SMALL GROUP STUDY GUIDE Message Series: Puzzled by the Bible Message Title: All New Speaker: Pastor Kevin Myers Date: March 19-20, 2011 Icebreaker: Pastor Kevin (PK) pointed out that there s a big gap between being a fan of the Atlanta Falcons and actually being on the team. Still, he s an awfully enthusiastic fan! If you could wear a jersey to show your support for just one team of any sport pro, college, high school or youth league what team would it be? What do you love about your favorite team? Message Overview: Last week, we reached the turning point of God s story, as we celebrated God s love and mercy revealed in the sacrificial death and victorious resurrection of Jesus. After His resurrection, Jesus established the Church. So here we are! ribes srael isciples hurch ne ne estroyed estroyed nter xit Righteous Redeemed Page 1
As followers of Christ under the new contract of grace and mercy, we re called to a new life! Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) We re now on His team, as part of the Church, and we re called to surrender our will to His: Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1 (NIV) When we die to our own will, we re alive to the will and purposes of God. He makes all things new! Here are three key All New s for followers of Christ: 1. All NEW Community we re at risk of choosing Critical over Community 2. All NEW Code we re at risk of choosing Callous (toward sin) over the Code of holiness 3. All NEW Calling we re at risk of choosing Consumerism over our Calling (our mission!) Discussion: (Leaders: The questions that follow are designed to stir reflection and discussion on this week s primary Message points. Please read through them prior to your meeting, so you can be prepared to prayerfully pace your group well. And remember, as leader, your goal is to promote increased biblical awareness, as well as individual self awareness a combination that with the help of the Holy Spirit, results in revelation and transformation!) Romans 12:1 tells us that we are to offer ourselves our very bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. Read Romans 6:4-11 and Galatians 2:19-20 for more on being dead to ourselves and alive for Him. Somehow, our will doesn t seem to die easily, or stay completely dead! Can you relate to the strong-willed toddler throwing a tantrum because he wants his way (and his candy)? What s your version of self rearing its head and pitching a fit? Read the description of the very early Church, immediately after Pentecost, in Acts 2:42-47. How did the lives of these new believers change once they accepted Jesus? How would you compare this description of the New Testament Church to the Church of today? Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 and 12:21-28. As members of the body of Christ, God has given each of us unique gifts and talents designed to be used for His glory. Do you have a good sense of what your gifts are? Do you think you re using them effectively for God s Kingdom purposes? Would you say that you have an appropriate respect and appreciation for the gifts of others that are very different from your own? Hebrews 10:24-25 tells us to consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another. As PK said, following Christ is a team sport. Do you know anyone who claims to be a follower of Christ but doesn t attend church? Have you ever tried to maintain a just me and Jesus kind of faith without being connected to a church? Why do you think it s important for follower of Christ to be part of a community of believers, rather than going it alone? Page 2
Read Proverbs 6:16-18 and Ephesians 4:2-6. How have you seen the unity of the Church attacked and damaged? Consider the illustration of the buckets of water and gasoline that we each carry. Have you ever been guilty of throwing gasoline onto a flame of gossip, slander or divisiveness? How can we firmly but lovingly throw water on our fellow believers when we see a flicker of stirring up dissension? Read 1 John 2:1-2. Have you ever thought of Jesus as a get out of hell free card that allowed you to sin freely, with the guarantee of forgiveness? Have you ever known anyone who seemed to have that attitude? If Jesus has paid the price to atone for our sins, why should we try not to sin? What s our motivation to live up to the code of holiness? PK talked about the conflict in his marriage about whether or not to have a third child, and his struggle to follow the command of Ephesians 5:25 to love his wife just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. Though he was terrified at the thought of providing for another child, his son Jake has been a great source of joy. God had blessing in store for his life, if he would obey Him. How have you experienced blessing in your life when you ve surrendered your will and obeyed God? Read Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:8-9. Jesus left his followers with instructions. We have a mission and it s not about us. What are some things that distract the church from making disciples and being witnesses for Jesus? How can we stay focused on our calling? Is your attitude toward church more like a consumer or a contributor? Do you ever evaluate the service the pastor s delivery, the music, etc. like a critic? How do you think God would evaluate your worship and your efforts as a witness to His lost children? Wrap-Up/Close: Is there an area where you need to crawl back onto the altar and renew your commitment? Which of these speaks most directly to you? Protecting Community (in the Church) and rejecting the temptation to be Critical Choosing the Code of Holiness and rejecting the temptation to be Callous toward sin Committing to the Calling of the Church and rejecting an attitude of Consumerism Pray together that as individuals and families, as small groups, and as a church (12Stone), we would have a renewed sense of what it means to be The Church and live as God s Holy People. Throughout the Week: (Optional) (Leaders: Share these optional exercises for further study and growth with your group.) Be sure to invite anyone you might know who has an interest in end times prophecies and signs to come to church with you next week! As we prepare to finish the triangle ending with God and Redeemed Man in Paradise read Revelation chapters 1 and 19-22 this week. To memorize: Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1 (NIV) Page 3
3/20/11 - Week 6 Appendix 1 The Tabernacle God s Provision for the Tabernacle Before God brought Israel out of Egypt, He provided through the Egyptians an abundance of material for building the Tabernacle (Ex. 3:21-22, 12:35-36). God had already planned this when he made his covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15:14), and He later asked Israel to willingly bring these items as an offering to Him to build the Tabernacle (Exodus 35:4-29). Names for the Tabernacle In Exodus 25:8 God told Moses why he wanted him to build the Tabernacle so God could dwell among the Israelites. The different names used for the Tabernacle reflect some of its attributes. Sanctuary (Exodus 25:8) Literally the Hebrew word means a holy place or a place set apart. This name emphasized God s holiness. Tabernacle (Exodus 25:9) The Hebrew words for Tabernacle and to dwell contain the same root, so Tabernacle literally means a dwelling place. Tent of Meeting (Exodus 29:42) The place where the people presented themselves before God and met with Him. Tent of the Testimony (Numbers 17:7-8) Testimony was the common name for the stone tables bearing the Ten Commandments that were kept in the Ark of the Covenant. Entering the Tabernacle Court Fence and Gate of the Court (Exodus 27:9-19) - First a person would enter the Gate of the Court to make an offering (the five offerings are described in Leviticus 1-6), either a sacrifice for sin or thanksgiving. After passing through the gate, the person would come into the court. The court fence was made of long pieces of white linen held up by posts that surrounded the Tabernacle. Bronze Altar (Exodus 27:1-8) - This altar is the one place where all the sacrifices of the people were to be offered. Most offerings were made for the people s sins (intentional and unintentional sin). Because these sacrifices only temporarily covered the sins of the people, they needed to be offered on a regular basis. God asked them for a perfect, flawless animal (Leviticus 1:3; 4:28) because the animal represented an undeserving recipient of a deserved punishment. Page 4
Bronze Basin (Leviticus 30:17-21) In front of the tent stood the bronze basin for washing. Before making the sacrifice or entering the tent, the priest washed himself at the bronze laver, to purify himself. Tabernacle (Exodus 26) - The priest entered the Tabernacle through the curtains at the entrance. The Tabernacle was divided into two sections- The Holy Place and The Most Holy Place. Everyday some of the priests entered the Holy Place to serve the Lord. This outer room contained the table of showbread, the lamp stand and the altar of incense. Golden Lampstand (Exodus 25:31-40) - The lampstand (menorah) provided light in this otherwise dark room. The lampstand was made from a single piece of gold that had a central shaft and six branches, three on each side. Each branch had knobs, flowers, and an almond-shaped bowl to hold pure olive oil. The lamp was never to be extinguished (Leviticus 24:1-4) and was supposed to light the area in front of it where the Table stood (Numbers 8:1-4). Table of the Presence (Exodus 25:23-30) - On the table of the Presence, the priests placed twelve loaves of bread (probably to represent the 12 tribes of Israel). The priests were to set out fresh bread every Sabbath and were allowed to eat the old bread (Leviticus 24:5-9). The Altar of Incense (Exodus 30:1-10) This altar was rather small and was used to burn special incense (Exodus 30:34-38). The High Priest burned the incense every morning and evening. Curtain (Exodus 26:31-35) - The curtain was a divider between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. It was a barrier between God and man. Only the High Priest could enter into the Most Holy Place and even he could enter only once a year, on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16). Ark (Exodus 25:10-22) - The central focus of the entire Tabernacle was the Ark in the Most Holy Place. The Ark was a chest with a very special cover (atonement cover, also called Mercy Seat) made of pure gold, with two winged cherubim on the top facing each other. Inside the Ark were the Tablets of Stone (Ex. 25:16) with the Ten Commandments engraved in them, the golden jar of manna (Exodus 16:32-33), and Aaron s Rod that budded and bore fruit (Num. 17:10). Cloud and Pillar of Fire - The Lord manifested His presence with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. This cloud or pillar of fire would rest above the Atonement Cover (Exodus 25:21-22). From there, God spoke to Moses (who stood in front of the tent) and gave him His commands (Exodus 25:22, Leviticus 1:1-2). When the cloud or pillar of fire moved, the children of Israel followed it. Wherever it stopped, they camped there until it moved again (Exodus 40:34-38). Page 5
3/20/11 - Week 6 Appendix 2 The Plan of Salvation The "bridge" illustration is an excellent way to explain the plan of salvation. 1. God loves you and created YOU to have a personal relationship with Him. God created you - "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139: 13-14 (NIV) God loves you - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life" John 3:16 (NIV) God wants you to know him - "Now this is eternal life; that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ who you have sent." John 17:3 (NIV) Why is it that many people do not have a personal relationship with God? 2. OUR SIN keeps us from having a personal relationship with God. What is sin? "Anyone, then, that knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins. James 4:17 (NIV) - God is holy and perfect and we are not. Sin not only means doing wrong or failing to do all that God wants. Sin is also our attitude of ignoring or rejecting God. Because God is Holy, he cannot accept our sin. Who has sinned? "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23 (NIV) What Happens when we sin? Your iniquities have separated you from your God your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear" Isaiah 59:2 (NIV) "For the wages of sin is death." Romans 6:23 (NIV) - Sin causes a gap between God and us. Death, which means eternal separation from God, is the penalty for our sin. What is the solution to our separation from God? 3. Only through Jesus Christ can you have a personal relationship with God. Why Jesus? "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me." John 14:6 (NIV) - It is only through Jesus Christ that we can have a relationship with God. Page 6
Why did Jesus have to die? "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body, but made alive by the spirit" 1 Peter 3:18 (NIV) - Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins, so we could be forgiven. Why did Jesus rise from the dead? "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time."1 Cor. 15: 3-6 (NIV) - Jesus rose from the dead to prove he could give us eternal life. How can you begin your personal relationship with God? 4. You must personally respond by trusting Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. You respond with trust in Christ. "For it is by Grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) - You must trust in him - you can't earn your salvation by doing good things alone. You respond by turning to God from sin. "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out." Acts 3:19 (NIV) You respond by receiving Christ. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." John 1:12 (NIV) Receiving Christ means: Turning to God from your own way of living (repentance). Inviting Christ to come into your life and trusting him to forgive your sin. Allowing God to direct your life. Receiving Christ is not just an emotional experience; nor is it just agreeing with your mind that Jesus is the son of God. It means your total trust, an act of your will. YOU can begin your personal relationship with GOD by receiving Jesus Christ by faith. You can express your faith and trust through prayer. Prayer is simply talking to God. He knows what you mean even when it is difficult to express yourself. You can use this prayer, or use your own words: "Dear God, I know that my sin has separated me from you. Thank You that Jesus Christ died in my place. I ask you Jesus to forgive my sin and to come into my life. Please begin to direct my life. Thank you for giving me eternal life. In Jesus' name, Amen. " Can you say this to God, and mean it? If you can, pray now and trust Jesus to forgive your sin and come into your life, as he promised. Page 7
What now? 5. Your trust in Jesus Christ begins a lifelong relationship. God commits himself to you. "You are in me, and I am in you" John 14:20 NIV) God assures you that Jesus Christ has come into your life. "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you" Hebrews 13:5 (NIV) God will never leave you. "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life" 1 John 5:13 (NIV) God assures you that you have eternal life. "Since we live by the spirit, let us keep step with the spirit." Galatians 5:25 (NIV) God gives you his Holy Spirit to enable you to live the Christian life. You commit yourself to God. "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." Colossians 2:6-7 (NIV) Page 8
3/20/11 - Week 6 Appendix 3 Pentecost Shavuot or Sha-Voo-ote also called the Feast of Weeks is the festival we call Pentecost. Pente means 50 and it is called Pentecost because it was held 50 days, or 7 weeks after Passover (Deut, 16:9-12). Shavout (Pentecost) celebrates two things, the wheat harvest, and the giving of the Torah (the first 5 books of the Bible). Jesus was crucified at Passover time, and he ascended into heaven 40 days after His resurrection. The Holy Spirit came 50 days after the resurrection, ten days after the ascension. Jews of many nations gathered in Jerusalem for this festival. Thus Peter s speech (Acts 2:14) was given to an international audience, and it resulted in a worldwide harvest of believers-the first converts to Christianity. Prior to His crucifixion, Jesus had warned the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the baptizing of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5). So the disciples were in Jerusalem to celebrate Shavout (Pentecost) and await the Holy Spirit. Who Is The Holy Spirit? He is a Person. 1. He has intelligence. He knows and searches the things of God (1 Cor.2:10-11); He possesses a mind (Rom. 8:27); He is able to teach people (1 Cor.2:13). 2. He shows feelings. He can be grieved by the sinful actions of believers (Eph.4:30-an influence cannot be grieved). 3. He has a will. He uses this in distributing gifts to the body of Christ (1Cor. 12:11). He also directs the activities of Christians (Acts 16:6-11). 4. He guides into truth by hearing, speaking and showing (John 16:13). 5. He convicts of sin (John 16:8). 6. He performs miracles (Acts 8:39). 7. He intercedes (Rom. 8:26). 8. He is One to be obeyed (Acts 10:19-21). 9. He can be lied to (Acts 5:3). 10. He can be resisted (Acts 7:51). 11. He can be grieved (Eph.4:30). 12. He can be blasphemed (Matt.12:31). 13. He can be insulted (Heb. 10:29). He is God. 1. He is omniscience (Isa.40:13, 1 Cor.2:12). 2. He is omnipresence (Ps. 139:7). 3. He is omnipotence by virtue of His work in Creation (Job 33:4; Ps. 104:30). 4. He was the cause of the Virgin Birth (Luke 1:35). 5. He was the agent in giving the inspired Scriptures (2 Pet.1:21). 6. He was involved in the Creation of the world (Gen.1:2). 7. He creates a new life in a believer (Rom.6:4). 8. His presence is abiding and forever in the believer (John 14:16). Page 9
Symbols of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2 Wind Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole where they were sitting. Acts 2:2, NIV In the major ancient languages, Hebrew and Greek (in which the Old and New Testaments were written) and even Latin (which was spoken widely at this time)-the word for spirit was also used for wind or breath. So when Acts 2:2 says they heard a sound like the blowing of a violent wind, wind also means spirit. As a result, no one who normally thought in Hebrew, Greek, or Latin would have missed the symbolism. The Hebrew word for wind or spirit is ruach. You can t say it without a strong sound of breath: it is pronounced ru-aaah. The word means both breath and spirit and it is the same with the Greek word pneuma and with the Latin word spiritus, when a person says these words there is an audible breath sound. In Genesis 1:2 we see the Holy Spirit hovering over the waters, moving like the wind to form the earth. In Genesis 2:7 God forms Adam and breathes life into him. During His ministry, Jesus breathed life over the disciples to give them power. Now, the Holy Spirit of God is breathing new life into individuals and a new church. The coming of the Holy Spirit as a violent wind was meant to symbolize the coming of the creative power of God to inaugurate a new era in which men and women should be brought to spiritual life. Fire They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. Acts 2:3, NIV This was a fulfillment of John the Baptist s words about the Holy Spirit baptizing with fire (Luke 3:16), and of the prophet Joel s words about an outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28, 29). Tongues symbolize speech and the communication of the gospel. Fire symbolizes God s purifying presence, which burns away the undesirable elements of our lives and sets our hearts aflame to ignite the lives of others. In the desert of Sinai fire was seen setting aflame a nondescript bush without destroying it so that Moses was drawn to recognize God in the fire (Ex. 3:2; see also Isa.4:4; 6:6-7; Heb. 12:29). On Mount Sinai, God confirmed the validity of the Old Testament law with fire from heaven (Ex. 19:16-18). Page 10
At Pentecost, God confirmed the validity of the Holy Spirit s ministry by sending fire. At Mt. Sinai, fire had come down on one place; at Pentecost, fire came down on many believers, symbolizing that God s presence is now available to all who believe in Him. Definitions Ascension. When Christ had finished His earthly ministry, He entered the presence of God (Mk.16:19; Lk.24:51; Acts1:9). This prepared the way for the coming of the promised Holy Spirit to minister invisibly through the church (Acts 2:1-3). Baptism. Ritual washing for purification from uncleanness of various sorts was common in the Old Testament (Heb. 6:2; 9:10). Uncleanness was associated with childbirth, menstruation, contact with a corpse, certain diseases, idolatry, etc. Mikvehs were baths set aside in the temple for this ritual bathing. Converts from heathenism were baptized. John the Baptist employed the rite to signify repentance from sin. John s baptism was preparatory and introductory to Christ s spiritual baptism (Matt.3:11; Mk.1:8; Lk.3:16; Jn.1:33; Acts 1:5; 11:15, 16). Christ baptized with the Holy Spirit in the primary sense of providing such a great salvation (Heb.2:3). After his ascension the Holy Spirit came and baptized believers into union with the glorified Christ (1Cor.12:12, 13; Rom.6:3,4; Gal.3:27). Today, baptism is done by Christians as a public expression of an inward reality, Jesus Christ died for our sins. Baptism does not save a person or bring salvation; only belief in what Jesus did on the cross can accomplish this. Redemption. The process by which sinful humans are bought back from the bondage of sin into relationship with God through grace by the payment of Jesus death. Redemption is one of the pictures or metaphors that the NT uses to give insight into God s gracious saving work in Jesus. Regeneration. A vital aspect of salvation in which the believer is reborn and then the Holy Spirit comes to live inside him (Jn.3:1-6; Tit.3:5; 1Pt.1:23; 2:2), the believer then becomes a son in the Father s family (Gal. 3:26). He becomes an heir of God and a joint heir with Christ (Rom.8:17). The sole condition of the new birth is unreserved faith in the crucified Christ (Jn.3:14-18). Page 11