September 4, 2016 – Teachings from the Rock – Clever Stories or Eyewitnesses

Clever Stories or Eyewitnesses

1 Kings 19:8-18 – New International Version (NIV)

⁸ So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. ⁹ There he went into a cave and spent the night.

And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

¹⁰ He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

¹¹ The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹² After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. ¹³ When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

¹⁴ He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

¹⁵ The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. ¹⁶ Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. ¹⁷ Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. ¹⁸ Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

Where did Elijah travel to (verse 8)?

What came to Elijah as he spent the night in a cave (verse 9)?

How does Elijah contrast his behavior with the rest of the Israelites (verse 10)?

Why was Elijah to “go out and stand on the mountain” (verse 11)?

In your opinion, why was the Lord not in the powerful wind, or the earthquake, on in the fire, but in the gentle whisper (verses 11 and 12)?

What did Elijah do when he recognized the Lord in the gentle whisper (verse 13)?

What did the Lord ask Elijah (verse 13)?

In your opinion, why does Elijah answer God in exactly the same way in verses 10 and 14?

Who is Elijah supposed to anoint king over Aram (verse 15)?

Who is Elijah supposed to anoint king over Israel (verse 16)?

What position is Elisha to be anointed to (verse 16)?

What were these three people supposed to accomplish (verse 17)?

Why are the seven thousand special (verse 18)?

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

Mark 9:1-10 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”

² After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. ³ His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. ⁴ And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

⁵ Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” ⁶ (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

⁷ Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

⁸ Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. ¹⁰ They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.

What will “some who are standing here” not taste before the “kingdom of God has come with power” (verse 1)?

Who went with Jesus up a high mountain (verse 2)?

What happened to Jesus there (verse 2)?

In your opinion, what does it mean that Jesus clothes “became dazzling white” (verse 3)?

Who else appeared and talked to Jesus (verse 4)?

What did Peter suggest to Jesus (verse 5)?

Why did Peter not know what to say (verse 6)?

What did the voice from the cloud say (verse 7)?

Then, who did they see when they looked around (verse 8)?

In your opinion, why did Jesus order them not to tell anyone what they had seen “until the Son of Man had risen from the dead” (verse 9)?

What did the disciples discuss (verse 10)?

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

In your opinion, why did Elijah go to Horeb, the mountain of God, to meet with God in 1 Kings 19:8-18 and Jesus take Peter, James and John up on the mountain to meet Moses and Elijah and hear the voice of God in Mark 9:1-10?

2 Timothy 4:1-8 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: ² Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. ³ For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. ⁴ They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. ⁵ But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

⁶ For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Who does Paul give Timothy a charge in the presence of (verse 1)?

What is Timothy to preach (verse 2)?

When was Timothy to be prepared (verse 2)?

What will people not put up with in a time to come (verse 3)?

In your opinion, what will their “itching ears” want to hear (verse 4)?

What was Timothy to do “in all situations” (verse 5)?

In your opinion, what does Paul mean when he says he is “being poured out like a drink offering” (verse 6)?

What three things has Paul done (verse 7)?

Who will award Paul the crown of righteousness (verse 8)?

Who else will receive the crown of righteousness (verse 8)?

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

In your opinion, will the people in the time to come that Paul talked about in 2 Timothy 4:1-8 listen to the Father in Mark 9:1-10 who said “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”?

In your opinion, what is the difference between Paul and Elijah that lets Paul in 2 Timothy 4:1-8 appear to welcome “being poured out like a drink offering” and Elijah in 1 Kings 19:8-18 to be so upset that he is the only one left and they are trying to kill him too?

2 Peter 1:12-18 – New International Version (NIV)

¹² So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. ¹³ I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, ¹⁴ because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. ¹⁵ And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.

¹⁶ For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁷ He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” ¹⁸ We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

In your opinion, why would Peter “always remind you of these things” even though “you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have” (verse 12)?

How long does Peter think it is right to “refresh your memory” (verse 13)?

What will Peter soon do (verse 14)?

When does Peter expect his efforts to help the readers “remember these things” (verse 15)?

In your opinion, what is the difference between following “cleverly devised stories” and being “eyewitnesses of his majesty” in telling about the coming of Jesus Christ in power (verse 16)?

What did Jesus receive from God the Father (verse 17)?

What did the voice from the Majestic Glory say (verse 17)?

Where were they when they heard the voice (verse 18)?

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

In your opinion, why would the people that Paul says in 2 Timothy 4:1-8 “will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” prefer the “cleverly devised stories” instead of eyewitness accounts that Peter talked about in 2 Peter 1:12-18?

In your opinion, what does Peter understand about Jesus being transfigured on the mountain when he writes the passage in 2 Peter 1:12-18 that he did not understand when he, James and John witnessed the transfiguration in Mark 9:1-10?

In your opinion, how does Elijah in 1 Kings 19:8-18 hearing God in the gentle whisper, but not the mighty wind, the earthquake or the fire and Peter hearing the voice of God saying “this is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” when Jesus was transfigured help us to understand today to be firmly established in the truth about God today?

In your opinion, what do these passages from 1 Kings, Mark, 2 Timothy, and 2 Peter tell us about the truth about people and God?

In your opinion, what do these passages show us about ourselves today?

August 28, 2016 – Teachings from the Rock – From Dead Bones to Godly Life

From Dead Bones to Godly Life

Ezekiel 37:1-14 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. ² He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. ³ He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”

⁴ Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! ⁵ This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. ⁶ I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

⁷ So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. ⁸ I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.

⁹ Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” ¹⁰ So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.

¹¹ Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ ¹² Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. ¹³ Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. ¹⁴ I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’”.

Where did the hand of the Lord set Ezekiel (verse 1)?

What were the bones in the valley like (verse 2)?

How did Ezekiel answer the Lord’s question “son of man, can these bones live” (verse 3)?

What are the “dry bones” supposed to hear (verse 4)?

Who is going to make breath enter the bones (verse 5)?

In your opinion, why will the dry bones, after receiving tendons, flesh, skin, breath and life “know that I am the Lord” (verse 6)?

What happened while Ezekiel prophesied (verse 7)?

In your opinion, how would Ezekiel feel to see the miracle of the bones with flesh on them, but know that they were not alive because “there was no breath in them” (verse 8)?

What was Ezekiel to prophesy to (verse 9)?

What happened when Ezekiel “prophesied as he commanded me” (verse 10)?

Who says “our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off” (verse 11)?

What was Ezekiel to prophesy and say to them (verse 12)?

When will they know that “I am the Lord” (verse 13)?

What will the Lord put in them (verse 14)?

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

John 3:1-8 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. ² He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

³ Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

⁴ “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

⁵ Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. ⁶ Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. ⁷ You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ ⁸ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

Who was Nicodemus (verse 1)?

When did he come to Jesus (verse 2)?

Why did he know that Jesus was “a teacher who has come from God” (verse 2)?

How did Jesus reply (verse 3)?

In your opinion, what does the answer that Nicodemus gives show about his understanding of Jesus and the kingdom of God (verse 4)?

What has to happen before someone can enter the kingdom of God (verse 5)?

What gives birth to spirit (verse 6)?

In your opinion, why does Jesus say “you should not be surprised at my saying, ‘you must be born again’” (verse 7)?

Where does the wind blow (verse 8)?

What can you not tell from hearing the sound of the wind (verse 8)?

In your opinion, what does Jesus mean when He says “so it is with everyone born of the Spirit” (verse 8)?

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

In your opinion, how is the breath going into the dry bones of Ezekiel 37:1-14 and giving them life similar to the Holy Spirit moving like the wind and bringing people into new life and the kingdom of God in John 3:1-8?

1 Timothy 1:12-17 - New International Version (NIV)

¹² I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. ¹³ Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. ¹⁴ The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

¹⁵ Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. ¹⁶ But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. ¹⁷ Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

What three things does Paul thank Christ Jesus for (verse 12)?

What was Paul shown even though he was once a blasphemer, persecutor and a violent man (verse 13)?

How was the “grace of our Lord” poured out on Paul (verse 14)?

Why did Christ Jesus come into the world (verse 15)?

Why was Paul, the worst of sinners, shown mercy (verse 16)?

How does Paul describe the King (verse 17)?

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

In your opinion, how is the rebirth by the Spirit that Jesus says is necessary in John 3:1-8 demonstrated by Paul who says that the “grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly” in 1 Timothy 1:12-17?

In your opinion, how does the transformation of the dry bones in Ezekiel 37:1-14 anticipate the transformation of Paul described in 1 Timothy 1:12-17?

2 Peter 1:3-11 – New International Version (NIV)

³ His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. ⁴ Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶ and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷ and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. ⁸ For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

¹⁰ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, ¹¹ and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

What has God’s divine power given us (verse 3)?

Why has God given us His “very great and precious promises” (verse 4)?

What are we to “make every effort to add” (verses 5-7)?

In your opinion, how will possessing “these qualities in increasing measure” keep us from being ineffective and unproductive in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (verse 8)?

What are those who do not have these qualities forgetting (verse 9)?

What should we confirm (verse 10)?

What will we receive if we do these things (verse 11)?

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

In your opinion, how does Paul’s discussion of the Lord’s grace being poured abundantly on him in 1 Timothy 1:12-17 show Jesus Christ saving sinners, and Peter’s instruction in 2 Peter 1:3-11 to make every effort to add to “faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love” show how those sinners can confirm that calling and election?

In your opinion, how does Peter’s statement in 2 Peter 1:3-11 “so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires” help us to understand about the rebirth that Jesus says in John 3:1-8 is necessary to see the kingdom of God?

In your opinion, how is God’s prophesy in Ezekiel 37:1-14 “I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land.  Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.” shown to have a new fulfillment in 2 Peter 1:3-11 by Peter’s statement that “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness”?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Ezekiel, John, 1 Timothy, Romans and 2 Peter tell us about being reborn and the living productive lives?

In your opinion, what do these passages show us about ourselves today?

Next, back to 2 Peter 1:12 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

August 21, 2016 – Teachings from the Rock – Grace and Peace

Grace and Peace

Ecclesiastes 1:1-10 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem:

² “Meaningless! Meaningless!”
    says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless!
    Everything is meaningless.”

³ What do people gain from all their labors
    at which they toil under the sun?
⁴ Generations come and generations go,
    but the earth remains forever.
⁵ The sun rises and the sun sets,
    and hurries back to where it rises.
⁶ The wind blows to the south
    and turns to the north;
round and round it goes,
    ever returning on its course.
⁷ All streams flow into the sea,
    yet the sea is never full.
To the place the streams come from,
    there they return again.
⁸ All things are wearisome,
    more than one can say.
The eye never has enough of seeing,
    nor the ear its fill of hearing.
⁹ What has been will be again,
    what has been done will be done again;
    there is nothing new under the sun.
¹⁰ Is there anything of which one can say,
    “Look! This is something new”?
It was here already, long ago;
    it was here before our time.

Whose words fill Ecclesiastes (verse 1)?

What is meaningless (verse 2)?

In your opinion, what do “people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun” (verse 3)?

What comes and goes while the “earth remains forever” (verse 4)?

Where does the sun hurry to (verse 5)?

What goes “round and round” (verse 6)?

In your opinion, why is the sea never full (verse 7)?

What does the eye never have enough of (verse 8)?

What is “new under the sun” (verse 9)?

In your opinion, is there really nothing about which one can say “Look! This is something new” (verse 10)?

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

Mark 3:13-19 - New International Version (NIV)

¹³ Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. ¹⁴ He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach ¹⁵ and to have authority to drive out demons. ¹⁶ These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), ¹⁷ James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), ¹⁸ Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot ¹⁹ and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Where did Jesus go (verse 13)?

Who did Jesus call to him (verse 13)?

Why did Jesus appoint the twelve (verse 14)?

What authority did Jesus give to the twelve (verse 15)?

Who did Jesus give the name Peter (verse 16)?

In your opinion, why did Jesus give James and John a name that means “sons of thunder” (verse 17)?

What is distinctive about Judas Iscariot (verse 19)?

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

In your opinion, would the “Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem” of Ecclesiastes 1:1-10 think that the appointment of the twelve, including the traitor, and giving them authority to drive out demons in Mark 3:13-19 is “nothing new under the sun”?

Romans 3:21-26 - New International Version (NIV)

²¹ But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. ²² This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵ God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— ²⁶ he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

What has been made known “apart from the law” (verse 21)?

What do the “Law and the Prophets” testify to (verse 21)?

What is given “through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe” (verse 22)?

Who has sinned and fallen “short of the glory of God” (verse 23)?

In your opinion, what does Paul mean when he says “all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (verse 24)?

How was Christ a “sacrifice of atonement” (verse 25)?

What was God’s forbearance (verse 25)?

What did God demonstrate “at the present time” (verse 26)?

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

In your opinion, what is the difference between Jesus calling the twelve and giving them authority to drive out demons in Mark 3:13-19 and Jesus giving righteousness through faith to all who believe in Romans 3:21-26?

In your opinion, what is Paul proclaiming in Romans 3:21-26 that is something new that the Teacher of Ecclesiastes 1:1-10 did not know about?

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

¹ Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

² Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

How does Simon Peter describe himself (verse 1)?

What have the recipients of the letter received through the “righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ” (verse 1)?

What does Simon Peter want the blessings of grace and peace to be through (verse 2)?

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

In your opinion, how does Peter in his blessing of “grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord” in 2 Peter 1:1-2 help us understand the importance of understanding righteousness and faith which both Peter and Paul in Romans 3:21-26 discussed?

In your opinion, what does it tell us that although Peter received authority to cast out demons from Jesus in Mark 3:13-19, he focuses not on Jesus’s power or authority, but on His righteousness 2 Peter 1:1-2?

In your opinion, what could the “Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem” who found everything “meaningless” in Ecclesiastes 1:1-10 have learned from 2 Peter 1:1-2 about what is meaningful?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Ecclesiastes, Mark, Romans and 2 Peter tell us about what is meaningless and what leads to grace and peace?

In your opinion, what do these passages show us about ourselves today?

Next, back to 2 Peter 1:3 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)