Session 21:Mark 2:1-12

Session 21: Mark 2:1-12

Summarize

1. Jesus returns to Capernaum and teaches in a house with standing room only(1-4)
2. Paralytic man lowered through the roof to see Jesus(4)
3. Jesus observes the faith of the paralytic and his friends(4-5)
4. Jesus forgives the paralytic man of his sins because of his faith(5)
5. Scribes are upset Jesus claims to do something only God can do(6-7)
6. Jesus calls out the scribes and affirms his authority then heals the paralytic (8-11)
7. People are amazed at Christ’s work and claims and go glorifying God (12)

Analyze

Read Mark 2:1-5

1. Who are the major characters/groups in this narrative?

2. What were the reasons/purposes each of the characters/groups had for being where they were?

3. What is shocking about what Jesus says to the paralytic man? How do you know it’s shocking?

Read Mark 2:6-8

5. What do the scribes think about what Jesus tells the paralytic man?
a. Why are the scribes upset about what Jesus says to the paralytic man?(7)

6. What is Jesus claiming by forgiving the paralytic of his sins?
a. What are some things Christ followers have authority to do in the name of Jesus?
b. What are somethings people claim to do in Christ's name but have no authority to do?
c. How do we know what Christians have the authority to do and not do in Jesus name?

Read Mark 2:9-12

7. How does Jesus address what the scribes are thinking?

8. How does Jesus healing the paralytic man support/reinforce his identity?

9. What does vs 5 tell you about why Jesus chooses to respond and address then eventually heal the paralytic man?(Read Rom 10:11-13)

10. What is the danger of hoping for or seeking the miraculous wonders of God?

Contextualize

Actualize

Session 19: Matthew 3:1-4:1-11

Session 19: Matthew 3:1-4:1-11

Summarize:

Analyze:

Read Matthew 3:1-10

1. What was the message John was preaching? How does the message of John prepare the way of Christ?

1. What does it mean to repent?
2. What does John say to the Pharisees and Sadducees?(8) What is fruit consistent with repentance? Why does John warn the people that “the ax is ready to strike the root of the trees?”
3. How have you become complacent in your relationship with God? How are you walking in repentance? What would be the first step?

Read Matthew 3:11-17

2. How does John talk about the One who comes after Him?(11) How does John describe what this One will do?(12)

1. What does John say when Jesus comes to get baptized by him?
2. What happens at Jesus baptism that points to His identity?

Read Matthew 4:1-11

3. Why does Jesus go to the wilderness?

1. How does knowing that Jesus submitted and was led by the Spirit influence your relationship with the Spirit? (1 Thess 5:19-22)
2. How are the temptations Jesus endured different from each other? (Gen 3)(lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life)  
3. As a follower of Christ how does knowing that Christ endured temptation affect how you might pray during your time of testing?(Jas 1:12-15, 1 Cor 10:13, 1 Pet 4:12-19)
4. How did Jesus endure during his time of testing? How does this shape your understanding of the importance of memorizing and meditating on scripture?(Jn 14:26)

Contextualize:

Actualize:

Session 18: Luke 2:1-20

Session 18: Luke 2:1-20

Summarize:

Analyze:

Read Luke 2:1-7

1. Why was Joseph traveling to Bethlehem? (prophetic text about Jesus birth place,  2 Samuel 7)

1. How does these passages about the details of Jesus birth shape your understanding of His Sovereignty? What does this tell you about God’s faithfulness?
2. How does the birth place of Jesus contrast with his kingly lineage?  How does this shape your understanding of God’s promise to David in 2 Samuel 7?
3. How does this shape your understanding of your purpose as a child of God?  (Phil 2:1-10)

Read Luke 2:8-14

Angel: The Word angel in the Greek simply means messenger or bearer of news.

2. How did the shepherds react to the revelation of the angel of the Lord? (9)

1. What is the first thing the angel says to the shepherds?
2. What is the good news/gospel that the angel gives to the shepherds? Who is the news intended for?(10)
3. What is the gospel/good news that you have in Christ? What kind of good news do you have to share with fellow Christians? Unbelievers?
4. What was the response of the armies of heaven to the good news?(14)  

At the proclamation of the coming of Jesus the Savior, the armies of heaven rejoice! They shout peace on earth and to those He favors. This simple declaration is a reminder that since the Fall mankind has been at war with God. We have rebelled against His rule and reign and are bound for His swift justice. But because of the arrival of Jesus, mankind has hope and can be reconciled to God.

Read Luke 2:15-20

3. What was the shepherds response to hearing the angel’s message?(Ps 34:8, 1 Thess 5:21, 1 Jn 4:1)(15)

1. How do the above verses guide you to respond to the proclamation of God’s message/Word?
2. What keeps you from tasting the truth of God’s Word in your life? How can you
3. How did the shepherds respond to God’s message being true?(17, 20)
4. How does the shepherds example influence your response to God’s Word/message?
5. How can you direct people to the praise of God through your life?

Contextualize:

Actualize:

Session 17: Isaiah 6:1-8; Isaiah 53

Session 17: Isaiah 6:1-8; Isaiah 53

Summarize:

Isaiah 6:1-8

I. Isaiah has a vision of the throne room of God(1-5)

1. The holiness of God terrifies Isaiah and brings humility because of awareness to his sin
2. God sends a seraphim to remove Isaiah’s sin and transgressions
3. Isaiah is aligned to the priorities of the Lord

Isaiah 53

II. A man will come that is despised, rejected, and unvalued

1. This man will serve the people that turn him away
2. This suffering servant will suffer for the sake of those he serves though he is innocent
3. This servant will justify the wicked and they will belong to Him

Philippians 2:1-10

III.

Analyze:

Read Isaiah 6:1-8

1. How does the description of the throne room of God influence your view of God?  Your view of self?

1. How is God described in this scene?  
2. What does being in the presence of God cause Isaiah to say? (Pr. 9:10)
3. How is Isaiah allowed to stand in the presence of God?(Eph 2:8-10) What is the difference between sin and transgressions/iniquity?

Sin is a term that describes our relational position to Holy God. Transgressions/Iniquity are the works that cause us to be sinners, people who run and hide from God because of guilt and shame. When confronted with sin each of us faces the decision to flee God, like Adam and Eve in the garden, or to humbly run to Him. Remaining in the presence of God is scary, but He is the only one who can forgive us and release us from our sin(guilt/shame).

4. How does this influence your understanding of biblical fear of the Lord? When was the last time your vision/understanding of God brought you to your knees?  
5. How does God respond to Isaiah’s humility(Ps. 51:17,2 Chron 7:14 )

When we recognize the burden of our sin,  there is no room for anything else.  We can have no peace and no hope to be saved from our sin so long as we shoulder the burden.  When we lay our burden at the feet of Jesus,  only then are we saved,  cleansed,  and purified.  Then instead of our vision being filled with the guilt and shame of our sin,  we begin to have a burden that God gives us as a result of our vision of Him.  

6. What does God say that causes Isaiah to respond? How does godly perspective prepare and shape you to do His will?

Read Isaiah 53

2. Who is this passage talking about?

1. What are some clues to the identity of this person?

This is a prophetic messianic text. The servant or man of suffering described in Isaiah 53 is a reference to the Messiah to come, Jesus. the text tells us that this suffering servant wasn’t physically exceptional or charismatic, these are not the traits that make him worth mentioning. Rather the fact that this servant continues to serve despite rejection, ridicule and punishment from the very people He serves is what makes Him unique.

2. How is this servant described?  What are the things this man does?
3. What are two descriptions this passage uses for the people the man serves? (6, 12) How does the text describe how the people have treated the servant?
4. Where do you see yourself in this passage?  How have you not valued,  despised,  gone astray,  or rebelled against Jesus?
5. How does this passage affect your attitude toward Jesus?  

Read Philippians 2:1-10

3. Who does this passage tell us to emulate/be like?

1. What are some specific examples of how we can be servants like Christ? How does this affect our relationship with God? with others?
2. What keeps you from serving others? What keeps you from humbling yourself like Christ?
3. How can you continually keep an attitude like Christ?

Contextualize

1. The presence(holiness) of God drives man to his knees
2. Humility leads man to submit and surrender our burdens to God
3. God fills up and uses people who have emptied themselves before Him

Actualize:

Meditate on the readings for this week and spend time in quiet contemplation of who God. Ask God to meet You and reveal His presence to you powerfully this week.

Session 16: Daniel 3

Session 16: Daniel 3

Summarize:

I. (1-7)

II. (8-15)

III. (16-23)

IV. (24-27)

V. (28-30)

Read Daniel 3:1-7

1. What does the King build? Why do people build monuments to themselves?

Monument: a statue, building or other structure erected to commemorate a famous or notable person or event.

In the garden man originally sinned by parting ways with God. Mankind parted from God because he thought that he should be co-equal to God and share in His glory. Each one of us struggles with "the pride of life" the monuments/structures we've built into our life that make us feel important but at the same time undermine the authority of God in our lives because we refuse to relinquish control of that area of our life to God.

a. What kind of monuments do you have set up in your life?

b. What does the King command people to do in vs 5? How does this offend God and His people?(Ex 20: 3-4)

c. What are the ways you try to get people to worship or praise you?  Is it bad to seek praise or recognition?

d. How can we safeguard ourselves and in our good attributes direct people to the Lord?(1 Cor 10:31,Col 3:17)

Read Daniel 3:8-15

2. What do people accuse Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego of? (1 Peter 4:16)

a. Who are your enemies and why do they not like/hate you? Can you say that you have a clear conscience before both God and men?(Acts 24:16)

b. What commands or requirements of your bosses/supervisors may conflict with the commands of God? How do you honor the people in authority over you while still obeying God? (Acts 5:27-29)

Read Daniel 3:16-23

3. How do Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego respond to the accusation?(16)

Evangelism: Leaving someone with a better understanding of God than if they hadn't met me.

a. How is their response evangelistic?  How does their response demonstrate their trust in God?

Read Daniel 3:24-30

4. What happens that causes the King to be alarmed?

Christophany: An appearing/revelation of God that points to the Messiah

a. What does the work of God in the lives of Shadrach,  Meshach,  and Abednego cause the King to say?

Contextualize: Whenever we study scripture we need to remember that we are communicating with God. We are learning things about God, things about ourselves/humanity, and how God relates to us. These principles are also true in our relationships with people. For some unchurched people, your life might be all the bible they will ever read. So we need to be aware of how our testimony communicates things about God, things about humanity, and how God relates to humanity.

a. How can your life serve as a testimony that directs people to the things God does/is doing in your life?

Contextualize:

Actualize:

Session 15: 1 Kings 18

Session 15: 1 Kings 18

Summarize:

I. Ahab and Obadiah search for food for cattle(1-6)

A. God commands Elijah to come out of hiding and tell Ahab about God providing rain.

B.  Obadiah a servant of Ahab protects the prophets of God.

C.  Ahab and Obadiah divide to search the land for food.

II.  Elijah sends Obadiah to deliver Ahab a message(7-15)

A.  Obadiah fears reporting to Ahab will cost him his life if Elijah disappears.

B.  Elijah promises to wait and meet Ahab

III.  Elijah sets the stage for the challenge(16-20)

A.  Ahab accused Elijah of destroying Israel

B.  Elijah tells Ahab his house's disobedience to the Lord have caused the famine.

C.  Elijah tells Ahab to assemble the prophets of Baal at Mt. Carmel.

IV. Elijah challenges the people of Israel to follow God(21-29)

A.  Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal to a demonstration to see who serves the true God.

B.  Elijah mocks the prophets of Baal when their sacrifice is not consumed.

V. The Lord Reveals Himself by consuming the sacrifice (30-40)

A.  The people recognize Yahweh is God

VI. The land is cleansed and God sends rain(40-46)

A. Elijah commands that all the false prophets be put to death.

VII. Elijah waits for the Lord to send rain and warns Ahab to go home before the rain comes(41-46)

A. Elijah tells Ahab to refresh himself because rain is coming

B.  Elijah isolates himself and waits on God to fulfill His promise of rain

C.  God sends rain and Elijah and Ahab go to Jezreel

Analyze

Read 1 Kings 18:1-6

1. Why does Elijah have to present himself to Ahab? What caused Elijah to hide himself from Ahab?(1 King 17)

a. What does the text tell us about Obadiah? How is the bible's description of him relate to what the bible describes of his deeds? How does knowing the land was in famine color his deeds?

The Kingdom of Israel is largely wicked and most people who fear God have fled to Judah. Obadiah is a person who fears God but is in a position where he is also bound to serve an ungodly and corrupt king.

b. How can confidence in God’s sovereignty help you to live a life of righteous integrity? Even if it may cost you? (Matt 10:28, Luke 12:5, Jn 15:18)

Read 1 Kings 18:7-15

2. Does fear or respect/humility characterize Obadiah’s reception of Elijah? What reasons would he have to fear him? What reasons would he have to respect/humble himself before him? (7, 9, 14)

a. How does Obadiah’s fear of the Lord affect the way he treats Elijah?

b. Do you fear the Lord? What are your difficulties in relating to that statement and fearing God?

c. Have you met someone who has the marks of reverence/fear for God? Would people you know characterize you as someone who fears and reveres God?

Obadiah has long tried to straddle pleasing God while still pleasing Ahab. His encounter with Elijah pits his two masters against each other leaving him with the decision of whom he will place first.(Matt 6:24-34)

d. When a person does fear God, does that affect your trust in that person? How is fear of God related to trust both in your interpersonal relationships and your relationship with God?

Read 1 Kings 18:16-20

3. How does Ahab greet Elijah? What is Elijah’s response?

a. Why do people have the tendency to blame others and absolve themselves of responsibility?(Gal 6:7-8)

b. What areas of your life are you prone to avoiding guilt or responsibility?

c. What does Elijah tell Ahab to do?

Elijah’s request for Ahab to summon the prophets of Baal is a response to Ahab’s accusation. Their exchange of words will be validated by this contest to see both who is responsible for the drought and whose god is sovereign.

Read 1 Kings 18:21-29

4. What question does Elijah ask as a challenge to the people of Israel?

Elijah serves as an antitype to the person of Christ. God had made a covenant with Israel that if they would obey them He would bless them with rain, however if they didn’t follow Him then He would withhold the rain.(Deut 28, Lev 26) Rain was crucial to the survival of Israel because this was the only way their crops could be watered. Obedience/trust in God meant life. Disobedience meant death. This challenge echoes the sentiments Jesus later expresses in John 10. Following anything other than God will lead to destruction, but true blessing and life come from the Lord.(Jn 10:10)

a. What are the two worlds you are straddling? Who are the two masters you are trying to please? (Matt 6:24, 33)

b. What areas of life are you having trouble trusting God with so that you can be fully devoted to Him?  

Read 1 Kings 18:30-40

5. How do the ways the prophets of Baal present their sacrifice differ from the way the prophet of God sacrifices?

a. How does the way Elijah present his sacrifice demonstrate faith? (Eph 2:8-9) How does this enhance your understanding of salvation by faith and walking in faith?

b.  How do the Israelites react to God’s revelation of sovereignty and power?

c. What does Elijah instruct the people to do to the prophets of Baal? (Deut 13)

Read 1 Kings 18:41-46

6.   Why does Elijah tell Ahab to eat? What does Elijah do after predicting a rainstorm?(41)

a. How is Elijah’s prediction related to the killing of the prophets of Baal?(Deut 28:12, 1 Kings 18:1)

b. What would cause Elijah to be anxious or fearful about sending rain?(Deut 13)

c. What are some things God has revealed to His people that we are told to proclaim?  What kind of assurances do we have that what God tells us to proclaim will actually happen?

d. How does Elijah handle the anxiety of waiting? How does Elijah’s example teach us to handle uncertainty and anxiety?

Contextualize:

1. God desires total devotion of His people

2. Man can not truly serve God if God is not the number one priority of his life.

3. God is faithful to those who love/obey Him.

Actualize:

Spend this week identifying the “masters” of your life and write them down. Write down the reasons why you serve those masters and the fears you have about allowing God to be your only Master. Surrender them to God and tell someone you trust to encourage you and keep you accountable.