March 21, 2021 - Mark’s Good News about Jesus – Acquiring Wealth

 Acquiring Wealth

Jonah 1:1-4 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: ² “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”

³ But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.

⁴ Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up.

What came to Jonah (verse 1)?

Why was Jonah to peach against Nineveh (verse 2)?

Where did Jonah head to (verse 3)?

Why did Jonah sail “for Tarshish” (verse 3)?

What did the Lord send (verse 4)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

Mark 10:17-31 - New International Version (NIV)

¹⁷ As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

¹⁸ “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”

²⁰ “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

²¹ Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

²² At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

²³ Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

²⁴ The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

²⁶ The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”

²⁷ Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

²⁸ Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”

²⁹ “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel ³⁰ will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. ³¹ But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

What did the man on his knees before Jesus want to know about eternal life (verse 17)?

Who does Jesus say is good (verse 18)?

In your opinion, why does Jesus just list five commandments, without saying to obey the commandments (verse 19)?

What does the man say about his relationship to the commandments (verse 20)?

What is the man to do after obtaining “treasure in heaven” (verse 21)?

Why did the man go away sad (verse 22)?

In your opinion, why is it hard “for the rich to enter the kingdom of God” (verse 23)?

What is it easier for a camel to do than for “someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God” (verse 2)?

What did the disciples say to each other (verse 26)?

What is possible with God (verse 27)?

Who said “we have left everything to follow you” (verse 28)?

In your opinion, how can anyone “who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel” receive “a hundred times as much in this present age” (verses 29 and 30)?

What will many who are last be (verse 31)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how is Jonah in Jonah 1:1-4 like the rich man in Mark 10:17-31? 

Acts 5:1-11 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. ² With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.

³ Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? ⁴ Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”

⁵ When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. ⁶ Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

⁷ About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”

“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”

⁹ Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

¹⁰ At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

What did Ananias and Sapphira do (verse 1)?

In your opinion, why did the keep part of the money for themselves (verse 2)?

Who does Peter say that Ananias lied to (verse 3)?

What was at Ananias’s disposal after the land was sold (verse 4)?

What happened when Ananias heard Peter’s words (verse 5)? 

Who “wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him” (verse 6)?

When did Sapphira come in (verse 7)?

How did she answer Peter’s question “is this the price you and Ananias got for the land” (verse 8)?

What was at the door (verse 9)?

Where was Sapphira buried (verse 10)?

Who was seized by “great fear) (verse 11)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, even though Jonah in Jonah 1:1-4 and Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11 all acted in opposition to the Lord, how were their actions different?

In your opinion, how does the decision of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11 show they share some of the same challenge of the rich man in Acts 5:1-11?

Romans 7:15-25a – New International Version (NIV)

¹⁵ I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. ¹⁶ And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷ As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. ¹⁸ For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

²¹ So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²² For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; ²³ but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. ²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

What does Paul not do (verse 15)?

What does Paul do (verse 15)?

Where is sin living (verse 17)?

What does Paul have the desire to do (verse 18)?

What does Paul keep on doing (verse 19)?

Where does Paul “delight in God’s law” (verse 22)?

What does Paul become a prisoner of (verse 23)?

How does God deliver Paul “from this body that is subject to death” (verses 24 and 25)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how is Jonah in Jonah 1:1-4 an example of what Paul struggles with in Romans 7:15-25a? 

In your opinion, how does Paul in Romans 7-15-25a demonstrate that the disciples are right when they ask in Mark 10:17-31 “who then can be saved”?  How does Paul prove that Jesus was right when He said “all things are possible with God”?

In your opinion, how is Paul, in Romans 7:15-25a different from Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Jonah, Mark, Acts and Romans teach us about what must be given up in order to be delivered “through Jesus Christ our Lord”?

In your opinion, how can we move from sadness about what we are giving up, through the certainty that salvation is impossible, to confidence in our delivery by Jesus Christ, and into the celebration of the “hundred times as much” of a very different kind of wealth we will receive?

 

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

October 11, 2015 – The Great Commission – A Study of Matthew – Betrayal and Knocking at the Door

Matthew 28:18-20 – New International Version (NIV) – The Great Commission

¹⁸ “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Betrayal and Knocking at the Door

Matthew 26:14-16 – New International Version (NIV)

¹⁴ “Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests ¹⁵ and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. ¹⁶ From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.”

How was Judas Iscariot described (verse 14)?

Who did go to see (verse 14)?

In your opinion, who was he offering to deliver (verse 15)?

How much did they pay him (verse 15)?

What did Judas watch for (verse 16)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

Genesis 25:24-34 - New International Version (NIV)

²⁴ “When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. ²⁵ The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. ²⁶ After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them.

²⁷ The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents. ²⁸ Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

²⁹ Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. ³⁰ He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.)

³¹ Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”

³² “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?”

³³ But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.

³⁴ Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left.

So Esau despised his birthright.”

What did Rebekah find out when the “time came for her to give birth” (verse 24)?

Why was the first of the twins called Esau (verse 25)?

Why was the second of the twins called Jacob (verse 26)?

Who became the “skillful hunter, a man of the open country” (verse 27)?

Why did Isaac love Esau (verse 28)?

What was Jacob doing when Esau “came in from the open country, famished” (verse 29)?

What did Esau say to Jacob (verse 30)?

How did Jacob respond (verse 31)?

In your opinion, why did Esau seem willing to give up the birthright (verse 32)?

What did Jacob force Esau to do first (verse 33)?

What did Esau do after Jacob gave him bread and lentil stew (verse 34)?

How did Esau treat his birthright (verse 34)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what are the similarities between the action of Esau in his selling of the birthright to Jacob for a bowl of soup and some bread in Genesis 25:24-34 and Judas selling Jesus for 30 pieces of silver in Matthew 26:14-16?

Acts 5:1-11 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ “Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. ² With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.

³ Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? ⁴ Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”

⁵ When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. ⁶ Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

⁷ About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”

“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”

⁹ Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

¹⁰ At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.”

What did Ananias and Sapphira do (verse 1)?

How did they agree to handle the money (verse 2)?

Why did Ananias lie to the Holy Spirit (verse 3)?

In your opinion, why was what Ananias did wrong (verse 4)?

What happened when Ananias heard what Peter said (verse 5)?

How was Ananias treated then (verse 6)?

When did Sapphira come in (verse 7)?

How did she respond when Peter questioned her about the land (verse 8)?

Who was at the door and what would they do (verse 9)?

In your opinion, why did Sapphira fall at Peter’s feet and die (verse 10)?

In your opinion, why did great fear seize the whole church (verse 11)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how is the decision of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11 to lie about the amount they received for the sale of the property similar to the decision of Esau in Genesis 25:24-34 to sell his birthright for a bowl of soup?

In your opinion, how does Ananias and Sapphira’s attempt in Acts 5:1-11 to withhold some money but claim they gave it all show that their attitude about Jesus was not so different from Judas in Matthew 26:14-16 as demonstrated by his offer to the chief priests to “deliver” Jesus?

Revelation 3:14-22 – New International Version (NIV)

¹⁴ “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. ¹⁵ I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. ¹⁷ You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. ¹⁸ I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

¹⁹ Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. ²⁰ Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

²¹ To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. ²² Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Who has the message for the angel of the church in Laodicea (verse 14)?

What does Jesus know about their deeds (verse 15)?

What does Jesus wish for the church people of Laodicea (verse 15)?

How is Jesus about to treat the church people of Laodicea (verse 16)?

In your opinion, why do the church people of Laodicea not think they “need a thing” (verse 17)?

What do the people not realize about themselves (verse 18)?

Who does Jesus “rebuke and discipline” (verse 19)?

Where does Jesus stand (verse 20)?

Who will Jesus “come in and eat with” (verse 20)?

What right will the victorious receive (verse 21)?

Who is instructed to hear (verse 22)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how could the warning to the church of Laodicea in Revelation 3:14-22 about being “lukewarm” have been a benefit to Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11 in their discussion about withholding some of the proceeds of the property sale for themselves, but claiming to donate all?

In your opinion, how might Esau, who despised his birthright in Genesis 25:24-34, be similar to the members of the church of Laodicea in Revelation 3:14-22 who are “lukewarm” in their deeds while thinking that they had everything they need?

In your opinion, how is the behavior of someone who is “lukewarm” like the people of the church in Laodicea in Revelation 3:14-22 similar to the behavior of Judas in Matthew 26:14-16 who walked with Jesus for years and witnessed and even participated in miracles and then promised to deliver him for “thirty pieces of silver”?

In your opinion, what do these passages, from Matthew, Genesis, Acts and Revelation show us about the Great Commission?

Next, back to Matthew 26:17 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)