Preparation for Wednesday July 22nd, 2015

This week we'll continue our investigation of John chapter 14.  

Take a look at the statement Jesus makes in Jn 14:4, and then Thomas's response in verse 5--what comes to mind after reading Thomas's question?  Does it make you question whether or not Thomas has a saving relationship with the Lord?  

Now Jesus's response in verse 6 is very well known, and often quoted without regard to the context.  Just two things for you to consider for this coming week:

   1) Is Jesus saying He is one thing or three things?  Can you briefly describe each?

   2)  Is verse 6 Jesus's complete answer to Thomas, or does it perhaps run at least as far as verse 17?  (If it does run to verse 17, is Jesus addressing Thomas's salvation--or something else all together?)

Preparation for Wednesday July 15th, 2015

We'll be in John chapter 14 this week.   Here are a few things to think about as part of being ready for our study:

1.  The first three verses of chapter 14 are very well known.  However, once again, we usually pull them out of context.  If you consider the completely unsettled situation being faced by the apostles, I have to think that the first two verses have much more by way of applicability.  Can you think of any times in our lives we should apply the promise of verse 1-2?

2.  These verses make a powerful case for the "rapture of the Church", can you explain why?  Or asking this same question another way--do these verses fit with Jesus returning to the earth to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords?

3.  Vs 4 begins a lengthy dialogue between Jesus and his disciples--what do you think it means to "know the way" to where Jesus is going?  Whatever you come up with, has to fit the dialogue that follows.  

See you on Wednesday,

Kevin

Preparations for Wednesday July 8th, 2015

We are back in Jn 13, and going to try and finish the chapter by looking at verses 31-38.  A few things for you to consider:

1) Verses 31-32 have a certain immediacy about them that does not seem to fit with the actual unfolding of events--how might we explain this?  Or asked another way, can you think of some things that are always immediately available for the Christian?

2) You have heard me quote vs 34 many times; however, we don't often consider the context.  The context makes this passage even more powerful--how so?

3)  The closing dialogue with Peter in verses 36-38 are a classic example of the dangers inherent in trusting self.  Who then should we trust?  How can we recognize when self is "creeping" into the picture?  What does trusting in self do to our fellowship with the Father?

See you Wednesday,

Kevin

Preparation for Wednesday 1 July 2015

No preparation this week as we have a guest speaker.

Respectfully,
Kevin

Preparation for Wednesday June 24th, 2015

We have taken a little side journey to investigate the question, "If belief is what saves us, what exactly does it mean to believe?"   A number of other questions naturally follow:

   - Can you have the wrong kind or insufficient belief?

   - What does Lk 6:44 add to our understanding?

  - How about Rm 10:9-10  
(Both of the above are challenging passages.)

  - Lastly, do you see the Bible qualifying belief in any way?  (Consider two famous passages--Jn 3:16 and Acts 16:31.  They qualify the object, but do they qualify the act of faith!)


See you on Wednesday,

Kevin

Preparation for Wednesday Jun 17th, 2015

We've had some great discussion in John chapter 13, which makes  up for the lack of forward progress.  This week we will finish with our application of the "foot washing" and move into what Jesus has to say after Judas leaves the group.  Here are a few things for you to ponder:

   1)  If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, what is the spiritual lesson for you associated with Jn 13:10?

  2)  Now put your answer to the above into the context of Peter's denial of Christ--what kind of application would you make.  

  3) Judas leaves, and Jesus makes a startling statement in Jn 13:31--what do you think this means?  

     - After pondering it a while, see if Jn 17:5 helps at all!


This Upper Room Discourse is great stuff isn't it?  

See you on Wednesday.  

Kevin

Preparation for Wednesday Jun 10th, 2015

I'm very late on getting this up for which I apologize.  

We will take up where we left off last time--trying to apply Jesus' comments about needing "just one" bath, but regular "foot washing".  Were these just narrowly focused comments that applied only to  His disciples, or do they still apply to us today.  We'll look at this in detail tonight.

See you tonight.
Kevin

Preparation for Wednesday Jun 3rd, 2015

Our passage of interest for this coming Wednesday is John 13:21-30.

1.  The first thing to do is to sort out the "players" in verses 22-26:
  - Peter is involved--not surprisingly;
  - Who is the disciple "whom Jesus loved"?
  - And then to whom does Jesus give the piece of bread he had dipped?

2.  Now try to think through, based upon the narrative, how these players might have been arranged around the table.  If you do, you will come to see an amazing demonstration of God's grace to Judas and an example of Jesus' persistent efforts to reach him.  

3.  One more thing--go back and read Jn 13:9-10 and see if you can explain to yourself a consistent understanding of what it means to be clean and yet need to be cleansed that applies to both the foot washing incident and the time of reclining at the table.  

As you can see, we have some very interesting things to discuss.  
See you on Wednesday.  

Kevin

Preparation for Wednesday 27 May 2015

There is no preparation for the 27th due to our quarterly business meeting.  I'll have some specific questions for you next week prior to getting into John chapter 13, but for now, if you want to get a jump on things spend some time in John 13.  Specifically, consider the meaning of verse 10.

See you on Wednesday for prayer and an update on the business of the Church.

Kevin

Preparation for Wednesday May 20th, 2015

I have been planning to begin a study of John 13-17 -- Jesus' instruction to His "inner circle".  Those in whom He had made the greatest investment of both Himself and truth.  Not only that, but those through whom the Spirit would ignite and spread the Church.  I am still planning on going there, but we are going to hold off, as I have one more thing I would like to cover first.  

Read Luke 9:23-f or any of the companion texts in Matthew or Mark.  And then here are a few things for you to think about:

1.  Write a one sentence summary of what Jesus is teaching. 


2.  What does this have to do with our study of the resurrection?


3.  What does this have to do with our study of "revival"?


4.  And, what does this have to do with our study of Gospel Culture?



I would suggest to you that they all fit together.  Stated another way--if you are lacking in one, you are lacking in all.  Give it some thought, and see what kind of questions arise.

See you on Wednesday,
Kevin