Fixing Our Eyes
Exodus 13:11-16 – New International Version (NIV)
11 “After the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites and gives it to you,
as he promised on oath to you and your ancestors, 12 you are to give over to the Lord the first offspring of every
womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the Lord. 13 Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey, but if you do not
redeem it, break its neck. Redeem every firstborn among your sons.
14 “In days to come, when your son
asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ say to him, ‘With a mighty hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed the firstborn of both people and animals in Egypt. This is
why I sacrifice to the Lord the first male offspring of
every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons.’ 16 And it will be like a sign on
your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the Lord brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand.”
Who had the Lord “promised on oath” to give the land of the
Canaanites to the Israelites (verse 11)?
What is to be given to the Lord (verse 12)?
How are firstborn donkeys redeemed (verse 13)?
Who brought Israel “out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery”
(verse 14)?
What happened “when the Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let” the
Israelites go (verse 15)?
What will the redeeming of the firstborn sons be like (verses 15
and 16)?
In your
opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?
In your
opinion, what does this passage teach us about remembering what God has done?
Matthew 23:1-12 - New International
Version (NIV)
1 Then Jesus said to the crowds
and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.
3 So you must be careful to do
everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice
what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s
shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
5 “Everything they do is
done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the
tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at
banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted with
respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.
8 “But you are not to be
called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth
‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called
instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be
your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves
will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Who was Jesus talking to (verse 1)?
Where do the “teachers of the law and the Pharisees” sit (verse 2)?
What should those
listening to Jesus not do (verse 3)?
What are the Pharisees “not willing”
to do (verse 4)?
Why do they
do things (verse 5)?
What do they
love (verses 6 and 7)?
How many
teachers are there (verse 8)?
Where is the
Father (verse 9)?
Who is the
Instructor (verse 10)?
In your
opinion, who is the “greatest among” us (verse 11)?
What will
happen to “those who humble themselves” (verse 12)?
In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?
In your
opinion, what does this passage teach us about remembering what God has done?
In your
opinion, how does the teachers of the law and the Pharisees wearing of the
phylacteries conflict with the original purpose as stated in Exodus 13:11-16?
Galatians 6:1-10 - New International Version (NIV)
1 Brothers and sisters, if
someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that
person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the
law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they
deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride
in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else,
5 for each one should carry their
own load. 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should
share all good things with their instructor.
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot
be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap
destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap
eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we
will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have
opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to
the family of believers.
How should “brothers and sisters” restore a person caught in
a sin (verse 1)?
How do Christians “fulfill the law of Christ” (verse
2)?
Who deceives themselves (verse 3)?
Who should Christians not compare themselves with (verse 4)?
What should each person carry (verse 5)?
Who should Christians share with (verse 6)?
What do people reap (verse 7)?
Who will reap eternal life (verse 8)?
When will Christians reap a harvest (verse 9)?
Who should Christians “especially” do good to (verse
10)?
In your opinion,
what is the basic message of this passage?
In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about remembering
what God has done?
In your opinion, how does remembering what God has done, as
Exodus 13:11-16 commands the Israelites to do, help us test our actions as Galatians
6:1-10 commands?
In your opinion, what could the Pharisees in Matthew
23:1-12 learn from the discussion of burdens and loads in Galatians 6:1-10?
Hebrews 12:1-3 - New International Version (NIV)
1 Therefore,
since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off
everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run
with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the
pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the
cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Consider him who endured such
opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
What surrounds
Christians (verse 1)?
What should Christians “throw off” (verse 1)?
How should we run “the race marked out for us” (verse
1)?
Who is “the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (verse 2)?
Why did Jesus endure the cross (verse 2)?
Where did Jesus sit (verse 2)?
How can Christians “not grow weary and lose heart”
(verse 3)?
In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?
In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about remembering
what God has done?
In your opinion, what
is the fundamental difference between what is instructed in Exodus 13:11-16 for
Hebrews to do and what is instructed in Hebrews 12:1-3 for Christians to do even
though they are similar?
In your opinion, how do the Pharisees in Matthew 23:1-12
get totally wrong according to Hebrews
12:1-3?
In your opinion, what does combining Galatians 6:1-10 and
Hebrews 12:1-3 help Christians do?
In your
opinion, what do these passages from Exodus, Matthew, Galatians, and Hebrews teach
Christians about living in the world today?
In
your opinion, what does it mean to fix our eyes on Jesus today?
(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)
