April 12, 2026 – A Study of Matthew – God’s Mighty Hand

God’s Mighty Hand

Psalm 18:16-19 – New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
    he drew me out of deep waters.
¹⁷ He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
    from my foes, who were too strong for me.
¹⁸ They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
    but the Lord was my support.
¹⁹ He brought me out into a spacious place;
    he rescued me because he delighted in me.

Where did the Lord reach from to take hold of David (verse 16)?

What did the Lord draw David out of (verse 16)?

Who was “too strong” for David (verse 17)?

When did the Lord support David (verse 18)?

Where did the Lord bring David to (verse 19)?

Why did the Lord rescue David (verse 19)?

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

In your opinion, where do we see the hand of God in this passage?

Matthew 14:22-36 - New International Version (NIV)

²² Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. ²³ After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, ²⁴ and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

²⁵ Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

²⁷ But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

²⁹ “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

³² And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. ³³ Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

³⁴ When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. ³⁵ And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him ³⁶ and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

What did Jesus make the disciples do before He “dismissed the crowd” (verse 22)?

Where did Jesus go after dismissing the crowd (verse 23)?

Why was the boat “buffeted by the waves” (verse 24)?

What did Jesus do “shortly before dawn” (verse 25)?

How did the disciples react when they saw Jesus (verse 26)?

What did Jesus tell them (verse 27)?

Who wanted Jesus to tell him to “come to you on the water” (verse 28)?

What did Jesus tell him (verse 29)?

When did Peter cry out “Lord, save me” (verse 30)?

What did Jesus do when Peter cried out (verse 31)?

When did the wind die down (verse 32)?

What did the disciples do (verse 33)?

Where did they land (verse 34)?

What did the people there do (verse 35)?

Who was healed (verse 36)?

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

In your opinion, where do we see the hand of God in this passage?

In your opinion, how are David (symbolically) in Psalm 18:16-19 and Peter in Matthew 14:22-36 alike?

Acts 3:1-10 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. ² Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. ³ When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. ⁴ Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” ⁵ So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

⁶ Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” ⁷ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. ⁸ He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. ⁹ When all the people saw him walking and praising God, ¹⁰ they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

When were Peter and John “going up to the temple” (verse 1)?

Why was the man “who was lame from birth” being carried to the gate called Beautiful (verse 2)?

What did the man ask Peter and John for (verse 3)?

How did Peter and John respond to the man’s request (verse 4)?

What did Peter say to the man (verse 6)?

What did Peter do for him (verse 7)?

How did the man react (verse 8)?

What filled the people who recognized the beggar (verse 10)?

In your opinion, where do we see the hand of God in this passage?

In your opinion, how are the lame man at the Beautiful Gate in Acts 3:1-10 and David in Psalm 18:16-19 alike?

In your opinion, how might Jesus reaching to pull Peter from the water in Matthew 14:22-36 influenced his actions with the lame man in Acts 3:1-10?

1 Peter 5:5b-11 - New International Version (NIV)

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

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

 

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

⁸ Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

¹⁰ And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. ¹¹ To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Why should Christians “clothe yourselves with humility toward one another” (verse 5)?

When will God lift up the ones who humble themselves under His “mighty hand” (verse 6)?

What should Christians cast on God and why (verse 7)?

Who “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (verse 8)?

How can Christians resist the lion (verse 9)?

When will God “restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (verse 10)?

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

In your opinion, where do we see the hand of God in this passage?

In your opinion, how does David being aware that his foes were too strong for him but being rescued by the Lord in Psalm 18:16-19 help us understand what Peter means by instructing us to humble ourselves “under God’s mighty hand” in 1 Peter 5:5b-11?

In your opinion, how could Peter’s doubting, then sinking, and Jesus saving him in Matthew 14:22-36 have shaped his instructions to us in 1 Peter 5:5b-11?

In your opinion, what does the beggar’s feet and ankles becoming strong when Peter helps him up in Acts 3:1-10 help us understand about what might happen when God lifts us up “in due time” in 1 Peter 5:5b-11?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Psalms, Matthew, Acts and 1 Peter teach us about ourselves?

In your opinion, where do you see “God’s mighty hand” in your life today?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

April 12, 2026 – A Study of Matthew – God’s Mighty Hand

God’s Mighty Hand

Psalm 18:16-19 – New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
    he drew me out of deep waters.
¹⁷ He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
    from my foes, who were too strong for me.
¹⁸ They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
    but the Lord was my support.
¹⁹ He brought me out into a spacious place;
    he rescued me because he delighted in me.

Where did the Lord reach from to take hold of David (verse 16)?

What did the Lord draw David out of (verse 16)?

Who was “too strong” for David (verse 17)?

When did the Lord support David (verse 18)?

Where did the Lord bring David to (verse 19)?

Why did the Lord rescue David (verse 19)?

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

In your opinion, where do we see the hand of God in this passage?

Matthew 14:22-36 - New International Version (NIV)

²² Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. ²³ After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, ²⁴ and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

²⁵ Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

²⁷ But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

²⁹ “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

³² And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. ³³ Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

³⁴ When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. ³⁵ And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him ³⁶ and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

What did Jesus make the disciples do before He “dismissed the crowd” (verse 22)?

Where did Jesus go after dismissing the crowd (verse 23)?

Why was the boat “buffeted by the waves” (verse 24)?

What did Jesus do “shortly before dawn” (verse 25)?

How did the disciples react when they saw Jesus (verse 26)?

What did Jesus tell them (verse 27)?

Who wanted Jesus to tell him to “come to you on the water” (verse 28)?

What did Jesus tell him (verse 29)?

When did Peter cry out “Lord, save me” (verse 30)?

What did Jesus do when Peter cried out (verse 31)?

When did the wind die down (verse 32)?

What did the disciples do (verse 33)?

Where did they land (verse 34)?

What did the people there do (verse 35)?

Who was healed (verse 36)?

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

In your opinion, where do we see the hand of God in this passage?

In your opinion, how are David (symbolically) in Psalm 18:16-19 and Peter in Matthew 14:22-36 alike?

Acts 3:1-10 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. ² Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. ³ When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. ⁴ Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” ⁵ So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

⁶ Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” ⁷ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. ⁸ He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. ⁹ When all the people saw him walking and praising God, ¹⁰ they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

When were Peter and John “going up to the temple” (verse 1)?

Why was the man “who was lame from birth” being carried to the gate called Beautiful (verse 2)?

What did the man ask Peter and John for (verse 3)?

How did Peter and John respond to the man’s request (verse 4)?

What did Peter say to the man (verse 6)?

What did Peter do for him (verse 7)?

How did the man react (verse 8)?

What filled the people who recognized the beggar (verse 10)?

In your opinion, where do we see the hand of God in this passage?

In your opinion, how are the lame man at the Beautiful Gate in Acts 3:1-10 and David in Psalm 18:16-19 alike?

In your opinion, how might Jesus reaching to pull Peter from the water in Matthew 14:22-36 influenced his actions with the lame man in Acts 3:1-10?

1 Peter 5:5b-11 - New International Version (NIV)

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

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

 

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

⁸ Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

¹⁰ And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. ¹¹ To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Why should Christians “clothe yourselves with humility toward one another” (verse 5)?

When will God lift up the ones who humble themselves under His “mighty hand” (verse 6)?

What should Christians cast on God and why (verse 7)?

Who “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (verse 8)?

How can Christians resist the lion (verse 9)?

When will God “restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (verse 10)?

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

In your opinion, where do we see the hand of God in this passage?

In your opinion, how does David being aware that his foes were too strong for him but being rescued by the Lord in Psalm 18:16-19 help us understand what Peter means by instructing us to humble ourselves “under God’s mighty hand” in 1 Peter 5:5b-11?

In your opinion, how could Peter’s doubting, then sinking, and Jesus saving him in Matthew 14:22-36 have shaped his instructions to us in 1 Peter 5:5b-11?

In your opinion, what does the beggar’s feet and ankles becoming strong when Peter helps him up in Acts 3:1-10 help us understand about what might happen when God lifts us up “in due time” in 1 Peter 5:5b-11?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Psalms, Matthew, Acts and 1 Peter teach us about ourselves?

In your opinion, where do you see “God’s mighty hand” in your life today?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

February 28, 2021 - Mark’s Good News about Jesus – Restoring Saltiness

Restoring Saltiness

Leviticus 21:16-24 - New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ The Lord said to Moses, ¹⁷ “Say to Aaron: ‘For the generations to come none of your descendants who has a defect may come near to offer the food of his God. ¹⁸ No man who has any defect may come near: no man who is blind or lame, disfigured or deformed; ¹⁹ no man with a crippled foot or hand, ²⁰ or who is a hunchback or a dwarf, or who has any eye defect, or who has festering or running sores or damaged testicles. ²¹ No descendant of Aaron the priest who has any defect is to come near to present the food offerings to the Lord. He has a defect; he must not come near to offer the food of his God. ²² He may eat the most holy food of his God, as well as the holy food; ²³ yet because of his defect, he must not go near the curtain or approach the altar, and so desecrate my sanctuary. I am the Lord, who makes them holy.’”

²⁴ So Moses told this to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites.

Who gave the instructions to Moses (verse 16)?

What could the generations of Aaron’s descendants who had defects not do (verse 17)?

What are some of the defects that are listed (verses 18, 19 and 20)?

What may the descendant of Aaron who has a defect not do (verse 21)?

In your opinion, why could the descendants with defects “eat the most holy food” even though they can’t present food offerings to the Lord (verse 22)?

What would someone with a defect approaching the curtain or approaching the alter do to the sanctuary (verse 23)?

Who makes the curtain, alter and sanctuary holy (verse 23)?

Who did Moses give these instructions to (verse 24)?

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

Mark 9:42-50 - New International Version (NIV)

⁴² “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. ⁴³ If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. ⁴⁵ And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.  ⁴⁷ And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, ⁴⁸ where

“‘the worms that eat them do not die,
    and the fire is not quenched.’

⁴⁹ Everyone will be salted with fire.

⁵⁰ “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”

What is better than causing “one of these little ones – those who believe in me” to stumble (verse 42)?

Why should a hand that causes you to stumble be cut off (verse 43)?

What should you do if your foot causes you to stumble (verse 45)?

In your opinion, plucking out an eye keep a person from stumbling (verse 47)?

How does Jesus describe hell (verse 48)?

Who will be salted with fire (verse 49)?

What is good (verse 50)?

In your opinion, how can you make salt that has lost its saltiness salty again (verse 50)?

What are the disciples, and others who believe in Christ, to have (verse 50)?

How are Christians to be with each other (verse 50)?

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

In your opinion, why would Jesus in Mark 9:42-50 tell the disciples, and through the disciples us, to make ourselves defective and therefore, according to Leviticus 21:16-24 unable to “come near to offer the food of his God”?

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

¹ One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. ² Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. ³ When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. ⁴ Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” ⁵ So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

⁶ Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” ⁷ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. ⁸ He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. ⁹ When all the people saw him walking and praising God, ¹⁰ they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

When were Peter and John “going up to the temple” (verse 1)?

Who was “being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful” (verse 2)?

What did he ask Peter and John for (verse 3)?

Who said “Look at us” (verse 4)?

What did the man expect (verse 5)?

In your opinion, what would the man have felt when Peter said “silver or gold I do not have” (verse 6)?

How did Peter issue the command for the man to walk (verse 6)?

What did Peter do in addition to commanding the man to walk (verse 7)?

Who did the man go with after “he jumped to his feet and began to walk” (verse 8)?

What did people see him doing (verse 9)?

Why were the people “filled with wonder and amazement” (verse 10)?

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

In your opinion, what can we learn from the fact that the man of Acts 3:1-10 was forbidden by Leviticus 21:16-24 from coming near “to offer the food of his God” but after receiving the command from Peter to, “in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk” ended up entering the temple courts “walking and jumping, and praising God”?

In your opinion, does what happened in Acts 3:1-10 begin to teach us the answer to the question Jesus ask in Mark 9:42-50, “salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again”?

2 Corinthians 2:12-17 – New International Version (NIV)

¹² Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, ¹³ I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia.

¹⁴ But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. ¹⁵ For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. ¹⁶ To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? ¹⁷ Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.

What did Paul find when he “went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ” (verse 12)?

Why did Paul not have peace of mind in Troas (verse 13)?

What does Paul thank God for (verse 14)?

In your opinion, what is “the aroma of the knowledge of him” (verse 14)?

What two groups does Paul say he is “the pleasing aroma of Christ” among (verse 15)?

In your opinion, to which of the two groups is Paul the “aroma that brings death” and which is Paul the “aroma that brings life” (verse 16)?

How does Paul speak in Christ and “before God” (verse 17)?

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

In your opinion, how are the two groups portrayed in Leviticus 21:16-24, those who can “come near to offer the food of his God” and those who can’t, different from the two groups portrayed in 2 Corinthians 2:12-17, “those who are being saved and those who are perishing”? 

In your opinion, is there an answer in 2 Corinthians 2:12-17 to the question that Jesus ask in Mark 9:42-50 “salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how do you make it salty again”?

In your opinion, which is a greater miracle, the healing of the man who was lame from birth in Acts 3:1-10 or accepting the “pleasing aroma of Christ” that brings life in 2 Corinthians 2:12-17?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Leviticus, Mark, Acts and 2 Corinthians teach us about the defects of people and how Jesus can transform them and restore saltiness, so that they are welcome into God’s holy presence?

In your opinion, how can we, individually and as a church, have “salt” among ourselves and be the “aroma that brings life” to others?

 

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)