November 10, 2013 - The Great Commission - A Study of Matthew – Salt of the Earth

November 10, 2013 - The Great Commission - A Study of Matthew – Salt of the Earth

Matthew 28 - 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.”

Salt of the Earth

•       Matthew 5:13

What does Jesus say the disciples, who He is speaking to, are?

In your opinion, why would Jesus ask how salt that loses its saltiness can be made salty again?

What is salt that has lost its saltiness good for?

In your opinion, why does Jesus follow the Beatitudes with this statement?

Ezekiel 18

What does the parable about parents and children and sour grapes mean?

In your opinion, is this common parable an insult to a just God?

In verse 4 who does God say will die?

What is the message of verses 5-9?

Does any of the righteousness of the man in verses 5-9 save the son described in verses 10-13?

Does the violence of the man in verses 10-13 transfer to the son described in verse 14-17?

In your opinion, does the judgment listed in verse 18 seem appropriate?

In your opinion, why would the Israelite people ask “Why does the son not share the guilt of his father” (NIV)?

What additional statement about the non-transferability of guilt is found in verse 20?

What is the amazing new statement that is found in verse 21?

When will the offenses they committed be remembered?

In your opinion, what is the meaning of the two questions in verse 23?

Does verse 24 change the statements that have come before?

In your opinion, what is the discussion in verses 25 through 29 to teach us?

What is the heart of the message of verse 30?

What does verse 31 say is needed?

In your opinion, how important is the statement of verse 32 to each of us?

What in your opinion, what does this passage teach us about Matthew 5:13?

1 John 3

What makes it possible for us to be called children of God?

In your opinion, how can we take comfort from the statement that we shall be like Christ when He comes?

In verse 3, what do we need to do to purify ourselves to be more like Christ?

In your opinion, how is this like salt regaining its saltiness?

How does verse 4 condemn everyone?

Where, in verse 5, is the hope of the lawless person?

In your opinion, is it possible for the same person to have verse 7 and verse 8 applied to them?

What is the hope that is stated at the end of verse 8?

What is the positive (do) command in verse 11?

How is the negative (do not) illustrated in verses 12 through 15?

How is the positive (do) illustrated in verses 16 through 18?

In your opinion, why does verse 19 leads us to believe that it is going to show us how to “know we belong” and how to “set our hearts at rest” (NIV) and then verse 20 starts with “If”?

How would you express the wonderful truth of verse 20?

What promise is given in verses 21 and 22?

What are the commandments required as a part of this promise?

In your opinion, is it fair to say that “saltiness” for a Christian is “to love one another as he commanded us” (NIV)?

What is the promise in verse 24 for the one who “keeps God’s commands” (“believe in the name of his Son” and “to love one another”) (NIV)?

How do we know He lives in us?

What In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about Matthew 5:13?

      So, in your opinion what do these passages lead us to understand about the Great Commission?

So, what components of the Great Commission does this illustrate?

1)      Jesus

2)      All authority in heaven and on earth

3)      Go and made disciples

4)      Baptize them

5)      Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

6)      Teaching them to obey everything

7)      I am with you always

8)      All Nations

9)      Obey Commandments

Next, back to Matthew 5:14 - (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

November 3, 2013 - The Great Commission - A Study of Matthew – Blessed Are the Persecuted

November 3, 2013 - The Great Commission - A Study of Matthew – Blessed Are the Persecuted

Matthew 28 - 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.”

Blessed Are the Persecuted

•       Matthew 5:10-12

Who is blessed?

How will they be blessed?

In your opinion, why is this an appropriate blessing?

In your opinion, is it a coincidence that “theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (NIV) is the blessing of the first and the last beatitude?

Who is the “because of me” that we are blessed if people insult, persecute and falsely say evil things against us because of?

Why should we rejoice and be glad?

Who was persecuted in the same way?

Genesis 3:1-7

Who was the serpent?

What did it say to Eve?

In your opinion, how is this question deceptive?

How did the woman answer?

In your opinion, what in this question shows that Eve was already heading down the path to disobedience?

What was the serpent’s answer to Eve?

How much of the answer is true?

In your opinion, what is the biggest lie in this answer?

What did the woman do?

Where was Adam?

What did Adam do?

After they both ate, what did they realize?

In your opinion, would the words of the serpent be considered persecution?

What in your opinion, what does this passage teach us about Matthew 5:10-12?

Job 1

How is Job from the land of Uz personally described?

How are the holdings of Job described?

In your opinion, what is the significance of the offering after the period of feasting for each of his children?

Who came to present themselves before the Lord?

Where has Satan been?

What does the Lord say about Job?

In your opinion, what does Satan’s statement “Does Job fear God for nothing?” say about Satan?

What did Satan say would change Job’s attitude toward God?

How does the Lord respond to Satan’s statement?

What are the bad things that were reported to Job in one day:

            1)

            2)

            3)

            4)

What did Job do when these were reported to him?

What did Job say when he fell to the ground in worship?

In your opinion, how difficult would it be to praise the name of God when disaster like this has happened?

What In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about Matthew 5:10-12?

     Ephesians 6:10-20

How are we to be strong?

Why do we put on the full armor of God?

Who is our struggle with:

            1)

            2)

            3)

            4)

How are we to respond to those we struggle with?

What does putting on the full armor of God enable us to do in the “day of evil” (NIV)?

What goes around our waists?

What is the breastplate of?

What are our feet fitted with?

What can we do with the shield of faith?

What is the helmet?

What is the sword?

How are we to pray?

When are we to pray?

In your opinion, what is the source of our persecution?

Does this mean that we have something in common with Eve and with Job?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about Matthew 5:10-12?

            So, in your opinion what do these passages lead us to understand about the Great Commission?

So, what components of the Great Commission does this illustrate?

1)      Jesus

2)      All authority in heaven and on earth

3)      Go and made disciples

4)      Baptize them

5)      Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

6)      Teaching them to obey everything

7)      I am with you always

8)      All Nations

9)      Obey Commandments

Next, back to Matthew 5:13 - (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

October 27, 2013 - The Great Commission - A Study of Matthew – Blessed Are the Peacemakers

October 27, 2013 - The Great Commission - A Study of Matthew – Blessed Are the Peacemakers

The Great Commission – A Study of Matthew

 Matthew 28 - 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.”

Blessed Are the Peacemakers

•       Matthew 5:9

Who is blessed?

How will they be blessed?

In your opinion, why is this an appropriate blessing?

Numbers 25:1-13

What was done by the Israelites in verses 1 and 2 that caused Israel to by yoked to Baal?

What was the punishment decreed in verses 4 and 5?

What did Phinehas, a Levite descended from Aaron do?

In your opinion, why did God say in verse 11 that Phinehas was “zealous for my honor” (NIV)?

What kind of covenant is being made with Phinehas?

What In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about Matthew 5:9?

Malachi 2:1-9

Who is this a warning to?

If the priests don’t do what two things will they and their blessings be cursed?

            1)

            2)

In your opinion, what does it mean that “I will curse your blessings” (NIV)?

Ion verse 4, why is God sending the warning?

What was the covenant with Levi?

When God gave the covenant to Levi how did Levi respond?

What was in Levi’s mouth?

How did Levi walk?

What is a priest (verse 7)?

How have the priests caused people to stumble?

What In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about Matthew 5:9?

     Romans 12:9-18

In your opinion, what is the difference between pretending to love others and really loving others (NLT) or what is sincere love (NIV)?

In your opinion, what does it mean to “honor one another above yourselves” (NIV)?

In verse 12, how are we to be in:

Hope

Affliction

Prayer

How are we to respond to those who persecute us?

In your opinion, why is it important to “rejoice with those who rejoice: mourn with those who mourn” (NIV)?

What is the instruction in verse 17 about repaying someone for evil?

In your opinion, why is “if it is possible” in front of “live at peace with everyone” (NIV) in verse 18?

What In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about Matthew 5:9?

            So, what do these passages lead us to understand about the Great Commission?

So, what components of the Great Commission does this illustrate?

1                              1) Jesus

2               2) All authority in heaven and on earth

3               3) Go and make disciples

4               4) Baptize them

5               5) Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

6               6) Teaching them to obey everything

7               7) I am with you always

8               8) All Nations

9               9) Obey Commandments

Next, back to Matthew 5:10 - (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)