The Eternal Shepherd

Thursday, January 7, 2016
John 10:22-30 KJV

22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. 24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. 25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. 26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand. 30 I and [my] Father are one.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What did the Jews ask Jesus after alluding to Himself as the Good Shepherd and the Door? (v.22-24)
2) What was Jesus' response? (v.25-26)
3) What did Jesus say about His sheep? (v.27-28)
4) What did the Lord have to say about the Father? (v.29)
5) What did the Lord say about His relationship with the Father? (v.30)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) Are you a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ? 
7) If so, what assurances do you glean from today's reading?

LIFE LESSONS
8) A true follower of the Lord Jesus hears His voice.

The Good Shepherd

Wednesday, January 6, 2015
John 10:7-15 KJV 

7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my [sheep], and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) Who is the door of the sheep? (v.7)
2) Who are thieves and robbers and how did the sheep respond to them? (v.8)
3) What happens to those who enter the door for the sheep? (v.9)
4) Whar are the differences between the thief (hireling) and the Good Shepherd? (v.10-14)
5) What does the Good Shepherd do for the sheep? (v.15)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) Have you ever been led by a pastor that did not have the Good Shepherd's heart for the members of your local church? If so, briefly describe what that pastor did to demonstate care for the "flock"?

LIFE LESSONS
7) Servants of God that are called by the Good Shepherd to pastor His flock will exhibit the same care and concern for parishioners as the Lord Himself does.

Modeled Generosity

Monday, December 21, 2015
John 1:10-18 KJV 

10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [him].

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What does the Apostle John write about our Lord and those who received Him? (v.10-13)
2) What does the apostle write about the Word? (v14)
3) What does John write about John the Baptist and his testimony concerning our Lord? (v.15)
4) What else does John the Beloved apostle write about our Lord? (v.16-18)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
5) Have you been born-again?
6) If so, how do you know?

LIFE LESSONS
7) The greatest manifestation of the new birth experience is a change in the believers' behavior, character and/or nature.

Stranger's Become Heavens Citizens

Thursday, October 22, 2015
Ephesians 2:11-22 KJV 

11 Wherefore remember, that ye [being] in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition [between us]; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, [so] making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [stone]; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) Of what does the Apostle Paul remind Gentile believers? (v.11-13)
2) What has our Lord Jesus done for Jewish and Gentile believers? (v.14-17)
3) What has been granted every believer in the Lord Jesus (Jew and Gentile)? Why? (v.18-22) 

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) Why were you a stranger to God and to His people, prior to your salvation?

LIFE LESSONS
5) Though we were once enemies of God, we have now been reconciled to Him and are citizens of heaven through belief in Christ's sacrifice on the cross for our sins.

God's Trustworthy Way

Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Psalm 112:1-2, 6-9 KJV 

1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed [is] the man [that] feareth the LORD, [that] delighteth greatly in his commandments. 2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. ... 6 Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. 7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD. 8 His heart [is] established, he shall not be afraid, until he see [his desire] upon his enemies. 9 He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) Who is blessed, according to the psalmist? (v.1)
2) What does the psalmist write about the seed of those who are blessed? (v.2)
3) What will become of the righteous? Why? (v.6-9)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) Are you blessed/righteous? If so, why? If not, why not?

LIFE LESSONS
5) The Lord God considers us righteous because we have believed in the only Person who is perfectly righteous: Jesus Christ. 

Prevailing Truth

Saturday, September 19, 2015
Act 4:5-12 KJV

5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, 6 And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, [even] by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) Who gathered to question the Apostles Peter and John, the day after their arrest? (v.5-6)
2) What did they ask them? (v.7)
3) Who responded, how did he differ from those he responded to, and what did he tell them? (v.8-12)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) Have you ever had to defend your faith in the Lord Jesus? If so, briefly describe what happened.

LIFE LESSONS
5) The indwelling Holy Spirit emboldens us and grants us divine wisdom to share Christ with others.  

If Christ Has Not Been Raised

Saturday, April 4, 2015
1 Corinthians 15:12-19 KJV

12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14 And if Christ be not risen, then [is] our preaching vain, and your faith [is] also vain. 15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith [is] vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What were some saying to those who heard that Christ rose from the dead? (v.12)
2) What seven (7) things did the Apostle Paul conclude if Christ had not been risen from the dead? (v.13-19)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
3) What do you believe about Christ's resurrection from the dead?
4) What does your church teach about Christ's resurrection from the dead?

LIFE LESSONS
5) The hope of every Christian is that Christ has risen from the dead.

Christ Has Risen

Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Matthew 28:1-8 KJV 

1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first [day] of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead [men]. 5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. 8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What happened on the first day of the week, following our Lord Jesus' crucifixion and who beheld those things? (v.1-2)
2) How does Matthew describe the angel of the Lord and those who witnessed his appearing? (v.3-4)
3) What did the angel say to those who had seen him? (v.5-6)
4) What were the women instructed to do by the angel and what did he tell them to say about Jesus? (v.7)
5) How did the women depart from the tomb and what did they do? (v.8)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) What, if anything, will you tell you children and/or grandchildren about the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ?
7) What, if anything will you do to share Jesus with those who do not know Him as Savior or Lord?

LIFE LESSONS
8) Jesus Christ rose from the dead so that all who believe could be witnesses of His life to those who have not heard the good news!
9) The good news is that all who believe on Jesus Christ, will also arise from the dead to eternal life with Him.

The Coming Son of Man

Friday, March 27, 2015
Mark 14:55-62 KJV 

55 And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none. 56 For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together. 57 And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying, 58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. 59 But neither so did their witness agree together. 60 And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what [is it which] these witness against thee? 61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? 62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What were the Jewish leaders seeking to find against Jesus and why? (v.55a)
2) Were they successful? Why not? (v.55b-59)
3) What did the high priest say to our Lord Jesus? (v.60)
4) How did Jesus respond? (v.61a)
5) What did the high priest ask of Jesus the second time? (v.61b)
6) What did Jesus finally say in response to the high priest? (v.62)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
7) As we approach Resurrection Sunday, what are you telling your children, grandchildren, and/or others about Jesus?

LIFE LESSONS
8) Our Lord Jesus died and rose again so that believers may bear witness that He died for the sins of all and will return again soon.