Lesson #100 (Week ending 04/29/12)

Matthew 19-23

Matthew 19:1-15:  Divorce

Ø  What was Jesus trying to communicate when He answered the Pharisee’s question about divorce?

Ø  What was Jesus’ answer to why Moses allowed divorce?

Ø  Why did the disciples respond to Jesus the way they did?

Ø  What can we learn about the teachings of Jesus from His response to little children?

Matthew 19:16-30:  The Rich Young Man

Ø  Is there any correlation between Jesus’ answer concerning divorce and His response to the rich man?  Explain.

Ø  What does Jesus’ answer to the rich man teach about eternal life?

Ø  Does Jesus indicate that the rich cannot be saved?  What does He say?

Ø  Why were the disciples so surprised at His response to the rich man?  Application?

Matthew 20:1-19:  Workers in the Vineyard

Ø  To what does the vineyard refer?  To whom do the workers refer? Who is the landowner?

Ø  Why did the ones who had worked the longest complain?  Application?

Ø  Is God ever “unfair”?

Ø  What is the lesson from this parable?

Matthew 20:20-28:  A Mother’s Request

Ø  How does the answer Jesus gave to this request relate to “ask anything in my Name and it will be given you”?

Ø  What did it mean that James and John would be required to drink the cup that Jesus was going to drink?

Ø  Why were the other disciples indignant about the request?  Application?

Matthew 20:29-21:11:  The Triumphal Entry

Ø  What did the healing of the blind men have to do with the Triumphal Entry?

Ø  What were the actions of Jesus saying as He entered Jerusalem that 1^st Palm Sunday?

Ø  Is there anything unusual about Jesus riding into town on a colt that had never been ridden?

Ø  What does “hosanna” mean?

Matthew 21:12-17:  Jesus at the Temple

Ø  Why was Jesus upset with the activity at the temple?  Application for today?

Ø  Why were the leaders indignant at the miracles Jesus performed?

Ø  How did Jesus respond to the religious leaders?  Application?

Matthew 12:18-27:  The Fig Tree and Jesus’ Authority

Ø  To what (or whom) does the fig tree refer?

Ø  What was the lesson for the disciples?  For us?

Ø  How did Jesus answer the question:”by whose authority are you doing these things (miracles)?

Ø  Why didn’t He directly answer their question?

Matthew 12:28-22:14:  Parables

Ø  What does the parable of the two sons teach?

Ø  What does the parable of the tenants teach?

Ø  What does the parable of the wedding feast teach?

Ø  Do these parables have any relevance for us today?

Matthew 22:15-46:  Teachings

Ø  What does Jesus’ teaching on taxes teach?

Ø  What does His teaching on the resurrection teach?

Ø  What do you think about Jesus’ response to what the greatest commandment is?  Is there any application for us today?

Ø  What does Jesus’ answer on whose son the Christ is teach?

Matthew 23:  Seven Woes

Ø  To whom are these “woes” directed?

Ø  What is “woe” #1?  Application?

Ø  What is “woe” #2?  Application?

Ø  What is “woe” #3?  Application?

Ø  What is “woe” #4?  Application?

Ø  What is “woe” #5?  Application?

Ø  What is “woe” #6?  Application?

Ø  What is “woe” #7?  Application?

Ø  What event was set in motion by this exchange?

Lessdon #99 (Week ending 04/15/12)

JEREMIAH 1-12

BACKGROUND:

Jeremiah is a prophet of disaster and hope. He lives in the southern kingdom of Judah during the years leading up to the fall of its capital city, Jerusalem. For forty years he preaches that this catastrophe is going to happen if the people don’t repent and turn to God.

Jeremiah’s warnings come true when the armies of Babylon, directed by King Nebuchadnezzar, invade Judah. In 587 bc they destroy Jerusalem and her temple. The king and many of the people are taken away to exile in Babylonia.

But Jeremiah also has a message of hope. He predicts that one day the people will return and that the nation will be restored. He also promises that God will make a new deal with his people. His law will no longer be ‘outside’ them, written on tablets of stone. Instead, it will be ‘within’ them — written on their hearts.

In Jeremiah we see the pain and passion of a prophet at work. God’s word burns within him, so that he must preach. But his message makes him unpopular. At times he is cruelly persecuted. He has a hard life — crushed between the pressing truth of God and the resistance of his people.^[1]

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Jer. 1:  The Call of Jeremiah

Ø  When did God first call Jeremiah to be a prophet?  Is there any application for us?

Ø  Was God concerned about Jeremiah’s lack of confidence in the ministry he had been given?  Application for us?

Ø  Do you think that God gives a specific “calling” to all of His people?  Explain.

Jer. 2:1-5:31:  Israel Forsakes Their God

Ø  What happened to Israel’s devotion to the Lord over the years?  Application for us?

Ø  What was the one sin that God so hated in Israel?  What idols are in our lives?

Ø  How does God describe the sin of idolatry in this section?

Ø  What does the Lord promise if His people return to Him?  Application?

Ø  Why could God not forgive Jerusalem?  What would He find if He did that today in the USA?

Ø  Did God’s judgment completely destroy Israel?  Application?

Jer. 6:  Jerusalem Under Siege

Ø  Did God give warning to His people before judgment fell?  Application?

Ø  What (or who) did God use to discipline His people?  Application for us?

Ø  What was God’s advice to His people?

Jer. 7:1-8:3:  Worthless False Religion

Ø  What were the conditions God placed on Israel that would turn away His wrath?

Ø  How often, according to Jeremiah, has God warned His people over the years?  Application?

Ø  How long does God’s “long suffering” last?

Jer. 8:4-9:26:  Sin and Punishment

Ø  What does God require Israel to do after He informs them of their sins?  How does this compare with what God expects for His NT saints?

Ø  What are the consequences to ignoring the Lord’s requirements? 

Ø  Why do we blame the Lord for the consequences of our own sin?

Ø  In Whom should we boast?

Jer. 10: God and Idols

Ø  What does God say about learning the customs of the nations (pagans)?  Application for us?

Ø  How does God describe the way He created?

Ø  What can we learn from Jeremiah’s prayer (10:23-25)?

Jer. 11:  The Broken Covenant

Ø  What is a covenant?

Ø  What were the terms of the covenant the God made with Israel?

Ø  What was God’s response to Israel after they repeatedly broke their covenant vows to Him?  Application for us? 

Jer. 12:  Jeremiah’s Complaint & God’s Answer

Ø  What was Jeremiah’s purpose in pleading with the Lord?

Ø  What are the main points in God’s answer to Jeremiah?

Ø  Is there any relevance for us today in God’s answer or was this all fulfilled at an earlier time?

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^[1] Knowles, A. (2001). The Bible guide (1st Augsburg books ed.) (296). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg.

Lesson # 98 (Week ending 04/08/12)

Matthew 8-18

Matthew 8:1-17:  The Faith of Followers

Ø  How did the different healings in this passage differ from each other? 

Ø  What was the common element?

Ø  Did Jesus heal everyone who came to Him or was brought to Him?  Significance?

Matthew 8:18-27:  Count the Cost of Following Jesus

Ø  What are the costs in following Jesus?

Ø  In our modern day cultural setting what would these costs be?

Matthew 8:28-9:34:  Healings and Teachings

Ø  How did the healings in this passage differ from each other?

Ø  Was there a common element?

Ø  What is the significance of Jesus’ response about eating with sinners?

Ø  What is the significance of Jesus’ answer to John’s disciples?

Matthew 9:35-10:42:  Educating the Twelve

Ø  Specifically, to whom did Jesus give these directives when He sent them out?

Ø  Can we apply the instructions in this passage to our situation?

Ø  Is there a point in this passage where the emphasis changes from the Twelve to all believers?  Significance?

Matthew 11:1-19:  John the Baptist

Ø  Why did Jesus eulogize John the Baptist?

Ø  To whom did He liken John?  Significance?

Matthew 11:20-30:  Hidden Things

Ø  Why were there cities where the miracles of Jesus had no effect on the people?

Ø  Why did Jesus praise His Father for hiding His true identity from these people?

Ø  What answer did Jesus give for those who were seeking the truth?  Application?

Matthew 12:1-21:  Lord of the Sabbath

Ø  What is the significance of Jesus being Lord of the Sabbath?

Ø  Did the people of Jesus’ day understand the true meaning of the Sabbath?  Do we?

Matthew 12:22-37:  Jesus and Beelzebub

Ø  To what does “blasphemy of the Holy Spirit” refer?

Ø  Is it possible for someone to commit this sin today?

Ø  What is the only unforgivable sin?

Matthew 12:38-50:  Sign of Jonah

Ø  Does Jesus referring to Jonah tell us whether or not the story of Jonah is true or fictional?

Ø  What is His comparison to Jonah?  Significance?

Matthew 13:1-58:  Parables

Ø  Notice a change in ministry from this point on.  Jesus now directs His teachings to the disciples.

Ø  To what does the parable of the sower refer?  Is it a passage that teaches that one can lose their salvation?

Ø  To what does the parable of the weeds refer?

Ø  To what does the parable of the mustard seed and yeast refer?

Ø  Explain the parables of the hidden treasure; the pearl; the net?

Ø  Why did Jesus say that a prophet is without honor in his own town?

Matthew 14:1-15:39:  Demonstrations of Power

Ø  Why did Jesus demonstrate His power by the feeding of the 5000; walking on the water; and the feeding of the 4000?

Ø  How did the multitudes respond to his feeding them?  How did the disciples respond?

Ø  Why was Jesus so hard on the religious leaders?

Matthew 16:1-12:  Demands from the Unbelievers

Ø  What kept the religious leaders from believing and following Jesus? 

Ø  Is this true for people today?

Matthew 16:13-20:  An Important Question

Ø  What is the most important question each of us will ever answer?

Ø  Jesus mentions His “church” in this passage.  What is the significance of this?

Matthew 16:21-17:23:  Proof Positive

Ø  At this time did the disciple understand what Jesus was saying when He spoke of His impending death?  Why or why not?

Ø  What did the Transfiguration demonstrate about Jesus to the three? 

Ø  What is the significance of Moses and Elijah being with Jesus?

Matthew 17:24-18:35:  More Teachings

Ø  Who will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?  Application for us?

Ø  What is the significance of the parable of the lost sheep?  Application for us?

Ø  What does Jesus teach about someone who sins against you?

Ø  How many times are we to forgive others?  Why?