June 23, 2019 – Learning from James – From Struggling to Rejoicing

-                        The

From Struggling to Rejoicing


Psalms 42:1-5 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ As the deer pants for streams of water,
    so my soul pants for you, my God.
² My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
    When can I go and meet with God?
³ My tears have been my food
    day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
    “Where is your God?”
⁴ These things I remember
    as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God
    under the protection of the Mighty One
with shouts of joy and praise
    among the festive throng.

⁵ Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God.

How does the Psalmist yearn for God (verse 1)?

What part of the Psalmist “thirsts for God” (verse 2)?

In your opinion, why would people ask the Psalmist “where is your God” (verse 3)?

When did the Psalmist remember the protection of the Mighty One” and the joy of the throng (verse 4)?

How did the Psalmist propose to remedy the downcast soul (verse 5)?

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

Mark 14:32-42 - New International Version (NIV)              

³² They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” ³³ He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. ³⁴ “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”

³⁵ Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. ³⁶ “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

³⁷ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? ³⁸ Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

³⁹ Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. ⁴⁰ When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.

⁴¹ Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. ⁴² Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

Where did Jesus and his disciples go (verse 32)?

How did Jesus begin to feel (verse 33)?

What was overwhelming Jesus’ soul (verse 34)?

What did Jesus pray for (verse 35)?

In your opinion, why did could Jesus pray for the cup to be taken away, and also say “yet not what I will, but what you will” (verse 36)?

What were the disciples doing when Jesus returned (verse 37)?


How were the disciples to avoid temptation (verse 38)?


What did Jesus pray for the second time (verse 39)?


What had come when Jesus returned the third time from praying (verse 41)?


Who is the Son of Man delivered to (verse 41)?


Who was coming (verse 42)?


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


In your opinion, how are the Psalmist’s prayer path of panting for God, having tears as he poured out his soul, remembering going to the House of God, and then putting his hope in God in Psalms 42:1-5 and the prayer path of Jesus as He went into the Garden of Gethsemane with His soul overwhelmed and left with His request that the cup be taken from Him denied but still willing to go meet the betrayer similar?


Philippians 4:4-9 – New International Version (NIV)

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

When does Paul say to “rejoice in the Lord” (verse 4)?

Who is near (verse 5)?

What should we be anxious about (verse 6)?

How should we present our requests to God (verse 6)?

In your opinion, what does it mean that “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (verse 7)?

What are we to do with “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable” (verse 8)?

When will the peace of God be with us (verse 9)?

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

In your opinion, how is the transition of the Psalmist from tears to hope in God in Psalms 42:1-5 mirrored in Philippians 4:4-9?

In your opinion, how is Jesus’ prayer in Mark 4:32-42 an example to us of Paul’s instruction to “in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” in Philippians 4:4-9? 


James 4:1-10 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? ² You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. ³ When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

⁴ You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. ⁵ Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? ⁶ But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

“God opposes the proud
    but shows favor to the humble.”

⁷ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹ Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

What do “desires that battle within” cause (verse 1)?

Why do Christians not have what they desire (verse 2)?


Why do Christians who ask not receive (verse 3)?


Who becomes an “enemy of God” (verse 4)?


What does God jealously long for (verse 5)?


In your opinion, why would God oppose the proud (verse 6)?


Who should we submit ourselves to (verse 7)?


Who should we resist (verse 7)?


When will God come near to us (verse 8)?


What should we change our joy to (verse 9)?


When will the Lord lift us up (verse 10)?


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


In your opinion, if our souls pant for God, like the soul of the Psalmist in Psalms 42:1-5, would we be coming near to God as James instructs in James 4:1-10?


In your opinion, what does Jesus’ prayer in Mark 14:32-42 teach us about how to avoid praying with wrong motives as warned in James 4:1-10?


In your opinion, how might the process of giving thanks for the things that we have been blessed with as we make our new requests, as Paul instructs in Philippians 4:4-9, help us overcome the desires that battle within us that James 4:1-10 warns us about?


In your opinion, what do these passages from Psalms, Mark, Philippians and James teach us about how to move from praying out of the desires that are within us to sincerely saying “not what I will, but what you will”?


In your opinion, how can we move from struggling to submit to rejoicing in the Lord?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

June 16, 2019 – Learning from James – Wisdom: Gift or Goal

-                        The

Wisdom: Gift or Goal


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

¹ My son, if you accept my words
    and store up my commands within you,
² turning your ear to wisdom
    and applying your heart to understanding—
³ indeed, if you call out for insight
    and cry aloud for understanding,
⁴ and if you look for it as for silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasure,
⁵ then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.

⁶ For the Lord gives wisdom;
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
⁷ He holds success in store for the upright,
    he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
⁸ for he guards the course of the just
    and protects the way of his faithful ones.

⁹ Then you will understand what is right and just
    and fair—every good path.
¹⁰ For wisdom will enter your heart,
    and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
¹¹ Discretion will protect you,
    and understanding will guard you.

What will you understand and find if you accept Solomon’s words, turn your ear to wisdom, call for insight and search for it as for hidden treasure (verses 1-5)?

In your opinion, what is “fear of the Lord” (verse 5)?

Who gives wisdom (verse 6)?

What comes from the mouth of the Lord (verse 6)?

Who is the Lord a shield for (verse 7)?

What does the Lord protect (verse 8)?

What will we then understand  (verse 9)?

Where will wisdom enter (verse 10)?

What will understanding do (verse 11)?

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

Mark 8:27-33 - New International Version (NIV)                

²⁷ Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

²⁸ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”

²⁹ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”

³⁰ Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

³¹ He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. ³² He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

³³ But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Where were Jesus and his disciples (verse 27)?

Who did the people say that Jesus was (verses 27 and 28)?

How did Peter answer Jesus’ question “who do you say I am” (verse 29)?

In your opinion, why did Jesus warn them not to tell anyone (verse 30)?

Who must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law (verse 31)?

What will happen three days after he is killed (verse 31)?


Who took Jesus aside and “began to rebuke him” (verse 32)?


What kind of concerns did Jesus say Peter had (verse 33)?


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


In your opinion, what does Peter’s correct answer about who Jesus is, followed by his rebuke of Jesus, and then Jesus saying “get behind me Satan” in Mark 8:27-33 teach us about the wisdom that is proclaimed in Proverbs 2:1-10?


1 Corinthians 1:18-25 – New International Version (NIV)

¹⁸ For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
    the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

²⁰ Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹ For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. ²² Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

What is “foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (verse 18)?

What will happen to “the wisdom of the wise” (verse 19)?

In your opinion, “where is the wise person” (verse 20)?

Who does the world not know “through its wisdom” (verse 21)?

Who looks for wisdom (verse 22)?

What is “foolishness to Gentiles” (verse 23)?

Who is the “power of God and the wisdom of God” to those who are called by God (verse 24)?

What is “wiser than human wisdom” (verse 25)?

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

In your opinion, how is the wisdom that Solomon instructs us to search for in Proverbs 2:1-10 revealed by Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:18-25?

In your opinion, how does Peter in Mark 8:27-33 demonstrate both the wisdom of the world and the wisdom of God that Paul discusses in 1 Corinthians 1:18-25? 


James 3:13-18 – New International Version (NIV)

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. ¹⁵ Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

¹⁷ But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸ Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

How are the “wise and understanding” to show it (verse 13)?

What are we to do with “bitter envy and selfish ambition” (verse 14)?


What are “bitter envy and selfish ambition” (verses 14 and 15)?


Where will you find “disorder and every evil practice” (verse 16)?


What is “pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full or mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” (verse 17)?


Who will reap a “harvest of righteousness” (verse 18)?


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


In your opinion, what do Solomon in Proverbs 2:1-10 and James in James 3:13-18 share in their belief about wisdom?


In your opinion, how do the two different incidents with Peter in Mark 8:27-33 illustrate the two different sources of wisdom explained in James 3:13-18?


In your opinion, why does James 3:13-18 talk about the “wisdom that comes from heaven” while 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 talks about “the foolishness of God”?  Are they the same?


In your opinion, what do these passages from Proverbs, Mark, 1 Corinthians and James help us understand about the difference between wisdom as a goal, and wisdom as a gift from God?


In your opinion, how can we find heavenly wisdom today?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

June 9, 2019 – Learning from James – Old Tongues and New Attitudes

Old Tongues and New Attitudes


Isaiah 29:13-16 - New International Version (NIV)

¹³ The Lord says:

“These people come near to me with their mouth
    and honor me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship of me
    is based on merely human rules they have been taught.
¹⁴ Therefore once more I will astound these people
    with wonder upon wonder;
the wisdom of the wise will perish,
    the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.”
¹⁵ Woe to those who go to great depths
    to hide their plans from the Lord,
who do their work in darkness and think,
    “Who sees us? Who will know?”
¹⁶ You turn things upside down,
    as if the potter were thought to be like the clay!
Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it,
    “You did not make me”?
Can the pot say to the potter,
    “You know nothing”?

Where are the hearts of the people of whom God says they “come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips” (verse 13)?

What is their worship based on (verse 13)?

How will God “astound these people” (verse 14)?

In your opinion, why will “the wisdom of the wise” perish (verse 14)?

What is there for those “who go to great depths to hide their plans from the Lord” (verse 15)?

In what upside down way are these people thinking of the potter and the clay (verse 16)?

In your opinion, “can the pot say to the potter, ‘you know nothing’” (verse 16)?

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

Mark 11:27-33 - New International Version (NIV)              

²⁷ They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. ²⁸ “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?”

²⁹ Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. ³⁰ John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!”

³¹ They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ ³² But if we say, ‘Of human origin’ …” (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)

³³ So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

Where was Jesus walking when the “the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him” (verse 27)?

What did they ask Jesus (verse 28)?


What did Jesus tell the chief priests, teachers of the law and elders they would need to do before He would answer their question (verse 29)?


In your opinion, what was the origin of John’s baptism (verse 30)?


Why did the chief priests, teachers of the law and elders not want to say “from heaven” (verse 31)?


Why did the chief priests, teachers of the law and elders not want to say “of human origin” (verse 32)?


How did the chief priests, teachers of the law and elders answer Jesus (verse 33)?


How did Jesus respond to that answer (verse 33)?


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


In your opinion, how is the prophecy in Isaiah 29:13-16 about the wisdom of the wise and the intelligence of the intelligent fulfilled in Mark 11:27-33?


Ephesians 4:22-32 – New International Version (NIV)

²² You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³ to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

²⁵ Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. ²⁶ “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ and do not give the devil a foothold. ²⁸ Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

²⁹ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

What does Paul say the Ephesian Christians were taught to do with their “former way of life” (verse 22)?

How are the Ephesian Christians “to be made new” (verse 23)?

What is “created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (verse 24)?

In your opinion, what does it mean to “put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor” (verse 25)?

What are the Ephesian Christians not do do in their anger (verse 26)?

Who are the Ephesian Christians not to give a foothold (verse 27)?

Why must the one who has been stealing work and do something “useful with their own hands” (verse 28)?

What is to come out of the mouths of the Ephesian Christians (verse 29)?

In your opinion, how can we “grieve the Holy Spirit of God” (verse 30)?

What are the Ephesian Christians to get rid of (verse 31)?

How are the Ephesian Christians to forgive each other (verse 32)?

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

In your opinion, what is the difference between the old self, as described in Isaiah 29:13-16, and the new self, as described in Ephesians 4:22-32?

In your opinion, how might the words and actions of the chief priests, teachers of the law and elders in Mark 11:27-33 grieve the Holy Spirit of God as Paul tells the Ephesian Christians not to do in Ephesians 4:22-32?


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

¹ Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. ² We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

³ When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. ⁴ Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. ⁵ Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶ The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

⁷ All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

⁹ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. ¹¹ Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? ¹² My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Why should few people become teachers (verse 1)?

What do all of us do (verse 2)?


How can we turn the horse (verse 3)?


What very small thing can steer a ship (verse 4)?


What part of the body can make “great boasts” (verse 5)?


What starts a great forest on fire (verse 5)?


What “is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell” (verse 6)?


In your opinion, why can we tame all kinds of animals, but not the tongue (verses 7 and 8)?


What do we use to “praise our Lord and Father” (verse 9)?


What do we use to “curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness” (verse 9)?


In your opinion, why should praise and cursing not come “out of the same mouth” (verse 10)?


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


In your opinion, how does what the Lord says in Isaiah 29:13-16 help us understand how blessings and cursings can come from the same mouth, even though James 3:1-12 tells us this “should not be”?


In your opinion, how does the conflict that the chief priests, teachers of the law and elders have in answering Jesus’ question in Mark 11:27-33 reveal to us about the source of the tongues strength in corrupting the body and setting the course of one’s life on fire as proclaimed in James 3:1-12?


In your opinion, how does Paul’s discussion about “old” and “new” selves in Ephesians 4:22-32 help us understand the source of “blessing” and “cursing” coming from the same mouth as James says should not happen in James 3:1-12?


In your opinion, what do these passages from Isaiah, Mark, Ephesians and James help us understand about the challenges as Christians, being our new selves, while still living with remnants of our old selves?


In your opinion, how can we listen to Paul and “be made new in the attitude of your minds”?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

June 2, 2019 – Learning from James – Faith In Deed

Faith In Deed


Genesis 22:1-14 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

² Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”

³ Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. ⁴ On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. ⁵ He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”

⁶ Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, ⁷ Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”

“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.

“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

⁸ Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

⁹ When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. ¹⁰ Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. ¹¹ But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

¹² “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

¹³ Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. ¹⁴ So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

Who tested Abraham (verse 1)?

What was Abraham to do with Isaac (verse 2)?

When did Abraham “set out” (verse 3)?

What did Abraham see on the third day (verse 4)?

In your opinion, why did Abraham tell the servants to “stay here with the donkey” (verse 5)?

Who carried the wood for the burnt offering (verse 6)?

How did Abraham answer Isaac’s question “where is the lamb for the burnt offering” (verses 7 and 8)?

What did Abraham do with Isaac (verse 9)?


When did the angel of the Lord call out “Abraham! Abraham!” (verses 10 and 11)?


Why did the angel know that Abraham feared God (verse 12)?


What did Abraham offer instead of his son (verse 13)?


What did Abraham call that place (verse 14)?


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

Mark 10:46-52 - New International Version (NIV)              

⁴⁶ Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. ⁴⁷ When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

⁴⁸ Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

⁴⁹ Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”

So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” ⁵⁰ Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

⁵¹ “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.

The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”

⁵² “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Where was Bartimaeus when Jesus, His disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho (verse 46)?

When did Bartimaeus begin to shout (verse 47)?


How did Bartimaeus respond when people “rebuked him and told him to be quiet” (verse 48)?


In your opinion, why did Jesus say “call him” instead of going to Bartimaeus (verse 49)?


How did Bartimaeus respond (verse 50)?


What did Bartimaeus tell Jesus he wanted (verse 51)?


What did Jesus say had healed Bartimaeus (verse 52)?


Then what did Bartimaeus do (verse 52)?


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


In your opinion, how is the faith that Abraham exhibited in Genesis 22:1-14 different from the faith that Bartimaeus exhibited in Mark 10:46-52?  How was their faith similar?


Galatians 5:1-6 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

² Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. ³ Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. ⁴ You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. ⁵ For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. ⁶ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

For what has “Christ set us free” (verse 1)?

How are the Galatians to keep themselves from being “burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (verse 1)?

When would Christ be “of no value” to the Galatians (verse 2)?

What would a man “who lets himself be circumcised” be obligated to obey (verse 3)?

In your opinion, why is someone who is trying “to be justified by the law” alienated from Christ (verse 4)?

How do “we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope” (verse 5)?

What counts in Christ Jesus (verse 6)?

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

In your opinion, what action does Abraham make in Genesis 22:1-14 that you would call “faith expressing itself through love” as Paul identifies as the only thing that is important in Galatians 5:1-6?

In your opinion, how is Jesus giving Bartimaeus his sight in Mark 10:46-52 similar to Christ setting us free as Paul indicated in Galatians 5:1-6?


James 2:14-26 – New International Version (NIV)

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶ If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

²⁰ You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? ²¹ Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? ²² You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. ²³ And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. ²⁴ You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

²⁵ In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? ²⁶ As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

In your opinion, can the faith of someone who does not have deeds save them (verse 14)?

What is dead (verses 15 through 17)?


What will someone say (verse 18)?


In your opinion, why does James say “I will show you my faith by my deeds” (verse 18)?


What do even the demons believe (verse 19)?


What worked together for Abraham when his faith was made complete (verse 22)?


Which scripture as fulfilled (verse 23)?


In your opinion, what does it mean that “a person is considered righteous by what thay do and not by faith alone” (verse 24)?


When was “Rahab the prostitute” considered righteous (verse 25)?


What is “faith without deeds” (verse 26)?


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


In your opinion, how does Abraham’s act of faith in Genesis 22:1-14 when he says that “God himself will provide the lamb” help us understand how we can also act in faith as is required by James 2:14-26?


In your opinion, how does Bartimaeus calling out even louder to Jesus after he was rebuked in Mark 10:46-52 an example of the dependence on God that is required to show our faith by our deeds as instructed in James 2:14-26?


In your opinion, how is the seeming conflict between the linking of faith and deeds in James 2:14-26 resolved by the Galatians 5:1-6 passage which begins by saying “it is for freedom that Christ sets us free” and ends by saying “the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love”?


In your opinion, what do these passages from Genesis, Mark, Galatians and James help us understand about how we, who have faith that God loved us so much that he provided His Son as a lamb to take away our sins, can love others enough to express that love through deeds?


In your opinion, how can our faith today be made complete?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)