A Year with Jesus Week 7: The Way PDF file at bottom Read: John 14:6; Acts 9:1-2; Acts 19:9, 23; Acts 22:4; Acts 24:22. Way, The. One of the earliest names applied to the Christian community (Acts 9:2). It was apparently used by both the Jewish and the secular community and appeared in both positive and negative assessments of the church (19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22). Paul’s use of the term in his defense before Felix suggests that the name had at least quasi-official acceptance (24:14, 22).[1] Followers of the Way. Christianity was far from being simply an abstract belief; it was a whole way of life. The new way of living was obvious to those around Christians and to the Christians themselves, for they were following Jesus’ life style, the way he had lived and taught. Soon the term “this Way” or “the Way” meant Christian. Thus Saul (the pre-Christian name of Paul) was sent to Damascus to arrest anyone belonging to “the Way” (Acts 9:2). Christians may also have used the term to describe themselves; Luke referred to the Christian movement as “the Way” (Acts 19:9, 23; 24:22). It is the only name Christians and non-Christians both may have used for the new movement.[2] 1. One of the things that makes Jesus different than all other founders of religions and philosophical worldviews is that he does not merely point to a way of thinking or living, though he does. But he also says he is the way. a. Describe how Jesus “is” the way. How do you understand his words in John 14:6 about declaring himself to be way? b. Describe how Jesus points to the way. What “way(s)” is Jesus pointing to? 2. Why do you think the early disciples of Jesus were called “followers of the Way” by outsiders? 3. What does it mean for you to think of Jesus as “the way of salvation” or the “way to God?” 4. What does it mean for you to think of Jesus as your “way of life?” 5. How is “the way of Jesus” different than the ways of the world? 6. In what areas of your life do you find it difficult to follow the way(s) of Jesus? Why do you think that is? 7. What are some spiritual habits you can implement in your life to help you better recognize Jesus as “the Way?” 8. What are some spiritual habits you can implement in your life to help you better follow the way(s) of Jesus? 9. What spiritual friend do you have who you can share your struggles with? Pray with? And who will help hold you accountable in your pursuit of following Jesus as the Way, as well as the ways of Jesus? 10. Contact the person you mentioned in the above question and set up a time to meet and discuss the issues raised in these questions, to pray together, and to begin an accountable relationship with one another. [1] Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). Way, The. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 2, p. 2134). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House. [2] Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). Christians, Names For. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 1, p. 432). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.
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A Year with Jesus Week 6: The Bread of Life PDF file at the bottom Scripture: John 6:25-59. One of the most simple, yet profound statements Jesus ever made was, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35). The Greek words Jesus used were simple enough. Artos simply referred to bread in contrast to meat and could also designate the shewbread, consecrated bread, in the temple (Matt. 12:4). Jesus said this to a multitude of people who were following Him after He miraculously fed them with five loaves and two fish. They followed Jesus because He had satisfied their appetites, and not because they had seen a sign from God (John 6:26). To those caught in the drudgery of sustaining life, Jesus said “Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man shall give to you” (John 6:27, ). In other words, Jesus told the people that the food they were striving and working for would not give them eternal life. But if they believed in Him, they would have eternal life. [1] 1. Read John 6:25-59. 2. What miracle had Jesus just done in John 6:1-15? What connection does Jesus make with that miracle and why the people are now looking for him (John 6:25-27)? 3. What does Jesus tell the people they should really be looking for? 4. According to Jesus in verse 28-29, how can we work for the food that endures? 5. In verses 30-34, the people appear to still not understand what Jesus is saying. They start appealing to the manna that God gave through Moses. What were the limitations with that manna? 6. In verse 35, Jesus declares that he is the “bread of life.” What is he really referring to here? What makes this bread different than all other kinds? 7. How do we receive this bread of life Jesus speaks of here? 8. What does Jesus say his Father’s will is in verses 38-40? Explain in your own words what this means. 9. How did the people respond to Jesus in verses 41-42? Why? 10. Read verses 46-59. What is Jesus telling the people here? 11. Relate the Scripture in this lesson to the sacrament of Holy Communion. 12. Why do you think those who heard Jesus’ teachings often confused the physical and the spiritual – the temporal and the eternal? Why do we still do so? 13. How would you explain the key points of Jesus in these verses to a friend who is not a Christian? 14. What does it mean to you to call Jesus the bread of life? Have you trusted in him in the way he talks about in these verses? 15. Write a prayer giving thanks to our Lord Jesus, who offered himself to us and the bread of life. [1] Carpenter, E. E., & Comfort, P. W. (2000). In Holman treasury of key Bible words: 200 Greek and 200 Hebrew words defined and explained (p. 245). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
A Year with Jesus Week 5: The Wisdom of God PDF File at bottom Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Colossians 2:2-3; James 3:13-18; Psalm 111:10. The wisdom of God is deeply embedded in his works in creation and in the story of redemption. The wisdom of God is evident in all his divine purposes and decrees, and it is perfectly embodied in his Son, the divine Logos, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col 2:3). God is “omnisapient,” all wise.[1] The wisdom of God is God fully exercising his infinite knowledge, and yet it is his delight to share this wisdom with his finite creatures. Wisdom is a communicable attribute of God. Humans therefore have the capacities for reason, logic, perception, creativity, anticipation, and many more. Wisdom is right reason, right logic, right perception, etc. We are promised blessings if we will use these capacities in wisdom. The Scripture teaches that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov 9:10; cf. Job 28:28; Ps 111:10). True discernment and godly insight come only from a right affection toward the ultimate source of these qualities.[2] 1. How would you define wisdom? 2. Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-31. 3. How is the “wisdom of the world” described in these verses? 4. How is God’s wisdom perceived by the world? Why? 5. Describe what Paul means by saying God’s wisdom is foolish to the world and the wisdom of the world is foolishness to God? 6. What role does God’s “foolish things” play in relation to the world? Why do you think God chose to use what the world considers foolish as his plan to redeem the world? 7. Read verses 30-31. How is the life, death, and teaching of Jesus foolishness to the world? How is Jesus, in reality, the wisdom of God? 8. Read Colossians 2:2-3. How is Jesus the key that unlocks God’s hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge? 9. Read James 3:13-18. How does James portray “earthly wisdom?” 10. How does James characterize “heavenly wisdom?” 11. How does Jesus embody or fulfill the heavenly wisdom James describes in James 3:17-18? 12. What are some ways you seek to grow in wisdom? Describe what you have learned in that pursuit? 13. What role does humility play in a person’s pursuit of wisdom? Why is it so important? 14. Read Psalm 111:10. Why is our relationship to God the key to growing in wisdom? [1] Olivero, M. (2018). God’s Wisdom. In M. Ward, J. Parks, B. Ellis, & T. Hains (Eds.), Lexham Survey of Theology. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press. [2] Olivero, M. (2018). God’s Wisdom. In M. Ward, J. Parks, B. Ellis, & T. Hains (Eds.), Lexham Survey of Theology. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
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