February 9, 2014 - The Great Commission - A Study of Matthew – Seeking

February 9, 2014 - The Great Commission - A Study of Matthew – Seeking

Matthew 28 - 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.”

Seeking

Matthew 6:16-34 - New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ¹⁷ But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

²² “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of                 light. ²³ But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the                 light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

²⁴ “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will             be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

When do those who fast in a way that makes in obvious that they are fasting receive their reward (verse 16)?

Who will reward those who fast in a way that is not obvious (verse 17)?

In your opinion, what is the motivation for each type of fasting?

What can happen to earthly treasures (verse 19)?

Can those same things happen to heavenly treasures (verse 20)?

In your words, what does verse 21 say?

What has to be healthy for your whole body to be full of light (verse 22)?

What happens if the eyes are unhealthy (verse 23)?

In your opinion, what makes an eye healthy or unhealthy?

In your opinion, why would the darkness within be great if the light within is darkness?

How do you view your masters if you have two masters (verse 24)?

What is the discussion that immediately follows the statement that “You cannot serve both God and money” about (verses 25, 26 & 27)?

In your opinion, does what we worry about indicate a master that we are trying to serve?

Can we extend our lives by worrying (verse 27)?

What is the contrast Jesus makes between Solomon’s clothes and the flowers of the field (verse 28 and 29)?

In your opinion, does the statement at the end of verse 30 mean that the discussion is about faith instead of clothes?

What are we to seek (verse 33)?

In your opinion, what is verse 34 supposed to teach us?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Matthew 6:16-34 show us about the Great Commission?

2 Kings 5:15-27 - New International Version (NIV) – It may be helpful to read 2 Kings 5:1-14 as background for this discussion

^{15 "}Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him                  and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please                        accept a gift from your servant.”

¹⁶ The prophet answered, “As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a                     thing.” And even though Naaman urged him, he refused.

¹⁷ “If you will not,” said Naaman, “please let me, your servant, be given as much earth as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the Lord. ¹⁸ But may the Lord forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow down and he is leaning on my arm and I have to bow there also—when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord forgive your servant for this.”

¹⁹ “Go in peace,” Elisha said.

After Naaman had traveled some distance, ²⁰ Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, “My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”

²¹ So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw him running toward him, he got                     down from the chariot to meet him. “Is everything all right?” he asked.

²² “Everything is all right,” Gehazi answered. “My master sent me to say, ‘Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.’”

²³ “By all means, take two talents,” said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them, and then tied up the two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing. He gave them to two of his servants, and they carried them ahead of Gehazi. ²⁴ When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the things from the servants and put them away in the house. He sent the men away and they left.

²⁵ When he went in and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, “Where have you been,                 Gehazi?”

“Your servant didn’t go anywhere,” Gehazi answered.

²⁶ But Elisha said to him, “Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money or to accept clothes—or olive groves and vineyards, or flocks and herds, or male and female slaves? ²⁷ Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever.” Then Gehazi went from Elisha’s presence and his skin was leprous—it had become as white as snow."

What did Naaman recognize about God (verse 15)?

How did Elisha, the prophet, respond to Naaman’s offer of a gift (verse 16)?

In your opinion, what might the significance of Elisha’s refusal be:

To Naaman?

To Elisha?

What does Naaman ask for (verse 17)?

Why would Naaman make the request found in verse 18?

How did Elisha bless Naaman (verse 19)?

How did Gehazi justify his actions (verse 20)?

What did Gehazi tell Namaan (verse 22)?

In your opinion, why did Gehazi phrase his request in this way?

When Naaman was generous, what did Gehazi do (verse 23 and 24)?

When Elisha inquired where Gehazi had been, how did Gehazi respond (verse 25)?

In your opinion, why did Elisha’s question ask “Is this the time to take . . . “  (verse 26)?

What happened to Gehazi and his descendants (verse 27)?

In your opinion, what does this passage from 2 Kings teach us about Matthew 6:16-34?

In your opinion, what does this passage from 2 Kings show us about the Great Commission?

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

“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)?

What did Ananias and Sapphira do with the money (verse 2)?

How did Peter respond to the gift (verses 3 and 4)?

In your opinion, why would Ananias and Sapphira keep part of the money and give the rest to the apostle?

What did Ananias do when Peter told him that “You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” (verse 5)?

Who wrapped up Ananias’ body and carried him out and buried him (verse 6)?

What did Peter ask Sapphira when she came in three hours later (verse 8)?

How did Sapphira respond to Peter’s question (verse 8)?

What was Peter’s question to Sapphira (verse 9)?

In your opinion, what does it say about the "masters" of Ananias and Sapphira that they conspired in this way?

What happened to Sapphira (verse 10)?

In your opinion, why would “great fear” seize the whole church and all who heard?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Acts teach us about Matthew 6:16-34?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Acts show us about the Great Commission?

Revelations 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.”

Whose words are going to the church of Laodicea (verse 14)?

In your opinion, what does it means when Jesus says He is the “Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation?

What does Jesus know about the people of the church of Laodicea through its deeds (verse 15)?

In your opinion, why would Jesus wish they were either cold or hot?

Because they are lukewarm, what is Jesus about to do (verse 16)?

How do the people of the church of Laodicea view themselves (verse 17)?

How does Jesus view them (verse 17)?

In your opinion, does the difference in views have anything to do with the “master” the people of the church of Laodicea had chosen for themselves?

What does Jesus counsel them to do (verse 18)?

In your opinion, what will change if the people do as Jesus counseled?

What does Jesus do for those He loves (verse 19)?

Where is Jesus (verse 20)?

What does He wait for (verse 20)?

What happens when we respond to Jesus in this way (verse 20)?

In your opinion, what is the “one who is victorious” in verse 21 victorious over?

What is the reward for the victorious (verse 21)?

Do you think that Jesus instruction to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness” would help the people of the church of Laodicea, or us, to be victorious?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Revelation teach us about Matthew 6:16-34?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Revelation show us about the Great Commission?

Next, back to Matthew 7:1 - (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

February 2, 2014 - The Great Commission - A Study of Matthew – Giving to Self/Giving to God

February 2, 2014 - The Great Commission - A Study of Matthew – Giving to Self/Giving to God

Matthew 28 - 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.”

Giving to Self/Giving to God

Matthew 6:1-15 - New International Version (NIV)

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do,             you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

² “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ³ But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

⁵ “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ⁶ But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ⁷ And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸ Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

⁹ “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
¹⁰ your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us today our daily bread.
¹² And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one.’

¹⁴ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also                     forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your                  sins.”

What warning does Jesus begin this passage with (verse 1)?

What is the consequence of practicing righteousness in front of others (verse 1)?

In your opinion, why would those who announce their giving to the needy with trumpets “have received their reward in full” (verse 2)?

How should giving to the needy be done (verse 3)?

In your opinion, why will our Father “who sees what is done in secret” reward secret giving to the needy (verse 4)?

How do hypocrites (a negative example) pray (verse 5)?

How are we to pray (verse 6)?

What does Jesus say about babbling and prayer (verse 7)?

What does our Father know about us (verse 8)?

What requests are we to request according to this example of how to pray (verses 9 through 13)?

            1)

            2)

            3)

            4)

            5)

            6)

In the fifth request we are to ask God to “forgive us our debts” in what particular manner (verse 12)?

How do the two sentences that Jesus follows the example prayer with help us understand that fifth request (verses 14 and 15)?

In your opinion, why would Jesus stress our forgiving others of their sins against us?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Matthew 6:1-15 show us about the Great Commission?

Ecclesiastes 9:1-11 - New International Version (NIV) – Please remember as you read this that it was written by “the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem” who began with “Meaningless! Meaningless!” and wrote for a specific purpose.

“So I reflected on all this and concluded that the righteous and the wise and what they do are in God’s hands, but no one knows whether love or hate awaits them. ² All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not.

As it is with the good,
    so with the sinful;
as it is with those who take oaths,
    so with those who are afraid to take them.

³ This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of people, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead. ⁴ Anyone who is among the living has hope—even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!

⁵ For the living know that they will die,
    but the dead know nothing;
they have no further reward,
    and even their name is forgotten.
⁶ Their love, their hate
    and their jealousy have long since vanished;
never again will they have a part
    in anything that happens under the sun."

Who is in God’s hands (verse 1)?

In your opinion, what is the common destiny of all (verse 2)?

What is in everything that happens under the sun (verse 3)?

In the Teacher’s point of view, what do the living know (verse 5)?

In the Teacher’s point of view, what do the dead know (verse 5)?

In the Teacher’s point of view, what is the reward of the dead (verse 5)?

In your opinion, how does the Teacher’s statement about reward compare with Jesus’ statement about rewards in today’s Sermon on the Mount scripture?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Ecclesiastes teach us about Matthew 6:1-15?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Ecclesiastes show us about the Great Commission?

Isaiah 62:11 & 12 – New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ The Lord has made proclamation
    to the ends of the earth:
“Say to Daughter Zion,
    ‘See, your Savior comes!
See, his reward is with him,
    and his recompense accompanies him.’”
¹² They will be called the Holy People,
    the Redeemed of the Lord;
and you will be called Sought After,
    the City No Longer Deserted.”

Who has made a proclamation (verse 11)?

Who is being proclaimed to (verse 11)?

Who comes (verse 11)?

What else is coming (verse 11)?

What will Daughter Zion be called (verse 12)?

            1)

            2)

            3)

            4)

In your opinion, what is the difference between the reward the Teacher discussed in Ecclesiastes and the reward that is being proclaimed to Daughter Zion?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Isaiah teach us about Matthew 6:1-15?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Isaiah show us about the Great Commission?

1 Corinthians 3:1-17 - New International Version (NIV)

“Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. ² I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. ³ You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? ⁴ For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?

⁵ What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. ⁶ I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. ⁷ So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. ⁸ The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. ⁹ For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

¹⁰ By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. ¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³ their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. ¹⁴ If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

¹⁶ Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your             midst? ¹⁷ If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is               sacred, and you together are that temple."

Who is Paul addressing (verse 1)?

Why is Paul giving “milk” and “not solid food” (verse 2)?

What is the proof that they are “still worldly” (verse 3)?

In your opinion, why are some Corinthians saying that they follow Paul and others Apollos (verse 4)?

What does Paul say that both he and Apollos are (verse 5)?

What does Paul say that God does (verse 7)?

Even though the “one who plants” and “the one who waters” have different purposes, what do they have in common (verse 8)?

In your opinion, why does Paul say that it is “By the grace God has given me” that he laid the foundation (verse 10)?

What is the one foundation (verse 11)?

In your opinion, what is the difference between building with “gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw” (verse 12)?

How will fire test the quality of each person’s work (verse 13)?

What will happen if the person’s work survives (verse 14)?

What will happen if the person’s work is burned up (verse 15)?

In your opinion, what is the significance of following a discussion about people’s work with a discussion about us being God’s temple (verses 16 & 17)?

In your opinion, what does this passage from 1 Corinthians teach us about Matthew 6:1-15?

In your opinion, what does this passage from 1 Corinthians show us about the Great Commission?

Revelations 22:10-17 - New International Version (NIV)

^10” Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near. ¹¹ Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”

¹² “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according               to what they have done. ¹³ I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the                           Beginning and the End.

¹⁴ “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. ¹⁵ Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

¹⁶ “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root                   and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

¹⁷ The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one            who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.”

Why are the “words of the prophecy of this scroll” not to be sealed up (verse 10)?

What are people to continue to do (verse 11)?

In your opinion, why would Jesus say that the one who does wrong should keep doing wrong (verse 11)?

What is with Jesus when He comes (verse 12)?

What will each person receive (verse 12)?

In your opinion, what is important about the titles that Jesus claims in verse 13?

Who is blessed (verse 14)?

In your opinion, what does it mean to “wash their robes” (verse 14)?

What do those who “wash their robes” have a right to do (verse 14)?

In your opinion, what is the difference between “the dogs” who are outside and the “Blessed” who are inside the “gates of the city” (verses 15 and 14)?

Who sends the testimony (verse 16)?

What do the Spirit and the bride say (verse 17)?

In your opinion, who is the “one who is thirsty” (verse 17)?

What can “the one who wishes” take (verse 17)?

In your opinion, what does the Reward mentioned here teach us about the Reward that we studied in 1 Corinthians?

In your opinion, what does  “Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.” teach us about the Rewards that are mentioned in each scripture?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Revelation teach us about Matthew 6:1-15?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Revelation show us about the Great Commission?

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