January 3, 2021 - Mark’s Good News about Jesus – From Stepping to Transforming

From Stepping to Transforming


Isaiah 8:19-22 - New International Version (NIV)

¹⁹ When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? ²⁰ Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. ²¹ Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God. ²² Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness.

Who should people inquire of when they are told to “consult mediums and spiritists” (verse 19)?

In your opinion, “why consult the dead of behalf of the living” (verse 19)?

Who has “no light of dawn” (verse 20)?

What will the distressed and hungry do “when they are famished” (verse 21)?

When will they see “only distress and darkness” (verse 22)?

Where will they “be thrust” (verse 22)?

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

Mark 8:22-26 - New International Version (NIV)

²² They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. ²³ He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”

²⁴ He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”

²⁵ Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. ²⁶ Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”

What did the people of Bethsaida beg for Jesus to do for the blind man (verse 22)?

How did Jesus lead the blind man outside of the village (verse 23)?

What did Jesus do for the man’s eyes (verse 23)?

What could the man see (verse 24)?

How did Jesus additional help the man (verse 25)?

How was the man changed (verse 25)?

Where was the man supposed to go (verse 26)?

Where was the man not supposed to go (verse 26)?

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

In your opinion, what is the difference between the person who “tells you to consult mediums and spiritists” in Isaiah 8:19-22 and the people who brought the blind man to Jesus in Mark 8:22-26?

Acts 9:1-9, 17-19 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest ² and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. ³ As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

⁵ “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. ⁶ “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

⁷ The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. ⁸ Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. ⁹ For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

. . .

¹⁷ Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, ¹⁹ and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

What was Saul breathing out (verse 1)?

Why did Saul ask the high priest for letters to the synagogues in Damascus (verse 2)?

When did the “light from heaven” flash around him (verse 3)?

What did Saul hear as he fell to the ground (verse 4)?

In your opinion, why did Saul not know whose voice he heard (verse 5)?

Whose voice did Saul hear (verse 5)?

When was Saul to be told what he “must do” (verse 6)?

How did the men traveling with Saul react (verse 7)?

Why did the men lead Saul be the hand into Damascus (verse 8)?

How long was Saul blind (verse 9)?

Why had Jesus sent Ananias to Saul (verse 17)?

What did Saul do when he could see again (verse 18)?

When did he regain his strength (verse 19)?

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

In your opinion, how is Isaiah 8:19-22’s prophecy that those who do not speak according to God’s instruction and testimony of warning “will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God” shown to be valid by Saul in Acts 9:1-9, 17-19?

In your opinion, what are the parallels between the healing of the blind man in Mark 8:22-26 and the “something like scales” falling off Saul’s eyes in Acts 9:1-9, 17-19?

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)?

How did we able to participate “in the divine nature” (verse 4)?

In your opinion, what does it mean 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” (verses 5, 6 and 7)?

How can we keep from “being ineffective and unproductive in” our “knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (verse 8)?

Who is “nearsighted and blind” (verse 9)?

In your opinion, what does it mean to “confirm your calling and election” (verse 10)?

What kind of welcome does a Christian who confirms their calling and election receive “into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (verse 11)?

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

In your opinion, how is the slide into utter darkness portrayed in Isaiah 8:19-22 different from the effort to “confirm your calling and election” presented in 2 Peter 1:3-11?

In your opinion, how does the effort of Jesus to give sight to the blind man in Mark 8:22-26 foreshadow His work as described in 2 Peter 1:3-11 as giving us the knowledge of Himself that is the foundation of our salvation and also the beginning of the process through which we confirm our calling and election?

In your opinion, how does the appearance of Jesus to Saul through the bright light in Acts 9:1-9, 17-19 give us a physical example of the way all people are called to come to Christ through His “glory and goodness” according to 2 Peter 1:3-11? 

In your opinion, how do these passages from Isaiah, Mark, Acts and 2 Peter help us understand the difference between seeing God and becoming enraged and seeing Jesus and escaping the “corruption in the world”?

In your opinion, how is escaping the “corruption in the world” only the first step in a lifetime of transformation that rewards us with a welcome into the “eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”?

     A Chinese philosopher named Lao Tzu once said that “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”.  This is profound, accurate and very misleading.  While it is very true that you can not move toward anything without the first step, it is also very possible to have a deep yearning and desire and to take that first step, followed by many others, and move away from what we are yearning for.

     Consider the person who consults mediums and spiritists in Isaiah 8:19-22.  A yearning within themselves caused them to search for something beyond themselves, and so they consult the dead.  But, if this is their first step and they continue in this process, they will inevitably find themselves with an unfulfilled desire that will lead to their cursing God.

     For the first step to lead to the opportunity for yearning to be satisfied it must be pointed to God.  Consider the blind man in Mark 8:22-26, whose friends brought him to Jesus.  Just because he was in the presence of Jesus did not give him the ability to see.  When he allowed Jesus to lead him by the hand, then spit on and touch his eyes he then had some sight.  When he allowed the hands that would soon be pierced by nails to touch him again then he saw clearly.

     With Saul we get to see both the Isaiah problem and the Jesus solution.  Saul, who had taken many steps following a god who he would have proclaimed as the God of his ancestors, had an unanswered yearning that enraged him to the point that he was not just cursing God but was acting against that who belonged to “the Way”.  He was taking lots of steps, but they were leading him away from God.  Then he met Jesus and was blinded by His “glory and goodness”.  This was the point where the blind man could see people, but they looked like “trees walking around”.  Saul was now ready to start his journey.  Then Ananias came, laid his hands on Saul, and Saul believed and was baptized.  He was finally seeing clearly.

     But for Saul, and us, that is just the first step of the journey.  Peter tells us that escaping the corruption in the world means that we can “participate in the divine nature”.  But for people who have been yearning and following bad advice that is hard.  Peter found it hard also, but he also gives us a map for the journey when he says “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”.  The wonderful thing about this is that it does not expect us to be immediately perfect, but to take what we are given and build on it.

     You see, we are not taking a journey to heaven.  Salvation is not a ticket that gets us onto a path that ends in heaven.  Salvation itself will get us into heaven.

     But, we who have been saved still have a yearning for God.  We will fill that yearning in some way, and Peter advises that fill the yearning by starting with salvation and then transforming ourselves. He does not demand that we move immediately from faith to love, but suggests that we add to faith goodness. 

     Think about that, Peter is not saying that we need to move from salvation to doing things from love.  He suggests that we move from faith to doing good things.  Then from doing good things to a greater knowledge of who God is and who we are and how He loves and leads.  Then we move from knowing more to being more under control, or to say it differently, to becoming free from the corruption of the world.  Because acting differently from the world is hard they we learn perseverance.  Persevering in being different will lead to us being more like God, in understanding the challenges and difficulties that we face are the same as others face, which leads us to an affection for them.  As we begin to have that affection and truly see who they are and what they are going through and doing then we can begin to love.

     But the cycle then only begins again.  When we have begun to see that those who follow God have the same difficulties and challenges as we do, and we begin to love them for the people that they are we begin to look at those who are wandering in the darkness and cursing God and realizing that the difference between us and them is the intervention of God and the faith that we are blessed with.  This can lead us to begin to do good things for these people who are so different from us, but also so similar.  And we keep going.

     A journey of a thousand miles may begin with a step, but salvation begins with an introduction to Jesus.

     Let each of us take a moment to reintroduce ourselves to the “glory and goodness” of Jesus Christ.

     Then, let each of us bring a blind friend to Jesus.

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

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)

September 27, 2015 – The Great Commission – A Study of Matthew – Conspiracies and Love

Matthew 28:18-20 – New International Version (NIV) – The Great Commission

¹⁸ “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Conspiracies and Love

Matthew 26:1-5 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ “When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, ² “As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”

³ Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, ⁴ and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. ⁵ “But not during the festival,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”

Who did Jesus talk to (verse 1)?

When was the Passover (verse 2)?

What was going to happen at the Passover (verse 2)?

Who assembled at the palace of the high priest (verse 3)?

In your opinion, why did they secretly scheme to arrest and kill Jesus (verse 4)?

Why did they not want to arrest and kill Jesus during the festival (verse 5)?

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

Psalm 2 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ “Why do the nations conspire
    and the peoples plot in vain?
² The kings of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
    against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
³ “Let us break their chains
    and throw off their shackles.”

⁴ The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
    the Lord scoffs at them.
⁵ He rebukes them in his anger
    and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
⁶ “I have installed my king
    on Zion, my holy mountain.”

⁷ I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, “You are my son;
    today I have become your father.
⁸ Ask me,
    and I will make the nations your inheritance,
    the ends of the earth your possession.
⁹ You will break them with a rod of iron;
    you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

¹⁰ Therefore, you kings, be wise;
    be warned, you rulers of the earth.
¹¹ Serve the Lord with fear
    and celebrate his rule with trembling.
¹² Kiss his son, or he will be angry
    and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
    Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”

What do the nations do (verse 1)?

Who do the kings of the earth and the rulers band together against (verse 2)?

How does the “One enthroned in heaven” respond (verse 4)?

What does the “One enthroned in heaven” say to them (verse 6)?

In your opinion, why did the Lord say “you are my son; today I have become your father” (verse 7)?

What will be the inheritance (verse 8)?

How should the kings behave (verse 10)?

Who should be served with fear (verse 11)?

Who is blessed (verse 12)?

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

In your opinion, how were the “chief priests and elders of the people” of Matthew 26:1-5 conspiring and plotting as Psalm 2 talked about?

Acts 13:26-41 - New International Version (NIV)

²⁶ “Fellow children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. ²⁷ The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. ²⁸ Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. ²⁹ When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. ³⁰ But God raised him from the dead, ³¹ and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people.

³² “We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors ³³ he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm:

“‘You are my son;
    today I have become your father.’

³⁴ God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. As God has said,

“‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’

³⁵ So it is also stated elsewhere:

“‘You will not let your holy one see decay.’

³⁶ “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed. ³⁷ But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.

³⁸ “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. ³⁹ Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses. ⁴⁰ Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you:

⁴¹ “‘Look, you scoffers,
    wonder and perish,
for I am going to do something in your days
    that you would never believe,
    even if someone told you.’”

Who is Paul speaking to (verse 26)?

What did the people of Jerusalem and their rulers do when they condemned Jesus (verse 27)?

What did the people of Jerusalem and their rulers ask Pilate to do (verse 28)?

When did they take Him down from the cross and lay Him in the tomb (verse 29)?

What did God do (verse 30)?

What did Paul bring (verse 32)?

How did God fulfill the promises to the ancestors (verse 33)?

In your opinion, what does it mean that “he will never be subject to decay” (verse 34)?

What happened to David after he had “served God’s purpose in his own generation” (verse 36)?

Who “did not see decay” (verse 37)?

What is proclaimed “through Jesus” (verse 38)?

Who is set free from every sin (verse 39)?

In your opinion, why do the scoffers wonder (verse 41)?

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

In your opinion, how do the “people of Jerusalem and their rulers” from Acts 13:26-41 illustrate the conspiring of the nations and the plotting of the people that Psalm 2 begins with?

In your opinion, how do the words of Paul in Acts 13:26-41 show the success that Jesus was anticipating when He said “As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified” in Matthew 26:1-5?

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)?

What can we participate in through “his very great and precious promises” (verse 4)?

What causes the corruption of the world (verse 4)?

In your opinion, how do we “make every effort to add to your 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” (verses 5, 6 and 7)?

How are kept from being “ineffective and unproductive” in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (verse 8)?

Who is “nearsighted and blind” (verse 9)?

In your opinion, how do we confirm our “calling and election” (verse 10)?

What kind of welcome will we receive into “the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” if we “make every effort to add to your 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” (verse 11)?

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

In your opinion, how do the instructions of Peter in 2 Peter 1:3-11 allow us to build upon the good news of the salvation that Paul talked about in Acts 13:26-41?

In your opinion, how does the discussion about the nations conspiring and the people plotting against God in Psalm 2 contrast with the effort that Peter instructs the “brothers and sisters” to make in 2 Peter 1:3-11?

In your opinion, how does the willingness of Jesus to go to Jerusalem to “be handed over to be crucified” in Matthew illustrate the love that Peter instructs all of us to work for in 2 Peter 1:3-11?

In your opinion, what do these passages, from Matthew, Psalms, Acts and 2 Peter show us about the Great Commission?

Next, back to Matthew 26:6 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)