Podcasts about compare matthew

Matthew 23 Compare Matthew 5:20; 6:1-5; 7:3-5, 12, 15. Jesus makes similar points here. Matthew 23:5-12 – Warnings against pride. Matthew 2…

Talk 4   Mark 1:21-28  Jesus Drives Out an Evil Spirit Welcome to Talk 4 in our series on Mark's Gospel. Today we'll be looking at Mark 1:21-28. So far we have seen how Mark introduces us to the good news about Jesus who is the Son of God. He tells us of the preaching of John the Baptist whom God sent to prepare the people for the coming of Jesus. His message was Repent and be baptised.   He tells us of Jesus' baptism in the River Jordan and how, immediately after his baptism in water, where God declared him to be his beloved Son in whom he was well pleased, he was baptised in the Holy Spirit and equipped with power to fulfil his God-given mission.. This was to be the time when Jesus would start his public ministry, and after a period of fasting in the desert where he conquered Satan's temptations, he began preaching the good news of the kingdom of God evidenced by miracles of healing and deliverance.   We saw how Jesus called the four fishermen, Andrew, Simon, James and John, and we saw through the example of Jesus, and the response of the disciples to his call, key principles of  how to win other for Jesus.   Now in today's passage, and in the rest of the chapter, Mark gives us examples of what proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God actually means in practice:   21-28 Jesus Drives Out an Evil Spirit – a miracle in the synagogue 29-31 Jesus heals Simon's mother-in-law of a fever – a miracle in a home 32-34 Jesus heals all the sick and demon possessed – miracles outside 35-39 Jesus spends time in prayer 40-45 Jesus heals a leper.   But today we'll just be looking at verses 21-28 where Jesus delivers a demon possessed man in the synagogue in Capernaum.   21-28 Jesus Drives Out an Evil Spirit – a miracle in the synagogue   21. They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23. Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, 24. "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One of God!" 25. "Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!" 26. The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. 27. The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching – and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him." 28. News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.   21 They went to Capernaum After Jesus has called the four fishermen to follow him they go to Capernaum. Capernaum was a small town on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. It's probably where the four fishermen were living. If you go there today you can see the remains of what is believed to be the house where Simon Peter lived and the synagogue where Jesus preached.   and when the Sabbath came So they came to Capernaum and it seems that they stayed there for a few days, at least until the following Sabbath.   Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. We know that it was Jesus' custom every Sabbath to attend the synagogue (Luke 4:16), where, like any other adult Jewish male, he had the right to teach. But his teaching was different!   22. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. It was the custom of the rabbis in those days to be constantly quoting the opinions of others, but Jesus spoke with an authority that came from Heaven. This undoubtedly sprang from who he was, the Christ, the Son of God (v1), but at a human level, resulted from the time he spent in prayerful communion with his heavenly Father (cf. v35).   In teaching and preaching in this way, he was not only instructing the congregation in the synagogue, but also setting an example to his disciples, and us, as to how the kingdom of God should be proclaimed (cf. v14). He was showing them how to become fishers of men. Of course, there is a time and place for giving a reasoned explanation for why we believe what we believe (1 Peter 3:15), but, as the apostle Paul discovered, the enticing words of man's wisdom are no substitute for preaching with the demonstration and power of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:1-4). This is nowhere more evident than in the reaction of the people to Jesus in the synagogue:   The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching – and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him" (v27).   This, of course, was the result of Jesus having just cast out an evil spirit, described by Mark in verses 23-26:   23. Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, 24. "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One of God!" 25. "Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!" 26. The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.   23. Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit The same incident is recorded in Luke 4:33ff where again the NIV uses the word possessed to describe the man's condition. However, literally translated, Mark says:   And there was in their synagogue a man with (or in) an unclean spirit and Luke describes him as a man having a spirit of an unclean demon (Luke 4:33). I mention this simply to point out that the New Testament uses a variety of different expressions to refer to what today is commonly described as demon possession (another of which is to be demonized (e.g. Matthew 4:24, 8:16, 28, 33; Mark 1:32, 5:15,16, 18; Luke 8:36). It's clear to me that all these expressions are used interchangeably and that it's a mistake to try to draw a distinction between them. What's particularly interesting is that in the case we're looking at the man was in the synagogue. But this is no basis for the argument that a born-again Christian can be demon possessed. There is no evidence that the man was a believer (even though the demon in him knew who Jesus was). Literally translated, verses 24-26 read:   Away! What to us and to you, Jesus of Nazareth? You came to destroy us. I know who you are – the holy one of God. And Jesus rebuked it, saying, Be silenced, and come out of him. And the unclean spirit tore him and cried out with a great voice and came out of him.   It's important to note that it's the demon, not the man, who is speaking, though the demon is speaking through the man. And it's the demon that Jesus rebukes and tells to be silent. The demon says, Away! It wants Jesus to keep his distance. Jesus and demons have nothing in common. An unclean spirit cannot bear the presence of the holy one of God.   The NIV translation Have you come to destroy us? can equally well be translated as a statement rather than a question. (There are no punctuation marks in the Greek text, so it could mean You have come to destroy us). The demon knew who Jesus was. It might well have known the purpose for which he has come – to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8).   Notice that Jesus didn't argue with the demon. He didn't need to. He had complete authority over it. He didn't need to take authority. He exercised the authority he already had, because he was a man under authority – the authority of his Father. He rebuked it and commanded it to be silent and come out of the man. And, of course, it did!   Now please note that I am not teaching a methodology for exorcising demons here. But there are at least two clear principles implicit in what I have said: 1.     As Christians we are in Christ (Ephesians 1:13) and Christ lives within us by his Spirit. Demons cannot cohabit with Christ. They flee from his presence. So I believe it's a mistake to attempt to cast a demon out of a Christian. As Christians we need to resist the devil and sometimes it's necessary for another Christian to stand alongside us in prayer when we're under attack. But we don't need exorcism. 2.     If we're going to be used in setting others free we need to be living under the authority of Jesus. We cannot take authority. In the Bible, authority is always something that's given. We only have authority if we're under authority. We either have it or we don't. If we have it, we don't need to take it. We exercise it. And if we don't have it, no amount of ‘taking' it will help.   But that leads us to the question, Why did Jesus cast out the demon? The man certainly didn't ask Jesus to help him. There are several possible answers to this. Consider the following: 1.     Because the man was causing a disturbance in the synagogue. 2.     Because the man was so controlled by the demon that he was incapable of asking for help. 3.     Because it was not yet time for Jesus to fully reveal who he was. 4.     Because he refused to let the devil set the agenda. 5.     Because he hated the devastation the enemy had caused in this man's life. 6.     Because he had compassion on the man. Compare v 41 where Jesus is moved with compassion for the leper. 7.     Because the reason he had come to earth was to destroy the works of the devil. The Greek word for destroy in 1 John 3:8 is luo, which means to loose or undo. The devil binds people. Jesus unties them. He sets them free. 8.     Because he knew that it was his Father's will (cf. John 5:19). 9.     Because casting out demons was a sign that the kingdom of God had come. 10.Because the miracle would cause the people of Capernaum to become his disciples?   Now, although most of these suggestions have merit – some more than others – I think the first one is improbable and the last one is definitely inaccurate. Look at verses 27-28: 27. The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching – and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him." 28. News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.   The people were amazed, but did they repent and believe? Compare Matthew 11:20-24: 20. Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent… 23. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."   This indicates that despite the miracles he performed there, the people of Capernaum did not repent. Possibly because of pride. The simple fact is that where miracles of healing and deliverance are taking place people will come out of curiosity and in the hope that their needs will be met. But though many are healed, relatively few become true disciples of Jesus.   So why does God bother? Because miracles are signs of the kingdom and make it easier for people to believe. God wants everyone to be saved, but the choice to repent and believe is theirs. It's one thing to be amazed at the miracles, as the inhabitants of Capernaum were, but quite another to believe the message of the kingdom of God and to repent and put your trust in Jesus as your Saviour. And perhaps this is why we don't see more miracles in this country today? Even Jesus could do no mighty work in Nazareth because of their unbelief (Mark 6:5-6). Unbelief in a community inhibits the miraculous. And so can lack of faith and prayer on the part of God's people. But that doesn't alter the truth that miracles are God's way of confirming his word (Mark 16:15-20). It's our responsibility to preach the word and be led by the Spirit as we believe for miraculous confirmation. But we will have more to say about this in future talks.            

In the last episode, we reviewed a thought-provoking book called "Three Views on the Rapture: Pretribulation, Prewrath, or Posttribulation" that delves into one of the most debated topics among Christians: the timing of the rapture. Implied in the discussion of the rapture is an understanding of the event closely related to it, called the Tribulation. One of the key features of the Tribulation is the rise of a person who has come to be called Antichrist. The scholars who authored this book disagree about the timing, but also about the nature of the Tribulation. Will Christians be there? This question shapes how we might understand the timing of the Tribulation and the return of Jesus. But are there other questions? Introducing the AntichristAt the end of history as we know it, evil and rebellion against God will rise, represented by an earthly ruler known as Antichrist. The prophetic chapters of the book of Daniel reveal a sequence of empires ended by the kingdom of God. They predict a future time when a powerful king arises to oppress God's people. This king will be the ultimate, satanically inspired opponent of God, a climactic person of wickedness and arrogance. Daniel 9:26-27 (NLT) “After this period of sixty-two sets of seven, the Anointed One will be killed, appearing to have accomplished nothing, and a ruler will arise whose armies will destroy the city and the Temple. The end will come with a flood, and war and its miseries are decreed from that time to the very end. The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven, but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings. And as a climax to all his terrible deeds, he will set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration, until the fate decreed for this defiler is finally poured out on him.”Matthew 24:14 (NLT) “The day is coming when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about - the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in the Holy Place.”2 Thessalonians 2:3-12 (NLT) Don't be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the one who brings destruction. He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God. Don't you remember that I told you about all this when I was with you? And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes. For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way. Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming. This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth.According to Daniel 9:27, this Antichrist will make a covenant with Israel, which he will break to desecrate the temple. (Compare Matthew 24:15) Called the Man of Lawlessness, he will exalt himself and defy God, actually claiming to be God (2...

Series: All! Jesus has all authority, So that all nationsMight pledge all allegiance to him.Title: “What can I learn from Jesus' warnings about spiritual hypocrisy and blindness?”Scripture: Matthew 23:13-39Matthew 7:21-23Last week we said, Jesus says the antidote to hypocrisy, pride and sin is to humble yourself and serve one another.This week we'll say, Bottom line: Humble yourself and ask God to open your eyes that you may see and repent of your spiritual condition.DISCUSSION QUESTIONSSERMON OUTLINE & NOTESMAIN REFERENCES USEDDISCUSSION QUESTIONSDiscussion questions for group and personal study. Reflect and Discuss:1. Even for unbelievers, hypocrisy is despised. Why do you think this is? Define hypocrisy.2. Why is it not enough simply to be sincere in what you believe? How does this passage serve as a warning in this regard?3. Compare Matthew 23 to the teaching about faith and works in James 2:14-26 and the necessity of righteousness in 1 John 3:4-10.4. What is the difference between strong, biblical leadership and leadership that is self-promoting? How might these principles apply to Christians who aren't spiritual leaders?5. What other sins does pride lead to? How can you fight against a proud heart? Can you think of any relevant biblical passages?6. What does it mean to neglect the "more important matters of the law" (v. 23)?7. If purity begins in the heart, then what should our fight against sin look like?8. In what ways do you see yourself in Jesus' indictment of the Pharisees? Be specific.9. What counsel would you offer to someone who is not sure whether his faith is genuine?10. How can we be diligent about holiness without being overly introspective and without expecting perfection?Final Questions (optional or in place of above)What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it?Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcastSERMON OUTLINE & NOTESIntroductionToday we will answer the question: What lessons can we learn from Jesus' warnings about spiritual hypocrisy and blindness?Story/Illustration I saw a tweet last week that showed me both sides of this pride/humility dynamic.The first picture is of a line of 900 people hiking along a ridge to summit Mt. Everest. Most paying $50k to have a Sherpa (a Himalayan with exceptional mountaineering expertise and skill often hired to help others summit Mt Everest) personally help them succeed. Many doing this for personal glory (competition/pride). The comment by the tweeter was that the huge numbers put more people at risk to death than ever before.The second picture is of Gelje Sherpa leading his client towards the top when he comes across someone laying on the ground dying. He's only 500 yards from the summit. This Sherpa, on a job helping his client survive the same climb, runs over, wraps the man in a sleeping mattress, gives him oxygen (of which his client might need), put him on his back, and then hiked him down the mountain, a trip that took 6 hours.The first picture is one of pride. The second, one of humility. We don't know how many people walked past the guy on the ground. And I'm guessing few of those people could have carried anyone down with the incredible challenge that it is just to summit and descend Mt Everest without dying yourself. But to add the weight of a full grown man to your load…I think of the parable of the Good Samaritan. Who didn't walk past the dying man on the road but instead, at great personal cost and risk of life, helped this man recover. He saw this man and humbly saw his neighbor in need and helped him. Questions we should ask ourselves:Are we hindering people's salvation? (13-15)By not practicing what we preach/teach.By encouraging people to follow our ways instead of His ways.Are we more concerned with biblical minutiae than we are practical ministry? (16-24)Do we justify sin according to our traditions or current cultural mores or do we flee sin according to God's truth?Do we pride ourselves on following convenient laws or do we spend ourselves expressing costly love?These are the “more important matters of the law.” (23:23)“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; Plead the case of the widow. Isaiah 1:17“…And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” ‭‭Micah‬ ‭6‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬Are we focused on outward cleanliness or inward holiness? (25-28)Are we sincerely following a religion but not a relationship with Jesus Christ? (29-36)3 CertaintiesThe condemnation of sinners is imminent.The salvation of sinners is possible.The exaltation of Jesus is guaranteed. The question is…Will you see him as your consuming judge or welcomed king`? (37-39)ConclusionThis week we'll say, Bottom line: Jesus is a consuming judge and good king. The question is how does my life see him?You Can ChangeThere was a woman who lived on the streets near our church. She would ask for money and react aggressively to those who refused. When she died, I took the funeral. I discovered afterwards that this woman had inherited a large fortune. She had acquired a luxurious flat and many valuable paintings, but she chose to live on the streets with her plastic bags full of rubbish. She could not bring herself to leave behind the life she knew and she never enjoyed her inheritance. Some people are afraid of change, while others believe change is not possible. Yet the wonderful news is that with God's help *you can change*. This change is key to spiritual life, growth and transformation. It is not just about changing our actions or appearance; we need to change on the inside – we need a change of *heart*. How can this happen?Applies to Church leadersThe rest of ya'll (ROY bus); how?Hide under the shelter of Christ's mercy (hen's wings)Walk in surrender to Christ's authority.Proclaim the supremacy of Christ's glory.What lessons can we learn from Jesus' warnings about spiritual hypocrisy and blindness?That we all have a tendency towards prideWe all have our blind spotsWe tend to ignore what's happening on the inside while pretending on the outsideWe all tend to major on the easier parts and ignore the more costly wayWe not only keep others from Christ, we ignore him as well.Where's our heart today? Are we more like those who pridefully summit Mt. Everest for personal glory? Or are will more like the Sherpa who served and loved his neighbor as himself?What about us?What is God saying to you?What are you going to do about it?Write it down right now.PrayOtherAnd then he closes with something paradoxical. He says, “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret” (Ephesians 5:11–12). So, there's a way to expose the sins of the world without being verbally contaminated. “It's shameful even to speak of them,” Paul says. Which I think means it's shameful to find pleasure in talking about them, lingering over them with excessive attention. It is possible to find pleasure — we're just so deceived on things like this; we can deceive ourselves so easily — in talking about the things we hate. Isn't that awful? It's possible to find pleasure in talking about the things we hate. God doesn't want this. That's not good.So, the right way to summarize that paradox would go something like this, I think: Expose, but don't gloat. Expose, but don't linger. Expose, but weep. Expose, but pray. Expose, but don't grovel in the mire, even in the name of mocking the mire. Some people think they're justified in lingering in the mire by spending a lot of time finding clever ways to put it down. Expose, but then return quickly to the clean, clear, holy, happy air of the mountains of Christ's fellowship.https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/dangers-in-exposing-cultural-sinsMAIN REFERENCES USED“Preaching the Word” Commentary, Douglas Sean O'Donnell, Edited by Kent Hughes“Matthew” by RC Sproul“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)“Exalting Jesus in Matthew” by David Platt (CCE)Outline Bible, D WillmingtonNIV Study Bible (NIVSB)ESV Study Bible (ESVSB)

Series: All! Jesus has all authority, So that all nationsMight pledge all allegiance to him.Title: “How do I stop my hypocrisy?“Scripture: Matthew 23:1-12Bottom line: Jesus says the antidote to hypocrisy, pride and sin is to humble yourself and serve one another.DISCUSSION QUESTIONSSERMON OUTLINE & NOTESMAIN REFERENCES USEDDISCUSSION QUESTIONSDiscussion questions for group and personal study. Reflect and Discuss:1. Even for unbelievers, hypocrisy is despised. Why do you think this is? Define hypocrisy.2. Why is it not enough simply to be sincere in what you believe? How does this passage serve as a warning in this regard?3. Compare Matthew 23 to the teaching about faith and works in James 2:14-26 and the necessity of righteousness in 1 John 3:4-10.4. What is the difference between strong, biblical leadership and leadership that is self-promoting? How might these principles apply to Christians who aren't spiritual leaders?5. What other sins does pride lead to? How can you fight against a proud heart? Can you think of any relevant biblical passages?6. What does it mean to neglect the "more important matters of the law" (v. 23)?7. If purity begins in the heart, then what should our fight against sin look like?8. In what ways do you see yourself in Jesus' indictment of the Pharisees? Be specific.9. What counsel would you offer to someone who is not sure whether his faith is genuine?10. How can we be diligent about holiness without being overly introspective and without expecting perfection?Final Questions (optional or in place of above)What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it?Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcastQ. What do I want them to know?A. That Jesus warns us about hypocrisy (in us and others) and gives us the antidote.Q. Why do I want them to know it?A. To become more self-aware about how insidious hypocrisy, pride and sin really are.Q. What do I want them to do about it?A. Humble themselves before the Lord and each other through repentance, faith, and serving one another instead of pursuing greatness as the world defines it.Q. Why do I want them to do it?A. Because God will humble those who exalt themselves, but he will exalt those who humble themselves.Q. How can they begin to do this?A. They Confess their own hypocrisy, pride and sinful attitudes, words, and actions. Repent of this sin and turn back to Jesus for forgiveness and restoration.Humble themselves further by making it a priority to serve others where they live, work, learn and play.Lead others to do the same.OUTLINE & NOTESIntroductionToday we will answer the question: How do I stop my hypocrisy?Story/Illustration CS Lewis describes how insidious competition can be as seen in how competitive we are and why:In his well-known book Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis devotes an entire chapter to pride. He calls pride, or self-conceit, "the great sin." Lewis says, "If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed" (Lewis, Mere Christianity, 114). He then provides the remedy for pride: "If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realise that one is proud" (Lewis, 114). Finally, it is relevant for our purposes to see how Lewis links pride with competition:Now what you want to get clear is that pride is essentially competitive is competitive by its very nature. ... Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man. We say that people are proud of being rich, or clever, or good-looking, but they are not. They are proud of being richer, or cleverer, or better-looking than others. If every one else became equally rich, or clever, or good-looking there would be nothing to be proud about. It is the comparison that makes you proud: the pleasure of being above the rest. (Lewis, 110)This terrifies me when I think about how competitive I can be. It explains why competition feels so personal too. Think about how we pull for our favorite school or team in athletics or anything really. We don't just want our team to win. We want to bask in the glow of that victory in front of others (as if we did anything to make it happen). Think about winning a board game. If you win, you did better than everyone else around the table. Your level of how much you care about that speaks to your level of pride. Because does it really matter whether you stomp somebody at a hand of Uno or not? Really!Pride leads us to do more terrible things than that. It leads to thinks like hypocrisy. To pretend to be someone we're not. Because we're competing with others to be seen as relevant, popular, respectable, successful, etc. This is pride at work. And we're all poisoned by it. The question is are we taking the antidote? Are we applying the best medicine we can to overcome it?Hypocrisy is pretending to be someone you're not. It originally referred to actors on a stage wearing masks in a play. It has taken on the additional meaning of people who do this in real life. Most often, it's used in the negative sense to refer to people who are pretending to be someone better than they believe they so that people will accept them more readily. Jesus warns the crowds and the disciples of this disease called hypocrisy for at least two reasons:Because their religious leaders were extremely hypocritical and unaware of it's sinfulness.Because they (we) are all infected by this very same disease/poison.So, how do we stop our hypocrisy?OutlineI. What's the disease? 23:1-10A. Who's this to? Crowds and his disciples.B. Who's this about? Teachers of the Law and Pharisees.C. What's this about? Their hypocrisy as seen in…Their big mouths (2-4)Good: They teach the word of God, which we all should hear and obey.Bad: They take away from the word by not obeying what they teach. (Hypocrisy)Bad: They add to the word their own rules and refs further burdening already burdened people without helping them deal with it.Their big heads (5-7): Pride on display: Everything they do is to be seen.They proudly display their obedience for all to see.PhylacteriesTasselsThey lovePlace of honor at banquets/partiesBest seat in synagogueGreeted with respect in publicTitles can make us look more godlyTitles can make others look less equalThere's just one teacher and head—Jesus ChristII. What's the remedy? 23: 11-12A. Humble yourself and serve one another…(11-12)1 Principle: “The greatest among you will be your servant.”2 Motives:“For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and…”“…those who humble themselves will be exalted.”3 Steps:Confess their own hypocrisy, pride and sinful attitudes, words, and actions. Repent of this sin and turn back to Jesus for forgiveness and restoration.Humble themselves further by making it a priority to serve others where they live, work, learn and play.4th Step: How do we keep from relapsing?Lead others to do the same (steps 1-3)ConclusionBottom line: Jesus says the antidote to hypocrisy, pride and sin is to humble yourself and serve one another.I saw a tweet last week that showed me both sides of this pride/humility dynamic.The first picture is of a line of 900 people hiking along a ridge to summit Mt. Everest. Most paying $50k to have a Sherpa (a Himalayan with exceptional mountaineering expertise and skill often hired to help others summit Mt Everest) personally help them succeed. Many doing this for personal glory (competition/pride). The comment by the tweeter was that the huge numbers put more people at risk to death than ever before.The second picture is of Gelje Sherpa leading his client towards the top when he comes across someone laying on the ground dying. He's only 500 yards from the summit. This Sherpa, on a job helping his client survive the same climb, runs over, wraps the man in a sleeping mattress, gives him oxygen (of which his client might need), put him on his back, and then hiked him down the mountain, a trip that took 6 hours.The first picture is one of pride. The second, one of humility. We don't know how many people walked past the guy on the ground. And I'm guessing few of those people could have carried anyone down with the incredible challenge that it is just to summit and descend Mt Everest without dying yourself. But to add the weight of a full grown man to your load…I think of the parable of the Good Samaritan. Who didn't walk past the dying man on the road but instead, at great personal cost and risk of life, helped this man recover. He saw this man and humbly saw his neighbor in need and helped him. What about us?What is God saying to you?What are you going to do about it?Write it down right now.PrayMAIN REFERENCES USED“Preaching the Word” Commentary, Douglas Sean O'Donnell, Edited by Kent Hughes“Matthew” by RC Sproul“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)“Exalting Jesus in Matthew” by David Platt (CCE)Outline Bible, D WillmingtonNIV Study Bible (NIVSB)ESV Study Bible (ESVSB)

Mark 1 Mark 1:1-8 – See Malachi 3:1; Isaiah 40:3. Compare Matthew 11:10-15. John was to come in the spirit and power of Elijah. Mark 1:9-1…

Jesus teaches the Nephites the Lord's Prayer—They are to lay up treasures in heaven—The twelve disciples in their ministry are commanded to take no thought for temporal things—Compare Matthew 6. About A.D. 34. The post 3 Nephi 13 appeared first on Sacred Text Daily.

Jesus calls and commissions the twelve disciples—He delivers to the Nephites a discourse similar to the Sermon on the Mount—He speaks the Beatitudes—His teachings transcend and take precedence over the law of Moses—Men are commanded to be perfect even as He and His Father are perfect—Compare Matthew 5. About A.D. 34. The post 3 Nephi 12 appeared first on Sacred Text Daily.

The Book of Mormon,Another Testament of Jesus Christ.Composed 3 Nephi Chapter 11, 12 and 13 ,which says and I qoute. The Father testifies of His beloved son---Christ appears and proclaims His Atonement---The people feel the wound marks in his hands and feet and side ---They cry Hossanna-‐-He sets forth the mode and manner of baptism---The Spirit of contention is of the devil ---Christ's doctrine is that men should believed and be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost.About A.D.34. Jesus calls and commissions the twelve disciples---He delivers to the Nephites a discourse similar to the sermon on the Mount---He speaks the Beatitudes---His teachings transcend and take precedence over the law of Moses---Men are commanded to be perfect even as He and His Father are perfect-‐-Compare Matthew 5,About A.D.34. Jesus teaches the Nephites the Lord's prayer---They are to lay up treasures in heaven---The twelve disciples in their ministry are commanded to take no thought for temporal things---Compare Matthew 6.About A.D.34. If you have more questions about this you can log on to www.Come Unto Christ.org This is Sis.Belmonte from the Philippines.

READ:Matthew 6:1-4 • 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 • Philippians 4:19DISCUSS:Why is giving to the needy such an important aspect of our faith? Why is giving with right motives so important?Compare Matthew 6: 1 to 5: 16. Do you see a contradiction in Jesus words? Why or why not?Should all of our giving be done in secret? Why or why not?In what ways are we tempted to give hypocritically (“performing” for “applause of man” rather than to honor God)? What kinds of giving appeal to our pride?Why would such a person receive no reward from God? Isn't the action of giving to the needy the most important?What does it mean to not “let your left hand know what your right hand is doing?' Is it possible to always hide all of the good things we do? Is it necessary? What is the principle we need to learn from this?PRAY:Pray that the Holy Spirit will fill your heart with right motives for giving to the needy.RESPOND: Think of a way you can give to the needy this week...give and tell no one.

Title of the Psalm- Compare different translation here.56:1-2 David begs for mercy because of wicked foes56:3-4 David places His trust in God56:5-6 The viciousness of HIs foes56:7-9 Prayer for judgment on foes and God's care for him56:10-11 David's trust in God56:12-13 Thanksgiving for God's deliveranceJesus experienced the same mistreatment that David wrote of in this psalm56:1-2, 5-6 Compare what Jesus experienced with DavidJesus puts His trust in God in the midst of terrifying circumstances56:3-4, 10-11 Compare Matthew 26:39; Mark 14:36Jesus offered loud crying and tears56:8 with Hebrews 5:7God vindicated Jesus via the resurrection 56:13 One day God will eliminate all tears for HIs children- Revelation 7:15-17; 21:3-4

Catechism Class: LD18, Q47-48, Where is Jesus Now?The fact that Jesus ascended into heaven may prompt some to ask, “Where is Jesus, right now? Our catechist deals with this important question in Q47. Is Christ, then, not with us until the end of the world, as he has promised us? A. Christ is true man and true God. With respect to his human nature he is no longer on earth, but with respect to his divinity, majesty, grace, and Spirit he is never absent from us.You can understand why our instructor puts this question to us, for Jesus promised his disciples that he would never leave them, never forsake them, that he would actually stay with them, not just for a few short years, but right until this present age ends. Yet he certainly did leave them, that day when he ascended onto heaven. Compare Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. with Matthew 26:11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. So, is Jesus not with us to the end of the world? If he is, in what sense?Read the NOTES HERE.Music on the podcast licensed from www.Neosounds.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Genesis 3 Sermon Notes:1) Why is man cursed?2) What does the curse mean?3) How will the curse be reversed?Reflection questions:1) What happened to the Garden of Eden? How can I find it today? See Revelation 22:1-5.2) How do I know that Jesus is the seed/offspring/he that is mentioned in Genesis 3:15? See Galatians 3:16. Also see Galatians 3:13-14.3) What does it mean (see Gal 3:13, above) that Christ became a curse for us, to redeem us from the curse? Read Numbers 6:24-26. Think about each blessing in this list; think about what the opposite might be; now think about what Christ experienced on the cross. Compare Matthew 27:45-50.

In the trial of Paul before Felix (Acts 24), the governor comes across as a man in authority who has no moral vision authorizing him to take decisive action. He is, in short, a moral wimp. He also represents the many powerful people who are disturbed by the Gospel, and at some deep level know that it is true, yet who never become Christians. Note:(1) Judging by his approach and oratory, Tertullus is an orator trained in the Greek tradition and thus well able to represent the Jewish leaders in this quintessentially Hellenistic setting. The charge against Paul of temple desecration (Acts 24:6) is serious, punishable by death. When Tertullus encourages Felix to “examine” Paul (Acts 24:8), he means more than that Felix should ask a few probing questions. Roman “examination” of a prisoner was open-ended beating until the prisoner “confessed.” Roman officers did not have the right to “examine” a Roman citizen like Paul, but a governor like Felix could doubtless manage to waive the rules now and then.(2) Paul’s response, no less courteous than that of Tertullus, denies the charge of temple desecration (Acts 24:12–13, 17–18) and provides a plausible explanation of the uproar by describing the actions of “some Jews from the province of Asia” (Acts 24:19). Paul also seizes the opportunity to acknowledge that he is a follower of “the Way”—a delightful expression referring to first-century Christianity, bearing, perhaps, multiple allusions. Christianity is more than a belief system; it is a way of living. Moreover, it provides a way to God, a way to be forgiven and accepted by the living God—and that Way is Jesus himself (as John 14:6 explicitly avers).(3) Paul insists that he believes “everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets” (Acts 24:14). This expression does not make the Law the final arbiter, yet nevertheless insists that the “everything” Paul believes agrees with the Law. The Law is thus a critical test that points to the “everything” Paul believes, but it is not the substance of everything he believes. Compare Matthew 5:17–20; Romans 3:21 (see meditation for January 31).(4) And Felix? Owing to his Jewish wife Drusilla (Acts 24:24), he has some acquaintance with “the Way” (Acts 24:22). Yet here he ducks a decision between justice and his desire to placate Paul’s opponents, appealing to the need to hear from Lysias the commander. It is all pretense. He enjoys talking with Paul, and even trembles before his message, but always dismisses the apostle at the critical moment. For two years he is torn between a desire to repent and a desire for a bribe. In eternity, how will Felix assess those two years? This podcast is designed to be used alongside TGC's Read The Bible initiative (TGC.org/readthebible). The podcast features devotional commentaries from D.A. Carson’s book For the Love of God (vol. 2) that follow the M’Cheyne Bible reading plan.

Jesus calls and commissions the twelve disciples—He delivers to the Nephites a discourse similar to the Sermon on the Mount—He speaks the Beatitudes—His teachings transcend and take precedence over the law of Moses—Men are commanded to be perfect even as He and His Father are perfect—Compare Matthew 5. About A.D. 34.

Jesus teaches the Nephites the Lord’s Prayer—They are to lay up treasures in heaven—The twelve disciples in their ministry are commanded to take no thought for temporal things—Compare Matthew 6. About A.D. 34.

Jesus calls and commissions the twelve disciples—He delivers to the Nephites a discourse similar to the Sermon on the Mount—He speaks the Beatitudes—His teachings transcend and take precedence over the law of Moses—Men are commanded to be perfect even as He and His Father are perfect—Compare Matthew 5. About A.D. 34.

Jesus teaches the Nephites the Lord's Prayer—They are to lay up treasures in heaven—The twelve disciples in their ministry are commanded to take no thought for temporal things—Compare Matthew 6. About A.D. 34.

Hope Fellowship Church Jan 12 – 18, 2020 ========== That You May Believe Part 12: Alone with Mercy The Gospel of John is a powerful introduction to the character and nature of God through the Incarnate Christ. Fullness of life is only experienced through an understanding of God and the path to that understanding is Jesus. The Apostle John introduces us to Jesus not from just an academic approach but a very relational viewpoint. A true insider look at the Savior and rescuer of humankind. ========== Scene 1 – Jesus sets the Scene for Extravagant Mercy. John 7:53 [[They went each to his own house, John 8:1-2 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. John 8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Scene 2 – Motive does Matter. The most remarkable point of the narrative is not only grace. John 8:13-16 So the Pharisees said to him, "You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true." Jesus answered, "Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. We do not live, nor should we live, in a judgment-free zone. Compare Matthew 7:1 to Matthew 7:15-20 Resigning our right to be right Scene 3 – How and Why Jesus responds the way He does. John 8:6-9 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Why does Jesus write on the ground? Jeremiah 17:13 O Lord, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you shall be put to shame; those who turn away from you shall be written in the earth, for they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living water. Jesus fulfills the Law in love. Galatians 5:14-15 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. Matthew 9:12-13 But when he heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." Scene 4 – Alone with Mercy. John 8:10-11 Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more." ]] Does sin matter? This woman remains alone with the only one in the crowd that had the right to execute her. “And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.’” John 8:17-20 In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me." They said to him therefore, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also." These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. What does God want me to know? What does God want me to do? [Image] https://imageproxy-cdn.youversionapi.com/640x640/https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mushroom-event-images-prod/27448925-1574435184757.jpg 1. The Where and How? Generosity You can give online by clicking the link below. We thank you so much for all of your generosity! http://www.hopeinanderson.com/generosity [Image] Stay up to date on Hope events! https://imageproxy-cdn.youversionapi.com/640x640/https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mushroom-event-images-prod/27448925-1538745271068.jpg [Image] https://imageproxy-cdn.youversionapi.com/640x640/https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mushroom-event-images-prod/27448925-1568387329863.jpg Thanks for Joining Us! Thanks for being with us this week. To find out more about Hope, check out our website. http://www.hopeinanderson.com

Hope Fellowship Church Jan 12 – 18, 2020 ========== That You May Believe Part 12: Alone with Mercy The Gospel of John is a powerful introduction to the character and nature of God through the Incarnate Christ. Fullness of life is only experienced through an understanding of God and the path to that understanding is Jesus. The Apostle John introduces us to Jesus not from just an academic approach but a very relational viewpoint. A true insider look at the Savior and rescuer of humankind. ========== Scene 1 – Jesus sets the Scene for Extravagant Mercy. John 7:53 [[They went each to his own house, John 8:1-2 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. John 8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Scene 2 – Motive does Matter. The most remarkable point of the narrative is not only grace. John 8:13-16 So the Pharisees said to him, "You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true." Jesus answered, "Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. We do not live, nor should we live, in a judgment-free zone. Compare Matthew 7:1 to Matthew 7:15-20 Resigning our right to be right Scene 3 – How and Why Jesus responds the way He does. John 8:6-9 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Why does Jesus write on the ground? Jeremiah 17:13 O Lord, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you shall be put to shame; those who turn away from you shall be written in the earth, for they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living water. Jesus fulfills the Law in love. Galatians 5:14-15 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. Matthew 9:12-13 But when he heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." Scene 4 – Alone with Mercy. John 8:10-11 Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more." ]] Does sin matter? This woman remains alone with the only one in the crowd that had the right to execute her. “And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.’” John 8:17-20 In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me." They said to him therefore, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also." These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. What does God want me to know? What does God want me to do? [Image] https://imageproxy-cdn.youversionapi.com/640x640/https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mushroom-event-images-prod/27448925-1574435184757.jpg 1. The Where and How? Generosity You can give online by clicking the link below. We thank you so much for all of your generosity! http://www.hopeinanderson.com/generosity [Image] Stay up to date on Hope events! https://imageproxy-cdn.youversionapi.com/640x640/https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mushroom-event-images-prod/27448925-1538745271068.jpg [Image] https://imageproxy-cdn.youversionapi.com/640x640/https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mushroom-event-images-prod/27448925-1568387329863.jpg Thanks for Joining Us! Thanks for being with us this week. To find out more about Hope, check out our website. http://www.hopeinanderson.com

Weekly Podcast from Cornerstone Church, North Gower, Ontario.  www.knowgrowshow.ca   Note: if the formatting of the questions is not the best for use in a group setting, then visit knowgrowshow.podbean.com The One Thing: Wisdom is about foundation and location Scripture: Various scriptures in Proverbs about foolishness and wisdom. Matthew 7:24-28, Proverbs 9:1-6 + 13-18, Psalm 84, John 14:2-4 growgroup questions (know) K1: Dan scarfed down a whole box of cookies last week. Have you ever done something “world class foolish” that you still kick yourself about when you remember it? growgroup questions (grow) G1: Emmie Lou (Vlogger) defines wisdom as “choosing God's opinion over your opinion”. Why, in day to day living, is this so hard for us to do? G2: Dan said likened wisdom to getting a couch out of his basement while respecting the natural limitations (immovable walls, stairs etc). In what ways do you see today's society moving away from this understanding of wisdom (Judges 21:25)? G3: Over and over again Proverbs gives us two options: wisdom or foolishness, and our decisions have real world consequences: Hurting or healing (12:18), Consulting or clashing (14:1), Create or annihilate (14:6, Matthew 7). Think of a few other ways that choosing wisdom vs folly leads to real consequence in our lives. G4: Wisdom is all about foundation / geology. Compare Matthew 7:25 and 27. What are the differences or similarities between the two examples? How does verse 26 shed light on these two verses? G5: Wisdom is all about location / geography. Compare Proverbs 9:13-18 with 9:1-6. List the differences or similarities between the character and words of the two women. Why do you think Solomon paints wisdom and folly as people rather than ideas (also known as “anthropomorphism”)? G6: Read Luke 2:49-52. How did Jesus' decision to be ‘in His Father's house' have an impact on His growth in verse 52? How does this apply to you as a son or daughter of God? growgroup questions (show) S1: Pray Psalm 84 to God this week. Find a quiet place and read it slowly and out loud to God. Is there any phrase or sentence that God seems to be bringing out to you? Throughout the rest of the week, continually pray this phrase to God as an act of devotion and faith and ask Him to do a new work in your heart and life.

Luke 13:22-14:24 Luke 13:26 – Compare Matthew 7:22-23. Luke 13:30 – Some who think they are right with God but were prideful and looked to…

Luke 11:31-12:21 Luke 11:33-36 – Compare Matthew 5:16. Luke 11:41 – If they gave alms with the right heart, that would ensure they were pure…

  Bible Errors part 3 of Chapter 9 of As It Is Translated Correctly by Ogden Kraut.        Furthermore, there are two different genealogies of Jesus given to us by Matthew and by Luke. (Compare Matthew 1:1-16 and Luke 3:23-38.) Among the many different types of errors that have crept into the Bible are those passages which seem to contradict each other. The transmission of words do not always express the same idea and they often seem to be saying just the opposite. The following examples are just some of the contradictory problems found throughout the Bible.

Jesus made promises about the Holy Spirit to His apostles. John 13-17 – Jesus and the apostles. Compare Matthew 26:20; Mark 14:17; Luke 2…

B.S. Childs (1958) stated, "Word and fulfillment are part of the selfsame reality, however they do not have the same wholeness...The word sets an event into motion which is then filled up. A filled word is one which has reached wholeness and, therefore, is fulfilled." Consider that in LXX, πληρόω is used about 70 times for מְלֹא. In Jeremiah 23:24 we read, "Do I not fill heaven and earth?" In the New Testament, πληρόω means "to fulfill” or “complete" the word of God. G. Delling states, "In biblical thinking it is quite incompatible with the concept of God that the event should lag behind God's Word, that the full measure should not be reached. God fulfills his Word by fully actualising [sic.] it." Compare Matthew 2:17 and Jeremiah 31:15. In Matthew 2:16-17 we read, “Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: ‘A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.’” Jeremiah 31:15 states, “Thus says the Lord: ‘A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.’” Compare Matthew 27:9 with Zechariah 11:12-13. We read in Matthew 27:7-10, “So they took counsel and bought with them the potter's field as a burial place for strangers. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, ‘And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me.’” Can Matthew 27:9 and Zechariah 11:12-13 be compared to Jeremiah 32? 18? 19? View a chart of Matthew’s theology of fulfillment with the life of Jesus within the will of God and both within God’s Word. G. Delling states, "Fulfillment [of Old Testament prophecy] means that in the to-day of the NT God's saving will achieves its full measure in Christ. The NT concept of fulfillment is summed up in the person of Jesus."

Good morning Church Family, April 10, 2016 -- Sermon Questions “WHAT IF?” 1. Read John 3:1-10—What was Nicodemus’ problem? 2. Does there exist a problem between Jesus and religion? Explain. 3. Compare Matthew 28:18-20 with Matthew 5:20. 4. How is it that some confidently proclaim to be “Born Again” and yet they display a contrary lifestyle. How can this be? What has the church been teaching that allows this type of behavior? 5. In light of question 4, how do I know if I’m saved? Read 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 and Hebrews 12:1-3. 6. Although Salvation is freely given (1 Peter 2:1), what is required of us to maintain and nourish this wonderful gift? Hebrews 2:1, 5:12

Sermon on Matthew 16:21-28 for the 11th Sunday after Pentecost, on Jesus' rebuke of Peter, when Peter tried to turn Jesus away from the path that led to the suffering of cross. Jesus teaches Peter what life under the cross means. Sermon Talking Points Read past sermons at: http://thejoshuavictortheory.blogspot.com Listen to audio at: http://thejoshuavictortheory.podbean.com 1. What are two ways in which Christian life is a life lived “Under the Cross?” Why will we be misled if we think that God's plan for the Christian would be to rescue them from all immediate pain and suffering? Give an example of a “greater good” that might be in store beyond a situation of temporary suffering. 2. Why was Peter's rebuke of Jesus such a shock? Compare Matthew 16:16 and 16:22. What are more subtle ways that we might unconsciously “rebuke” God? How is this an idolatry of self, as well as being supremely arrogant? Cf. Satan's “M.O.” Gen. 3:1 3. Why is it essential to understand that Jesus' suffering on the cross happened by “Divine Necessity”? Acts 2:23-24; Isaiah 53:10-12. How does that change it from senseless and purposeless suffering, into God's redemptive act? 4. Most often any apparent “purpose” for our sufferings is hidden from our eyes and mind. How does that “life under the cross” then cause us to rely on faith? Will we still be able to confess: “God is good in spite of all that is happening to me”? Job 1:21-22; 2:9-10; Romans 8:16-30 5. Our crosses are not redemptive—i.e. we don't “earn salvation” by them. But how do they help us look to Christ? 2 Cor. 12:9. What do they remind us about the cost of our own sin, and the real cross that Christ bore? 6. How is the mission of the church always under the cross? How is following Christ the only way to find our lives, even if we lose them for His sake?

Jesus teaches the Nephites the Lord’s Prayer—They are to lay up treasures in heaven—The Twelve in their ministry are commanded to take no thought for temporal things—Compare Matthew 6. About A.D. 34.

Jesus calls and commissions the Twelve—He delivers to the Nephites a discourse similar to the Sermon on the Mount—He speaks the Beatitudes—His teachings transcend and take precedence over the law of Moses—Men are commanded to be perfect even as he and his Father are perfect—Compare Matthew 5. About A.D. 34.