September 7, 2014 – The Great Commission – A Study of Matthew – Death and Being with God

  

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.”

Death and Being with God

Matthew 14:1-12 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ “At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, ² and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

³ Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, ⁴ for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” ⁵ Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet.

⁶ On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much ⁷ that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. ⁸ Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” ⁹ The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted ¹⁰ and had John beheaded in the prison. ¹¹ His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. ¹² John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.”

Who heard reports about Jesus (verse 1)?

Why was Jesus believed to be John the Baptist raised from the dead (verse 2)?

What did Herod have done to John the Baptist (verse 3)?

Why had Herod acted (verse 4)?

In your opinion, why did the people consider John the Baptist a prophet (verse 5)?

Who danced for Herod (verse 6)?

What reward did Herod promise (verse 7)?

What reward was requested (verse 8)?

In your opinion, why was King Herod distressed (verse 9)?

Why did King Herod honor the request (verse 9)?

What did King Herod order (verse 9)?

When the reward was given to the dancer, what did she do with it (verse 11)?

What did John’s disciples do (verse 12)?

In your opinion, why did they then go and tell Jesus (verse 12)?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Matthew 14:1-12 show us about the Great Commission?

Genesis 5:18-24 - New International Version (NIV)

¹⁸ “When Jared had lived 162 years, he became the father of Enoch. ¹⁹ After he became the father of Enoch, Jared lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. ²⁰ Altogether, Jared lived a total of 962 years, and then he died.

²¹ When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. ²² After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. ²³ Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. ²⁴ Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.”

Who was Enoch’s father (verse 18)?

Did Enoch have other brothers and sisters (verse 19)?

Who was Enoch the father of (verse 21)?

In your opinion, what does it mean that “Enoch walked faithfully with God” (verse 22)?

How long did Enoch live (verse 23)?

What happened to Enoch (verse 24)?

In your opinion, what are the similarities and what are the differences between what happened to Enoch in Genesis 5:18-24 and John the Baptist in Matthew 14:1-12?

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

Acts 7:51-60 – New International Version (NIV)

 ⁵¹ “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! ⁵² Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— ⁵³ you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”

⁵⁴ When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. ⁵⁵ But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ⁵⁶ “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

⁵⁷ At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, ⁵⁸ dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.

⁵⁹ While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰ Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.”

In your opinion, what does it mean to be a “stiff-necked people” (verse 51)?

In your opinion, what does it mean to have “hearts and ears” that are “uncircumcised” (verse 51)?

Who did the ancestors of the “stiff-necked people” persecute (verse 52)?

What had the “stiff-necked people” do to the “Righteous One” (verse 52)?

Who became “furious and gnashed their teeth at him” (verse 54)?

Who filled Stephen (verse 55)?

Where did Stephen look to see the “glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God” (verse 55)?

In your opinion, why did Stephen say “I see heaven open” (verse 56)?

How did the members of the Sanhedrin respond to Stephen’s statements (verse 57)?

In your opinion, why did they drag Stephen “out of the city” before they began to stone him (verse 58)?

What did Stephen pray (verse 59)?

How did Stephen respond to the people who were stoning him (verse 60)?

In your opinion, how does Stephen’s being taken to God in this way in Acts 7:51-60 differ from Enoch’s being taken to God in Genesis 5:18-24 and John the Baptist being taken in Matthew 14:1-12?

In your opinion, why would the people of Jerusalem take the life of Stephen in Acts 7:51-60 when just a short time earlier in Matthew 14:1-12  Herod was afraid to kill John the Baptist, who they considered a prophet, when John was proclaiming Jesus in advance and Stephen is also proclaiming Jesus?

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

  

Revelation 11:1-14 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ “I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. ² But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. ³ And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” ⁴ They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.” ⁵ If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. ⁶ They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.

⁷ Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. ⁸ Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. ⁹ For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. ¹⁰ The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.

¹¹ But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. ¹² Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.

¹³ At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

¹⁴ The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon."

What was John given and what was he to do with it (verse 1)?

Why is the outer court to be excluded (verse 2)?

Who is God appointing (verse 3)?

In your opinion, what is the relationship between the 42 months that the Gentiles will trample the holy city and the 1,260 days that the two witnesses will prophesy (verses 2 & 3)?

Where do the two witnesses (olive trees or lamp stands) stand (verse 4)?

What happens to those who want to harm the two witnesses (verse 5)?

In your opinion, what is significant about the powers of the two witnesses (prevent rain, turn water to blood, and strike the earth with every kind of plague) (verse 6)?

When will the beast from the Abyss overpower and kill them (verse 7)?

What is the name of the city where “their Lord was crucified” that is “figuratively called Sodom and Egypt” (verse 8)?

In your opinion, why would people gaze on their bodies and refuse to bury them (verse 9)?

Why will the “inhabitants of the earth” . . . “gloat over them” and “celebrate by sending each other gifts” (verse 10)?

Why will terror strike the people who see the two witnesses “after three and a half days” (verse 11)?

What will the voice from heaven say to the two witnesses (verse 12)?

Where will the two witnesses go “while their enemies looked on” (verse 12)?

What happened “at that very hour” (verse 13)?

What did the survivors do (verse 13)?

What is coming soon (verse 14)?

In your opinion, why are the two witnesses in Revelation 11:1-14 protected for three and a half years and Stephen in Acts 7:51-60 allowed to be stoned immediately after talking to the Sanhedrin?

In your opinion, how is God taking the two witnesses to heaven in a cloud in Revelation 11:1-14 similar to and different from Enoch in Genesis 5:18-24 “then he was no more, because God took him away”?

In your opinion, how is God allowing the two witnesses to be killed and gloated over Revelation 11:1-14 similar to and different from John the Baptist being killed to fulfill the promise to a dancing girl in Matthew 14:1-12?

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

Next, back to Matthew 14:13 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

August 31, 2014 – The Great Commission – A Study of Matthew – Delusions 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.”

Delusions and Salvation

Matthew 13:53-58 – New International Version (NIV)

⁵³ “When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. ⁵⁴ Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. ⁵⁵ “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? ⁵⁶ Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” ⁵⁷ And they took offense at him.

But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”

⁵⁸ And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.”

What did Jesus finish (verse 53)?

Where did He move on to (verse 54)?

When were the people amazed (verse 54)?

Who did they say that Jesus was (verse 55)?

In your opinion, why was it important to the people to identify who Jesus’ mother, brothers and sisters were (verses 55 and 56)?

What was the peoples reaction to Jesus (verse 57)?

In your opinion, why is a prophet “not without honor except in his own town and in his own home” (verse 57)?

Why did Jesus not do many miracles there (verse 58)?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Matthew 13:53-58 show us about the Great Commission?

Jeremiah 12:5-13 - New International Version (NIV)

⁵ “If you have raced with men on foot
    and they have worn you out,
    how can you compete with horses?
If you stumble in safe country,
    how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?
⁶ Your relatives, members of your own family—
    even they have betrayed you;
    they have raised a loud cry against you.
Do not trust them,
    though they speak well of you.

⁷ “I will forsake my house,
    abandon my inheritance;
I will give the one I love
    into the hands of her enemies.
⁸ My inheritance has become to me
    like a lion in the forest.
She roars at me;
    therefore I hate her.
⁹ Has not my inheritance become to me
    like a speckled bird of prey
    that other birds of prey surround and attack?
Go and gather all the wild beasts;
    bring them to devour.
¹⁰ Many shepherds will ruin my vineyard
    and trample down my field;
they will turn my pleasant field
    into a desolate wasteland.
¹¹ It will be made a wasteland,
    parched and desolate before me;
the whole land will be laid waste
    because there is no one who cares.
¹² Over all the barren heights in the desert
    destroyers will swarm,
for the sword of the Lord will devour
    from one end of the land to the other;
    no one will be safe.
¹³ They will sow wheat but reap thorns;
    they will wear themselves out but gain nothing.
They will bear the shame of their harvest
    because of the Lord’s fierce anger.”

In your opinion, why would it be hard to compete with horses after racing with men on foot until you are worn out (verse 5)?

Where are the thickets about which God is asking the Israelite people “how will you manage” (verse 5)?

What have Jeremiah’s relatives and members of the family done (verse 6)?

In your opinion, who is the house that the Lord will forsake (verse 7)?

Who will the one who is loved be given to (verse 7)?

What do the chosen people who were to inherit do that causes God to hate them (verse 8)?

How do other birds of prey treat the bird of prey that Israel has become (verse 9)?

In your opinion, who are the shepherds who will ruin the vineyard and turn the pleasant field into a desolate wasteland (verse 10)?

Why will the whole land be laid to waste (verse 11)?

Where will the desert destroyers swarm (verse 12)?

What will devour “from one end of the land to the other” (verse 12)?

Who will be safe (verse 12)?

What will be gained when the people wear themselves out (verse 13)?

What will they bear (verse 13)?

In your opinion, how does the promise that people will wear themselves out and “gain nothing” in the relationship to God that is promised in Jeremiah 12:5-13 foreshadow the lack of miracle for the people of His hometown by Jesus in Matthew 13:53-58?

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

Acts 8:9-25 – New International Version (NIV)

⁹ “Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, ¹⁰ and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” ¹¹ They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. ¹² But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. ¹³ Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.

¹⁴ When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. ¹⁵ When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, ¹⁶ because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷ Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

¹⁸ When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money ¹⁹ and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

²⁰ Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! ²¹ You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. ²² Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. ²³ For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”

²⁴ Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”

²⁵ After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.”

How did the people of Samaria perceive Simon (verse 9)?

Who gave Simon attention (verse 10)?

What did the people of Samaria call Simon (verse 10)?

How did the people of Samaria react to Simon (verse 11)?

When did the people of Samaria believe “the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ” (verse 12)?

What happened when they believed (verse 12)?

How did Simon react to Philip (verse 12)?

In your opinion, why did the apostles in Jerusalem send Peter and John to Samaria (verse 14)?

What did Peter and John pray for the believers in Samaria (verse 15)?

How had the believers in Samaria been baptized (verse 16)?

When did the believers in Samaria receive the Holy Spirit (verse 17)?

In your opinion, why did Simon offer the apostles money (verse 18)?

How did Peter answer Simon (verses 20, 21, 22, and 23)?

Why does Simon not have a part in the ministry (verse 21)?

What should Simon now do (verse 22)?

What is Simon full of (verse 23)?

What is Simon captive to (verse 23)?

How did Simon respond to Peter (verse 24)?

What did Peter and John do in many Samaritan towns (verse 25)?

In your opinion, how does Simon’s response to Peter in Acts 8:9-25 differ from the country’s response to God in Jeremiah 12:5-13?

In your opinion, why is the Samaritan response to Philip in Acts 8:9-25 different than the response of the people of Jesus hometown to Jesus in Matthew 13:53-58?

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

    

2 Thessalonians 2:9-17 – New International Version (NIV)

⁹ “The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, ¹⁰ and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. ¹¹ For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie ¹² and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

¹³ But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. ¹⁴ He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

¹⁵ So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

¹⁶ May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, ¹⁷ encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”

With what will the lawless one come (verse 9)?

What will all the ways of wickedness do to those who are perishing (verse 10)?

Why do they perish (verse 10)?

In your opinion, why does God send them a powerful delusion (verse 11)?

Who will be condemned (verse 12)?

How does Paul say that he should respond to the believers in Thessalonica (verse 13)?

What did God choose the Thessalonians to be (verse 13)?

How were they called (verse 14)?

In your opinion, why should the Thessalonians “stand firm and hold fast to the teachings” (verse 15)?

What does “our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us” give to the Thessalonians (and to believers today) (verse 16)?

In the benediction, what does Paul ask that God “encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every” ______________________and ______________ (verse 17)?

In your opinion, how does Paul’s instruction to “stand firm and hold fast to the teachings” in 2 Thessalonians 2:9-17 amplify Peter’s statement to Simon to “repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart” in Acts 8:9-25?

In your opinion, how is God’s statement through Jeremiah in Jeremiah 12:5-13 that “they will wear themselves out but gain nothing” expanded on by Paul’s statement in 2 Thessalonians 2:9-17 that “they perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved”?

In your opinion, how much of the people of Jesus' hometown denying Jesus in Matthew 13:53-58 is because they know His mother's name and His brother and sisters, which is a truth but has been twisted in their minds so they can't see the reality of Jesus and so it is also a “powerful delusion so that they will believe a lie” as explained in 2 Thessalonians 2:9-17?

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

Next, back to Matthew 14:1 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

August 24, 2014 – The Great Commission – A Study of Matthew – New and Old Treasures

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.”

New and Old Treasures

Matthew 13:44-52 – New International Version (NIV)

⁴⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. ⁴⁶ When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

⁴⁷ “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. ⁴⁸ When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. ⁴⁹ This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous ⁵⁰ and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

⁵¹ “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.

“Yes,” they replied.

⁵² He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

What is the kingdom of heaven like (verse 44)?

How did the man respond when he found the treasure (verse 44)?

In your opinion, what would motivate someone to sell all that they have (verse 44)?

What is the kingdom of heaven like (verse 45)?

Why did the merchant who found the pearl of great value sell everything he had (verse 46)?

In your opinion, why does Jesus use as the first example a treasure found unexpectedly, and the as second example a pearl of great value that is being searched for (verses 44, 45, and 46)?

What is the kingdom of heaven like (verses 47 and 48)?

How does Jesus explain the sorting of the fish in verse 48 (verses 49 and 50)?

In your opinion, why does Jesus make so great a change in the way that He describes the kingdom of heaven from the first two parables to the third (verses 44 through 50)?

How would you respond to the question that Jesus ask “Have you understood all these things?” (verse 51)?

What does the teacher of the law become (verse 52)?

In your opinion, is it assumed that the teacher of the law will continue to teach (verse 52)?

How will the teachings change (verse 52)?

In your opinion, what are the new treasures (verse 52)?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Matthew 13:44-52 show us about the Great Commission?

Psalm 119:73-80 - New International Version (NIV)

⁷³ “Your hands made me and formed me;
    give me understanding to learn your commands.
⁷⁴ May those who fear you rejoice when they see me,
    for I have put my hope in your word.
⁷⁵ I know, Lord, that your laws are righteous,
    and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
⁷⁶ May your unfailing love be my comfort,
    according to your promise to your servant.
⁷⁷ Let your compassion come to me that I may live,
    for your law is my delight.
⁷⁸ May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause;
    but I will meditate on your precepts.
⁷⁹ May those who fear you turn to me,
    those who understand your statutes.
⁸⁰ May I wholeheartedly follow your decrees,
    that I may not be put to shame.”

Who does the Psalmist recognize made and formed him (verse 73)?

What does the Psalmist ask for from the One who formed him (verse 73)?

In your opinion, why would the Psalmist want those who fear the Lord to rejoice when they see him (verse 74)?

What are the Lord’s laws (verse 75)?

In your opinion, how can the Psalmist say “I know, Lord . . . that in faithfulness you have afflicted me” (verse 75)?

What does the Psalmist ask for as a comfort (verse 76)?

What does the Psalmist ask for “that I may live” (verse 77)?

How does the Psalmist view the law (verse 77)?

In your opinion, why does the Psalmist follow the request that the “arrogant be put to shame for wronging me” with the statement “but I will meditate on your precepts” (verse 78)?

Who does the Psalmist ask to turn to him (verse 79)?

What does the Psalmist ask to “wholeheartedly follow” (verse 80)?

In your opinion, how does depiction in Psalm 119:73-80 of someone who “wholeheartedly” wants to follow the Lord’s decrees so that “those who understand” the Lord’s statutes will turn to him help us understand the teacher of the law that Jesus refers to in Matthew 13:44-52?

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

Romans 4:16-25 – New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ “Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. ¹⁷ As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.

¹⁸ Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” ¹⁹ Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. ²⁰ Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, ²¹ being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. ²² This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” ²³ The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, ²⁴ but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. ²⁵ He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.”

How does the promise come (verse 16)?

Who are Abraham’s offspring (verse 16)?

What two things does Paul describe God as doing in verse 17:

1)

2)

How did Abraham believe (verse 18)?

In your opinion, what is significant about the coupling of “without weakening in his faith” and “he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead” (verse 19)?

How did the recognizing that “his body was as good as dead” in verse 19 affect his belief in the promise of God in verse 20?

How did his faith change (verse 20)?

What was Abraham “fully persuaded” about God (verse 21)?

In your opinion, how does the fact Abraham’s faith allowed him it to be “credited to him as righteousness” help us understand not only the salvation of those who lived before Christ, but also our salvation as well (verse 22)?

What do we need to believe for God to credit us with righteousness (verse 24)?

What happened to Christ for our sins (verse 25)?

What happened to Christ for our justification (verse 25)?

In your opinion, how does this discussion of Abraham in Romans 4:16-25 help us to visualize the praise and requests of the Psalmist in Psalm 119:73-80?

In your opinion, how is the Paul’s blending of the Old Testament patriarch of Abraham with the salvation and justification offered by Christ in Romans 4:16-25 help us to understand how every “teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven” is like the “owner of a house who brings out of a storeroom new treasures as well as old” in Matthew 13:44-52?

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

  

2 Peter 3:1-15 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ “Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. ² I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.

³ Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. ⁴ They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” ⁵ But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. ⁶ By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. ⁷ By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

⁸ But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. ⁹ The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

¹¹ Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives ¹² as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. ¹³ But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

¹⁴ So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. ¹⁵ Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.”

How many letters has Peter written (verse 1)?

What does Peter want the readers to do with “words spoken in the past” (old treasures from the storeroom) and with “the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles” (new treasures from the storeroom) (verse 2)?

When will scoffers come (verse 3)?

What do scoffers forget (verses 5, 6 and 7)?

What are we not to forget (verse 8)?

How does Peter describe the Lord, not as slow but as _______________ (verse 9)?

How will the day of the Lord come (verse 10)?

What kind of lives should we live (verse 11)?

In your opinion, why should we look forward to and speed the coming of a day that will “bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire” (verse 12)?

What are we to look forward to (verse 13)?

What should we make every effort to be (verse 14)?

Whose patience means salvation (verse 15)?

In your opinion, how does Peter’s instruction to remember in the midst of the scoffer’s derision in 2 Peter 3:1-15 receive reinforcement from Paul’s description of Abraham’s belief not wavering inspite of his body being “as good as dead” while waiting for God’s promise to be fulfilled in Romans 4:16-25?

In your opinion, how are Peter’s instructions that we “live holy and godly lives” in 2 Peter 3:1-15 an instruction from Peter that we emulate the Psalmist request to God that he “wholeheartedly follow your decrees” in Psalms 119:73-80?

In your opinion, how should our approach to the repentance that Peter discusses in 2 Peter 3:1-15 be like the approach of the man who found the treasure in the field or the merchant who found the pearl of great value in Jesus’ parables in Matthew 13:44-52?

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

Next, back to Matthew 13:53 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)