December 10, 2023 – Isaiah in the New Testament – Childlike Wisdom

Childlike Wisdom

Isaiah 29:14-21 - New International Version (NIV)

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”?

¹⁷ In a very short time, will not Lebanon be turned into a fertile field
    and the fertile field seem like a forest?
¹⁸ In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll,
    and out of gloom and darkness
    the eyes of the blind will see.
¹⁹ Once more the humble will rejoice in the Lord;
    the needy will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
²⁰ The ruthless will vanish,
    the mockers will disappear,
    and all who have an eye for evil will be cut down—
²¹ those who with a word make someone out to be guilty,
    who ensnare the defender in court
    and with false testimony deprive the innocent of justice.

 

What will happen to the “wisdom of the wise” (verse 14)?

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

How do the people “turn things” (verse 16)?

When will “Lebanon be turned into a fertile field” (verse 17)?

Who will “hear the words of the scroll” (verse 18)?

Who will the humble “rejoice in” (verse 19)?

What will happen to the ruthless (verse 20)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the difference between godly and worldly wisdom?

Matthew 11:25-30 – New International Version (NIV)

²⁵ At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. ²⁶ Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

²⁷ “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Who said “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth” (verse 25)?

Who are “these things” hidden from (verse 25)?

Who are “these things” revealed to (verses 25)?

In your opinion, why was the Father pleased to do this (verse 26)?

What has been committed to Jesus by the Father (verse 27)?

Who knows the Father (verse 27)?

To whom does Jesus say “come to me” (verse 28)?

What we find if we take Jesus yoke and learn from Him (verse 29)?

What is light (verse 30)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the differences between godly and worldly wisdom?

In your opinion, what is the difference between the “wisdom of the wise” that will perish in Isaiah 29:14-21 and the things that are hidden from the wise but revealed to little children in Matthew 11:25-30?

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.

Who sees the “message of the cross” as foolishness (verse 18)?

Who sees the “message of the cross” as the “power of God” (verse 18)?

What will be frustrated (verse 19)?

In your opinion, “where is the philosopher of this age” (verse 20)?

How is God pleased “to save those who believe” (verse 21)?

What do “Jews demand” (verse 22)?

What do “Greeks look for” (verse 22)?

What is “Christ crucified” to the Gentiles (verse 23)?

To whom is Christ “the power of God and the wisdom of 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, what does this passage teach us about the differences between godly and worldly wisdom?

In your opinion, what does 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 reveal about the wonder that God was going to do to “astound these people” in Isaiah 29:14-21 that would destroy wisdom of the people of Judah in Isaiah and the people of Corinth in 1 Corinthians?

In your opinion, how does 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 help us understand how something can be hidden from the wise and revealed to little children as Jesus praised the “Father, Lord of heaven and earth” for doing in Matthew 11:25-30?

2 Timothy 3:10-17 – New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, ¹¹ persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. ¹² In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, ¹³ while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴ But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, ¹⁵ and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

In your opinion, who is the “you” who knows “all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love . . .” (verse 10)?

Who did Paul say “rescued me from all of them” (verse 11)?

Who will be persecuted (verse 12)?

Who will “go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (verse 13)?

How is Timothy to continue (verse 14)?

What are “the Holy Scriptures” able to do (verse 15)?

What is “God-breathed” (verse 16)?

Who is to be “thoroughly equipped for every good work” (verse 17)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the differences between godly and worldly wisdom?

In your opinion, what wisdom does 2 Timothy 3:10-17 reveal that will not perish with the “wisdom of the wise” in Isaiah 29:14-21?

In your opinion, what do the challenges that Paul faced, as outlined in 2 Timothy 3:10-17, reveal about the rest that Jesus promises for “weary and burdened” He calls to come to Him in Matthew 11:25-30?

In your opinion, how does the decision point of “Christ crucified” in 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 become the place where those who see Him as a stumbling block or foolishness go from “bad to worse” and those who see Christ as Savior are persecuted? 

In your opinion, what do these passages from Isaiah, Matthew, 1 Corinthians, and 2 Timothy teach us about the conflict between worldly and godly wisdom?

In your opinion, how does God continue to rescue those who see Christ crucified as wisdom and strength today?

 

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

December 3, 2023 – Isaiah in the New Testament – Worship from the Heart

Worship from the Heart

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”?

What do the people do with their lips (verse 13)?

Where are their hearts (verse 13)?

What is their worship based on (verse 13)?

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

What will happen to “the intelligence of the intelligent” (verse 14)?

Who will have woe (verse 15)?

How do people turn things (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?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the focus of people’s worship?

Mark 7:1-13 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus ² and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. ³ (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. ⁴ When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.)

⁵ So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?”

⁶ He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:

“‘These people honor me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me.
⁷ They worship me in vain;
    their teachings are merely human rules.’

⁸ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”

⁹ And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! ¹⁰ For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ ¹¹ But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)— ¹² then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. ¹³ Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”

Who “gathered around Jesus” (verse 1)?

What did they see the disciples doing (verse 2)?

Where did the Pharisees and Jews get the requirement to wash from (verses 3)?

In your opinion, why would coming from the marketplace make a difference (verse 4)?

What did the Pharisees and teachers of the law ask Jesus (verse 5)?

Who was right about the Pharisees and teachers of the law (verse 6)?

In your opinion, how does the context of verses 1-6 add depth to Jesus quoting the statement “their teachings are merely human rules” (verse 7)?

What did the Pharisees and teachers of the law have to let go of to hold “on to human traditions” (verse 8)?

Who said “honor your father and mother” (verse 10)?

How do the Pharisees and teachers of the law let people get out of doing things for their fathers or mothers (verses 11 and 12)?

How is the “word of God” nullified (verse 13)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the focus of people’s worship?

In your opinion, how do both Isaiah 29:13-16 and Mark 7:1-13 show how people “turn things upside down”?

Galatians 1:11-24 - New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. ¹² I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

¹³ For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. ¹⁴ I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. ¹⁵ But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased ¹⁶ to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. ¹⁷ I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.

¹⁸ Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days. ¹⁹ I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. ²⁰ I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie.

²¹ Then I went to Syria and Cilicia. ²² I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. ²³ They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” ²⁴ And they praised God because of me.

What does Paul want his “brothers and sisters” to know (verse 11)?

How did Paul receive the gospel (verse 12)?

What did Paul do in his “previous way of life in Judaism” (verse 13)?

What was Paul “extremely zealous” for (verse 14)?

When was Paul set apart (verse 15)?

Who did Paul not consult (verse 16)?

When did Paul go to “Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas” (verse 18)?

Who else did Paul see (verse 19)?

What report did the churches of Judea hear (verses 22 and 23)?

How did the churches react to that report (verse 24)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the focus of people’s worship?

In your opinion, how is the promise that “the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish” in Isaiah 20:13-16 fulfilled in Galatians 1:11-24?

In your opinion, how does Galatians 1:11-24 provide hope for those who Jesus names as hypocrites in Mark 7:1-13?

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

¹ The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. ² Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. ³ They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. ⁴ For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, ⁵ because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

⁶ If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. ⁷ Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. ⁸ For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. ⁹ This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. ¹⁰ That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.

What does the Spirit clearly say some will do “in later times” (verse 1)?

Who will the teachings “come through” (verse 2)?

In your opinion, why would “they” establish rules against marriage and eating certain foods (verse 3)?

What is good (verse 4)?

How are the things received with thanksgiving consecrated (verses 4 and 5)?

When will Timothy be a “good minister of Christ Jesus” (verse 6)?

How has Timothy been nourished (verse 6)?

What is Timothy to “have nothing to do with” (verse 7)?

What holds “promise for both the present life and the life to come” (verse 8)?

Why does Paul “labor and strive” (verse 9)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the focus of people’s worship?

In your opinion, what does 1 Timothy 4:1-10 reveal about the source of the “human rules” that Isaiah 29:13-16 condemns?

In your opinion, what does the fact that Jesus points out in Mark 7:1-13, that it is the Pharisees and teachers of the law who nullify the law, help us understand about the “hypocritical liars” that Paul warns of in 1 Timothy 4:1-10?

In your opinion, what guidance do we find in Galatians 1:11-24 and 1 Timothy 4:1-10 to determine who has received a revelation from Jesus and who has received a revelation from “deceiving spirits”? 

In your opinion, what do these passages from Isaiah, Mark, Galatians, and 1 Timothy teach us about how to worship God with our hearts instead of with our lips?

In your opinion, how should we respond to God, who has called us “by his grace” today?

 

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

November 26, 2023 – Isaiah in the New Testament – A Remnant Pressing On

 

A Remnant Pressing On

Isaiah 29:5-14 - New International Version (NIV)

⁵ But your many enemies will become like fine dust,
    the ruthless hordes like blown chaff.
Suddenly, in an instant,
⁶     the Lord Almighty will come
with thunder and earthquake and great noise,
    with windstorm and tempest and flames of a devouring fire.
⁷ Then the hordes of all the nations that fight against Ariel,
    that attack her and her fortress and besiege her,
will be as it is with a dream,
    with a vision in the night—
⁸ as when a hungry person dreams of eating,
    but awakens hungry still;
as when a thirsty person dreams of drinking,
    but awakens faint and thirsty still.
So will it be with the hordes of all the nations
    that fight against Mount Zion.

⁹ Be stunned and amazed,
    blind yourselves and be sightless;
be drunk, but not from wine,
    stagger, but not from beer.
¹⁰ The Lord has brought over you a deep sleep:
    He has sealed your eyes (the prophets);
    he has covered your heads (the seers).

¹¹ For you this whole vision is nothing but words sealed in a scroll. And if you give the scroll to someone who can read, and say, “Read this, please,” they will answer, “I can’t; it is sealed.” ¹² Or if you give the scroll to someone who cannot read, and say, “Read this, please,” they will answer, “I don’t know how to read.”

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.”

What will happen to the “ruthless hoards” (verse 5)?

Who will come “with thunder and earthquake and great noise, with windstorm and tempest and flames of a devouring fire” (verse 6)?

For whom will it be “as it is with a dream” (verses 7 and 8)?

In your opinion, who is to, “Be stunned and amazed, blind yourselves and be sightless; be drunk, but not from wine, stagger, but not from beer” (verse 9)?

Who has “sealed your eyes” and “covered your heads” (verse 10)?

What is the “whole vision” (verse 11)?

Where are the hearts of those who come near the Lord “with the mouth and honor me with their lips” (verse 13)?

What will happen to the “wisdom of the wise” (verse 14)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about how people can react to God and His Word?

John 19:1-16 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. ² The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe ³ and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.

⁴ Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” ⁵ When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”

⁶ As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”

But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”

⁷ The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”

⁸ When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, ⁹ and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰ “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”

¹¹ Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”

¹² From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”

¹³ When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). ¹⁴ It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon.

“Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.

¹⁵ But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”

“Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked.

“We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.

¹⁶ Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.

What did Pilate have done to Jesus (verse 1)?

Who “twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head” (verse 2)?

What “basis for a charge” did Pilate find against Jesus (verses 4)?

How did the chief priests and officials respond when “Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” (verses 5 and 6)?

Why did the Jewish leaders say that Jesus must die (verse 7)?

How did Jesus respond when Pilate said “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you” (verses 10 and 11)?

What happened when Pilate tried to set Jesus free (verse 12)?

What did Pilate tell the Jews after he “brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat” (verses 13 and 14)?

How did the chief priests answer when Pilate ask “shall I crucify your king” (verse 15)?

What did Pilate do with Jesus (verse 16)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about how people can react to God and His Word?

In your opinion, how is God’s statement through Isaiah in Isaiah 29:5-14 that “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” shown to be accurate by the words of the chief priests and Jewish leaders in John 19:1-16?

Romans 11:1-10 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. ² God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: ³ “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”? ⁴ And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” ⁵ So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. ⁶ And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

⁷ What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened, ⁸ as it is written:

“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
    eyes that could not see
    and ears that could not hear,
to this very day.”

⁹ And David says:

“May their table become a snare and a trap,
    a stumbling block and a retribution for them.
¹⁰ May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
    and their backs be bent forever.”

“Did God reject his people” (verse 1)?

What did Elijah do (verse 2)?

How many prophets to God did Elijah think were left (verse 3)?

How did God answer Elijah (verse 4)?

How is the remnant chosen (verse 5)?

What is the choice not based on (verse 6)?

Who did obtain “what the people of Israel sought so earnestly” (verse 7)?

How long had God given them “a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear” (verse 8)?

What did David ask would “become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them” (verse 9)?

Why did David want “their eyes to be darkened” (verse 10)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about how people can react to God and His Word?

In your opinion, what is similar between the circumstances in Romans 11:1-10 and the circumstances in Isaiah 29:5-14 that make the quote about a spirit of stupor, eyes that can’t see, and ears that can’t hear applicable to both?

In your opinion, what does Paul in Romans 11:1-10 reveal about how the choices, words and decisions of the Jewish leaders about Jesus in John 19:1-16 bind or limit the choices, words and decisions of the Jewish people about Jesus?

Philippians 3:3-14 – New International Version (NIV)

³ For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— ⁴ though I myself have reasons for such confidence.

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵ circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; ⁶ as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

⁷ But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. ¹⁰ I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

What do those “who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus” not put confidence in (verse 3)?

What are the things Paul lists as reasons of confidence in (verse 5 and 6)?

How does Paul view those things that “were gains” (verse 7)?

Why does Paul “consider everything a loss” (verse 8)?

Where does the “righteousness” that Paul has come from (verse 9)?

Why does Paul want to know Christ (verse 10)?

What does Paul want to attain (verse 11)?

Why does Paul “press on” (verse 12)?

What does Paul forget (verse 13)?

Why does Paul “press on toward the goal” (verse 14)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about how people can react to God and His Word?

In your opinion, what does Philippians 3:3-14 reveal about how those that the Lord has brought a “deep sleep” over in Isaiah 29:5-14 must change to wake up?

In your opinion, what does Philippians 3:3-14 reveal about the change in Paul to move him from being like the Jewish leaders persecuted Jesus in John 19:1-16 to the person who boasts “in Christ Jesus”?

In your opinion, how does Paul in Philippians 3:3-14 help us understand how confidence in the flesh could be part of the reason for the “spirit of stupor” that he says the Israelite people have in Romans 11:1-10? 

In your opinion, what do these passages from Isaiah, John, Romans, and Philippians teach us about what it takes to move from being part of the majority with hearts far from God to the remnant who boasts in Christ Jesus?

In your opinion, how can each of us “press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” today?

 

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)