Mark 14

Key events prior to Jesus crucifixion

Mark 14:1-9 Mary of Bethany anoints Jesus with perfume.

Some of the people thought that Mary’s gift was spent on the wrong thing.

Mary chose to spend her money on something that honored Jesus.

How do you decide whether God wants you to give to one thing over another?

Maybe  - The Joash Project or some other worthy cause?

V9-10: Judas went off to betray Jesus.

In this passage and in Luke 22:3-6 it sounds like the money was an afterthought to the decision to betray Jesus. What bearing does the 30 pieces of silver have on the betrayal?

Judas gave it back later Matthew 27:3

When I read this passage I visualize Elisha in 2 Kings 6 where he prayed that God would open his servant’s eyes so that he could see the chariots of fire and horses all around. This unseen army was ready to battle.

V12-16 Getting Ready for the Passover.

Kind of a mundane set of tasks. It seems that they probably didn’t realize the magnitude of what was about to happen. Do you think they would have acted differently if they had known that this was the last Passover with Jesus? How would they have acted differently?

Would you feel differently about our service today if you knew that there would be some eternally significant event on Tuesday? Like for example, what if the rapture was actually scheduled for March 31^st, 2015 at 3:27pm. It makes me think that our time spent worshipping and serving God is precious and important. 

Matthew 28 - The Church W4

Making disciples starts when someone places their trust in Christ for salvation. I like to divide “Making disciples” in to two parts: Part 1 – what the Bible says, and Part 2 – How the Bible applies to me.

Part 1 What the Bible says (Roman Road)

1.    Romans 3:23 NKJV – for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

2.    Romans 6:23 NKJV – For the wages of sin [is] death, but the gift of God [is] eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

3.    Romans 5:8 NKJV – But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

4.    Romans 10:9-10 NKJV – that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation

5.    Romans 10:13 NKJV – For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

What does a person do once they are saved? – The WORD

6.       Romans 10:17 NKJV – So then faith [comes] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Part 2 How this applies to me

1.       My experience in accepting the gift of salvation

2.       What my relationship with God has meant to me (lately)

If you don’t have these basic concepts in mind – get them.

One of my challenges is finding an opportunity to share this message.

How can we find opportunities to share the message of salvation?

There are lots of excuses for avoiding this command. Most of my friends are saved, This topic just never seems to come up in conversation…

What are some of the barriers that keep us from sharing the gospel?

Skipping to V20 – Jesus promises to be with us always. We have Him interceding for us before our Heavenly father (Hebrews 7:25)  and He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. Why do you think Jesus included this promise along with these commands?

Something very important about this promise to me is that as a teacher, Jesus promises to be with me. I know that doesn’t mean that every one of my words is inspired, but it does mean that I can count on Jesus to guide me and work through me as I teach from his word week by week. On some weeks I can almost sense His presence as we work through a passage of scripture. Sometimes – not so much, but what is important is that opening the word of God (regularly) will increase our faith (Romans 10:17).  So it’s not really my teaching that is important, but the impact that the word has on our faith each week.

Remember – the Lord is with you when you share the gospel. 

Ephesians 4 - The Church W3

Ephesians 4: 1-16

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, ² with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, ³ being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Tolerance is really popular these days. In the era of political correctness, our culture is pushing us to accept non-Biblical positions like: Homosexuality is fine, Islamic views should be respected, Women should be able to choose wither or not to end a pregnancy, etc. How is the tolerance Paul is talking about different than the tolerance we hear preached from the evening news anchors?

-----Maybe--- How should we deal with non-believers when we are confronted with Biblical values vs. non-Biblical values?

⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

If there is only one body and one faith, why are there so many different churches? Do you think God is pleased with this variety of churches who are teaching 95% the same stuff?

⁷ But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸ Therefore it says, “When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, And He gave gifts to men.” ⁹ (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰ He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) ¹¹ And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, ¹² for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;

According to V12 why did God give gifts to men? Equipping of the saints and for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ. Can anyone define the “Work of Service”? What are some examples of the “work of service”?

In some of my business classes I take students through theories and practices to measure various business processes. For example, you can use something called constraint management theory to measure how making a small change in one part of a manufacturing process can impact the overall cost and quality of the product. There are several ways to measure a business, but I think it is a little more challenging to measure a church. Two popular methods are by attendance and by the budget.

What are some other ways that we can tell if the body of Christ is being built up? If a church is doing well in building up attendance and increasing their budget, does that mean they are building up the body of Christ?

¹³ until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. ¹⁴ As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; ¹⁵ but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, ¹⁶ from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

In addition to building up the Church, one of the ideals Paul highlights is the concept of a mature man. How does he describe a mature man? Can a person really get to that goal? How?

Challenge to consider: What is your part of building up the body of Christ? Are you striving to be a Mature Man?

Acts 2 - The Church W2

Family living – Opener: Other than your spouse, who do you have the closest relationship with and why? Me- My son Tim. We have just wrapped up a remodeling project on his house and we spent a lot of time together working on the house. Along the way, we got to share our thoughts about all that is happening in his life, and his dreams and thoughts about the future. It has really been awesome.

Defining Characteristics of the Church – They operated like a family.

Acts 2: The first of the early church V37-47 

In V42 – What were the 4 activities they were doing?

o   Devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching

o   Fellowship

o   Breaking of bread

o   Prayer

We still do these today. Our’s is not exactly like their’s.

How is our teaching and learning different from what they did in Acts 2?

Do you think the sense of fellowship in the Act 2 church was stronger than it is in our church? Why?

V43 says that everyone kept feeling a sense of awe. Is there anything about Fellowship Bible Church that makes you feel a sense of awe?  

V 46 – talks about how they continued with one mind. How did they maintain this fantastic unity? Met day by day, had things in common, met each other’s needs, ate together, were sincere of heart, praised God.

Are those things that would help us maintain our unity? Why (each one)?

This passage sounds a lot like it is describing a family.

Challenge: This week – think of ways that you can treat your brothers and sisters in Christ as true family. Find ways to overcome the barriers that separate us, time, location, whatever, and act as though you are actually as close as a sister or brother or other family member to your fellow believers.

Matthew 16, 1 Peter 2 - The Church W1

Over the next few weeks we are going to take a look at the Church. I have selected some passages of scripture that talk about the early church and some of the defining characteristics of the church. 

Before we look at a few verses I’d like to know:

What comes to your mind when you hear “The Church”?

Greek Terms 1577 ekklēsía(from 1537 /ek, "out from and to" and 2564 /kaléō, "to call") , people called out from the world and to God - Ecclesiology – The Study of the Church

2 Key sections of scripture that describe the foundation of the Church.

Matthew 16:13-19 

Peter in his letter to various congregations, talks about this ROCK in some detail.

1 Peter 2:1-12 

(2-4 is a reference to Isaiah 28:16 – and refers to the messiah.)

Jesus, Peter, and Isaiah all used the image of a stone or rock in building the church. Do you think of a Rock when you think of church (Solid, strong, heavy – or something fragile and frail?)

We are going to talk more about the purpose of the church later, but I don’t want to overlook one of the key purposes of the church that Peter mentions in V9.

 What is the purpose he identifies? so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light

Many of the things that distinguish the church are things that will allow us to proclaim His excellencies.

One of the defining characteristics that allow us to Proclaim His excellencies is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

The church began on the day of Pentecost, (which we will talk about later) when people repented and were baptized in Jesus name, and received the Holy Spirit. On that day, the thing that united believers was the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:12-13 

This passage talks about how all these different people all formed one body.

This application of this passage should not be restricted to the believers at Corinth, where they were dealing with Jews and Greeks. It can also equally apply to the Universal Church, meaning all believers from Pentecost to the Rapture. We can also apply it to Fellowship Bible Church.

What are some of the differences we see among people in our church?

How have you seen the Holy Spirit work in this church to unify us into one body?

Does having a church with so many different kinds of people “proclaim His excellencies”?

Challenge: Think about how the Holy Spirit gives us something in-common with each other and unites us in the purpose of “proclaiming His Excellencies” – Expand that out to believers who are in other churches/denominations and look for ways to “Proclaim His Excellencies” in concert with other Christians.

Nehemiah 13 - Remember Me

One prayer that is repeated throughout the book of Nehemiah is the prayer to “Remember Me”. Nehemiah usually prays this prayer after leading some important reform. The two examples we are going to look at today are in Chapter 13.

Tithes Restored 10-14

Sabbath Restored 15-22

Chapter 13 gives one more example of this same type of prayer and concludes with the same prayer in v31. At first glance these prayers may seem sort of self-serving. What do you make of this prayer?

·         They are personal Prayers that demonstrate a personal relationship between God and Nehemiah (my God).

·         V22 acknowledges that Nehemiah is relying on God’s love as He considers Nehemiah’s actions.

                

2 Quotes:

Carl Haak – Radio Preacher:

Nehemiah’s dependency upon God also meant that Nehemiah anticipated the day when the record of earth’s deeds would be publicly revealed.  “Remember me then.  Remember me when the books are opened and all the deeds of men are revealed; when the works of men (and the motives behind those works) are made plain; when all is opened for all to know; when my life and my work will publicly be reviewed in that day; when everything comes out (even that which was done in secret).  Lord, remember me then in Thy grace and love.”  Your days and my days must pass before the review of the Almighty.  Our work in the church, the home, in marriage, wherever we have been will be reviewed in that day.  It shall be revealed in that day before all.

David Fraser –Intervarsity Christian Fellowship

The average Hebrew wanted to be remembered for reputation, success in this life, and justice. To be remembered by the Lord was to have one's reputation favorably remembered by the community. Nehemiah was a eunuch with no children to carry on his name. When he died there was no one to continue his family. Isaiah 56:4-5 promised: "Thus says the LORD: To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant, I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name which shall not be cut off."

Nehemiah wanted this promise to be fulfilled for him. To put it bluntly, he was praying for renown. In our status-seeking, fame-lusting generation, this kind of prayer has become almost the epitome of the anti-Christ. Yet here it is. And he could pray it because of what he stood for: the unadulterated worship of God. He knew the chief end of man was to glorify God and enjoy him forever. Strangely enough, that was the reason he could pray for his own repute.

Nehemiah knew that God would remember his life on earth. He knew that God would remember what he did for the Kingdom. His prayers seem to emphasize to God those times when he was faithful in doing what God led him to do. 

If you were to pray this prayer what would you be emphasizing to God? Your efforts in witnessing, teaching, leading, nurturing, praying, giving, What would you want to be remembered for?

Nehemiah 9

Nehemiah 9:1-38 the longest recorded prayer in the Bible

We are going to break it down and look at some of the parts.

9:1-4 Getting Ready

.

What did the sons of Israel do to get ready for this prayer?

o   Separated themselves

o   Fasted

o   Wore sackcloth and dirt

o   Stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers

o   Read from the book of the law

o   MORE confessed and worshipped the Lord

How do you get ready to pray?

How much of your preparation involves confession of sin? Do you avoid the issue?

Praising God       9:5-8

Look for phrases that describe God’s character and/or actions that demonstrate who He is.

Then the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah and Pethahiah, said, “Arise, bless the Lord your God forever and ever! O may Your glorious name be blessed And exalted above all blessing and praise! ⁶ “You alone are the Lord. You have made the heavens, The heaven of heavens with all their host, The earth and all that is on it, The seas and all that is in them. You give life to all of them And the heavenly host bows down before You. ⁷ “You are the Lord God, Who chose Abram And brought him out from Ur of the Chaldees, And gave him the name Abraham. ⁸ “You found his heart faithful before You, And made a covenant with him To give him the land of the Canaanite, Of the Hittite and the Amorite, Of the Perizzite, the Jebusite and the Girgashite— To give it to his descendants. And You have fulfilled Your promise, For You are righteous.

What are some of the ways that God was praised in this prayer?

How does praising God in prayer impact you?

The outcome – Commitment

V9-37 is a narrative that recounts the history of what happened from the time Israel was liberated from slavery in Egypt to the time of Nehemiah. The prayer acknowledges that the exile and slavery was a result of their own sin. Then in V38 they decide to commit in writing to change their ways.

9:38 Now because of all this We are making an agreement in writing; And on the sealed document are the names of our leaders, our Levites and our priests.”

Chapter 10:1-27 lists the leaders who signed the contract.

10:28-39 lists all the stuff that Israel is committing to do.

            Keep the law

            Observe the Sabbath

            Supply the money to support the temple

            Make the offerings for sin, peace, etc.

            Not neglect the house of God

This prayer is remarkable in several ways.

            It is long        

            It has a description of God’s actions

            It resulted in a written contract

            It impacted all of Israel

Have you ever heard the saying “Prayer changes things”?

Do your prayers result in any discernable change in you?

Our prayers often include a long list of stuff we are asking God to do, but how often do they include a list of what we will commit to do?

Would your prayers be different if for everything you asked God to do, you committed to do something too?

All of Israel promised to do a long list of things – In writing.

I hesitate to commit to do things because I know that I am weak and may not be able to keep my promise. What is better, promising to do or not do something, and failing, or not promising to do (or not do) something in the first place?