October 2018 ORCHARD ROAD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Small Group Bible Study Introduction October is Christian Education Emphasis Month and we will study 3 passages relevant to Christian discipleship, living, learning, and raising of the next generation. For our 162nd church anniversary, and 501st anniversary of the protestant reformation, we will study Jesus parable of the landowner. 7 Oct A Biblical Vision For Discipleship Ephesians 4:11-16 14 Oct Christian Living And Lifelong Learning Galatians 6:11-16 21 Oct Raising The Next Generation Hebrews 12:1-3 28 Oct Parable Of The Landowner Matthew 20:1-16 1
7 Oct A Biblical Vision For Discipleship Ephesians 4:11-16 Introduction The Epistle of Ephesians is about the message of the Gospel and its outworking in the church to fulfil the plans and purposes of God in Christ. Christ came in the flesh, lived, died and rose again, to redeem the church. Christ did this by atoning for our sins, to reconcile us to God, that we might share in His resurrection life, both now and in the age to come. Christ is now ascended to the right hand of God, building the church, that he might present the church holy and blameless in God s sight (Eph1:4; 5:26-27), to the end that Christ may himself be exalted as head over all, by uniting all things to Himself (1:10; 2:14-16). To this end, He gave the church Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers - These are not jobs in the church - they are gifts given to the church. Their purpose is not to do all the work of the church - so that we - as members of the church - need not do anything! No - their purpose is to build up the congregation who will in turn do works of service to bring about a united body of Christ (Eph 4:12)! So what vision of discipleship does God have for the church revealed to us through the Apostle Paul? This vision is also the outworking of the Gospel, by the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. For Study and Discussion 1. Who is the one who is giving gifts and these gifts are a result of what event? (Eph 4: 7-11; Ps 68:18; compare with Phi 2:8,9) 2. The gifts listed in Ephesians (Paul has other lists in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12) are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers. They are gifts given for specific purposes. a. What is the significance that these gifts are all related to the preaching and teaching of the word? b. What are the people having these gifts to prepare the people of God to do? (Eph 4: 12) c. As the people of God are prepared, the body of Christ is built up. In what ways are we built up? In Eph 4: 13-16, Paul lists a couple of targets. i. What are these objectives? ii. How are we (individually, as a small group and as a church) doing as far as these goals are concerned? d. What are some of the reasons why we are (or are not) moving toward such maturity? 2
3. A mature discipled church is one that a. Has whom as its head? What does it mean to have him as the head of the church? Is he the head of ORPC? (4:14-16) b. And has members who i. Behaviour/attitude should not be like? (Eph 4: 17-19) ii. Instead our behavior/attitude should be like? (Eph 4:13-15, 22-32) c. Would Paul call ORPC a mature church? In what ways are we doing well in? In what ways do we need improvement? Discipleship Pointers Our church teachers (pastors, elders, small group leaders, sunday school teachers, and so on) are Christ s servants - who have been given gifts so that each one of us would be built up (united in faith and knowledge - no longer infants) by being rooted in Christ through a word-based ministry. The result of such word-based ministries is that we - the members would then do works of service. The work of service refers to ministries that grow and build up the body of Christ, locally and globally. So Teachers/overseers/leaders are you faithfully teaching the word of God and being an example to those under your charge? Do you see/ long to see our members equipped and serving the body of Christ as a result of a Christ centred word ministry. Congregation - are you willing to be prepared, discipled and build up - so that we will then go and do works of service for our Lord Jesus Christ? In what ways are you doing the work of service within Christ body? Parents - You are God s teachers to your children. You are to build them up so that they will become Christians who will do works of service to the glory of God. Question: Are you doing this or are you more concerned about how successful they will be in the world? And once they are grown - are you willing to let them go and serve the Lord as God leads them not as what you want? Children - Are you willing to be build up by your parents and others so that you will become discipled Christians who will serve Christ in the world! Family/Group Moments How has the vision of Eph 4:11-16 influenced the way you learn, teach and serve in the body of Christ? Are you growing to love the body of Christ? Is there evidence of growth in the way you seek to serve those around you, especially those in the household of faith? In what ways are you contributing to the growth in the body of Christ, here and in regions beyond. In what ways may we contribute to this growth and unity in the body of Christ as a church with the rest of the body of Christ in Singapore? 3
14 Oct Christian Living And Lifelong Learning Galatians 6:11-16 Introduction This passage contains the conclusion of Paul s letter to the Galatians. Like a lawyer making his closing argument, Paul contrasts the false gospel of man with the true gospel of Christ. He contrasts religious legalism with the Christian faith. Ultimately, only true faith in Christ brings peace, joy, and eternal life with God. Who is a spiritually mature Christian? How can God transform us as a new person in Christ, so that the world cannot control us? How do we learn and teach others about this life-giving and life-transforming faith? For Study and Discussion 1) Review the background to Paul s letter to the Galatians. (In particular, read Gal 1:1-7, 2:11-14, 3:1-3, 5:1, Acts 15:1-11) a. What was the crisis that prompted Paul s writing? b. What was Paul s main aim in writing to the Galatians? c. How would you describe the tone of Paul s letter to the Galatians? 2) Central to this passage is a comparison between Paul s and his opponents responses to persecution for the sake of the cross of Christ. Describe the difference between the two (verses 12-15). 3) Paul refuses to be concerned about how others see him: he will not boast in anything except in the scandal of the cross (a cruel instrument of death). To him, neither circumcision or uncircumcision matters, even though many people are concerned with this issue. Why does he have this attitude toward public opinion? 4
4) What do you understand by the term new creation? Consider 2 Cor 5:17, Gal 5:6, and 1 Cor 7:19. Paul blesses with peace and mercy those who follow this rule (verse 16). What rule is Paul referring to and what does it mean to follow it? 5) Paul s opponents were persuading the Galatians that true Christians are those who become Jews. What has this discussion of the cross taught about who the true descendants of Abraham, the true Israel of God, actually are? (Gal 3:26-29) What key lessons have you learnt from this passage? Discipleship Pointers What is our motive in following Christ? Why do we think that we are in a right relationship with God? Religious legalism says, see what I am doing!, while true Christian faith says, see what Christ has done!. We grow spiritually when we understand the doctrine of the cross, feel the offence of the cross, and place our identity in the cross of Jesus Christ. Paul s description of the Christian life in Galatians points us to the complex reality of our moment in time. On one hand, those who place their faith in Christ have been crucified with Christ to this world. We no longer look to our place in this world for identity or ultimate joy. As such, we should also expect the pain and rejection that comes from associating with one whom this world has crucified. At the same time, Christians experience some of the benefits of our future joy. We have been given new life through the Holy Spirit and so have begun to experience the new creation within. This new life with its new identity in Christ is what Christ came for, to save us from this present evil age (Gal 1:4), which the work of the law and all the endeavours of our flesh has no power to deliver us from. This new creation is a work of grace, a gift from God. It belongs to the life in the age to come. Christian living is about growing and learning more and more about this new identity we have in Christ, becoming the new creation that Christ has destined us to become. Family/Group Moments Take time to reflect on the implications of this passage for your own life today. Consider what you have learnt that might lead you to praise God, repent of sin, and trust more deeply in His gracious promises by considering: o what God through Christ has delivered us from, o what Christ has accomplished for us, o how our present Christian living should reflect our new status in Christ, and o how we can set our hope in what Christ has destined us to become. Pray for God to stir up more and more of our affection for Him and our joy in Him for all that He has accomplished and installed for us in Christ. 5
21 Oct Raising The Next Generation Hebrews 12:1-3 Introduction Amidst the growing challenges and temptations facing our world and society today, what does it mean for us to pass on the faith to the next generation? Paul exhorts us in Hebrews 12 to run the race of faith with perseverance, throwing off everything that hinders, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Let us explore how we as believers and the church can encourage the Next Generation - namely the children, youth and young adults (0-35 years) - in our midst as they are nurtured in the faith to be future generations fulfilling and serving God s kingdom purposes. For Study and Discussion 1) How does Therefore (v1) tie these three verses to the previous chapter(s)? 2) How are the Old Testament persons listed in Hebrews 11 examples to you? 3) What specific sins are we easily entangled with in our own lives? What can we do today to throw them off? 4) What does it mean to fix our eyes on Jesus? Give some practical and possible examples what this exactly involves. 6
5) What does it mean for a Christian to grow weary and lose heart? Have you felt that way before? Have you seen another believer act in this way before? What did you do (in each case)? 6) In the light of your answers to question 2, why is the state of our faith important for the faith of our next generation? Discuss how the state of our own faith affects how faithfully we are passing on our faith to the next generation. Discipleship Pointers We have such a great cloud of witnesses to tell and remind us about the nature of true faith and its reliability. We are thus exhorted to persevere and run our life of faith. Jesus is faith s author because He creates faith in those who trust Him. Jesus is faith s perfecter because He will bring that faith to its final perfection. Compared with the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11, who were our forerunners and had fought so well (Heb. 11:33-38), we are the ones who have received a better covenant (11: 39-40), a far greater high priest and mediator (8:6), a greater hope (7:19) and hence have far more reasons to persevere in faith. Our sole responsibility is to fix our spiritual eyes and focus on Jesus alone. He is the finishing line, the end goal. All else is mere distraction. Because of the superiority of Christ as the mediator of a far better covenant (which is also the theme of Hebrews), the exhortation to press on is also accompanied by the warning not to grow weary, faint hearted and drop out of the race. The consequence of dropping out is severe: we (or the generation who comes after us) will fail to enter God s promised rest (Heb 4) if we deny Christ by the way we (or they) live, thus falling short of His grace (12:14, 15). Family/Group Moments Discuss what true faith is, based on the number of times faith is mentioned in Hebrews 11. Share how being in a Christian family or a small group would help a believer to persevere in his/her Christian walk. Share what can you/we do to faithfully pass on our faith to the next generation. Take time to pray for ourselves and our future generation that we may not come short of this abundant grace in Christ God has showered upon us. 7
28 Oct Parable Of The Landowner Matthew 20:1-16 Introduction As the 501st anniversary of the Reformation draws near, we are again reminded of the all-too-familiar confession, Salvation is by grace alone, not by works. But could the case be that in our highly competitive world of first-raters, A-listers and chart-toppers, we are actually saturated with a works-based identity and mentality to measure and compare success, status, recognition by merit, ability and gains? How does this affect our evaluation of worth, the way we view others, or our (often unstated) expectations of God? In seeking to be first in such and such, do we pause to ask yes, first, but in whose eyes? Whose perspective matters most? May this parable help us to reflect on some of these matters. For Study and Discussion 1) Recruitment: From the first to the last (v1-7) a. He agreed to pay them a denarius.i will pay whatever is right. What does this say about the landowner the way he treated the 1st and 2nd group of workers? b. What is the contrast between the 1st group and the last group of workers? If you were the landowner, would you differentiate between the two groups and reciprocate them differently? How would you you do that? 2) Recompense: From the last to the first (v8-15) a. How would you feel and respond to the owner s treatment if you were part of (1) the last group of workers; (2) the 1st group? b. What attitudes or expectations underlie such a complaint (v.11) according to the owner? c. What does the unusual recruitment and compensation actions of the owner teach us about God and how things operate in the kingdom? About ourselves? 3) Reversal: The last will be first; the first will be last (v.16; 19:30) a. How does it address Peter s question regarding sacrifices and expected gain? (19:27) 8
b. How does it apply to the rich man vs one who sacrificed himself for Jesus (19:23-24,29)? c. How does it shed light on the following dispute concerning who among the disciples would be the greatest? (20:25-28; c.f. Mk 9:35) Discipleship Pointers The parable shows us that God s ways and thoughts concerning salvation, service, merit, reward often run counter to human norms, expectations and wisdom. The last will be first underscores His free and unmerited favour, standard, valuation, approval as primary, not human standards and valuations of worth, fairness, merit, effort, status, entitlement or accomplishment. While we often focus on comparing and differentiating ourselves from others based on our relative merits, the story highlights God s generous grace and compassion towards those who humbly trust Him, are needy and totally undeserving. In the immediate context, it is a gentle qualification or correction to Peter s assumption about service and reward in the kingdom. In the larger surrounding context, it illustrates what is highly valued and regarded by God as opposed to the world: Service: The disciples expect kingdom rewards will be proportional to the extent of their sacrifice (they insist they left everything ), but they must learn that God bestows recognition not based on comparative merit or effort, but on His free and generous grace. Salvation: The rich man bent on gaining for self is first in the world and priority queue for salvation (wealth = God s blessing, as commonly thought), but becomes last in the coming kingdom. Those who focus on giving all for Jesus sake becomes first (19:16ff). Status: While little children were regarded with little or low status, the Lord elevated them in His presence and held them as models of child-like trust and humble dependence on Him (19:13-14). Knowing God. 1. The Lord is just. His integrity is unquestionable. He does not exploit, defraud, cheat, short-change, is no man s debtor. No sacrifice and service done for Him is in vain, forgotten, devalued. Though this attribute is not the main emphasis of the story, it is fundamental to it. It is virtually always called into question and challenged in human protests. God is free to act beyond His justice, but never below it. 2. The Lord is free. His prerogative and will is absolute (though often beyond comprehension). He is God whether we let Him be or not. He does not stand bound and accountable to our ideas of what is moral, good, right or fair. Instead we bow before Him in submission and trust, seeking to learn what He has to teach us when He acts in a certain way. 3. The Lord is good. The high point of the story. It is expressed in His compassion, benevolence, and extravagant generosity towards the needy and unworthy, and His delight to be such a God for them. In reality, everyone that serves and lives for Him receives far more than they deserve ( hundredfold and eternal life, v.29). He gives more than what is right (v.4). His grace has made us equal in His sight, and erased every sinful discrimination against people. His goodness should overwhelm us with joy, gratitude and a desire to show that same magnanimity towards others as He has shown us.
This parable calls us to recognise God as the true owner of all things. He is therefore just, free, and good as the gracious rewarder of those who seek Him. In fact, this parable invites us to ponder on the surprises of God s grace, to experience afresh this grace which undergirds our discipleship and service, and then to model for the next generation what it is to be instruments of grace to a world that has only known significance by works. As we celebrate our 162nd anniversary, let us humbly appreciate anew that it is truly by grace alone we have come thus far, beyond what our faithfulness as a church deserved. The only work and merit that has earned us every temporal and spiritual blessing is that of Christ alone. Let His grace and merit free us from useless human comparison and boasting, but instead trust and please the One who promises to reward those who earnestly seek Him (Heb 11:6). Family/Group Moments Knowing ourselves. 1. God s goodness contrasts with our evil-ness (v.15 is literally, is your eye evil because I am good? ). The low point of the story. Do your eyes see discontent, envy, jealousy, resentment, prejudice, when kindness and acceptance is shown to those you dislike, deem less deserving? Do you play the role of the elder son in the Parable of the Prodigal (Lk 15:28-30); or the sulking prophet sent to his enemies (Jon 4:1-3)? 2. Why do we always compare with others? What do we compare about and with what yardstick? Are these comparisons important in God s eyes? 3. While we are expected at the minimum to act with integrity, justly, legally and professionally, to whom or in what circumstances can we go the extra mile and surprise someone with a gesture of unexpected grace and kindness? 4. Ask God to help us gain a true estimate Him and therefore of ourselves, that He is the true owner of all things, and that we are sinners and rebels, deserving of His wrath, but instead, are granted His unmerited favour in Christ. Ask God to help us so that we may serve Him with a new found sense of contentment, joy and gladness for the abundant grace we have received in Christ. Bible-For-All (BFA) Team: Ps Edward Goh (Editor), Mr Ong Whee Teck (Co-Editor), Eld Tang Yew Chung (Co-Editor), Mr Paul Johnson, Dr Walter McConnell, Eld Christy Or, Eld Harold Or, Mr Andrew Tan, and Mr Simon Ting