March 21, 2021 - Mark’s Good News about Jesus – Acquiring Wealth

 Acquiring Wealth

Jonah 1:1-4 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: ² “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”

³ But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.

⁴ Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up.

What came to Jonah (verse 1)?

Why was Jonah to peach against Nineveh (verse 2)?

Where did Jonah head to (verse 3)?

Why did Jonah sail “for Tarshish” (verse 3)?

What did the Lord send (verse 4)?

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 on his knees before Jesus want to know about eternal life (verse 17)?

Who does Jesus say is good (verse 18)?

In your opinion, why does Jesus just list five commandments, without saying to obey the commandments (verse 19)?

What does the man say about his relationship to the commandments (verse 20)?

What is the man to do after obtaining “treasure in heaven” (verse 21)?

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

In your opinion, why is it hard “for the rich to enter the kingdom of God” (verse 23)?

What is it easier for a camel to do than for “someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God” (verse 2)?

What did the disciples say to each other (verse 26)?

What is possible with God (verse 27)?

Who said “we have left everything to follow you” (verse 28)?

In your opinion, how can anyone “who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel” receive “a hundred times as much in this present age” (verses 29 and 30)?

What will many who are last be (verse 31)?

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

In your opinion, how is Jonah in Jonah 1:1-4 like the rich man in Mark 10:17-31? 

Acts 5:1-11 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. ² With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.

³ Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? ⁴ Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”

⁵ When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. ⁶ Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

⁷ About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”

“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”

⁹ Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

¹⁰ At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

What did Ananias and Sapphira do (verse 1)?

In your opinion, why did the keep part of the money for themselves (verse 2)?

Who does Peter say that Ananias lied to (verse 3)?

What was at Ananias’s disposal after the land was sold (verse 4)?

What happened when Ananias heard Peter’s words (verse 5)? 

Who “wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him” (verse 6)?

When did Sapphira come in (verse 7)?

How did she answer Peter’s question “is this the price you and Ananias got for the land” (verse 8)?

What was at the door (verse 9)?

Where was Sapphira buried (verse 10)?

Who was seized by “great fear) (verse 11)?

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

In your opinion, even though Jonah in Jonah 1:1-4 and Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11 all acted in opposition to the Lord, how were their actions different?

In your opinion, how does the decision of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11 show they share some of the same challenge of the rich man in Acts 5:1-11?

Romans 7:15-25a – New International Version (NIV)

¹⁵ I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. ¹⁶ And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷ As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. ¹⁸ For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

²¹ So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²² For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; ²³ but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. ²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

What does Paul not do (verse 15)?

What does Paul do (verse 15)?

Where is sin living (verse 17)?

What does Paul have the desire to do (verse 18)?

What does Paul keep on doing (verse 19)?

Where does Paul “delight in God’s law” (verse 22)?

What does Paul become a prisoner of (verse 23)?

How does God deliver Paul “from this body that is subject to death” (verses 24 and 25)?

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

In your opinion, how is Jonah in Jonah 1:1-4 an example of what Paul struggles with in Romans 7:15-25a? 

In your opinion, how does Paul in Romans 7-15-25a demonstrate that the disciples are right when they ask in Mark 10:17-31 “who then can be saved”?  How does Paul prove that Jesus was right when He said “all things are possible with God”?

In your opinion, how is Paul, in Romans 7:15-25a different from Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Jonah, Mark, Acts and Romans teach us about what must be given up in order to be delivered “through Jesus Christ our Lord”?

In your opinion, how can we move from sadness about what we are giving up, through the certainty that salvation is impossible, to confidence in our delivery by Jesus Christ, and into the celebration of the “hundred times as much” of a very different kind of wealth we will receive?

 

(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)