August 5, 2018 – Wisdom from Ecclesiastes and the Sermon on the Mount – Living For Self or Bearing Fruit

Living For Self or Bearing Fruit

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 - New International Version (NIV)        

¹ I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. ² “Laughter,” I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?” ³ I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.

⁴ I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. ⁵ I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. ⁶ I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. ⁷ I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. ⁸ I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem as well—the delights of a man’s heart. ⁹ I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.

¹⁰ I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
    I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my labor,
    and this was the reward for all my toil.
¹¹ Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
    and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
    nothing was gained under the sun.

What did the Teacher decide to test himself with (verse 1)?

What does the Teacher say “is madness” (verse 2)?

How did the Teacher try to cheer himself up (verse 3)?

In your opinion, what would motivate the Teacher undertake “great projects” (verses 4, 5, and 6)?

In your opinion, why would the Teacher gather all the possessions (verses 7 and 8)?

What did the Teacher become (verse 9)?

What did the Teacher deny himself (verse 10)?

In your opinion, how would the Teacher’s heart taking “delight in all my labor” be a reward for all his toil (verse 10)?

What did the Teacher think when he “surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achive” (verse 11)?

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

Matthew 5:27-30 - New International Version (NIV)

²⁷ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ²⁸ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ²⁹ If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. ³⁰ And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

What does Jesus say His listeners had heard (verse 27)?

What has the person “who looks at a woman lustfully” already done (verse 28)?

How should we react if our right eye causes us to stumble (verse 29)?

How should we react if our right hand causes us to stumble (verse 30)?

In your opinion, why is it better “to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell” (verse 30)?

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

In your opinion, what does Jesus in Matthew 5:27-30 help us understand about what the Teacher was doing when he “denied myself nothing my eyes desired” according to Ecclesiastes 2:1-11?

Galatians 5:13-25 – New International Version (NIV)

¹³ You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. ¹⁴ For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  ¹⁵ If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

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 does Paul instruct us that Christian freedom should be used for (verse 13)?

How is the entire law fulfilled (verse 14)?

When will we be destroyed by each other (verse 15)?

In your opinion, what does Paul mean when he says “walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (verse 16)?

What is “contrary to the Spirit” (verse 17)?

When are we “not under the law” (verse 18)?

What is obvious (verse 19)?

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

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

In your opinion, what does it mean to  have “crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (verse 24)?

Why should we “keep in step with the Spirit” (verse 25)?

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

In your opinion, how are the conclusion that the Teacher came to after rewarding himself with everything he desired in Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 and Paul’s discussion in Galatians 5:16-25 about the desires of the flesh similar?

In your opinion, how does Paul’s discussion about crucifying “the flesh with its passions and desires” in Galatians 5:16-25 help us understand Jesus’s statement in Matthew 5:27-30 “it is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell”?

Hebrews 12:1-3 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

What surrounds Christians (verse 1)?

In your opinion, what does it mean to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles” (verse 1)?

How are we to run the “race marked out for us” (verse 1)?

Where do we fix our eyes (verse 2)?

In your opinion, what does Paul mean when he calls Jesus the “pioneer and perfecter of faith” (verse 2)?

Why did Jesus endure the cross (verse 2)?

Where did Jesus sit down (verse 2)?

Why should we consider Jesus, “who endured such opposition from sinners” (verse 3)?

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

In your opinion, how is the focus of the Teacher in Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 different from the focus that Paul suggests in Hebrews 12:1-3?

In your opinion, what is similar between the focus on the woman that Jesus condemns in Matthew 5:27-30 and the focus on Jesus that Paul recommends in Hebrews 12:1-3?

In your opinion, what can we learn when we consider that in Galatians 5:13-25 Paul says that “the entire law is fulfilled by keeping this one command: “love your neighbor as yourself” and in Hebrews 12:1-3 he tells us to “run with perseverance”?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Ecclesiastes, Matthew, Galatians and Hebrews teach us about the consequences of focusing on ourselves?

In your opinion, how can we, living in sinful flesh and in a sin filled world, bear the “fruit of the Spirit”?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

July 22, 2018 – Wisdom from Ecclesiastes and the Sermon on the Mount – Under the Sun or In the Light

Under the Sun or In the Light

Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 - New International Version (NIV)      

¹² I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. ¹³ I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. What a heavy burden God has laid on mankind! ¹⁴ I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

¹⁵ What is crooked cannot be straightened;
    what is lacking cannot be counted.

¹⁶ I said to myself, “Look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.” ¹⁷ Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind.

¹⁸ For with much wisdom comes much sorrow;
    the more knowledge, the more grief.

What was the Teacher (verse 12)?

How did the Teacher study and explore “by wisdom all that is done under the heavens” (verse 13)?

What has the Teacher seen (verse 14)?

In your opinion, what does the Teacher mean by “all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind” (verse 14)?

What can not be straightened (verse 15)?

Who is the Teacher wiser than (verse 16)?

What did the Teacher decide about the “understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly” (verse 17)?

What comes with “much wisdom” (verse 18)?

What comes with “more knowledge” (verse 18)?

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

Matthew 7:15-20 - New International Version (NIV)

¹⁵ “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. ¹⁶ By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

How does Jesus describe false prophets (verse 15)?

In your opinion, what does Paul mean when he asks “do people pick grapes from thornbushes” (verse 16)?

What tree bears good fruit (verse 17)?

What tree cannot bear good fruit (verse 18)?

Where will trees that do not bear good fruit end up (verse 19)?

How will we recognize false prophets (verse 20)?

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

In your opinion, how does what Jesus said about false prophets in Matthew 7:15-20 apply to what the Teacher says in Ecclesiastes 1:12-18?  Why do we need to consider all of Ecclesiastes before we apply what Jesus says?

Romans 6:19-23 – New International Version (NIV)

¹⁹ I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. ²⁰ When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. ²¹ What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! ²² But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. ²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Why is Paul offering an example “from everyday life” (verse 19)?

How should we offer ourselves as “slaves to righteousness leading to holiness” (verse 19)?

When were we “free from the control of righteousness” (verse 20)?

In your opinion, how would you answer Paul’s question “what benefit did you reap at that time from the things that you are now ashamed of” (verse 21)?

When do we reap the benefit that “leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life” (verse 22)?

What are the “wages of sin” (verse 23)?

What is the “gift of God” (verse 23)?

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

In your opinion, why can Paul talk about people who used to be slaves to sin but are now slaves of God in Romans 6:19-23 when the Teacher said in Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 that “what is crooked cannot be straightened”?

In your opinion, what does Paul’s statement in Romans 6:19-23 that “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” help us to understand about the good and bad trees that Jesus is talking about in Matthew 7:15-20?

Ephesians 5:8-20 – New International Version (NIV)

⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) ¹⁰ and find out what pleases the Lord. ¹¹ Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹² It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. ¹³ But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. ¹⁴ This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,
    rise from the dead,
    and Christ will shine on you.”

¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. ¹⁸ Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

How does Paul describe the Ephesians that he was writing to (verse 8)?

What is the “fruit of the light” (verse 9)?

In your opinion, “what pleases the Lord” (verse 10)?

How should we treat “the fruitless deeds of darkness” (verse 11)?

What is shameful (verse 12)?

When do things become visible (verse 13)?

In your opinion, what does it mean for the sleeper to wake up and have Christ shine on them (verse 14)?

How should we not live (verse 15)?

How should we live (verse 15)?

Why should we make “the most of every opportunity” (verse 16)?

How do we avoid being foolish (verse 17)?

What should we be filled with (verse 18)?

How should we speak to each other (verse 19)?

When should we give thanks (verse 20)?

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

In your opinion, what is the difference between the wisdom that is “chasing after the wind” in Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 and and living as the wise as Paul instructs in Ephesians 5:8-20?

In your opinion, what does Paul in Ephesians 5:8-20 teach us about the good fruit from the good tree that Jesus tells us about in Matthew 7:15-20?

In your opinion, how does Paul in Ephesians 5:8-20 give us a better understanding of how we can receive the “gift of God” that is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord that is promised in Romans 6:19-23?

In your opinion, how do these passages from Ecclesiastes, Matthew, Romans and Ephesians help us to understand the difference between things that are “done under the sun” and things that are done as “children of the light”?

In your opinion, how can we avoid the wisdom that is meaningless and live in the light as the wise?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

July 15, 2018 – Wisdom from Ecclesiastes and the Sermon on the Mount – From Meaningless to Blessed

From Meaningless to Blessed

Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 - 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.
¹¹ No one remembers the former generations,
    and even those yet to come
will not be remembered
    by those who follow them.

Who is the Teacher who wrote Ecclesiastes (verse 1)?

What does the Teacher say 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 (verse 4)?

What does the sun do when it sets (verse 5)?

Where does the wind blow (verse 6)?

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

What is “wearisome” (verse 8)?

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

In your opinion, “is there anything of which one can say, “Look! There is something new”?” (verse 10)?

Who is not remembered (verse 11)?

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

Matthew 5:1-10 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ² and he began to teach them.

He said:

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

When did Jesus go up on a mountainside and sit down (verse 1)?

What did Jesus begin to do (verse 2)?

How are the poor in spirit blessed (verse 3)?

Who will be comforted  (verse 4)?

How are the meek blessed (verse 5)?

What will happen to “those who hunger and thirst for fighteousness” (verse 6)?

Who will be shown mercy (verse 7)?

How will the pure in heart be blessed (verse 8)?

Who will be called “children of God” (verse 9)?

What will the blessing be for “those who are persecuted because of righteousness” (verse 10)?

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

In your opinion, how can the Teacher be accurate when he says that everything is meaningless in Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 when Jesus lists people who are blessed in Matthew 5:1-10?

Colossians 3:1-10 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³ For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

⁵ Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.  ⁷ You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. ⁸ But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. ⁹ Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

What should those who “have been raised with Christ” set their hearts on (verse 1)?

What should those who “have been raised with Christ” not set their minds on (verse 2)?

Where is the life of those who “have been raised with Christ” (verse 3)?

In your opinion, what does Paul mean by “then you also will appear with him in glory” (verse 4)?

What should be put to death (verse 5)?

What is coming (verse 6)?

In what ways did those who “have been raised with Christ” used to walk (verses 5 and 7)?

What should those who “have been raised with Christ” do with anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips (verse 8)?

Why should those who “have been raised with Christ” not lie to each other (verse 9)?

What have those who “have been raised with Christ” put on (verse 10)?

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

In your opinion, using the definitions of earthly things and things above in Colossians 3:1-10 of earthly things or things above, how would you classify the wisdom of the Teacher in Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 and why do you classify this way?

In your opinion, how does the Paul’s teaching in Colossians 3:1-10 reveal how the people of the crowd that Jesus was talking to in Matthew 5:1-10, and people today, can move into the status of being blessed as Jesus promises?

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

¹² Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

¹³ When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴ but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

¹⁶ Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ¹⁸ He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

Who is blessed (verse 12)?

What will the one who is blessed receive (verse 12)?

Why should no one say “God is tempting me” (verse 13)?

When is “each person” tempted (verse 14)?

What does desire give birth to (verse 15)?

What gives birth to death “when it is full-grown” (verse 15)?

In your opinion, why does James say “don’t be deceived” (verse 16)?

Who “does not change like shifting shadows” (verse 17)?

How did the Father choose to give us birth (verse 18)?

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

In your opinion, how does the Teacher in his wisdom find everything “meaningless” in Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 and yet James sees that “the one who perseveres under trial” is blessed?

In your opinion, how does knowing that God “chose to give us birth through the word of truth” (James 1:12-18) help us understand how the blessings of Jesus in Matthew 5:1-10 will be accomplished?

In your opinion, how does the relationship of desire and sin explained in James 1:12-18 help us have a richer understanding of the “old self with its practices” that Paul talks about in Colossians 3:1-10 and about the “new self” we are to put on?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Ecclesiastes, Matthes, Colossians and James teach us about the difference between worldly wisdom and heavenly wisdom?

In your opinion, what can we change today to help us from viewing everything as meaningless to living as blessed?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)