Archive for November, 2008

November 23, 2008

Jesus Christ, The Mediator of the Covenant

1.     1.    Hebrews 12:24 calls Jesus the mediator (or arranger) of a new what?

2.    2.     In Matthew 26:27-28, what did Jesus say the cup is?

Jesus is called the Mediator of the Covenant.  That means he is the go-between, the middle-man through whom God makes His Covenant with us.  If we want to enter into God’s Covenant, we have to do it through Jesus.  His death and resurrection are central elements in the Covenant, because through them we can be certain that our sins are forgiven when we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord.  We can also be certain that the Holy Spirit is with us, to give us wisdom, power and guidance in following God’s will for our lives.

3.     3.    According to Genesis 15:18, what did God make with Abram?

The Bible describes this covenant.  It developed in two parts over the centuries.  The first part began thousands of years before Christ was born and is described in the part of the Bible that is called the Old Testament (testament means covenant).  The second part began with the life of Christ and is still in effect today.  It is described in the New Testament.  Both phases of God’s Covenant have a lot in common, but there are some differences.

4.     4.    In the second half of Isaiah 55:3, what does God say He will make with us?

The Covenant also involves being part of the Church, because the church is the Community of the Covenant.  God does not make His covenant with each of us independenlty in isolation from others.  He makes it with us together, and it has a lot to say about the way we behave toward one another.

5.     5.     Have you ever had a covenant with someone? What is the most important covenant you have made besides the one you’ve made with God?

6.     6.     Why do you think God wants to make a covenant with us, instead of just leaving us in uncertainty to wonder and guess what his purposes are?

7.     7.     Give some examples of covenants (contracts or agreements) that people, or groups of people, make with each other in the everyday world around us?

8.     8.     What are some of the things that we can be confident of, when we are in a covenant-relationship with God through Jesus Christ?

Life is full of uncertainty, no one knows what will happen.  With God, life is different.  He makes an agreement with people, and He keeps it.  He tells us what He wants us to do, and what will happen when we obey or disobey Him.  The Biblical word for such an agreement is covenant. 

The meaning of covenant is: a usually formal, solemn, and binding agreement; a written agreement or promise usually sealed between two or more parties especially for the performance of some action.

The important thing about this is that it replaces uncertainty with certainty- not in all things, but in the most important things in our lives.

Next week Bible Verse: Romans 14:12 So then each of us will given an account of himself to God.

**What does this Bible verse mean to you? Be prepared to talk about it.

November 9, 2008

Jesus, the Teacher

1.   Who is your favorite teacher?  Why?

Jesus is the world’s greatest teacher.  He has millions of students all over the world today.  Becoming a Christian means becoming one of Christ’s students.  It means accepting Him as your teacher, and studying and learning what He has to teach.

Throughout the New Testament, we read that Jesus’ disciples often called Him “Rabbi”; that is the Hebrew word for “teacher”.  Disciple comes from a Greek word that means “student or “learner”.

2.    John 3:12, what does Nicodemus say that Jesus is?

Jesus’ teaching, like all teaching, has a WHAT and a HOW.  What does Jesus teach us? I believe he teaches us these 5 things:

1.     Knowledge (facts, information) about God, ourselves and the world.

2.    Wisdom, which is how to use the knowledge to fulfill God’s purposes.

3.    Skills and abilities, such as how to pray.

4.    Good attitudes, such as confidence, courage, humility, and love.

5.    Good habits, such as regular prayer and Bible Study. 

How does He teach us these things?

1.     By words ; spoken and in the Bible.

2.    By example. Jesus set the example for us. He showed us the way we should live.

3.    By activities and experiences.  Just as we learn to swim by trying it, so we learn spiritual skills such as prayer, love, patience, trust and so on.  We try them, learn from our mistakes, and get better as we continue, with Jesus’ guidance and help through the Holy Spirit.

      3.    In Matthew 11:29, Jesus says we should take or accept His yoke, and do what?

**A yoke is a wooden beam which is used between a pair of oxen to allow them to pull a load (oxen almost always work in pairs).

4.    In John 7:16, Jesus says that His teaching is not HIS.  Whose does He say it is?

We as Christians have to cooperate with our Teacher.  This means studing what we are told to study, and doing what we are told to do.  We must try to learn.  If we do not make the effort, we will not learn.

As Christians we need to study the Bible, because it contains what Jesus wants to teach us.  That includes everything in the Bible- both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

5.    In Luke 6:40, Jesus says that when we are fully taught, Who will we be like?

6.    In John 13:15, what does Jesus say He has given us?

7.    In what ways do the teachings of Jesus disagree with the ideas and ways of the world in which we live?

8.    Jesus often taught by using parables.  What is a parable?  Why is it an effective way to teach?

9.    Name some of Jesus parables. (there are 7 in Matthew 13.)

10. Have you made a decision to have Jesus Christ be your teacher, and work hard at learning what He wants to teach you—RIGHT NOW, and for the rest of your life?

Bible Verse for November 22. …and I will make with you an Everlasting Covenant..” Isaiah 55:3

November 2, 2008

Jesus Christ; Lord and Master

Webster’s defines authority as: the power or right to give orders or make decisions; power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior.

1.     List someone or something that has authority over you.

2.    List someone or something you have authority over.

3.    In John 15:14, Jesus says that we are His friends, if we do what?

4.    In Matthew 23:10, Jesus says that we have one Master.  Who is it?

Most friends don’t have a right to tell you what to do, but Jesus is different. He is both our friend and our Master.  The fact that He is our Master doesn’t make Him any less friendly toward us. 

Notice what He says in the answer to the 3^rd and 4^th question.  We are His friends if we obey Him.  But this means that if we disobey Him, then we are not His friends.  He would still love us; but our lack of obedience would be a barrier in us, preventing us from receiving His love.  In order to have a real friendship with Jesus, we must learn to obey Him as our Lord and Master too.

5.    In Luke 17:13, what did the ten lepers call Jesus?

6.    In Acts 10:36. What does Peter say that Jesus Christ is?

7.    In John 2:5, at the wedding feast in Cana, what did Jesus mother tell the servants to do?

Notice the words of Jesus’ mother: “Do whatever He tells you.” They apply to us just as much as they did to the servants at the wedding feast long ago.

How do we obey Jesus?

1.     Read & Study His teachings in the Bible.  Some people think, “If I don’t know what Jesus wants me to do, then I can’t be held responsible for doing it.”  Is this TRUE or FALSE

2.    Obey Jesus by overcoming our selfish feelings when they contradict what Jesus tells us to do.  For example, Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:44, to love our enemies.  Our feelings usually tell us to hate our enemies, and hurt them if we have the chance. In order to obey Jesus, we have to lay such feelings down at the foot of the cross, and ask God to help us to change.

Two things are important here.. to be honest and to keep trying.

3.    Obeying Jesus means not following everyone else.  It means to accept being different from the world around you.  Many of the practices and customs of the world, such as lying, cheating, and selfishness are in contradiction to the teachings of Christ.

If a person really believes in Jesus, they will make an all-out effort to learn what He wants them to do.

9.    In John 14:15, what does Jesus say we will do if we love Him?

Webster’s says the word “Lord” means: one having power and authority over others: a ruler by hereditary right or preeminence to whom service and obedience are due; one of whom a fee or estate is held in feudal tenure; an owner of land or other real property; the male head of a household; a husband; one that has achieved mastery or that exercises leadership or great power in some area <a drug lord>; God or Jesus.

10.    Read Matthew 28:18; How much authority does Christ have?

11.    What would our world be like if everyone obey Jesus?

12.    Why do many people ignore or disobey Jesus?

13.     Would you rather.. be the only Christian at a wild party or a non-Christian at a Bible Study?  Why?

Memory Verse: Matthew 22:33 ..and when the crowd heard it, they were astonished at His teachings.”