Matthew 5: 33-48 (the end of Matthew: 5)
Hey all!!!!- here are some notes on last week’s bible study (just in case you weren’t there or want a recap). Please remember that these notes are not here to take the place of bible study, but rather to re-enforce what we’ve discussed and to discuss further.... With that said, I hope yall are able to take the time to read and discuss (you don’t have to have a blog account to discuss!!!)
Bible study notes:
Promises
33You know that our ancestors were told, "Don't use the Lord's name to make a promise unless you are going to keep it." 34But I tell you not to swear by anything when you make a promise! Heaven is God's throne, so don't swear by heaven. 35The earth is God's footstool, so don't swear by the earth. Jerusalem is the city of the great king, so don't swear by it. 36Don't swear by your own head. You cannot make one hair white or black. 37When you make a promise, say only "Yes" or "No." Anything else comes from the devil.
-What do you think Jesus is trying to get across here??? (Maybe that your word should be enough?)
-Is your word enough? When you make promises, do you stick to them? If so, then people are able to trust you and your word!
-Here Jesus is pointing out that there is no need to bring anything extra into the promise to make it more legit. In other words, if you are known as a person of your word, why would you need to "swear to God"? Wouldn’t your promise be enough to the person you’re promising? If it’s not, how can you fix that???
Revenge
(Luke 6.29,30)
38You know that you have been taught, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." 39But I tell you not to try to get even with a person who has done something to you. When someone slaps your right cheek, [i] turn and let that person slap your other cheek. 40If someone sues you for your shirt, give up your coat as well. 41If a soldier forces you to carry his pack one mile, carry it two miles. [j] 42When people ask you for something, give it to them. When they want to borrow money, lend it to them.
-Do you remember what God’s 1st rule and commandment is?? (HINT: found in 1 Corinthians!)
(Answer: To love each other as He as loved us)!
-Can we really love each other if we are seeking revenge?
-Revenge (like anger, which was discussed last week) takes hold of you and turns you bitter. Revenge nor anger allow you to be pure of heart and mind, which is what God asks of us.
Love
(Luke 6.27,28,32-36)
43You have heard people say, "Love your neighbors and hate your enemies." 44But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for anyone who mistreats you. 45Then you will be acting like your Father in heaven. He makes the sun rise on both good and bad people. And he sends rain for the ones who do right and for the ones who do wrong. 46If you love only those people who love you, will God reward you for that? Even tax collectors [k] love their friends. 47If you greet only your friends, what's so great about that? Don't even unbelievers do that? 48But you must always act like your Father in heaven.
-Note: even the tax collectors (and other such corrupt people, ha!) are capable of loving their friends and family. Even evil people can love those who love them.
-As Christians, we are asked to love even those that the world does not. It’s difficult yes. Daunting, yes. But God asks it of us. And here’s the best part– He tells us to lean on him for the strength. Isn’t that awesome??? He doesn’t want us to go it alone. He knows we need help and He wants to help us!! What an awesome Father we have in Him!!!
-Verse 48: You must always be perfect...... take a minute to think about this.
-Is this possible? Why or why not?!?!?
-True, we are all sinners, but Jesus does think we are capable of trying- that we can try to be perfect like He was and again, He wants to help us!!!
-So how can we try to be perfect???
1-in character: aspire to be like Christ, the perfect role model
2-holiness- separate ourselves from the world’s sinful ways; follow His way instead (this is difficult, but accountability partners can really help you here!)
3-maturity- grow in Christ and with Christ; and remember, there’s always room to grow.
4-love- love others as Christ loved us.
So what can you do this week to try and be more like Christ? Remember, our Bible study readings are trying to help us figure out who Christ is, what was so awesome about Him and why we should try to be more like Him. How can you answer these from the chapter we just finished reading? (Maybe try putting this in your binder??)
I will try to remember to post links to the books I use to help me with these chapters, so yall know where my info comes from and so you can join in too if you want it!
Love you guys!
And remember:
-bring in juice for Sunday breakfast for the church
-Sign up for a time to meet with me! (30 minutes)
-donuts are coming this Sunday!!!!!
See you Sunday!
Your youth leader,
Kel
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I love this blog! you guys have an awesome youth director!!!
ReplyDeleteas far as the anger topic goes.... i was listening recently to rob bell, and he made this great point that what we consume we become. In other words, what we take part in,wether it is gossip, lust, angry music, raunchy movies, self deprecation, jealousy, etc... if we consume these things, we begin to reflect them. He also said that what you look for you will find = if you look for things to complain about, they'll appear. If you are lookign for someone to treat you like a victim, you'll become a victim. If you're are looking for negative attention, your gonna get all sorts of bad attention, gossipers, etc...
To begin to be less angry or whatever it is we want to avoid, we need to purge from our life. We need to focus on the good and pure things, like Paul talks about in Corinthians. And that change wont come out of natural desire, it has to be a concious choice. One that we wuill have to make over and over again.
I dunno about you guys but Im really tired of doing things my own way. I realized recently that they're not fullfilling, and yet I keep going back to them as if they will be. I want take jesus seriously and begin to actively choose to be a new creation in Christ.