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.
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Acts 15:22-35 KJV
22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; [namely], Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 23 And they wrote [letters] by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren [send] greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: 24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, [Ye must] be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no [such] commandment: 25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell [you] the same things by mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. 30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: 31 [Which] when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation. 32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed [them]. 33 And after they had tarried [there] a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles. 34 Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still. 35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) After the dissension concerning the circumcision of Gentile believers, who was sent with an epistle (letter) from among the Jewish believers? (v.22)
2) Who was the letter addressed to and what did the letter say? (v.23-29)
3) Where did the men, who had been sent, first deliver the letter? (v.30)
4) How did those sent to Antioch, react after reading, what was written in the letter, to the multitude and why? (v.31)
5) Who confirmed what was written and what else did they do to encourage the believers in Antioch? (v.32)
6) Who remained in Antioch and what did they do while there? (v.33-35)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
7) What individual(s), or group of believers, needs to be restored, or reconciled, to the body of Christ in your home church, and/or denomination?
8) How is the Lord leading you to begin that process of restoration and/or reconciliation?
LIFE LESSONS
9) The body of Christ is comprised of many different followers of the Lord, from many different ethnicities and doctrines.
10) Our Lord is returning for unified body of believers
Friday, February 27, 2015
John 1:19-23 KJV
19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. 22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 23 He said, I [am] the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) Who did the Jews send to John the Baptist? (v.19a-b)
2) What did these people ask John and what was John's response to each of their questions? (v.19c-23)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
3) In what ways has the Lord used you to prepare the way for Jesus in the life of the unsaved in your family, job, or community?
LIFE LESSONS
4) The Lord has called us all to be ministers of reconcilation: restoring relationship between God and the unsaved.
5) We may not be called to do great things in the kingdom of God, but we are all called to prepare the way of the Lord in the lives of the unsaved through our prayers and/or our witness.
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Matthew 5:21-26
21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What was one of God's commandments to His people and why? (v.21)
2) According to Jesus, what is wrong and why? (v.22)
3) What did Jesus tell His disciples to do to escape condemnation for their sin? (v.23-24)
4) What did our Lord say would happen if we do not agree with those we have offended? (v.25-26)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
5) What do you typically do when you have offended a brother, or sister, in Christ?
6) Have you ever refused to be reconciled with an offended brother, or sister, in the Lord? If so, describe what happened.
7) Have you ever asked forgiveness from an offended brother, or sister, in Christ? If so, describe how you felt.
PRINCIPLES
8) Unforgiveness is the bait of Satan because it leads to further condemnation.
9) Offense destroys relationship with God and man.
10) Seek peace with all people, at all costs, even if the offended person refuses to forgive you.
Thursday, August 21, 2014
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we [him] no more.
17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things [are] of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) Who was the Apostle Paul referring to when he suggested that we no longer rely upon our our human reasoning or perspective to know them? (v.16)
2) Why is it important to disregard an individual's previous conduct in light of who they are in Christ? (v.17)
3) What has God given to every believer? (v.18)
4) What did God do for us, because of Christ's sacrifice, so that we could be reconciled to Him? (v.19)
5) What is God's appeal to others, through His people? (v.20)
6) How are we made the righteousness of God? (v.21)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
7) Has anyone ever questionned your salvation since you've been saved? If so, what happened and how did that make you feel?
8) What do you do to serve the Lord as His ambassador?
9) What put you in right standing (relationship) with God?
PRINCIPLES
10) When God reconciles us to Himself, He forgives all our sins.
11) Those who belong to Jesus are "new creations" in Christ.
12) We are made righteous by the blood of the sinless Lamb of God, not our good deeds.
Monday, August 18, 2014
Act 7:23-28
23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.
24 And seeing one [of them] suffer wrong, he defended [him], and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:
25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.
26 And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?
27 But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?
28 Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What did Moses want to do at forty years of age? (v.23)
2) What did Moses see and how did he respond? (v.24)
3) What did Moses presume about his brethren? Was his presumption right, or wrong? (v.25)
4) What happened the next day? (v.26)
5) What did the neighbor who wronged his brother say to Moses? (v.27)
6) What did he ask Moses? (v.28)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
7) Has the Lord ever given you a burden to help or encourage someone? If so, please describe one such instance.
8) Have you ever attempted to help someone, but your efforts were refused? If so, please describe what happened.
9) Have your motives for helping others ever been questionned? If so, what happened and how did you handle the situation?
PRINCIPLES
10) The Lord frequently burdens our hearts with that which will become our ministry.
11) Everyone will not understand your motives for doing good for others.
12) Our burden to minister often precedes our call to ministry.
