bsfgroups – Page 6 – The Notes are Good

13.5 BSF Matthew Week 13, Day 5

My Daily Journal:

There was a beauty in the interpretation of the “field” in this parable. In one part, it clearly was an individual, their own personal heart/faith. In another it was the church or body of all believers, producing a harvest together. We may think of this as a duality, a use of the same illustration for two different purposes. But I don’t think that is accurate.

Instead, I think it reflects how Jesus views us. We are simultaneously individuals and the collective body. We are personal and unified. We are one and many. We are a heart and body. Just as Jesus is a man, He is also unified with the Father and Holy Spirit as God.

And then the lesson within it. We fixate. We see one stain and we can’t let it go, we see one weed and we can’t wait to yank it out. But it isn’t our job. God has it covered. He knows exactly what to do and when to do it. We do not need to concern ourselves with pointing out every wrong in others to weed them out. We need to sow more seeds and produce more fruit. It has always been this way, it always will.

The church is full of sinners. My life is still filled with rocks and weeds and I trip and fall. God doesn’t require purity for admission, He requires admission of Himself into our hearts so that He can create purity in them. Psalm 51: create in me a clean heart!

My Answers:

12.
a.
Son of Man – The devil

b.
The Sons of the Kingdom

c.
the world

d.
The sons of the evil one

e.
The end of the age

f.
Angels

13.
a.
Deceitful – conniving

b.
While pulling the weeds you uproot the wheat with them – let both grow together til the harvest

c.
those who wish to bring harm to Christianity populate themselves within the midst of the church

14.
The righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father

13.3 BSF Matthew Week 13, Day 3

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

Thinking and praying about the question regarding “the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth” set me back on my heels today (no praying pun intended).

I realized that while there are worries and elements of seeking “more” that related to desires I have for security and to be able to provide better/more for my family, there was also a strong element within it for the desire to be more generous. I realized that part of the reason I wanted to receive more was to be able to give more. And, while, on first blush that may not sound like a bad thing, I realized that I wanted to give more without it impacting my way of life.

As I read and study the bible, I realize I have that backward. Being obedient and faithful in small things leads to being able to be the same with more. But, shouldn’t we take the first step in the water out of faith, not only after God has parted the water?

I think the net message to me was that God doesn’t want more monetary generosity from me. He wants more of me. If my idea is to give more without giving more of me, my weeds and thorns grow in direct proportion to the crops. My field is in no better shape and I am no closer to God. But if I give more of myself each day to God, then then confidence in Him is returned which kills the weeds and thorns in the field of my life.

My Answers:

7.
Through lies – spreading confusing messages and mistruths, spreading a philosophy of self-indulgence

8.
a.
What is enough? self imposed pressure to “succeed/provide”. The desire to be more generous without it impacting my life.

b.
Where is my heart? (Matt 6:21)
Who am I turning to? (Prov 3:5-6)

c.
My heart is good soil, prepared well by the work of the Holy Spirit, but I’ve allowed the enemy to plan many weeds and thorns which interfere with the production of fruit

13.2 BSF Matthew Week 13, Day 2

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

I got caught up in Matthew 13:23 today. “But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

There are three responses we are called to make:

Hear
Understand
Produce

But responses to what? This took me back to Matthew 7:7, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

Ask
Seek
Knock

I thought it was interesting how these parallel each other. When we ask, our required response is to hear. When we seek, our required action is to understand and when we knock on the door and it is open, our job is not done – we are called to produce fruit.

But how often are we like the religious leaders of this time. They asked lots of questions. Every week of our study we see then asking more challenging questions, but they did not hear – they already made up their mind. In the same way, we cry out to God for direction, for a sign, for His intervention in our lives, but then we don’t read the book He gave us and we fight His calling if it doesn’t match our wants and desires.

The religious leaders sought wisdom, they sought approval from God by obeying His laws (and additional ones), they sought a Messiah, but when all of this was in their face, they didn’t understand. Their mind and hearts were closed off. How often do we do the same – asking God to answer a prayer, but only in a specific way that suits our thinking about what is best?

Finally, the shepherds of the time were more interested in beating their flocks into submission than in producing fruit. When the door is open to help bring someone closer to the Lord, do we step through and do the hard work required?

My Answers:

3.
a.
Earthly story with a heavenly meaning

b.
Yes, Matt 11:25 – Jesus praised God “because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

c.
The word of God (Luke) The good news of salvation, the origin of faith

4.
These phrases are in Luke only:
were coming to Jesus from town after town,
His disciples asked him
The knowledge of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.”
“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.

5.
a.
He, Jesus, is the farmer (or more appropriately, the seed company – the producer of the seed)

b.
path; hears does not understand (devil snatches away); rocky ground: hears, receives w/joy, no root, at trouble fall away; thorns: hears, worry and wickedness choke it; good soil: hears, understnd, produce

6.
14: If you love me, keep my commands (love/obedience)
15: I am the voice; you are the branches, remain in me, bear fruit (God’s strength)
5: Peter & apostles, “we must obey God rather than human beings” (obedience)
2: work out salvation w/fear/trembling, God who works in you: His good purposes (by God/for God)

12.5 BSF Matthew Week 12, Day 5

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

Now we are getting somewhere. The pharisees and religious leaders recognize that Jesus has super-natural power. Literally. Natural power is power related to nature, to the physical world. But they have taken a huge step forward and proclaimed that Jesus has power that is greater than that. It is from out-of-the world, super-natural, it is from the spirit world.

There are only two possible sources for the power: heaven or hell. Having acknowledged that Jesus was more than man, they then had to decide from where He and His power originates.

They chose wrong. All of scripture, every prophecy, every law, every sacrifice, every word that they studied and taught every day pointed to and was being fulfilled in this man Jesus. While they had dedicated their life to this teaching – they wanted more. They weren’t satisfied with the relationship God had provided, they wanted something else. They wanted to commit adultery against the scripture.

Jesus spoke to them very clearly. He said the only sign they would receive was one from scripture. He said, you have correctly deduced the situation – heaven or hell. But, since hell and the devil makes no sense and can be eliminated, then you must acknowledge Jesus is from Heaven. To not do so is to choose hell themselves.

Do you acknowledge that Jesus was more than a man? If so, He is super-natural and every sign, every word, every prophecy tells which uniform he wears: a white robe dipped in blood and emblazoned with the name King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

My Answers:

11.
a.
His power and authority over demons

b.
Prince of this world (John 12:31) will be driven out also John 14:30. Baal-zebub 2 Kings 1 Philistine god, Satan, the adversary, devil (James 4:7), the god of this age (2 Cor 4:). This house is the earth

12.
The H/S teaches and convicts me of my sin. If I had rejected the H/S fully, then I would not face such warning or conviction, but instead I would appoint myself as judge and judge my sin to be right and acceptable

13.
I use too few words that proclaim the glory of Christ. I miss opportunities to have serious engagement by joking.

14.
a.
Every sign and prophecy of the old testament pointed to Christ and was being fulfilled, in their presence, by Him. But they wanted something outside of all of those teachings, some other sign

b.
The sign of Jonah. Jesus’ death and resurrection

c.
We are not to be empty shells. The goal of salvation is not to empty us of evil and impurity but to fill us with the Word and the power of the Holy Spirit.

15.
In love and giving to brothers and sisters in Christ. In coming alongside missionaries and pastors and teachers. By walking that road myself and with my family

11.04 BSF Matthew Week 11, Day 4

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal

My wife has enrolled this semester in a college class. She is taking it to develop her own skills so that she, in turn, can help coach and develop those skills in our children. I love and admire not only her passion for learning, but also her willingness and diligence to serve our family.

At this point, her class is well into the semester. There are a few students who are working very hard in the class. They show up every class period. They complete the assignments with their best efforts. They do the homework, ask questions, stay after for extra work and coaching. There are also others who are not. These students skip class repeatedly or show up late or leave early. They habitually turn in assignments late or not at all and spend their class time distracted and doing other things.

Given the cost of the college course, this at first amazed my wife. Then she learned that some of the students were on grant programs so they did not have to pay for the class.

I’m not raising this as a commentary about grants or welfare programs. But, simply, the recognition that when you have paid a significant cost you are dedicated and invested in the journey.

Jesus tells us that there will be costs that we will have to pay to follow Him. Let’s be clear, Jesus is God and with a word, He could remove all of those costs. It is not because He does not have the power.

Jesus wants more than our hands or voice. He wants our hearts. He doesn’t want a worker who runs away at the first sign of danger, He wants shepherds who follow in His image.

Think of the most powerful testimonies you have heard. They don’t come from believers with perfect, care-free lives. They come from believers who have experienced pain and hardship. They come from people who have survived events that they could not possibly survive by their own strength.

Acts 5:41: “The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.”

My Answers:

8.
a.
handed over, flogged, witness to gentiles, arrest, brother betray brother to death, father child, hated because of Me.
Acts 12:1-2 James martyred, Acts 7 Stephen martyred

b.
After resurrection and ascension

c.
Even unto the second coming, there will still be Jews (God’s chosen people) who do not truly know and/or have heard the good news of Jesus Christ

9.
a.
handed over, flogged, witness to gentiles, arrest, brother betray brother to death, father child, hated because of Me

b.
Internationally, everywhere – families torn apart when members deny the power of the Lord

c.
Even those who persecute the church are not beyond the reach of the Spirit of God (Saul/Paul martyrdom of Stephen)

10.
a.
26. nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 28. kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Nothing outside of Father’s care. Hairs of head are all numbered!

b.
all revealed on judgment day, life hidden in death but revealed in resurrection, light to the house not hidden, more to say that you can now bear to hear

c.
life is only hidden in death, not over – looking forward to reunion with loved ones in Christ who have died.

11.02 BSF Matthew Week 11, Day 2

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

I think the harvest field is such a beautiful and fitting image of the calling of Christians. When we plant crops, we turn them over to God. He is the only one who can make something grow. To take it from a seed to a plant producing fruit and seeds. He provides the soil. He provides the nutrients. He provides the rain and sunshine. There is work to be done, including the work of bringing in the harvest, but, as we learn this week, He even provides for that. He doesn’t say go and hire people or go and beg people or go and threaten people or go and scare/guilt people into the work. He says to pray and God will provide.

We often forget this and begin to think we (you and I) need to get busy making plans and recruiting. We need to get out there and polish our sales pitch. God does call us to get out of our “holy huddle”, but it also makes it abundantly clear that the workers, the work, the power, the authority and even the harvest all are from and for Him alone. Anything we allow ourselves to be tricked into thinking comes from our own power is an insult to the One from whom the true power and authority belongs.

My Answers:

3.
a.
It is His nature. They were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd

b.
Ps: The Lord is my shepherd
Is: We all like sheep (Lord laid on Him the iniquity of all) He bore our sins
Je: lost sheep, scattered flock, led astray by shepherds, wandering
Ez: cared for self rather than flock, I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable
Jo: I am the good shepherd, not a hired hand

c.
Those in churches which do not follow scripture, everyone believe what they want, not the truth of God

4.
a.
Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers

b.
authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness

c.
Authority of truth of His word. Power: the hope, the riches, His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead (Eph 1)

08.5 BSF Matthew Week 8, Day 5

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

Stolen words used for unearned earthly gain.

The words of the bible are precious. They are not just words, they have power, meaning and purpose. But when people use these words in a twisted fashion, they don’t just deceive, they are thieves.

If I take a tool from my neighbors garage, I am a thief. If I take credit for artwork I did not create, I am a thief. If I take the Words of God and use them for my glory instead of His, I am a thief.

We may deceive ourselves into justifying our theft. We may think that watering down the scripture is a means to get people in the door. We may think that it is better to avoid the “controversial” parts of the gospel. But what does Jesus say? There is never a time that Jesus does not reflect the glory of God alone. His food was the do the will of Him who sent Him and to finish His work.

What do you stand on? Is it what you want to be true? Is it what you would like the bible to say? Or do you stand on the one and only solid foundation.

Actually, standing is not enough. We are not just called to stand on the cornerstone, we are called to be built on it, as it says in 1 Peter, into a holy house of worship to the Living God.

My Answers:

11.
a.
Matt: Jesus knowing them (not His sheep)
Luke: do not do what Jesus says
John: refuse to come to Christ, do not have the love of God in heart, do not accept Christ
John: Belief in the Father
Hosea: rejected what is good, set up own kingship aside from God, made idols

b.
The words that came out of their mouth were lies and for show. The words did not reflect submission to the rule of God or a contrite spirit, they were stolen words used for illegal earthly gain, which does not carry into heaven

c.
I am, myself, at times. When I rely on myself and not the H/S, I lie to myself. When I pray afterwards instead of before, I am being my own prince, When I put trust in men who look the part and sound good instead of the word of God, I live a lie.

12.
That He alone is the Judge on Judgment Day. No one enters except by His knowledge. He alone is Lord.

13.
a.
Hear the words of the Lord AND put them into practice

b.
They don’t practice their faith (if they have any at all). They put it in a box (Sunday morning) or on a shelf (unread bible) and go about living their life with what they think is right or what they want right to be.

c.
Isaiah: Lay a stone in Zion, tested stone, precious cornerstone, rely on it never stricken w/ panic
1 Cor: No one can lay any other foundation: Jesus Christ
1 Peter: Living stone, rejected by humans chosen by God, we on Him a spiritual house, holy priesthood

d.
On Christ the solid rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand

08.4 BSF Matthew Week 8, Day 4

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

Hero Worship: It amazes me how people follow and worship other people. They have a NASCAR driver they follow. They can tell the stats of each player on their favorite team. They invest time watching and discussing singers and actors, turning them into American Idols.

But if these “heroes” do not stand for God, then they are tricks and lies. If they lead others into temptation, then they are counterfeit heroes. They are not the real deal. They are counterfeit. They are also not just misguided. If they oppose the one true God, seeking praise for themselves over God, then they are to be avoided. Deliver us from evil.

My Answers:

9.
a.
13-14: Narrow vs wide gate/broad road. Narrow to life, wide to destruction
15 False prophets (sheep/wolves) 16 (fruit: grape from thornbush, fig from thistles) 17-18 (tree bearing fruit)

b.
good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

10.
a.
Do not trust outward appearances, particularly in regard to teachers of faith. They may “look the part”, but they are a shell containing viciousness

b.
They are not “misguided” they are wicked. False teaching of the gospel and thus, opposing God, is ranked among worse offenses. They may have Reverend as a title but that does not mean they are to be revered. Christ had no issue calling the highest church leaders a brood of vipers.

c.
1. Beware – trickery abounds and what looks good and easy is seldom right
2. Make sure my life and ministry is bearing good fruit from the Spirit within me. Trust it and the Word of God alone, not my desire for what I want it to say instead. Guard my heart from evil and watch my words, they cannot be taken back.

08.3 BSF Matthew Week 8, Day 3

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

My wife gets some friendly teasing from her group for her passion for getting deep into God’s word and looking up the Greek behind our English biblical words. She jokingly said this morning that she looked up the word “knock” in Greek and it means to “knock, as on a door.”

While she said this tongue in cheek, it is actually a very relevant point.

Lots of people ask. They scream out in their words and actions. Some people seek. They look for answers. They look for help. But knocking – that is something different.

You can ask from afar and anonymously. You can seek answers from unreliable sources. We have a neighbor who asks her deepest questions to Google search like some sort of magic eight ball to give guidance to her life.

But knocking requires personal action and personal involvement. To knock in prayer, you have to show up on God’s doorstep. You have to know the right house, the right door. You must spiritually get up and carry your prayers to Him. You have to extend your hand. You have to take action, engage directly and personally.

God does not just want our requests and wishes, He wants our connection with Him. He doesn’t want us to just phone it in, He wants us to enter His home.

My Answers:

6.
a.
Ask, Seek, Knock

b.
Yes, sick child, guidance for another child, restful sleep for spouse

7.
The promise of the Holy Spirit. Good gifts could mean any blessing, but the H/S is the ultimate gift and blessing

8.
a.
The ultimate answer to prayer (according to God’s will) is salvation and reconciliation. He purchased that gift for us while we were still sinner (Rom 5:8), but we still must choose to accept the gift and submit to Him

b.
God is not a vending machine that you insert prayer and out pops blessings or your get your own way. God does what is in His will and His mercy out of love. All prayer is heard and answered, some not as we wish for teaching/change

c.
It fits unselfish love. God has nothing to gain through prayer, but through His love of us He delights in giving

06.5 BSF Matthew Week 6, Day 5

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

I don’t think Christians are called to be ignorant pansies that are constantly taken advantage of, bullied and abused. We are not called to be a doormat for others to simply wipe their feet on.

We are called to follow our mission. If we are following it fully, if we are truly committed to that mission then it and it alone is critical in everything we do and every decision we make. When you are a soldier in battle you don’t decide to ignore the mission because you don’t want to get your uniform dirty. When you are a surgeon with a patient on the table you don’t decide to operate of some other part because it is easier and quicker. You stick with the mission – it is what it is all about.

Our mission is simple. We heard it last week. Be salt and light to the world. Take the strength and word and light of God and use it to witness, heal, baptize and save. Period. That is the mission.

If walking a mile accomplishes that – walk the mile. If giving up a shirt accomplishes that, give up the shirt. But, in all of it, stay true to the mission. If giving someone your shirt does not bring them closer to God, then the mission is not to give shirts – it is to figure out what brings them closer to God.

One of my friends talked about an interaction with a homeless person this week at a coffee shop. The man asked my friend, “can you help me?” and he gave him a few dollars. But that weighed heavy on his heart. There is nothing wrong with giving the money, and God can use that, but what if he had, instead, invited the man to sit down with him and bought him food that they shared together. How much more could the investment of 10 minutes meant in the mission my brother carried?

I can get so focused on “what is rightfully mine” that I fall back into the trap of justice = revenge or getting even. But this is based on a mindset of finite resources. For me to get even I have to take it back from the person who wronged me. But I am the child of an infinite God and creator. There is so much more. God honors that which honors Him!

My Answers:

12.
a.
If your yes is yes and your no is no, then there is no “qualification” to speaking the truth, you just always do. There is no provision for falsehood

b.
“To be honest with you…” These words imply that at other times you are not honest or don’t mean it. Hard to tell when is when and what is what

c.
Know the truth and stick to it. No “white lies”.

13.
a.
Fear and Concern over being a doormat keeps me out of ministry opportunities and witnessing to others. I need to keep in mind what is truly important (bringing others to Christ). If being slapped or giving a shirt or walking a mile helps with that, then, by all means, that is what I should be doing

b.
God will honor that which honors Him.

14.
Gal: walk with the spirt not gratify the desires of the fleshEph: Put off old self and deceitful desires, new in attitude, righteousness and holiness like God
Phil: Obey, work out with God and allow Him to act in my to fulfill His good purpose
Phil: think about: true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy