LenosOn

09 March 2016

08 March 2016

The Humble Savior

Theme: The humble Savior

Scriptures: John 13.1-20

A1 Outline

B1 Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet John 13.1-17

B2 Jesus Predicts His Betrayal John 13.18-30 (we will only deal through John 13:20)

A2 Notes and questions

B1 Passover

C1 Link for more information

C2 Jesus celebrated

C3 This was the day before Passover. (so Thursday by most commentators)

B2 John 13.1.

C1 How did Jesus know that His hour (time) had arrived?

C2 Who are those whom He loves? (His own. I take this to mean those who follow and believe in Him who were alive at that time. The principle would be that He loves all His own past, present, and future. This verse does not address the Calvinist view of God loving the elect only).

C3 The word for love here is agape. We shouldn't make a theological point from this word.

B3 John 13.2

C1 How did the devil influence Judas? Did Judas have some weaknesses to sin? (Covetousness and stealing).

C2 How did Simon Iscariot, Judas' dad, feel about his son? (The text doesn't tell us). How would you and I feel about a son like this?

C3 Why, what, would lead Judas to betray a man who only did good? (He loved other things more and was not interested in the truth).

B4 John 13.3. Why does John write about Jesus knowing these things?

B5 John 13.4-5. Why did Jesus humble Himself this way? Does this tell us something about God's character/personality?

B6 John 13.6-7.

C1 Why did Peter ask the obvious question?

C2 Why didn't Jesus say just "yes?"

C3 Jesus told Peter that he would understand this later. When is later?

C4 Is Peter just asking a question or being obstinate?

B7 John 13.8.

C1 Did Peter understand what a king is supposed to be like? Did he understand God's (Jesus's) view?

C2 Why did Peter reply to Jesus that Jesus would never wash his feet?

C3 What did Jesus tell Peter? What is the significance of this?

B8 John 13.9.

C1 Why did Peter answer this way?

C2 What concern did Peter have that he would want the Lord Jesus to wash more than his feet?

B9 John 13.10-11

C1 The word for bathe (first wash with KJV) is to wash the whole body.

C2 The word for wash (second wash with KJV) refers to washing a part of the whole body, rarely the body itself, so, as here, feet, hands, eyes, etc.

C3 What does the word clean mean here? (Clean from sin. See 2 Corinthians 5.21, 1 Peter 1.22, and John 15.3 (Jesus renders a judgment based on their faith. He is The Judge)).

C4 Who is the one who was not clean? (Judas)

C5 At this meal who were the ones who knew that Judas would betray Jesus?

B10 John 13.12-17

C1 Should we take foot washing literally or figuratively? (Literally, if our teacher and Lord did it, so should we. It doesn't seem to be the idea that only these disciples would be doing foot washing to other Christians. Even if one takes it figuratively, it would be good practice to humble ourselves to wash the feet of other believers. Some object to this practice by labeling it a sacrament. Washing feet does not help earn or retain salvation. It is an ordinance of practice just as remembering the Lord's death with communion and obeying the Lord in baptism. I'm not Church of God in any sense, but this article about foot washing covers the topic and objections well).

C2 Is Jesus just teaching humility or helping others? Which would be harder to do—wash someone's feet or help them cross the street or some other good deed?

C3 We will be blessed if we do _____?

C4 Nevertheless, we are to help others. How can you or I help our neighbor, the grouchy person, the person who cut us off in traffic, the one who cheated us, or the one who lied to us?

C5 How did the Lord Jesus treat the betrayer?

B11 John 13.18-20

C1 Why did Judas turn against Jesus?

C2 What would make anyone turn against Jesus?

C3 Is there anything that would make us turn against Jesus? How can we avoid this?

C4 Does Jesus genuinely know the future, guess the future, or decree the future?

C5 Fulfilled prophecy shows what about Jesus?

C6 What is the principle taught in John 13.20?

03 March 2016

The cleansing power of Christ's blood

I'm not much of a fan of Charles Finney, but this story is great. I have used it before in my previous blog.

The Cleansing Power of Christ’s Blood

Charles G. Finney told this story. He was holding a revival in Detroit. One night as he started to walk into church a man came up to him and asked, “Are you Mr. Finney?”

“Yes.”

“I wonder if you would do me a favor? When you get through tonight, will you come to my home and talk to me about my soul?”

“Gladly. You wait for me.” Finney walked inside, and some of the men stopped him.

“What did he want, Brother Finney?”

“He wanted me to go home with him.”

“Don’t do it.”

“I’m sorry, but I promised, and I shall go with him.”

When the service was over, Finney and the man walked three blocks, turned into a side alley, and stopped in front of a door. The man unlocked it, and said, “Come on in.”

Mr. Finney walked into the room. The man locked the door, reached in his pocket, pulled out a revolver, and held it in his hand. “I don’t intend to do you any harm,” he said. “I just want to ask you a few questions. Did you mean what you said in your sermon last night?”

“What did I say? I have forgotten.”

“You said, ‘The Blood of Jesus cleanses from all sin.’”

Finney said, “Yes, God said so.”

The man said, “Brother Finney, you see this revolver? It is mine; it has killed four people. Two of them were killed by me, two by my bartender in a brawl in my saloon. Is there hope for a man like me?”

Finney said, “The Blood of Jesus cleanses from all sin.”

In the back of this partition is a saloon. I own it, everything in it. We sell to anybody who comes along. Many, many times I’ve taken the last penny out of a man’s pocket, letting his wife and children go hungry. Is there hope for a man like me?’

Finney said, “God says, ‘The Blood of Jesus Christ, His son, cleanses us from all sin.”

”Another question, Brother Finney. In back of this other partition is a gambling joint, and it is a crooked as sin and Satan. There isn’t a decent wheel in the whole place. It is all loaded and crooked. A man leaves the saloon with some money in his pocket, and we take his money away in there. Men have gone out of that gambling place to commit suicide when their money, and perhaps entrusted funds, were all gone. Is there any hope for a man like me?”

Finney said, “God says, ‘The Blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.’”

“One more question, and I will let you go. When you walk out of this alley, if you turn to the right, you’ll see a brown stone house. It is my home. I own it. My wife is there and my 11 year old child, Margaret. Thirteen years ago, I went to New York on business. I met a beautiful girl; I lied to her. I told her I was a stockbroker, and she married me. I brought her here, and when she found out my business, it broke her heart.

“I have made life a hell on earth for her. I have come home drunk, beaten her, abused her, locked her out, and make her life more miserable than any brute beast. About a month ago, I went home drunk, mean, and miserable. My wife got in the way some how, and I started beating her. My daughter threw herself between us. I slapped the girl across the face, and knocked her against the red, hot stove. Her arm is burnt from shoulder to wrist; it will never look like anything decent. Brother Finney, is there any hope for a man like me?”

Finney got hold of the man’s shoulders, shook him, said, “O son, what a black story you have to tell. But God says, ‘The Blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin.’”

The man said, “Thank you, thank you very much. Pray for me. I am coming to church tomorrow night.”

Finney went about his business.

The next morning about 7 o’clock, the saloon man started across the street out of his office. His face was dusty, sweaty, and tear stained. He was shaking and rocking as though he were drunk. But let us go back and take a look at his saloon. He had taken the swivel chair and smashed it through the mirror, the fireplace, the desk, and the other chairs. He had smashed the partition on each side. Every bottle, barrel, and bar mirror in the saloon was shattered and broken up. The sawdust was swimming ankle deep in a terrible mixture of beer, gin, whiskey, and wine. In the gambling establishment the tables were smashed, the dice and cards in the fireplace were smoldering.

The man staggered across the street, walked up the stairs of his home, and sat down heavily in the chair in his room. His wife called to her little girl, Margaret, “Run upstairs, and tell Daddy, ‘Breakfast is ready.’”

The girl walked slowly up the stairs. Half afraid, she stood in the door and said, “Daddy, Momma said to come down. Breakfast is ready.”

“Margaret, darling, Daddy doesn’t want any breakfast.”

The little girl didn’t walk; she just flew down the stairs. “Momma, Daddy said, ‘Margaret, darling,’ and he didn’t swear.”

“Margaret, you didn’t understand. You go back upstairs and tell Daddy to come down.”

Margaret went upstairs with mother following her. The man looked up as he heard the child’s steps, spread his knee out, and said, “Come here, Margaret.”

Shy, frightened, and trembling the little girl walked up to him. He lifted her, put her on his knee, pressed his face against her breast, and wept.

His wife, standing in the door, didn’t understand what happened. After awhile he noticed her and said, “Wife, come here.”

With arms around wife and daughter, he shook with uncontrollable sobs. After he controlled himself, he looked at their faces and said, “You don’t need to be afraid any more. God has brought you home a new man, a new Daddy, today.”

Fulfilled prophecy Luke 24.44-45

“And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.” (Luke 24:44-45)

The Law of Moses, prophets, and psalms comprise the whole Old Testament.

Everything said about Jesus must happen.

Many of these things have already happened.

There are still things to happen.

They will happen.

We must understand the Old Testament in its plain, normal sense if we are to KNOW if something is fulfilled. If we interpret the Bible in some other sense as allegorical, then we will not know if something has happened or not.

Sunday School Lesson—The compassionate Savior

The wait was worth it!

Theme. The compassionate Savior

Text. John 11.1-44

A1 Outline

B1 Lazarus dies John 11.1-16

B2 Jesus comforts sisters John 11.17-37

B3 Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead John 11.38-44

B4 The Jewish authorities want to kill Jesus John 11.45-57

A2 Notes and questions

B1 Bethany

C1 2 miles east of Jerusalem

C2 East side of the Mt of Olives

C3 Home of Simon the leper

C4 Home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus

C5 A favorite place for the Lord Jesus

C6 Today is called al `Azareyeh (the place of Lazarus)

B2 Lazarus (source here).

C1 Brother of Mary and Martha

C2 Died and buried twice

C3 Resurrected once and will be again

C4 Was a tourist attraction (people wanted to see the man who was dead but resurrected). John 12.10

B3 Mary (source here).

C1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus was at dinner with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus at Simon the leper's house.

C2 Mary poured very expensive perfume on Jesus's feet and wiped them with her hair.

C3 Judas became outraged at this. John 12.1-3

C4 Sat at the feet of Jesus to learn.

C5 Not the

D1 Mary the mother of Jesus

D2 Mary Magdalene

D3 Mary, the sinful woman of Luke 7.36-50

B4 Martha (source here).

C1 Owned the home where Mary, Lazarus, and her lived in. Luke 10.38

C2 Was burdened in preparing the meal.

C3 Was reminded by the Lord Jesus that other things are more important than physical food. Luke 10.39-42

C4 Some have suggested that Martha was either the wife or widow of Simon the leper.

B5 Lazarus dies John 11.1-16

C1 John 11.3. The word "love" is the Greek word φιλέω phileō. It means to be a friend. Being a friend is another person whom you like to be with, enjoy, due to many common interests.

C2 Why do people get sick? Answer according to the Christian idea. (The universe and world is cursed because of sin).

C3 Why wasn't the message, "Lazarus is sick"?

C4 According to many famous modern day "apostles and prophets," a person is never to be sick. How do we reconcile this? (Modern day apostles and prophets are fake and false. Reality shows us this).

C5 Why wasn't Lazarus chosen to be an apostle? He was loyal, faithful, a man who was raised from death. One would think this is a great qualification.

C6 John 11.4. Jesus says that this sickness does not result in death, but Lazarus died. Is this a contradiction?

C7 John 11.5-6. Why did Jesus wait 2 days before leaving to go to Lazarus? Wouldn't this disappoint the sisters? Why would Jesus increase their sorrow and distress?

C8 John 11.7. Where did Jesus want to go? They are in Perea, on the eastern side of the Jordan.

C9 John 11.8. Why are the disciples worried? Does this show foreknowledge and wisdom?

C10 John 11.9-10. What is the meaning of this verse? What is He referring to when He says "day" and "night"? What light is Jesus speaking of in John 11.10?

C11 John 11.11. Why did Jesus use the word sleep, when He knew the Lazarus was dead? Is this a proof text for soul sleep? (See here for more information).

C12 Are you afraid to die? Consider, for those who trust in Jesus Christ...

D1 Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His saints. (Psalms 116.15 NKJV)

D2 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. (Luke 16.22 NKJV). Most likely we are too.

D3 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1.21 NKJV)

D4 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (Hebrews 11.13 NKJV)

D5 The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from calamity; he enters into peace; they rest in their beds who walk in their uprightness. (Isaiah 57.1-2 ESV) The righteous (those, whom God made righteous through the death of the Lord Jesus and their trust in Him, never have anything evil, bad, sad, depressing, pain, etc. again).

D6 The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing, but the righteous finds refuge in his death. (Proverbs 14.32 ESV)

D7 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff--they comfort me. (Psalms 23.4 NRSV)

D8 but we are confident and prefer rather to be away from home from the body, and to be at home with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5.8 EMTV)

D9 For I am hard pressed by the two, having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better. (Philippians 1.23 EMTV)

C13 John 11.15. Why would Jesus say, "I am glad for your sakes that I was not there?"

C14 John 11.16. Was Thomas an optimist?

B6 Jesus comforts sisters John 11.17-37

C1 John 11.17. Why 4 days? If it would have been the same day as Lazarus died, would there be a difference? Jesus and the disciples traveled approximately 40 miles in 2 days.

C2 John 11.18. Bethany was about 2 miles from Jerusalem. So it would have been accessible to people in Jerusalem to come and comfort the sisters.

C3 John 11.20. Why did Martha come to see Jesus, but Mary stayed inside? (It was common for Jews to be in a sitting position when mourning. Mary may still be in shock and not wanting to meet anyone).

C4 John 11.20. Jesus could have healed Lazarus and not allowed all this grief. Does this make Jesus evil? Why did He allow them this emotional pain?

D1 Possibility 1. If Jesus had resurrected Lazarus the same day, many would have said that Lazarus had not really died. To have this resurrection after 4 days of burial, when many people saw it and knew of the death and burial of Lazarus, would definitely show Lazarus to be truly dead.

D2 Possibility 2. Their faith needed to grow. They had enough faith that Jesus could have healed Lazarus but not enough that Jesus could raise Lazarus. We learn that Jesus can heal and also can resurrect from the dead.

C5 Why did Jesus wait? How do we react to waiting?

C6 John 11.23. Would it have been easy for Martha to have missed the meaning of "...your brother will rise again?"

C7 John 11.25. What is Jesus teaching Mary, Martha, and us? Why did Jesus say, "I am the resurrection and the life," instead of saying, "I will raise up Lazarus?" What does "I am the life" mean? (Only Yahweh has life in Himself and can give life. See John 5.21.

D1 The Seven "I Ams" of Jesus

E1 "I am the bread of life" John 6.35, John 6.48

E2 "I am the light of the world" John 8.12

E3 "I am the door" John 1.7-9

E4 "I am the good shepherd" John 10.11, John 10.14

E5 "I am the resurrection and the life" John 11.25

E6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life" John 14.6

E7 "I am the vine" John 15.1 and John 15.5

C8 John 11.25. Why does Jesus say, "Those who believe in me will live, even though they die"? Is belief simple? (Yes, it is just accepting what Jesus says as truth).

C9 John 11.26. People die, so why does Jesus say, "those who live and believe in me will never die"? (He is speaking of spiritual and eternal death. The believers will have a resurrection).

D1 Clarke in his commentary on this verse states,

"Though he die a temporal death. he shall not continue under its power for ever; but shall have a resurrection to life eternal."

D2 Some translate the verse as "and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die forever. Do you believe this?" (John 11.26, LEB). Compare "Truly, truly I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never experience death forever." (John 8.51, LEB).

C10 John 11.27. This is a very strong statement of belief. Jesus accepts it.

C11 John 11.28-31. How long did it take for Mary to get up and go to Jesus?

C12 John 11.32. Is Mary angry at Jesus for not coming sooner? (No, she is simply making a statement).

C13 John 11.33. What did Jesus see Mary doing? (Crying). Does He know these things about us?

C14 John 11.34. The word translated "groan" or "deeply moved" has the idea of snorting with anger. Does Jesus like death? (No! It was in intention of His for people or creation. Death is a punishment for sin. The word for "troubled" conveys "passionately stirred up" in emotions. The calmness of our minds is disturbed. Jesus is not angry at Mary, Martha, or the people, for we see Him weeping, not rebuking).

C15 John 11.36. Are the people angry at Jesus? (Maybe, but they are more likely just venting their feelings in ignorance. They were sincere, not sarcastic. Mary and Martha had the same question).

B7 Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead John 11.38-44

C1 John 11.38-40. Was Martha asking a question of doubt (You can't do this. It is scientifically impossible.) or curiosity (I believe you, but how). Mary the mother of Jesus asked the angel a question from curiosity ("Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" (Luke 1.34, EMTV). Zacharias asked the angel a question from doubt ("And Zacharias said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years." (Luke 1.18, EMTV). Mary asks, "Huh, how can this happen? Zacharias asks, "I don't think you know what you're talking about."

C2 John 11.41-42. Why did Jesus pray?

C3 John 11.43. Why did Jesus shout, instead of speaking in a still, small voice like He did to Elijah? (After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper. (1 Kings 19.12, HCSB)

C4 John 11.44. What did Jesus do, and what did the people do? (The people moved the stone and unwrapped Lazarus).

B8 What have we learned today?

B9 If Jesus showed care and compassion, so should we.

25 February 2016

Dispensational Theology

Dispensational theology

This is link to a new publishing company, Dispensational Publishing House, article giving a brief overview of the importance of dispensational theology.

Much confusion occurs with the interpretation of Biblical prophecy due to a failure (or refusal) to distinguish between Israel and the church, and thereby denying any future to national Israel and equating the historical throne of David with God’s heavenly throne. The former rule (the throne of David) could be called the single, unified, mediatorial kingdom that existed historically under the Mosaic Covenant and was prophesied by the Old Testament prophets to be restored in its former glory at the second coming of Jesus Christ. The latter rule (God’s heavenly throne), which is eternal, would be understood as involving aspects of God’s universal and spiritual kingdoms.

You can read the rest here.

More on dispensationalism here.

24 February 2016

Sunday School Lesson--Persecution

When things get ugly

Theme. The church is persecuted

Scripture. Acts 12.1-25

A1 Outline

B1 James killed Acts 12.1-5

B2 Peter freed from prison Acts 12.6-19

C1 Angel leads him out of prison Acts 12.5-10

C2 Peter goes to Mary, the mother of John Mark Acts 12.11-15

C3 Answered prayer Acts 12.16-17

C4 The guards are executed Acts 12.18-19

B3 Herod dies Acts 12.20-24

B4 Barnabas, Saul, and John Mark go to Jerusalem Acts 12.25

A2 Notes and questions

B1 Define

C1 Sovereignty

D1 "God is 'absolutely free to act as He wills and in accord with His own nature.'' He is 'the absolute monarch of the created universe.'"

D2 Humans do not have sovereign free will.

D3 Humans are not good and do not seek good (as defined by God). Romans 3.9-18, Jeremiah 17.9, Matthew 15.18-19, Romans 3.23

C2 Providential control

D1 "...nothing can happen apart from God's...preservation and upholding of all things."

D2 He knows what is going to happen and what is happening to us.

C3 Man's freedom

D1 "Humanity is created in the image of God and thus has the ability to make free, moral choices; however, 'God is able to govern the truly free exercise of man's will in such a way that all goes according to His plan."

D2 Note it does NOT say 'God governs man's will;" it does say "able to govern." Humanity does NOT have an absolute will to do good, to seek God, for we are dead in our trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2.1 and Colossians 2.13).

B2 Terms

C1 Pelagian--Pelagian. any system in which the human person is capable of achieving salvation entirely on his/her own with no divine assistance other than common grace (i.e. the grace necessary for any being to exist). (1)

C2 Semi-pelagian--Semi-Pelagian. any system in which the process of salvation is initiated by the human person apart from any grace other than common grace, but in which the process of salvation is synergistically completed by the cooperative interaction of both divine and human. (1)

C3 Synergism-Synergism. any system that affirms some kind of cooperative interaction between the divine and the human in the process of salvation. (1)

C4 Christian

D1 Differing points between Calvinists, but all believe that God elected some to salvation and that they cannot resist God's call.

D2 Differing points between Arminians. Classical/reformed Arminians believe in

E1 Total depravity

F1 Dale V. Wayman

G1 Here at SEA, we believe that total depravity is real. You can't be an Arminian and not believe in total depravity.

G2 Humanity was created in the image of God, good and upright, but fell from its original sinless state through willful disobedience, leaving humanity sinful, separated from God, and under the sentence of divine condemnation.

G3 Total depravity does not mean that human beings are as bad as they could be, but that sin impacts every part of a person's being and that people now have a sinful nature with a natural inclination toward sin, making every human being fundamentally corrupt at heart.

G4 Therefore, human beings are not able to think, will, nor do anything good in and of themselves, including merit favor from God, save ourselves from the judgment and condemnation of God that we deserve for our sin, or even believe the gospel.

G5 If anyone is to be saved, God must take the initiative.

F2 Lenos

G1 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17.9, ESV2011)

G2 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. (Luke 18.19 LEB)

G3 just as it is written, "There is no one righteous, not even one; (Romans 3.10 LEB)

G4 And you, although you were dead in your trespasses and sins, (Ephesians 2.1 LEB) (Ephesians 2.5 and Colossians 2.13)

G5 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3.23 LEB)

G6 All humans are born contaminated with a sin nature (original sin).

G7 All humans do NOT seek God

G8 All humans cannot do good (as God defines good).

G9 All humans are dead in sins and trespasses

G10 All humans are sinners

E2 Total inability

F1 All humans do not seek God

F2 All humans need God's grace to enable us to understand our sinful condition

F3 Without God's enabling grace we would not/could not be saved

F4 God, by His grace, frees our will to respond. Our wills are not free but freed.

C3 Persecution

D1 Any suffering/abuse/death that Christians face/experience because they are Christians.

D2 If you are reviled on account of the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. By all means do not let anyone of you suffer as a
murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. But if someone suffers as a Christian, he must not be ashamed, but must glorify God with this name. (1 Peter 4.14-16 LEB)

C4 Herod of Acts 12

D1 Names--Herod I, Herod Agrippa, Agrippa the Great, Marcus Julius Agrippa (birth name)

D2 Parents--Father--Aristobulus IV, Mother--Berenice

D3 Lived--11 BC to 44 AD (died when he was 54 years old).

D4 Wife--Cypros

D5 Children--1 son, 3 daughters

D6 Life

E1 Friends with Caesar

E2 Spent money recklessly, which got him in prison and other troubles frequently. His wife usually made an appeal to someone, who then paid those debts.

E3 Was overheard that he wished Tiberius to die and Caligula be made emperor, thus ending up in prison again.

E4 After Tiberius died, Caligula became emperor. Caligula then promoted Herod.

E5 Caligula was assassinated.

E6 Claudius became emperor and promoted Herod to finally control Judea and Samaria.

E7 Gave a speech in Caesarea where flatters praised him as "the voice of a god and not a man." He then died from abdominal disease, which caused great pain. The word for "worms" in the Bible might be referring to maggots. Others think that he had a gangrene, which brought maggots.

E8 Jewish records of him from that time speak well of him, but Christian one's don't.

D7 Picture

C5 James, the Apostle

D1 Son of Salome (some believe she was sister to Mary, the mother of Jesus) and Zebedee

D2 Brother of John

D3 Called by Jesus while at work with their father

D4 Wanted to call fire down on the Samaritans because of their bad manners.

D5 One of three to see the raising of Jairus's daughter, the Transfiguration, and agony of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

D6 Saw the resurrected Jesus.

D7 Died on Herod Agrippa's order.

B3 James killed Acts 12.1-5

C1 Why was Herod involved in persecuting the church?

C2 Why did Herod kill James?

C3 What was the reaction from the Jewish authorities?

C4 The days of unleavened bread (2)

D1 One of the Three Pilgrim Festivals

D2 Celebrates the Exodus, the freedom from slavery of the Children of Israel from ancient Egypt that followed the Ten Plagues.

D3 Beginning of the 49 days of Counting of the Omer

D4 Connected to barley harvest in spring.

D5 2015 date is sunset of Friday 3 April to nightfall of Friday 10 April / Saturday 11 April (7th day)

D6 2016 date is sunset of Friday 22 April to nightfall of Friday 29 April / Saturday 30 April (7th day)

D7 Related to Shavuot ("Festival of Weeks") which follows 49 days from the second night of Passover.

C5 How many soldiers were guarding Peter? (16)

C6 Why so many?

C7 Who is praying for Peter? (The church). What is the church? (All the believers in Jesus. It is not an organization).

B4 Peter freed from prison Acts 12.6-19

C1 In human terms was Peter secured in the prison?

C2 When the angel came, a light shone in the cell. Wouldn't that alert the guards? Why was there a light anyway?

C3 The angel did the light, awaking Peter, and the removal of chains. Why didn't the angel do everything else (fastening the belt, etc.)?

C4 Was is it that some Christians suffer persecution and some don't? Do Bible believing Christians suffer more than the other types of Christians?

C5 Why did the angel come at night?

C6 Are Christians in the USA facing persecution? What kinds?

C7 Why was Peter delivered this time but later died for the faith?

C8 What does it mean the "expectation of the Jewish people?" (Most commentators believe that the Jewish leaders and people were waiting with excitement that another Christian was going to be killed). Why do people like death and mayhem? What does this indicate about the human heart/soul/person?

C9 Peter goes on to the home of Mary the mother of John Mark? How did Peter know to go there?

C10 The people were praying, but Peter was already freed.

C11 Why did Peter knock? Shouldn't he just have walked in?

C12 Why didn't the praying people not believe Rhoda?

C13 Why did Peter give his report on what happened then quickly left? (The authorities would be out looking for him).

C14 What James is this in Acts 12.17? (Jesus's half-brother). Why were they to tell James?

C15 When someone are being persecuted, should we pray for their release and their persecution to stop? (I have heard people say they will not do that for the brethren, because persecution is increasing their faith).

C16 How do Christians know that God is with them when they are being persecuted?

C17 How should we help the persecuted brethren?

C18 In Acts 12.18 why are the guards so worried about not finding Peter?

C19 Is God responsible for the death of the guards?

C20 How do you think Herod was feeling about Peter's disappearance? (Humiliation)

B5 Herod dies Acts 12.20-24

C1 Some say that Herod went to Caesarea for a festival.

C2 A chamberlain was a right hand man of the king.

C3 The occasion for Herod's anger for the people of Tyre and Sidon is unknown.

C4 Josephus relates that Herod was wearing a gown made of silver which reflected the light of the sun. Would this make an impression on people?

C5 Why would anyone yell out, "the voice of a god and not a man?"

C6 Josephus reports that it took Herod 5 days to die.

C7 Here the persecuted lives and the persecutor dies.

C8 Is God's kingdom ever stopped by a person?

C9 How do we deal with praise from people?

C10 Do we seek and carry out revenge?

B6 Barnabas, Saul, and John Mark go to Jerusalem Acts 12.25

A3 Resources

B1 (1) http://marccortez.com/?s=synergism+is+not+semi-pelagianism
B2 (2) Passover

LenosOn

09 March 2016

Titles of Jesus

08 March 2016

The Humble Savior

03 March 2016

The cleansing power of Christ's blood

Fulfilled prophecy Luke 24.44-45

Sunday School Lesson—The compassionate Savior

25 February 2016

Dispensational Theology

24 February 2016

Sunday School Lesson--Persecution

Blog Archive

Labels

Search This Blog