Stay in the Word

Romans 2:1-16 -- Presumptuous Righteousness

2012-04-04T22:57:00.008-04:00

Just the sound of the word "presumptuous" tells you that something isn't right. To presume is to come to conclusion without adequate evidence, to take liberties with the truth, or to force your own bias on the facts. One who is presumptuous proceeds with their own course of action without consideration of verifiable facts and what the impact his actions will have on others.

When the Jews read Paul's declaration in Romans 1:18-32, they likely were emboldened, "go get 'em Paul!", confident that "those other people" were deep in sin while their own Jewish people stood high in righteousness. In 1:18-32, Paul was preaching to “them”. However, in chapter 2, Paul addresses his words to “you”, his fellow Jewish countrymen (see 2:17), and he is going to make it clear to them that they have been trusting temporary actions with no lasting value to accomplish their righteousness. They were in reality being presumptuous about God’s offering of His righteousness to the individual, assuming they had some “inside edge” on God’s favor & blessing!

The best way to see what Paul was trying to get across to the Jewish reader in 2:1-16 is to read vv. 17-21... You (Jews) who are so confident... "...do you teach yourself?" He knows (and they know) that they don't apply what they teach in their own lives.

In verses 1-16, Paul establishes the principles of divine judgment that the Jew is condemned along with all the rebellious humanity condemned in chapter 1, but he doesn’t name, he just sets the trap. Then in verses 17-32, the trap snaps shut. The bottom line: Every individual must either determine to accomplish his own righteousness, or they fall the mercy of God and accept His free gift of salvation through Christ.

Ø Note that this isn’t the last time in Romans that he turns the microscope on his Jewish brethren – chapters 9-11 are major passage which declares not only the sentence of God on their superficial worship but also their hope of true redemption.

If you compare 1:18-32 and chapter 2, what begins to be evident is that both the heathen and the Jews are both really in the same situation before God: condemned! It’s just that each has come up with their own substitution for God’s demand of holiness.

Paul declares in 2:1 that everyone has “no excuse” – what a striking conclusion (the “therefore” links to the previous verses) from the dramatic bad news in chapter 1! “No excuse” is translating an interesting Greek word – “anapologeitos” – you can see our word “apologetics”, which means a solid, logical case for a taken belief, but then the prefix “ana” negates the word, that is, have no solid case for a belief.

As the Jewish listener begins to realize that he is included in that “everyone”, he begins to get uncomfortable. He is guilty of passing judgment but in truth has nothing to stand on himself. What judgment is he passing? The condemnation of the heathen of chapter 1 – arms crossed, righteous eyebrows raised, above and apart from those poor sinners. Paul knew they needed to hear the truth.

In 2:4, we read that the abundant kindness of God leads to repentance – but the Jews are caught “thinking lightly” about these things. And Paul proceeds in the next verses to outline the stubbornness of the Jewish faith. The Jew needs to agree that he is as guilty in his sin as that “poor sinner” out there in the jungle. The Jew is faced with either accepting the righteousness accomplished in Christ, or standing on the righteousness they hope to accomplish with their works.

ØRead on through 2:1-16 and write down the words Paul uses to describe the Jew’s guilt.

ØTake a few minutes and review 2:18-32 and write down every place where Paul makes his point by asking a question. You might even try writing down the answer to each question!

Ø Do you know people today who proudly think they have life by the tail, yet in truth they are hopelessly lost in sin? How do they demonstrate their lost condition? How can you express the hope of Christ to them?

Romans 1:18-32 God Gave Them Up

2012-03-24T20:30:00.000-04:00

Romans 1:18-32 God Gave Them Up

Romans is a letter that was carefully thought through before writing. Other letters from Paul are much more spontaneous, speaking from his passionate heart to minister to his hearers. Philippians is a great example, where he bubbles over with joy for his walk in Christ and the fellowship he relishes with beloved brothers and sisters in Christ. But Romans seems to be one of his most carefully written books.

As we go through Romans, we need to keep in mind that Paul has carefully planned this letter. It is designed to be a thorough, summary of the nature, strength and scope of our Christian faith. What we read is there by design. For instance, as he finishes his opening comments and expresses his life commitment to the Gospel, he anchors his letter in the strategic truth that "the just shall live by faith."

Ø Check out Galatians 3 10-14 to get some more of Paul’s perspective on this important statement.

In verse 18, Paul proceeds to set the stage for the first major segment of the letter (1:18-3:31) which deals with the utter hopelessness of our lost condition because of our sin. Look at the dramatic shift from 1:17 to 18! Faith and Righteousness are the cornerstone of our salvation, now placed up against the wrath of God and ungodliness. Paul is very effective at getting our attention!

Ø Take a few minutes to review 1:18-32 to see the theme Paul sets.

Note in 1:24 that man has been so perverted and obstinate in his rebellion that God… gave them up! He has turned man loose to chase after to his sinful passions, and the result is that man spirals deeper and deeper into his sinful mind and behavior.

Ø Look through the next several verses to find this same phrase "God gave them up" repeated. Can you see relationship between each of the verses that have this phrase?

So as man has pursued his uncontrolled lusts, from these verses in 1:18-32, what did he do? He creates idols! Isn’t that amazing? He screamed and chaffed at having an obligation to God’s holy principles of living, until God let him go. And once he was free, what did he do? Create a representation of a greater power for him to somehow worship! Amazing!

Note the descriptive references to various idols – images of man, birds, beasts, the immoral worship of the body. Do we have idols today that man worships the same way?

Note then what “comes out” of man as a result – a long list of very bad things! Do we see these behaviors today in our society? We certainly do. And we interact every day with people who are saturated with these behaviors, and they continue to rail against God and carry on in their pleasure. A very sad picture indeed.

Romans 1:1-17 - I am not ashamed of the Gospel

2011-07-09T22:41:00.001-04:00

A Mountain of Truth

Approaching a study in Romans is like approaching a huge mountain, knowing that you want to climb to the top, yet hesitant because you have a sense of the formidable tasks you face. Romans certainly is a mountain of rich truth about the riches of God's grace. But the good news is that you don't have to worry, the journey will be delightful and rewarding every step of the way.

As Paul does in most of his epistles, he starts his letter to the church in Rome by opening up his heart. He has a deep love for the Gospel and the Church, and he wants to do all he possible can to accomplish the mission God called him to: build up the Church.

Let's hear a little bit from Paul's heart...

1. What does Paul say about himself?

Some people in the church there in Rome probably knew of Paul, or even knew him personally. But there were also likely many who had never heard of him. So it's important for the church to hear his love for them and for the Gospel.

So, how does he start out? By not talking about himself! He exalts Christ and rejoices in their salvation. OK, but what Paul - what makes this guy tick?

Think about these perspectives:

His dedicated prayer life
His sense of mission
His commitment to the Gospel
His understanding of salvation

To see further comments from Paul about his own life and ministry, check out 1 Corinthians 4:1,9, 16-17, and 2 Timothy 4:6-8.

2. What does Paul say about the Gospel?

Origin (1:1-2)
Content (1:3-6)
Purpose (1:5)
Power (1:4)
Propagation (1:14-15)
More?

3. Do you understand the “eagerness” Paul expresses for ministry – do you ever experience that feeling in your life?

4. Think about the “righteousness of God” in 1:17.

What is it, what is it not?

the power of God, the result of receiving the Gospel

Use eSword or studylight.org to look at the meaning of the Greek word

dig deep in the Word!

Why does he quote "the just shall live by faith"?

look over in Galatians 3 for some help

Tour of Romans

2011-05-24T20:10:00.002-04:00

A Tour of Romans

As followers of Christ, growing in God's grace, we instinctively develop a thirst for knowing His Word. The Bible is a rich treasure of truth, the very mind of God. It is such a privilege to hold the Bible in our hands, and we want to handle it responsibly, get to know it deeply. It is, after all, intended for the complete good for each of us in our walk as godly Christians (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

However, new and old believers alike often find themselves wondering, "Where do I start?" When we scan across the landscape of Scripture, what do we see? Does it all just blend together like a mountain range? There are 66 books out there, all needing to be familiar territory! As we consider the view, we recognize some which stand out as distinctive, especially notable in one way or another, major mountain peaks to be conquered.

For the New Testament Christian, the book of Romans stands out as one of the key books of the Bible that we must know well. It is a major source of much of our doctrinal and practical understanding of Christian Living. Looking across all of Scripture, no other book is comparable to its depth of developing the key biblical truths which anchor our walk in Christ. As Christians, we will spend much time through our lives in this powerful book. The growing Christian needs to maintain a life-long priority on establishing a deep familiarity with Romans.

The following series of posts on "Tour of Romans" is going to follow along with a Bible Fellowship group I meet with. We are doing single sessions on each chapter of Romans in order to develop an overall familiarity with the book. We hope this exercise will be a good foundation for us to spend a lifetime learning more from this marvelous book.

Get to know Paul

We're not going to spend time in this study doing an overview of Paul's life. But that doesn't mean you're off the hook! As is true when studying any of Paul's epistles, it's important to be familiar with Paul's life of ministry, his travels through three missions journeys and a final trip to Rome, the churches he established and the many people he discipled. Each of his letters need to be understood in the context of where he was in his ministry, as well as where the church or individual being addressed is in their Christian experience. Two recommendations:

Read through the book of Acts, especially 11:19-29 and chapters 13-28.

As you read Acts, use this map so that you can understand where Paul was in his life when writing Romans.

Have a good book in your library on the life of Paul (and read it...). Here are some suggestions to consider:

The Life of Paul: A Servant of Jesus Christ, by F.B. Meyer
Paul: A Man of Grace & Grit, by Charles Swindoll
The Apostle: A Life of Paul, by John Pollock

Get to know Romans

As with any Bible book study, one of the most important things for you to do is plan on reading the whole book through, if possible in one sitting. Suggestions:

Use two or three different translations. Make sure you're using dependable translations such as the New American Standard (NASB), New King James (NKJV) and English Standard (ESV). One easy way to get to these translations is by using one of the excellent internet tools such as BibleGateway.com or Studylight.org. Let me know if you would like some thoughts on how to identify a "dependable" Bible translation.
Each time you read through the, right quick notes of your impressions as you go along - things you can go back to and spend some time looking into more thoroughly. Watch for recurring themes, words you need to understand better, and key statements of truth or principle.
Just a note about my notes - I am benefiting from a marvelous book published by IVP originally in 1934, this revision in 1967, titled "Search the Scriptures".

Christian Life 101

2010-08-01T22:03:00.006-04:00

In football, we often hear the players or coaches declaring they have to get “back to the basics”. We know what they’re talking about – they’ve tried all the high-powered strategies and they’re not winning, so when all else fails, get back to the basics.

Well we need to do that as Christians too. This study seeks to provide a foundation for someone coming to know Christ as Savior, and have some of the "big picture" that will help them know where to start, and where they're going. No amount of fancy programs and plans is going to make us successful Christians. It’s the basics that count. So we start here: What is this great salvation all about?

When we come to know Christ, it's the result of our hearing the truth of God's Word proclaimed to us in one way or another. We go through some thinking processes, we exercise our heart, we consider the reality of the basic facts about God's gift of salvation provided by Christ's death and resurrection. And we believe! We are a new creation in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17)! So, once you are born again, you begin "walking" the Christian life. And as you go along, you occasionally will find yourself thinking back over the process of your coming to place your faith in Christ. Here are some things for you to consider, as you develop your faith in Christ.

Settle these basics in your thinking so you don't need to come back and figure them out again...

Three primary axioms about the One True God:

God Is - He is eternal, He is holy, He is the same yesterday, today and forever
God Is Who He says He Is - He spoke the worlds into existence, He is Sovereign, He
God does what He says He will do

Real life is more than what I see on earth.

I'm designed to be in fellowship with God. Created in His image, we are by nature inclined to want fellowship with others, and especially with our Creator.
Real life is much more than just this earthly existence

The Bible is our authority for absolute truth -- Period! The only authority - the absolute authority - the error free authority. There's a lot to think about there, but we need to be working through the fact that the Bible truly is the inspired Word of God. The Bible is a remarkable book, a rich treasure of wisdom, but best of all, it is our Creator's communication to us so that we can know about Him and know Him!

Galatians 5 - The Fruit of the Spirit

2010-03-06T10:37:00.002-05:00

Setting the Plumbline

How well do you know the fruit? It’s sort of like the books of the Bible – really an important basic!
OK, so you know the list – so how well do you show the fruit?! Obviously that’s where God wants us.
Let’s commit to know these important truths and making them a priority in our life!

A Portrait of Christ

Godward…

• Love – Greek, “agape”, self-sacrificing affection, commitment to others; the benchmark set in 1 Cor.13; the command, Eph.5:2; 1 Jn 3:14; 4:7; accomplished by the Holy Spirit - Rom 5:8; Jn 11:33-35; 15:13; 1 Jn 3:14-17

• Joy – Greek, “chara”, compare to “charisma”; deep-seated gladness regardless of circumstances; Phil 4:4; An exhilarated heart, spirit, based on knowing lasting Truth, not dependent on circumstances

• Peace - inner quietness and repose regardless of circumstances; Tranquility of mind, harmony; Rom 5:1, peace with God, of God; Rom 8:28-29; Jn 14:27; Phil 4:6-7; the Hebrew greeting “Shalom” שׁלם

Manword…

Patience – forbearance even under provocation; tolerance, longsuffering “in the midst”, calm in the storm, courageous endurance; Hebrew “hesed”, loyal love, mercy, Psalm 136:1
Kindness – benevolence and graciousness; sensitivity, concern for/with others, give consideration to others rather than yourself; Matt 11:28-29
Goodness – constructive action reaching out to others; Moral excellence, the outward action of inner quality

Inward…

Faithfulness – reliability, trustworthy; trustworthy, another perspective: full of faith! Lamentations 3:22; 1 Cor 4:1-2
Gentleness – consideration of others, respect of authority, Meekness humility, submitted to, Col 3:1
Self-control – discipline with purpose and goal, ability to master oneself, Discipline, restraint; only perfect holiness possesses perfect control… 1 Cor 9:25 (7:9)

Walk in the Spirit, be Fruitful

• Remember that Christ expects us to be fruitful! If we are truly one of His, the Holy Spirit does indwell us, and He will produce fruit, that is, the likeness of Christ in us – 2 Peter 1:8

• Also, this godly fruitfulness can’t be “conjured up” – we must “walk in”, “yield to” the Holy Spirit. We must be teachable and guidable.

• There is no law against these evidences of godliness – all men agree on these virtues

• These capacities, even the “bent” towards them, are in God’s design for man – but disabled by sin nature!

• Gal. 5:25, “If we live in the Spirit” - the right environment for the fruit to grow – the Fruit is the result of a long “organic” process – not sudden, not forced, not manufactured

• We live in a world drawn to spectacle – we instead are drawn to holiness, reverence, adoration

Study for the Week

1. Identify some ways in your life that show your support and care for others?

2. Read Galatians 6 - think of ways that this passage guides us in ministering to others.

3. In this final practical section of Galatians (ch.5-6), what would you say is the most important thing you have learned to apply in your life?

Galatians - Session 3

2008-10-15T21:00:00.007-04:00

Standing for the Truth

Welcome! In the midst of demanding work, and all that comes with leading and ministering to your family, church and community, it is still important to be able to pull out this time to study together! Let’s rejoice in and act on the privilege of being able to hold God's Word in our hand, study and teach it to others!

Today, we’ll get into the text where Paul is making it very clear that the Galatians had been willingly misled regarding his authority as an apostle and the clarity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Getting this cleared up first is essential to Paul being able to move on to the “really important stuff”!

Something to think about: How do we establish our “authority” with the people we minister to? Any parallels to Paul? Paul’s issue with his authority being questioned was that he wanted to be sure his message wasn’t questioned or twisted. In that same way, we can ask, How’s the clarity of our life message doing?

1. Overview of Galatians

Here is the outline provided in the Ryrie Study Bible, which very helpful:

Justification by Faith…
o Defended, ch. 1-2
o Explained, ch. 3-4
o Applied, ch. 5-6

2. Gal. 1:10 - The temptation to accommodate

After clearly stating the seriousness of undermining or perverting the Gospel, this verse provides a transition to the subject of explaining and defending his apostolic authority.

Paul was faced with a decision. Even while in Galatia during his first missionary trip, ministering to those new believers, he knew the Judaizers were there, already trying to pull people away from the Truth. He had even already warned about them – that is why he is so upset that they still caved in! Paul was really struggling with this catatastrophe.

The Judaizers were also suggesting that Paul was just manipulating people, trying to say or do whatever things would lead them to like him and follow his message. Paul pointed out how ridiculous that is. In reality, back when he was persecuting the church was when he was trying to please men - the Pharisees! Now he was setting himself up for all kinds of persecution by what he is saying, hardly trying to please anybody. With the phrase "striving to please men", Paul addressed this in other passages, such as 2 Cor. 6 & 9. He didn’t like to do it, even made “light” of it with sarcasm, but he couldn’t allow his message to be undermined.

We need to understand the right way to “stand your ground”. Paul certainly stood his, and we need his example of humility, gentleness and kindness which constantly characterized his ministry so that he could choose to “stand” when necessary.

3. 1:10 – 2:21, defense of Paul’s apostleship & authority

Here's a basic structure for this first part of this section:

1:11-16, The early years—note the chronology: 3 years in Arabia, a quick trip to Jerusalem for 15 days, the out to Tarsus for 9 years, then to Antioch for 2-3 years
1:15-16, Called to Reveal – God did reveal to Paul, important revelation, as part of the inspired Word of God. We need to have a clear grasp of the finished canon of Scripture and that “revelation” is concluded, there is no “new truth” to be revealed today.

4. The Issue with Judaism

Historically, the Jews welcomed Gentiles to come into the fold as proselytes, and they were expected to perform many of the Pharasaic traditions that had been built up around the Law.

“Easy Believism” – The Judaizers were suggesting that Paul was “avoiding” requiring adhearance to Jewish Law in order to draw a crowd, make it easier for people to become Christian. Paul had the message right – he knew Jesus to be the True Messiah, and that Jesus’ message for eternal life was Justification by Faith Alone. As we move on through this passage, that will be the subject of our study.

Galatians - Session 2

2008-06-10T22:26:00.013-04:00

Why is the Book of Galatians Special?

As we being our study of Galatians, we need to put effort into getting to know Paul's letter well. Remember that is exactly what it is - a special letter, written to special people - not "just another book of the Bible". Approach it as a treasured love letter, excited to hear what is said, taking seriously the heart of the writer.

1. Bible Study Method: Observation

There are three basic elements of effective Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation, and Application. We'll work on these regularly during our study sessions, and we've working lately on Observation. To get started, work on reading the letter in different ways — Read the whole letter at once, using different versions to help your attention be caught by various points. Get familiar enough with the letter that you can notice where similar or related things appear in different places.

Focus on the chapter we are in with our study, thinking about the different paragraphs, what kind of sections the text falls into. Watch for key words that indicate a transition or conclusion.

Make special effort to "dig in" on the verses that we will be studying each session. Pick a couple of key words and look them up in a dictionary, use an online Bible study resource to learn about the original language, and even use a theology resource to learn about doctrinal truths related to the verses.

You might try using a computer spreadsheet as a way to organize your study notes. I suggest one "tab" in your spreadsheet file each for Observation, Interpretation, and Application. Then the rows become chapter & verse. You can create your own columns, but you can start with the various categories of observation as provided by Hendricks in his book, "Living by the Book." Or, contact me (email on the right) and I will send you an Excel file I've set up with this approach.

2. How does Galatians fit in the Bible plan?

When you begin a study of a book of the Bible, it's usually best to take some time to get to know various types of "introductory" information. Look into who wrote it, what was going on from the perspective of God's people when it was written, why it was written, etc.

The beginning of Christian Missions: Galatians is distinctive because it was most likely Paul's first epistle, at least as far as inspired writings included in the Bible. It was likely written around 49AD, very soon after his first Missions Tour into south Galatia. To get to know the book better, read Acts 12-14. After Paul finished this tour, he went back to his "sending church", Antioch, and also spent time in Jerusalem for the very important council that met to deal with Judaistic legalism. That subject has much to do with his writing Galatians. We can't spend a lot of time here covering this introductory material, so you might want to look up some additional information with your study tools. However, we can talk about the "north or south" question.

North or South? You can probably picture Paul & Barnabas talking about what direction to head in as they were planning their first missionary journey. Look at a map in the back of your study Bible (I hope you have one!). Note where Antioch is - on the west end of the Mediterranean, north of Jerusalem. They could have stayed on land, gone a little north and then west and ministered in "north" Galatia. However, using the locations mentioned in Acts 13-14, their decision apparently was to jump on a ship traveling west and go to the island of Cyprus (home to Barnabas) and then north to the mainland of "south" Galatia. Understanding this route and sequence is important to place the time Galatians was written (soon after getting back from the trip) and who Paul was writing to (the new believers in those places mentioned in Acts 13-14).

Map It: Using a Bible study map can often help in this part of study. Your Study Bible should have some helpful maps, and you can also find good maps online. Here is a good standard map showing Paul's missionary journeys...

3. The nature & flow of Galatians

In order to start getting more familiar with Galatians, you need to spend a little time reading through the book a couple of times, preferably with different translations - I suggest the NASB and NIV. Jot a few notes down as you read about the nature of how Paul writes, and the basic structure of the book. For notes, I suggest writing the reference and just a short phrase from the verse - that way you can review the high points and remember the verses.

You're going to see that Galatians is a "quick-read" type book, one that has a fair amount of emotion in it. Paul also makes what are obviously some strong, declarative statements about fundamental truths. Try to pick up on the major sections of the book. I suggest there are three -- see if you agree, and try to come up with titles for each section.

4. Major points & passages in Galatians

Another valuable way to "warm up" to Bible book is look through the whole book and write down every "high point". Ways to find these:

The verses you have underlined or made notes about
The verses that your Study Bible has annotation on
From your read-through's, verses that stood out for some reason

Here are some that I would suggest as a start...

1:5 - what is the Gospel
2:16 - justified by faith
2:20 - crucified with Christ
3:11 - evidence... faith
3:25 - no longer under a tutor
5:1 - stand fast
5:16 - walk in the Spirit
5:22 - the fruit of the Spirit
6:1 - if a man is overtaken

Introduction to the Plumbline Bible Study

2008-06-09T22:10:00.005-04:00

Welcome to a new adventure for the Hillsdale Baptist Iron Men ministry! Our church's strength is determined in large part by the spriritual strength of our men. We need to be capable men of God, prepared to handle and minister God's Word in our families, church and community. Taking time to meet together for concentrated Bible study can be an important part of your being sure that you are a prepared man of God, rightly dividing the Word (2 Timothy 2:15).

1. We need to have a passion and thirst for God’s Word

Spend some time meditating on these passages that express the grandeur and depth of God's Word...

Psalm 19:7-11 – The Law of the Lord is perfect ...in keeping them there is great reward

Psalm 119:103 – how sweet are Your words

Colossians 3:15-17 – let the word of Christ dwell in you richly

2. We need to recognize our responsibility for honoring God's Word

Joshua 1:8 – meditate day & night in the Word, and be careful to do what it says, take it seriously!

2 Timothy 2:15 – rightly dividing the word of truth, examining as well as possible, sorting things out and coming to the best conclusion

Philippians 2:16 – holding forth the Word, proclaiming the Word to a needy world, and ministering it faithfully in our family and church

3. We need to live a life that is accountable to God’s Word

Psalm 1 is a wonderful expression of the godly believer living a responsible life before God. Note that the delight of his heart is the Word of God, and as a result, he has strong, deep roots, fed from the living water of God.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 is a major passage on the doctrine of God's Word. How did we get it? God breathed His very essence into each word - it is truly the living Word. Why do we have it? Teaching, reproof, correction, and righteousness -- all of that should be happening in our life regularly. What is the result? A biblical man of God, walking in Christlikeness and ministering the Word of God in every facet of his life.

4. We need to establish these 4 keys to faithful Bible Study:

Heart – we must have a passion for God's Word, never satisfied, always thirsting for more!

Method – we need to have some method to our study, not just wandering in the breeze, making use of tools

Effort – diligence and discipline must become a natural part of our daily life
Prayer – we must always be careful to surround our time in Bible study with time on our knees humbly seeking God's face about what we are learning

5. Here is a model we will use for our Plumbline Bible Study sessions:

Facilitated but interactive – while the leader will have prepared material and notesheets, the plan will be that the group works together to move through the material

Notes and preparation – keep your pen in your hand, write things down, and review a few days later; look for the ideas in the notes for things to be studying in preparation for the next sesssion

Methods and discipline – we will seek to work on the basics of Bible study methods, making sure that we all are covering the practical matters of knowing God's Word

Growing and mentoring – as the group grows, we will find many opportunities to minister to one another, sharing personally with how God is working in our lives

A final thought about our passion for God's Word...

There is a passion for Christ which it has been given to a very few to possess, but which has set those who have it apart forever from their fellow men. . . . Amid the terrific onrush of the apostasy, amid the swirl of pleasure which is engulfing the majority of those who call themselves Christians, God has His own. . . . They are men and women whose faith and zeal burn brighter as the world's darkness deepens. They are ready to die at Jerusalem, or anywhere, for their Lord. They are valiant for the truth, and wield the sword lustily on God's behalf. Nevertheless, few have that passion for Christ which Paul expressed in the words, "To me to live is Christ." There is reward for the obedient disciples, there is power and authority for the faithful disciples, there is glory of achievement for the zealous disciple . . . but there is the whisper of God's love, there is the joy of His presence, and the shining of His face for those who love Him for Himself alone. A true heart for God will motivate us to seek him diligently in His book.

(Quoted from “Quiet Time”, IVP)

The Outstretched Hand of God

2008-04-20T18:50:00.014-04:00

“For the Lord of hosts has planned, and who can frustrate it? And as for His stretched out hand, who can turn it back?”
-- Isaiah 14:27

Recently I was involved in a study series on the kings of Israel and Judah. Interestingly, it started with a look at God’s sovereignty. In a review of Psalm 95:3-7, we saw the people of Israel expressing their heart for the Sovereign God: “The Lord is great!... in Whose had are the depths of the earth... Come, let us worship... we are the people of His pasture”. We’re in His care, He’s right here with us, taking care of us, we adore Him and want to worship Him. What's regrettable is that when this heart for the Father was tested, things didn't go too well.

Even with their first king, Saul, they should have known that this monarchy thing was going to be a challenge. After David’s marvelous reign, Solomon rose to power only to succumb to the very temptations God had warned about (Deuteronomy 17). After Solomon, the nation split, and beginning his son Rehoboam, most of the following kings were rebellious to the things of God and led both nations in idol worship. Warring with each other and the surrounding nations caused much suffering and loss.

In the midst of all that, how did true believers in the God of Israel feel? Did they wonder, is God still sovereign? Does He still hold the hearts of the kings in His hands? Is He still providing for His people? Is He still moving His program and promises forward?

Yet, based on what we know to be true about God, we know that He is always in control! He is unchangeable sovereign, by Him all things consist -- what a marvelous God we serve! Jeremiah 32:21 says “You brought Your people Israel out of the land of Egypt…with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm.” He never changes, His strong arm is always managing the affairs of man.

The importance of understanding and being committed to the sovereignty of God cannot be overstated. It is on the basis of God being the "master of the universe" that we can stand confidently in the midst of the turmoil this life brings us. Whether our struggle is centerer on the results of a natural disaster, or the pain of a loss inflicted by physical disease or some random act of violence -- God is in control, He knows the end from the beginning, He will carry us through.

1. God's Sovereignty is...

To begin our study, think about what comes to your mind when you hear the phrase "sovereignty of God" and write a few of those things down. We will review a few of those things here, but you probably have some good points written down, and it would be a good exercise to back up each of those points with some Bible passages.

God's sovereignty involves all of His creation, from the smallest detail of the creation around us on earth, to most vast outermost part of the universe -- He is actively involved in every detail. Take a look at what Colossians 1:17 says about this.

God's sovereignty also involves His authority over the affairs of man, His execution of a master plan for history end-to-end. All the myriad schemes of man are under the watchful eye of God. How does Proverbs 21:1 put it?

The Easton Dictionary describes God's sovereignty this way -- "He is under no external restraint whatsoever. He is the Supreme Dispenser of all events. All forms of existence are within the scope of His dominion. And yet this is not to be viewed in any such way as to abridge the reality of the moral freedom of God’s responsible creatures or to make men anything else than the arbiters of their own eternal destinies. God has seen fit to create beings with the power of choice between good and evil. He rules over them in justice and wisdom and grace."

Spurgeon had this heart-felt description -- "There is no attribute more comforting to His children than that of God’s Sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe trials, they believe that Sovereignty has ordained their afflictions, that Sovereignty overrules them, and that Sovereignty will sanctify them all. There is nothing for which the children ought more earnestly to contend than the doctrine of their Master over all creation—the Kingship of God over all the works of His own hands—the Throne of God and His right to sit upon that Throne."

2. What does the Bible say about God's Sovereignty?

As we think through what we understand about God, we know we must begin with basic facts that are "settled" in our thinking..

God is -- Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning, God..."
God is Who He says He is -- Deuteronomy 6:4, "Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one!
God will do what he says He will do -- Job 42:2, "I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted."

Below are a list of Scriptures that relate to God's sovereignty. Take the time now to read through each, noting what you learn from each about God's sovereignty.

1 Samuel 2:2-10
Job 5:8-20; 9:2-30; Job 10:2-18; Job 12:7-20; Job 26:7-14; Job 33:12-30; Job 34:10-30; Job 37:1-24; Job 38:1-41; Job 39:1-30; Job 40:1-24; Job 41:1-34; Job 42:1-6
Psalm 8:3-6; 93:1-2; 103:19; 115:3; 135:6
Ecclesiastes 3:14-15
Isaiah 14:24, 27;43:13; 46:9-10
Jeremiah 10:10-13; 29:11
Daniel 2:20-23
Hosea 11:1-4
Habakkuk 2:13-14
Acts 17:24-26
Romans 1:20; 8:28-29; 9:11, 16, 20
Ephesians 1:11

Rest assured that this list isn't exhaustive. You may think of other passages that you need to add to the list. Take time with this -- we really need to hear God's Word on this marvelous truth!

3. The Character of God's Sovereignty

It's interesting to think about how God's sovereignty is an extension of His character in many ways. Look through this list and think about how each trait has something to do with sovereignty, perhaps comparing it with the list of scripture passages above.

Compassionate
Faithful
Foreknowledge
Goodness – Mercy - Grace
Holy
Immutable (don't feel bad if you need look that up in the dictionary first!)
Jealous
Justice
Love
All knowing
All powerful
Preserver
Providence

Closing Thoughts:

Never finish reflecting on the marvelous character of God. The depths of the riches of Who He is cannot be defined or grasped. Knowing Him better defines the path of our Christian walk.

God's' Sovereignty is the rock-solid foundation of our life. We know we will face struggles & frustrations. Having it settled that He is in control, and He does have our best interests actively in His mind, make it a sure thing that "real" good will always result.

In His Image - 19: The Discipline of Christlikeness

2007-02-14T19:30:00.000-05:00

“I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” --Philippians 4:13-14

Opening Thought
Disciplined Christianity

Paul’s pictures of athletics in his writings are familiar to us as he seeks to challenge us to take our Christian walk seriously. Whether speaking of the Olympic runner or the fighter (1 Corinthians 9:26; 1 Timothy 1:18; 6:12), he makes it clear that winning the challenge doesn’t come easily or by accident. Reaching the finish line requires a clear-cut decision and determination that distractions aren’t going to keep you from getting there.

For Christians, the “finish line” is Christ – being like Him and being in His presence. In Philippians 3:14, Paul says he anticipates the day he is “called up” to be with Christ. In Ephesians 4:13, he reminds us that we are moving towards “measuring up” to the measure of Christ. We look forward to the day when we shall see Him as He is, and be like Him – how exciting!

If you watch an athlete, or a musician, or a corporate leader, or any of a thousand other dedicated professions, you will see those who excel lead a life that includes determination and discipline. No other “profession” comes close to the privilege of bearing the name of Christ, and we must take up the challenge of discipline so that we can live for Christ with excellence.

Study Notes
The Discipline of Christlikeness

1. Christlike Discipline

Discipline will enable Christlikeness to happen in your life. As the writer of Hebrews reminded us, God works discipline in our life to move us towards the marvelous plans He has for us. Our own exercise of discipline, led by the Holy Spirit, also keeps us on the right track. That discipline will look different for different people. Some of us will think that God is exercising that work in us pretty strong, and it looks like God is "going easy on that other believer". Well, for you and me, it may well be that we need a stronger hand of discipline.

What is "discipline"? Not the discipline that a parent exercises to correct the errant actions of a child. But the discipline that is "self-control", that leads to strength and excellence. Perhaps you could write your own definition. Try these thoughts: training that corrects and perfects our mental faculties, molds our moral character – control gained by chosen obedience – deliberate cultivation of inner order.

Paul encouraged Timothy about discipline in 1 Timothy 4:6-16--
Spiritual nourishment, 6:6
Spiritual discipline, 6:8-10
Spiritual actions, 6:12
Spiritual ministry, 6:14
Spiritual determination, 6:16

2. Relationship Comes First

Why would we want to go through this discipline exercise?
-- Can you list some reasons?
-- Some ideas: Because we know Him, we understand what He has done for us -- now keep going!

So, once we have started to be acquainted with Him, we begin to know what He is like, and we want that character in us.

What happens when you develop a relationship with a close friend? Familiarity, shared personal experience... what else?

Ever find yourself at the grocery trying to pick just the right fruit to buy? What characteristics do you look for, like that "thunk" when you tap it with your finger. So what kind of "thunk" are we supposed to have when the world taps us??
- a humble, surrendered spirit: Galatians 2:20; 1 Corinthians 15:31
- discerning: Philippians 1:8-10
- sensitivity: John 7:28-29, 44-46
- a sense of holiness, distinctively set apart: 1 Peter 2:4-10
- wisdom: James 1:5

3. The Discipline of Deep Relationship

Chuck Swindoll's book, So You Want to Be Like Christ?, is a great place to start the process (hint hint... you really need to read that book). He deals carefully and deeply with the subject, guiding us to commit to a lifestyle that will enable Christlikeness. Some of the thoughts here are from this book.

Note 1 Timothy 4:7, "Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness." It's interesting to see how much Paul refers to godliness in his letters to Timothy -- use your concordance or use studylight.org to find them all, and spend some time in those verses. Do you suppose Paul felt at ease talking with Tim about godliness because it was a familiar subject to both, or perhaps because Paul was it as concerned about Tim needing more of it? hmmm...

Swindoll points to certain fundamental disciplines, encouraging us to develop habit patterns that move use toward Christlikeness.
Discipline is the indispensable enabling factor. We have to get to the place where we understand that this mindset of discipline is a fundamental aspect of our Christian walk. Go with the "big D's" - determined, deliberate, definable. Swindoll gives presents us with 8 disciplines essential to Christlike discipline.

Intimacy - The goal of this endeavor is a deep, rich closeness to God, "seeking to live life as Christ intended", increasing through discipline the "capacity to enjoy all the goodness God offers." Philippians 3:10, that I may know Him.
Simplicity: unclutter our mind
-- find where the clutter is and deal with it; things, busyness, unfinished work, debt, technology overload, ego-rich pursuits
-- this clutter doesn't leave room for holiness, devotion, meditation

Silence & Solitude: slowing our pace

Surrender: releasing our grip

Prayer: calling out

Humility: bowing low

Self-control: holding back

Sacrifice: giving over

You are hopefully intrigued by these disciplines -- they are very right, and my hope is that you will go get the book and dig in.

4. The Journey Continues

From here, we send on in your journey. Learning Christ and expressing His likeness in our own lives is a life-long habit. Our prayer together is that we would be faithful to His design in us, allowing Him to do His good work in us.

In His Image - 18: The Character of Christlikeness

2006-12-29T09:12:00.000-05:00

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith…to know the love of Christ…that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.” -Ephesians 3:17-19

Opening Thought
What a Character!

We can usually pick up on who the “character” is in the group – a little louder, very outgoing, seems to feed on getting a laughing response. And there are other “characters” among us – maybe just a little unique in the way they approach life. Still, very noticeable in a group, just not as “noisy”. We’re actually all characters, exhibiting our own set of unique features. It’s just that most of us manage to do that while going through life more quietly.

I wonder if people in Jesus’ day thought He was a “character”. Perhaps. He certainly stood out, didn’t seem to be swayed by the direction of the crowds, stood up and spoke up when He needed to – probably made quite a few people uncomfortable.

There’s another side to “character”, reminding us of the desirable qualities we look for in a person. The world works at defining those characteristerics according to their godless perspective – like the bumper sticker “Just be Nice”. As Christians, we know to find the benchmark of character in Christ. He is our model and measure as we seek to develop biblical, godly character.

Wouldn’t it be nice if every once in a while, someone would turn their head our way and think “What a Christlike character that person has!”

Study Notes:

The Character of Christlikeness

We've already looked some at the spiritual mindset that is essential to Christlikeness in sessions 16 & 17. When you look in the mirror, do you see yourself as a "spiritual man" (or woman)? Is that an essential feature of "who you are"?

In 2 Corinthians 2:6ff, Paul speaks of the amazing privilege we have because we are redeemed in Jesus Christ and indwelt by the Holy Spirit -- we possess the wisdom of God. Careful, we don't claim to be like God -- but He has opened to us fountain of His knowledge for us to live by in wisdom. Remarkable. And that "living in wisdom" is the essence of Christlikeness.

1. The Law of the Spirit of Life

Romans 8:2, those "in Christ" (v. 1) live by the Law of the Spirit. The following verses express the essentials of that law. Go through vv. 2-14 and discover what these are.
v. 2 - sets free from the law of sin
v. 3 - anchored in what?
v. 4 - impacts our...
keep going!

Bottom line: We are empowered by the Holy Spirit and then enabled by faith and a surrendered heart.

2. Contrast with the World

We certainly live in a world full of "characters". I sometimes comment "People can be such... people!" By design, we are unique, we have our own way of connecting with the world around us, and so many different ways of expression.
As Christians we do face a challenge in balancing our "mind of Christ" and being part of the world. We all know the phrase "so heavenly minded that he's no earthly good". For starters, don' t forget that Christ is our model -- He was the essence of being heavenly minded. Yet He was also the definition of earthly good! But then, with Christ as our model, we do still need to express our godliness in our own special way.

Paul describes this separation in 1 Corinthians 2:6-16. We have things revealed to us by the Holy Spirit that the world will never see. (To much extent, they don't want to see it!) This revealing is based entirely on the "revealed" truth referred to in 2:10. Based on 1 Peter 1:21, and other related scriptures, we understand "revealed truth" to be a finished work by God, contained in what we hold as the Bible. In other words, since the establishment of the Church and the completion of the Canon of Scripture, there is no new revelation from God. We have a completed revelation from God, all from that we need in order to know Him and obey Him.
Our mission: 2 Cor. 2:15, "he who appraises all things", meaning that as Spirit-guided believers in Christ, we evaluate and respond to the various proddings and promptings of the world around us in godly manner, always anchored in Biblical truth. Ephesians 4:11-16 is a good passage about Christlikeness. Verse 14 describes the potential stormy influences of the world that we face anchored in Christ and His word (v.15).
Our model: v. 16, the mind of Christ. See Romans 11:33-36, "Oh the depths of the wisdom and knowledge of God!" It is remarkable to realize that the Master of the Universe has enabled us to "think His thoughts", "have His mind". While we recognize our finite human limitations, we don't suggest being "like God" (Satan's sales pitch to Adam & Eve), yet we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to model the mind of Christ. Isaiah 55:8-9 says it well, "My (G0d's) thoughts are not your thoughts", He is infinitely loftier than we. Note: Isaiah 55 is a marvelous chapter for you to meditate on -- "Ho everyone that is thirsty...".
Note that I did an earlier study on the Mind of Christ, focusing on Philippians 2:5 -- Sessions 15 & 16 (October-November).

3. A Study in Character

In Session 11, we introduced the theme of the Fruit of the Spirit as a portrait of Christ. In that session, we took time to think about specific events/actions in Christ's life that demonstrated each of the fruit. Let's spend some more time now looking at the Fruit in Christ's life. Also, let's be sure to note that this is a deep well -- please use these notes as stepping stones to lead you into deeper and deeper studies about the person of Christ.
Remember that the same Holy Spirit Who empowered the Son of God to express His life with these godly characteristics dwells in you... you are the temple of the Holy Spirit, 1 Corinthians 6:19. His mission is to enable, empower, lead you through the process of living these manifestations of Christlikeness.
It is suggested that this listing of the fruit of the Spirit lends itself to be broken into three sub-groups --
1. Love, Joy & Peace: our Godward relationship
2. Patience, Kindness & Goodness: our relationship to others
3. Faithfulness, Gentleness & Self-control: our internal character
Love --
1. Reflect on Mark 1:40-42, Jesus "moved with compassion" for those in distress through no sin of their own.
2. Then note Matthew 9:10-15, where Jesus loves those in sin, offeres them opportunity to repent.
3. Remember great expression of love in 1 Corinthians 13 which puts the "stake in the ground" for love being the cornerstone of godly character.
4. Think about the longsuffering love Jesus had for His disciples. For example, after the Resurrection, in John 21:15ff, Jesus talks with Peter about their love for each other.
Joy --
1. This isn't talking about silliness, giddiness, the shallow fun-loving mentality that seems so important to our society. This is deep, resilient satisfied happiness, not dependant on surroundings, based on what the heart knows to be true.
2. In Philippians 4:4-8, Paul reminds the believer to always have a rejoicing lifestyle, then goes on to develop how that lifestyle is developed and maintained.
3. Compare the parables Jesus taught in Luke 15, looking at the joy that is experienced by those involved when they found what was lost -- and remember these are portraits of God's own joy.
4. One of the best things about joy is sharing it. For example, in Luke 10:17ff, when the Disciples returned from their missionary outing.
5. One final thought: As we live Christlike lives, we are in the process of giving God joy, causing Him to have pleasure -- what an amzaing thought. In John 17:13, Jesus tells us that His joy is fulfilled in our success. Wow.
Peace --
1. What comes to mind when you think of "peace"? World events? Difficulties with people? Inner struggle? From God's perspective, these all come back to relationship with Him. Romans 5:1, peace with God is foundational to the believer's walk.
2. Once we have peace with God, we are able to walk with the peace of God in our life, Philippians 4:7. This is inner tranquility and stability anchored in Christ. All of the outside circustances are handed over to God.
3. Compare Jesus' peace -- sleeping in that boat, Matthew 8:23-27 ; hearing that Lazarus had died, John 11 ; enduring those "trials" before His Crucifixion, Luke 22 & 23.
Patience --
1. Are the people around you patient? The world is a "provoking" place -- people will always be... people!
2. Think of the patience Jesus had, waiting through 30 years of becoming an adult, followed by 3 years of tumultuous pressure.
3. There are two marvelous Greek words used in the New Testament for "patience". In Galatians 5:22, it is a word that emphasizes longsuffering and self-restraint, often related to expressing mercy to others.
4. In James 1:4, God tells us to "let endurance have its perfect result". That word "endurance" is another great Greek word meaning steadfastness, constancy, endurance, perseverance; picture taking a 100 pound weight and placing it on top of a bean. While a marble might squirt out from under the weight, the bean stays under the weight, enduring the pressure. This word encourages us not to be swerved from our deliberate purpose and loyalty to our faith in Christ and goal of Christlikeness, even by the greatest trials and sufferings.
Kindness --
1. Kindness & Goodness seem to work together in their development and expression. One without the other would be out of balance. Kindness shouldn't be indulgent; goodness shouldn't be harsh and self-righteous.
2. Kindness relates to the quality of who you are even though it is automatically an expression that impacts others. It is anchored in your moral goodness and integrity.
Goodness --
1. The other hand of Kindness. It is the expression of blessing that you place on others, the testimony that you are know by.
2. Where is this godly character coming from? The moral goodness and integrity of the "new man" that you are in Christ, what Paul refers to as "God's workmanship" to result in good works (Ephesians 2:10).
Faithfulness --
1. In the Old Testament, God often used a special Hebrew term, "hesed", to express the tenacious and compassionate love God has for His people. This term speaks of a deep-rooted loyalty. It is hinged on the high value of who or what is involved.
2. Hosea is perhaps one of the best illustrations of God's "hesed", longsuffering love for His people. He was tested more than once by a wandering, sinning wife, a picture of Israel's relationship to God.
3. We often falter in being faithful -- the world around us seems to be the opposite! (Take a look at 2 Timothy 3:1-5.) It might help to think about some of the words we have in English related to faithfulness -- loyal, constant, trustworthy, staunch, resolute. Perhaps we need to strengthen our ability to think in these terms as we face the war around us that seeks to break down our resolve.
4. Remember that allowing the Holy Spirit to lead your life will produce this fruit that is Christlikeness. And that includes faithfulness.
Gentleness --
1. This word emphasizes a "pre-disposed" spirit that intends to mild, soft to the touch in the it expresses to others. In this way, it leads to and partners with the final fruit of self-control.
2. Watch the way Jesus was with the people around Him. We know He was driven, passionate about His mission. Yet, in the presence of people, He was always gentle. He would softly and tenderly touch their lives, then He would move on with His mission.
Self-control --
1. I prefer the word Discipline. The word speaks of the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions. The word also points us to the related life pattern of being a Disciple.
2. If Love is the cornerstone of our Christlikeness, then Discipline can be seen as the process that enables this portrait to become ours.
2. Meekness is a related word -- some define this as "power under control".
3. Where does our power come from? As the Holy Spirit enables us, "we can do all things". Yet we bow humbly, recognizing our fallen nature, horrified by our capability to turn away, committed to "press on in order to lay hold" of our goal in Christ.

For further study...

1. How did people see the fruit of the Spirit in your life this past week?

2. Think through the list and identify the top 3 fruit, in order of priority, that you “really need to work on”.

3. Think back through Romans 8 – what are a couple of steps you can take to deepen your spiritual life?

In His Image - 17: Being Spiritually Minded

2006-12-08T09:49:00.000-05:00

“For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.” -Romans 8:6

Opening Thought
Mind What I Say!

Maybe you have this mental image in your memory as well. One hand on her hip, the other raised pointing a finder at you – having lectured you on the same fine point of behavior for the "umpteenth" time, she punctuates it with “You’d better mind what I say, or…” the rest we’ll leave to creative imagination.

God doesn’t stand over us with that irritated look on His face watching to make sure we “mind what He says”. However, some of this picture does fit. As we listen to Him explain in His Word what it means to live righteously, He looks for us to understand it. More importantly, He wants us to show that we not only understand, but we agree with the Truth, and we desire to live it in our daily lives. We want to mind what He says!

As a child of God, He has begun a remarkable process in us. Philippians 1:6 says that what God has begun in us, He will complete. He has begun the remarkable work of transforming us into spiritual, holy people. Peter tells us we are to be a “holy priesthood” so that we can “proclaim the excellencies of Him.” (1 Peter 2:5, 9)

We need to be sure that our mind is in gear with the mission of our life in Christ! Thinking God’s thoughts then putting them into action!

Study Notes
Being Spiritually Minded

1. The Veil is Taken Away

When Moses came down from the mountain after being with God and receiving the Law, his face shone with the glory of God and he had to put a veil over his face (Exodus 34:33) for the peoples' sake -- they couldn't withstand full exposure to God's glory. This account is remarkable in at least two ways: Moses had a personal encounter with God - the Bible later calls him "the friend of God". He had the result of the personal experience emblazoned on his person. Then, how sad that the people at the bottom of the mountain, God's people, had to be shielded from that revelation of God's glory.
Paul mentions this picture in 2 Corinthians 3:12ff. Our hope in Christ gives us boldness, it produces a glory that radiates from us, and there is no veil -- Christ has removed it! (Remember the torn veil at His Resurrection?)
As a result, verse 18 tells it, we are able to encounter the glory of God in Christ in a transforming way, moving us towards Christlikeness.

2. Disciple? sure. Obedience? hmmm....

We readily acknowledge that we are disciples of Christ. But when we come to the issue of obedience, we tend not to be so quick to respond. We're still human, we still want to be in charge.
In practical, human terms, how do we approach obedience?

1. We hear someone giving direction, and we realize we have to choose whether to follow.

2. We evaluate and conclude the level of competence and authority that person has.

3. We decide whether to follow the guidance given in #1 based on #2.
So then, how should a disciple of Christ respond to the guidance of God's Word?

1. Be intimately familiar with the guidance given by God in His Word.
Two key passages come to mind:
- John 14:26 and 16:13 tell us that the cornerstone ministry of the Holy Spirit to the Believer is to teach and guide you in the Truth of God's Word (the Bible).
- 2 Tim. 3:16-17 tells us that the Word of God has 4 primary purposes, summarily providing all guidance needed by the Believer

2. Settle once & for all the total authority God has in our decisions and actions.
- The debate needs to be over, have it settled so that when the challenges come, you already know the result: God's guidance has complete authority in your choices and decisions.
- Paul often reminded and encouraged his listeners about the importance of understanding what they have committed themselves to in Christ and being faithful to it. Look for example at Colossians 1:23; 2:7; Romans 6:13
- Warren Wiersbe, in The Integrity Factor, quotes Peter Forsythe saying "The first duty of every soul is to find not its freedom but its Master."

3. Instinctively assume that all guidance from God is applicable in your life.
- The good news is that this makes the decision process brief and simple. Our testimony of the grace of Christ is enhanced and more consistent.
- The challenge now is to become increasingly capable of godly application of His truth.

3. Put it into Action

We need to get past this ...
1. Is God Who He says He is?
2. Is the Bible truly the complete and authorative source for our life's purpose and principles?
We need to get here...
1. Become very clear about our commitment to and love for Christ .
2. Recognize that these two should drive us to a passionate demonstration of His likeness.
At that point, obedience becomes essential.

4. Our model is Christ

This is the goal of this series of studies in Christlikeness.
We all probably need to review what has been covered in this series on a regular basis so that we grow in our understanding of who Christ is and how He expressed God's character.

For Further Study...

1. Philippians 4:8 challenges us to focus our thinking, to “dwell on” certain things. Does this verse express the mind of Christ? Is there anything we can add to this? How close do we come to this model?

2. Spend some time meditating in 1 Peter 2 and the importance of your being a truly holy person, not just in God’s sight, but before the world.What does it mean to you to be “spiritual”?

3. Would you agree that God expects the Christian to show a distinct spiritual nature characterized by godliness? Are these two things the same?

In His Image - 16: The Mind of Christlikeness

2006-11-25T08:24:00.000-05:00

"For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.” - 1 Corinthians 2:16

Opening Thought
Too Much to Ask?

When we consider the challenge of knowing the mind of Christ, our first response is that this is a difficult task – maybe too difficult, out of reach, more than we should hope for. After all, Jesus Christ is God, completely perfect, without sin, sitting in heaven at the right hand of the Father. He is our Redeemer, victorious over sin, risen from the dead, awaiting the day that all knees will bow before Him.

We are bound by our earthiness, as Paul says, in these “earthly tents” (2 Corinthians 5:1ff). We struggle with sin being all around us, often responding to the challenges of life with a mortal, earth-bound point of view. How in this world can we expect to have the mind of Christ in the midst of such circumstances?? Is this too much to ask of us?

Christ told us we are to be “salt and light” in this world (Matt. 5:13-16). The issue becomes one of how “salty” and “full of light” we are. We must not yield to the pressure of our world, but instead allow our mind to be transformed , renewed in Christ’s likeness.

Left to ourselves, there would be no way to acquire the mind of Christ. But God has committed Himself to our success! His Holy Spirit indwells each of us specifically to accomplish this great task. It is not too much to ask, and we should be asking Him every moment of every day to do this great work in us!

Study Notes
Renewing the Mind
A few questions to get us started..

1. Is eternal life is dependent on faith alone?

In simple terms: yes. Without personal faith in the finished work of Christ on the Cross, we stand condemned. However, the Grace of God certainly has the same primary position of affect and effect -- we are obligated to the truth of Ephesians 2:8-9, "for by grace have you been saved through faith." This question leads to a fair amount of debate among Bible-believing Christians today, seeking to balance the sovereignty of God with the free will of man. The fact of these verses, however, is unavoidable: both are involved. Let's be careful to recognize the points at which we are not able to force the infinite truths of God into our finite minds.

Faith -- the acknowledgement by man of God, Who He says He is, what He says He has done to reconcile our relationship with Him, and how He provides for our possessing that reconciliation -- based on His revelation to us in Christ and His Word. Grace -- the unilateral work of God to express and accomplish His Holiness, Justice and Lovingkindness on our behalf -- based on His sovereignty, finally and fully expressed in Jesus Christ on the Cross.

One of the most exciting ways in which we see the grace of God in the work of salvation is expressed by Christ in John 10:10, that He has come that we might have life (our walk with Christ in eternity) and that we might have it more abundantly (our walk in Christ today).

2. Does this "abundant living" happen automatically by being a Christian?

It is this abundant life that is impacted by our understanding and pursuit of Christlikeness. Romans 12:1-2 helps as well: rather than letting the world "press" us into its mold, our mind should be constantly being renewed . The result is that we are transformed -- from? our world-based self-centered behavior -- to? a behavior that is heaven-based and Christ-centered.

3. What does "renewing our mind" mean?

In our last session, we studied the Mind of Christ as taught in Philippians 2. The Renewing process is God's work of moving from a world-bound mindset to one that emulates Christ. Rom. 12:2 tells us it is a "transforming" process (by the way, never finished until we are with Christ, 1 John 3:2). Look up other verses that teach more about this transformation: 1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 3:21. Note that Rom. 12 & 2 Cor. 3 use the same original Greek word which transliterates into our English "metamorphosis" (think caterpillar to butterfly). 1 Cor. 15 and 1 John 3 use different words, and are focused on the final state of our being made like Him at the Rapture.

4. How does "renewing our mind" happen?

According to John 16:13-14, the Holy Spirit is indwelling us specifically so that He can teach us and reveal Christ (through the Word of God). Galatians 5:22 gives a marvelous portrait of Christ by listing the Fruit of the Spirit, results of the transforming work He works in us. As you reflect on the Fruit, you can easily see where the "renewal" process needs to go in your life!

“Without biblical meditation, we fall into the trap of religiosity, of going through the motions of religion without really dealing with our lives. What God has called us to is not simply overt conformity to a set of moral rules, standards, and actions of service. Instead, He has called us to a heart relationship with Him through Jesus Christ through the Word in the power of the Holy Spirit. This means change in our lives from the inside out, changes in our values, sources of trust, in our purposes for living, and in the way we handle life.”-- J. Hampton Keathley, bible.org

He Who is Spiritual

The Christian life is a spiritual reality, it is based on faith in the True God. However, rational thinking is a key element in the way we live Christlike lives. This passage helps us to understand why.

1. 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 -- We speak a wisdom not of this age. Paul is speaking of how we apply the knowledge we have from God in a Christlike manner.

2. The wisdom of the age -- How does this age's wisdom compare with the wisdom of God? Today's wisdom is worse than short-term, it requires immediacy. It also requires total accommodation of self and exlcusion of God.

3. The wisdom of God -- By comparison, we have received God's Spirit, we have recognized our need of God's provision, we have turned to Him for solutions. As a result, the Holy Spirit guides and teaches so that we gain spiritual understanding.

How Do We Show the Mind of Christ?

1. Two basics...

Know God -- become acquainted with Him personally, become His child, become friend
Think God's thoughts -- grow deep roots, plumb the depths of His wisdom, express His mind in the midst of every day's experiences

2. Living the Mind of God

Think Biblically
Think Honestly
Think Consistently
Live with forgiving heart
Live with a serving spirit
Live with a discipling mind

A Challenge from 1 Peter

Peter's first epistle is a strong focus on living a life of godliness and Christlikeness. Perhaps the thrust is best summed up in 2:9-10, we are chosen by God to be a royal priesthood, a holy people for God's precious possession.

1:13 -- "...prepare you minds for action..." We have a mission from God and our minds must be prepared, sober, fixed.
3:8, 15 -- Live in harmony and kindness, but then be prepared (in your mind) to give a defense for your faith.
4:1 -- Arm yourselves with purpose; be mindful that when you speak, it is the utterances of God

May the Mind of Christ my Savior (Hymn)

May the mind of Christ my Savior, live in me from day to day;
by His love and power controlling all I do and say.

May the Word of God dwell richly in my heart from hour to hour;
so that all may see I triumph only through His power.

May the peace of God my Father rule my life in everything,
that I may be calm to comfort sick and sorrowing.

May the love of Jesus fill me as the waters fill the sea;
Him exalting, self abasing, this is victory.

May I run the race before me, strong and brave to face the foe,
looking only unto Jesus as I onward go.

May His beauty rest upon me, as I seek the lost to win;
and may they forget the channel, seeing only Him.

For further study...
1. Focus this week on the Bible’s teaching about the mind of God using the passages here in our notes
2. Think about three ways you could develop as habits to help your thinking to be more Christlike.

3. As an exercise, memorize Philippians 2:5 and Romans 12:1-2.

In His Image - 15: Striking the Mark

2006-10-29T09:55:00.000-05:00

Attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” --Colossians 2:2-3

Opening Thought
Making the Commitment

We’ll often go through the experience of deciding we want to do something. It might be a weight loss program, or a career-enhancing certification, or running in the Boston Marathon (don’t worry, I haven’t done that either). So we look into all the requirements, we make the plans, and we think about all the good that will come out of accomplishing this goal.

Then, something very important happens – it’s time to actually start the program, to make the commitment to engage in the required discipline and stay at it for the duration of the program. Remember that feeling? Facing up to this challenge can be a real struggle. Determining to announce to all observers that you’re actually going to do this.

Committing to a life of Christlikeness takes that type of commitment. We can do a lot of looking and thinking about what’s involved, we can think about all the benefits that come if we “complete the program” – both now and in eternity. It’s just that actually-getting-started thing that causes us to pause.

That’s where we are in our study of Christlikeness. We need to hook into some very specific exercises and disciplines that need to be developed into life habits. So let’s go – let’s make the commitment to Christlikeness.

The Mind of Christ - Philippians 2

As we begin our study of exercising Christlikeness in our Christian walk, it will help to look at some of the key passages of Scripture that speak to our understanding of what is involved in seeking this high goal. Paul, in Philippians 2, "strikes the mark" of what Christlikeness means to the believer by stating it as having the "mind of Christ".

1. The Mind of Christ

Philippians 2:5, "let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" -- continuously be thinking the same way Christ was thinking; that's why we've spent the last several study sessions looking at snapshots in Christ's life, to get a sense for how He was thinking in those various situations; as Paul explains here, that thought process centered on obedience, humility and servanthood
1 Cor 2:14-16, but we have the mind of Christ! After quoting from Isaiah, "who has known the mind of the Lord?", he Paul reminds us that in reality, we do!
While most of Paul's letter to Philippi is heartfelt, conversational and spontaneous, this passage chapter 2 is more "polished", seemingly carefully thought out.
Phil. 2 is is a major Biblical statement on Christology, in our being of one mind in Christ (2:1). Doctrinal study, Christology, Pneumatology, Ecclesiology, Eschatology and others -- these are valuable areas of study that you need to spend some time in.
The bottom line is that all true Christians have (or ought to have) the mind of Christ. So, what is the mind of Christ? Paul points us in the right direction in this passage.

2. Choosing Not to Grasp

Phil. 2:6
Think of grasping as clinging or desperately hanging on to something. This could be like falling in a tree and desperately hanging on to a branch. Or perhaps, picture the child being left at summer camp and clinging tight to the parent, not wanting to be left alone.
Compare John 1:1-18, the very Living Word of God, choosing to leave heaven's glory and dwell among us. Rather than clinging to His heavenly realm, Jesus Christ took on a mortal body and allowed mankind to observe His glory.

3. Emptied of Self

Phil. 2:7
This speaks of how Jesus set aside His independent use of His divine power.
He emptied Himself of all His heavenly, divine reputation, left behind His ability to claim status or position -- almost as if He had no history at all. Imagine having everything about you that made you special or unique in your life taken away; think of the tragic life stories of black slaves brought to America and treated as having no previous life.
When Jesus expressed His experience of this, it is not in the sense of playing a part, it is a very real experience.
Think of what it would take for us to be empty of self, totally devoid of pride & selfishness

4. A Humble Servant

This "humbling" is a different word than "emptying". Here simply bows low, expressing His intension to serve, demonstrating His relationship to mankind.
Jesus chose to submit His will, His independent plans, to His Father. From early in His ministry when He expresses His keen sense of knowing His Father's plan and being totally dedicated to it, to just before the Cross, "not my will, but Yours be done."
Note Matthew 20:28, "just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Also, Mark 10:43-45.
How does His being described as "humble" match up with some of the dramatic confrontations he created, such as cleansing the Temple? What other instances can you think of? (Think "Pharisees")

5. Obedience

Perhaps this point helps to understand our question above. Jesus so clearly understood His obedience to His Father that it influenced His every action, it overrode cultural niceties and social prejudice.
Luke 2:49, "I am here for my Father's business."
John 8:29, "I always do the things that are pleasing to Him."
John 12:49, "My Father has given Me... what to say."
Luke 22:42, "not My will, but Thine be done."
Overarching every minute of Jesus' life was His sense of Mission: He was here "on His Father's business". The business of delivering once-and-for-all Redemption for mankind. The business of demonstrating the reality of God fulfilling His promises.

6. Patience

Patience... probably not one of our better traits in the 21st century. Having the ability to comfortably wait while something develops or arrives.
Beginning at the Cana wedding, Jesus knew His hour had not come (John 2:4); also John 7:30; 8:20. The "hour", He tells us later, speaks of His sacrifice on the Cross -- a crucible of time through which all of human history is drawn.
The time came when the hour was "come" or "at hand" -- Mark 14:41; John 12:23; 13:1; 17:1.
"In due time..." -- Romans 5:6; 1 Timothy 2:6; 1 Peter 5:6 -- Please read through these passages and reflect on the patience of Christ.
Note Hebrews 12:2, "for the joy set before Him, endured the Cross". This enduring had to include His entire life on earth as He anticipated His "hour".
Jesus was able to work on the basis of a divinely clear knowledge of the End Times. Phil. 2:9-11 sums up the anticipation that Jesus Christ has in seeing the fulfillment of God's "plans for the ages", the culmination of His promises to Israel and the Church (separately!).

7. Paul's Response

Context is always important in Bible study. Paul's response to this great Christological passage helps us to know what our response should be. If you follow the grammatical "hooks" starting in Phil. 2:12, "So then...", on to 3:1, "Finally...", he brings us to center of His heart in 3:7-14.
From this great passage, we see the reality of the Christian walk. "Count all things to be loss... that I may gain Him... that I may know Him... I press on toward the goal."
Beginning to demonstrate Christlikeness in our life requires this deep-heart commitment. We come to the place where this becomes our true passion. The other delights and drama of life become "environmental", just the trappings of this One Thing that truly matters -- Christlikeness.

A very special hymn --
May the Mind of Christ my Savior

May the mind of Christ my Savior, live in me from day to day;
by His love and power controlling all I do and say.

May the Word of God dwell richly in my heart from hour to hour;
so that all may see I triumph only through His power.

May the peace of God my Father rule my life in everything,
that I may be calm to comfort sick and sorrowing.

May the love of Jesus fill me as the waters fill the sea;
Him exalting, self abasing, this is victory.

May I run the race before me, strong and brave to face the foe,
looking only unto Jesus as I onward go.

May His beauty rest upon me, as I seek the lost to win;
and may they forget the channel, seeing only Him.

For Further Study...
1. Have you thought about how seeking to be like Christ requires discipline and exercise? Would that require some changes in how you approach Christlikeness?
2. On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being perfect, how well do you “look like Christ”?
3. What would be three things you need to work on to make your “score” go up?

In His Image - 14: Our Great Savior

2006-10-18T21:42:00.000-04:00

“Oh death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
-- 1 Corinthians 15:55-57

Opening Thought
Get out of Jail Free

In the game of Monopoly, you need that card. But in real life, the issue is so much deeper, all the way down into your heart. Separated from God by sin, no way to account and pay for your sin other than eternity in hell – you need the Savior! Every one of us, trapped in our sin, have no way to escape apart from the redeeming work of Christ on the Cross.

However, through the final excruciating week of Jesus’ life on earth, we see that He had so much more in store for us. His death, the gift of salvation, is not just a get out of jail card, not just “life insurance” to escape hell. It is the opening to an abundant life, here on earth, and through all eternity.

He wants to us to know Him, to understand His character, and to begin the process of reflecting that character in our lives – to be Christlike. Our studies thus far have been seeking to look into the life of Christ and observe how He expressed godliness in His interactions and ministry with people. In the next few studies, we will begin to study more directly the disciplines of Christlikeness, seeking to understand the processes required of each of us to follow in Christ’s steps. However, right now, let’s just reflect once more on the awesome beauty of the character of Christ as it is revealed in all its glory through these events leading to the Cross and beyond.

Study Notes

Why is this night so different?”

1. Pesach has always been the most popular of the Jewish holidays, celebrated more than the other than the other Jewish feasts

2. The Day of Atonement, yom kippur, the 10th day of the 7th month; recall images of the High Priest approaching the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies, the two scapegoats.

Review Leviticus 16 to recall more of the special activities involved in this holy event

The only national day declared by Jewish law, a day of national humiliation

These activities were designed by God to demonstrate propitiation and expiation, the acts which clear a debt, remove all indication of guilt or liability.

3. The youngest child in each faithful Jewish home, during the Passover seder meal, would recite four questions -- the key one "Why is this night different from all other nights?"

4. When the disciples gathered with the Lord in the Upper Room, perhaps these questions burned in their mind in a way they could have never anticipated. Certainly no night had ever been so different. The foreboding awareness that something remarkable and terrible, from the hand of God no less, hung over the room just as that night 1450 years ago in Egypt.

5. Read Exodus 6:6-7 and look for four expressions of redemption

Freedom

Deliverance

Redemption

Release

6. The Last Supper the Lord had with His disciples followed the seder sequence of the Passover meal, which included 4 cups, the same sequence of redemptive expression (using a Harmony of the Gospels might help you separate these events)

Luke 22:17, the First Cup, Cup of Blessing

Luke 22:19, the Second Cup, breaking of Matzoh

Luke 22:20, the Third Cup, of Redemption

Matthew 26:27-30, the 4th Cup; the Hallel Psalms are traditionally sung and/or read (Psalms 115-118) at the conclusion of the Passover meal

7. Jesus the Messiah is our Pesach, our Redeemer, our sacrifice.

Read 1 Corinthians 5:7

The Hebrew “pasha” means “to pass over”; the English “paschal” is derived from this word, and is linked in early Christian tradition to the Greek word for “passion”, the work of Christ on the Cross.

Jesus' Ministry to Others in the Midst of Turmoil

Seeing Jesus in the Upper Room gives us one more glimpse before the Cross of His constant ministry to others as they face life’s struggles.

1. Jesus and Peter

John 13:36-38; Luke 22:31-34 – look where this sad prediction has its roots: Peter still doesn’t fully see the reality of Christ’s mission, he hasn’t been hearing clearly

Luke 22:54-62 – Before the cock crows…Graciously for Peter and for each of us in our own way, the story doesn’t end there. John 21:15ff shows the tender ministry of Jesus to Peter in pointing him to rich ministry as well as suffering for Christ’s sake.

2. Jesus and the Crowds

Matthew 27:15-26

For three years the crowds had been following Him, pressing in on Him, calling for Him to be King, seeking His healing and providing touch.

Now, stirred up with fear, the masses have their say -- “Crucify Him!” Let’s be done with this confrontation, let us have our indulgence.Later on the Cross, however, Jesus looks out on those around Him and around the world, and speaks for them to the Father – “forgive them”.

Later on the Cross, however, Jesus looks out on those around Him and around the world, and speaks for them to the Father – “forgive them”.

3. Jesus and the Repentant Thief

Luke 23:39-43

Concerned with His own suffering and loss? Resentful of being placed on a Cross just like these guilty men beside Him? No, still focused on His mission of Redemption, He faithfully communicates the message of grace one more time – “You shall be with Me in Paradise.”

4. Jesus and Mary Magdalene

John 20:11-18

Mary Magdalene, a tender woman who has come out of a life of misery and sin, has her heart broken at the loss of her Lord and Savior. All she could do was bow at the tomb and weep. Then out of the clouds of her sorrow, she realizes the glory of God speaking to her – “Why are you weeping?”

Turning the other way as she senses movement, she sees this man, remarkably familiar yet different. But then He speaks to her – “Mary!” And all she could reply was the truth of her relationship with her Savior -- Raboni!, which means “master teacher”.

5. Jesus and the Emmaus Travelers

Luke 24:13-32

Were not our hearts burning within us?

I once was lost...

Jesus has ministered to each of us in the same way He ministered to others while on the earth. Reaching out where we are, in the midst of our sin and selfishness, He draws us to Himself in grace.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
that saved wretch like me;
I once was lost but now am found,
was blind but now I see!

For further study...
1. As we begin to study how we can pursue Christlikeness, reflect on how the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) guides us to show the character of Christ.
2. Is it realistic for you to have each of these fruit? Some more than others? Is there one or more that seems “impossible”? Why? Anything you can do about it?
3. Is it your earnest desire to be like Christ?

In His Image - 13: The Ministering Servant

2006-10-15T11:13:00.000-04:00

“Come to me all you that are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls.”
--Matthew 11:28-29

Opening Thought
Giving In

There is an incredible amount of angst among people today. Everybody has their own agenda, personal goals and ambitions. Our culture seems to encourage us to be so focused on our own priorities that nothing else matters. The result? Road rage, going postal, domestic violence, workaholics, unbridled selfishness and lust… not a good picture.

In our walk with Christ, another perspective begins to take shape. Those world-agendas will persist, but we see a higher road – godliness and ministry. We are new creatures, pursuing Christlikeness, and the priority becomes serving – because that’s what Christ did.

Christ was above all a servant. He considered Himself a servant to every person He encountered. With each individual, I can imagine Him thinking, ‘What can I do to minister to this person’s needs?” He did have a prevailing mission, the Cross, and that did not change. But the mission was accomplished, not by prevailing upon people, but instead by serving them.
We will constantly react to people’s attempts to take position in front of us, but when we see them through Christ’s eyes, we will allow that to happen and then seek to serve them, meet their needs, point them to Christ.

Study Notes

1. In the Upper Room

This personal time for the Apostles and their Lord Jesus is in all 4 gospels. If you have one, use a “Harmony of the Gospels” to read through all four accounts. (See an earlier article I wrote about using a Harmony.)
•Matthew 26:17-30
•Mark 14:21-26
•Luke 22:7-38
•John 13

Preparations for the Last Supper
o Peter & John are sent to find the chosen room – Lu 22:8
- Jerusalem was always packed for these 8 days of the Passover feast, many visitors in from surrounding areas.
- The disciples hadn’t even wanted to be in Jerusalem – now they’re supposed to go find
- a place where they could eat
- Imagine Peter just going along quietly with this plan!
- A man carrying a pitcher! Women almost exclusively did that. Perhaps he was a servant, since he goes into the house. The owner, by not questioning the request, seems know Jesus, the Teacher. – Lu 22:10-11
- They found everything just as He had said – Lu 22:13. The marvelous provisions of our Sovereign Lord! Nervous about going forward as instructed, but then in following their Lord’s instructions, they find everything as needed.
o Misconceptions about the Last Supper
- Was there just one long table, with all of the disciples on one side? Likely not, in spite of daVinci’s depiction.
- Were only the 12 and Jesus attending? Other writings suggest that there were others who were the larger group of disciples also there.“Before the feast”, i.e. Passover, so this must be Thursday night – Jesus would die next day, less than 15 hours later.

2. A Lesson in Humility from the Master Servant

The Servant washes the feet of His followers
o Common enough that a servant of the house would wash feet of those attending dinner. But these were visitors were having their own separate feast, and everybody had been on their own for cleaning up – no humble servants around for this dinner… but Jesus.
o Jesus often seemed to be just a step out of synch with those around Him – He Measures life with a different ruler, with His focus on the Father’s goals. His followers seemed never to be quite “in tune” with Him.
o The disciples’ hearts struggled with pride and doubt – while they were believer in the work of the Savior, their feet still got dirty, they continued to be influenced by a sinful world.This humble act by Jesus was much more than a lesson in humility, it expressed the profound truth of His Redemption. Jesus demonstrated life at the heart of God’s character.

Petty arguments
o Peter says “no way” – he’s back to his regular approach of assuming he has the answer… although he does often seem to speak for the group, and he may be speaking the mind of several sitting around him.
- Peter is so… (you provide the description – but remember, we’re right in there with him!)
- More unthought words -- “do you understand what I’ve done?”
- Compare Mark 8:32; 9:5
- When Jesus washes his feet – it doesn’t mean he has to be baptized again
o Sin needs to be dealt with -- What does this mean?
- Look at 1 Jn 1:7, 9; 2:1-2
o God recognizes and provides for the fact that as Redeemed believers, we will still struggle with sinful activity
o What else can you learn from these verses?
- After salvation, the believer needs only to confess, acknowledge sin, recognize it is already cared for in Christ’s substitutionary death – continually apply Christ’s atonement to one’s daily sin, maintain a transparent relationship with the Father – but the great undergirding truth is that once you receive Christ as your Savior, He is always and forever your Father
o Then a couple of the disciples start up the “which is the greatest” discussion again
- After observing Jesus washing their feet and hearing His interaction with Peter
- Compare Mark 9:33-35;10:35— note Jesus’ ominous response, pointing to His death. Sinful man struggles with spiritual growth, gaining a truly godly mindset; these disciples loved God, were committed to Jesus as Lord, yet still they fall back into selfish human “issues” – we all have issues…

Humility in the Believer’s life doesn’t just happen – it’s a discipline
o Perhaps you have noticed: discipline and humility often show up in people at the same time – one brings the other with it
o Reality check: we want others to be humble, but…
o Where does True Humility come from?
- an inner strength founded on Christ and Christlikeness
- Compare 1 Peter 5:5-6, “humble yourselves”

Humility is… (from Chuck Swindoll)
o humility isn’t announced
o humility is willing to receive
o humility isn’t a sign of weakness
- once “bathed”, always bathed
- still needed “sponged” off
- 1 John 1:9

For further study...

1. Do you understand humility like Jesus did? What can you do to understand and apply it better?
2. Are you willing like Peter to change your heart? What needs to change?
3. Look up the word “servant” in other places in the Gospels, see what more you can learn about being a servant like Christ was.

In His Image - 12: The Savior with His Friends

2006-07-15T10:26:00.000-04:00

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17

Opening Thought
Spending Time with Friends

This session and the next, we will look at some very personal time Jesus spent with His closest friends – this week, Mary, Martha & Lazarus; next week, His disciples. Both of these times are just before the final week of His death and resurrection.

Time with friends is very special. So much of that time is extemporaneous, casual, not with any real driving purpose. But in those times, repeated often in so many differest settings, your souls are mended together, your hearts and minds begin to take similar paths through life. Certainly the best picture of this for many of us today is our own special friendship with our spouse.

Then the singular times come, the defining moments for either of the friends, where a test bursts on the scene that forces us to decide and respond. In those times, the depth and clarity of your friendship is indispensable. The quality of that friendship, built through all of that unplanned time, comes to be our foundation and strength.
When Mary & Martha’s message reaches Jesus that Lazarus is sick, we see the tender heart of Jesus and His close friendship expressed. Yet we also observe His deity in action, seeking to work the glory of God and His provision in the lives of His dear friends.

Study Notes

1. Jesus Ministers to Hurting Friends

Watch His response to people -- always eye to eye, personal, sensitive.

Think about these examples
-Nicodemus, John 3
-The Woman at the Well, John 4
-The man at the pool of Bethsaida, John 5
-Each of the disciples

How did He respond?
-He always does respond, directly, immediately, never late, everything works together for good (Romans 8:28)
-His response is always the will of the Father, to glorify Him
-Very personally, eye-to-eye
-His response is always "so that you may believe" (John 10:38)

2. Confessions of Struggle and Faith

Read about Mary, Martha & Lazarus in John 11

First assumptions - the things to have settled before the crisis happens:
- Jesus is fully capable of healing
- we know He will respond
- what would you add to that list?

"If only..." 11:21, 32 -- Mary & Martha both start with this honest human emotion. But they also express rock solid understanding of Who the Savior is and what He will accomplish. How did Jesus guide them further in their relationship with Him?

When crisis happens and God's provision isn't what you were looking for...
- delay: remember God has a better time and a better way
- loss: God has a better plan and a better purpose

3. Jesus Glorified

Compare John 3:14; 8:28

Glorifying the Father -- John 11:40
- When you believe and when you hurt
- Note that the promise isn't that "everything will turn up roses". It is that God will be glorified in you.

Lifted Up -- John 12:32, 34
- Did the people understand “lifted up” to refer to Crucifixion?
- Verse 33 says He intended that to be the reference

Jesus' death was final glorification of the Father
- John consistently portrayed Jesus' death this way
- Take a look at each of these examples -- 7:39; ch. 8; 12:16, 23, 28; 13:31-32; ch. 17

For further study...

Considering how Jesus responded to Mary & Martha, is it possible for Him to respond to you the same ways? Have you seen Him do that?

Are there ways you can respond to others’ problems and hurts in a way that reflects how Jesus ministered to Mary & Martha?

Does knowing Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave have an impact on your faith similar to the impact it must have had to Mary & Martha?

In His Image - 11: God of the Impossible

2006-04-22T08:47:00.000-04:00

“Ah, Lord God! Behold, Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by Thy great power and by Thine outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for Thee.” – Jeremiah 32:17

Opening Thought
Oh, That's Impossible!

No way! It can’t be! It’ll never happen! I could never do that!

Now, there are some things that are impossible by God’s design – blood from a turnip, getting a crab to walk straight. But regular life does have its moments when seemingly impossible situations arise. We need to learn to understand those situations from God's perspective, or we will always be faced with that sinking feeling Peter had...

We usually don’t like being faced with impossible situations. They usually involve our inability to do what we want to do. There are a couple of different ways that can happen – our own determination to do something, or outside circumstances just come together in a way that stops us cold. One way or another, we’re stuck.

There are various natural responses to this – banging our head against the wall, or running in the other direction come to mind. If we face these things on our own, we can end up with negative circumstances either way.
So isn’t it great that we don’t stand alone – we have Christ in our life! When the storm winds blow, when we’re stuck at an impasse, we have an answer. Our faith in Christ anchors us on the solid foundation of His sovereignty, guidance and provision.

Study Notes

1. Impossible?
· Jeremiah 32 -- Jeremiah in prison, Zedekiah didn't like his preaching! Jeremiah bBuys the field already occupied by Babylon because of faith that God would restore Israel to the land.
· Luke 1:37; 18:27 -- "be it done to me..."
· Philippians 4:13, 19 -- "all things..."

2. Further in the Life of Christ
· Sabbath Controversy – Mark 2 -- Jesus heals the man let down by his friends through the roof. Matthew 9:2, "take courage my son"; Luke 5:20, "friend". "We have never seen anything like this before!"

· Sermon on the Mount – Matthew 5-7 -- mainly addressed to His disciples; this message was obviously foundation to His mission, but in what context? 4:17, the Kingdom of heaven is at hand; 4:23, proclaiming and healing, the gospel of the kingdom; He is speaking as the King, which sets the divine timetable reference, it is anticipatory, not yet accomplished; we can't be sure that this is the only time Jesus taught at length to His disciples in this way

· Calming the stormy sea – Matthew 8 -- "Lord, don't you care?", Mark 4; "Lord, save us!" (Matthew 8); "We're going to drown!" (Luke 8); Don't get distracted by the complicated part, just recognize He's the Creator, He allowed this to happen, look for the simple main message. The emphasis seems to be the lack of faith shown by the disciples in their response to the storm and danger. Note that the calm was immediate – when a storm passes, it usually takes a while to calm down. There’s no embellishment – the writers seem to convey all the disciples' takeaway from this: they were dumbfounded, caught in utter lack of faith in Jesus; He rebukes them for their lack of faith because they were expected to have faith.

· Feeding the 5000 – John 6 -- Note that this event is recorded in all four Gospels. Lessons: Don’t think small with God. Learn of His remarkable abundance. Don’t be so focused on practicalities that you miss the opportunity for divine provision.

· Walking on the water – John 6 -- Interesting that it seems whenever the disciples get in a boat, it’s time for another test from Jesus. Let down the net. "Save us!" Mark says He intended to walk right past them! Peter, Lord save me! No ACTS formula in this prayer … (adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication -- which is a very good pattern for our regular prayer life).

3. The Bible’s Portrait of Christ, the Fruit of the Spirit – Gal. 5:22-23 -- We're going to using this model to help us as we develop a lifestyle of Christlikeness. Think of each characteristic and try to recall times in Jesus earthly ministry that we've studied over the last weeks that would show us He has this character in His life. I've provided one example to get you started...

· Love - Mary, Martha, raising Lazarus, John 11

· Joy - John 15:11

· Peace - Mark 1:35

· Patience - His many interactions with the Pharisees

· Kindness - the wedding at Cana

· Goodness - His encounter with Nicodemus

· Faithfulness - to His Father's mission, to His disciples

· Gentleness - to those needing healing, such as at the Pool of Bethsaida

· Self-control - the betrayal by Judas and the arrest

For further study...
1. Is there something “impossible” coming up for you this week? Spend a few minutes with Philippians 4:13 & 19, then evaluate how that impossibility can be used by God in your life to build Christlikeness.
2. Spend time this week thinking about ways that you can commit to living like Christ based on the fruit of the Spirit.
3. Read John 6:1-14 again. Providing bread for the crowds – Jesus often reached to provide. Are there ways you are involved in doing that for those around you?

In His Image - 10: Lost and Found

2006-03-30T21:10:00.000-05:00

“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patent toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” -2 Peter 3:9

Opening Thoughts
So, how lost IS lost?

Driving down the lonely highway, out in the middle of the desert. You haven’t seen a crossroads in more than 100 miles, much less a gas station. Your cell phone is dead and the map flew out the window hours ago. Now you come to a fork in the road and you have no clue which way to go.

Are you lost – oh yeah. Would you be willing to stop and ask for help if you could find it, even if you’re a guy? Definitely. What does it mean to be lost? Life is not over, you look for a solution, you hope to get back on track. But one thing for sure: for things to get resolved, you need to know how lost you are!

The Pharisees didn’t know how lost they were. And they didn’t care about those around them who were truly lost. The parables in Luke 15 help us to get the Savior’s perspective of understanding our lost condition, and what to do about it.

Study Notes
Lost and Found

1. How lost is lost?

Can you be just a little lost? – Romans 1 and 3 make it clear that each of us are desperately lost in our sin, wandering in darkness, never able to enjoy God's holy presence

3 ways to get lost
> aimless wandering - leads to danger -- Lot
> carelessness – leads to uselessness -- Samson
> rebellion – leads to misery

2. Luke 15 – The Lost & Found Department

The crowds are coming -- tax gatherers, sinners, a tough crowd!
-- What was wrong with being a tax collector? Usually a Jew working for Gentiles, a bad thing; worse: collecting taxes for Roman govt, essentially “sold out” to Rome
-- God doesn’t like sinners? He receives them, eats with them, reaches out to them

How Jesus used parables -- when studying the parables, you want to look for why He chose to teach, and why this particular story
-- here: His character
-- often to answer a question or deal with an attitude
-- often a “surprise” ending
-- here: why He eats with sinners
-- dismisses self-righteous attitude

what is the purpose of each of these three parables?

The lost sheep
-- always ready to leave the bunch to go after the one
-- rejoice with me! He feels deeply and personally when a soul is rescued
-- there will be more joy in heaven - imagine!

The lost coin
-- this woman was desperate; she lit a lamp, swept the house, searched every corner of the dark, dirt floor carefully
-- there is joy over one sinner who repents
-- the angels' joy – see 1 Peter 1:12; 1 Corinthians 11:10
-- the Greek drachma coin was commonly equivalent to a day’s wage; one custom of the time was a headdress of 10 coins woven together and worn by Jewish women as symbol of marriage
-- the lamp needed because there probably were no windows and the floor was normally packed dirt

the first two of these parables set the stage for the third
-- they speak to Pharisees' concern for possessions and position
-- they emphasize concern for something lost and the genuine joy of finding what was lost
-- the third parable transfers or transforms the human story to God and His concern for the lost sinner

The lost son
-- Independence--
How are we being independent?
> Our priorities are wrong
> We cling to the familiar, or immediate, or pleasurable
Why am I being independent?
> Doubt the goodness of God
> Don’t understand God’s perspective

"Dad, I wish you were dead!"
-- that's really what he was saying; he was asking for an inheritance that isn't his until his father is dead
-- these acts should have completely ostracized the son, and probably embarrassed the father in the community
-- but! The Father let him go
> he insists on love relationship, not obligation
> he knew his son would fail
> so he anxiously awaits the son's return
> then he runs to greet him when he does return – that day's culture considered it undignified for an older man to run, he would lose face; he probably hadn’t run for 20 years, and he would have to gather up his robe, showing his boney legs - but he ran!

What we learn from this parable
> Jesus chose to lose face for us
> Note the tremendous contrast between our rebellion and God’s forgiveness
> The turning point is verse 17, he came to his senses! – do we see repentance at this point? maybe not completely; this could just be“plan B” (D.Jeremiah); he wasn’t ready for grace yet, he’s still attempting to save himself
> verse 20, he got up, picked himself up and got himself going
> but when he fell into his father’s arms, he realized that his father had never stopped loving him, he was overcome by grace

The Rebellious Son In The Key Of F (from Hampton Keathley on bible.org)
Feeling footloose and frisky, a foolish fellow forced his father to fork over his fourth of the family farthings and flew far to a foreign field where he fast frittered his fathers fortune feasting foolishly with faithless friends. Fleeced by his fellows and folly, and facing famine he found himself a feed flinger in a filthy farm. Flushed and fairly famished he fain would have filled his frame with foraged food from farm fodder.

“My father’s flunkies fair far finer.” The frazzled fugitive forlornly fumbled. Frustrated and filled with forboding, he fled forthwith to his father. Falling to his father’s feet he forlornly fumbled, “Father, I have flunked and frugalessly forfeited family favor.” The fugitive’s, faultfinding brother frowned on fickle forgiveness, but the faithful father figure filled with fidelity, cried, “The fugitive is found. What forbids further festivities. Let the flags unfurl and the fanfares flare.” Father flagged a flunky who fetched a fatling from the flock and fixed a feast.

The moral of the story is: The father’s forgiveness formed a foundation for the fugitive’s future fortitude.

For further study:
1. Meditate on the Fruit of the Spirit in Gal. 5:22-23, thinking about how Christ reflected each of the fruit in His life.

2. Read Matthew 22-24, known as the Olivet Discourse. These important words from the Savior come just before the last week and the Crucifixion. Try to get some of the main points He seeks to bring across.

3. As we’ve been looking at the life of Christ, what ways have you noticed as He ministers to and teaches His disciples? Are those things happening in your life, as one of His disciples?

In His Image - 9: Having a Life Message

2006-03-30T20:08:00.000-05:00

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.” -- Matthew 11:28-30

Opening Thought
What’s Your Life Message?

Christ had a life message – we’re all in agreement on that. As we continue to look at His life, how He communicated His mind and character to those around Him, we constantly hear the message. The people that were around Him surely had no doubt about His message – it was crystal clear and burned in His soul.

So, if we’re agreeing that we are to be in His image, does that mean we should have a life message? Yes it does. Does it also mean that our life message should reverberate in all of our actions and interactions with others? Yes, it really should.

We’re reminded again about how challenging it is to follow through on this model of Christlikeness. He left us a lofty standard, and our human failings constantly work against our goal of reflecting Him to others. We need to put real thought into what we’re about, how our life should express Christ, actually put these thoughts in writing, and then into real life.

Study Notes
Having a Life Message

Study Notes

1. Who is the Man?

Jesus reaching out to people
o Matthew 14:13-36 -- after He hears of John the Baptist's death, He withdraws; but the crowds find Him and soon He is feeding the 5000; then He sends His disciples across the Sea of Galilee, and in the midst of the stormy weather, He appears walking on the water, and ends up rescuing Peter
o What do we learn about Him from these events? -- He had a sensitive heart for the people around Him; He was concerned about their needs

Jesus preaching the truth of the Gospel
o Matthew 23 - one of the last and most serious encounters He has with the Jewish leaders before His death; His heart is broken for the coldness in their hearts
o What do we learn about Him from this? -- He is willing to listen but then quick to speak the truth with clarity

2. What was Christ’s Life Message?

Sin and separation from God
o sin defined in absolute terms
o white-washed sepulchers, Matthew 23

Provision for redemption is only in Him
o He is the Lamb to be slain
o Repentance is at the core of this message
o Christ preached in the tradition of the OT Prophets

God’s fulfilled promises are real
o The Kingdom
o Mark 1:14-15; Matthew 4:17

Righteous living
o Matthew 22:37-39
o Love God
o Your neighbor as yourself

Preach the message
o "Euangelizo", to proclaim the message with passion
o A passion for the lost
o Christ was predominantly an evangelist
o Mt 9:35

Make the message personal

For further study --

1. Write down what you think the main points are to Jesus’ Life Message. Maybe put a verse with each if you can.

2. Now write out points for what you want your Life Message to be. Add a verse for each. Maybe add a couple of thoughts about what you need to work on to make your Life Message real.In preparation for next Sunday, read Luke 15, especially the story of the Prodigal Son. Think on how Jesus used these stories to minister to people and communicate His message.

3. In preparation for next Sunday, read Luke 15, especially the story of the Prodigal Son. Think on how Jesus used these stories to minister to people and communicate His message.

In His Image - 8: A Message for All Times

2006-03-17T22:08:00.000-05:00

"What I tell you in darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops.” --Matthew 10:16

Opening Thought
Difficult Circumstances

Have you ever been in difficult circumstances? I can imagine your response being, “Where do you want me to start?” We’ve all been there. Tough times, bad choices, a combination of circumstances that have put you in a corner, bad news rolling over you in waves. The guy at the Pool of Bethesda was the definition of “difficult circumstances”. He had been sick for 38 years! Unable to move, or seemingly take care of himself in any way. While the older texts call him ”impotent”, it is likely more appropriate to say “infirmed” – we really don’t have a lot of information on what he actually was sick with.

In the midst of all those sick people, there he sat, in his difficult circumstances. And then Jesus entered the scene, knowing he was there, knowing he desperately needed healing, and most importantly, knowing already what his answer would be to His question.
In the midst of our difficult circumstances, ask these questions: Are our eyes fixed on Christ? Are we convinced that He can carry me through the tough times?

Study Notes
A Message for All Times

1. The Pool of Bethesda - John 5:1-16

At the Sheep Gate - So called because it was adjacent to the Sheep Market. Even in Jesus' time, it had been there a while - rebuilt by Nehemiah (ch.3), so there when the Jews were taken into captivity in 597BC. This pool is located just north of the Temple 100 yards or so.

The name could be Bethsaida or Bethesda, depending on manuscripts and interpretation. "Beth" refers to "house" and the Hebrew "chesda" is likely in the root referring to "mercy".

The Pool with 5 porches -- It was probably actually two pools, on two levels, with porches or porticos on all 4 sides and one also going across the middle. Archaelogists actually found the remains in the 1960's.

2. Healing at the Pool

Do you want to be well?? Who doesn't?! -- This is a marvelous example of how universal Christ's message is. All around us each day are people struggling with maladies, and they desperately want to be well. It's just that no one is around to help them get to the Living Water Christ offers.

This man was a "poster child" for difficult circumstances. But he was surrounded by others with just as much need. These people huddled in the areas around the pool, common in there misery, likely insensitive to each other's needs. Today people are far from God in their sin, unable to see His hand in their lives.

This man is honest, maybe even old & "crotchety" (Dan Wallace), frustrated and even annoyed by those around him, not able to get to the water for a chance to be healed. Stuck in his inability to seize opportunity, it seems by his response that he almost even missed the offer from Jesus.

The reason for Jesus' probing question was to demand focus on the Savior, and to stimulate the man's will and faith. Once his mind was alive to the reality of Christ, he could determine to respond positively to the offer of healing. This is an important doctrinal distinction: God alone heals/redeems; yet this divine work is accomplished in response to a person's genuine faith to the offer.

Isaiah 35:1-7 -- the lame will leap! Isaiah is anticipating God's literal fulfillment of promises to Israel of the millennial kingdom. The Messiah had indeed come, and this miracle is an enjoyable extension of that anticipation. In the millennium, all of Israel will be healed of the lame condition, and will indeed leap for joy.

3. What was Christ's message? From this miracle at the pool, and from other accounts about Jesus' ministry, we learn of these distinctives in His Life Message --

Sin and separation from God -- Matthew 23:25-28, we need to see sin defined in absolute terms; we really are sick and desperately needy of someone to heal

Provision for redemption -- John 3:16-21, the Savior is here; Jesus is the Lamb to be slain; being able to see your desperate need and readiness to turn away from sin to the Savior is at the core

God's fulfilled promises - Mark 1:14-15; 4:17, Jesus spoke in the tradition of the OT prophet; He announced the Kingdom

Righteous living -- Matthew 22:37-39, Love God, and your neighbor as yourself

Preach the message -- Matthew 9:35, "euangelizo", proclaiming the good news; Jesus had a passion for the lost & needy around Him, He was predominantly an evangelist

For further study:

1. Continue to use the Harmony to read through the next events in Jesus’ life. Focus on the Sabbath Controversies in Mark 2 & 3, the Sermon on the Mount in Mt. 5-7, and Calming the stormy sea, in Mt. 8.Meditate on Galatians 5:22-23, the Fruit of the Spirit, and think about the picture of Christ that is given here.

2. Meditate on Galatians 5:22-23, the Fruit of the Spirit, and think about the picture of Christ that is given here.

3. What is our life message? What distinctives do those around us take away from interacting with us?

In His Image - 7: The Master Fisherman

2006-03-16T20:37:00.000-05:00

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. – John 1:14

Opening Thought
The Word Became Flesh

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the Word, the essence of God – there at the beginning, the Creator of all things, the True God. The Word is the expression of His person, Who He is, how He feels and expresses Himself. The Word is how He reaches out and seeks to have a relationship with us, His precious creation.

Through all of man’s history, God has worked to draw us to Himself. He spoke to us in many different ways, revealed His ways to us, accomplished many wondrous acts. The Old Testament Tabernacle was a marvelous picture of pitching a tent and dwelling among His people. Yet now, we have the pinnacle act of reaching out to us – He took on a body of flesh and came to dwell among us.

That is not the end of the story however. Christ accomplished His mission, the provision of salvation. But the message to desperately needy men & women must continue to be “evangelized”. You and I are expected to continue the great work of the Word becoming flesh. By the gracious power of the Holy Spirit, we become the person of Christ so that the church can be strengthened, and more can be drawn to Christ and His salvation.

Study Notes
The Master Fisherman

1. A Miraculous Catch - Luke 5:1-11

Review where Luke is with his story -- Luke 4, the Temptation, and the rejection in Nazareth, is likely before the wedding in Cana. Then several miracles, preaching in a synagogue, and from Peter's boat.
The men follow Jesus after a remarkable challenge -- This "following" apparently came in stages - see John 1:35-51, Matthew 4:18-22 and Luke 5:11. "Follow" is a strong word for the Gospel writers, and very rarely used in the rest of the New Testament. It has the meaning of attaching oneself, following a person as an attendant or disciple, to take that person's "side".
Remarkable! The God of the universe chooses to call us mere mortals, enjoining us to work with Him in His divine program. His work is the only investment that will last eternally, yet He does this by His entering our work! Remember that He above all others understands our work -- He "crafted" the craft we take as our own.
The people were "pressing in" - He must have enjoyed that, just an election candidate wants to feel the people showing their support. But these people were pressing in because they knew they were hearing the Word of God.
"Let down the net" -- Jesus lays down a test of obedience for Peter and the others. Obedience is often a chore. So much logic and emotion get in the way! And then there's physical preference. These guys were tired, after fishing all night, the normal way the fish were caught. They had probably just finished going to all the "holes", the places that should have had fish -- nothing. Now Jesus just casually says "Let's go over here...!" -- "Launch out into the deep!"
Go by faith, follow His lead, allow Him to work. Each of must come face to face with Jesus' authority and power, then see that He fully desires to empower us to successfully accomplish His mission.

2. John's Seven Signs -- One of John's distinctives is that he uses the term "sign" in reference to Jesus' miracles. These 7 distinctive references to sign/miracles help us to learn much of John's view of the Savior.

John 2:1-11
John 4:46-54
John 5:1-18
John 6:5-14
John 6:16-21
John 9:1-7
John 11:1-45

For some extended study time, take a sheet of paper, write the key words of each passage, and at least one key characteristic of the Lord Jesus. Remember the goal of these studies is to enable us to "be Christlike" so we need to be learning "what Christ was like."

For further study:

1. Use the Harmony of the Gospels and review the events in Jesus’ life after the Sermon on the Mount through Matthew 11. Be sure to consider what additional events are covered in the other Gospels.
2. If someone were to write “The Gospel According to YOU”, what would the message of that gospel be?
3. Think more about the person of Christ in the events we have studied thus far. Are we learning more about the Savior? Perhaps spend a little extra time this week quietly reflecting on Him.

In His Image - 6: The Fisherman at Work

2006-03-08T22:41:00.000-05:00

“But when Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” - Luke 5:8

Opening Thought:
The Plumb Line of Truth

The carpenter uses a plumb bob suspended on a line in order to establish a truly vertical line. Any structure not built with a faithful reference to a perfectly vertical line is doomed to failure. All guys should appreciate this excellent excuse for another trip to Home Depot, to buy your own plumb bob. They're very cool, turned brass, etc. -- even if you don't ever use it, you have to admit it's a great conversation piece.

For our walk in Christ, we are challenged to seek the “measure of…the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13). He is the total and complete demonstration of the godliness which is our goal. All we need to do is have the plumb line set on Christ in heaven, the line reaching down to the Bible in our hands, and with the point set on Christ, the plumb line is set for our life to be measured by Him alone.

We are on an exciting, challenging journey in this quest for Christlikeness. It doesn’t come naturally, and it will not be easy. Worse yet, the world and our own sinful natures, will exert constant pressure to throw that plumb line off.

Don’t let it happen! Maintain vigilant watch on the plumb line – anchored in Christ, it’s point centered on God’s Word. The issue becomes simple once you are at that point – establish your path in perfect match to that perfect line of Truth.

Study Notes
The Fisherman at Work --
John 4, The Samaritan Woman

1. He needed to go that way

People in Jerusalem not only didn't "need" go through Samaria, they made sure to avoid it; but Jesus took the shortest reasonable path to where He was headed, knowing He would encounter this needy woman.
There's a lot of bad history between these two societies, Judah & Samaria. This is sad considering they are together the 12 tribes of Israel. The problems began during and after the captivities, when the northern tribes returned to their land and began to intermarry with non-Jewish cultures.
John 4:4, He "had" to go? Jesus lived every moment of His life with purpose - talk about being driven!
The purpose of God takes a straight line approach to meeting needs. Bias and preference doesn't enter in to the equation.
When Jesus and His disciples arrived at Jacob's Well, they had traveled perhaps 20 miles. (Maybe take a minute to find a map and take a look at the route.) He would have been hot & dusty, tired & thirsty. It was likely 6pm (Roman time), a typical time for the women to come for water.

2. A Conversation with Reality

Setting things straight -- Nicodemus wanted everything to be orderly. What this woman needed deep in her soul was to have a clear conscience.
Her background , her theology, her understanding of God, likely accomodated a desire for convenience and hiding, maintain distance between her and true worship of God. "We'll just worship here on our own mountain" -- "I have no husband." She was likely bitter for all the hard turns in her life, skeptical of genuine caring, and quick to judge.
Once again, Jesus offers a remarkable statement.
With Nicodemus, Jesus opened the real conversation with a striking statement ("Unless a man is born again." Nicodemus had attempted to start a conversation, but the Lord knew it needed to go in an entirely different direction). He does the same thing here with the woman ("If you knew the gift of God..."). He catches her off guard, and is able to nudge towards Truth.
Removing barriers -- They both knew that a Jew would never ask for a drink from a Samaritan, much less consider drinking out of their cup. Yet Jesus openly asked, and she was amazed. And perhaps just a little willing to talk and listen.
Taking Jesus at His Word -- Once the sinner is willing to listen to God's words, they can begin considering what He is saying. She interacts, considers, struggles, then takes small steps towards the Savior.
Put it all on the table -- She moved from hostility to apathy, then to contrition, then to outright rejoicing. What a beautiful picture of the salvation experience. As she took her steps to Him, He sought to make the Gospel both relevant and desirable.
“I AM” -- The summary of it all, He is God, He is sovereign, He is truly our Savior, He is to be worshipped. Her feeble attempt of distraction by mentioning the Samaritan's defiant worship of God at their own place on Mt. Gerizim served only to emphsize Jesus' point. True worship of the God Who Is clears up all the questions and opens the way for rejoicing together. Place doesn't matter - the heart does!

For further study...

1. Use a Harmony of the Gospels outline to discover the next few events in Jesus’ life after Luke 4.
2. Read Matthew 14:15-36 – What godly characteristics does Jesus demonstrate in these verses?From these verses, when we get disappointed or frustrated with people, how can we respond in a Christlike way?
3. From these verses, when we get disappointed or frustrated with people, how can we respond in a Christlike way?

In His Image - 5: The Savior Leads

2006-02-27T22:24:00.000-05:00

“If you knew the gift of God, and Who it is Who says to you, “Give me to drink,” you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”
-John 4:10

Opening Thought:
Just Ask!

The logic is sound: it never hurts to ask. When you know you need something, know that you want it, speak up. The worst that can happen is be told “No”. Salvation is just that simple – in spite of how complicated our human mind wants to make it.

In John 3 & 4, we are privileged to listen in on two intimate conversations with the Master Evangelist, the Savior Himself. He reaches out to real, felt need of each listener, exposes the effect of sin and the reality of judgment, then points listening the heart to God’s outreached hand.

Indeed, Nicodemus and the Samaritan Woman were able to actually see the outstretched hand of Jesus, drawing them to Himself. A remarkable new revelation – the New Birth. A remarkable offer – forgiveness. A remarkable salvation offered by a remarkable Savior. And so simple – just ask.

The real question for both was, do you know who it is you are speaking with? If you just know – that settles it.

Study Notes
The Savior Leads
John 3 - Nicodemus

1. 3 1/2 Years of Ministry

First few months of ministry -- ends with the Passover in John 2:13
First Year -- ends with the second Passover of Jesus' public ministry, somewhere between John 4:35 and 5:1 (the feast in 5:1 likely being the feast of Tabernacles)
Second Year -- ends with the Passover in John 6:4
Third Year -- ends with the Passover in John 11:55, which culminates in the Upper Room

2. A Conversation with Religion - John 3:1-21

True Christianity is not religion. "Religion" is man's attempts to reach God - from exotic eastern religions, to the fascinating array of spiritual attempts of realization and fulfillment we have today, all are vain attempts to accomplish something only God Himself can do.
"Christianity" in contrast is God's work. Through Jesus Christ, He has reached down to man and provided a way to span the gap caused by sin and reestablish an eternal relationship with God.
Who is Nicodemus? A Jewish leader, one of the Pharisees that would be harassing Jesus, a member of the Sanhedrin that would end up condemning Jesus to death in three years.
"Setting things in order" - Nicodemus' background meant that he would naturally want to think things through in a very logical sequence - every thing in its place. Jesus' response to Nicodemus starts with a startling statement that changes the rules. Then Jesus points the way to God through very sound, orderly thinking.
Water and Spirit - See Ezekiel 36:24-27 for some background that could possibly come to Nicodemus' mind as Jesus spoke these words. Also possible is that Jesus is alluding to the "water" of natural birth, and then the necessary spiritual re-birth. Nicodemus wants to think literally and Jesus is leading to recognize the priority of spiritual faith.
Almost everything covered... not quite. Jesus had broken down Nicodemus' religion to a point where it was clear what he needed to do. Then we have what clearly stands as the most well-known verse of all the Bible: "For God so loved the world...."
Was Nicodemus saved when He left? Nicodemus heard Jesus' words, they made sense, but he very possibly left perplexed, needing the evaluate, turn things over in his thinking, maybe bounce some concepts off of friends. Later verses in John seem to indicate that Nicodemus did come to realize his need of the Savior -- see Jn. 7:50-52 and 19;39.

For further study:
1. Do you have a plan for how you would share salvation with someone? How to start, how to explain sin, etc. Try starting to write it, or get your notes out and prepare for the opportunity!

2. Is there a Nicodemus or Samaritan Woman in your sphere of influence that you should be praying for salvation?

3. John 5 is so important about the relationship of Jesus to His Father. Spend time this week meditating on this passage.