Category: Studies (Page 4 of 7)

Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the King.

~1 Peter 2:17

Materials Needed: None

Notes to the Leader: This lesson is about the Christian responsibility to obey those placed in authority over us like our government. It is easy to start a discussion on politics and find disagreement. As Christians we are called to both uphold the “Law” (capital L for God’s Laws) and also the “law” (lower case l for civil law or the law of man). There are times these conflict.

Life for a Christian is a constant balancing act. This lesson looks at some of the issues regarding our conflicts. As a discussion topic, abortion will be used several times as an example. Before you do, take time to understand who is in your group. This topic may not be appropriate for the group or just not the time to use a controversial example like this. If this is the case, substitute and find a current issue that goes against our Gospel. It is usually easy to do.

You will find this lesson filled with spirited discussion. Remember the old adage, “never discuss religion and politics?” Well, you will be doing both.

Introduction

Can you think of examples where our government has created bad laws from a Christian perspective?

• There are probably many.
• Try the right for children to seek an abortion without parental consent or notification.
• Try abortion itself
• Stem cell research on unborn embryos
• Removal of prayer in schools

Is it ever right to ignore a law and stand our ground on principle?

• Peter is going to go out on the same limb that Paul did in Romans 13:1, everyone must submit himself to the governing Authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.

Can you think of several examples where this has been demonstrated and documented in the Bible?

• Christ was clearly not guilty and reminded Pontius Pilate that the Romans wouldn’t have any power unless it was granted to him by God (John 19:11). Christ still submitted to worldly authority and let men put Him to death.
• The first chapter of Job demonstrates that even Satan operates within the boundaries established by God.

What is the one test that we can apply to any law or order to confirm if our obedience is consistent with the will of God?

• The only occasion for which a believer’s disobedience would be other than dishonoring to God is on those occasions when obeying government’s authority would be to directly disobey God’s authority. Then we must obey God rather than men (see Acts 5:26).

How would you apply this rule to the topic of abortion?

• As the Church, we should be working to foster adoption, helping our youth understand the risks of intimacy, and electing government officials that are committed to God’s Law first. God requires this of us. We should not become disruptive, destructive or hurtful to those who disagree with our beliefs. God establishes even the Supreme Court’s power.

Have someone in your group read Acts 4:19-20.

The Authorities told Peter and John to stop preaching the Gospel. Why didn’t they stop and obey the government?

• They chose to speak on what they saw and heard in direct compliance to God’s commands.

Section One: The Living Christ

Have someone in your group read 1 Peter 2:4-8.

Can someone who has rejected Christ’s offer of salvation be saved?

Re-read verse 8 to the group.

• Unless someone eventually accepts Christ’s offer, they will stumble and fall. Again, we find no biblical evidence that rejecting our God and our Christ can ever lead to salvation. Only through acceptance is salvation so graciously granted to us through God’s amazing grace.

Spend time in discussion here. Many people struggle with the idea that loved ones or others they may know would not be saved if they did not accept our Christ. Yet, that is one of the basic principles of the Christian faith that must be understood.

Read Isaiah 45:23 and Philippians 2:6-11 to the group.

What conclusions can you draw as to why rejecting Christ carries such a great penalty?

• Jesus is infinitely precious and valuable to His father. Chosen by God to be the Savior of the world, Jesus was exalted to the highest place and given all authority, His name is honored above all others.
  What is said about the believers?
• We are precious too. With Christ as our cornerstone, God uses Christians to build a spiritual house or place of worship.

Do you think that Peter was referencing the Christian propensity to build churches out of stone?

• On the contrary, Peter was referring to us as a people with the Holy Spirit dwelling in us.

What was unique about the role of the priest in the Jewish temples?

• Priests interceded for their people. Here, Peter is calling us Priests, capable of communicating direct to Christ, the true intercessor.

What did Peter mean when he referenced believers offering spiritual sacrifices to God? Didn’t Christ already do all of that?

• Though Christ offered the final sacrifice to atone for the sins of the world, the believer can offer up spiritual sacrifices of praise, intercession, thanksgiving, good works, and charitable giving. These sacrifices are not offered to secure our salvation, but to celebrate what has already happened.

Note: In spiritual terms, people trip over Jesus and His Gospel, because it is a nuisance to them. It interferes with the illusion of self-sufficiency and their “freedom” from moral boundaries. They refuse to heed the message of God’s truth because it is bothersome and inconvenient.

Section Two: God’s People

Have someone in your group read 1 Peter 2:9-10.

Why would God choose someone?

• Never because of their moral potential. Always because of His sovereign purpose.

Accepting this, why is it wrong to sit in moral judgment of anyone?

• We can never see or understand from God’s perspective, God’s purpose for anyone. This is His alone.

Read Hosea 2:1-23 to the group

What has Peter chosen to remind us of here?

• We once were lost people. But through God’s grace, we have been restored to God.

How should this fact alter a Christian’s perspective on their faith?

• Instead of thinking that God is kind, good, and would never do anything bad to anyone, we should choose to take a position of humility, understanding that we are eternally lost if it was not for the unselfish grace of our God. But we must be the one to take that first step and believe in the “cornerstone” and the “capstone.”

How can Christ be both the cornerstone and the capstone?

• A cornerstone is the first stone and the foundation that all else is aligned with and build upon.
• The capstone is the final stone that keeps all things together and creates the strength in the structure.

Section Three: God’s People, Do They Belong?

Have someone in your group read 1 Peter 2:11-12.

How would you describe a stranger in a foreign land?

• Temporary;
• In need of a guide;
• No legal status or rights;
• Possibly needing a letter of protection or visa.

How does the Holy Spirit work if we are strangers in a foreign land?

• The Holy Spirit is our visa, our protection, and our guide. (see Galatians 5:16-18)

When accused of non-compliance, what is the way Peter instructs us to respond?

• Not with loud declarations of innocence, but with blameless lives that would demonstrate the groundlessness of such.

What did Peter hope our lives would do?

• He hoped that by observing the lives of believers, the unrepentant would eventually turn to God, before the day Christ returned.

Section Four: We Honor our King

Have someone in your group read 1 Peter 2:13-20.

What are some ways we can respond to leaders when their decisions cause conflict for our Christian beliefs?

• We must always show respect, to all people because they have been created by God, in His image and deserve our respect.
• Hate the sin, love the sinner.
• Love.
• Cautious and reasonable fear. They do have the authority (granted by God) and can cause us pain and suffering.

Which of these acts are justifiable under Peter’s instructions to obey our masters? Consider that you have been directed by your boss to do these things.

Read this list to your group.

1. Change accounting figures so that our supervisor’s department looks better.

2. Misrepresent the features of a product to make the sales quota.

3. Exclude women and people of color because the company doesn’t hire them.

4. Tell an upset customer an untruth about the reason for a delay in their order.

5. Ignore a co-worker’s request to be a witness in a harassment legal case.

None are acceptable. They are all wrong under God’s Law.

Section Five: The Trust of God’s People

Have someone in your group read 1 Peter 2:21-25.

If we are in harmony with our bosses, can we assume that we must be doing everything OK?

• Hardly. Peter tells us that Christ suffered for standing up for God. When we make our decisions for God, and trust Christ, relying on the Holy Spirit, we are not guaranteed an easy time. Like Christ, we may very well suffer greatly.

Can a Christian ever be forced to sin?

• Not according to Peter. No one is ever forced to take sinful action, regardless of the circumstances that might provoke such. Even while being humiliated, Jesus held on to God’s truth, refusing the temporary, cold comfort of retribution or of deceitful words or thinking (vv. 23-24).

How would you know for sure that you are being asked something that God would not want you to do?

• Our standards must come from knowing God and knowing our Savior, Jesus. This knowledge comes from taking personal responsibility for the Bible’s content and, acknowledging, the Bible is the Word of our God.

Bible Truth Being Taught

We honor our God through appropriate submission to Authorities.

Our Response

To show proper submission t

Those who had been scattered preached the Word wherever they went.

~Acts 8:4

Materials Needed: Whiteboard or easel.

Notes to the Leader: In life, yourself or members of your group will have experiences difficult situations, painful experiences, trauma, loss and other not so pleasant happenings. Too often, the pat Christian answer is just that it must have been God’s will. Well, God does get His way but the story is just a little more complex. One element of hardship is to spread the Word of God. This study creates an opportunity to discuss hardships and how they have been and are used to spread the Kingdom of God.

Introduction

Have you ever wondered why God did not just let the Holy Spirit work in mankind to develop a hungry appetite for salvation instead of sending people out to evangelize?

• The answer to this question cannot be found directly in Scripture. However, we have come to understand that much of God’s plans are carried out with the aid of mankind because the effort itself is beneficial to us.

Do you think that the early Christian missionaries were pleased to leave their families and travel far from home?

• While there were no doubt Spirit-empowered people who felt a strong call to evangelize, most early Christians were not so anxious to become missionaries. Some were called but many were pushed or even chased into the mission field.

How was God’s plan served through the persecution of the early church?

• As people fled in fear, they were driven to all corners of the Mediterranean and effectively spread the Gospel message.

Section One: Saul, the Persecutor

Read Acts 7:58; 8:1 to the group.

Saul (the apostle Paul), was not only approving of the persecutions, he was a participant. There are several possible reasons for Saul’s actions:

• He may have been a member of the Sanhedrin.
• He may have acted as the herald, to announce the convicted person was about to be executed.
• Other thoughts indicate that Saul may have been a student and attended as part of his education.

Have someone in your group read Acts 20:4-5 and Acts 8:3.

What was Saul trying to do through his actions?

• He was trying to destroy the church. Saul wanted those he persecuted to give up there new found faith in Christ.

Where did Saul attack?

• The homes of families in which it held meetings (Acts 5:42). Men and women were jailed with many of them put to their death (Acts 22:4).

Note: The Greek translation for Saul’s actions was lumainomai, to “destroy” like a wild boar ravaging a vineyard. Saul’s actions were specifically targeted at the Grecian Christians (Stephen’s nationality), who had an effective ministry.

What does this tell us about our enemy Satan?

• He has been granted certain powers here on earth.
• His methods are ruthless and he goes directly into the home and family.
• He goes after those who are effective.
• Use this opportunity to have your group create a list on your whiteboard or easel.

What is happening today in our society with regard to the family?

• Divorce
• Abortion
• Drugs, alcohol, abuse, etc.
• Lack of morality

This should be an easy list to build. You may want to have the front page of your Sunday Edition news paper handy. Just read on. Satan gets good press coverage.

Read Acts 8:2 to the group.

• The Jewish Law prescribed burial for executed criminals, but strictly prohibited the public display of grief. In spite of the risk, devout men staged a public protest by having open deep mourning.

Section Two: The Early Church Spreads Anyway

Have someone in your group read Acts 8:4.

What evidence do you see that tells you that the early Christians had experienced a renewal of the Spirit and their needs had been met by the church?

• Their willingness to share the Gospel message in spite of the dangers.
• The early church had been about seven to eight years old at this time. People were getting comfortable about their faith.

Is there danger in becoming too comfortable in your Christian life?

• God wants His message spread throughout the world. While he wants people to become comfortable with their faith (it has been given to us through grace), He does not ever want us to become complacent with the message in the Gospel.

Have someone in your group read Acts 8:5-8.

What were the elements of Philip’s mission trip?

• Miracles and healing
• Proclaiming Christ

How would you apply these to the Church’s missions today?

• All of our activities must be balanced in both charity (handling the needs of people) and proclaiming Christ as Savior. To do one without the other is not mission.

Have someone in your group read Acts 8:9-13.

What do you find significant in these verses? Why would they be given to us as part of the New Testament?

• God is most interested in those who we would write off. Why?
• Because they become very effective in His ministry.

How would Simon’s conversion affected the people of Samaria?

• Added to the belief that all sins are forgiven through Christ and that all are welcome.

Have someone in your group read Acts 8:14-17.

There are three very unique facts that we are given in this Scripture. Can you find the facts?

• The apostle’s prayer for the Samaritans to receive the Spirit (v. 15).
• Mentioned nowhere else in Acts
• The lapse of time between initial faith and receiving the Spirit (v. 16).
• Mentioned in only two other places (Acts 9:17; 19:6).
• The link between laying hands on of hands and receiving the Spirit (v. 17).

What does this tell us about the Holy Spirit?

• The Holy Spirit adapts His activities to the uniqueness of the persons involved, their spiritual history and situations, and His plans for the church.
• The Spirit’s work is not limited by human preconceptions, expectations, or doctrinal deductions. He works any way He chooses.

Have someone in your group read Acts 8:18-24.

Was Simon a phony?

• We are not given enough to answer that question. However, this is what Simon didn’t get right:
• Simon had a flawed concept of grace. He thought he could buy God’s favor.
• Simon failed to grasp the difference between magical or occult powers by which he gained influence and the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit. He had unholy motives.
• Simon saw ministry in the Spirit as a means for personal profit.

What was missing from Simon’s conversion?

• He had unconfessed sin (v. 22).
• He needed to be forgiven (v. 22).
• He was full of spiritual poison (v. 23).
• He was still in spiritual bondage (v. 23).

What current events in your life, the lives of your group or your church might parallel this story in Acts?

• One could view any loss as God’s refocusing of His people upon His work.

Bible Truth Being Taught

God uses persecution and discomfort to release His people from being comfortable and get them to work on His priorities.

Our Response

To recognize discomfort and pressure as opportunities to mature and refocus our life on what God is calling us to do.

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;

~1 Peter 1:14-15

Materials Needed: Whiteboard or easel.

Notes to the Leader: This is a discussion-oriented study. It is very basic in its approach to Scripture and can be used for youth studies. The focus of this study is to get people to think about how they act and what they do. In a world filled with temptations, it is easy to get swept away in all of the peer pressure, media promotions, and selfishness promoted by society.

The goal of the leader is to get each person to understand that all of life is filled with choices. These are choices that each person makes for themselves and is held accountable for, measured against God’s standards.

Introduction

Begin class by making a two-column list: left side, list subtle and not-so-subtle sins; on the right side list a godly counterpart for each sin. (Example: gossip on the left – publicly praising another person on the right). Use this as interactive time to get everyone comfortable with participating in group conversation. This is not meant to be deeply personal. Just general discussion about what each person observes in their world.

Note: Peter lists habitual sins as bitterness, resentment, malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander.

Have someone in the group read 1 Peter 1:13-16.

How do you permanently change so as not to sin?

• With confession, repentance and the help of the Holy Spirit. The point here is that people cannot do this alone.

Note: Repentance means to turn, change direction, move down a new path. Many people are sorry for what they do wrong but never modify their behavior.

Have someone read read 1 Peter 1:17.

After someone is saved, what kind of change in behavior would you expect to see?

• Living in reverent fear

What is “living in reverent fear?”

• To gird up one’s loins referred to the practice of taking the loose clothing of the times and tucking into their waistband as preparation to work. It meant getting ready.

Read 1 Peter 1:13 to the group.

How does the modern day Christian gird up their loins? (Hint: Prepare their minds)

• Through self-control. The original Greek word was neepho meaning “living and acting in watchful vigilance.”

Why do we as Christians continue to struggle with our sinful desires?

• Our old self, focused on self-preservation, survival and advancement, continues to sell us with promises that cannot be kept.

Have someone in the group read 1 Peter 1:17-21.

How would you describe the lifestyle Peter refers to as “living as a stranger in a foreign land?”

• Not a citizen, therefore, not fully controlled by their culture.
• Obedient to their laws for self-preservation’s sake.
• As a temporary guest.
• With a longing to always return to your real home.
• Never gaining full approval of the local citizens.
• If the Jews had been pursuing salvation “by works” and the gentiles had been pursuing salvation through the “worship of idols,” how does Paul say we are different today after Christ?
• Christ negated the value of acts and things as a means to salvation through His death and resurrection.

Have someone in the group read 1 Peter 1:22-25.

What does “obedience to truth” mean to you?

• No right or wrong answer here, just a discussion point.

Assuming that “obedience to truth” is related to Scripture, Is it possible to believe in God, Christ, and be saved without believing that the Bible is the Word of God?

• While believing in the power of Christ’s atoning work is in itself, the ultimate act of obedience, it is virtually impossible to separate God’s Word from our belief system (see verse 22).

How should God’s Word affect us?

• We should have a love for one another that comes deeply from the heart.

Do we as a nation of God-believers love one another “deeply and from the heart?”

• It’s hard to find proof that, as a nation, we have moved beyond the primitive motives of self-preservation, survival and advancement.

Note: Peter talks first about phileo love, a sincere friendship but goes on to say we must also move to agape love, that is to demonstrate the love of Christ to someone regardless of their own response.

Read 1 Peter 1:24 to the group.

What point is Peter trying to make about the Word of God?

• People are like grass, here only for a brief time, but the Word of God, the Truth of God and God have endured for all eternity.

Have someone in the group read 1 Peter 2:1-3.

Who was Peter addressing in his advice to change their ways?

• We have met the enemy and it is us (Christians)
• Go back to your whiteboard or easel. as the group to define the following sins Peter was talking about in the prior reading.
  • Malice – The intent to cause someone harm and usually springs from unforgiveness.
  • Deceit – A deliberate attempt to mislead someone (hypocrisy).
  • Envy – It is the lie that we cannot be happy unless we have what someone else has. It is the curse of comparison. A by-product is often slander, hurting someone’s reputation.
  • Take several minutes at the end of your time for silent prayer for the following purpose:
  • Identify a sin we have discussed that you have a habitual problem with.
  • Silently confess this sin.
• Thank God for His forgiveness and asking God’s direction in how to substitute godly behavior.

Bible Truth Being Taught

Sin can enter any Christian’s life but it is through God’s Word that we understand the sin and are moved to repentance.

Our Response

To make the Word of God a part of your life for your entire life.

“women should be silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.”

~1 Corinthians 13:34-35

Materials Needed: None

Note to the Leader:  What do you think of the Bible verses from Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth?

PLEASE READ THIS: If you think this verse is in error, this study is a must. If you think this verse is correct, this study is a must. We should NEVER take Scripture verses literally or out of context. The Apostle Paul is not telling women they cannot speak in churches.  Yet, many denominations interpret these verses incorrectly.  Rest assured that it is not the intent of this study to demean the role of women in the Christian church. All of the study material presented by Lostpine is based upon the doctrine that women share an “equal role” in the life of Christ’s Church. This study is about making decisions based on literal interpretations of Scripture, incomplete information or self-serving interests. The common error Christians make is jumping to their conclusions too quickly, without sufficient time spent to understand the full context of God’s Word.

The leader should let the group express their opinions and then begin the study. It is a study to expand one’s perspective rather than address the role of women in the church. This study is about “how to study” and not the role of men and women.

If the views of the group are diverse and challenge the writings of Paul, then ask the next question. Otherwise, skip the next question.

Does this mean that the Bible is wrong?

• No. It means that in order to understand God’s Word and His message to us, we need to work a little bit.

First, What do we know about the city named Corinth?

• Corinth was an ancient city of Greece located on the Isthmus of Corinth (see the map). Because of its location close to trade routes and harbors, Corinth enjoyed great prosperity. It also enjoyed a reputation for luxury and its name became proverbial for sexual laxity (Corinthianize means to practice sexual immorality). Corinth contained at least 12 temples. One of the most infamous was the temple dedicated to Aphrodite, the goddess of love, whose worshipers practiced religious prostitution. At one time, over 1,000 sacred prostitutes served the temple. Paul spent about eighteen months in the city prior to writing his first letter to the city church.

Do you think it would be hard to start a church in a city like Corinth? Why?

• There was a lot of competition from other churches.
• The existing culture was very different from the one the Christian church was teaching.
• Prosperity brought on a lot of distractions to the people living there (250,000 free people; 400,000 slaves).

Read 1 Corinthians 7:8 and 1 Timothy 5:14 to your group. Paul gives apposing advice in both cases.

Why would Paul tell the widows of Corinth not to marry while to the widows of Ephesus, he told they should marry?

• This is just one example of Paul’s advice being based on a different situation in a different place.
• Paul understood that the environment in Corinth placed the widows in a risky situation and his advice to them was to avoid it while Ephesus provided a more normal community and Paul was encouraging re-marriage.

Point One: Each Bible study should consider the environment, the circumstances, the surroundings that generated the necessity for God’s Word. We are called to expand our thinking. It would be no different than if you picked up an old letter written to someone. If you do not take the time to know both parties, it is difficult to guess the intent of the message.

Why was Paul writing the letter?

• Paul was responding to a letter from the leaders of the church. (See 1 Corinthians 7:1)

What is the difference between a story/book and a letter like Paul wrote? Length doesn’t count as a difference.

• Stories or books tend to present complete thoughts.
• They ask both the question and propose an answer.
• In the example of Paul’s letter to the church of Corinth, we do not have the questions to guide us, only the answers. The copy of the letter written to Paul is not available to us. Therefore, we have only half of the story.
  Note to the Leader: If you have time and desire additional points to bring forward, you may also want to consider 1 Corinthians 11:3-16. In this Scripture, Paul appears to state the subservient position of women to men. He admonishes women for not covering their hair. Here is an excerpt from the commentary of William Barclay:
• “It must always be remembered that this situation arose in Corinth, probably the most licentious city in the world. Paul’s point of view was that in such a situation it was far better to err on the side of being too modest and too strict rather than to do anything which might either give the heathen a chance to criticize the Christians as being too lax or cause of temptation to the Christian themselves.
• It would be quite wrong to make this passage of universal application; it was intensely relevant to the Church of Corinth but it has nothing to do with whether or not women should wear hats in church at the present day. But for all its local significance it has three great permanent truths in it.
• It is always better to err on the side of being too strict than on the side of being too lax.
• Even after he has stressed the subordination of women, Paul goes on to stress even more directly the essential partnership of man and woman.
• Paul finishes the passage with a rebuke of the man who argues for the sake of argument. Whatever the differences that may arise between men, there is no place in the Church for the deliberately contentious man or woman.”

Point Two: When you don’t have the whole story, proceed with caution before forming an opinion. Imaging reading a letter that is an answer to a question. However, you don’t know the question. Confusing? Yes, and that is just what we have here in attempting to understand the Apostle Paul. We know his answer but don’t know the question.

What do you make of Paul’s comments made just prior to our controversial verses?

Have someone in the group read 1 Corinthians 14:26-33

• Paul is speaking to orderly worship. We must imagine that in the church when this newly forming band of Christians were gathered for worship and study, there was disorder. Think of the people, especially the women that would have been attracted to that early church. Paul is stating that one cannot grow in their faith and learn in the presence of chaos.

What would a worship service be like in your church if your evangelism program was successful in recruiting people from the go-go clubs, bars, strip clubs, off the streets, etc. and granted them immediate membership?

• Dress code might be offensive or improper. It could be hard to concentrate on God.
• People without an understanding of our faith would actively engage in our worship experience incorrectly.
• Some might attempt to become active as officers, misleading people and misinterpreting the Gospel.

What does Paul tell us about disorder?

Read 1 Corinthians 14:33. “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.”

• Paul views disorder as something that must be removed from the church.

Could the women of Corinth have been disruptive in the early church and could the early church leaders of the church of Corinth been asking Paul for advice?

• Very much so. While we don’t know for sure, the circumstances surrounding the issue require us to keep an open mind about the subject.

Point Three: Before interpreting a section of Scripture, search before and after the verses in question to understand the ’s purpose and perspective. Try to answer this question:

Why was this message being conveyed?

How could we further prove that Paul did not mean for this to be a blanket statement and a condemnation against all women?

• Look for more proof that the church had a problem.
• Look elsewhere to see how Paul worked with other women in the early church.

Note to the Leader: The following material was obtained by searching Encyclopedia.com. Using the Internet to supplement materials is an excellent way to expand the knowledge you pass onto your class and make the study time more interesting. Here is an example of additional information found on the Internet.

Saint Clement the First

Died in A.D. 97?, a pope (A.D. 88?-97?), martyr. Highly esteemed in his day, he may have known Saints PETER and PAUL. Some until the 4th century considered his letter to the Corinthians canonical (reducing something to its simplest form) and is notable for the authority Clement assumes. He was the first Christian writer to use the phoenix as an allegory (a symbolic representation) of the Resurrection.

The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians – CHAPTER III.–THE SAD STATE OF THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH AFTER SEDITION AROSE IN IT FROM ENVY AND EMULATION.

Every kind of honor and happiness was bestowed upon you, and then was fulfilled that which is written, “My beloved did eat and drink, and was enlarged and became fat, and kicked.” Hence flowed emulation and envy, strife and sedition, persecution and disorder, war and captivity. So the worthless rose up against the honored, those of no reputation against such as were renowned, the foolish against the wise, the young against those advanced in years. For this reason righteousness and peace are now far departed from you, inasmuch as every one abandons the fear of God, and is become blind in His faith, neither walks in the ordinances of His appointment, nor acts a part becoming a Christian, but walks after his own wicked lusts, resuming the practice of an unrighteous and ungodly envy, by which death itself entered into the world.

Reading another letter (not part of the Bible) but part of our historical archives from someone close to the problem (St. Clement), What conclusion can you draw?

• There was chaos in the Christian church of Corinth, especially associated with envy, lust and leading lives not consistent with the Gospel’s message.
• Paul passes these basic principles to the Corinth leaders:
  • The teaching and preaching of the Word takes precedence over everything else;
  • The church must be built up;
  • The must be nothing that would hurt the testimony before unbelievers;
  • There must always be self-control;
  • Everything must be done “decently and in order,” following the Word of God;
  • Women (in the church of Corinth) were not to exercise authority over men;
  • There must be understanding before there can be blessings.

Point Four: Seek as much other information as you can; both from within Scripture, and from trusted sources such as accepted doctrinal writings. This point speaks to the reason why formal Bible studies are so important. Working with a study leader and supporting study material, the growth and understanding one receives is maximized.

From Paul’s letter to Timothy, read 1 Timothy 2:9-11. Does this sound more or less strict than what you read in 1 Corinthians?

• Timothy was caring for the church in Ephesus. Paul again passes on some advice to Timothy. The statement is much more reasonable. However, even with this additional letter, we cannot draw a broad conclusion that this must apply to all women in all churches for all times. Again there were problems in the church in Ephesus that Timothy needed some advice on.

Have someone in the group read Romans 16:1-4

Is there an example of where Paul modeled the a different opinion of women in the church?

• Go back to the Greek. Paul uses the word diaconate when describing Phoebe making her a deaconess and giving her the honor of carrying his letter to the Roman church with her. We also meet Priscilla and Aquila again (Acts 18:2 – 28; 1 Corinthians 16:19; and 2 Timothy 4:19). Both had met Paul in Corinth, and now, were building a church in their house back in Rome. Nine women are mentioned in this chapter, all in a loving way for their involvement in Christ’s church.

Point Five: Seek elsewhere in the Bible. God’s Word is consistent. It is our understanding that is inconsistent. Remember Paul’s words, “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” By taking a topic and using more than one example in Scripture, you avoid the risk of making a “literal translation.”

Point Six: What if Paul really never said this and someone such as a later Scribe, added the statements to serve a special interest group.

Are these verses consistent with other statements made in 1 Corinthians?

Have someone read 1 Corinthians 11:5

• Paul is in direct contradiction here where he states women “do teach and prophesy.” To prophesy means to tell others about God and Christ. There are modern day theologians who believe these verses were added later. Their opinions are based on the broken flow, the contradictory statements not only in the Letters to Corinth but elsewhere in Scriptures.

Note to the Leader: The Scriptures quoted here are but a small portion of how God instructs men and women to work together and to understand their roles in His kingdom. They were chosen to illustrate how easy it is to jump to improper conclusions and to suggest just a few ways one might approach Bible study. This study also establishes that Paul’s ministry had many women who were part of the early church.

Bible Truth Being Taught

God created men and women to share His world and to share Christ’s work.

Our Response

To share respect between the sexes and work together in peace. There is enough work for all of us to do.

And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God.

~1 Samuel 23:16

Materials Needed: 3X5 index cards and pencils; whiteboard or easel.

Notes to the Leader: Many people question the value of the Old Testament. This is one study that can be used to demonstrate the learnings for the modern day New Testament Christian that can come from our rich Biblical history. By studying the struggles of David, we can see how he overcame the human conditions of stress and built his confidence upon God. The lesson is not long and provides adequate time for discussion. It is an excellent choice for new groups.

Introduction

Pass out 3X5 index cards and pencils to everyone in your group. Now ask each of your group to take a few minutes and think about the spiritual victories and defeats they have had in their life, big or small. They could have had a positive or a negative impact on their life. Ask them to try to think of at least three victories and defeats and write them down. Emphasize that you will not be asking for the cards.

Section One: Sharing

Now as the group leader, share your list with the group. Your high points and your low points.

What do you think we learn from our defeats?

• Common sense – Many of life’s disappointments are good lessons that serve us in later years.
• We are not alone – As an individual, a defeat can be emotionally devastating. However, the fellowship of a Christian community can often sooth the disappointment. It is rare that we suffer a defeat that has not been experienced by someone else. (Read 1 Corinthians 10:13)
• Who God is – In a fast paced world it is often easy to be distracted. Many find that they began to give God a place in their hearts when the distractions were displaced by a major disappointment in life.
• Faith – It is the fundamental attribute of salvation. Many people are distracted by the abundances, indulgences and their successes in this world. For these people, they may find that faith is only strengthened by life’s defeats.

Why do you think God gives us spiritual victories?

• It is possible to take the position that God always gives us spiritual victories. Our human perspective (limited) and the finite nature of man (always thinking short term) clouds the true victory. It is through our faith that we trust all things are for our good. This is, of course, easy to say and hard to do. Hence, the peaks and valleys. God loves us in spite of this and has no desire to break our will for Him, only our grip on this world.

Finish this section by reading 1 Samuel 13:14, emphasizing that even someone after God’s own heart has spiritual ups and downs.

Section Two: David’s Ups and Downs

One verse at a time, read the following verses. As your group to look for the incidents in David’s life and whether they were they positive or negative. Don’t concentrate on the correctness of answers as much as the discussion.

• 1 Samuel 21:10 – Fled from Saul
• 1 Samuel 21:13 – Feigned madness
• 1 Samuel 22:5 – Followed God’s command
• 1 Samuel 22:23 – Abiathar’s friendship
• 1 Samuel 23:5 – Rescue of Keilah
• 1 Samuel 23:16 – Encouraged by Jonathan
• 1 Samuel 24:10 – Spared Saul

Section Three: David’s Choices

What were David’s alternatives to trusting God?

• Confidence in his own abilities, his wealth, his friends, etc.

What are our alternatives to trusting God? Are they any good?

• They are the same as David’s. Unfortunately, none of them are reliable.

Why does it seem easier, for some people, to trust in these than God?

• Trust may seem an emotion but it is, in fact, an act of will. Each of us deliberately determines what we trust in and what gains our commitment.

How then, do we establish, build and strengthen our faith in God?

• Focusing our thoughts more on God’s power, wisdom, knowledge, and love than about our own problems.

Have your group build a list on the whiteboard or easel ways they use to build and strengthen their faith.

• More time in prayer;
• More time reading Scripture;
• Better preparation for bible study;
• Sharing of your faith with others;
• Less time thinking/talking about problems;
• Volunteering time to church, community, needy;
• More accepting of family’s faults;
• More laughter, fewer tears;
• Encouraging others in their faith;
• Helping those in need;
• Keeping a journal on answered prayers and your faith walk.

Re-read the study verse 1 Samuel 23:16 to your group again.

• To strengthen someone’s faith is, in itself, is a faith-strengthening act.

Bible Truth Being Taught

God Himself is a resource for each of us to seek strength with so that we may overcome fear and build confidence.

Our Response

To be in constant obedience to God and earnestly seek His will, building spiritual character in order that we may meet life’s stresses and find strength and confidence in the Lord.

Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

~Proverbs 30:5

Materials Needed: Paper and pencils to be passed out at the beginning of the lesson.

Notes to the Leader: This is a discussion-oriented study. It deals with one’s acceptance of a higher, more knowledgeable power than humans — God.

The exercise in the beginning is one of “apologetics,” that is, the defense of one’s beliefs or faith structure. Depending on the size of the group, you may want to have everyone do their own or break the group into smaller teams.

Then forming teams, use a random technique to select members. In this way, you will be helping your group get to know each other better.

Introduction

If you had one minute to convince someone God was real, what would you say?

• Let each person or group share their thoughts and ideas. This is just a warm up for the lesson.

Do you think that most agnostics believe there is no God or have closed their minds and are simply unwilling to acknowledge the existence of a God with whom they do not wish to deal?

• It is a human trait to avoid that which is unpleasant or requires sacrifice. Much depends on where the agnostic is with respect to their own faith journey. Most probably are just avoiding what they believe will not bring them joy.
• Some have hardened their hearts (see Romans 1:21 for more information).

Have someone in the group read 1 Corinthians 8:1-3.

What is the key difference between those who seek to know God and those who do not care to know Him?

• We know that we are known by God.

Section One: Agur

Read Proverbs 30:1-3 to the group set up the study. This is all we know about Agur, what is written in these three verses. He is the of this proverb. As a background, we have the following biblical information:

The reign of King Hezekiah was marked by the reopening of diplomatic relations with neighboring nations. Hezekiah displayed his treasures to foreign emissaries. Hezekiah had a zeal for collecting writings that bore the stamp of godly wisdom. It is, therefore, possible that a neighboring nation, wishing to honor him with a gift he would appreciate, shared with him the writings of a God-fearing Gentile named Agur.

The Hebrew word massa, translated “oracle, may actually be the name of a tribe in Northern Arabia descended from Abraham’s son Ishmael (Gen. 25:13-14). If this is correct, Agur may have been a tribal wise man or chief of the Massaites. This would place him in the same part of the world that Job described as “the people of the East” (Job 1:1-3), who were noted for their wisdom (1 Kings 4:30-31).

It is also possible that Agur was a brother to Lemuel (31:1), northern Arabic royalty and relatives to Abraham.

What do you think the world will remember our generation and nation for 3,000 years from now?

Make a list from your group’s ideas. Encourage discussion.

• Isn’t it interesting that history rarely remembers the technological contributions of ancient societies. It is their character and contribution to life’s wisdom that seems to be remembered and reflected upon.

What can you tell about the person, Agur?

• He was a man of great wisdom because he had great humility.

Have someone read Proverbs 30:1-6. Hebrew scholars say the second part of verse one is difficult to translate. It can be either the names of two of Agur’s students or be translated “I am weary, O God; I am weary, O God, and Faint.”

What are the three claims being made by Agur?

• He admits his personal limitations in his struggle to know God.
• He makes no claims of superior wisdom or knowledge. In his eyes, he knows less than a man ought to know.
• In spite of his best efforts, his grasp of wisdom and knowledge of God is incomplete.

Can you relate Agur and his attitudes to yourself?

• It is through the Scripture, verses like these, that we begin to gain comfort in our own struggles. To struggle, is part of the search for God’s wisdom.

What is so important about Agur’s struggle and his attitude?

• Agur has acknowledged that Someone is in control of the universe.

Can you share some of the moments in your life that you came to believe that Someone was in charge of the universe?

• For me it was a campout in Walton Hills, Ohio. I was about 15 years old. My buddies and I were sleeping out under the stars without city lights. Laying there staring up at the sky, I suddenly became overwhelmed with my insignificance. The universe was no “by chance happening.” Up to that time I had been taught there was a God. From that moment on, I knew there was a God. Please tell your story here.

Read the last part of verse 4 to the group.

What is the revelation that Agur is making here?

• God is a person. The question, “What is his name?” is meant to ask, what is God’s character like?
• Knowing now, that Christ is God, How does the New Testament alter one’s quest for wisdom?
• The quest to know the truth climaxes when the focus turns to Jesus (read Matthew 11:28-30)

Where does Agur say the knowledge of God can be found?

• In God’s Word.

While this may seem an obvious answer, why is this point so important?

• In order to find the knowledge to understand God’s character, we must first believe that the Bible is God’s Word.

What is it that each of us must believe in order to know that the Bible is God’s Word?

• God’s word is flawless. It is not acceptable to pick and choose the parts of Scripture that we like. It is all true. It is man’s knowledge that is flawed.
• God’s word is a shield. The wisdom in God’s word protects.
• God’s word is whole. We do not have to add the ideas of men to it.

Section Two: Agur’s Generation

Have someone in the group read Proverbs 30:7-9.

What is the wisdom in Agur’s prayer?

• Agur seems to know that he needs protection from dishonesty, self-deception, hypocrisy, and lying.
• He also recognizes that it is a blessing to have only what you need. There are risks for those with too much and too little.

Read Proverbs 30:10 to the group.

In Agur’s time, there was a family bond between a servant and master. How should this type of bond translate into today’s society?

• Most of us would defend our families. That is not the issue here. The master-servant relationship has taken on a different form in our society. Workers and employers, parents with teachers, a congregation with its ministers, etc. all should exemplify the type of protective relationship mentioned here.

Have someone in the group read Proverbs 30:11-14, 17.

Who are the “generation” that Agur is talking about? (there are four groups)

1. A generation of children who dishonor their parents (v. 11)
2. A generation of self-righteousness and hypocrisy (v. 12)
3. A haughty generation, looking down on those “beneath” them (v. 13)
4. A generation characterized by selfishness and greed (v. 14)

Do you think that we have any of these types of groups in our society today?

• It is a shame that we have begun to accept this type of behavior. It is commonplace in most of our society and recognized as normal behavior.

Have someone in the group read Proverbs 30:15-16. This text is referring to the “horse leech,” a picture of insatiable appetite for blood. The horse leech has two suckers, one at each end.

What is his point here?

• You can never satisfy human greed.

Have someone in the group read Proverbs 30:18-19. Agur recognizes the miraculous things in nature. His three wonders lead him to a fourth, which is the most wonderful of all.

How would you describe Agur’s wonderment?

• The Hebrew word used for woman translates as “virgin.” Agur is referring to wholesome romance, healthy lovemaking. The Bible is quite positive in its documentation of a man and woman’s relationship.

Have someone in the group read Proverbs 30:21-23.

Why are the four circumstances Agur mentions so bad?

1. The slave becomes a king (a slave is not prepared to reign)
2. The fool succeeds (the fool does not understand how to handle his abundance.
3. A married woman is unloved (the unloved woman makes life miserable for her husband)
4. The servant girl wins her master’s affections and replaces here mistress (the maidservant becomes haughty and upsets the household)

Read Proverbs 30:24-28. This is a lesson on how people with disadvantages can overcome them.

What is the lesson here?

• Ants, weak by comparison, teach us to plan ahead (v. 25)
• Coneys (similar to groundhogs), timid and powerless, teach us to make wise choices by staying close to protective crevices where they can dash when threatened (v. 26)
• Locusts have no apparent leader but they move across the land. This teaches us to work together (v. 27)
• The desert lizard, so small, it is held in the hand, teaches us that persistence, not size or strength, is the secret of success (v. 28)

Have someone in the group read Proverbs 30:29-31. The Hebrew word used here is translated to mean “stately.” It refers to those who do things well.

Can you see the point of this?

• The Bible does not value mediocrity.

Read to the group Proverbs 30:32-33.

End with this thought:

• We are given advice to quickly seek the silence of humiliation and repentance if we realize that we have acted foolishly. Pride leads to anger and quarreling.

Bible Truth Being Taught

True wisdom is based on a humble attitude that acknowledges the limits of human knowledge, the greatness of God, and the reliability of God’s Word.

Our Response

To recognize our limits, our dependence on God to show us Himself, and delight in the wisdom that comes from our limitations.

It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart.

~Ecclesiastes 7:2

Materials Needed: None.

Notes to the Leader: There is often a pattern that develops with Bible Study in that the literal translation of Scripture is passed over without in-depth examination. You might call it teaching by snippets. The danger is that erroneous conclusions can be drawn, leading someone away from the very behavior God desires. In this lesson, we find a good place to observe the risks of taking Scripture literally. Solomon is dead wrong about his observations concerning death. The value is not in his words but the study of supporting Scripture and in understanding his errors of judgment. This study weaves Old and New Testament views of death together into a hope-filled story.

Introduction

How would you compare the social discussion that goes on at a wedding versus a funeral?

• At weddings, all things point to the future. One’s expectations for life take center stage.
• At a funeral, people tend to examine the life of the departed. There is even a tendency to do some reflection on your own life.

Why do you think that Solomon, the wisest and richest man in the world, should be so preoccupied by death?

• Solomon viewed death as an end, rather than a beginning. Therefore, as he looked into the future, he saw that death stole all the profits of a man’s labor.
• Solomon’s description of a house of mourning was meant to be a funeral while his reference to a house of feasting was meant to be a wedding. His methodology of investigating by looking ahead had hit a road block. Solomon’s vision ended at man’s death.

Section One: Why Death is Better than Life

Have someone in your group read Ecclesiastes 6:1-12.

What is the irony that Solomon struggles to understand?

• People are blessed with affluence but are never satisfied. Contentment, therefore, cannot be achieved.

What is the strange relationship that Solomon sees between desire, possessions, and enjoyment?

• Some desire but never posses. Others posses but never enjoy. Solomon sees the fact that a stranger gets to enjoy what is owned by another as a grievous evil and one of the cruel ironies that make life so meaningless.

In Old Testament times, a person with many children or a person with a long life were seen as blessed. Someone with both, were very blessed. Solomon concludes that even with these blessings, someone may not enjoy the prosperity or even have a proper burial.

Read Jeremiah 22:18-19 to your group.

What is the disgrace that is discussed here?

• Jewish burials typically took place the same day a person died. Friends and neighbors gathered to show respect and mourn openly and loudly. All who saw a funeral procession were expected to join in. In contrast, Jeremiah cursed King Jehoiakim by saying that he would have a burial of a donkey.

Why is Solomon saying that a stillborn child is better off?

• The family mourns and the child never had to experience and loose the many worldly blessings. Solomon states the ultimate in negative attitudes, “it is better to have never lived than to live.”

Re-read Ecclesiastes 6:7-8 to your group.

What does Solomon say about the human appetite (desires)?

• Even when we get what we want, we are not satisfied.
• The wise man has no advantage over the fool.
• The poor man who knows how to live properly has no advantage if he cannot acquire what he truly wants.

Note: Solomon does admit that to be satisfied with what you have is better than wanting what you cannot have. But he attaches no real meaning to this fact either.

Re-read Ecclesiastes 6:10-12 to your group.

What does Solomon mean when he says, “what man is has been known from the beginning?”

• The name of man, Adam, means “from the earth.” There is a Hebrew idiom that says to give something a name is to cause it to exist. Solomon confirms that the nature of all things have been defined by a Creator. Solomon concludes, that since God has named man “from the earth,” man is of the earth.

Section Two: Is Death Man’s Destiny?

Have someone in your group read Ecclesiastes 7:1-6.

Solomon is stating that the day of death is better that the day of birth. Why?

• Solomon concludes, that to gain a greater perspective on live, one must contemplate death. On one’s day of birth, we cannot conclude whether that new life will be a happy one. However, on one’s death, one can look back and draw all of the necessary conclusions. Solomon’s four points are:
• It is better to go to a funeral than to a wedding
• The living should take their destiny (death) to heart
• Sorrow is better than laughter
• The wise prefer sober reflection (the heart in the house of mourning)
• Reproof is better than frivolity
• How has Solomon come to such a hopeless view of humanity?
• He has limited his understanding only to that which he could observe, experience or understand. When coming to grips with our own faith in Christ, it is important we do not follow in Solomon’s footsteps.

Have someone in your group read Ecclesiastes 7:7-14.

Solomon draws the conclusion that we are not in control of our own lives. Why?

• Even a wise person can fail by being a victim of extortion or bribery
• The impatient and proud act hastily and can’t wait to see how things turn out
• It is dangerous to let yourself be provoked to anger
• The traditions of the past are poor guidelines for the present
• Wisdom benefits the living (wisdom is no benefit to the dead)
• Wisdom and money are both useful, but wisdom is more likely to extend one’s life

Note: Solomon has given us some good advice and stated a truth here. Only at the end of our life can we look back and tell whether our lives have been good or bad.

What are some of Solomon’s incorrect assumptions?

• It is not true that by looking back, we can find any meaning to life
• Biological life is not really the end of any individual’s existence

Section Three: Death in the Old Testament

Read Genesis 2:7 to your group.

What was unique about God’s life to man?

• It was comprised of both a physical life and a spiritual state.
• It involved the gift of an image or likeness.

What does this gift of God’s image or likeness do for us?

• It lifts us above animal creation and makes each human being special.

Read Genesis 2:17 to your group.

What happened to Adam and Eve with respect to death?

• They died both spiritually and physically (their bodies began to decay and break down)

What is spiritual death?

• Being cut off from an intimate relationship with God and it also corrupts our relationships with others.

Read Genesis 3:21 to your group.

Why did God clothe Adam and Eve with animal skins? Why wasn’t this something Adam and Eve did for themselves out of shame and fear?

• These were history’s first sacrifices. This is the first intimation in Scripture that the effects of sin could be reversed by the death of a substitute.

What did this first sacrifice do?

• Adam and Eve were again able to fellowship with the Lord. While this was a temporary bridge over the chasm of spiritual death, it offered hope that one day, a permanent restoration would occur.

If God made this repair to their spiritual life, why wouldn’t He do the same for their biological life as well?

• He did, but not until the resurrection of Christ.

Section Four: Death in the New Testament

Have someone in your group read Ephesians 2:1-5.

What similarity to you see here with regard to spiritual death?

• God restores spiritual life that has been dead because of sin.

What does God do about our biological death?

• His restoration through Christ is complete. While we live here in physical decay, we respond with hope in His Gospel that, through His love and mercy, freely given to us, we will gain eternal life.

What would you consider to be the most important benefit of eternal life?

• The complete restoration of our intimate relationship with God.

Bible Truth Being Taught

Death may be the destiny of the living, but it is not the end.

Our Response

To consider our eternal destiny of greater importance than the concerns of this life.

He said to them,’ You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.

~Luke 16:15

Materials Needed: Whiteboard or easel.

Notes to the Leader: Most people who participate in this Bible study will be, by worldly standards, considered wealthy. This study will not teach that wealth is bad. It is not. However, wealth is to be treated as temporarily ours, eternally belonging to God. In your group, you will discuss the uses of wealth and how to be good stewards. You will be reading the parable of the shrewd manager for this study.

Introduction

Plan on writing down the ideas that your group gives you. Accept everything, don’t don’t accept the pat answers, but let the group give you a worldly definition.

How you define wealth?

• Put your own definition onto the whiteboard or easel when others are done.
• Read Webster’s definition: A great store of valuable possessions, property, or riches; A rich abundance or profusion of anything.

Section One: Wealth

Now have someone in your group read Luke 16:1-13

Do you think that God’s view of wealth differs much from your definitions that were listed on your whiteboard or easel?

• People tend to limit wealth to tangible, physical things. While God and man typically define wealth in the same way, God views wealth much like Webster, an abundance of anything.

What other types of intangible wealth might be included into this broader definition?

• Talent, special skills, intellect, education, creativity, physical appearances, etc.

Have someone in your group read Luke 16:8-9

If, then, God and mankind share mostly comparable definitions of wealth, then what was Jesus trying to tell us in the parable of the shrewd manager?

Before you receive any answers, ask: Was Jesus really saying it was OK to be dishonest?

• Yes, we are called to be creative and to use our wealth to gain favor with others when we are in need but, no, we are not called to dishonesty. Jesus considers all of us in constant need, especially in need of friends that will meet us in the eternal world. Too often, we use our wealth, tangible and intangible, for personal gain and benefits only good during these temporal times. The things we acquire and the people we befriend are frequently done so for access to today’s pleasures. Jesus tells us that each person is to be measured on how they have used both their physical (tangible) wealth as well as their God-given (intangible) wealth to gain favor with those things of a more eternal perspective.

List some ways that cleverness and creativity can be used in a personal ministry for Christ?

• Teaching
• Raising money for the Church
• Solving problems as a church officer
• Presenting the Gospel’s message in an appealing fashion

Have someone in your group read Luke 16:14-15

Tell your group to think of the things they saw on television this past week. Make two lists, those things that were acceptable and those things that were not acceptable.

Now think back 10 to 25 years — How many of the acceptable things would you move to the unacceptable column if you were to use yesteryear’s criteria?

• It is usually quite easy to point out that we would move many of the items from today’s acceptable list to yesterday’s unacceptable list.

Would you draw the conclusion that, today, our standards have shifted and are allowing less desirable things on television?

• It is not difficult to see that standards within our society’s television habits have shifted to the more liberal with regard to violence, sex, homosexuality, etc.

Using Luke 16:14-15 as Jesus’ insight as to the character of Pharisees, what conclusion do you draw as to why our standards within our society are changing for the worse?

• Jesus indicates that self-justification and the human desire to satisfy with things of this world are several key driving forces.

If self-justification is so bad, how do we guard ourselves against falling into this trap?

• A repentant nature
• Obedience
• Full/complete reliance upon Christ
• There are no real short cuts

Section Two: More Lessons

Have someone in your group read Luke 16:16-18

The smallest letter of the Greek alphabet is the letter (i) called the iota (Hebrew is yodh). You may have heard the term, “Not one iota.” Jesus is very explicit here about God’s law. What conclusion do you draw?

• God’s law is fixed. No amount of intellectual study, human knowledge, or self-justification can alter Its meaning or intent. While it should not be the intent to draw judgment with regard to any situation of divorce, one can conclude that our world has eroded the meaning and commitments of marriage. Jesus reminds us, however, that God has not. (If necessary, review Matthew 19:8-9 regarding divorce).

Section Three: A Rich Man and Lazarus

Have someone in your group read Luke 16:19-31

What are the differences between the Rich Man and Lazarus?

Who had the tangible wealth, and who had the intangible wealth?

Whose life was better in this world? Whose life is better now?

In the final analysis of the Rich Man, what world do you think he would pick if he had it to do over again?

With this same knowledge now, why do you think that so many people still pick this world over the eternal benefits of the next?

• A question pursued since man was first created and only God holds the answer.

How does one’s humility fit into this issue of wealth?

• Jesus seems to be telling us that we have a choice as to which world we can receive our rewards. The pleasures of this world have little room for humility. Our fast-paced, have-it-your-way world stresses that we are to go for the gusto, just do it. Yet, the rewards seem to end up with those like Lazarus.

Summary Points

We are called by Christ to be good stewards of our talents and treasures, using creativity and hard work for the good of Christ’s kingdom, not for our comfort and personal gain. Doing this, we are promised that our efforts will be eternally rewarding.

No amount of intellectual analysis or self-justification will ever change these basic points.

Bible Truth Being Taught

A walk with Christ requires self-motivation, self-denial and self-control.

Our Response

To be good stewards of our talents as well as our treasures and use them for God’s purpose.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

~John 14:6-7

Materials Needed:  Whiteboard or easel and you will need –

• One large pin or sewing needle (one that is not stainless steel)
• One small piece of cork (thickness and size of a dime)
• One large strong magnet
• A large flat dish filled with water. In the water, place one drop of liquid detergent to break the surface tension.

Class Project: This study begins with a demonstration. Stroke the pin against the magnet. Starting at the mid point, stroke to the end 15 to 20 times. You are basically magnetizing the one end of the pin. Put the pin across the cork and into the water. If all goes as planned the pin will float on the cork and point north. Congratulations, you just made a compass.

History of the Compass: The first compasses were used in China as early as 200 BC, derived from the tools of fortunetellers who divined the future using a spoon made of a magnetic iron ore called lodestone. The handle of the spoon always pointed south. When someone realized that this feature could be used to navigate, not just predict the magnetic compass was born. The spoon was mounted on a slab marked with the constellations and the cardinal points. The magnetized needle replaced the spoon around the eighth century.

Western Europeans, as usual trailing the Chinese in the area of invention, adopted the magnetic compass in the 12th century. This was great improvement over the navigational strategy of following the sun, especially in inclement weather. It’s a matter of dispute whether the technology traveled from China to Europe by sea or whether it came via the Silk Road, but its arrival changed the world.

Could Columbus or Cortez have found the Americas without it? The European, to their credit, improved the device. The English, for example, mounted the needle on a pin in the 13th century. In 1907, American Elmer Sperry invented the gyroscopic compass, which remains level and therefore, accurate when in motion, useful on ships and airplanes. Compasses still rule navigation, through today they sport tungsten steel needles, jeweled bearings and other modern fixtures. (CIO Magazine, “Time Piece – Tools that Ruled, Giving Direction”, March 15, 2001, Sara Shay, pg. 172)

What are the attributes of a good compass or navigation device?

• Dependability/consistency – always points to the same direction
• Track record. Been in use a long time
• Can be applied to the type of travel we are attempting to do
• Works all the time 24 X 7 (any weather, day and night)
• Simple to understand and use

Who is our spiritual compass and why did you choose who you did?

• The obvious answer is Jesus but “why” is the real point of discussion here. We should be choosing Jesus for the same reasons that we just gave for choosing a good compass.

What are Christ’s attributes and how are they similar to the compass?

• Dependability/consistency — Jesus never sinned — Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin.”
• Jesus points the way to God — John 14:6-7 “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.'”
• Track Record — Jesus has been a constant even before the beginning of time. – John 1:1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
• There is one most important additional attribute of Christ — Romans 3:22-23 “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall sort of the glory of God.” — Like the compass which does not care where you have come from, only where you are and where you want to go, Christ’s work on the Cross has freed each of us from any past baggage.

Why do we need a compass in life?

• The journey to God is difficult and uncharted (except through Jesus)
• It is easy to get off course (the world pulls in many ways)
• There is danger, even death if you get lost (eternal separation from God)
• We will stray all of the time but with a compass (using Christ as our guide) we can pull ourselves back on course.

What is the difference between magnetic north and true north?

True North Pole

The northernmost point on the earth’s surface is the geographic North Pole, also known as true north. It’s located at 90° North latitude and all lines of longitude converge at the pole. The earth’s axis connects the north and south poles, as its the line around which the earth rotates.

The North Pole is about 450 miles (725 km) north of Greenland in the middle of the Arctic Ocean – the sea there has a depth of 13,410 feet (4087 meters). Most of the time, sea ice covers the North Pole but recently, water has been sighted at the exact location of the pole. If you’re standing at the North Pole, all points are south of you (east and west have no bearing).

Magnetic North Pole

Located more than 1000 miles (1600 kilometers) south of the geographic North Pole lies the magnetic North Pole at 78°18′ North and 104° West, southwest of Nunavut, Canada’s Ellef Ringnes Island.

The earth’s magnetic pole is the focus of the planet’s magnetic field and is the point that traditional magnetic compasses point toward. Compasses are also subject to magnetic declination which is a result of the earth’s varied magnetic field. Each year, the magnetic North Pole and the magnetic field shift, requiring those using magnetic compasses for navigation to be keenly aware of the difference between magnetic north and true north. The magnetic pole was first determined in 1831, hundreds of miles from its present location.

So how does a compass work then if it does not point to “True North?”

To use a compass accurately, one must constantly be aware of both the difference between the two north positions and one’s own location. Then a compensation can be added and an accurate direction plotted.

How does this same point (constant self-assessment) pertain to knowing our position in life (where we are in our Spiritual walk)?

The world throws a lot of confusion at us every day. Each Christian should have a regular self-examination of their faith walk so that adjustments can be made as they journey through life. (see Lamentations 3:40-41a; 2 Corinthians 13:5-14)

What could confuse our view of Jesus and get us off course?

Note to the leader: This would be an excellent place to break your group into smaller groups. Give them the assignment to build a list of the things that our world does to confuse our faith and belief in Jesus. Write these on a whiteboard or easel.

The world tells us that believing in Jesus is no longer relevant – be modern, contemporary they say.

The world tells us that Jesus’ unselfish life should not be our goal but we should look out for ourselves, just do it, go for the gusto, grasp the ring of opportunity.

We, as Christians, argue over the areas of God’s Word we do not understand instead of embracing the parts that are clear and understandable. Jesus’ life was very clear. How He lived, what He did, what Jesus believed in is not very complicated.

Like the problem with magnetic north and true north, you cannot use the compass effectively until you know where you are. In life, self-introspection is something that should occur daily.

Or, we may not have really come to believe in Jesus. That is analogous to not believing the compass needle and using our own instincts to guide our lives.

Note to the leader: This is a point at which an emphasis should be placed on one’s personal decision to accept Christ as their personal Savior (compass). Each individual must be reminded that no one can make that one choice for them. It is theirs alone to either accept or reject Christ.

What can each of us do to combat the daily confusion that we just discussed?

• Regular attendance in Worship.
• Active fellowship with a community of Christians that will hold us accountable for our actions and choices.
• Daily prayer.
• Bible study. This can be self-directed but most growth and understanding comes from group study where there is discussion and sharing.
• Re-address individual priorities frequently. In a world driven by media, it is easy to get caught up in the “chase after the Jones.”
• Stewardship — The sharing of our time, talents, treasure and testimony. Nothing draws us closer to our God than doing His work.

Do we have other compasses in life?

• Our parents, the friends who hold us accountable, the mentors who we look up to, the roll models that everyone has through their life.

However, there was only one that knows how to get to God’s house, and that is Jesus.

Bible Truth Being Taught

Jesus gives us the only view earthly man will ever have of God. The only way to God is to trust that Jesus knows the way and follow Him.

Our Response

Test constantly our life, the things we hold as priorities and our actions against those of Jesus. In this way, we can tell if we are on course to “true north.”

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

~Mark 10:45

Materials Needed: None.

Notes to the Leader: The events that Mark documents in chapter 10 take place only a few days before Christ’s suffering and death. Therefore, we can draw from these topics that, to Christ, the things we will study today were most important. When people are leaving those they love, the things they do and say are intended to prepare their loved ones for the time when they are gone.

This study also looks at wealth and gives us a Biblical view of handling the blessings of money.

Introduction

If you knew that you were going on a long trip and would be away for several months, what kind of things would you do to prepare those in your family?

• Things you felt were important to you.
• Things that were important to those you would be leaving behind.

Section One: Jesus and Our Home Life

Divorce

Have someone in your group read Mark 10:1-12: Also read Deuteronomy 24:1 to your group.

Is Christ ignoring the law of Moses by re-defining the law given to the Jews?

• No. Christ was pointing out that the Pharisees had redefined the term “indecent” to liberalize divorce. Christ pointed out that in God’s eyes, man was to be married for life and that Moses provided this concession so that people could cope with their sinful hard-hearted rejection of God’s original design for marriage. Moses was trying to protect the rejected wives and the help curb the misuse of divorce on the part of husbands.

What can we learn from this example when dealing with difficult moral and scriptural issues?

• Christ went right to God’s word to define his position. Social, cultural, logical, and other human forms of interpretive knowledge did not influence His conclusions.
• Christ passed over the statement by Moses and went to a prior level of interpretation, God’s intent for marriage. We can learn from Christ’s example that if we find ourselves embroiled in an interpretive issue, look backwards toward the origin of God’s position.

Children

Have someone in your group read Mark 10:13-16.

The disciples obviously felt that time spent with little children was wasted time for Christ. Christ, however, knew that it was the character of the child that each Christian must have to gain entrance to the kingdom of God.

Can you list some of these characteristics discussed above?

• Humility
• Obedience. Although a child often is disobedient, their natural instinct is to obey. Pride and independence have usually not yet been learned.
• Trust
• In a child’s acceptance of authority; and
• Confidence in other people.
• A short memory. This is the real key to forgiveness.

Section Two: Wealth

Have someone in your group read Mark 10:17-22.

An eager man, hungry for the inheritance of eternal life. He had led an admirable life, knowledge of the 10 commandments, honest, good to his parents, and always told the truth. Why would his wealth keep him from what he wanted most, eternal life?

• (v17 & v20) He used “good” in addressing Christ as flattery instead of the recognition that Christ is God. His wealth kept him from that key acknowledgement of who Christ really is.
• He came to Christ overflowing with emotion, with a personal fascination over the person of Christ. Can you think of a modern day application of is important lesson?
• Too often we are attracted to a church, minister, evangelist, Christian friend, etc. because of the talent and forget that all matters not except for our recognition of God and His authority. It is God who provides the talent and the opportunity to hold their respective duties.
• He couldn’t pass Christ’s test. Christ knew the nature of his heart and when challenged to refocus, the man failed.

Have someone in your group read Mark 10:23-31.

Christ was not against wealth or the wealthy. However, He knew that wealth was a difficult barrier to cross in pursuit of the kingdom of heaven. What are the problems with wealth?

• Material possessions tend to fix a man’s heart in this world.
• If one’s main interest is in material possession, then one tends to think of things in terms of price not value.
• If you have everything you want, there is no reason to seek what Christ has to offer.
• Christ would have defined material possessions as follows:
• The acid test of a man. For every hundred men that can withstand adversity, only one can withstand wealth.
• Wealth is a responsibility.

Taken from: The Daily Bible Study, William Barclay, The Westminster Press, Pg. 247

What did Christ tell the disciples concerning those who gave up their homes and wealth for Him?

• No one ever gave up anything for the sake of Him without getting it back a hundredfold.
• The reward was not necessarily material things for material things.
• God is the final judge of our value and our value of ourselves and others is of no value.

Section Three: Jesus and the Human in Him

Have someone in your group read Mark 10:32-34.

In these verses Christ’s character shows through. Look at the verses and try to see who Christ was and what he was feeling?

• He was lonely. (Christ was separated from the crowd, partially due to the fear each disciple had of the pending tragedy)
• He was courageous. (3 times Christ foretold of things to come, Mark 8:31, Mark 9:331, Mark 10:32)
• He had a strong sense of personal magnetism. The disciples knew he was the Messiah, knew now he would die, were completely bewildered but continued to follow him.

Have someone in your group read Mark 10:35-45.

What can you tell from these verses about:

The disciples?

• They were ambitious.

The disciple’s understanding of Christ at this point?

• Still didn’t understand Christ.

The disciple’s belief in Christ?

• This was as strong as ever. Even in a bewildered state, they believed in Christ and followed him.

Can you draw a corollary for your own lives from this example?

• We will not always have the clear understanding of Christ we seek. However, Christ seeks those who remain strong in faith and follow him anyway. It is service and sacrifice not understanding and knowledge that lead the way to the kingdom of God.

Have someone in your group read Mark 10:46-52.

While Christ healed many people, in the restoration of Bartimaeus’ sight, Christ gives us a pattern for all who seek a miracle to follow. Look at the specific verses noted and see if you can find the key steps we are to follow?

• (v48) Ignore the others around you who tell you not to continue your pursuit of your request of Christ. Christ responds to sincere appeals and determination.
• (v51) Bartimaeus’ request was clear and specific.
• (v52) Miracles are granted through God’s grace by faith and by following Christ. Bartimaeus believed.

Bible Truth Being Taught

Jesus came as a servant of mankind, not a ruler.

Our Response

To be reminded that Jesus came to serve others and that He calls His followers to meet the spiritual, physical, domestic, social, and other needs of the people around us.