Saturday, March 15, 2008

The continuing cross

2 Corinthians 1:3-7

1. What was Paul's hope?

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.

And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

2 Corinthians 11:16-29

2. What did he face daily?

Paul said, "I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked."

"Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?"

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Christ - the pleasure of God

Luke 3:22; John 8:29; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

1. What was unique about Christ?

The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus Christ in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." For the Father who sent His son, Jesus, is with him; the has not left Jesus alone, for Jesus always do what pleases the Father."

Thus, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them.
And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Philippians 2:1-11

2. What was Christ's attitude?

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Christ - a centripetal force

Luke 7:28; John 1:1-13

1. Contrast Jesus and John

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. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

Jesus was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

John 10:27-30

2. What does Christ hold in His hand?

Jesus says:

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

Sunday, March 2, 2008

'Grace and peace'

John 1:14-18

1. Try to define 'grace' and 'peace'.

Grace is getting what you don't deserve. From the fullness of Christ's grace we have all received one blessing after another grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Peace is having no burden, knowing God is in control of all things.

John 14:25-27

2. How does the world's peace differ from Christ's peace?

Jesus says, "I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Shut up- to write

Genesis 39:20-23

1. What did Joseph and Paul have in common?

Paul and Joseph were being put in prison despite not commiting sinful crime.

Like Paul, while Joseph was there in the prison, the LORD was with him.

The LORD showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.

Philippians 1:12-20

2. Why should we not fear physical restrictions?

Paul says "Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death."

Despite being held in prison, Paul continues to share the gospel and write letters to the churches, which now becomes an important part of the Bible. Being chained up did not restrict him, yet it gave Him other opportunities to serve for Christ.