Thus far we have done several different kinds of Bible Study methods.
1. Word studies- Thanksgiving
2. Book studies- Ezra
3. Chapter studies- Psalm 1
This time we will do a Biographical Study with the Christmas story characters.
1. Read: Matthew 1:18-2:15
Luke 1:1-2:40
2. Write down details of the lives of the following people. Also write down any deductions about them that you can make as a result of what the scripture says. Not sure how far we will get each week so please do them in order so we will all be on the same page.
Mary
Joseph
Zachariah
Elizabeth
Wise men
Shepherds
Herod
Simeon
Anna
Angels
Monday, November 26, 2018
Saturday, November 3, 2018
Assignment for November 7, 2018
1. Refer back to the assignment for 10-31-2018 as we have not finished it.
2. Attend church this week.
3. There is a special event at White Horse Christian Center this week if you are interested in some extra fellowship. The Prophetic Conference starts Wed. at 7:00 pm. It has meetings on Thurs. & Fri. at 10:00 am, 2:00 and 7:00 pm. There is also a free lunch. Attend if you can.
4. Last week we began to look at the word "thanksgiving" and where it is found in the Bible. Different English translations were used so the number of listings differed but we came up with around 30 references. (If we had included other forms of the word- thankful, thanks, thankfulness, etc. there would have been too many verses to discuss.)
5. We started with the book of Leviticus and made it almost through the Psalms. We will pick up there this week.
6. Results of our discussion:
Leviticus 7:13, 15- thanksgiving resulted in an action- the giving of an offering
Ezra 3:11- thanksgiving was offered after the completing a task with God's help
Nehemiah 11:17, 12:8, 12:24, 27 & 46- Thanksgiving was a leadership assignment from God. These assignments were coupled with prayer, songs and praise. We asked, "Why would God need to give us leaders who would lead us in the giving of thanks?"
7. We also looked at an example of a "progression of prayer" that we can use to approach God. It came from Psalm 26:7 and 100:4. We start with offering thanksgiving for what He has done for us. We move to praise by exalting His attributes or character qualities- i.e. His love, faithfulness, etc. Then we move into worship by focusing on who He is in Himself. This was likened to the Old Testament temple structure: the outer court, the inner court and the most inner court- the Holy of Holies.
2. Attend church this week.
3. There is a special event at White Horse Christian Center this week if you are interested in some extra fellowship. The Prophetic Conference starts Wed. at 7:00 pm. It has meetings on Thurs. & Fri. at 10:00 am, 2:00 and 7:00 pm. There is also a free lunch. Attend if you can.
4. Last week we began to look at the word "thanksgiving" and where it is found in the Bible. Different English translations were used so the number of listings differed but we came up with around 30 references. (If we had included other forms of the word- thankful, thanks, thankfulness, etc. there would have been too many verses to discuss.)
5. We started with the book of Leviticus and made it almost through the Psalms. We will pick up there this week.
6. Results of our discussion:
Leviticus 7:13, 15- thanksgiving resulted in an action- the giving of an offering
Ezra 3:11- thanksgiving was offered after the completing a task with God's help
Nehemiah 11:17, 12:8, 12:24, 27 & 46- Thanksgiving was a leadership assignment from God. These assignments were coupled with prayer, songs and praise. We asked, "Why would God need to give us leaders who would lead us in the giving of thanks?"
7. We also looked at an example of a "progression of prayer" that we can use to approach God. It came from Psalm 26:7 and 100:4. We start with offering thanksgiving for what He has done for us. We move to praise by exalting His attributes or character qualities- i.e. His love, faithfulness, etc. Then we move into worship by focusing on who He is in Himself. This was likened to the Old Testament temple structure: the outer court, the inner court and the most inner court- the Holy of Holies.
Saturday, October 27, 2018
Assignment for November 7, 2018
1. Attend a church on Sunday
2. Since we are headed into the Thanksgiving Season, let's look up references that have the word "thanksgiving" in our Bibles. I have counted over 20 verses in my New International Version (NIV) Bible. See how many you can find.
3. As you find them ask questions such as:
What am I to be thankful for?
Who am I supposed to be thankful to?
What personal benefits do I gain as I give thanks?
What things are similar in these verses?
What things are different in these verses?
Are there patterns that emerge as you go through them?
4. Look up the meaning of the word in the English dictionary.
2. Since we are headed into the Thanksgiving Season, let's look up references that have the word "thanksgiving" in our Bibles. I have counted over 20 verses in my New International Version (NIV) Bible. See how many you can find.
3. As you find them ask questions such as:
What am I to be thankful for?
Who am I supposed to be thankful to?
What personal benefits do I gain as I give thanks?
What things are similar in these verses?
What things are different in these verses?
Are there patterns that emerge as you go through them?
4. Look up the meaning of the word in the English dictionary.
Saturday, October 6, 2018
Assignment for October 10, 2018
Assignment for next time is:
1. Read Psalm 119
2. Look for the words "desire" and "meditation" and note the verses where these are found.
3. Write down any thoughts that come to you.
To review from last time, we continued our discussion of Psalm 1 but focused on 2 words: "delight" and "meditation." Since we had defined "meditation" in an earlier study, we focused on "delight."
Delight is more than just being happy. It is deeper.
What things, in the natural realm, bring you delight?
People shared about children, grandchildren, a sunset, a special food, special music, etc.
Who delights in you? Who lights up when you enter a room? Who is delighted to see you?
People shared about grandchildren, dogs, etc.
These examples are from the natural world. When we move to the spiritual world we need to understand that God delights in us. Because He does this first we can, in return, delight in Him.
To delight in Him includes delighting in His Word. Delighting in His Word includes meditating upon it.
To review briefly what we discussed concerning a way to mediate day and night: Write down a small portion of the Bible that God directs you to. Carry it with you or put it on your refrigerator. Someplace where you will continually see it throughout the day. When you get a free moment read this verse. It will percolate in your spirit and minister to you. Also, read this verse as the the last thing you do before you go to sleep. It will be in your spirit while you sleep. This will take discipline but God will give you the ability to do it. Discipline will transform this process into delight, which is what God wants for us. So remember, we go from "Discipline to Delight!"
Here are some of the verses we looked at for you to review:
Psalm 35:27- double delight spoken of here- people and God.
1. The delight of people who believe in David and will rejoice when he is vindicated.
2. The delight of God in the well being of David.
Psalm 37:4- delighting in God will result in the desires of our hearts being realized.
How? We are delighting in the One who made our hearts and put Godly desires in them before we were even born. Delighting in Him releases these desires to come forth.
Psalm 43:4- delighting in the right thing delivers us from despair.
Isaiah 11:1-3- A prophecy of the coming Messiah- Jesus. Vs. 3- He will delight in the fear of the Lord. Fear means to reverence, to be awed by. He set the example for us.
Psalm 112:1- We are blessed when we delight in the fear of the Lord also
Zephaniah 3:17- A wonderful verse that shows just how much God delights in you.
The phrase "rejoice over you" means "to spin around under the influence of violent emotion."
He is mighty to save you.
He will quiet you with His love.
He will dance over you with reckless abandon because He delights in you.
1. Read Psalm 119
2. Look for the words "desire" and "meditation" and note the verses where these are found.
3. Write down any thoughts that come to you.
To review from last time, we continued our discussion of Psalm 1 but focused on 2 words: "delight" and "meditation." Since we had defined "meditation" in an earlier study, we focused on "delight."
Delight is more than just being happy. It is deeper.
What things, in the natural realm, bring you delight?
People shared about children, grandchildren, a sunset, a special food, special music, etc.
Who delights in you? Who lights up when you enter a room? Who is delighted to see you?
People shared about grandchildren, dogs, etc.
These examples are from the natural world. When we move to the spiritual world we need to understand that God delights in us. Because He does this first we can, in return, delight in Him.
To delight in Him includes delighting in His Word. Delighting in His Word includes meditating upon it.
To review briefly what we discussed concerning a way to mediate day and night: Write down a small portion of the Bible that God directs you to. Carry it with you or put it on your refrigerator. Someplace where you will continually see it throughout the day. When you get a free moment read this verse. It will percolate in your spirit and minister to you. Also, read this verse as the the last thing you do before you go to sleep. It will be in your spirit while you sleep. This will take discipline but God will give you the ability to do it. Discipline will transform this process into delight, which is what God wants for us. So remember, we go from "Discipline to Delight!"
Here are some of the verses we looked at for you to review:
Psalm 35:27- double delight spoken of here- people and God.
1. The delight of people who believe in David and will rejoice when he is vindicated.
2. The delight of God in the well being of David.
Psalm 37:4- delighting in God will result in the desires of our hearts being realized.
How? We are delighting in the One who made our hearts and put Godly desires in them before we were even born. Delighting in Him releases these desires to come forth.
Psalm 43:4- delighting in the right thing delivers us from despair.
Isaiah 11:1-3- A prophecy of the coming Messiah- Jesus. Vs. 3- He will delight in the fear of the Lord. Fear means to reverence, to be awed by. He set the example for us.
Psalm 112:1- We are blessed when we delight in the fear of the Lord also
Zephaniah 3:17- A wonderful verse that shows just how much God delights in you.
The phrase "rejoice over you" means "to spin around under the influence of violent emotion."
He is mighty to save you.
He will quiet you with His love.
He will dance over you with reckless abandon because He delights in you.
Sunday, September 30, 2018
Assignment for October 3, 2018
Psalm 1
vs. 1- the progression into evil: walk.... stand.... sit
What can these words stand for in everyday life?
What do they refer to in practical terms for you?
Notice the wording: Blessed is the one who does NOT do this
vs. 2- delight.
What does that word mean to you?
What are some of the things that you really delight in?
God wants to give us that same level of passion toward His Word.
meditate- to think about, ponder, chew on, reflect, consider, mull over.
The goal of Christian meditation is not empty ourselves but to fill ourselves up with the truth of God's Word. Meditation goes beyond merely knowing facts about the Bible. It is where the Bible becomes real to us personally. General knowledge is transformed into specific truth just for you and me. This will bring about spiritual growth.
day and night- How do we do this?
1. Day: Ask the Lord to give you a small portion (a verse or less) of scripture to meditate on throughout the day. Keep using this same verse each day until you have "squeezed all the juice" out of it. Expect there to be "windows of pause" in your day. Times when you have a few seconds to spare. They are always there but we don't always see them as opportunities. When you find one, seize the opportunity and reflect on this verse. It doesn't take much to keep a verse rolling around in our hearts all day.
2. Night: Make reflecting on that verse the last thing you do before you go to sleep. This not only sets the stage for a good nights' sleep with God in charge of your dreams, it will also help us to wake up with God clearly on our mind.
Joshua 1:6-9
Joshua was called to lead. To do so he had to be strong and courageous. How was he to do it? The key was to meditate on the Word day and night. Prosperity and success would naturally follow him if he did so.
It is the same with each of us. We have all been put here for a reason. The path to success is the same as Joshua's. If we meditate on the Word day and night, we will have the things we need to complete the work God gave us to do.
You don't have to be a monk to meditate "day and night." It is a mindset and a heart-set that God can help each of us obtain.
vs. 3- a fruitful tree planted by the water. This is God's desire for us.
Jeremiah 17:8
Saturday, September 15, 2018
Assignment for September 19th
1. We did not finish the last 2 points from the last lesson so we will begin with them. Look up the references and write down some thoughts.
How are we sanctified?
John 17:17
Ro. 15:16
Hebrews 13:12
Sanctification is both instantaneous and progressive. This will take some thought, prayer and reflection to understand but it is HUGELY important that we do understand it.
Hebrews 2:10-11
2. As we continue to explore our identity in Christ, we will look at our position as priests.
Look in the dictionary, Bible, study Bible and find the definition and duties of priests.
Hint: we did this when we studied Ezra. 😉
3. Lookup these scriptures and write down some thoughts:
1 Peter 2:4-10
Revelation 1:4-6
2. As we continue to explore our identity in Christ, we will look at our position as priests.
Look in the dictionary, Bible, study Bible and find the definition and duties of priests.
Hint: we did this when we studied Ezra. 😉
3. Lookup these scriptures and write down some thoughts:
1 Peter 2:4-10
Revelation 1:4-6
Saturday, September 1, 2018
Assignment for September 5, 2018
My Identity in Christ
We will discuss the scriptures listed below. Please look them
up and jot down some thoughts, ESPECIALLY if they speak personally to you.
It is very important for us as believers to have a clear
understanding of who we are in Christ. We must see ourselves as God sees us.
Once I have received Christ as my personal Savior I am
born-again. A great transformation has taken place. I was dead and now I am alive.
I was blind but now I see. I was a sinner but now I am a saint.
2 Cor. 5:17
In the NIV Bible, the word “saints” is used 45 times.
“Saints” are sanctified ones
The Greek word for the noun “saints” is hagios- (#40 in Strong’s concordance): the core meaning is
"different." The technical meaning is "different from the world
because like the Lord." It means to be set apart by God or for God, holy,
sacred. It means we have a "likeness of nature with the Lord."
Hagios is the word
used in “Holy” Spirit
The verb form of hagios
translated “sanctify” or “make holy”- hagiazo
(#37 in Strong’s Concordance) means "to make holy, consecrate,
sanctify; to dedicate, separate"
“Sanctify” is used 15 times in NIV and “made holy” 7 times.
All these English words come from the same Greek root word
so we must look at them as a group.
The Bible calls every believer a saint:
Eph. 1:1
1 Cor 1:2
Being a saint involves 2 parts:
Separation FROM something and dedication TO something else.
Separation FROM something and dedication TO something else.
Eph. 2:1-5
What is the difference between transgressions and sins?
How are we sanctified?
John 17:17
Ro. 15:16
Hebrews 13:12
Sanctification is both instantaneous and progressive. This
will take some thought, prayer and reflection to understand but it is HUGELY
important that we do understand it.
Hebrews 2:10-11
Saturday, August 25, 2018
Assignment for August 29, 2018
1. We will continue with our study of the word "perseverance." Refer back to the Assignment for August 15th to get some scriptures to start with.
2. We looked at a "kernel of wheat" to help transition us from the Parable of the Sower to the study of perseverance. Once the seed of God's Word has been sown in us our ultimate call is to become a seed ourselves by dying to self. We are following Jesus' example when we do this.
John 12:23-26- Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
There are 3 parts to a seed. After a seed is placed in the ground the germ begins to grow. It consumes the endosperm and eventually bursts through the outer bran shell.
We are like a seed in that we have 3 parts:
germ = spirit
endosperm = soul
bran = body
The process of Christian growth starts when we are born-again and God's Holy Spirit comes into our human spirit. As our spirit cooperates with God it begins to consume our soul (mind, will and emotions). Our thoughts change. Our feelings change. Our choices change. This is turn causes us to resist the temptations of the flesh so the life of God can burst forth from us.
3. Strong's Concordance can be used to look up the meanings of the original words in the Bible. An online Bible program that has Strong's Concordance is: https://biblehub.com/ You may need some help navigating the program but it is learn-able, more thorough and much quicker than using the book. Let me know if you need help.
4. A simple English dictionary is helpful to gain insight.
-perseverance: steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.
The translators of the Bible had a reason for choosing the particular English words they did. So, even if we don't know anything about the original languages, we can glean much by looking up the word in an English dictionary to gain different shades of meaning.
5. A "Prescription for Joy" was shared with us.
Each day for 21 days write down 3 things:
1. Something you are thankful for
2. Something that makes you happy
3. Something you are looking forward to
Please note: You cannot repeat an item. Each one must be new.
Then pick someone to share your list with each day. They will be part of the prescription.
2. We looked at a "kernel of wheat" to help transition us from the Parable of the Sower to the study of perseverance. Once the seed of God's Word has been sown in us our ultimate call is to become a seed ourselves by dying to self. We are following Jesus' example when we do this.
John 12:23-26- Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
There are 3 parts to a seed. After a seed is placed in the ground the germ begins to grow. It consumes the endosperm and eventually bursts through the outer bran shell.
We are like a seed in that we have 3 parts:
germ = spirit
endosperm = soul
bran = body
The process of Christian growth starts when we are born-again and God's Holy Spirit comes into our human spirit. As our spirit cooperates with God it begins to consume our soul (mind, will and emotions). Our thoughts change. Our feelings change. Our choices change. This is turn causes us to resist the temptations of the flesh so the life of God can burst forth from us.
3. Strong's Concordance can be used to look up the meanings of the original words in the Bible. An online Bible program that has Strong's Concordance is: https://biblehub.com/ You may need some help navigating the program but it is learn-able, more thorough and much quicker than using the book. Let me know if you need help.
4. A simple English dictionary is helpful to gain insight.
-perseverance: steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.
The translators of the Bible had a reason for choosing the particular English words they did. So, even if we don't know anything about the original languages, we can glean much by looking up the word in an English dictionary to gain different shades of meaning.
5. A "Prescription for Joy" was shared with us.
Each day for 21 days write down 3 things:
1. Something you are thankful for
2. Something that makes you happy
3. Something you are looking forward to
Please note: You cannot repeat an item. Each one must be new.
Then pick someone to share your list with each day. They will be part of the prescription.
Saturday, August 11, 2018
Assignment for August 15, 2018
1. Reread the assignment for August 8th particularly focusing on the blue parts.
2. Look up in your Bible references with the word "persevering." Also check other forms of this word: persevere, persevered. Also check for words that would be similar: like endurance or steadfastness.
3. Here are some examples to get you started:
Romans 5:3-4, 2 Peter 1:6, Hebrews 12:1, James 1:3-4
2. Look up in your Bible references with the word "persevering." Also check other forms of this word: persevere, persevered. Also check for words that would be similar: like endurance or steadfastness.
3. Here are some examples to get you started:
Romans 5:3-4, 2 Peter 1:6, Hebrews 12:1, James 1:3-4
Saturday, August 4, 2018
Assignment for August 8th
1. Review the assignment from July 25 . Be sure to read the part in blue.
2. Go through the parable and write out the verses from each Gospel for both the story and the explanation of the "good soil."
3. Note the differences and similarities.
4. Do the amounts stated, 30, 60 & 100 fold, mean that only the "100 fold people" got it right?
The "Good Soil" part of the Parable:
1. Matthew and Mark were very similar in the telling of the parable. Only difference was the order of the numbers: 30, 60, 100.
2. Luke's account was very brief and only used the number 100.
The explanation:
1. Matthew states that the good soil represents a person who hears the Word, understands it and produces a crop.
2. Mark uses the words, hear, accept and produces.
3. Luke uses hear, retain, and by persevering produces a crop
He also describes the person as one with a "noble and good heart."
4. Some conclusions made by combining all three: There is a progression of growth as we move from hearing the Word. First there is understanding, then accepting and finally retaining.
"Noble" in the Greek literally means "beautiful." Also means good- valuable or virtuous for appearance or use.
"Good" in the Greek is a primary word meaning "good."
So, "noble" refers to the outer appearance and "good" to the heart.
As we discussed the germination of seeds and how they each reproduce after their own kind, God gave a us a gem:
The Word of God is the only seed that will produce many different kinds of fruit from the same seed. The same seed can bring salvation, healing, deliverance, meet financial needs, relational needs and much more. This can be illustrated during by what happens during a sermon. The exact same message is heard by all who listen, but each hearer is receiving what they need from God at that juncture in their lives.
We discussed what kind of a harvest or fruit are we supposed to bear. There are several kinds of fruit listed in the Bible.
1. The fruit of the Spirit- Galatians 5:22-23
2. Character development- John 15:1-11
3. Leading someone to Christ- Psalms 126:6
4. Moving in the gifts of the Spirit- John 14:12
2. Go through the parable and write out the verses from each Gospel for both the story and the explanation of the "good soil."
3. Note the differences and similarities.
4. Do the amounts stated, 30, 60 & 100 fold, mean that only the "100 fold people" got it right?
Discoveries
1. Matthew and Mark were very similar in the telling of the parable. Only difference was the order of the numbers: 30, 60, 100.
2. Luke's account was very brief and only used the number 100.
The explanation:
1. Matthew states that the good soil represents a person who hears the Word, understands it and produces a crop.
2. Mark uses the words, hear, accept and produces.
3. Luke uses hear, retain, and by persevering produces a crop
He also describes the person as one with a "noble and good heart."
4. Some conclusions made by combining all three: There is a progression of growth as we move from hearing the Word. First there is understanding, then accepting and finally retaining.
"Noble" in the Greek literally means "beautiful." Also means good- valuable or virtuous for appearance or use.
"Good" in the Greek is a primary word meaning "good."
So, "noble" refers to the outer appearance and "good" to the heart.
As we discussed the germination of seeds and how they each reproduce after their own kind, God gave a us a gem:
The Word of God is the only seed that will produce many different kinds of fruit from the same seed. The same seed can bring salvation, healing, deliverance, meet financial needs, relational needs and much more. This can be illustrated during by what happens during a sermon. The exact same message is heard by all who listen, but each hearer is receiving what they need from God at that juncture in their lives.
We discussed what kind of a harvest or fruit are we supposed to bear. There are several kinds of fruit listed in the Bible.
1. The fruit of the Spirit- Galatians 5:22-23
2. Character development- John 15:1-11
3. Leading someone to Christ- Psalms 126:6
4. Moving in the gifts of the Spirit- John 14:12
Saturday, July 21, 2018
Assignment for July 25, 2018
1. Review the assignment from July 17th. Be sure to read the part in blue.
2. Go through the parable and write out the verses from each Gospel for both the story and the explanation of the "soil with thorns."
3. Note the differences and similarities.
4. What are the basic categories of things that might be "thorns" in our heart?
5. Out of these basic categories can you list some specific examples of thorns from your own life? (You will not be required to share these but it is important that all Bible Study be applied to our personal life. This is the only way we will grow through the Word.)
6. What are some ways to get rid of thorns in our lives?
What are some ways that we might be able to create an "early detection system" in our hearts to catch possible thorny symptoms before they get too big?
Parable:
Matt. 13:7- Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.
Mark 4:7- Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain.
Luke 8:7- Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants.
Common points: seed fell among thorns, thorns grew up and choked the plants.
Differences: they did not bear grain
This is the goal of the choking: that we bear no fruit
Explanation:
Matt. 13:7- The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.
Mark 4:18- Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.
Luke 8:14- The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.
Common points: hears, worries of life, choked
Differences: deceitfulness of wealth, desires for other things- riches and pleasures, making it unfruitful- they do not mature
Basic categories of thorns:
1. worries of life
2. deceitfulness of wealth
3. desires for other things- riches and pleasures
Early warning signs of thorniness in our hearts:
1. We worry more than we pray
2. We make money our goal instead of God
3. We seek pleasures (we are referring to normal God-ordained pleasures not sinful pleasures) more than God. Even good things can choke us if they become out of balance.
Some practical things we can do when worry gets the upper hand:
1. Read the Bible outloud
2. Call a friend for prayer
3. Play praise music and sing along
4. Begin to give thanks
Phil. 4:6-7- "Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life." Message Translation
2. Go through the parable and write out the verses from each Gospel for both the story and the explanation of the "soil with thorns."
3. Note the differences and similarities.
4. What are the basic categories of things that might be "thorns" in our heart?
5. Out of these basic categories can you list some specific examples of thorns from your own life? (You will not be required to share these but it is important that all Bible Study be applied to our personal life. This is the only way we will grow through the Word.)
6. What are some ways to get rid of thorns in our lives?
What are some ways that we might be able to create an "early detection system" in our hearts to catch possible thorny symptoms before they get too big?
Discoveries
Parable:
Matt. 13:7- Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.
Mark 4:7- Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain.
Luke 8:7- Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants.
Common points: seed fell among thorns, thorns grew up and choked the plants.
Differences: they did not bear grain
This is the goal of the choking: that we bear no fruit
Explanation:
Matt. 13:7- The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.
Mark 4:18- Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.
Luke 8:14- The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.
Common points: hears, worries of life, choked
Differences: deceitfulness of wealth, desires for other things- riches and pleasures, making it unfruitful- they do not mature
Basic categories of thorns:
1. worries of life
2. deceitfulness of wealth
3. desires for other things- riches and pleasures
Early warning signs of thorniness in our hearts:
1. We worry more than we pray
2. We make money our goal instead of God
3. We seek pleasures (we are referring to normal God-ordained pleasures not sinful pleasures) more than God. Even good things can choke us if they become out of balance.
Some practical things we can do when worry gets the upper hand:
1. Read the Bible outloud
2. Call a friend for prayer
3. Play praise music and sing along
4. Begin to give thanks
Phil. 4:6-7- "Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life." Message Translation
Saturday, July 14, 2018
Assignment for July 18, 2018
1. Re-read the assignment from July 11th and note the answer section in blue.
2. Go through each gospel and write out the verses that deal with the second soil- the rocky soil.
3. What parts are the same?
What parts are different?
What can we learn from each one individually?
What can we learn from taking them as a whole?
4. What are some other thoughts and questions that come to your mind?
The parable: Differences in bold
Mark 4:5-6- Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
Matthew 13:5-6- Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
(Note: Matthew and Mark are identical in both the parable and the explanation parts)
Luke 8:6- Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture.
Jesus' explanation:
Mark 4:16-17- Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
Matthew 13:20-21- The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
Luke 8:13- Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.
Common thoughts: hear the Word, received with joy, have no root
-The root structure of a tree has to be the same size as the tree that we see above ground in order for it to be stable enough to grow. Shallow roots will cause the tree to collapse as growth occurs. Plants need to have deep roots also. Rocks are one of the things that can hinder the downward growth of roots. Plants must have water to survive. Surface water is not enough. Only "water saturated-deep down" soil will offer a steady source of moisture.
-What are situations that might reveal "rocks" in our hearts?
From our texts we find 3 things: trouble, persecution and times of testing.
-When these type of situations occur, the way we respond will reveal if there are "rocks" in our heart that need to be removed.
-Any shallowness that we discover in our hearts should be a red flag warning that we have some "rocks" that need to be removed.
-The first thing to look at when troubles come is not the trouble itself, but how I am responding to it. A proper response will be part of the key to overcoming the trouble.
A point of clarification: There are rocks that we face in our hearts. These are what this parable is referring to. That is why our focus is on our own hearts.
However, there are also rocks (mountains) that will be outside of our heart, in our path. These are a different type and the Bible refers to them both. These external rocks would be in the categories of trouble, persecution and times of testing. Our first strategy in seeing a mountain removed by faith remains the same. We have to search our own hearts.
We also spoke of new Christians who can very easily fall away quickly because of "rocks." We have a responsibility to help them through these trials. When we see a new believer full of joy and we have any thought of "Well, we'll see how long this lasts!," we have a HUGE ROCK in our heart that needs to be dealt with. They need our help.
Solutions:
Pick rock. Every year farmers go through their fields and "pick rock" from acres of land that had been thoroughly prepared the year before. New rocks work their way to the surface every year. They must be removed to ensure a good crop. Likewise, "new" rocks will appear in our hearts as God allows them to be brought to the surface. He only allows this when it is time for us to have them removed.
God's promises if we seek Him for a pure heart:
Ezekiel 19-20- I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. 20 Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.
Ezekiel 36:25-27- I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
2. Go through each gospel and write out the verses that deal with the second soil- the rocky soil.
3. What parts are the same?
What parts are different?
What can we learn from each one individually?
What can we learn from taking them as a whole?
4. What are some other thoughts and questions that come to your mind?
The parable: Differences in bold
Mark 4:5-6- Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
Matthew 13:5-6- Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
(Note: Matthew and Mark are identical in both the parable and the explanation parts)
Luke 8:6- Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture.
Jesus' explanation:
Mark 4:16-17- Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
Matthew 13:20-21- The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
Luke 8:13- Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.
Common thoughts: hear the Word, received with joy, have no root
-The root structure of a tree has to be the same size as the tree that we see above ground in order for it to be stable enough to grow. Shallow roots will cause the tree to collapse as growth occurs. Plants need to have deep roots also. Rocks are one of the things that can hinder the downward growth of roots. Plants must have water to survive. Surface water is not enough. Only "water saturated-deep down" soil will offer a steady source of moisture.
-What are situations that might reveal "rocks" in our hearts?
From our texts we find 3 things: trouble, persecution and times of testing.
-When these type of situations occur, the way we respond will reveal if there are "rocks" in our heart that need to be removed.
-Any shallowness that we discover in our hearts should be a red flag warning that we have some "rocks" that need to be removed.
-The first thing to look at when troubles come is not the trouble itself, but how I am responding to it. A proper response will be part of the key to overcoming the trouble.
A point of clarification: There are rocks that we face in our hearts. These are what this parable is referring to. That is why our focus is on our own hearts.
However, there are also rocks (mountains) that will be outside of our heart, in our path. These are a different type and the Bible refers to them both. These external rocks would be in the categories of trouble, persecution and times of testing. Our first strategy in seeing a mountain removed by faith remains the same. We have to search our own hearts.
We also spoke of new Christians who can very easily fall away quickly because of "rocks." We have a responsibility to help them through these trials. When we see a new believer full of joy and we have any thought of "Well, we'll see how long this lasts!," we have a HUGE ROCK in our heart that needs to be dealt with. They need our help.
Solutions:
Pick rock. Every year farmers go through their fields and "pick rock" from acres of land that had been thoroughly prepared the year before. New rocks work their way to the surface every year. They must be removed to ensure a good crop. Likewise, "new" rocks will appear in our hearts as God allows them to be brought to the surface. He only allows this when it is time for us to have them removed.
God's promises if we seek Him for a pure heart:
Ezekiel 19-20- I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. 20 Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.
Ezekiel 36:25-27- I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
Saturday, July 7, 2018
Assignment for July 11,2018
Did you find the 3 different accounts of the Parable of the Sower in the Gospels?
We are going to compare and contrast the different accounts to gain more insight. We want to look at BOTH the parable itself and the explanation given by Jesus in each passage.
3 passages are:
Matthew 13:1-23
Mark 4:1-20
Luke 8:4-15
1. Read them all
2. Which account do you think was written 1st?
3. There are four soil types listed. We will discuss them one at a time. This week we will be looking at the soil on the path. List the similarities and the differences between the passages and why these may be important.
4. Explain what is meant by this soil type and how we can apply it to our lives today.
Answers:
2. Scholars disagree on which of these 3 gospels were written first. There is no disagreement with the fact that they are very similar. This is called the "synoptic problem." You will sound very intellignet if you use that phrase. 😉("syn" refers to things that are similar- synonyms. "optic" refers to sight- looking.) They look very similar. The Gospel of John is a totally different type of book. Personally, I go for the belief that Mark was the first one written. Part of my reasoning is the fact that we find 91% of the book of Mark repeated in the gospel of Matthew. We also find 53% of the book of Mark repeated in the gospel of Luke. Matthew and Luke usually "add to" the things that Mark had written.
3. As we look at the soil types and Jesus' explanation we discovered that the easiest way to compare and contrast these passages is to write them out. I have put the differences in bold type.
The parable:
Mark 3:3-4- Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
Matthew 13:3-4- Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
Luke 8:5- “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up.
The explanation:
Mark 3:14-15- The farmer sows the word.15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.
Matthew 3:19- When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
Luke 8:12- Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.
The other area we spoke about was the fact that both the crowds and the disciples heard the parable. However, the explanation was given only to the disciples. Why? Because they asked. They wanted to know the truth. It is the same with us. We have to want to learn; to be willing to dig for the truth. When we do, we will discover nuggets of truth that will change our lives.
One thing that we are exploring is the fact that all of us can have portions of our hearts that become hard from time to time. We can encounter a "mixture" of soil types in our hearts for many different reasons. We need to learn to recognize "symptoms of hardness" early on so we can be set free.
Hosea 10:12- Sow righteousness for yourselves,
reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up your unplowed ground;
for it is time to seek the Lord,
until he comes
and showers his righteousness on you.
We are going to compare and contrast the different accounts to gain more insight. We want to look at BOTH the parable itself and the explanation given by Jesus in each passage.
3 passages are:
Matthew 13:1-23
Mark 4:1-20
Luke 8:4-15
1. Read them all
2. Which account do you think was written 1st?
3. There are four soil types listed. We will discuss them one at a time. This week we will be looking at the soil on the path. List the similarities and the differences between the passages and why these may be important.
4. Explain what is meant by this soil type and how we can apply it to our lives today.
Answers:
2. Scholars disagree on which of these 3 gospels were written first. There is no disagreement with the fact that they are very similar. This is called the "synoptic problem." You will sound very intellignet if you use that phrase. 😉("syn" refers to things that are similar- synonyms. "optic" refers to sight- looking.) They look very similar. The Gospel of John is a totally different type of book. Personally, I go for the belief that Mark was the first one written. Part of my reasoning is the fact that we find 91% of the book of Mark repeated in the gospel of Matthew. We also find 53% of the book of Mark repeated in the gospel of Luke. Matthew and Luke usually "add to" the things that Mark had written.
3. As we look at the soil types and Jesus' explanation we discovered that the easiest way to compare and contrast these passages is to write them out. I have put the differences in bold type.
The parable:
Mark 3:3-4- Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
Matthew 13:3-4- Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
Luke 8:5- “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up.
The explanation:
Mark 3:14-15- The farmer sows the word.15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.
Luke 8:12- Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.
The other area we spoke about was the fact that both the crowds and the disciples heard the parable. However, the explanation was given only to the disciples. Why? Because they asked. They wanted to know the truth. It is the same with us. We have to want to learn; to be willing to dig for the truth. When we do, we will discover nuggets of truth that will change our lives.
One thing that we are exploring is the fact that all of us can have portions of our hearts that become hard from time to time. We can encounter a "mixture" of soil types in our hearts for many different reasons. We need to learn to recognize "symptoms of hardness" early on so we can be set free.
Hosea 10:12- Sow righteousness for yourselves,
reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up your unplowed ground;
for it is time to seek the Lord,
until he comes
and showers his righteousness on you.
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