Category Archives: making disciples
The Story Chapter 31 Introduction
How does one describe heaven and eternity? How does one even come close to being able to put words unto that which is beyond words? How do we describe the One who has created us and the proximity of being with that Creator?
John tries. He tries to put words into place so that we can understand. Even with the words there is much mystery. Perhaps a good analogy is when we as humans were trying to picture the moon and had not yet begun the space program. There were many theories, but nothing like the real thing until we had sent humans and robots there to investigate.
Angel armies; The heavenly throne which is also described in Isaiah 6; The lamb who is worthy to break the seal; The silence in heaven; The new heaven and earth. Ultimately this is eternity where we are with our Creator forever.
The beauty of this new heaven and earth is that it is the exact opposite of where we began. We began in the Garden of Eden and The Fall–this is the New Jerusalem, the new garden. This is the place where there are no more tears and there is no more sadness. Why would that be? Here one will be in the presence of the Creator and the evil one will not be present. We hear the words of our Creator in saying, “I am making all things new!” God wins!
This is the place of the heavenly banquet. When we share in the Lord’s Supper here on earth we are not only remembering what Jesus has done, but we are also remembering the future–we remember the banquet to come where all who are in relationship with Jesus are invited.
As you read this last chapter of The Story this week, what strikes you most of this place of eternity? What is the biggest surprise? How will reading the end of The Story effect you as you live out the middle of The Story, knowing that you are a part of God’s bigger story?
Chris Tomlin’s song Angel Armies might also speak to you as you read this last chapter.
The Story Chapter 29 Introduction
Paul wrote much of the New Testament, yet he was one who began his career persecuting the church. Paul was on his way to Damascus to round up those following Jesus when he had an experience with the living God; with the resurrected Jesus.
Have you had an experience with the living God? What did that look like? Did that cause you to shift your thought process or your life style in the opposite direction?
After Saul, now named Paul’s experience, he became the biggest champion for the church. In fact, he made three missionary journeys into the heartland of the Roman Empire in order to share the Good News with the Gentiles, with non-Jews.
What are we willing to do in order to share the Good News with others? Are we willing to do a complete life style change? Are we willing to talk about Jesus even if it makes us uncomfortable? Here is a list of things that Paul persevered through in order to tell others the Good News that Jesus is alive!
“23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? 30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying.” 2 Corinthians 11
What are we willing to do to share Jesus?
The story chapter 28 post sermon
Jesus gave us a commission. In light of that commissioning, read the words of Oscar Romero.
Prophets of A Future Not Our Own
It helps now and then to step back and take a long view.
The Kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,
it is beyond our vision.
We accomplish in our lifetime only a fraction
of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work.
Nothing we do is complete, which is another way of
saying that the kingdom always lies beyond us.
No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith. No confession
brings perfection, no pastoral visit brings wholeness.
No program accomplishes the Church’s mission.
No set of goals and objectives include everything.
This is what we are about. We plant the seeds that one
day will grow. We water the seeds already planted
knowing that they hold future promise.
We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces effects
far beyond our capabilities.
We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of
liberation in realizing this.
This enables us to do something, and to do it very well.
It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning,
a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord’s
grace to enter and do the rest.
We may never see the end results, but that is the
difference between the master builder and the worker.
We are workers, not master builders, ministers, not
messiahs. We are prophets of a future not our own.
— Archbishop Oscar Romero
The Story Chapter 28 Reflection Questions
In today’s terminology we would call them wimps or maybe men with no backbone. All the disciples, except the “Beloved disciple,” ran when the going got tough. Now Jesus was alive, they had followed marching orders and had waited in Jerusalem until “the gift” arrived. What would the gift look like?
They had no clue. They just knew that they would know it when it came. Scripture tells us it came with the rush of a mighty wind. Maybe it sounded like one of those deadly tornados that frequent the plains of the mid-west. Instead of hiding, as their pattern had been, they came out into the open. Then the most amazing thing happened to them. It seemed like tongues of fire were falling upon them, but it was the manifestation of the Holy Spirit.
These men, who had literally been cowards were now empowered in ways they had never been before, and they were speaking in languages they had never learned. The purpose of the languages–to share the Good News of the resurrection of Jesus the Christ. They were empowered by the Spirit to build the kingdom of God.
The Good News doesn’t stop there. They the Holy Spirit continues to empower us today. Have you been baptized in the power of the Holy Spirit? Wonderful things can happen and gifts of the Spirit are given when you are willing to make yourself available for God’s use.
Use these study questions (taken from the Adult Study Guide) to enhance your reading this week.
- Look up Ex. 3:2, 3:21, and 19:18. Why do you suppose the Holy Spirit was portrayed as tongues of fire that came to rest on each believer at Pentecost and how does His relationship to believers change after this event?
- According to Peter’s Pentecost sermon (p. 325 or Acts 2:22-24, 36), who was responsible for Jesus death? As a group, discuss the tension we experience between God’s sovereignty and man’s free will.
- What marked the community life of the believers (p. 326, 328)? Discuss ways your church and small group help foster a similar community. Share what is most meaningful to you personally.
- The church grew rapidly from the beginning even in spite of growing opposition and persecution. What factors might account for such growth then?
- God the Father was the most visible person of the Trinity in the Old Testament. Jesus, God the Son, was most visible in the gospels and now God the Holy Spirit becomes prominent in Acts. For most Christians, the Holy Spirit is the least understood person of the Trinity. List all you learned about the Holy Spirit from this chapter. What did you learn about the empowerment of the Holy Spirit for your own life?
- How did Stephen’s martyrdom help fulfill God’s mandate of Acts 1:8 (p. 323) beginning with Philip? If you are comfortable, share an example from your own life of God fulfilling an Upper Story work out of a Lower Story tragedy.
- What accounts for the dramatic change in Saul of Tarsus from persecutor to preacher? Do you know anyone personally who has gone from being a Christ-hater to a Christ-follower? (Please be sensitive to privacy by refraining from mentioning names.)
- God intended to teach Peter something even more profound than a lesson about foods through the vision of unclean animals (p. 333-334). What was it and why was Cornelius’ conversion such a big turning point in the life of the early church? (See Acts 11:1-3, Acts 11:15-18, Rom. 10:12-13 and Eph. 2:11-13 for further insight.)
- What did you learn about suffering from Peter’s flogging (p. 329-330) and imprisonment (p. 334-336), and Stephen’s martyrdom (p. 330-331) that you could apply personally?
The Story Chapter 28 Introduction
While in the church calendar year we are still in the Easter season until Pentecost, in The Story we fly through the resurrection appearances of Jesus to land on the day of Pentecost. While we might be moving quickly, you might want to pause to contemplate the resurrection appearances of Jesus. The appearance to the two on the Road to Emmaus happened on Easter Sunday itself. The Apostle Paul gives a list of those who saw the resurrected Jesus to the people of Corinth.
Prior to the ascension of Jesus, he gives instructions to those who are left behind, we often call this The Great Commission, “Go into all the world making disciples and baptizing in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
Jesus also told them to wait for the gift that would be given on what we call the day of Pentecost. Pentecost was a festival for which the faithful Jews would come to Jerusalem, so there were many from what is known as the diaspora there when the Holy Spirit fell upon the Apostles.
Here is the exciting part, the Holy Spirit empowered the believers to speak in languages they had never studied. The Holy spirit gave gifts of the spirit which were used to build the kingdom of God; The Holy Spirit continues to give gifts today for building the kingdom of God.
Sometimes it is hard for us to imagine that God continues to bless believers with miraculous gifts of the Holy spirit that are not learned and do not fall under our categories of understanding. That is the way God works. God is beyond being put into a box or fitting into our categories of understanding. We are told that if we pray to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit that God will bless us with them. What gifts can you use for the building of God’s kingdom; Prophecy, healing, wisdom, tongues? Pray for the baptism of the Holy spirit upon you. Open up your heart, God will provide.
The Story Chapter 27 Introduction
Our entire study of The Story revolved around this chapter, chapter 27. While this chapter gives us the story of that Easter morning, I cannot quite write about it yet, as we are still in holy week. Today is Maundy Thursday, and for now, I need to live in the moment of the day.
Maundy or Holy Thursday comes from the Latin root “mandate” or “command” and it is a reminder that Jesus tells us, “A new command I give you, to love one another.”
Live in this day that Christ offered us. Whom do you need to love? Is it the person who lives next door? Is it the person you buy coffee from every morning who is less than friendly? Maybe it is a relative or someone who used to be a friend, but something has come between you.
Today is a day for us to swallow our pride, as Jesus did when he washed the feet of the disciples. He even washed the feet of the one who would hand him over to the authorities. Can we wash the feet, literally and figuratively, of the one who is going to turn against us? Can we love them and see them through the eyes of Jesus as children of God? What would that involve for me and you?
The Story Chapter 26 Post sermon
We begin the most sacred week in the church calendar year. Why? Because this is the week that brings the drama for Jesus to fulfill his rescue mission. The full week is explained in this week’s sermon message found here under March 24th.
The week begins with a triumphal entry into Jerusalem and ends on a cross on Golgotha.
Be in this week. Take time to reflect each portion of what has transpired during the life of Jesus. Take time to meditate on the Stations of the Cross, or on the final seven words Jesus spoke on the cross.
You cannot get to Easter without the passion of the cross. The resurrection doesn’t happen in a vacuum, but rather is the result of what happened when Jesus was willing to follow the plan and sacrifice himself for us.
The cross is where the holiness of God and the love of God meet: It is brutal, it is ugly, it is horrible and it is our saving grace. Without the cross we cannot get to Easter.
Take time this week to remember Christ’s passion, remember the Via Doloroso, (The way of suffering.)
The Story Chapter 26 Reflection Questions
“The cross was enough, the cross was enough.” I love these lyrics in the song by Chris Tomlin entitled “Jesus, Son of God” because it reminds us that Jesus took the hit for us–Jesus took all our sins upon himself so that we don’t have to be separated from God due to the nature of our sin.
We don’t like to use the word sin. In fact, we will use almost any other word to display our actions. In our culture it has also become popular to lay blame upon other people and to use the words, “It was not my fault.”
The reality is, when we look at root cause, the cause is sin. And we are all subject to the reality that sin overtakes us and renders us powerless–except for one big thing…one big thing that spreads over the gap and covers our sin…..”The cross was enough.”
Use these study questions taken from the adult study guide to enhance your reading of chapter 26 this week.
- In what ways does Jesus’ preparation and celebration of his final Passover meal parallel the original Passover? What does this teach us about the purpose of Jesus’ death? (Review Exodus. 12:1-13, 21-27, John 1:29 and 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 )
- What was Jesus trying to teach the disciples when he washed their feet? What are some ways you can wash each others’ feet as a small group?
- Review Jeremiah 31:34 and Ezekiel 36:26-28, where the prophets describe the new covenant. What are some of the characteristics of the new covenant listed in these verses? How does Jesus fulfill these promises?
- Look back at pages 305- 306. How would you describe Jesus’ special relationship to the Father?
- How is the Spirit described on p. 306? How have you experienced the Holy Spirit in your life?
- What can we learn about Jesus and about prayer from the Garden of Gethsemane? (p. 307-308)?
- Compare Judas with Peter after each betrayed Jesus (p. 310). How can you tell the difference between remorse and repentance?
- The Sanhedrin could find no evidence to charge Jesus (p. 309). (Jewish Law, Deut. 17:6, required two witnesses.) Three times Pilate declared, “I find no basis for a charge against him,” (p. 311). Why is this important? Why was Jesus crucified?
- Discuss the irony of the statement, “He saved others but He can’t save himself.” How do you feel that such a price was paid for you?
- Compare Jesus as King to Israel’s and Judah’s former kings, and the religious leaders of Jesus’ day to Israel’s religious leaders in the past. Why did Israel need King Jesus?
The Story Chapter 25 Reflective Quesitons
This is a picture of the sunrise on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus was witness to this place. God on earth saw the sunrise; God on earth saw the people who were in distress; God on earth came as a rescue plan.
While the people conferred authority upon him, the religious leaders of the day questioned his authority. “Who gave you the authority to…..?” The response of Jesus, “My Father in heaven.”
Ultimately it came down to the question which Jesus asked of his disciples in Mark 8, “Who do you say that I am?”
We, too, have to be prepared to answer that question. Who do you say Jesus is?
Use these questions taken from the adult study guide as your read through chapter 25 this week.
1. Jesus said we must “deny ourselves” and “take up our cross;” and if we seek to save our lives we will lose them. (p. 291-292). What are the implications of these commands for your life, such as marriage, parenting, and career ambition?
2. Jesus was transfigured on the mountain (p. 292). The Greek word translated transfigured is the root of the English word metamorphosis which refers to a radical change. This same word is used in Romans 12:2 and 2 Corinthians 3:18. What do these verses teach us about the transformation of every believer?
4. Look up 1 John 1:5-7 and 2:8-11. What did Jesus mean when He said that “whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (p. 294)? What does this look like for the Christian living a typical daily life?
5. Look up Exodus 3:14, Isaiah 43:11-13, and John 5:18. Why did Jesus’ opponents try to stone Him (p. 295)? How might you answer the skeptic who says that Jesus never claimed to be God?
6. Up to this point, Jesus had claimed to be the bread of life, the water of life and the light of life. And here with Mary, Martha, the disciples and a crowd of mourners, He claimed to be the resurrection and the life with another I AM statement (p. 296). What is the relationship between belief and life? Between belief and resurrection?
7. Why do you suppose Jesus was “deeply moved in spirit,” “troubled,” and wept? Consider Genesis 2:17, Romans. 6:23, 1 Corinthians. 15:26, Hebrews. 2:14-15 and I Thessalonians 4:13-17. How has your faith helped you deal with death?
8. Three times Jesus predicted His death and resurrection (p. 291, 292, and 299; Mark 8:31, 9:30-31, 10:32-34) and followed each with a lesson on discipleship (p. 291 [Mark 8:34-38], Mark 9:33-37, Mark 10:35-45). What principles of discipleship did Jesus teach and why would He relate them to His Passion?
9. After Jesus entered Jerusalem as the rightful King of Israel, He cleansed the temple because some had turned it from a house of prayer into a place of corruption (p. 300). Suppose Jesus walked into our own church. With what would He be most pleased? What corrections might He make?
10. At what points was Jesus’ humanity most evident to you? His deity?
The Story Chapter 25 Introduction
Jesus, who is this man? He cries out, “Woe to you…” yet he continues to teach about the Kingdom of God! He has turned everything upside down.
Yet we begin to see a pattern. We begin to see that he is not acting upon His own authority, but rather He is working from something higher, from something deep within. (Looking back, we understand this to be the work of the Holy Spirit that came upon Him in baptism.)
Chapter 25 of The Story continues to invite us to investigate who this man Jesus really is. Even the disciples do not understand until He has been with them for a long time. When asked, Peter suddenly blurts it out, “You are the Messiah!”
But this was not the kind of Messiah the people had been waiting for. Rather, they had been waiting for a mighty warrior like David, or a clear prophet like Elijah or Moses.
So who do you say He is and why do you proclaim who you believe Him to be?
As you read The Story this week, pay special attention to the details of when and how Jesus uses the authority conferred upon Him by God. Have the people also conferred authority upon Jesus?
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