would you define love?

Read: 1 John 4:7-12

7 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born again because of what God has done. That person knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 How did God show his love for us? He sent his one and only Son into the world. He sent him so we could receive life through him. 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. 12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love one another, God lives in us. His love is made complete in us.

And: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

4 Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not want what belongs to others. It does not brag. It is not proud. 5 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. 6 Love is not happy with evil. But it is full of joy when the truth is spoken. 7 It always protects. It always trusts. It always hopes. It never gives up. 8 Love never fails. But prophecy will pass away. Speaking in languages that had not been known before will end. And knowledge will pass away.

Discussion questions:
1) Do you have any questions about the verses above?
2) After reading the verses above, how would you describe God?
3) What did God do to demonstrate His love for mankind?
4) What does “born again” mean?
5) How can we demonstrate our love for other people?
6) Which verse about love do you think is the most difficult to do?

Who is God and what is He like? Part 4

2009-02-06T16:09:00.000-08:00

Opening Question: What is it that gives you lasting satisfaction in life?

Word List:
Pharisees – religious leaders of Israel 2000 years ago.
baptizing – putting people under water, which represented dying to the selfish way they were living, and starting over again.
Judea, Galilee, Samaria, Sychar – places in Israel.
Jacob, Joseph – 2 of the famous forefathers of Israel.
well – a deep hole in the ground, dug out to find water.
Samaritans – people who were half-Jewish, and hated by the Jews.

Read John 4:1-18

Discuss the following:
1) Re-tell the story in your own words.
2) How would you describe the woman?
3) What did Jesus say about himself?
4) What do the terms “living water” and “God’s gift” mean to you?
5) How could the woman (and how can we) get this “living water”?
6) Have you had a chance to taste this “living water” yet? If so, how has it satisfied your thirst?

Who is God and what is He like? Part 3

2009-01-30T21:50:00.000-08:00

Opening Question: Do you want to live forever? Why or why not?

Read the following verses from the Bible:

Deuteronomy 33:27 - God lives forever! You can run to Him for safety. His powerful arms are always there to carry you.

Psalm 90:2 - Before You created the world and the mountains were made, from the beginning to the end You are God.

Jeremiah 31:3 - The Lord appeared to us in the past. He said, "I have loved you with a love that lasts forever. I have kept on loving you with faithful love."

Daniel 12:2 - Huge numbers of people who lie dead in their graves will wake up. Some will rise up to life that will never end. Others will rise up to shame that will never end.

Matthew 7:13,14 - Enter God's kingdom through the narrow gate. The gate is large and the road is wide that lead to death and hell. Many people go that way. But the gate is small and the road is narrow that lead to life. Only a few people find it.

John 14:6 - Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

John 3:16 - God loved the world so much that he gave His one and only Son. Anyone who believes in Him will not die but will have eternal life.

Discuss the following questions:
1) What do the verses above tell us about who God is and what He is like?
2) Do you have a question about any of these verses?
3) Which verse do you like the most, and why?
4) Which verse makes you feel uncomfortable, and why?
5) According to these verses, how can we live forever?
6) Do you believe you will live forever? Please explain.

Who is God and what is He like? Part 2

2009-01-23T17:45:00.000-08:00

Opening Question: How would you feel if everyone could read your mind all the time?

Read Psalm 139:13-18 out loud as a group, and then again silently:

You created the deepest parts of my being. You put me together inside my mother's body. How you made me is amazing and wonderful. I praise you for that. What you have done is wonderful. I know that very well. None of my bones was hidden from you
when you made me inside my mother's body. That place was as dark as the deepest parts of the earth. When you were putting me together there, your eyes saw my body even before it was formed. You planned how many days I would live. You wrote down the number of them in your book before I had lived through even one of them. God, your thoughts about me are priceless. No one can possibly add them all up. If I could count them, they would be more than the grains of sand. If I were to fall asleep counting and then wake up, you would still be there with me.

Discuss the following questions:
1. Do you believe God created our bodies, or that they might have evolved from monkeys a long time ago, or both? Explain.
2. If God created our bodies, what does that tell us about what God is like?
3. What does the verses above say about people?
4. What do these verses say about unborn babies, and when their lives begin?
5. What are some ways we can apply Psalm 139:13-18 to our lives and the lives of others?