May 31, 2026 – A Study of Matthew – Following Jesus

Following Jesus

Isaiah 53:7-12 – New International Version (NIV)

⁷ He was oppressed and afflicted,
    yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
    and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
    so he did not open his mouth.
⁸ By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
    Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
    for the transgression of my people he was punished.
⁹ He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
    and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
    nor was any deceit in his mouth.

¹⁰ Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
    and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
    and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
¹¹ After he has suffered,
    he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
    and he will bear their iniquities.
¹² Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
    and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
    and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
    and made intercession for the transgressors.

Where will God’s servant be led (verse 7)?

Why was He punished (verse 8)?

What was He assigned (verse 9)?

What does the Lord make His life (verse 10)?

When will He “be satisfied” (verse 11)?

Where will He be given “a portion” (verse 12)?

Who did He make “intercession for” (verse 12)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about being children of God?

Matthew 16:21-28 - New International Version (NIV)

²¹ From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

²² Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

²³ Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. ²⁶ What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? ²⁷ For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

²⁸ “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

What did Jesus explain to His disciples (verse 21)?

Who rebuked Jesus (verse 22)?

What kind of concerns did Jesus say Peter had (verse 23)?

Who must “deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (verse 24)?

What will those who lose their life for Jesus find (verse 25)?

In your opinion, “what can anyone give in exchange for their soul” (verse 26)?

How will each person be rewarded (verse 27)?

What will some not taste before “they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom” (verse 28)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about being children of God?

In your opinion, how does Isaiah 53:7-12 help us understand what the “concerns of God” are that Jesus mentioned in Matthew 16:21-28?

Romans 8:5-17 - New International Version (NIV)

⁵ Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. ⁶ The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. ⁸ Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

⁹ You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. ¹¹ And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

¹² Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

¹⁴ For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. ¹⁵ The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. ¹⁷ Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Who has their minds set on, “what the Spirit desires” (verse 5)?

What is “the mind governed by the flesh” (verse 6)?

What does the “mind governed by the flesh” not do (verse 7)?

Who “cannot please God” (verse 8)?

What realm are the people who “the Spirit of God lives in” in (verse 9)?

Who “gives life because of righteousness” (verse 10)?

What will “the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead” do if He is living in you (verse 11)?

What do “brothers and sisters” hot have an obligation to (verse 12)?

How do Christians “put to death the misdeeds of the body” (verse 13)?

Who are children of God” (verse 14)?

What has the Spirit “brought about” in those who receive Him (verse 15)?

Who does the Spirit testify with (verse 16)?

What do we share with Christ “in order that we may also share in his glory” (verse 17)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about being children of God?

In your opinion, how does the servant in Isaiah 53:7-12 display the “mind governed by the Spirit” described in Romans 8:5-17?

In your opinion, how does Romans 8:5-17 help us better understand the disagreement between Peter and Jesus in Matthew 16:21-28?

1 Peter 4:7-11 - New International Version (NIV)

⁷ The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. ⁸ Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. ⁹ Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. ¹⁰ Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

What is near (verse 7)?

How should Christians prepare to pray (verse 7)?

What “covers a multitude of sins” (verse 8)?

What should not accompany hospitality (verse 9)?

Who should “use whatever gift you have received to serve others” (verse 10)?

How should the one who speaks speak (verse 11)?

How should the one who serves serve (verse 11)?

How should God be praised (verse 11)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about being children of God?

In your opinion, how does the servant in Isaiah 53:7-12 fulfill the instructions in 1 Peter 4:7-11?

In your opinion, how does 1 Peter 4:7-11 help us understand how to follow Jesus’s instructions about being a disciple in Matthew 16:21-28?

In your opinion, what does 1 Peter 4:7-11 teach us about how to be children of God as instructed by Romans 8:5-17?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Isaiah, Matthew, Romans, and 1 Peter teach us about following Jesus?

In your opinion, what does it mean to be led by the Spirit today?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

June 17, 2018 – Kingdom Planting – Following Jesus

-            The

 Following Jesus

Joshua 22:10-20 - New International Version (NIV)            

¹⁰ When they came to Geliloth near the Jordan in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an imposing altar there by the Jordan. ¹¹ And when the Israelites heard that they had built the altar on the border of Canaan at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side, ¹² the whole assembly of Israel gathered at Shiloh to go to war against them.

¹³ So the Israelites sent Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, to the land of Gilead—to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh. ¹⁴ With him they sent ten of the chief men, one from each of the tribes of Israel, each the head of a family division among the Israelite clans.

¹⁵ When they went to Gilead—to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh—they said to them: ¹⁶ “The whole assembly of the Lord says: ‘How could you break faith with the God of Israel like this? How could you turn away from the Lord and build yourselves an altar in rebellion against him now? ¹⁷ Was not the sin of Peor enough for us? Up to this very day we have not cleansed ourselves from that sin, even though a plague fell on the community of the Lord! ¹⁸ And are you now turning away from the Lord?

“‘If you rebel against the Lord today, tomorrow he will be angry with the whole community of Israel. ¹⁹ If the land you possess is defiled, come over to the Lord’s land, where the Lord’s tabernacle stands, and share the land with us. But do not rebel against the Lord or against us by building an altar for yourselves, other than the altar of the Lord our God. ²⁰ When Achan son of Zerah was unfaithful in regard to the devoted things, did not wrath come on the whole community of Israel? He was not the only one who died for his sin.’”

What did the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh build (verse 10)?

When did the the “whole assembly of Israel” gather at Shiloh to go to war with the Reubenites, Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh (verses 11 and 12)?

Where was Phinehas sent (verse 13)?

Who was sent with Phinehas (verse 14)?

In your opinion, why did Phinehas and the men who were with him ask “how could you break faith with the God of Israel like this” (verse 16)?

What had Israel not cleansed itself from yet (verse 17)?

What will happen if the Reubenites, Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh rebel against the Lord (verse 18)?

Where did Phinehas say “the Lord’s tabernacle stands” (verse 19)?

Who bore the wrath of God when Achan sinned (verse 20)?

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

Mark 10:17-31 - New International Version (NIV)

¹⁷ As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

¹⁸ “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”

²⁰ “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

²¹ Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

²² At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

²³ Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

²⁴ The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

²⁶ The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”

²⁷ Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

²⁸ Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”

²⁹ “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel ³⁰ will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. ³¹ But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

What did the man who fell on his knees and ask Jesus “what must I do to inherit eternal life” call Jesus (verse 17)?

How does Jesus respond (verse 18)?

In your opinion, why does Jesus list five of the six ten commandments that have to do with relating to other people and leave out the sixth, do not covet, and then add do not defraud (verse 19)?

How did the man respond to Jesus listing of these commandments (verse 20)?

In your opinion, why does Jesus tell the man to “sell everything you have and give to the poor . . . then come, follow me” instead of listing the four commandments having to do with worshiping God (verse 21)?

Why did the man go away sad (verse 22)?

How hard is it for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven (verses 23, 24 and 25)?

What did the disciples ask (verse 26)?

What is possible with God (verse 27)?

In your opinion, why did Peter say “we have left everything to follow you” (verse 28)?

What will come with the hundredfold blessings to those who leave “home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel” (verses 29 and 30)?

Where will “many who are first” be (verse 31)?

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

In your opinion, how is the alter that “the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh” in Joshua 22:10-20 similar to the wealth of the man who calls Jesus “good teacher” in Mark 10:17-31?

Acts 13:38-48 – New International Version (NIV)

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.’”

⁴² As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. ⁴³ When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.

⁴⁴ On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. ⁴⁵ When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him.

⁴⁶ Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. ⁴⁷ For this is what the Lord has commanded us:

“‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
    that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

⁴⁸ When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.

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

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

In your opinion, why would scoffers not believe “even if someone told” them (verse 41)?

Who invited Paul and Barnabas to “speak further about these things” (verse 42)?

What did Paul and Barnabas urge the “Jews and devout converts to Judaism” to continue in (verse 43)?

Who gathered to hear “the word of the Lord” the next Sabbath (verse 44)?

What filled the Jews (verse 45)?

In your opinion, why did Paul and Barnabas say to the Jews “since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life” (verse 46)?

Who were Paul and Barnabas made “a light for” (verse 47)?

Who “believed” (verse 48)?

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

In your opinion, how is the decision that “the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh” had to make in Joshua 22:10-20 similar to the choice that the Jews in Antioch had to make in Acts 13:38-48?

In your opinion, why is the rich man’s rejection of Jesus in Mark 10:17-31 different than the rejection of the Jews in Acts 13:38-48?

Colossians 1:15-23 – New International Version (NIV)

¹⁵ The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. ¹⁷ He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. ¹⁹ For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

²¹ Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. ²² But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— ²³ if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

Who is the Son the image of (verse 15)?

What was created in the Son (verse 16)?

Who holds all things together (verse 17)?

Where does the Son have supremacy (verse 18)?

In your opinion, what does Paul mean when he says that “God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him” (verse 19)?

How does God “reconcile to himself all things” (verse 20)?

Why were Paul’s Colossian readers “alienated from God” (verse 21)?

How are we presented after we are reconciled “by Christ’s physical body through death” (verse 22)?

What has Paul become a servant of (verse 23)?

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

In your opinion, what do all the Israelites, the two and a half tribes and the nine and a half tribes that we read about in Joshua 22:10-20, the readers of Paul’s message in Colossians 1:15-23, and we who are going through this Bible Study have in common?

In your opinion, what does Colossians 1:15-23 reveal about how God accomplishs what Jesus says is impossible with man in Mark 10:17-31?

In your opinion, what does Paul reveal that God did in Colossians 1:15-23 that the scoffers of Acts 13:38-48 would miss, “even if someone told” them?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Joshua, Mark, Acts, and Colossians reveal about the choice that each of us has to make?

In your opinion, how are we following Jesus today?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)