bsfgroups – Page 5 – The Notes are Good

22 BSF Matthew Week 22, Day 2

My Daily Journal:

On any fruit tree the leaves are what feed the plant and the fruit is what feeds others and prepares the next generation. But how many people do we know at church who are all leaves? I know during a period of my life my main focus in deciding what church to go to was what am I getting out of it.

Jesus did not have any frustration with the fig tree because it had leaves. A healthy plant needs to be fed. But His frustration was that it only had leaves. When we approach spiritual life with a complete focus on what is in it for me, we model the same hypocrisy.

My Answers:

3.
a.
may you never bear fruit again

b.
Immediately the tree withered

c.
They had nourishment to grow, but no fruit – They pretended to be what they were not

4.
a.
with faith, command and move mountains, don’t receive reward in the act – trust in God. Bear fruit!

b.
Forgive others (cleanse yourself) so that God may forgive you

21 BSF Matthew Week 21, Day 2

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

There is an old joke:

There once was a rich man who was near death. He was very grieved because he had worked so hard for his money and he wanted to be able to take it with him to heaven. So he began to pray that he might be able to take some of his wealth with him.

An angel hears his plea and appears to him. “Sorry, but you can’t take your wealth with you.” The man implores the angel to speak to God to see if He might bend the rules.

The man continues to pray that his wealth could follow him. The angel reappears and informs the man that God has decided to allow him to take one suitcase with him. Overjoyed, the man gathers his largest suitcase and fills it with pure gold bars and places it beside his bed.

Soon afterward the man dies and shows up at the Gates of Heaven to greet St. Peter. St. Peter seeing the suitcase says, “Hold on, you can’t bring that in here!”

But, the man explains to St. Peter that he has permission and asks him to verify his story with the Lord. Sure enough, St. Peter checks and comes back saying, “You’re right. You are allowed one carry-on bag, but I’m supposed to check its contents before letting it through.”

St. Peter opens the suitcase to inspect the worldly items that the man found too precious to leave behind and exclaims, “You brought pavement?!!!”
(thanks to ahajokes.com)

I thought it was so fitting that Jesus used the analogy of a camel. A camel is a beast of burden. But we don’t recognize that the things we carry around with us are truly burdens in the economy of heaven and the things we can see as burdens are true joy. Wealth, prestige, pride, are all burdens that we can’t take with us. They are not going to fit through the portal of the grave, the eye of the needle. But the things I find myself grumbling about having the discipline to do every day, like praying, studying the word, testifying to others, teaching, leading, investing time in worship – these all carry through and bring everlasting joy.

My Answers:

3.
a.
People with wealth have a very difficult time putting God first in their lives. There is so much energy required to maintain and build wealth. Anything we are unwilling to give up is something we value more than God.

b.
Nothing is impossible for God – no matter how hard hearted, while it may seem impossible for them to change – don’t give up on God

4.
a.
100 times as much

b.
Eternal Life

5.
a.
homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions

b.
Rom: children=heirs with Christ, if share in suffering also share in His glory
2 Tim: Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Jesus will be persecuted
1 Pete 2: Blessing is in unjust suffering, undeserved but endured for God
1 Pete 4: do not be surprise by “fiery ordeal”, rejoice in sufferings so overjoyed in His glory

6.
Through the joy of communing with other believers. Through the work He gives us to do, such as bringing others to Christ. Through the blessings of prayer, study, teaching, leading, worship

21 BSF Matthew Week 21, Day 5

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

Blindness:

I recently finished reading the book Cross Roads by Wm. Paul Young. Many of you may know Young as the author of The Shack.

One of the things the book reminded me of is that God is always present. When we don’t see God it isn’t because God isn’t there, God is everywhere, OmniPresent. Instead it is because our vision is veiled by our own sin.

The past few weeks lessons have been lessons in what it means to be a Christ Follower. We are called to be humble, unselfish, compassionate and serving others. The opposites of those, prideful, selfish, uncaring and either self-serving or desiring to be served by others are all too “natural” characteristics in a fallen world. Each of these things in our lives is like a blindfold causing us to fail to see God in His full presence and glory.

In my divisions I included the story of the 2 blind men in this section because I think the whole message of the entrance into Jerusalem was about Jesus coming to heal the blind and lame.

The blindfolds of blindness have different characteristics in the story. Some are physically blind, but clearly see the character of Jesus. Some see Jesus triumphant entry into the city, but are blind to His real mission and message of salvation, Some see Him healing others but refuse to accept they themselves are blind.

Notice in both situations of Jesus healing physical blindness, there was another component. In the temple He healed the blind and lame. See, seeing is not enough, it is just the first part. Getting up and following Him is the only proper response to having the blindfolds removed.

How is sin clouding your vision of God? Are you asking for your blindness to be removed? If you have seen the light, are you still lying on your mat?

My Answers:

11.
a.
Jesus wouldn’t steal, so it must have been arranged. It wasn’t just that Jesus knew the owner, but that the owner knew Jesus!

b.
A very large crowd

c.
Pharisees Luke 19:39

d.
Zach 9:9 – See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Psalm 118:26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord

13.
a.
House of prayer

b.
John: Destroy temple and raise it up in 3 days
1 Cor: Bodies are temple of H/S
Eph 2: In him the whole building is raised, body of Christ = the church

c.
forgives sin, purifies us of all unrighteousness, thoroughly washed and renewed through Holy Spirit

20 BSF Matthew Week 20, Day 4

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

What does a christian look like? When we think about it, our immediate thoughts turn to outward appearances and probably someone who looks a lot like us.

But Jesus looks at the heart. A Christ-Follower is someone who has given their heart over to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

A christian may be male or female. A christian may be married or single. If someone is single, they don’t have to marry to be a christian nor does marrying make them more of a christian. God is in control. Being married is a gift. But being single is also a gift. They are different gifts, but one is not better than the other (OK, the Apostle Paul had a bias for being single, but you understand my point). Both are gifts. The key is to use the gift for the glory of God.

The same is true of age. A christian may be young or old. There is no minimum age for asking Jesus into your life. Young christians (I’m talking age not maturity of faith) are amazing examples of unconditional love, both giving and receiving. I am very proud to call these children, brothers and sisters in Christ.

My Answers:

8.
a.
Intimacy is a part of marriage. Some can’t. Some choose to forgo it for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Those who can should accept it

b.
He saw a life of celibacy as a gift from God. But for those who don’t have this gift to remain celibate/chaste, they should marry and for those who marry they should live as a married couple, sharing in intimacy with each other.

9.
a.
1 john 2:15-17… for all that is in the world, lust of flesh, eyes, pride of life, is not of the Father. Rom 12:2, Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind

b.
By demonstrating the love I have for my wife and model the respect and appreciation I have for her in ways that others can see

10.
a.
For Him to pray for them and for Him to place his hands on them

b.
They may have felt He had more important matters to attend. They were operating as gatekeepers, only allowing through those “worthy” of an appointment

c.
Failure to acknowledge them as faithful followers, brothers and sisters. Failure to address them at their level. Failure to pray for them and bless them. Failure to be humble.

d.
Be on their level and welcome them. Encourage them. Not talk down to them. Show them the love of Christ – take time for them!

20 BSF Matthew Week 20, Day 2

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

To me, the discussion about the Law of Moses and divorce is like a discussion about daredevil safety equipment. Let’s put it this way. If you are going to ride a motorcycle at high speeds and jump it over a bunch of flaming cars, someone is going to suggest you have on a really good helmet and flame retardant clothing.

The better idea is to not do it. But since some people are set and determined to do it anyway, sufficient guidelines and protective gear is designed.

When Moses outlines these “laws” about divorce, I don’t think he is saying this is a good idea or the right thing to do. I think he is simply saying, you are going to do this anyway because you are hard hearted, so let’s take these steps to minimize the damage.

My Answers:

4.
God created male and female in His image. He joined them together and commanded them to be fruitful. They become one flesh, man must leave his father and mother and be united with his wife

5.
a.
Prohibited from returning to a relationship where a husband sends her out of their house

b.
Their hearts were hard

c.
God will allow me to do things that are wrong. That doesn’t make them right, but if I’m hard headed and hard hearted enough He will allow it.

19 BSF Matthew Week 19, Day 5

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

I worry about being taken advantage of. We live in a world full of warnings to “keep up your guard.” We are told to be careful, diligent, cautious. “There is a sucker born every minute.” Don’t be a patsy, an easy-mark.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

Peter’s question is not unreasonable. There have to limits, right? There have to be boundaries. If someone wrongs us, they have to pay. How many times must I offer forgiveness to someone who repeatedly transgresses against me.

I’m guilty of this mindset. But it is a mindset of limited resources and God is a God of Unlimited Grace and Provision. Jesus helps put this in perspective. We are focused on the equivalent of 100 silver coins. We seek justice for a transgression of 100 silver coins. But God is dealing at the level of 10,000 bags of gold.

Since we don’t deal much in actual silver and gold, I looked it up.

A US Silver Dollar (1878-1935) is worth about $15.50 in silver. So 100 silver coins would be worth $1,550.

During the gold rush, a bag of gold held approximately 25 pounds. Assuming bags have traditionally been about the same size, a bag of gold at current market value would be worth a little over US $500,000. So, the forgiveness of the King was to the tune of US$5,062,000,000. $5 Billion Dollars.

In God’s economy, the things we worry about someone taking advantage of us over would get lost in rounding. If I spent more time and effort protecting my heart and my eyes and those I love, that would be a far wiser eternal investment than protecting worldly possessions.

My only appropriate response should be one of thanks to God and modeling the grace and mercy that He has shown me. When we pray for God to forgive our sins as we forgive others, the forgiveness we show others is the measure we are asking Him to use on us.

My Answers:

12.
a.
how many times must I forgive my brother = maximum number of time I can ask for forgiveness. If 7, then…

b.
Law of Lamech or Lamech’s curse was a distortion by Lamech for a rule of vengence. Jesus turned these words into a rule of forgiveness instead.

13
a.
Sins of others to me are miniscule compared to forgiveness I have received. 10,000 bags of gold vs. 100 silver coins

b.
Lord’s prayer, forgive us our sins as we forgive others

c.
As I forgive and seek to truly hear others and simply listen, I find myself in a better place, one where I feel more forgiven

d.
Thank you for being God. Thank you for being the almighty and being patient with me. Thank you for being the shepherd to come and hunt me down when I repeatedly go astray.

19 BSF Matthew Week 19, Day 2

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

I spend a lot of time with children and they are not always humble. I see plenty of kids acting out to get attention. I see many children who are very focused on themselves. I see children who have no issue being disruptive if it brings them joy or raises their social standing. I don’t read today’s verses with rose colored glasses. And, I don’t think acting childish is what the Lord is trying to tell us.

But there are also some traits I see in the children I work with that I think are at the root of today’s scriptures.

The first is love. Children are amazing at giving and accepting love. They make friends without hesitation. They show kindness and compassion for those around them. I think this is in part because they readily accept love as well. They don’t question the love of their parents and family and plug into that to have joy with others.

The second is innocence and acceptance. I am constantly amazed at the conviction these young believers have. Not because they have a depth of knowledge and study to prove something, but simply because they accept it as the truth. They know that God loves them because He does, not because they read 16 commentaries that help them work it out in their head.

I don’t think it is an accident that these verses come directly on the heels of the encounter with the father of the demon possessed son whom the disciples could not heal. I think this is the answer to his prayer to Jesus, “help me with my unbelief.”

The answer to that prayer is not going to come from some outside sign or proof or miracle (even though all of those things are present). The answer to the prayer is to just accept belief as fact. To be totally open to it, not because it is the only thing left standing after exhaustive examination (which it would be), but because it comes from God. To a child this is easy. Jesus loves me, this I know…

As maturing christians we sometimes make things so complicated. We hold on to our doubts until they are proven wrong. But, Jesus teaches us to simply let them go. It is called faith and belief for a reason.

My Answers:

3.
a.
become like little children

b.
Matt: blessed: poor in spirit: kingdom of heaven, those who mourn: be comforted
John 1: those who receive him, believe, become children of God (born of God)
John 3: must be born again (nicodemus) born of water and spirit, flesh to flesh, spirit birth to spirit

4.
a.
Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all

b.
Humility and repentance

5.
a.
Not proud or concerned with “great matters”, Hidden things from wise and learned and revealed them to children, “My dear children, I write this to you…” Those entering the faith – those seeking to believe and grow in Christ, humble

b.
Those who serve, those who pray, those who put others first, teachers, preachers, missionaries, the little children – I can teach, I can pray and I can humble myself to not rely on my own knowledge or skill but to rely fully on the Holy Spirit. To be bold and step forward in the ways God is calling me that brings glory to him not gain for me.

c.
Jesus

17 BSF Matthew Week 17, Day 3

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

The crowd can (and often is) wrong. Many of us have a bias to popular opinion. The majority rules. The individual people has a say in the direction of things.

I believe this comes not so much in the faith of the populace, but in a lack of faith and trust in tyrannical rulers. But, in the same way that we can yield too much to power in the hands of a few, we can also yield too much power to the many.

There is a growing trend in churches to want to be “culturally relevant.” We need to be more accepting. We need to open the church up to a dialogue and allow people to shape what works for them. We need to be accepting of popular opinion.

But that is not how Christianity works. Jesus tells Peter, you didn’t get your statement of faith from a book or from listening to the crowd. You got your faith from God. That is where faith in Jesus comes from. “No one can say, Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus Christ is a rock, not a willow tree. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He doesn’t yield to who people want Him to be or who they would like for Him to be, He is who He is: The Messiah, The Son of the living God.

Emphasis is on the word “the”. There is only one Messiah, there is only one Son, there is only one living God. Jesus says “I am the way, the truth and the life.” Again., THE. The only way, the only truth, the only life. There are no other paths.

Some may look at that and say, “how arrogant. Every other path is wrong and Jesus is the only way?” It is not a boast. It is a fact. If there is only one path, shouldn’t we tell people that are heading the wrong direction. That isn’t condemning them. It isn’t judging them or putting them down. It isn’t excluding them. It is trying to love them and save them.

Don’t pay attention to my words. I could be wrong. Don’t pay attention to the words of our culture, to popular opinion. It is normally wrong. Pay attention to what the bible says. It is never wrong.

My Answers:

4.
a.
Elijah, John the Baptist, Jeremiah

b.
the Messiah, the Son of the living God

c.
Both

d.
Yes – affects everything

5.
a.
by my Father in heaven

b.
John: children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God
1 Cor 2: not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words
1:Cor 12: no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

BSF Matthew Week 16, Day 3

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

In building rennovation, sometimes the only way to build something up is to first tear down the weak support structures. In gardening, to allow room for growth you sometimes need to cut back or pull out the weeds. The parables and teachings of the past few weeks lessons are culminating this week as Jesus continues that work with His apostles.

The apostles were Jews, raised in the traditions of the elders. The teachers and pharisees from Jerusalem would have been like getting a visit from the big bosses from the top office at corporate headquarters.

The idea that these bastions of knowledge and wisdom were wrong must have been like a wrecking ball striking the main support beam of what the apostles knew about being an observant Jew. Clean and unclean were not just cornerstones, they had come to be a foundation of the religious.

But Jesus was not simply tearing down the apostles faith, He was building it. He was removing the weak, infested structures and replacing them with rock. The pharisees were offended, but millions would be saved. To secure the foundation of the church, he could not build on the traditions of the elders. He had to build on love, compassion, healing, serving. He had to build on faith in the Word of God.

Sometimes we cannot focus our eyes. There may be an astigmatism or injury. But just like a doctor may prescribe glasses, we can be given sight and the ability to focus through the lens of God’s Word, Jesus Christ.

My Answers:

6.
Rigidly following rules doesn’t make one holy. What flows forth from their heart is a sign of their holiness.

7.
a.
The pharisees were offended

b.
every plan that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots – leave them, they are blind guides

c.
If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit

d.
He was blinded – he thought of the priests and pharisees as holy men who were teaching right things

8.
a.
Your actions and thoughts, the things that come out of you or that you do from your own motivation – not outside influences, but inside: evil thoughts, lust, sexual immorality, stealing, murder, adultery, greed, malice and deceit, slander, lewdness, envy, arrogance, folly

b.
envy, worry, greed, slander, folly – yes

BSF Matthew, Week 16, Day 2

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal

The definition of focus is “the center of interest or activity.” What is your focus? What is the center of your interest or activity?

For the Pharisees and teachers who traveled from Jerusalem to meet Jesus, their focus was on “holding to the tradition of the elders.” It wasn’t on God. It wasn’t on the Messiah. It wasn’t on learning and understanding and healing and being healed. It was on ceremony. Ceremony gave them power and authority. Ceremony gave them comfort.

Ceremonies are not inherently wrong. Structure can be very helpful in our walk with God and our approach to learning and studying His word. But when they become the focus instead of an aid, then they are a distraction.

I was with a older friend recently discussing a worship service she attended. She was totally distracted because there were live plants on the alter in the church. According to tradition, only cut flowers are to be placed on the altar as a reminder of the price Christ paid. Nothing wrong with that tradition, and a great pointer back to Jesus, but when it became such a distraction that it prevented worship, it took over the focus.

We have to be careful of this in BSF and in our churches as well. There are many unspoken guidelines of “how we have always done things” that can become the focus. This can often be a major obstacle for people entering bible study or church service because they see the hypocrisy of the distraction of our heart.

The traditions are perfectly fine as “hows”. This is how I approach worship, this is how I prepare myself. But when they become the whats and whys then we need the reminder of the hymn: “turn your eyes upon Jesus… and the things of this earth will grow strangely dim”

My Answers

3.
a.
The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions

b.
Why do you break the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions?

4.
a.
It was a way of weaseling out of using money to support parents by pledging it to the church as a future contribution

b.
The commandments come first, other things that support them are fine, but never over-rule them

5.
a.
let go of commands but hold to traditions. Follow certain rules and obligations but don’t have a heart for or daily walk with God – do not study His word or help others

b.
When I go through the motions instead of taking time to prepare my heart for worship