Follow Me-A Study in Discipleship

8/11/2019 Follow Me-A Study in Discipleship

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WELCOMEYou have heard me each hings ha have been confirmed by many reliable winesses. Now each hese ruhs o oher rusworhypeople who will be able o pass hem on o ohers. – 2 Timohy 2:2

Our culure or all i’s reedom o worship God has no produced very many people who ruly ollow God. And wha is missing isno people willing o atend church, bu raher “rusworhy” people who are willing o pass on o ohers wha i means o be adisciple.

In deciding o lead his group you have pu yoursel on he ron lines o he batle o correc his rend. Nohing is more insrumen-al in developing commited ollowers o Chris han equipping people o undersand and apply he Word o God.

I is our prayer ha God would use you in a mighy way as you lead your group. Tha hrough his sudy God would used your lead-ership o poin people o Jesus, and devoe he whole o heir lives o ollowing him.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

“No everyone who calls ou o me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will ener he Kingdom o Heaven. Only hose who acually do he will o myFaher in heaven will ener. On judgmen day many will say o me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cas ou demons inyour name and perormed many miracles in your name.’ Bu I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Ge away rom me, you who break God’slaws.’ – Mathew 7:21-23 (NLT)

The Word o God should always cause us o ake pause and evaluae our lives. And hese words o Jesus should send a shiverdown he spine o every church atender.

“I never knew you.”

Wih his saemen Jesus says ha he will cas many ou o his presence on he day judgemen. And wha is surprising is ha manywhom Jesus will cas away would consider hemselves religious. People involved in God-sponsored projecs and aciviies, peoplewho know abou Jesus bu have never acually come o know him.

In his passage Jesus has an expecaion ha hose who will ener he Kingdom o Heaven will do more han jus believe in him,hey will ollow him. And ha his ollowing afer him would be so personal Jesus would say on he grea day o judgemen “I knowhis man!” or “I know his woman!”

There is more o being a Chrisian han atending a church service, involvemen in minisry, or culivaing good morals. Jesus wouldell ha us he hear o Chrisianiy ocuses on a single desire: knowing him. This desire o know Chris personally is a he hear owha he bible calls discipleship.

To be a disciple is o live a lie which is summed up well or us in 2 Peer 3:18.

“...you mus grow in he grace and knowledge o our Lord and Savior Jesus Chris.”–2 Peer 3:18 (NLT)

As you lead your group, his desire o know Chris wih he whole o our lives, mus always remain he ocus. And or hose in yourgroup who long o know Jesus, he would exend a simple inviaion: Follow me.

THE JESUS MODEL

The nex day Jesus decided o go o Galilee. He ound Philip and said o him, “Come, ollow me.” – John 1:43 (NLT)

Read his verse careully. Think abou he people in your group. Subsiue heir home own or Galilee, and heir names or Philip.Chris is offering he very inviaion o hem he offered o Philip! He wans us o ollow him. Jesus is calling us all o discipleship.

FOLLOW ME

STUDY INTRODUCTION

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This sudy is designed o help answer Jesus’ call: “Come, ollow me.” However, i is imporan o remember ha discipleship is noa sudy o be compleed. Discipleship is a way a lie. I is he resul o wholly surrendering our lives o Jesus, ollowing him everymomen o every day.

Over he nex 14 weeks his is an imporan perspecive o keep in mind. The goal o discipleship is no gaining more inormaion,he goal is lie ransormaion.

Laer, Jesus sa on he Moun o Olives across he valley rom he Temple. Peer, James, John, and Andrew came o him privaelyand asked him, “Tell us, when will all his happen? Wha sign will show us ha hese hings are abou o be ulfilled?”

– Mark 13:3-4 (NLT)

Many imes Jesus would each in a public seting, and hen pull away wih his disciples and have a privae discussion. These discus-sions would involve he disciples and Jesus asking quesions o each oher. I was hrough hese discussions ha he disciples ofengained insighs missed by he crowd.

This was he Jesus model o discipleship. A small group, gahering ogeher around he Word o God, asking and answering quesions.

I is he model we use or his discipleship sudy. A small group, sudying he Bible ogeher, asking and answering quesions. I youhave never done his beore ge ready or a lie changing experience. There is nohing more powerul, han siting down wih ohersand sudying he scripures oher people.

HOW TO USE THIS MATERIAL

Now an angel o he Lord said o Philip, “Rise and go oward he souh o he road ha goes down rom Jerusalem o Gaza.” This isa deser place. And he rose and wen. And here was an Ehiopian, a eunuch, a cour official o Candace, queen o he Ehiopians,who was in charge o all her reasure. He had come o Jerusalem o worship and was reurning, seaed in his chario, and he wasreading he prophe Isaiah. And he Spiri said o Philip, “Go over and join his chario.” So Philip ran o him and heard him readingIsaiah he prophe and asked, “Do you undersand wha you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?”And he invied Philip o come up and si wih him. –Acs 8:26-31 (ESV)

For many no being able o read and undersand he Bible is heir primary obsacle o discipleship. And i is no or lack o desireha hey ail, bu or lack o help. Their rusraion wih undersanding he Word o God is same as he Ehiopian eunuch’s “Howcan I, unless someone guides me?”

I is good o hink o hese sudies in erms o he scene we find pained in Acs chaper 8. A gahering o people who desire oknow Chris. And hey have invied you o si down and help guide he Scripures. To accomplish his we have ound ha here are

some imporan pracices o culivae and avoid as your lead your group.

Faciliaing vs Teaching: For many wha hey know o God is atending a church service and being augh he Bible. While atendinga weekend service is an imporan aspec o spiriual growh, i canno alone lead o rue discipleship. To be a disciple means ha wemus learn o read he Word o God or ourselves, no become dependen on anoher o read and learn he Word o God or us.

To ge he mos ou o his maerial you mus avoid he empaion o become he “eacher” while he oher members o yourgroup become he “learners.” Raher your role will be ha o a guide. One who aciliaes discussion o he Bible wihin your group.This is why each lesson has been sripped down o wo basic componens: Scripures o read and quesions o ask.

On each lesson here is a sidebar o Scripure wih addiional quesions. This sidebar has been designed o help draw more insighou o he main passage you will be sudying. How you use his sidebar is ofen driven by he direcion o your groups’s conversaion.Our hope is ha each sudy would be led by he Holy Spiri. And ha he would direc you encourage conversaion wihin he group.

Suppor Maerial: In his Leader’s Guide we have provided you wih wo resources or each lesson. Firs, each lesson will sar wiha shor devoional. This devoional is mean o sir up your hear concerning he lesson your group will sudy. Included wih hisdevoional is a suggesed prayer or you o ask God’s leading as your groups mees ogeher.

Second, each lesson comes wih a Lesson Insigh page. This page provides you wih some Biblical and hisorical conex o hepassage ha you will be sudying. These insighs are provided o help as you aciliae discussion, hey are no mean o be used aseaching poins or he sudy.

Righ vs Wrong Answers: For some in your group, being asked direcly “Wha do you hink his verse means?” may be a new andinimidaing experience. I is imporan hen, o develop a culure wihin your group where giving hones answers is welcomed.

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Your aim as he aciliaor o your group is no o ge someone o give he righ answer, bu o encourage hem o give an honesanswer. Someimes knowing ha hey don’ know can be one o he mos powerul insighs ha a group member can come o.

Less is More: For Philip discipleship ook place a an inimae level: one-on-one. One o he hings a leader will figh agains is hehough ha more people in your group means ha i is more successul. However i you are rying o culivae a seting o groupparicipaion where quesions are asked and answered hen smaller is beter.

We have ound ha an ideal size or a group is anywhere rom 3 o 8 people. In his group size real relaionships can be ormed asyou guide your group hrough he sudy o God’s Word.

Time Managemen: Ofen, discussion based Bible sudies can become rusraing i hey wander off opic and spend o much imechasing down rabbi rails. I is a good goal o se an hour ime limi or your Bible sudy. This gives you some accounabiliy as heleader o keep he discussion on rack. And i helps ensure ha in 14 weeks you will have given your group a solid oundaion orollowing Chris.

Preparaion: The bes hing you can do as a leader is o spend ime prior o he sudy reading he passages o scripure you willbe sudying. This will help you lead he discussion and know when o reerence he he scripures in he side bar o he lesson. I isalso a good idea o remind your group each week o do he assigned reading prior o he ollowing week’s sudy.

Translaions: The Bible is primarily writen in wo languages Hebrew (The Old Tesamen) and Greek (The New Tesamen). Be-cause o he naure o hese wo languages here is no perec ranslaion o he Bible ino english. I is or his reason ha you willfind many differen ranslaions o he Bible. Some o hem will ocus on word or word ranslaion (The English Sandard Version)

while ohers will ocus on hough or hough ranslaion (The New Living Translaion). Ohers sill, atemp o hread he needlebeween hese wo approaches (The New Inernaional Version).

One o he exciing hings ha can happen in your sudy is hearing he same Bible verses in differen ranslaions. Ofen hearingdifferen ranslaions can broaden your undersanding o a verse, or spark meaningul discussion abou wha a verse ruly means.Mos imporanly i is good o remember as a leader ha you are no rying o direc hose in your group o find a perec ransla-ion, bu o discovering he God behind he pages o scripure.

Expecaions: As you go hrough hese sudies our hope is 3 hings would be accomplished. Firs, your group would come o un-dersand wha a disciple is and why discipleship is so imporan. Second, hey would become anchored in he Bible, undersandinghe big sory o God. And hird, hrough he sudy o scripure hey would begin o more ully live heir lives or God, encouragingohers o do he same.

We have ound ha i is good a he beginning o your sudy o le group members know ha ohers will wan o ake he same journey ha hey are aking. Thus we like o challenge members up ron o be praying abou saring a group o heir own oncehey have compleed his sudy wih you.

HOW TO START A GROUP

As Jesus was geting ino he boa, he man who had been demon possessed begged o go wih him. Bu Jesus said, “No, go homeo your amily, and ell hem everyhing he Lord has done or you and how merciul he has been.” So he man sared off o visihe Ten Towns o ha region and began o proclaim he grea hings Jesus had done or him; and everyone was amazed a wha heold hem. –Mark 5:18-20 (NLT)

In his sory Jesus had jus healed a demoniac. Afer his grea miracle he man asked Jesus i he could now leave his home and ol-low him. Bu Jesus insruced he man o insead go home o he people he already knew and alk o hem abou Jesus.

This is a grea model or saring a discipleship group. I you already have relaionships wih ohers who desire o know Jesus go ohem and ask i hey would like o sar a group wih you. This can be a spouse, coworker, riend, or ellow suden. God wans uso grow where we have been planed, and so i is good o look around and ask “who has God already placed in my lie o sar hissudy wih?”

As you do his see i he people you invie have a riend, amily member or coworker ha hey would like o invie. We have oundha he bes groups orm organically. Building o he relaionships ha God has already esablished in our lives.

Once you have ound a group o 3-8 people who would like o mee wih you, pick a ime and a place o mee. Ofen he more in-ormal he place he beter. Try a coffee shop, your living room or a riend’s house. Then mee a he same ime each week. Meeinga a consisen ime and locaion will help ensure ha your group says ogeher over he nex 14 weeks.

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DISCIPLESHIP FOUNDATIONS

WEEK 1

Wha is a disciple? Mathew 16

WEEK 2

The disciple and church: Acs 2

WEEK 3

Discipleship and he Bible: Psalm 119

UNDERSTANDING THE OLD TESTAMENT

WEEK 4

Creaion & he all: Genesis 1-3

WEEK 5

God’s covenan wih Abraham: Genesis 12 & 15

WEEK 6

The exodus & passover: Exodus 3, 11-12

WEEK 7

God’s covenan wih Moses & he law: Exodus 19-20

WEEK 8

Sacrifice & he emple: Leviicus 16 & 1 Kings 9

WEEK 9

The kingdom o God: 2 Samuel 7 & Ezekiel 37

WEEK 10

The exile & resoraion: 2 Kings 17, Ezekiel 36 & Jeremiah 31

UNDERSTANDING THE NEW TESTAMENT

WEEK 11

Jesus he messiah: Mathew 1

WEEK 12

The grea commission & he Holy Spiri: Mathew 26 & John 16

WEEK 13

The early church & global good news: Acs 2 & 15

WEEK 14

The end o he sory: Revelaion 21-22

FOLLOW ME

STUDY OVERVIEW



DEVOTIONAL

Discipleship can be veiwed as a process, wih hree phases: Come and see, come and ollow, come and die. Through his processJesus will ask us o coninually give our lives away unil Chris alone is our lie.

Come and see

Jesus looked around and saw hem ollowing. “Wha do you wan?” he asked hem. They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”),“where are you saying?” “Come and see,” he said. – John 1:38-39

Jesus never demands, he always invies. This is how discipleship begins. Jesus inviing hose who are curious o ake a closer look.Many who ake his closer look will have heir lives orever changed.

Come and follow

One day as Jesus was walking along he shore o he Sea o Galilee, he saw wo brohers—Simon, also called Peer, and Andrew—hrowing a ne ino he waer, or hey fished or a living. Jesus called ou o hem, “Come, ollow me, and I will show you how o fishor people!” And hey lef heir nes a once and ollowed him. – Mathew 4:18-20

Discipleship is always abou relaionship no a lis o hings o do. And so Jesus calls us o ollow him. To do his we mus be willingo walk away rom he amiliar lie we have known, and by aih ollow Chris ino he unknown.

Come and die

Then Jesus said o his disciples, “I any o you wans o be my ollower, you mus urn rom your selfish ways, ake up your cross,and ollow me. I you ry o hang on o your lie, you will lose i. Bu i you give up your lie or my sake, you will save i.–Mathew 16:24-25

Ulimaely discipleship means ha we mus become less and less, while Chris mus become more and more. Bu Jesus’ inviaiono give our lives away is no he end, raher i is he beginning! A lie wholly given over o our Saviour Jesus.

PRAYER

Faher, give me grea discernmen as I lead his group. Use his sudy o challenge mysel, and hose I lead, o ully commi our liveso you. For hose who may no know your Son, would his sudy be an opporuniy or hem o come and see who Jesus ruly is. Forhose o us who do know your Son would you use his sudy o deepen our commimen. Help us o ollow Chris by aih and giveour lives aways or His sake, and he sake o His gospel. Amen.

WEEK 1WHAT IS A DISCIPLE?

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WHERE DISCIPLESHIP STARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ MATTHEW 16:13-20

Jesus begins he conversaion wih his disciples by asking a general quesion abou wha ohers seem o believe abou him, buhen makes i very personal when He asks each o his disciples wha hey believe. This is he same quesion we mus personallyanswer i we choose o be a ollower o Jesus, oherwise known as a disciple.

I you declare wih your mouh, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your hear ha God raised him rom he dead, you will be saved.– Romans 10:9 (NIV)

When Peer answered ha Jesus is he Messiah or Chris, he was saing his belie ha Jesus is he ulfillmen o all he Old Tesa-men prophesy o a Savior o come. The Jewish people, o whom all he disciples were, were well-versed in Old Tesamen scrip-ures and knew ha i spoke o a Messiah (meaning anoined one) o come ha would esablish an everlasing kingdom (Jer. 23:5-6).Peer, as well as he oher disciples, believed Jesus o be ha king.

Jesus begins o alk abou he church afer Peer makes his saemen o belie. I is his belie in Jesus ha is o be he rock, oroundaion, o he church. And when he church makes his is oundaion, here will be eernal ramificaions. Wha is done inJesus’ name will be carried ino heaven and aspecs o heaven will be seen here on earh. I’s exciing o hink ha we, as a com-muniy o believers, migh be able o give he world around us, a glimpse o heaven by ollowing Jesus!

This secion o scripure ends wih Jesus ordering his disciples no o ell anyone abou who hey now know Jesus o be. Thissounds like an odd command o Chrisians oday, who undersand heir responsibiliy, laer given by Jesus, o spread he gospeland make disciples o ohers. The disciples are no given Jesus’ reasoning or such a command, which leaves us only o speculaehe raionale. I may be ha Jesus was no ready or he ruh abou him o be widely known because i would hasen he imelineo his deah. Or, He may have been emphasizing he need or people o come o heir own personal convicions abou who He is.

Whaever he exac reason may be, we can conclude ha here is, a imes, uncerainly in ollowing Jesus. We mus rus in whaHe says even when we don’ ully undersand why.

THE CHALLENGE OF DISCIPLESHIP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

READ MATTHEW 16:21-23

In a shor amoun o ime Peer goes rom being praised or his aih, o being old ha wha he is saying sounds saanic! I cer-ainly would have been upseting or Peer o hear ha someone he had grown close o was going o have o suffer and die. Bu healso had a more selfish reason or being upse wih Jesus’ words. The consensus belie o he Jewish people was ha he Messiahwould build and rule an earhly, Jewish kingdom here on earh.

A he ime, he Roman Empire ruled he land, and alhough no all Jewish people believed Jesus o be he Messiah, mos wouldhave welcomed he idea o being able o rule heir own naion again, as hey did in Old Tesamen imes. Peer and he oher

disciples looked orward o Jesus overhrowing he Roman governmen and esablishing his own Jewish empire (Ac 1:6). They alsolooked orward o being given posiions o auhoriy in his new kingdom, which is why hey ofen argued among hemselves, whowould be he greaes.

Mark 9:33-35 Afer hey arrived a Capernaum and setled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, “Wha were you discussing ou onhe road?” Bu hey didn’ answer, because hey had been arguing abou which o hem was he greaes. He sa down, called hewelve disciples over o him, and said, “Whoever wans o be firs mus ake las place and be he servan o everyone else.”

Jesus poins ou o Peer ha he is being moivaed by his concern, or desires, and no by God’s. This will always be one o ourbigges empaions when ollowing Jesus; o be more concerned wih wha we wan raher han wha God wans. We mus con-sanly guard ourselves by examining our moives when we come o God. For example, when we pray, is i o discover God’s will, oro will him o do whaever we hink bes? When we read His word, do we sudy i or he sake o knowing Him more and pursuing

WEEK 1

LESSON INSIGHTS

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Him in relaionship, or do we look or i o reinorce our preconceived houghs abou wha God is like or should do. We musalways remember ha God’s purpose is o ransorm us ino His image, no be persuaded o become more like ours.

And he Lord—who is he Spiri—makes us more and more like him as we are changed ino his glorious image.– 2 Corinhians 3:18 (NLT)

THE CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ MATTHEW 16:24-28

Jesus says o his disciples ha whoever wans o ollow Him mus deny hemselves and ake up heir cross. To deny ourselves is obatle our own selfishness. I is o view God and his will as being more imporan han anyhing else in our lives. Jesus had madehis poin o his disciples several chapers earlier in Mathew.

Whoever loves aher or moher more han me is no worhy o me, and whoever loves son or daugher more han me is no worhyo me. – Mathew 10:37 (ESV)

Jesus speaks o he closes relaionships we may have and declares ha our relaionship wih Him mus be more imporan haneven hese.

When Jesus speaks o his disciples abou aking up a cross, hey would have immediaely recognized he imagery. During ha imecrucifixion was he wors orm o punishmen infliced by he Roman Empire and was normally reserved or he wors o criminals.The Prisoners were made o carry he cross ha hey would be hanged on, o he place o execuion (Jn. 19:17). The cross was a

symbol o orure and deah, and so Jesus is lierally elling his disciples ha heir commimen o him mus be so srong ha heywould even be willing o suffer and die or his sake.

To his you were called, because Chris suffered or you, leaving you an example, ha you should ollow in his seps.– 1 Peer 2:21 (NIV)

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WHERE DISCIPLESHIP STARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ MATTHEW 16:13-20

Wha is he key quesion we mus answer in order o become a disciple?

How would you answer his quesion? How did Peer answer his quesion, and wha doyou hink his answer means?

Wha connecion does Jesus draw beween Peer’s answer and he church, and why?

Wha does Verse 20 each us abou he uncerainy o ollowing Jesus?

THE CHALLENGE OF DISCIPLESHIP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


Afer Peer’s declaraion, wha does Jesus say mus happen o Him?

Why would Jesus say ha He “must go o Jerusalem and suffer” and ha He “must bekilled”?

Why does Peer sruggle wih wha Jesus says?

THE CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ MATTHEW 16:24-28

In Verse 24 wha does Jesus say is required o ollow him?

Wha do you hink He means by hese hree hings?

In Verse 25, wha is he warning and promise atached o ollowing Chris?

A RIGHT ANSWER DEMANDS ARIGHT RESPONSE

Mathew 7:21-23

Wha do you hink he difference isbeween knowing abou Jesus andacually knowing Him?

AS JESUS FOLLOWED THE

FATHER, WE MUSTFOLLOW HIM

Mathew 26:36-46

Wha was Jesus sruggling wih inhe Garden o Gehsemane? Wha

was he conclusion He came o as aresul o his sruggle?

THE COST OF THE CALLMathew 10:34-39

Wha is i ha you value mos inlie? Would you be willing o giveaway his person, pursui orpleasure in order o ollow Chris?

FOR NEXT TIME

Read Acs 2 and 1 Corinhians12:12-27. Consider wha role hechurch plays in he discipleshipprocess.

PART 1: WHAT IS A DISCIPLE?

MATTHEW 16:13-28



DEVOTIONAL

In Acs 2:42 he word ranslaed “ellowship” is he Greek word “koinonia.”

The srengh o his word’s meaning is probably seen bes by he way he word was used in New Tesamen imes. Siamese winsborn in he ancien world were said o have koinonia in blood, or i one died he oher would die oo. In he same way, our ellow-ship wih one anoher is o be o his qualiy: wha happens o one will happen o he oher. Perhaps he bes way o undersandhe word koinonia is he phrase: shared lie.

From his perspecive i is ineresing ha koinonia is ofen ranslaed: Conribuion, Paricipaion, Sharing; Romans 15:26 “conribuion (koinonia) or he poor”, 2 Corinhians 8:4 “paricipaion (koinonia) in he suppor o he sains”, 2 Corinhians 9:13 “conribu-ion (koinonia) o hem and o all” Hebrews 13:16 “do no neglec doing good and sharing (koinonia).” As you hink abou havingellowship wih ohers, do you hink in erms o conribuing, paricipaing, and sharing in heir lie?

How does his shape your undersanding o biblical ellowship? Why do you hink Bible sudy, prayer and communion are imporano genuine koinonia? In wha ways can you help culivae rue ellowship in your group?

PRAYER

Faher would you, by he power o your Holy Spiri, bring abou rue ellowship in his group. Help us o share lie wih one anohero such an exen ha wha happens o one happens o all. Your word eaches ha all believers share lie ogeher in he Body oChris, he church. Help his ruh o be refleced in his group. Would we become one in Jesus’ name. Amen.

WEEK 2THE DISCIPLE & CHURCH

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WHERE THE CHURCH STARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ ACTS 2:36-40

Afer he disciples receive he Holy Spiri during he esival o Penecos, Peer is emboldened o share he message o Jesus wihhe crowd ha had gahered. Wha is unique abou his sermon is ha over hal o i is simply quoing Old Tesamen scripure!This is a grea lesson or us: he only hing ha is ruly powerul enough o ransorm our lives is God and his word. The crowd haresponded, was being conviced by scripure.

For he word o God is living and powerul, and sharper han any wo-edged sword, piercing even o he division o soul and spiri,and o joins and marrow, and is a discerner o he houghs and inens o he hear.– Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)

When he people asked Peer wha hey should do as a resul o heir convicion, Peer responded wih hree hings: Repen, bebapized and receive he Holy Spiri. Today, i someone asked us his same quesion, we may respond a litle differenly, bu heprinciples ound in Peer’s answer should remain he same.

To repen, lierally means o urn away rom somehing and begin raveling in he opposie direcion. People a he ime were amiliar wih he word (Lk 3:3, Lk 13:5) and undersood i o mean a radical change in a person’s lie direcion. I someone desires o be aollower o Jesus i means ha hey mus recognize ha heir lie has been oriened around selfish and sinul pursuis and chooseo redirec heir lie owards God’s will.

Bapism is an ouward expression o a person’s repenan hear, by publicly declaring a aih in Jesus as savior and a desire oollow Him. Salvaion is no a resul o he ac isel, bu insead, a resul o he symbolism ound in he ac; ha Jesus died orour sins, was buried in a grave, and hen conquered deah by raising o new lie (Rom 6:3-4). For he firs cenury church, bapismwas also a person’s iniiaion ino he church by ideniying hemselves o a new spiriual amily. This was ofen imes a dangerous

choice o make because o he persecuion ha he early church aced.

Peer also menions he Holy Spiri because i is vial o he lie o a disciple. Once we repen, by giving our lie o Chris, i isGod’s spiri wihin us ha reveals his will (1 Cor. 2:10-11) and begins o ransorm us ino his likeness (2 Cor. 3:18).

THE DEFINING ASPECTS OF THE CHURCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

READ ACTS 2:41-42

The early church shared an exreme bond o ellowship. I was no in he orm o church barbecues or small alk beore and afera worship service. Their ellowship was a deep commimen o he church amily ha moivaed hem o share lie wih each oherand mee one anoher’s needs. This ellowship seemed o be, no only a resul o ime spen wih one anoher, bu also because owha hey purposed o do when ogeher: sudy God’s word, celebrae communion and pray.

People in he firs church didn’ have he luxury o sudying Jesus’ lie and eachings by reading New Tesamen scripure, like wedo oday. For his reason, he aposle’s eaching was essenial o he spiriual growh o he group. Because hey had been wihJesus and heard his words, as well as winessed he hings ha he did, hey could pass on o he oher believers many o he hingsha we now read in our bibles oday. During many o heir gaherings, hey would likely recie Old Tesamen scripure and allowhe Aposles o explain how Jesus became he ulfillmen o i.

The early Chrisians ofen ae meals ogeher as well as ook communion. In ac, communion was many imes, a par o he meal, jus as Jesus made i a par o he Passover meal when He insiued he pracice (M. 26:26-28). The bread represens Jesus’ bodyha He sacrificed and he wine, he blood He shed or he orgiveness o sins. By aking communion as a amily o believers, weare reminded ha Jesus’ sacrifice is he oundaion ha our aih ress upon.

WEEK 2

LESSON INSIGHTS

11



Prayer is a means or Chrisians o have inimae communicaion wih God. This no only means peiioning, bu also responding.As he early church would sudy God’s word, be reminded o his sacrifice hrough communion, i only made sense or hem o henrespond o God hrough prayer.

Devoe yourselves o prayer, being wachul and hankul.– Colossians 4:2 (NIV)

THE IMPACT OF THE CHURCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

READ ACTS 2:43-47

Living a Chrisian lie is never supposed o be lived in isolaion, bu insead, in he conex o communiy. I is in he church communiy ha a disciple should be encouraged o ollow Chris (Heb. 10:24-25), be held accounable (Gal. 6:1), have his/her needs akencare o (1 Jn. 3:17) and have he opporuniy o show love o ohers (Jn. 13:34). The church is an essenial par o he disciple’s lie.

Alhough he firs church was filled wih differen personaliies, background and social sauses, here was such a uniy among hemha hey all prioriized ollowing God and loving one anoher, as heir highes goal (Jn. 17:20-23). This led hem o do some exremehings, like selling heir possessions, or he good o heir spiriual amily. This way o selfless living would have been as radically dieren in heir culure as i is or us, in ours. There would have been somehing so inriguing abou he firs group o believers hai caused ohers o be atraced o hem, adding o he number o people ha were being saved.

12



WHERE THE CHURCH STARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ ACTS 2:36-40

Why do you hink Peer’s preaching deeply conviced he firs convers?

Wha was heir quesion or Peer? I you were Peer would you have answered hesame way?

In Verse 38, wha are he hree hings Peer says mus happen o be a par o hechurch?

THE DEFINING ASPECTS OF THE CHURCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ ACTS 2:41-42

The ellowship o he firs church cenered on hree hings: The word o God,communion and prayer. This raises hree imporan quesions:

Why is he bible so imporan o he disciple?

Why is communion so imporan o he disciple?

Why is prayer so imporan o he disciple?

THE IMPACT OF THE CHURCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ ACTS 2:43-47

How does his descripion o he early church differ rom much o wha we see oday?

Wha do you hink would have lead hem o live his way?

As he church lived his way, wha affec do you hink i had on he surrounding world?

THE KINGDOM IS NEARMathew 3:1-2, 11-12

Wha is similar in John he Bapis’s

and Peer’s messages? Wha is hekey difference? Wha does his ellus abou he naure o he church?

LIFE IS ALL ABOUT JESUSColossians 1:15-20

How does his passage shape yourundersanding o who Chris rulyis? In ligh o his, shouldn’ every-hing in church ocus upon Him?

THE IMPACT OF LOVEJohn 13:34-35

Wha is i, more han anyhing else,ha will help he world around us

and make us known as disciples oChris?

FOR NEXT TIME

Read Psalm 119. Consider wharole he word o God plays in hediscipleship process.

PART 2: THE DISCIPLE & CHURCH

ACTS 2:36-47



DEVOTIONAL

“In he beginning was he Word, and he Word was wih God, and he Word was God.” – John 1:1 (ESV)

I you can, se aside all o your Biblical raining and look a his verse wih resh eyes. Wha word jumps ou as being unusual, orperhaps ou o place? For mos he word is “Word.” Raher han rying o figure ou all o he heological implicaions o “he Word”les ake a more sraighorward approach.

Wha is he purpose o a word? Yes, o communicae. Ofen when sudying scripure we can lose he ores or he rees. I wedidn’ know any beter we would come o he conclusion ha John 1:1 is elling us ha he naure o God is o speak, o communi-cae his houghs o us. And we would be righ.

God desires o be known, he whole Bible suppors his idea. And he ruh is no ha God spoke, bu ha he speaks. Jesus ishe word. As you sudy he Bible remember he God who wroe i desires o be known personally. The aim o his word is alwaysrelaionship.

PRAYER

Faher would you, by he power o your Holy Spiri, bring abou rue ellowship in his group. Help us o share lie wih one anohero such an exen ha wha happens o one happens o all. Your word eaches ha all believers share lie ogeher in he Body oChris, he church. Help his ruh o be refleced in his group. Would we become one in Jesus’ name. Amen.

WEEK 3THE DISCIPLE & THE BIBLE

14



THE IMPORTANCE OF GOD’S WORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ PSALM 119:1-9

I is imporan o consider wha he Bible means when i says ha we will be blessed by ollowing God. We may ofen hope hahis migh ranslae ino God graning all o our wishes, sor o like a magic genie. Bu wih any amoun o ime ollowing Chris, orreading he Bible, we begin o undersand ha his senimen is no accurae (Jms. 1:12). Insead, ollowing God’s word blesses uswih such hings as, joy (Prov. 10:28), srengh (Isa. 40:29), provision (Phi. 4:19), and peace.

“I have old you hese hings, so ha in me you may have peace. In his world you will have rouble. Bu ake hear! I have overcomehe world.” – John 16:33

I is imporan ha when we sudy God’s word, we are moivaed by our hear or him. I we are no careul, we can easily be mo-ivaed by oher hings. A imes, we may be driven by guil, or we may be searching or poins o win an argumen. Maybe we’rehoping o find a heme or a sermon or Bible sudy. However, God spoke and recorded his words or us or one reason: ha wemay know and pursue a relaionship wih Him. For his reason, in his word, He describes himsel o us, He ells o how he has re-sored relaionship wih us afer he all, and how we are able o be more like him by ollowing his insrucions. We sudy he Biblewih he righ moivaion when our hear’s desire is o grow closer o Him.

When we don’ ollow God’s word we live oolishly by chasing he wrong prioriies in lie. We may find ourselves desiring creaedhings raher han he creaor Himsel (Ex. 20:3), which will evenually lead o our shame when Jesus reurns (Jn. 6:40). Like a bossreurning o ell us ha we did a job compleely wrong, how embarrassing would i be o hear ha we compleely misundersoodhe purpose o our lie?

THE PERSONAL NATURE OF GOD’S WORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

READ PSALM 119:10-12

When we orge ha he hear o he Bible is o allow us o grow in relaionship wih God, we easily sray rom His commands. Wealso see his principle play ou in a paren-child relaionship. I a child doesn’ undersand ha he paren has given hem a rule oollow because hey love hem and wan o care or hem, he child has less o a desire o ollow he rule. God, as a heavenly ahe(1 Jn. 3:1), gives us commands o ollow as a resul o his love or us, no because o his auhoriy over us.

God’s word is no mean o simply be read or heard, bu insead, we should cherish i. We should reflec on hem ofen, so ha ourcharacer may be molded o become more like his. The idea o soring God’s word in our hear means ha i should always be inour houghs, allowing us o recall i and reflec on i (Deu. 6:6-9).

God’s word may be difficul o undersand a imes (1 Pe. 3:16), or we obviously do no have he same wisdom as God. However,we are no lef o undersand i on our own. God has given us his Spiri o each us (Jn. 14:26). Thereore, we should never read he

Bible by simply relying on our own undersanding, bu hrough prayer, we should consanly ask he Spiri o reveal he meaning oscripure o us.

Now we have received no he spiri o he world, bu he Spiri who is rom God, ha we migh undersand he hings reely givenus by God. –1 Corinhians 2:12 (ESV)

THE WAY TO APPROACH GOD’S WORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ PSALM 119:13-16

I is imporan ha we sudy all o God’s word because when we only read porions o i, we miss ou on differen aspecs o God’scharacer. I migh be appealing o be selecive wih scripure, only reading he pars ha we are mos comorable wih. However

WEEK 3

LESSON INSIGHTS

15



whenever we all ino his rap, he sudy o God’s word becomes a selfish pursui. Our moivaion o read scripure becomes onlyo find how we may benefi rom God’s word, raher han o know Him more compleely. The more undersanding we have o God,he more like him we are able o become (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

To love God and desire o ollow him requires us o obey his word (Jn. 14:15). We mus never neglec, or orge i as he Psalmissays. Whenever we abandon he sudy o scripure we sop growing closer in relaionship o God.

I you are a believer and have never spen much ime reading God’s word on your own, pray ha God would develop a hunger orhis word wihin you!

Babies who have jus been born wan milk very much. In he same way, you should wan God’s word. Tha is like good milk. I willmake you grow up so ha you will hen be ully saved. You should wan God’s word i you have already ased and know ha heLord is good.– 1 Peer 2:2-3 (WE)

16



THE IMPORTANCE OF GOD’S WORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ PSALM 119:1-9

In Verse 1, wha does God promise o hose who ollow His word? Wha do you hink hispromise looks like in our lives?

In Verse 2, wha role does he hear play in reading God’s word?

In Verses 3-9, why does he psalmis say ha obedience o God’s word is so imporan?

THE PERSONAL NATURE OF GOD’S WORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ PSALM 119:10-12

Wha does Verse 10 ell us abou he purpose o reading God’s word?

Wha does Verse 11 mean when i says, “I have hidden your word in my hear”? (SomeBibles may ranslae his verse differenly.)

Read Verse 12. How do you hink God eaches us abou His word?

THE WAY TO APPROACH GOD’S WORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ PSALM 119:13-16

We end o read only he pars o he Bible wih which we are mos comorable. Whydoes he psalmis sress he idea o “all” in Verse 13?

In verse 14, why do you hink God’s word is described as being so valuable?

Verse 15 uses wo words o describe our approach o God’s word. How are hese wowords differen rom simply reading?

Why does he psalmis promise no o “orge” or “neglec“ God’s word in Verse 16?

JESUS’ REVELATIONRevelaion 1:1-3

Even hough hey were writen in

very differen ime periods, whasimilariies do you see beweenRevelaion 1:3 and Psalm 119: 1-3?

GOD’S WORD SHOULD ALWAYSLEAD US PERSONALLY TO GOD

HIMSELFI Corinhians 2:9-14

Do you hink i is possible oundersand he Bible apar romhe Holy Spiri’s leading?

APPROACHING GOD’S WORDWITH RESPECT

2 Timohy 3:15-17

Wha do hese verse each usabou he imporance o God’sword in our lives?

FOR NEXT TIME

Read Genesis 1-3. Consider howGod begins His sory and whawen wrong.

PART 3: DISCIPLESHIP & THE BIBLE

PSALM 119



DEVOTIONAL

Our origin deermines our desiny. This is why so many in his world are so los and conused. Unil we ge a handle on how he bigsory o God began, i is impossible o make sense o our lives oday.

I is or his reason ha Genesis 1-3 is so imporan. I answers answers all o he big quesions o lie. How did we ge here? CRE-

ATION. Wha has gone wrong wih he world? THE FALL. Can his world be fixed? REDEMPTION. And mos imporanly Genesisceners all o hese quesions and answers on he mos imporan characer in he bible, God: Our Faher in heaven, His Son JesusChris, and The Holy Spiri.

As you read hrough Genesis 1-3 hink hrough how hese chapers define he world you live in oday, and he world you will live in,in he lie o come. As members in your group begin o open up abou he challenges hey ace and heir hopes or he uure, looko he beginning o God’s sory o help shape hese discussions.

PRAYER

Faher you are he eernal God. Beore anyhing else was, you were. Use oday’s sudy o remind he group o your big sory o re-dempion. Help his group come o know you as heir creaor and redeemer. For hose sruggling wih heir sin, reveal o hem hahe answer is always Jesus and his cross. A promise firs made known o us in Genesis. Amen.

WEEK 4CREATION & THE FALL

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IN THE BEGINNING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ GENESIS 1:1

The enire Bible is God’s sory o his redempive plan o resore relaionship wih mankind. He is he main characer o he sory.We also have he opporuniy o be a par o his sory, as he has invied us ino i (Jn. 1:12). However, we mus always rememberha he plo develops he way i does because o his purposes, no ours (Eph. 1:11).

The Bible is ofen reerred o as an “insrucion manual or lie,” which is rue in he sense ha God and his word are able o guideus hrough all o lie’s circumsances (Prov. 3:5-6). Bu i ha is all we see i as, we may ge in he habi o only searching scripurewhen we have a problem o solve or need help wih a siuaion we ace. When we sudy he Bible or his reason, we begin o reaourselves as he main characer because we come o God’s word wih our own purposes in mind. In essence, we begin o look orwha we wan he Bible o say raher han jus le God speak o us hrough his words.

God is firs revealed o us as Creaor, which by deaul, makes us his creaion. This Creaor-creaion relaionship is good o remember because i always places us in a posiion o honor Him. As a creaion, we will always find our purpose or being in our Creaor.

IT WAS GOOD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

READ GENESIS 1:26-31

There is one God ha is represened by hree persons: God, Jesus and he Holy Spiri (2 Cor. 13:14). Chrisians reer o his phe-nomenon as he riniy. I’s a difficul concep o wrap our minds around, and one ha we will explore a litle laer in he sudy, buwe see he hree persons presen in he creaion accoun. In verse one, God creaed. In verse wo, he Spiri o God hovered overhe waers. In John 1:1-14, which is a poeic reelling o he creaion sory, we learn ha Jesus was involved in creaion as well.

God creaed human beings o be like him. We know ha we are no exacly like him because we are his creaion, no o menion

he ac, ha we obviously do no have his wisdom or undersanding. Bu here is somehing wihin us ha resembles him. I maybe our conscience, or our abiliy o logically reason. I may be because we have been given dominion over land and animals. Wha-ever he image o God wihin us may be, i seems ha we are mean o be a reflecion o him in his creaion.

When God made creaion He creaed i he way he purposed. When He declares ha i was good, we can assume ha i was per-ec! A couple chapers laer, his creaion becomes corruped by sin and everyhing ha ollows in he Bible will be God’s plan oresore he perecion o his creaion (Acs 3:21); a world wihou sin, where nohing migh be able o ge in he way o relaionshipbeween us and our creaor.

THE SERPENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ GENESIS 3:1-5

Saan is a liar (Jn. 8:44), bu he is sraegic abou his decei. Wih Eve, he brings ino quesion wha God’s word really says. He

hen wiss he meaning o God’s word in order o appeal o her pride. Saan uses hese same acics when emping Jesus in hewilderness in Mathew 4. The difference was ha Jesus knew God’s words and undersood he meaning behind hem. This under-scores he imporance o sudying he Bible and seeking o undersand God’s hear owards his commands.

SIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

READ GENESIS 3:6-19

When Adam and Eve chose sin over God’s commands, hey atemped o remove Him rom his proper place in heir lives. In heirpride, hey hough ha hey could rule hemselves, as an equal o God. A i’s core, his is wha sin always is; a rebellion againsGod’s proper auhoriy in our lives (Deu. 9:7). I is us choosing o live lie on our erms raher han God’s.

WEEK 4

LESSON INSIGHTS

19



Adam and Eve’s reacion o heir sin probably sounds very amiliar. They el shame and ried o cover up wha hey viewed asdisgraceul. They hid and when hey knew hey had been ound ou, hey made excuses. They even blamed one anoher o ry osave hemselves. When we sin, our guil normally drives us o reac in a similar ashion. Bu, God gives us he opporuniy o con-ess jus as he gave Adam and Eve, even hough he already knows he sin. By admiting our sin we have he opporuniy o resorerelaionship wih God.

He who covers his sins will no prosper, Bu whoever conesses and orsakes hem will have mercy.– Proverbs 28:13 (NKJV)

There are many painul consequences lised or Adam and Eve’s sin. The final, and wors, is ha hey will now die.

For he wages o sin is deah, bu he ree gif o God is eernal lie hrough Chris Jesus our Lord.– Romans 6:23 (NLT)

Immediaely afer sin eners he world and we begin o see i’s devasaing effecs, God pus a plan ino moion ha will evenuallywipe clean he sain ha sin has made on his creaion. I is summarized in verse fifeen. We will always war wih Saan in his worldbu here will come a ime when an offspring rom woman (Jesus) will conquer Saan once and or all (crushing his head), evenhough Saan will inflic some pain upon Him (sriking his heal).

The God o peace will soon crush Saan under your ee. – Romans 16:20 (ESV)

20



IN THE BEGINNING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ GENESIS 1:1

Who is he ocus o Verse 1? Why do you hink his is so imporan o remember whenreading he res o he Bible?

How is God firs revealed o us? Wha does his show us abou our relaionship o Him?

IT WAS GOOD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


Why does God reer o himsel in he plural in Verse 26?

Wha do you hink Verse 27 means when i says we are creaed in God’s image?

Wha does Verse 31 ell us abou God’s original design or our lives?

THE SERPENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

READ GENESIS 3:1-5

Who is he serpen ha Verse 1 alks abou?

In verses 1-5, how does he serpen go abou emping Eve? Does he sill work he sameway in our lives?

SIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

READ GENESIS 3:6-19

Why were Adam and Eve’s acions so offensive o God? Wha is sin?

In Verses 7-12, how o Adam and Eve respond o sin?

In Verses 14-19, wha are some o he consequences o sin?

Wha do you hink Verse 15 is abou?

IN THE BEGINNING: JESUSJohn 1:1-5

How does John describe he cre-

aion accoun?

TO BE LIKE GOD

1 John 3:2-3

Wha does John say will happeno us when Chris reurns? Howmigh his be a resoraion o whaGenesis 1:31 described as “good.”

OUR ENEMY

1 Peer 5:8-9Wha do hese verses say abouour enemy and how we are o fighagains him? Wha are some o hecommon ways we make ourselvesvulnerable o he enemy’s atacks?

ADAM AND CHRIST

Romans 5:12-15

Wha was he effec o Adam’s sin

upon he world? Wha was he e-ec o Chris’s deah?

SATAN CRUSHEDRomans 16:20

FOR NEXT TIME

Read Genesis 12-15. We will look aGod’s covenan wih Abraham.

PART 4: CREATION & THE FALL

GENESIS 1-3



DEVOTIONAL

“And wihou aih i is impossible o please God”– Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

This is one o he mos srongly worded passages in he bible concerning aih. And ye defining aih can be a challenge. In Johnchaper 3 Jesus says: “...as Moses lifed up he bronze snake on a pole in he wilderness, so he Son o Man mus be lifed up, soha everyone who believes in him will have eernal lie.” –John 3:14

Now on is surace his saemen is a bi puzzling, wha wih he whole snake on a sick hing. Bu Jesus is reerring o a passagein Numbers 21 where God’s people were ired o manna, God’s bread rom heaven, hey waned mea. God responded by sendingfiery serpens ino he camp. And hose who were bi sared o die. Bu God, ou o compassion, said o Moses in verse 8: “Make areplica o a poisonous snake and atach i o a pole. All who are biten will live i hey simply look a i!” – Numbers 21:8

Look and you will be saved! Jesus using his as an example says “believe and you will be saved.” Here, Chris shows us ha lookingand believing are one and he same. As A.W. Tozer wries “aih is he gaze o he soul upon Chris.” Where you look your ee willollow. Wha you believe will shape your lie.

Perhaps hen, he bes definiion o aih would be: To live your lie, never aking your eyes o Jesus.

This is why he bible calls us in Hebrews 12 “...[Look] o Jesus he auhor and perecer o our aih...” –Hebrews 12:2

PRAYER

Faher in oday’s sudy would we all come o a greaer undersanding ha everyhing in lie is abou your Son. As we discover hegospel in he sory o Abraham help us o fix our eyes on Jesus. For any in his group who’s aih is being esed, help hem o seeha aih is no somehing hey need o muser up. Raher would hey come o see ha aih is a choice hey will make, a choice oocus he gaze o heir sould upon our Savior. Amen.

WEEK 5GOD’S COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM

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ALL THE NATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ GENESIS 12:1-3

Abraham and his amily lived in a pagan ciy and praciced idol worship (Jos 24:2). He likely did no have a aih in God beore Godbegan speaking o him, so i is unlikely ha God chose Abraham because o his meri. This illusraes God’s love or us, even whenwe don’ deserve i.

Bu God showed his grea love or us by sending Chris o die or us while we were sill sinners.– Romans 5:8

In hese firs ew verses o chaper welve, God no only iniiaes a relaionship, bu he also iniiaes wha will become a plan oresore His creaion, which was corruped by sin a he all. His plan is se ino moion by creaing a people or Himsel, which willsoon become he naion o Israel.

As a resul o God’s plan, Abraham’s name will become amous because o his privilege o be he aher o his naion, by which allpeople will evenually be blessed hrough salvaion. From he New Tesamen, we know ha Jesus will evenually come hroughAbraham’s bloodline (Ma. 1:1) and ha as a resul o His sacrifice or our sins, we are able o be par o Abraham’s amily because oour aih in Jesus (Rom 4:13).

A COVENANT OF FAITH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


Abraham was considered o be in righ sanding wih God, or righeous, because he believed wha God had said. This is aih (Heb11:1). Our own righeousness also depends on our aih ha God’s word is rue. I we reuse o believe wha His word says, ha i isonly hrough Jesus’ sacrifice or our sins ha we gain righeousness, we coninue o be in wrong sanding wih God.

Thereore, since we have been made righ in God’s sigh by aih, we have peace wih God because o wha Jesus Chris our Lordhas done or us.– Romans 5:1

The sacrifice involved in he covenan wih Abraham gives us a oreshadowing o wha is o come: he sacrificial sysem God willlaer esablish o deal wih sin, and he evenual sacrifice o Jesus o cover all sin. Because he penaly or sin is deah (Rom 6:23), alie mus always be sacrificed o pay he price o sin.

In Abraham’s culure, covenan agreemens were ofen confirmed by spliting an animal in wo and having boh paries involvedwalk owards one anoher and mee in he middle o he wo halves. This symbolized ha i was each o heir responsibiliies ouphold he covenan beween hem. I hey did no keep heir word, he belie was ha hey would suffer he same ae as hesacrificed animal.

In Abraham’s case, i appears ha God would no le him have any responsibiliy in keeping he covenan. In ac, God saw i fio pu Abraham o sleep in order o assure ha he wouldn’ mess hings up! As he presence o God passed beween he halves,represened by smoke and fire (Ex 19:18), God made himsel ully responsible or he salvaion work ha would come (Heb 6:13-18).

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ABRAHAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ GALATIANS 3:6-9

We normally only hink o he gospel as somehing ound in he New Tesamen. Bu in Galaians, Paul says i is spoken o way backin he ime o Abraham. This is imporan or us o undersand because i clues us ino he ac ha he gospel has been God’s planor sin ever since he all (Gen 3:15).

WEEK 5

LESSON INSIGHTS

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Because he whole Bible poins us o he redempive plan o he gospel, i is imporan as Chrisians ha we be able o explainwha exacly he good news is! The Gospel is he message ha we are all separaed rom God because o our sin and will die asa resul o i (his is acually he bad news). Ye, because o God’s love or us, he sen his Son, Jesus, o die in our place, so ha arelaionship and eernal lie wih Him may be resored (he good news).

i someone asks abou your Chrisian hope, always be ready o explain i.– 1 Peer 3:15

The gospel was preached in advance o Abraham because hrough his covenan people will be drawn back ino relaionship wih

God, all oher people will receive he blessing o salvaion hrough his amily, and i will be God’s work, raher han man’s, ha willulfill he covenan promise.

24



ALL THE NATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ GENESIS 12:1-3

In Verse 1, whose idea is i or Abram o leave? Why migh his be imporan?

Wha is he grea naion reerred o in Verse 2? Wha do you hink God means when Hesays ha He will make Abram’s name grea/amous?

In Verse 3, how will all he world be blessed hrough Abram and his amily? Wha do youhink his promise has o do wih Jesus?

A COVENANT OF FAITH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


Verse 6 uses wo key words: “righeousness” and “aih/believe.” Wha do hese wordsmean, and why are hey so imporan?

Why do you hink God uses sacrifice o esablish His covenan wih Abraham?

Verse 12 says ha Abraham was asleep during his momen. Wha do you hink his saysabou whose responsibiliy i was o make his promise come o pass?

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ABRAHAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

READ GALATIANS 3:6-9

Verse 8 speaks o he gospel/Good News. In your own words, wha is he gospel?

I he Gospel is he good news, wha is he bad news?

In wha way was God’s covenan wih Abraham he gospel preached in advance?

FATHER ABRAHAMRomans 4:13

Wha does his verse say abouGod’s promise in Genesis 12?

SONS OF ABRAHAM

Mathew 3:7-9

Wha does his passage eachabou wha God ruly desires o Hischildren?

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO

JESUSJohn 3:16-17

In hese verses, wha reminds youo God’s covenan wih Abraham?

FOR NEXT TIME

Read Exodus 3, 11-12. We will looka he exodus, and God’s covenanwih Moses.

PART 5: GOD’S COVENANT WITH

ABRAHAM GENESIS 12, 15

FROM THE GARDEN TO ABRAHAM: Paradise was los because o Adam and Eve’s sin. Humaniy became so depraved, God de-sroyed all lie wih a grea flood, excep or Noah and his amily, who God spared hrough a covenan o grace. Bu man’s rebellionconinued a Babel. However, God did no orsake humaniy; His plan was always o redeem. And so, raher han killing hem, He

scatered hem. And rom hese scatered people, He called ou one o make a special covenan. A man named Abram.



DEVOTIONAL

In Exodus 3:14 God ells Moses ha he is “I AM.” All ha God is, is presen o us now. This is imporan. Because or many God isan opporuniy missed in he pas, or an even ye o come in he uure.

Many o us can look a our curren sruggles, and ie hem o our pas. To his very day we bear he weigh o a relaionship weshould have never been in, a paren who negleced us, or a wonderul season o lie we can never go back o. And i we are nocareul we wind up living our lives looking backwards, bu never looking o God.

Bu God does no exis in he pas, and hose who choose o live here will never find Him.

Jus as dangerous is o live our lives in an imaginary uure. We dream up plans and sraegies, ha i hey come rue, will finally al-low us o live he abundan lie. And so our weeks are consumed wih work o make a beter lie, bu we neglec he amily a home.We dream o a day when we could devoe our resources o minisry, bu ocus on filling our bank accouns ill ha day comes. Weimagine a ime when we could ully open our lives o God, ye never find he ime o open our Bibles.

We spend our lives chasing anasy, raher han engaging in realiy. And our enemy is all or a Chrisianiy ha is so caugh up in heuure, ha i makes no acual difference oday.

God is no “I was” or “I will be.” He is “I AM.” God is or you a his very momen! In one o his mos beauiul Psalms, David marvelsa his ruh:

O Lord, you have examined my hear and know everyhing abou me. You know when I si down or sand up. You know my houghseven when I’m ar away. You see me when I ravel and when I res a home. You know everyhing I do. You know wha I am going osay even beore I say i, Lord. You go beore me and ollow me. You place your hand o blessing on my head. Such knowledge is oo

wonderul or me, oo grea or me o undersand! I can never escape rom your Spiri! I can never ge away rom your presence!– Psalm 139:1-7

PRAYER

Faher You are he grea “I AM.” You are beyond ime, beyond space, beyond limis. As we sudy oday in Exodus help us o realizehow infinie you ruly our. May we come o marvel, ha hough you are so vas you wan o know us personally. And you have madea way o do his hrough he deah o your Son, Jesus Chris. For any in his group who are sruggling wih heir pas or anxiousabou heir uure, help o see ha you are or hem here and now. Amen.

WEEK 6THE EXODUS & PASSOVER

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THE CALLING OF MOSES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ EXODUS 3:1-14

The Israelies had been enslaved in Egyp or 400 years by he ime God spoke o Moses rom wihin he burning bush. Afer hecovenan ha God had made Abraham, he Israelies mus have been wondering i God had orgoten hem in he mids o heirseemingly hopeless siuaion. God revealed himsel o Moses as he God o Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in order o connec Himselo he covenan He had made wih His people (Ex. 2:24).

In he Old Tesamen, God would remind His people o His holiness by only allowing hem o approach Him on His erms (Ex. 19:12).When Moses was in he presence o God’s holiness his iniial response was ear and hiding his ace. When we begin o undersandhow holy God is, we become woeully aware o how sinul we are (Isa. 6:5). Our response would likely be similar.

Normally, when someone asks, “Who am I o do somehing,” hey migh anicipae ohers encouraging and assuring hem ha heyare able. Moses may have been a bi disappoined i he had hoped or God o affirm him. Insead, God drew he atenion o Him-sel. Jus as He had done wih Abraham, God indicaed ha His plans would come o ruiion because o His abiliy.

When Moses asks God, “Who are you?” God again responds in a peculiar way. By defining Himsel wih, wha would seem o be anincomplee saemen, God is declaring ha here is nohing ha He can be compared o (Isa. 40:18). There is nohing in creaionha would do jusice in describing he power, characer and holiness o he Creaor.

THE DEATH OF THE FIRST BORN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ EXODUS 11

I is difficul o imagine such a horrific even. We end o hink o Pharaoh as he bad guy o he sory and deserving o punishmenBu i is hard or us o accep ha he oher unsuspecing Egypian amilies would have received he same punishmen. Who

knows i some o hose amilies may have been sympaheic o he Israelies, or open o ollowing God raher han heir king (whowas hough o as deiy)? When we hink o he devasaion o every amily in he land, we begin o sympahize and consider whaGod did as unair. This sory eaches us a couple o atribues abou God ha will always leave us baffled when considering howhey coexis in perec uniy. On he one hand, God is a holy God and canno olerae sin (Psa. 5:4), and His judgmen owards sinis always jus (Psa. 96:13). On he oher hand, He is a compassionae and merciul God (Psa. 86:15).

Righeousness and jusice are he oundaion o hy hrone; seadas love and aihulness go beore hee. – Psalm 89:14 (RSV)

We end o hink o he Israelies as he good guys in he sory, bu because o heir own sin, hey were jus as deserving o God’srigheous judgmen as he Egypians (Ez. 9:15). God was showing mercy o His people and proving Himsel aihul o His promises(Deu. 7:9).

THE FIRST PASSOVER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

READ EXODUS 12:1-13

God’s people were saved rom he plague as a resul o he sacrifice and blood o he lamb. Everyone was sinul in he land and everyone deserved o die, bu he lamb aced as a subsiue or he firs-born males in he amily o hose who chose o believe God.

I’s imporan o undersand ha he Israelies were no saved because hey were beter people. They escaped God’s judgmenbecause hey rused in he sacrifice God had provided and ollowed his crazy plan o paining blood on he doorposs! The bloodno only proved ha here was a sacrifice, bu i is also symbolic o lie. There is nohing ha is more essenial o lie han blood.

WEEK 6

LESSON INSIGHTS

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A he firs Passover, we ge a glimpse o he plan o God o evenually save all His people rom judgmen. Jus as he lamb wassacrificed as a subsiue or he people, Jesus was sacrificed in order o pay he penaly or our sin. We don’ deserve o be shownsuch mercy, bu God has allowed us orgiveness by rusing in His sacrifice.

Chris, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. – 1 Corinhians 5:7 (ESV)

For you know ha God paid a ransom o save you rom he empy lie you inheried rom your ancesors. And he ransom he paidwas no mere gold or silver. I was he precious blood o Chris, he sinless, spoless Lamb o God.– 1 Peer 1:18-19 (NLT)

28



THE CALLING OF MOSES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ EXODUS 3:1-14

Wha sands ou o you abou Verses 5-6? Why would God announce Himsel as “heGod o Abraham, he God o Isaac, and he God o Jacob?”

In Verse 11, Moses asks, “Who am I...?” How do you hink Moses eels abou God’s re-sponse in Verse 12?

In Verse 13, Moses asks, “Who are you?” How does God answer in Verse 14? Wha do youhink God means by his saemen.

THE DEATH OF THE FIRST BORN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

READ EXODUS 11

Wha would your amily look like wihou he firs born males?

Describe wha you hink i would have been like in Egyp when he deah o he firsborn occurred. Wha does i say abou God ha He would do somehing like his?

Who in Egyp deserved o die ha nigh?

THE FIRST PASSOVER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

READ EXODUS 12:1-13

Wha do Verses 12-13 say will cause God’s people o be saved? Wha in hispassage reminds you o Jesus.

Why was blood necessary or God’s people o be saved?

Do you hink i was a difficul or uncomorable decision or he Israelies o spreadblood around he ron o heir houses?

Wha do you hink he eeling was among hose whose amilies were passed over?

BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS, I AMJohn 8:56-59

How could Jesus have been beoreAbraham? Wha did Jesus say hawas so inflammaory ha he Jewsin his passage would wan o killHim?

John 18:4-6

Wha do you hink you would do in

he presence o I AM?

WHO DESERVES TO DIE

Ezekiel 18:4

Wha does his verse each usabou sin?

THE LAMB OF GOD

John 1:29

How does John’s descripionremind us o he Passoversacrifice?

A LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTERIsaiah 53:4-7

Who does God say is guily o sin?Wha does God say is he onlyhing ha can ake away our sin?

FOR NEXT TIME

Read Exodus 19-20. We will looka God’s covenan wih Moses andThe Law.

PART 6: THE EXODUS & PASSOVER

EXODUS 3, 11-12

FROM ABRAHAM TO MOSES: The Book o Genesis coninues he sory o Abraham and his descendans Isaac, Jacob, and Jo-seph, who flee o Egyp because o a grea amine. Afer a generaion in Egyp, he Israelies are orced ino slavery. Their bondageis severe, and reedom seems beyond hope. I hey are o be saved, God mus do somehing specacular. He will use a man named

Moses o keep His promise.



DEVOTIONAL

Rules ofen become wised when we orge he hear behind hem. So i is wih he law o God. The 10 Commandmens are abeauiul revelaion o he hear o God, and his desire or our lie. Take ime and ponder he hear o God ha lies behind each ohe 10 Commandmens.

1) You Shall Have No Oher Gods Before Me: God demands, and is worhy o, our exclusive worship. As Hudson Taylor said “Jesusis eiher Lord o all or no Lord a all.”

2) You Shall No Make For Yourself A Graven Image: The firs commandmen ocuses on he objec o our worship, he secondhe manner o our worship. And here he hear is everyhing. I does no good o worship a alse God ha you have conjured in yourhear while ignoring he rue God who has made you.

3) You Shall No Take he Name of he Lord Your God in Vain: To ake he name o he Lord in vain is o have our words no machour acions. This is hypocrisy. Jesus desires our worship o be whole. Our words and our deeds o be as one.

4) Remember he Sabbah Day, o Keep I Holy: The Sabbah reminds us ha all o lie is abou God. I is his day no ours. Heinsrucs us o observe his day and remember who our lie is rom and or.

5) Honor Your Faher and Your Moher: On earh our paren’s represen God’s auhoriy in our lives. Our atiude and acionsoward hem are ofen a reflecion o our honor and respec oward God.

6) You Shall No Kill: This command reaches ar beyond murder when Jesus equaes murder o anger in Mathew 5:22. God’s planor our lie is ha we love our neighbor and heir is nohing in love ha coerces, manipulaes or ges is way by orce.

7) You Shall No Commi Adulery: Ofen in he Old Tesamen God would equae idolary wih adulery. The applicaion o hiscommand is ar wider han he marriage bed. God desires puriy in all areas o lie: Hear, language and conduc.

8) You shall No Seal: To ruly undersand his commandmen we mus undersand ha God owns everyhing. Thus sealing iswhenever we wihhold anyhing which belongs o God: Worship, affecion, ime, alen, creaiviy, desires, our very lives.

9) You Shall No Bear False Winess Agains Your Neighbor: This commandmen orbids no only perjury bu also bu also slan-der, scandal, idle alk, lies, and deliberae exaggeraions or disorions o he ruh. God canno lie and neiher should his children.

10) You Shall No Cove: This is perhaps he mos revealing o all he commandmens. For i deals wih an atiude o he hear.And whereas a person can do he previous 9 or he wrong reasons, one canno ake a pure hear. And so in his commandmenGod illusraes ha his rue desire is o make us new creaions.

PRAYER

Faher as we sudy your Word help us o always see your hear behind i. For he Bible is no empywords, bu raher your hear revealed o us on he pages o Scripure. For any in his group who viewChrisianiy as a lis o rules o ollow, help hem o undersand ha you desire o ransorm ourhear...our acions will ollow. Amen.

WEEK 7COVENANT WITH MOSES & THE LAW

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THE GOD OF THE COVENANT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ EXODUS 19:1-4

Beore God gave His people he law, He reminded hem o who He is and wha He I like. Firs, He reerred o he amazing hingsHe did in Egyp. The Israelies cerainly would have remembered he devasaing plagues He caused on Egyp and realized Hisimmense power. Second, He invoked images o a rescue, which would have reminded hem o heir reedom and he new lie Hegraned hem by making a way hrough he Red Sea. He hen saed his purpose or doing hose hings as bringing hem o HimselThis was an expression o His love and His desire or relaionship wih His people (1 Jn. 4:10).

The law was never mean o be rules o ollow void o a relaionship wih God. By giving he commandmens, God was revealingHimsel o His people so ha hey migh see His hear and have a greaer undersanding o wha is imporan o Him.

THE TERMS OF THE COVENANT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

READ EXODUS 19:5

God wans His people o ully obey Him because i proves ha we have pu all our rus in Him. Trus is he oundaion o anyloving relaionship. Jus as he Israelies were reminded why hey could rus God, we can rus Him because He is a powerulGod ha wans o rescue us rom a lie enslaved o sin, o a new lie o reedom. He does his because He loves us and desires arelaionship wih us.

“I you love me, you will obey me.”– John 14:15 (WE)

Israel’s relaionship wih God was highly valued by Him (Deu. 7:6). When we read abou he covenan wih Abraham, we saw hecare and blessing ha God desired o be o he naion He would build. He old Abraham ha hey would be His people, which iswhy he would also call hem His possession. He reasures His people so much ha here is nohing ha will keep Him rom ulfill-

ing His promises or providing or hem, as a loving aher would care or His amily.

Bu you, O Lord, are a God merciul and gracious, slow o anger and abounding in seadas love and aihulness.– Psalm 86:15 (ESV)

THE RESULT OF THE COVENANT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

READ EXODUS 19:5-6

The covenan ha God will make wih Moses is a coninuaion o he covenan ha God made wih Abraham. One o he prom-ises ha He made o Abraham was ha all oher naions would evenually be blessed hrough Israel. One way by which blessingwill come hrough hem, will be he birh o he Messiah, whose lineage can be raced back o Abraham (M. 1:1). Bu he naion oIsrael was also mean o be a blessing beore Chris as well. They were expeced o be a “kingdom o priess” and a “holy naion.”

A pries was someone who served as a mediaor beween God and people. They had he responsibiliy o eaching God’s wordso ohers. Israel’s priess reminded hem o God’s commands, and he whole naion was hen charged o share he knowledge andword o God wih oher naions (Psa. 96).

God also waned His people o be holy because o heir devoion o ollowing Him. This devoion would have led hem o livevery differenly han all he oher naions surrounding hem. The word holy lierally means o be se-apar. Israel was mean o bedisinc rom he res o he world so ha ohers would be drawn o i (Lev 20:26).

In he New Tesamen, we are old ha i we are Chrisians, we have become par o he same prieshood and holy naion, so hawe may show ohers he goodness o God(1 Pe. 2:9-10).

WEEK 7

LESSON INSIGHTS

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THE GIVING OF THE LAW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

READ EXODUS 20:1-21

The law augh Israel how o mainain a relaionship wih a holy God. Because sin canno be in he presence o holiness, Israelhad o learn wha was expeced o hem in order o be God’s people. O course, he Israelies didn’ live up o hese expecaionshroughou he res o he Old Tesamen, bu God will laer develop a sacrificial sysem o save hem rom heir sins. The law wasnever a way or God’s people o earn a salvaion. In ac, i was assumed ha hey would ail a keeping he law because o heirsinul naure (Rom. 8:3). I did, however, deermine he level o blessing ha hey would receive rom God (Deu. 28).

The firs five commandmens are abou our relaionship wih God. The las five are abou our relaionship wih people. WhenJesus is asked abou he mos imporan commandmen, he sums hem up by answering, o firs love God and o also love yourneighbor (M. 22:36-40).

32



THE GOD OF THE COVENANT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ EXODUS 19:1-4

Wha does God remind he people o in Verse 4 beore He eners ino covenan wihhem? Why would God esablish a relaionship prior o esablishing he law?

THE TERMS OF THE COVENANT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

READ EXODUS 19:5

In Verse 5, God requires somehing o His people; wha is i? Why do you hink his issuch a criical issue or God?

Wha do hink i mean or Israel o be God’s reasured possession?

THE RESULT OF THE COVENANT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

READ EXODUS 19:5-6

Verses 5-6 lis hree hings ha God will do or hose who respond o his covenan.Wha are hey, and why do you hink hey are imporan?

THE GIVING OF THE LAW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ EXODUS 20:1-21

God’s laws give us an insigh ino God’s characer. Afer reading his passage, wha aresome o he hings ha seem really imporan o God?

Wha do he firs five commandmens each us abou our relaionship wih God? Whado he las five commandmens each us abou our relaionship wih ohers?

THE PROMISE AND THEPERSON

John 1:14

Wha does his verse each usabou he connecion beween heperson and he promises o God?

OBEDIENCE AND LOVE

John 14:23-24How do you hink obedience andlove go ogeher? Do you hink i isone or he oher?

Wha do you hink is he differencebeween obeying ou o duy andobeying ou o love?

A NEW IDENTITY

1 Peer 2:9-12

Using he language o Exodus 19,Peer describes our ideniy inChris. How does Peer say haJesus has redefined who we are?

THE LAW FULFILLEDMathew 5:17-20

Wha do you hink ha Jesusmeans when He says ha Heulfilled he law? How could ourrigheousness surpass ha o hePharisees who had sudied he lawall o heir lives?

FOR NEXT TIME

Read Leviicus 16, Exodus 40, 1 Kings 8-9:9. We will look asacrifice and he Temple.

PART 7: GOD’S COVENANT WITH MOSES &

THE LAW EXODUS 19-20

FROM THE EXODUS TO THE LAW: Afer he Exodus, he Israelies are orced o conron he quesion: “Who is he God whosaved us, and wha is His plan or our lives?” God answers hese quesions a Moun Sinai. He defines his people, his relaionshipo hem, and how his relaionship will work. He does his hrough “The Law,” which gives grea insigh ino God’s characer and His

inenions or His people.



DEVOTIONAL

I we coness our sins, he is aihul and jus o orgive us our sins and o cleanse us rom all unrigheousness. – 1 John 1:9 (ESV)

The word John uses or orgive means “o send away.” This word, picures he Old Tesamen riual perormed on he Day oAonemen. Where he high pries would coness he sins o he people over he head o he scape goa, and hen send he animalaway ino he wilderness. The scape goa would be sen away, aking he sins o he naion wih i. I is a beauiul picure o Chris,and i is worh pondering where his sins have been sen away o.

1) THEY HAVE BEEN SENT AWAY TO THE PLACE OF NO REMEMBERANCE: “You have cas all my sins behind Your back.”– Isaiah 38:17 (NASB) Ou o sigh, ou o mind. This is he image Isaiah gives us o he Faher’s orgiveness. He has pu our sinsbehind his back, he sees hem no more. And wha God does no see, he does no remember. Jeremiah 31:34 (NLT) “...I will orgiveheir wickedness, and I will never again remember heir sins.”

2) THEY HAVE BEEN SENT AWAY TO THE PLACE OF NO RECOVERY: “You will cas all our sins ino he dephs o he sea.”– Micah 7:19 (ESV) Buried in he ocean’s dephs. This is he image Micah gives us o he Faher’s orgiveness. O he coas oEngland here is a place so deep ha dissolved sewage is released here. The sewage is swallowed up by he deep, and can neverresurace. Similarly, God cass our sin ino uter darkness, where i can never recover.

3) THEY HAVE BEEN SENT AWAY TO THE PLACE OF NO RETURN: “As disan as he eas is rom he wes, ha is how ar hehas removed our sins rom us.” – Psalm 103:12 (ESV) The eas shall never ouch he wes. This is he image he psalmis gives us ohe Faher’s orgiveness. When God orgives he places an infinie disance beween us and our sins. They have been removed soar rom us, ha hey can never again reurn.

PRAYER

Faher he deph o your orgiveness is hard or us o comprehend. By sending your Son you no only paid he price or our sins,you have carried hem away rom us, as ar as he eas is rom he wes. For hose in his group who are sill rying o earn yourorgiveness, or are sill sruggling wih he guil o heir sins, would you please give hem a greaer undersanding o he cross. Helpus all o see how grea your love or us is. For you gave us everyhing, you gave us your Son. Amen.

WEEK 8SACRIFICE & THE TEMPLE

34



THE DAY OF ATONEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ LEVITICUS 16:1-10, 20-22

Aaron’s wo sons were sruck dead because hey did no ake God’s words seriously (Lev. 10:1). This was sin and sin is alwaysdeadly serious. The sory o heir deahs is a powerul reminder or us oday, ha we are o serve God; He doesn’ serve us. Aaronwas warned no o make he same misake when enering ino God’s presence.

Wihin he emple was a room called he Holy o Holies. I was divided rom he res o he abernacle by a large curain and represened he place where God’s spiri dwel among His people (Ex. 25:8). The High Pries, who was Aaron a his ime, was he onlyone allowed in his room and he could only ener one ime a year, on he Day o Aonemen (Heb. 9:7). As he prepared o make herequired sacrifices or he people o Israel, he had o ener and proceed exacly as God had insruced, or he would die.

Beore enering ino God’s presence, he High Pries had o wash himsel and wear sacred garmens. This was or he purpose omaking himsel symbolically clean. Since God is holy, i was necessary or he pries o be pure and holy beore Him.

God always desires relaionship wih his creaion. This is eviden by His implemenaion o he sacrificial sysem. When God’s lawproved impossible or people o keep because o heir sinul naure (Rom. 7:5), God ye again made a way or our sin o be dealwih, in order o resore a relaionship beween sinul men and a Holy God. Since he penaly or sin is deah, God allowed an ani-mal o die in he place o His people. This allowance reflecs God’s hear; ha nohing would sand in he way o us being “a one”wih our God.

For he lie o a creaure is in he blood, and I have given i o you o make aonemen or yourselves on he alar; i is he bloodha makes aonemen or one’s lie. – Leviicus 17:11 (NIV)

By a deah sacrifice, God’s people were reminded o he seriousness o sin. The blood reminded hem o God’s mercy and he new

lie He had given hem. For humans, nohing is more symbolic o lie han blood; wihou i, here is no lie. As he firs goa wassacrificed or he sins o he people, God chose o honor he lie represened by he blood raher han allow deah, which shouldhave resuled rom His broken law.

The scapegoa was also a very imporan sep in he process o aonemen. Whereas he sacrificed goa symbolized he penalypaid on our behal, he scapegoa symbolized how God would orgive. The sins o he people were ranserred o he live goa, iwas hen released ino he wildness so ha he sin would be compleely removed rom he people and never reurn. The secondgoa reminds us ha when God orgives, He does so permanenly. He never allows our pas sin o affec he way He eels abou us

“I, even I, am he one who wipes ou your ransgressions or My own sake. And I will no remember your sins. – Isaiah 43:25 (NASB)

These wo goas o he old sacrificial sysem oreshadow God’s ulimae plan o redempion by he sacrifice o His son. Jesus was a

perec, and hereore, final sacrifice or our sins (Heb. 9:28). Through His deah on he cross and he shedding o His blood, we areorgiven and have new lie. I we choose o accep Jesus’ sacrifice or our sins, God sees us as orgiven and wihou aul.

Ye now he has reconciled you o himsel hrough he deah o Chris in his physical body. As a resul, he has brough you ino hisown presence, and you are holy and blameless as you sand beore him wihou a single aul. – Colossians 1:22 (NLT)

WEEK 8

LESSON INSIGHTS

35



SOLOMON’S TEMPLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

READ 1 KINGS 9:1-9

The Old Tesamen sacrifices were always ied o he emple because God would no allow a sacrifice o be made anywhere else(Lev. 1:3). The emple was he place where God’s presence symbolically dwel. This is why God says ha He will “pu His name oni and His eyes and hear will always be here.” I was a consan reminder ha God’s presence was in he mids o His people andha He was ruler o hem. While he Israelies wandered hrough he deser, he emple was called a abernacle and was able obe moved wherever hey raveled. Laer, i was buil as a permanen srucure and called he emple.

God insised ha Solomon be aihul by ollowing Him wih inegriy o hear, as his aher David did. David wasn’ always perecin his obedience o God, bu because o his hear’s desire o ollow Him, he was willing o repen rom sin and realign his lie o God(Psa. 51).

God warned His people ha hey would be cu off rom His presence i hey urned away rom Him. They would no longer be ableo enjoy he blessing o he land ha God had given hem and He would remove Himsel and His emple rom here mids. Thiswarning will laer come o pass when he naion o Israel is capured by oreign naions, removed rom heir land, and he empledesroyed.

Afer Jesus’ deah on he cross, Mathew ells us ha he curain ha separaed he Holy o Holies rom he res o he emple wasorn in hal. This now allows everyone o have access o he presence o God, raher han only he High Pries. In ac, no longerdoes God’s spiri reside in he emple, bu i now lives wihin each one o us.

Wha agreemen is here beween he emple o God and idols? For we are he emple o he living God. As God has said: “I willlive wih hem and walk among hem, and I will be heir God, and hey will be my people.” – 2 Corinhians 6:16 (NIV)

36



THE DAY OF ATONEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

READ LEVITICUS 16:1-10, 20-22

In Verse 2, wha was he penaly or inrusion ino he Mos Holy Place? Why do youhink he Lord warned people no o go behind he emple curain on heir own erms?

In Verse 4, why do you hink God would have he person sacrificing wash hemselves?

In Verse 6 he word atonement is used. This word means a-one-men wih God. Whadoes i say abou God ha He so desires o be a one wih hose who have sinned?

For wha purpose does Verse 9 say one goa will be sacrificed? Why do you hink haGod demands a blood sacrifice?

Wha does Leviicus say will happen o he “scape-goa?” How do you hink i wouldhave el or he pries o lay his hands upon, coness sins over, and drive away hisanimal?

Wha abou he “scape-goa” reminds you o Jesus’ sacrifice upon he cross?

SOLOMON’S TEMPLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ 1 KINGS 9:1-9

In Verse 3, wha does God promise o do or His emple?

In Verses 4-5, wha does God expec rom Solomon in reurn or His promise?

In Verses, 6-9, wha does God warn His people agains? Wha will he consequences bei he people ail o lisen o God’s warnings?

In Mathew 27:45-51, he veil in emple is orn in wo. Why do you hink his even is sosignifican? Wha do you hink his says abou Jesus’ deah and our access o God?

NO CONDEMNATION

Romans 8:1-5

Why does his passage say ha wecould sand beore God wihouear o being condemned?

A COVENANT SEALED WITH

BLOODHebrews 9:16-22

Wha does Hebrews say abou hepurpose o he blood?

CARRIED AWAY

Psalm 103:11-12

Wha does his psalm each usabou he naure o God’sorgiveness?

SACRIFICE AND THE TEMPLELeviicus 17:1-5

Why mus he emple/abernaclebe he locaion where sacrifice ispreormed?

A TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

1 Corinhians 3:16How could we be called he empleo God? How can we, unlike hepries, experience God’s presencewihou deah?

FOR NEXT TIME

Read 2 Samuel 7-8 and Ezekiel

37:24-28. We will look a he King-dom o God

PART 8: SACRIFICE & THE TEMPLE

LEVITICUS 16 & 1 KINGS 9

FROM THE LAW TO THE TEMPLE: God had given His law or he purpose o relaionship, bu his had proved impossiblebecause o sin. God’s answer: sacrifice. Through Old Tesamen sacrifices, God would oreshadow His ulimae plan o aonemenin Chris. Through he emple and sacrifice, God gave a glimpse ha His presence would once again be wih His people on Earh.



DEVOTIONAL

“I ell you he ruh, unless a kernel o whea is planed in he soil and dies, i remains alone. Bu is deah will produce many newkernels–a pleniul harves o new lives.” – John 12:24, NLT

Welcome o he Kingdom o God. A Kingdom Donald Kraybill described as he “upside down kingdom.”

I’s he only kingdom on earh where in order o win, you mus lose; in order o be firs, you mus be las; in order o be a leader,you mus become a servan; in order o be he greaes, you mus become he leas; in order o live, you mus die.

Think abou his shocking ac: Chrisianiy is he only aih whose claim o ame is he deah o i’s God. The Kingdom o God is sounlike he kingdoms o his world. And ye, ha is wha makes i so powerul. Ponder he naure o Chris’s Kingdom as you readhis quoe rom Napoleon Bonapare, he Emperor o France:

“Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne and I mysel have ounded grea empires; bu upon wha did hese creaions o our genius de-pend? Upon orce. Jesus alone ounded His empire upon love.”

PRAYER

Faher so ofen we live or our own kingdom raher han building yours. We live or our own dreams and ambiions raher ha giv-ing our lives o he Kingdom your Son died o esablish. For hose in his group who live or heir own plans open heir eyes o herue naure o your Kingdom. Help us all o undersand he hear ha drives our King. Turn our lives upside down so ha we be beyour aihul ciizens. Le us love as you loved, may your Kigdom reign orever and ever. Amen.

WEEK 9THE KINGDOM OF GOD

38



GIVE US A KING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ 1 SAMUEL 8:1-14

Israel preerred an earhly king because hey waned o be like all he oher naions. Bu God had always old His people o remainunique because He is unique (Lev. 20:26). As Israel worshipped God in he land, hey were o be an example o he blessing oserving he one rue God o he universe.

We are so ofen emped o rus ourselves raher han pu our ull aih in God as ruler o our lives (Prov. 14:12). The Israelies mayhave assumed ha a human king would be easier o ollow or give hem a more comorable lie, bu God makes clear ha he hu-man king will always make he people serve his own selfish purposes.

Saul was Israel’s firs king. He looked like royaly: all, handsome and srong (1 Sam. 9:2). And alhough Israel benefied rom hisreign a imes, God ulimaely ook away his hrone because he did no place himsel under God’s auhoriy (1 Sam. 15:23).

GOD’S COVENANT WITH KING DAVID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

READ 2 SAMUEL 7:8-21

Afer Saul, God anoined David as king. God promised David ha he hrone o he kingdom would remain in he amily orever.As God had done wih Abraham and Moses, He iniiaed His plan involving hem and made His promise dependen upon wha Hewill do. God also said ha He will make David’s “name grea.” He said his o Abraham as well, or he purpose o allowing hem omodel a rue aih in God. In his way, hey were o be a blessing o all hose who would come afer hem (2 Chron. 17:31).

Beore making he covenan wih David, God reminded him o his humble beginnings and ha i was God who appoined him o hisposiion o auhoriy. He also may have reerred o David’s role as shepherd because God waned His people led and cared or,

jus as a shepherd cares or His sheep.

David was described as a “man afer God’s own hear” and his is likely why God chose o esablish His covenan wih him (Acs13:22). The hear o ollow God was exacly wha Saul was lacking. Saul was only concerned wih he appearance o ollowing God.

Each o God’s promises o David were parially ulfilled in he shor erm and will be compleely ulfilled laer on. God’s peoplereceived a home where hey were no longer disurbed soon afer David’s deah. David led he naion o Israel ino many batles,which resuled in he conquering o land ha God had promised His people long ago (Ex. 6:4). Afer David’s son Solomon becameking, Israel enjoyed many years o peace and prosperiy (1 Chron. 22:9). Bu God’s people will evenually receive a heavenly homewhere hey will enjoy peace orever (Heb. 11:16).

And God will wipe away every ear rom heir eyes; here shall be no more deah, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no morepain, or he ormer hings have passed away. – Revelaion 21:4 (NKJV)

God also promised David ha he hrone o he kingdom would always remain in his amily and never be sripped away as God haddone wih Saul. God kep his promise and each king hereafer was a descendan o David, beginning wih his son Solomon. Jesusis he final king who will rule His people or all eerniy and His lineage oo, can be raced back o King David (Acs 13:22).

On his robe a his high was writen his ile: King o all kings and Lord o all lords. – Revelaion 19:16 (NLT)

David is old ha his offspring will build a house or he Lord, which was he emple ha his son buil afer David had died. Theemple was always he place ha God me wih His people. However, he concep o he emple will evenually be realized inheaven when here will be no need or a physical place o mee wih God. His presence will always be near and available o us.

And I saw no emple in he ciy, or is emple is he Lord God he Almighy and he Lamb. – Revelaion 21:22 (ESV)

WEEK 9

LESSON INSIGHTS

39



THE COMING KINGDOM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

READ EZEKIEL 37:24-28

The Old Tesamen prophes ofen spoke o he kingdom o Israel being once again resored o David’s rule (Amos 9:11). This was aoreshadowing o he kingdom o come under Jesus’ lordship. Beore Jesus, David was he undispued, mos honorable king. How-ever, he was ar rom perec. He commited adulery wih Bahsheba and hen had her husband killed o cover up his sin. Jesuswill finally be he perec king ha will obey God compleely. His reign will endure orever and He will care or His people as heirshepherd.

Despie good inenions, we will never be able o creae he kind o kingdom or ourselves ha Ezekiel describes. We may makeprogress owards more viruous living hrough humaniarian effors or poliics, bu our sin will always corrup such effors. In God’scoming kingdom, we will experience His peace and presence orever.

40



GIVE US A KING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


Why do you hink he people desired a human king, raher han God as king?

Wha did God say he consequences would be i people chose a human king?

GOD’S COVENANT WITH KING DAVID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


Wha do you hink his covenan has o do wih he covenans ha God made wih Abra-ham and Moses?

In Verse 8, wha does God remind David o concerning his kingship? Why do you hinkhis is imporan?

In Verses 10-17, how does God say His covenan will ulimaely be ulfilled?

THE COMING KINGDOM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


How does Ezekiel describe he coming kingdom?

Why would we never see he kingdom Ezekiel describes apar rom God?

TREASON IN EDEN

Genesis 3:1-5

Wha did Saan promise Eve i sheae he orbidden rui?

When we ry o rule as king o ourown lives, wha ends o happen?

THE HEART OF A KING

1 Samuel 13:13-14

Why does God place such a largeemphasis on he hear whenselecing His king? Why was Saul’sdisobedience such a big issue oGod?

THY KINGDOM COME

Luke 1:26-33

How does Gabriel describe hechild Mary is going o have?

How did Mary respond o he newso he King’s arrival?

FOR NEXT TIME

Read 2 Kings 17, Ezekiel 36 &Jeremiah 31. We will look a Israel’sexile and God’s promise oresoraion.

PART 9: THE KINGDOM OF GOD

2 SAMUEL 7 & EZEKIEL 37

FROM THE TEMPLE TO THE KINGDOM: God aihully delivers Israel o he promised land. Then, afer he success o Joshuaand he ailures o Judges, Samuel leads he people o worship God as King. This reminds us o Eden, God he sovereign King rulingover His creaion. Bu Israel did no wan God as King, hey waned a man. So God gave hem David, a good bu flawed king. God

made a covenan wih David, promising ha a perec king would come hrough his lineage.



DEVOTIONAL

The greaes love sory ever old is ound in Luke 15. I is he sory o a son ha ells his aher”I wish you were dead.” And henpublicly shames his aher by running off wih he amily inheriance and squandering i on prosiues and wild living.

Bu he aher in his sory, raher han orsake his son, orgives his son and receives him back in a shower o kisses. Perhaps nooher sory in all he bible reveals he hear o he Faher beter han he sory o he Prodigal Son in Luke 15.

This is always God’s hear or his children. No mater how ar hey sray, or how wicked heir rebellion his desire is always o findand save ha which has been los. As we sudy he exile and resoraion o God’s people hink abou he unailing love o God. Alove revealed in he words o he prophe Hosea:

“Oh, how can I give you up, Israel? How can I le you go?How can I desroy you like Admah or demolish you like Zeboiim?My hear is orn wihin me, and my compassion overflows.

No, I will no unleash my fierce anger. I will no compleely desroy Israel,or I am God and no a mere moral. I am he Holy One living among you, and I will no come o desroy.

– Hosea 11:8-9 (NLT)

PRAYER

........

WEEK 10THE EXILE & RESTORATION

42



THE REASON FOR THE EXILE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ 2 KINGS 17:1-23

1 and 2 Kings (plus 1 and 2 Chronicles) ells o he mainly disappoining reign o kings ha came afer King David. The naion oIsrael evenually spli ino wo separae kingdoms because o poor leadership (1 Kings 12). The norhern kingdom was made up oen ribes and called Israel. The souhern kingdom, called Judah, was made up o wo ribes (1 Kings 11:29-35). Bu boh Israelienaions suffered he same ae. Boh had so deviaed rom ollowing God ha He exiled hem rom he Promised Land and allowedhe people o be capured by oreign naions.

As Israel worshiped he idols o oher naions, God repeaedly warned His people o sop worshiping oher gods and begin ollow-ing Him once again. Alhough God is jus and always makes good on His promised judgmen, He is also paien wih His people (2Pe. 3:9). This becomes apparen when we read o Israel’s consan disobedience and God’s repeaed warnings or a duraion ooureen generaions, beore God finally ook drasic acion (M. 1:17).

Despie heir many warnings, Israel coninued o rejec God. As he bible records heir response, we see he affecs o sin rom alarge perspecive vanage poin. God’s people had become so corruped ha he naion had goten beyond hope o saving hem-selves. They needed God o rescue hem rom heir sin, jus as we are in need o a savior o ree us rom he penaly o our sin.

Here is a rusworhy saying ha deserves ull accepance: Chris Jesus came ino he world o save sinners—o whom I am hewors. – 1 Timohy 1:15 (NIV)

GOD’S HEART CONCERNING THE EXILE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


While God’s people were living in exile among oher naions, God had grea concern or how oher people may view Him. He

did no wan His name, or characer, o be misrepresened. For his reason, God would coninue o work ou his redempive planhrough His people, even hough hey did no deserve i. God’s concern or His repuaion, once again reminds us o God’s cov-enan wih Abraham. One o he purposes o God orming a people or Himsel was o bless all oher naions o he world hroughhem. This ook place in he Old Tesamen when oreigners were allowed o assimilae hemselves ino he naion o Israel (Num.15:15). In he New Tesamen, we will see his blessing o inclusion expand even more. Geniles, or non-Jewish people, who comeo aih in Chris, will be par o God’s people as well.

And his is God’s plan: Boh Geniles and Jews who believe he Good News share equally in he riches inheried by God’s children.Boh are par o he same body, and boh enjoy he promise o blessings because hey belong o Chris Jesus.– Ephesians 3:6 (NLT)

In describing how God will redeem he naion o Israel, we ge a glimpse o he evenual redempion o come hrough Jesus. Ashey were o be cleansed wih waer, we are reminded o bapism. Bapism symbolizes ha our lie is cleansed and orgiven o sin

because o our aih in Jesus; ha He paid he penaly or our sin by dying in our place, on he cross. As hey were o receive anew hear wih a new spiri, we are reminded o he Holy Spiri ha we receive upon puting our aih in Chris. This Spiri creaesa new creaion ou o us, helping us o become more like him (2 Cor. 5:17).

Then Peer said o hem, “Repen, and le every one o you be bapized in he name o Jesus Chris or he remission o sins; andyou shall receive he gif o he Holy Spiri. – Acs 2:38 (NKJV)

The ac ha God would need o give us a new hear in order o ollow Him also illusraes how incapable we are o living up oGod’s sandards, when we rely only on our own willpower. As Chrisians, he soluion o ollowing God beter is no o jus ryharder o be a “beter person.” The remedy o our sinul naure is o be made new! To illusrae his concep, when speaking oone o he religious leaders named Nicodemus, Jesus uses he analogy o being reborn in John 3.

WEEK 10

LESSON INSIGHTS

43



THE NEW COVENANT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

READ JEREMIAH 31:31-34

The old covenan, which was he abiliy o be righeous hrough complee obedience o he law, proved o be impossible or God’speople. Alhough hey ried o pursue perecion a imes, hey always ell shor o God’s perec sandards (Rom. 9:31). However,he old covenan was sill beneficial or wo very imporan reasons. Firs, i allowed God’s people o know Him and His hear orhe firs ime, jus as we ge o know God oday by reading and hearing His word. Second, he law conroned people wih heir in-abiliy o be holy by heir own effors (Rom. 7:7). I perecion o an imperec people was he requiremen o be wih a perec andholy God, here would need o be anoher way o atain righeousness. In essence, he old covenan allows us o undersand our

need or a new covenan and our need or a savior.

The new covenan, which allows us o be righeous hrough aih in Jesus, assiss us in ollowing God by giving us His spiri. God’sspiri wihin us, ransorms our desires and develops a hear o pursue God more and more (Gal. 5:17-18).

The law o Moses was unable o save us because o he weakness o our sinul naure. So God did wha he law could no do. Hesen his own Son in a body like he bodies we sinners have. And in ha body God declared an end o sin’s conrol over us by givinghis Son as a sacrifice or our sins. He did his so ha he jus requiremen o he law would be ully saisfied or us, who no longerollow our sinul naure bu insead ollow he Spiri. – Romans 8:3-4 (NLT)

The old covenan was firs, lierally writen on sone ables by God and given o Moses (Deu. 9:10). Bu God declares ha henew covenan is writen on people’s minds and hears. This is again, made possible by he Holy Spiri. Whereas in he Old Tesa-men, people had o be augh he commandmens by Moses, he Spiri is able and willing o reveal he hear o God o anybody

who seeks him. Under he new covenan everyone has equal access o God, which is radically differen han Old Tesamen imes.During he ime o Moses, i was only himsel and he High Pries who was allowed access o he presence o God. The peoplehereore, were compleely dependen on hem or heir salvaion.

Now all o us can come o he Faher hrough he same Holy Spiri because o wha Chris has done or us.– Ephesians 2:18 (NLT)

44



THE REASON FOR THE EXILE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

READ 2 KINGS 17:1-23

In Verses, 7-12, wha does God say are he reasons or Israel’s exile? Do you see any ohese same atiudes/acions in our culure oday?

In Verse 13, how does God respond o Israel’s sin?

In Verses, 14-15, how does Israel respond o God’s warnings? Why would a naion rejec acovenan made by a gracious God?

GOD’S HEART CONCERNING THE EXILE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ EZEKIEL 36:16-27

In verses 20-21, wha really seems o be bohering God and why?

In Verses 22-23, wha concern is moivaing God?

How do Verses 25-27 say ha God will redeem His people rom sin and rebellion? Whaare unique or significan abou hese hings?

THE NEW COVENANT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ JEREMIAH 31:31-34

In Verses 31-32, why did God have o make a new covenan? Wha was wrong wih heold covenan?

In Verse 33, wha do you hink i means ha God will pu he law on people’s minds andwrie i upon heir hears? How does his new law differ rom he old?

Wha are he promises ha God offers o us in Verse 34? Wha connecion does Hemake beween knowing Him and he orgiveness o sin?

A GOD OF ANGER AND

COMPASSIONHosea 11:8-11

Wha does his passage each usabou he hear o Godoward he sinner?

Wha does his passage each usabou he purpose o he exile?

A NEW CREATION2 Corinhians 5:17-18

Wha do you hink his passage haso do wih wha we read inEzekiel 36:16-27?

Wha do you hink he Bible meanswhen i says ha in Chris we have

become new creaions?

CHRIST IS THE NEW COVENANT2 Corinhians 3:4-6

Wha does Paul say are he majordifferences beween he old andnew covenans?

FOR NEXT TIME

Read Mathew 1. We will look aJesus he Messiah

PART 10: THE EXILE & RESTORATION

2 KINGS 17, EZEKIEL 36 & JEREMIAH 31

FROM THE KINGDOM TO THE EXILE: Because o heir disobedience, Israel would be conquered, orn rom heir homeland, andabandoned by heir God. Israel’s sin divided he kingdom. Bu boh kingdoms were exiled or rejecing he warnings o he proph-es. Israel was deserving o he punishmen, bu God, ou o love, decided o preserve His people. God would do his by ulfilling al

previous covenans hrough a “new covenan.” This covenan would recreae his people, changing hem rom he inside ou.



DEVOTIONAL

In Revelaion we see a picure o King Jesus vasly differen rom ha which we see in he Gospels:

Then I saw heaven opened, and a whie horse was sanding here. Is rider was named Faihul and True, or he judges airly andwages a righeous war. His eyes were like flames o fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was writen on him ha no oneundersood excep himsel. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his ile was he Word o God. The armies o heaven, dressed inhe fines o pure whie linen, ollowed him on whie horses. From his mouh came a sharp sword o srike down he naions. He willrule hem wih an iron rod. He will release he fierce wrah o God, he Almighy, like juice flowing rom a winepress. On his robe ahis high was writen his ile: King o all kings and Lord o all lords.– Revelaion 19:11-16

Jesus is coming again. And his second coming will be jus as unexpeced as his firs. Bu i will be much differen.

He came he firs ime as a Baby in weakness, in meekness, and in obscuriy.He will come he second ime in power and glory o asser His will over all he earh.

Very ew bowed beore Him a His firs coming.When He comes again all knees shall bow a His ee in humble worship.

He came he firs ime o suffer or he sins o he world. He was misreaed, humiliaed, and rejeced.He will reurn as Judge o pass judgmen on all hose who rejeced Him.

He came he firs ime in grea humiliy as a servan.He will reurn as he Commander in Chie o a very large army.

He came he firs ime o wear he crown o horns.He is coming he second ime o wear he crown o power and glory.

Remember ha Jesus he Messiah, is Jesus he King o Kings and Lord o Lords.

PRAYER

........

WEEK 11JESUS THE MESSIAH

46



WHO IS JESUS? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ MATTHEW 1:1-2, 16-17

Afer being exiled, God promised His people ha He would reurn hem o heir home (Jer. 29:10-11). The books o Nehemiah andEzra describe he slow rickle o Jewish people back o he Promised Land in order o rebuild Jerusalem and he emple, whichhad been desroyed by he Babylonians. This is where he Old Tesamen ends, and abou 400 years pass beore he New Tesa-men begins. In ha ime, he Israelies reurned o he land, bu hey no longer ruled heir own kingdom as hey had expeced.Insead, hey became ruled by he Roman Empire. This creaed he conusing emoional climae ha Jesus was born ino. TheJewish people were biter owards heir rulers and some had los hope ha God would make good on His promise o resoring hekingdom. Ohers had grea hope ha he Messiah would come soon and overhrow he Roman governmen.

Mathew opens his gospel by saing ha Jesus is he Messiah, or Chris, and connecs Him o he promises o Abraham and Davidby way o a genealogy. In essence, Mathew declares ha Jesus is no jus a prophe, eacher and miracle worker, bu ha He ishe ulfillmen o all he Old Tesamen scripure and prophecy concerning he coming Messiah!

“Do no hink ha I have come o abolish he Law or he Prophes; I have no come o abolish hem bu o ulfill hem.”– Mathew 5:17

The Old Tesamen makes wo major promises. Firs, ha God would make a new covenan o resore he relaionship He firsesablished wih His people hrough Abraham. Second, ha He would creae His everlasing kingdom, o be ruled by a king in heline o David. Jesus claims o ulfill boh he promise o he King (M. 27:11) and he new covenan (Lk. 22:20).

A MAN, AND YET MORE THAN A MAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ MATTHEW 1:18-20

Jesus’ moher was Mary, bu His aher is said o be he Holy Spiri. One o he roles ha he Spiri plays in God’s redempive planis in he creaion o hings. Righ beore he firs chaper o Genesis ells he creaion sory, verse 2 ses he scene, saying ha heSpiri o God was hovering over he deep waers o he Earh. The Spiri also creaed he Savior o he world in Mary’s womb. Igave birh o he church in Acs 2. And in John 3, Jesus says ha we become spiriually reborn by he work o he Holy Spiri.

This means ha Jesus was boh ully human and ully God a he same ime. This is a difficul concep o wrap our minds around,bu scripure makes his clear. We see obvious signs o His diviniy by way o miracles, he orgiveness o sins (Mk. 2:5), and evenraising he dead (Jn. 11:43). Bu he gospel wriers were also sure o highligh His human side as well. Like us, He grew ired (Jn.4:6), go hungry (M. 4:2), wep (Jn. 11:35) and el pain (M. 27:46).

Seeing his humanness allows us o ideniy wih Him. In ac, i is comoring o know ha Jesus sympahizes wih our sruggles andempaions because He has personally experienced hem Himsel (Heb. 4:15). This allows Him o be a real, bu perec model orus o ollow.

By His deiy, we see how much He cares or us and wha lenghs He will go o resore he relaionship wih us ha had been de-sroyed by sin. God waned us o have lie wih Him so much ha He came himsel o save us rom deah.

Wha we do see is Jesus, who was given a posiion “a litle lower han he angels”; and because he suffered deah or us, he is now“crowned wih glory and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus ased deah or everyone.– Hebrews 2:9

WEEK 11

LESSON INSIGHTS

47



WHAT’S IN A NAME? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


We know Him as Jesus, bu He was acually called by many names in he bible, in order o describe wha He will do (Is. 9:6). Jesusis he Greek orm o he Hebrew name, Joshua. I was a very common name a he ime, bu Jesus was he only one o ruly ulfillis meaning. The name means “he Lord saves.” Jesus saves people rom heir sin because He was willing o sacrifice Himsel onhe cross o pay our punishmen. Since he penaly or sin is deah, Jesus died in our place so ha we can live. All he animal sacrifices people made or heir sins in he Old Tesamen were poining owards he final sacrifice ha was made by Jesus (Heb. 10:1).

He was also called Emmanuel, which means “God wih us.” This is anoher descripion o Jesus’ purpose. When God made himselman, he was no only wih us in a physical sense, bu i was also or he purpose o always being wih us relaionally. By a aih inJesus, and he sacrifice He made on our behal, man’s relaionship wih God, which was desroyed by sin, can now be resored andlas or eerniy (1 Pe. 3:18).

48



WHO IS JESUS? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

READ MATTHEW 1:1-2, 16-17

Who does Mathew say Jesus is in Verse 1?

Why is he declaraion ha Jesus is he Messiah or “Chris” so imporan?

Wha is he imporance o Jesus being he “Son o David”?

Wha is he imporance o Jesus being he “Son o Abraham”?

A MAN, AND YET MORE THAN A MAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


Who was Jesus’ moher? Wha do you hink lie was like or her?

Who was Jesus’ aher. How is his possible?

Why is i imporan ha Jesus is ully man? Describe some ways he gospels illusraehow Jesus showed His humaniy.

Why is i imporan ha Jesus is ully God? Describe some ways he gospels illusraehow Jesus showed His diviniy.

WHAT’S IN A NAME? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ MATTHEW 1:21-25

Why was Mary’s child o be named “Jesus”? How would he ulfill he name given o him?

Why is he name “Emmanuel” so imporan when applied o Jesus?

How do he names Jesus and Emmanuel work ogeher?

EVERYTHING IN THE BIBLE

POINTS TO JESUSJohn 5:39

Wha does Jesus say he poin oreading Scripure is?

A TROUBLING START

Luke 1:29-30

Why do you hink Mary and heangel see he coming o Jesus sodifferenly?

THE WORD MADE FLESHJohn 1:14

How was he Word involved in hebirh o he Messiah?

THE NAMES OF CHRIST

Isaiah 9:6-7Wha in hese names remind you ohe major Old Tesamen promiseswe have sudied?

FOR NEXT TIME

Read Mathew 28:16-20, John 14-16

& Acs 1. We will look a he GreaCommission and he Holy Spiri.

PART 11: JESUS THE MESSIAH

MATTHEW 1

FROM THE RESTORATION TO CHRIST: As he New Tesamen opens, he Israelies are back in he land, bu i is no he same.The promised King and he new covenan appear beyond hope. The Gospels begins wih John he Bapis, who, in effec, doeswha he whole o he New Tesamen does: poin he way o Jesus. Through His deah and resurrecion, Jesus accomplished bohmajor promises o he Old Tesamen. He conquered deah as our King, and esablished he new covenan hrough his sacrifice.

49



DEVOTIONAL

In his book Forgoten God, Francis Chan wries hese words:

“Churchgoers all across he naion say he Holy Spiri has enered hem. They claim ha God has given hem a supernaural abiliyo ollow Chris, pu heir sin o deah, and serve he church. Chrisians alk abou being born again say ha hey were dead bunow have come o lie. We have become hardened o hose words, bu hey are powerul words ha have significan meaning. Yewhen hose ouside he church see no difference in our lives, hey begin o quesion our inegriy, ou saniy, or even worse, ourGod. And can you blame hem?”

When we read he incredible evens o he book o Acs hey can only be atribued o one hing: The power o he Holy Spiri.How should he Holy Spiri impac he lie o he believer? Wha is he role o he holy Spiri in your lie? As you prepare or oday’ssudy ponder hese words o he Aposle Paul.

“For all who are led by he Spiri o God are sons o God.” – Romans 8:14

PRAYER

........

WEEK 12GREAT COMMISSION & HOLY SPIRIT

50



THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ MATTHEW 28:16-20

By worshipping Jesus, he disciples were acknowledging Him as God. They had no doub o His power and auhoriy. However, iseems ha some doubed ha i was acually Jesus sanding beore hem, and no an appariion. This also happened afer he res-urrecion in John 21:4. Jesus may have looked a litle differenly, possibly even appearing in a heavenly body (2 Cor. 5:1). Bu evenhough hey had some doub, Jesus sill commissioned hem o make oher disciples. I wasn’ necessary o have all heir ques-ions abou God answered beore hey sared sharing Him wih ohers. In ac, on he oher wo occasions ha Jesus sen ou hedisciples o ell people abou himsel, i was apparen ha hey had a lo o misundersandings abou him. They weren’ ready orqualified o be ambassadors o he gospel message, bu Jesus didn’ mind because i would be by His auhoriy ha he spread ohe good news would be accomplished (M. 10).

Jesus old His disciples o do hree hings o make oher disciples. Firs, He said “go.” Many imes, we ge ino o he habi o jusleting people come o us i ineresed in knowing abou Jesus, bu his was no His insrucion. We ruly ollow Jesus’ commandwhen we become inenional abou sharing Jesus wih ohers wherever we may go.

Bapism is also cenral o he commission. This ac is an iniiaion or people ino he church body, by publically declaring hem-selves o be a disciple and a member o he church. There should be no such hing as a “secre Chrisian.” The ac o bapism isalso symbolic o he hope ha we find in Jesus’ deah and resurrecion. Jus as Jesus died and was buried, so oo, we are buriedunderwaer. However, Jesus conquered deah hree days laer and raised rom he grave, so we are oo, raised up rom he waer,symbolizing he new lie we have hrough our aih in Jesus (Rom. 6:4).

Teaching ohers wha Jesus commanded is also an imporan par o he Grea Commission. We ofen hope ha ohers migh bediscipled by inviing hem o church, so ha hey may learn abou Jesus rom a pasor eaching in he pulpi. Bu ulimaely, Jesus’sraegy was ha every disciple would each people abou Him (Col. 3:16). This doesn’ mean ha all Chrisians will have he gif o

eaching and preaching, bu i does mean ha each Chrisian should be able o communicae wha hey know abou Jesus and hebible o ohers who wan o learn.

THE MISSION BEGINS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

READ ACTS 1:1-11

The Grea Commission could never be accomplished wihou he help o he Holy Spiri. This is why Jesus old His disciples owai unil hey had received i. Anyhing done or God in our own power will ulimaely prove o be ruiless (Jn. 15:5) because ourown effors will never be enough o ransorm a person’s hear. The Holy Spiri is he only one capable o such ransormaion (1Cor. 2:10-14).

Despie he blessing o being included in God’s plan o redempion, hrough he making o disciples here on earh, he disciples sillocused on he wrong hing concerning he kingdom. Insead o being solely ocused on Jesus’ mission, hey were sill hoping ha

he kingdom Jesus alked abou would be as hey had imagined i; a Jewish kingdom on earh. They also were likely sill concernedwih heir own presige or rank in he coming kingdom, as hey had been on oher occasions (Lk. 9:46, 22:24).

Bu he kingdom ha Jesus spoke o would no be confined o a paricular locaion. I will reach o he ends o he earh. Jesusold he disciples ha hey would be His winesses in Jerusalem, which is where hey were currenly locaed. Their winess wouldhen spread o Judea, which was he oulaying region. Samaria was he nex erriory over, jus ouside o Judea. Wha Jesus wasdescribing was he spread o somehing, unil i had reached everywhere. O course, we know ha he firs disciples were neverable o ravel o all naions and people, bu as hey made disciples, and hen hose disciples made oher disciples, he gospel mes-sage ravels o all places. In he book o Acs, in jus a shor ime, we see he spread o he gospel o mos o he known world aha ime, hrough Jesus’ simple sraegy disciples muliplying hemselves.

WEEK 12

LESSON INSIGHTS

51



THE POWER OF THE MISSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

READ JOHN 16:5-16

Jesus says ha we are acually beter off wih he Spiri, han wih Him remaining physically on earh. This is a prety sarlingsaemen or hose o us who have hough ha ollowing Jesus would be so much easier i we jus had him in ron o us, o alko. Bu Jesus’ presence here on earh was limied o only he people ha could physically ge o Him. And even hen, i was ofendifficul or even his closes disciples o undersand he hings ha He was elling hem. Wih every believer now having access ohe Holy Spiri, God’s presence is wih us wherever we may go. We also no longer have o rely on our own undersanding o com-prehend spiriual hings. The Holy Spiri deciphers God’s word or us, allowing us o undersand God’s hear and purposes.

For who knows a person’s houghs excep he spiri o ha person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends he houghso God excep he Spiri o God. Now we have received no he spiri o he world, bu he Spiri who is rom God, ha we mighundersand he hings reely given us by God.–1 Corinhians 2:11-12 (ESV)

The work o he Holy Spiri is no jus or he benefi o each believer, bu also or he benefi o he whole world. I will convicpeople o heir sin. This is imporan because we mus acknowledge our sinul naure in order o undersand our need or a savior(Eph. 2:3). The Spiri will also convic he world concerning righeousness. The bad news is ha we can never atain righ sandingwih God because o our sin. Bu by he Spiri, we come o undersand he good news, which is ha Jesus died or our sins andhrough aih in Him, we are considered righeous by God (Rom. 3:22). The Spiri convics us o judgmen by showing us ha heways o his world will be condemned and desroyed (2 Pe. 3:10). This undersanding should drive us o live or he hings o Godraher han or he hings o his world.

Do no love he world or anyhing in he world. I anyone loves he world, love or he Faher is no in hem.–1 John 2:15 (NIV)

The Spiri o God provides us wih he power or he Grea Commission, as well as he power o live a godly lie. He leads andguides us wih God’s ruh, revealing o us he meaning o scripure and hings o come. And his is all done in us or he purpose obringing glory o God!

Le your ligh so shine beore men, ha hey may see your good works and gloriy your Faher in heaven.– Mathew 5:16 (NKJV)

52



THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


Wha do Verses 16-17 say he disciples response was o Jesus when hey saw Him? Whado you hink his response had o do wih heir commissioning? Does i surprise you haGod would enrus His mission o hose who sill doubed?

In Verses 18-20, wha hree hings are involved in making Disciples? Describe he impor-

ance o each o hese hree hings.

Wha is he significance o Jesus speaking o His auhoriy, and always being wih us?

THE MISSION BEGINS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

READ ACTS 1:1-11

In Verses 4-5, Jesus asks he disciples o wai or he Holy Spiri. Why was i so imporanha hey wai?

Wha are he disciples ocusing on in Verses 6-7? Wha is wrong abou heir ocus?

Wha does Verse 8 say abou he scope o our mission? Wha does his look like oday?

Why is Verse 11 so significan o remember as we go abou our mission?

THE POWER OF THE MISSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ JOHN 16:5-16

In Verse 7, why does Jesus say ha i is acually beter or us ha He leaves? Do yousomeimes doub he ruh o his?

Wha does Verse 8 say ha he Spiri will do? Why are hese hings so imporan?

Wha do Verses 13-15 say he Spiri will ocus on in our lives? Wha do you hink is heulimae purpose o he Holy Spiri in our lives?

A PERSONAL MISSION

1 Peer 3:15-16

How would you explain o someonehe hope ha lies wihin you?

A VISION OF THE COMPLETEDMISSION

Revelaion 7:9-12

How should his vision o he com-

pleed mission shape our hinkingabou he mission oday?

THE FOCUS OF THE MISSION

Mark 9:33-35

Wha atiude should define ourapproach o his mission? Why is iha his atiude is so ofen missingin he church?

THE INSIDE OUT MISSIONRomans 8:9-11

Why is i so imporan ha heSpiri works in us, beore we a-emp o do work around us?

FOR NEXT TIME

Read Acs 2-15, 1 Corinhians 12:12-

27. We will look a he early churchand good news or all naions.

PART 12: GREAT COMMISSION & THE HOLY

SPIRIT MATTHEW 28, JOHN 16, ACTS 1

FROM CHRIST’S MISSION TO OURS: Jesus will reurn, bu unil ha day, He has given us a mission o accomplish. This missionis o spread Chris’s rule on Earh hrough he making o disciples. This is a global mission ha involves elling ohers abou Chris,bapism, and God’s Word. Ulimaely, his is an impossible mission in which he only chance or success is he auhoriy o Jesusand he power o he Holy Spiri.



DEVOTIONAL

God is a person no a law. This is hugely imporan. Because rules canno change a he human hear only aih in he personal Godcan do his. Any ime we shif he ocus away rom aih in Chris and oward human effor we have raded he gospel or legalism.This is always a loosing rade, or i our Chrisian walk sared wih he work o Chris, how could i ever coninue wihou i?

This is he very poin he Aposle Paul makes in he book o Galaians:

Oh, oolish Galaians! Who has cas an evil spell on you? For he meaning o Jesus Chris’s deah was made as clear o you as i youhad seen a picure o his deah on he cross. Le me ask you his one quesion: Did you receive he Holy Spiri by obeying he lawo Moses? O course no! You received he Spiri because you believed he message you heard abou Chris. How oolish can yoube? Afer saring your Chrisian lives in he Spiri, why are you now rying o become perec by your own human effor?– Galaians 3:1-3 (NLT)

As we look a he early conflics in he firs church, ake noe o how he decisive issue is always he gospel.

PRAYER

........

WEEK 13EARLY CHURCH & GLOBAL GOSPEL

54



THE IDENTITY OF THE CHURCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ 1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-27

All believers become a member o he body o Chris as a resul o he Holy Spiri. The one Spiri, presen in all o us, allows uso live in love and harmony wih one anoher because o our common devoion o His work. In John 17, Jesus prays ha we wouldexperience he same uniy ound beween Him and he Faher, as a resul o His Spiri being in us.

“I have given hem he glory you gave me, so hey may be one as we are one. I am in hem and you are in me. May hey experiencesuch perec uniy ha he world will know ha you sen me and ha you love hem as much as you love me.”– John 17:22-23

The New Tesamen church was a diverse group, filled wih differen ehniciies, culural sauses and financial levels. I may seemsemi-normal in our culure o rub shoulders wih people o such varying posiions, bu in he days o he early church, i was un-heard o! The ac ha hey reaed each oher as equals and shared heir belongings equally (Acs 4:32) would have been viewedas crazy and couner-culural. Bu a body should celebrae he diversiy among is pars. Wihou differing pars; personaliies,skills and gifings, he church body will no be able o uncion properly.

Nor does he church body operae as i should i some pars o he body are highly valued and ohers are no. We may someimespreer o hink ha he role we play in he church is more imporan han he role o anoher person, bu his is a misundersandingo he purpose o he church body. Is purpose is always o bring glory o God, never o ourselves.

THE ATTRIBUTES OF THE EARLY CHURCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

READ ACTS 2:41-47

The believers in he early church were very generous as a resul o heir concern or one anoher. They were willing o pu he wel-

are o ohers above heir own ineress. This was one o he ways in which hey pracically ollowed Jesus’ charge o deny hem-selves (M. 16:24). They ook care o one anoher because o heir common bond in he Spiri and no longer hough o possessionsas heir own (Acs 4:32). By reaing one anoher wih such generosiy, hey were ollowing he new command ha Jesus had givenhem in John 13.

A new commandmen I give o you, ha you love one anoher: jus as I have loved you, you also are o love one anoher. By his allpeople will know ha you are my disciples, i you have love or one anoher.– John 13:34-35 (ESV)

The word “holy,” means o be se apar. God had always called His people o be se apar rom he res o he world or His pur-poses (1 Pe. 1:15). And hrough he selfless atiude o he early believers, he people ouside he church would have viewed i asbeing noiceably differen rom he res o culure.

Do no conorm o he patern o his world, bu be ransormed by he renewing o your mind. Then you will be able o es andapprove wha God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perec will.–Romans 12:2 (NIV)

I mus have aken a lo o courage o live as he early believers lived. They were ollowing Jesus’ insrucions o he bes o heirabiliy wih complee disregard or he persecuion hey may ace. Paul, who was an early persecuor o he Chrisians, says in 2Timohy 3:12, “everyone who wans o live a godly lie in Chris Jesus will be persecued.” I is an ineviable realiy or us oday iwe genuinely desire o ollow Chris. Afer Paul became a Chrisian himsel in Acs 9, he expressed he same atiude ha we seerefleced in he early believers, in Philippians 3.

WEEK 13

LESSON INSIGHTS

55



Yes, everyhing else is worhless when compared wih he infinie value o knowing Chris Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have dis-carded everyhing else, couning i all as garbage, so ha I could gain Chris and become one wih him.– Philippians 3:8-9 (NLT)

The church grew because he “Lord added o heir number daily hose who were being saved. I was somehing ha God wasdoing, jus as he had done all hroughou he Old Tesamen. God involves people in His work, bu i is only God who has hepower o accomplish wha He wishes. The believers were involved in wha God was doing because hey were ollowing His GreaCommission. They were going ou rom he church o share he good news abou Jesus o anyone hey me. Each Chrisian wasresponsible or he evangelism and muliplicaion o he church by sharing he gospel wih ohers.

Bu in your hears revere Chris as Lord. Always be prepared o give an answer o everyone who asks you o give he reason or hehope ha you have.– 1 Peer 3:15 (NIV)

THE SCOPE OF THE EARLY CHURCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

READ ACTS 15:1-11

Alhough he early church ses a grea example or believers oday, i was also ar rom perec. They were regular people, wihhuman sruggles and divisions among hemselves. One o he earlies argumens hey deal wih was he requiremens o salvaionSome o he Jewish eachers insised ha he Law sill had o be ollowed, even afer a person acceped Jesus as heir savior. Inessence, hey believed ha Chrisianiy remained a segmen o Judaism, hereore a person mus have he physical sign o being aconvered Jew, which was circumcision.

However, he church ulimaely decided ha i is only by aih in Jesus’ sacrifice on he cross, or he penaly o our sins, whichresores he relaionship beween sinul people and a holy God (Rom. 3:28). Through he saving work o Jesus, non-Jewish people,or Geniles, now have equal access o God. In ac, God had already shown his o be he case in Acs 10 when a Genile house-hold acceped he good news, were saved and received he Holy Spiri as a resul o he gospel message ha Peer shared wihhem. Alhough God began his plan o redempion in he Old Tesamen hrough he Jewish naion o Israel, and Jesus was Jewishhimsel, His plan was always o redeem all naions (John 11:51-52).

He says, “You will do more han resore he people o Israel o me. I will make you a ligh o he Geniles, and you will bring mysalvaion o he ends o he earh.”– Isaiah 49:6 (NLT)

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THE IDENTITY OF THE CHURCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ 1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-27

In Verse 13, how are we old ha we are brough ino he body o Chris?

Wha does his passage each us abou he imporance o Diversiy in he body?

Wha does his passage each us abou he imporance o Uniy in he body?

Wha does his passage each us abou he danger o Selfishness in he body?

THE ATTRIBUTES OF THE EARLY CHURCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ ACTS 2:41-47

Wha is he imporance o Generosiy in he church?

Wha is he imporance o Holiness in he church?

Wha is he imporance o Courage in he church?

Wha is he imporance o Muliplicaion in he church?

THE SCOPE OF THE EARLY CHURCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ ACTS 15:1-11

In Verses 1-2, wha did he early church argue abou? Why do you hink his issue was sodivisive in he early church?

In Verse 3, wha did Paul and Barnabas share ha changed he debae?

In Verse 5, some ried o add o he Gospel. Wha did hey propose? How do we see hissame approach in he modern church?

In Verses 9-11, wha did he early church decide abou who could be saved? How did heearly church say salvaion was accomplished?

FELLOWSHIP IN THE GOSPELPhilippians 1:5

Wha does his verse each usabou he rue naure o Chrisianellowship?

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVEJohn 13:34-35

Wha does Jesus say will proveha we are His disciples? Can hisbe done in isolaion?

THE DANGER OF FAVORITISMJames 2:1-12

Why are we so prone o show

avoriism in our aih?

FOR NEXT TIME

Read Revelaion 21-22. We will looka The End o he Sory.

PART 13: THE EARLY CHURCH & GLOBAL

GOOD NEWS ACTS 2 & 15, I CORINTHIANS 12

FROM OUR MISSION TO THE CHURCH: Isolaion is no an opion or hose ollowing Chris. Chrisians are no individuals, heyare members o he body o Chris. We canno ollow Chris apar rom he church. This is why i is imporan o undersand hechurch’s ideniy and role so ha i can accomplish God’s plan o redempion. Though Jesus is personal, His purpose is global. The

global scope o Chris’s plan in seen in God’s hear or boh he Jew and Genile. Jesus came or all naions and all people.



DEVOTIONAL

In Revelaion chapers 21 and 22 we see God’s big sory ending using he same imagery wih wich i began: A garden paradise. Andso heaven will be Eden reborn wherei i looks good, hen ea. I i looks un, hen play. Leap, sprin, sing, dance, laugh, pain, drinkand eas. Every desire will be pure, every hough will be holy. Chris, has reclaimed Eden or God’s children.

This is he very image we find in John’s Gospel. When wo men, Joseph o Arimahea and Nicodemus, ake he crucified body oJesus and prepare i or burial. In John chaper 19 we are given his accoun:

Taking Jesus’ body, he wo o hem wrapped i, wih he spices, in srips o linen. This was in accordance wih Jewish burial cus-oms. A he place where Jesus was crucified, here was a garden, and in he garden a new omb, in which no one had ever beenlaid. Because i was he Jewish day o Preparaion and since he omb was nearby, hey laid Jesus here. – John 19:40-42 (NIV)

A he resurrecion, Jesus walked ou o a omb and ino a garden. So oo, will we. The curse has been reversed. Sin caused mano go rom garden o grave, bu Chris leads man rom grave o garden. To Eden reborn: A paradise, where every hirs will bequenched, need saisfied, and longing filled.

PRAYER

........

WEEK 14THE END OF THE STORY

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A NEW HEAVEN AND EARTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ REVELATION 21:1-2

A he beginning o he sory, God creaed he heavens and he earh and declared His creaion o be very good. Bu when Adamand Eve rebelled agains God, hey allowed sin ino he world, which causes deah. Since hen, God has been orchesraing His re-deeming plan o resore everyhing ha sin has corruped. We all insincively know ha somehing has gone wrong wih he worldThe bible says ha even creaion isel groans or hings o be made righ (Rom. 8:22). Evenually, God will make he earh new, asHe had always inended i o be. I will be a place absen o deah and pain and ull o joy.

Heaven will also be made new, in he sense ha i will descend o earh and no longer be separaed rom i. Jus as God was wihpeople and walked among hem in he Garden o Eden (Gen. 3:8), He will do so again when His creaion is resored (Lev. 26:12). Wewill hen enjoy perec ellowship wih God.

Long ago you laid he oundaion o he earhand made he heavens wih your hands. They will perish, bu you remain orever;hey will wear ou like old clohing.You will change hem like a garmenand discard hem. Bu you are always he same;you will live orever.– Psalm 102:25-27 (NLT)

A NEW CITY AND NATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

READ REVELATION 21:3-5, 22-27

There is much o look orward o when we consider wha heaven will be like. Somehing ha will be noiceably missing rom heav-

en will be he emple. In he Old Tesamen, God’s people were only able o mee wih God a he emple because i was whereHis presence dwel (Ex. 29:42-43). However, as a resul o receiving Jesus as our savior, we no longer have o go o he emple omee wih God because His Spiri dwells in each one o His disciples. When Jesus died or our sins on he cross, he our-inchhick emple curain, was miraculously orn in wo (Mk. 15:38), symbolizing he access we now have o God, made available o allwho come hrough relaionship in Jesus. In heaven, here will sill be no need or a emple because God will physically live wih us,

jus as He inended i o be when He originally creaed us (Gen. 3:8).

Anoher ineresing deail we find in he descripion o he new heavenly ciy, is he represenaion o all he naions. This issignifican on one hand because Jesus old His disciples ha, by His power, he gospel would be spread o he ends o he earh(Acs 1:8). We ge o be a par o sharing ha good news wih all corners o he earh and when we ge o heaven we will see Jesus’mission finally compleed.

The ac ha God will sill recognize people o differen naions also illusraes how much God appreciaes he uniqueness o each

person and even each culure. Alhough God purposes o ransorm us ino His likeness, he never seeks o change he specialcharacerisics ha He creaed each person wih. In ac, he gahering o people in heaven may be very similar o wha we see inhe early church, bu on a much larger scale. Jus as he believers were all very differen, hey also were all o like mind because oheir common pursui o God (Acs 4:32).

And hey sang a new song, saying: “You are worhy o ake he scrolland o open is seals,because you were slain,and wih your blood you purchased or Godpersons rom every ribe and language and people and naion.– Revelaion 5:9 (NIV)

WEEK 14

LESSON INSIGHTS

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A NEW RIVER & TREE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

READ REVELATION 22:1-2

Waer means lie o a human being and we are consanly reminded o our need or i when we experience hirs. In heaven, wewill no experience a hirs or longing o any kind because abundan lie will always be ours o enjoy. The waer o lie will alwaysflow rom God’s hrone and be available o us. The river o he waer o lie picured in Revelaion, very well may have been whaJesus had in mind as He was speaking o he Samarian women a he well in John 4. Jesus old her ha i she undersood who Hereally was, she wouldn’ jus ask him or regular waer, bu insead he living waer ha only He can give.

“whoever drinks o he waer ha I shall give him will never hirs. Bu he waer ha I shall give him will become in him a ounaino waer springing up ino everlasing lie.”– John 4:13-14 (NKJV)

The ree o lie was presen in he Garden o Eden beore sin had enered he world (Gen. 2:9). However, once Adam and Evecommited he firs sin God no longer allowed hem access o he ree because by eaing o i, i would preserve hem orever inheir sinul sae (Gen. 3:24). When we once again are graned access o he ree in heaven, i will provide us wih unending healhand nourishmen. And unlike he firs garden o creaion, he final garden described in Revelaion will no conain he ree o heknowledge o good and evil because sin will no longer be able o corrup anyhing o God’s (Rev. 22:3).

A NEW THRONE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


When Jesus came o earh he firs ime He came as a savior and served us. Bu when He reurns a second ime, He will reurn asa conquering king o reclaim wha is righully His (Rev. 19). His hrone will be seen in he new earh and everyone will view Him asking. This has always been he realiy in heaven, bu i will finally be realized on he new earh as well.

God will always be our ocus. We will serve Him. Bu i won’ be he kind o service perormed ou o duy. We will serve Himbecause i will be a joy o do so because o our worship o Him. And in our service, we will reign wih he king orever!

In heaven, we will also come ace o ace wih God, which has never been done since he all o man. Once people became sinul,hey could no longer be in he presence o a Holy God. In Exodus 33:18, Moses asked God ha His glory would no only go wihHis people wherever hey may go, bu ha God would physically show himsel o Moses. God responded in verse weny by say-ing, “you canno see my ace, or no one may see me and live.” When we are in paradise wih God, here will be no more sin oseparae us rom Him, and we will once again, enjoy lie side-by-side wih Him.

Come, you who are blessed by my Faher; ake your inheriance, he kingdom prepared or you since he creaion o he world.– Mathew 25:34 (NIV)

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A NEW HEAVEN AND EARTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


Why do Heaven and Earh need o be made new?

Why does God make Earh new raher han jus aking us away o Heaven?

A NEW CITY AND NATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ REVELATION 21:3-5, 22-27

Wha par o Verses 3-5 do you mos look orward oo and why? Wha in hese versesremind you o he Old Tesamen covenans?

In Verse 22, why do you hink here is no emple in he new Jerusalem?

Why is i imporan ha here are sill naions in Heaven? Wha does his say abouGod’s hear or diversiy and culure?

A NEW RIVER & TREE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ REVELATION 22:1-2

Wha does he waer in Verse 1 symbolise? Wha do you hink his waer may have o dowih Jesus?

Where in he Bible did we firs see he Tree o Lie? How does ha sory help us oundersand Verse 2?

A NEW THRONE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .READ REVELATION 22:3-5

Who will be he ocus o Heaven, and wha will be doing here?

Why is here a hrone in Heaven?

Wha do you hink i means in Verse 4 when we are old ha we will see God’s ace?

REFINER’S FIRE

2 Peer 3:11-13

Why does Peer use he imagery ofire o describe he making o henew Heaven and Earh?

BABYLON VS. JERUSALEMGenesis 11:1-4

Wha is he difference beween heunied Earh we see a Babel, andhe unied Earh we see in he NewJerusalem?

A STRANGE NEW WORLD

Isaiah 11:6-9

EDEN REBORN1 Corinhians 15:42-44

Why is i so imporan ha Godgives us new bodies. Wha doeshis say abou he naure oheaven?

THE LORDS PRAYERMathew 6:9-13 (NKJV)Our Faher in heaven,

hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come. Your will be done

on Earh as i is in Heaven.

Give us his day our daily bread.

And orgive us our debs,

as we orgive our debors.

And do no lead us ino empaion,

bu deliver us rom he evil one.

For Yours is he kingdom and he power and

he glory orever. Amen.

PART 14: THE END OF THE STORY

REVELATION 21-22

ALL THINGS MADE NEW: God’s sory concludes wih he Lord reversing everyhing sin has done o corrup he world. God doeshis hrough Jesus. Jesus came he firs ime o secure our salvaion, and He will come again o bring i o ruiion. Through Jesuswe have he wonderul promise ha one day all ha is wrong will be made righ. When Jesus reurns o he world will see him orwho He ruly is: The eernal King who will reign on Earh as he does in Heaven.

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WELCOMEYou have heard me each hings ha have been confirmed by many reliable winesses. Now each hese ruhs o oher rusworhypeople who will be able o pass hem on o ohers. – 2 Timohy 2:2

Our culure or all i’s reedom o worship God has no produced very many people who ruly ollow God. And wha is missing isno people willing o atend church, bu raher “rusworhy” people who are willing o pass on o ohers wha i means o be adisciple.

FOLLOW ME

WHAT’S NEXT

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Follow Me-A Study in Discipleship

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