August 3, 2014 – The Great Commission – A Study of Matthew – Brothers and Heirs

August 3, 2014 – The Great Commission – A Study of Matthew – Brothers and Heirs

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.”

Brothers and Heirs

Matthew 12:46-50 – New International Version (NIV)

⁴⁶ “While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. ⁴⁷ Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”

⁴⁸ He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” ⁴⁹ Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. ⁵⁰ For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Who as waiting to speak to Jesus while he was talking to the crowd (verse 46)?

How did Jesus find out about them (verse 47)?

What question did Jesus ask (verse 48)?

In your opinion, why did Jesus say that the disciples were his “mother and brothers” (verse 49)?

How does Jesus explain that statement (verse 50)?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Matthew 12:46-50 show us about the Great Commission?

Genesis 4:1-12 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ “Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man.” ² Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.

Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. ³ In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. ⁴ And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, ⁵ but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

⁶ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? ⁷ If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

⁸ Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

⁹ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”

“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

¹⁰ The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. ¹¹ Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. ¹² When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”

Who was Adam and Eve’s child (verse 1)?

Who was Adam and Eve’s second child (verse 2)?

What was the difference between the two children (verse 2)?

How did that difference display itself in the offerings they made to the Lord (verses 3 and 4)?

In your opinion, why would God look favorably on Abel’s offering and not on Cain’s (verses 4 and 5)?

How did Cain react to God not looking favorably on his offering (verse 6)?

In your opinion, why did God tell Cain, “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted” (verse 7)?

What did God tell Cain was crouching at his door, “if you not not do what is right” (verse 7)?

How did the sin crouching at Cain’s door bear fruit (verse 8)?

Why did Cain say “Am I my brother’s keeper” (verse 9)?

What cried to God from the ground (verse 10)?

How is the punishment, that Cain would be “driven from the ground”, appropriate to the crime (verses 11 and 12)?

In your opinion, how does the discussion of the behavior of the first brothers on earth in Genesis 4:1-12 influence your understanding of Jesus statement about His mother and brothers in Matthew 12:46-50?

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

Galatians 4:1-7 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ “What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. ² The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. ³ So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. ⁴ But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵ to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. ⁶ Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” ⁷ So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.”

What is the underage heir no different from (verse 1)?

Who is the heir subject to (verse 2)?

In your opinion, what does Paul mean he says that we were underage (verse 3)?

Who was sent “when the set time had fully come” (verse 4)?           

What are we who are redeemed to receive (verse 5)?

Who did God send (verse 6)?

What are the redeemed (verse 7)?

In your opinion, how does the discussion about being redeemed by the Son of God by Paul in Galatians 4:1-7 complete a process that the punishment of Cain in Genesis 4:1-12 was a part of?

In your opinion, how does the discussion about being children of God by Paul in Galatians 4:1-7 help us understand the statement “whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” by Jesus in Matthew 12:46-50?

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

   

1 John 5:1-12 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. ² This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. ³ In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, ⁴ for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. ⁵ Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

⁶ This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. ⁷ For there are three that testify: ⁸ the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. ⁹ We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. ¹⁰ Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. ¹¹ And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹² Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

Who is born of God (verse 1)?

How do we know that we love the children of God (verse 2)?

What is love for God (verse 3)?

Who overcomes the world (verse 4)?

In your opinion, why does John say that Jesus came by water and blood (verse 6)?

Who is the truth (verse 6)?

Who testifies and are in agreement (verses 7 and 8)?

In your opinion, why is God’s testimony greater than human testimony (verse 9)?

What do those who don’t believe God make Him out to be (verse 10)?

Who is the eternal life that God has given us in (verse 11)?

Who has life (verse 12)?

In your opinion, how does John’s discussion of the source of our life in 1 John 5:1-12 help us understand the statement that Paul made in Galatians 4:1-7 about our being children and heirs of God?

In your opinion, what does John’s discussion about overcoming the world in 1 John 5:1-12 help us understand how we can deal with the sin that is crouching at our door, just like it crouched at Cain’s door in Genesis 4:1-12?

In your opinion, how does John’s discussion of loving God and obeying His commands in 1 John:1-12 increase our understanding of Jesus statement that “whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” in Matthew 12:46-50?

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

Next, back to Matthew 13:1 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

July 27, 2014 – The Great Commission – A Study of Matthew – Sign and Salvation

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.”

Sign and Salvation

Matthew 12:38-45 – New International Version (NIV)

³⁸ “Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”

³⁹ He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. ⁴⁰ For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. ⁴¹ The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here. ⁴² The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.

⁴³ “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. ⁴⁴ Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. ⁴⁵ Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”

Who requested a sign from Jesus (verse 38)? 

In your opinion, was the request in good faith (verse 38)?

Who did Jesus say asks for a sign (verse 39)?

What sign did Jesus say would be given (verse 39)?

How did Jesus explain that sign (verse 40)?

Why would the men of Nineveh be able to condemn the generation that Jesus was talking to (verse 41)?

In your opinion, does the generation that Jesus was talking to extend to us today (verse 41)?

Why would the Queen of the South rise at the judgment with the generation (verse 42)?

What does an impure spirit do when it comes out of a person (verse 43)?

When it does not find a place of rest, what does the impure spirit say (verse 44)?

Who does it return with when it finds the person unoccupied (verse 45)?

How does the person end up (verse 45)?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Matthew 12:38-45 show us about the Great Commission?

Jonah 2:1-10 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ “From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. ² He said:

“In my distress I called to the Lord,
    and he answered me.
From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help,
    and you listened to my cry.
³ You hurled me into the depths,
    into the very heart of the seas,
    and the currents swirled about me;
all your waves and breakers
    swept over me.
⁴ I said, ‘I have been banished
    from your sight;
yet I will look again
    toward your holy temple.’
⁵ The engulfing waters threatened me,
    the deep surrounded me;
    seaweed was wrapped around my head.
⁶ To the roots of the mountains I sank down;
    the earth beneath barred me in forever.
But you, Lord my God,
    brought my life up from the pit.

⁷ “When my life was ebbing away,
    I remembered you, Lord,
and my prayer rose to you,
    to your holy temple.

⁸ “Those who cling to worthless idols
    turn away from God’s love for them.
⁹ But I, with shouts of grateful praise,
    will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
    I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’”

¹⁰ And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.”

Where was Jonah when he prayed (verse 1)?

What was Jonah’s condition when he prayed (verse 2)?

How did Jonah describe where he was hurled (verse 3)?

In your opinion, why would Jonah, even though he had been “banished” from God’s sight, say he would “look again toward your holy temple” (verse 4)?

What threatened Jonah (verse 5)?

Where did Jonah sink to (verse 6)?

Who brought Jonah’s “life up from the pit” (verse 6)?

In your opinion, why did Jonah remember the Lord when his life was “ebbing away” (verse 7)?

What do those “who cling to worthless idols” do (verse 8)?

What will Jonah say (verse 9)?

Who commanded the fish (verse 10)?

In your opinion, how does Jonah’s statement that “Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them” in Jonah 2 help us understand the words and actions of the Pharisees and teachers of the law in Matthew 12:38-45?

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

1 Corinthians 15:1-8 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ “Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. ² By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

³ For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, ⁵ and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. ⁶ After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. ⁷ Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, ⁸ and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.”

Who is Paul reminding of the gospel he preached (verse 1)?

“By this gospel you are” what (verse 2)?

In your opinion, why does Paul say you are saved by the gospel “if you hold firmly to the word I preach you” (verse 2)?

What is “of first importance” (verses 3, 4 and 5)?    

            1)

            2)

            3)

            4)

When was Jesus raised (verse 4)?

How many people did Jesus appear to at the same time (verse 6)?

In your opinion, how does what Paul describes about Jesus dying and being buried for three days in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 compare with what happened to Jonah in Jonah 2:1-10?

In your opinion, how does the statement that Jesus was buried and raised on the third day by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 compare to Jesus' statement to the Pharisees and teachers of the law that the only sign they would get was the sign of Jonah in Matthew 12:38-45?

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

    

Hebrews 6:1-12 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ “Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, ² instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. ³ And God permitting, we will do so.

⁴ It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, ⁵ who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age ⁶ and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. ⁷ Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. ⁸ But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.

⁹ Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. ¹⁰ God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. ¹¹ We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. ¹² We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.”

What kind of teachings does Paul say we must move beyond (verse 1)?

What are the various specific teachings he was referring to (verses 1 and 2)?

            1)

            2)

            3)

            4)

            5)

            6)

Who must permit moving beyond these teachings (verse 4)?

What is impossible for those who have once been enlightened and have fallen away to be brought back to (verses 4, 5 and 6)?

Who are these who have fallen away crucifying all over again (verse 6)?

Who blesses the “land that drinks in the rain” and “produces a crop that is useful” (verse 7)?

In your opinion, how is the “land that produces thorns and thistles” like those who were enlightened and then fell away (verse 8 and verses 4, 5 and 6)?

What will happen to the “land that produces thorns and thistles” in the end (verse 8)?

What are the better things that Paul is convinced of about (verse 9)?

Who is not “unjust” (verse 10)?

Who are we to imitate (verse 12)?

In your opinion, how does Paul’s discussion of the elementary teachings in Hebrews 6:1-12 compare with Paul’s discussion of what is “of first importance” in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8?

In your opinion, what does Paul’s discussion of the “things that have to do with salvation” in Hebrews 6:1-12 help us understand Jonah’s statement that “Salvation comes from the Lord” in Jonah 2:1-10?

In your opinion, how does Paul’s discussion about those who have once been enlightened and have fallen away in Hebrews 6:1-12 help us understand the statement of Jesus in Matthew 12:38-45 about the impure spirit who is driven out of the person and then goes back with seven spirits worse than himself?

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

Next, back to Matthew 12:46 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

July 20, 2014 – The Great Commission – A Study of Matthew – Blaspheming the Spirit or Walking by the Spirit

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.”

Blaspheming the Spirit or Walking by the Spirit

Matthew 12:22-37 – New International Version (NIV)

²² Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. ²³ All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”

²⁴ But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”

²⁵ Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. ²⁶ If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? ²⁷ And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. ²⁸ But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

²⁹ “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.

³⁰ “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. ³¹ And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. ³² Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

³³ “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. ³⁴ You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. ³⁵ A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. ³⁶ But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. ³⁷ For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Who was brought to Jesus (verse 22)?

Who did the people who saw the healing think that Jesus might be (verse 23)?

Who did the Pharisees say that Jesus was (verse 24)?

In your opinion, can a kingdom divided against itself stand (verse 26)?

In your opinion, were the Pharisees’ people driving out any demons (verse 27)?

What has come if Jesus is driving out demons by the Spirit of God (verse 28)?

Why would you have to tie up a strong may to carry off his possessions (verse 29)?

What does Jesus say about that those who aren't with Him (verse 30)?

In your opinion, how is blasphemy against the Spirit different from “every kind of sin and slander” that causes it to be not forgivable (verse 31)?

When will those who speak a word against the Holy Spirit be not forgiven (verse 32)?

How are good and bad trees recognized (verse 33)?

What does the mouth speak (verse 34)?

Where does a good man bring good things from (verse 35)?

When will everyone have to account for every empty work (verse 36)?

How will words determine our fate (verse 37)?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Matthew 12:22-37 show us about the Great Commission?

2 Kings 1:1-8 New International Version (NIV)

¹ “After Ahab’s death, Moab rebelled against Israel. ² Now Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers, saying to them, “Go and consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, to see if I will recover from this injury.”

³ But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Go up and meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going off to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?’ ⁴ Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘You will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!’” So Elijah went.

⁵ When the messengers returned to the king, he asked them, “Why have you come back?”

⁶ “A man came to meet us,” they replied. “And he said to us, ‘Go back to the king who sent you and tell him, “This is what the Lord says: Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending messengers to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!”’”

⁷ The king asked them, “What kind of man was it who came to meet you and told you this?”

⁸ They replied, “He had a garment of hair and had a leather belt around his waist.”

The king said, “That was Elijah the Tishbite.”

What happened to Israel after King Ahab died (verse 1)?

Who did King Ahaziah send messengers to after he injured himself (verse 2)?

Who did an angel of the Lord send to meet the messengers (verse 3)?

What question was he to ask them (verse 3)?

What prophecy is to be given to the messengers concerning King Ahaziah (verse 4)?

In your opinion, why did King Ahaziah ask “Why have you come back” (verse 5)?

What question did the King ask the messengers (verse 7)?

How did the messengers answer (verse 8)?

Who did the King identify the man as (verse 8)?

In your opinion, how does King Ahaziah’s action in 2 Kings 1:1-8 help us understand what Jesus said about blaspheming the Spirit in Matthew 12:22-37?

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

Galatians 5:16-25 – New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

What will not be gratified is we walk by the Spirit (verse 16)?

How are the desires of the Spirit and the desires of the flesh related (verse 17)?

In your opinion, why would the person led by the Spirit not be under the law (verse 18)?

What word is used to describe the acts of the flesh (verse 19)?

Who will not “inherit the kingdom of God” (verse 21)?

What is “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (verses 22 and 23)?

In your opinion, why is there no law against them?

Who has crucified “the flesh with its passions and desires” (verse 24)?

If we “live by the Spirit” who should we keep in step with (verse 25)?

In your opinion, how do verses 19, 20 and 21 in this passage from Galatians 5:16-25 help us to understand the actions of King Ahaziah in 2 Kings 1-8?

In your opinion, how does the discussion of the acts of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:16-25 help us understand the statement that “a tree is recognized by its fruit” from Matthew 12:22-37?

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

   

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

¹ “Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, ² for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ³ While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

⁴ But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. ⁵ You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. ⁶ So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. ⁸ But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. ⁹ For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁰ He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. ¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

What does Paul not feel like he needs to write to the Thessalonians about (verse 1)?

Why does he feel that way (verse 2)?

When will destruction come upon people (verse 3)?

Why should the day not surprise the Thessalonian Christians (verse 4)?

In your opinion, what is the difference between children of the day and belonging to the night (verse 5)?

How should the children of the day be (verse 6)?

Since we belong to the day, what should we put on (verse 8)?

What did God appoint us to receive (verse 9)?

How are we to relate to each other (verse 10)?

In your opinion, how does our understanding increase if we consider the discussion about children of the light versus belonging to the night in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 and the fruits of the Spirit and the fruits of the flesh in Galatians 5:16-25 together?

In your opinion, what does the contrast between the children of the day and belonging to the darkness in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 help us understand the actions of King Ahaziah and the message of God through Elijah to him in 2 Kings 1:1-8?

In your opinion, how does the statement that “God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” from 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 comfort us when we consider the blasphemy against the Spirit statement that “anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come” in Matthew 12:15-21?

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

Next, back to Matthew 12:38 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)