Salutations to you all. Last week Kyle so graciously ended our John series on believe and this week we well be launching our John series on “Lion and the Lamb.” I once heard old man river say march comes in like a Lion and goes out like a Lamb. How appropriate when we’re talking about the characteristics of God. Jesus has been referred to as “the Lion of Judea” and “the Lamb of God” in scripture. “How clever the middle school team must be,” your probably thinking? No we just took a one legged opportunity and made it into an Arnie Palmer. Even a the worship music of Chris Tomlin carries our theme for march
How great is our God,
sing with me
How great is our God,
and all who sing
How great, How great
Is our God
The Godhead, Three in one
Father, Spirit, Son
The Lion and the Lamb,
The Lion and the Lamb
All the last two line about sum it up there. L&L is a 4 part series; Lion of Judea, Shepherd, Vine, Lamb with each part covering the different characteristics of Jesus. Tonight we’re going to take a close look at Jesus as the Lion of Judea. Often time we think of Jesus as a soft and gentle God who softly spoke and loved everyone, which is true, but that’s only one part the Son of God. The reason Jesus is referred to as a Lion is because of his fierce side, Jesus’ passion for us and for love. Jesus came to defeat death and destroy evil in head to head combat. Yes, you do not see Jesus fist-fighting in the streets but Jesus caused riots with His love, he was almost murdered many times, he would openly oppose the Law and government with His message of Salvation, Life and Love. Get ready to have a great time digging in with your students.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Wednesday Fubruary 27, 2008
Last week Paul talked about how Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. Martha looked to Jesus for faith and believed in His power to bring Lazarus back to life. This week Kyle is talking about Mary, Martha's sister who was there when Jesus brought Lazarus back from death. In John ch. 12 Mary goes to Jesus and washes His feet with her own tears and perfume. She publicly annoints Jesus to show her own personal faith and belief in Him as the One true Son of God.
1. What was something you found interesting about reading John this week.
2. What was something you or your family discussed, and could you share that with the group.
3. The other disciples were troubled by Mary's actions, why do you think that is?
4. Mary could have spent an entire year's wages washing Jesus feet? What does this show you about Mary's faith?
5. Mary selflessly showed Jesus that she loved Him and believed in Him as the Son of God. How has someone shown you that they love you by doing something selfless like what Mary did for Jesus.
6. What is something you can do for someone to show them you love them.
7.How can you show Jesus you believe in Him as the Son of God and love Him.
1. What was something you found interesting about reading John this week.
2. What was something you or your family discussed, and could you share that with the group.
3. The other disciples were troubled by Mary's actions, why do you think that is?
4. Mary could have spent an entire year's wages washing Jesus feet? What does this show you about Mary's faith?
5. Mary selflessly showed Jesus that she loved Him and believed in Him as the Son of God. How has someone shown you that they love you by doing something selfless like what Mary did for Jesus.
6. What is something you can do for someone to show them you love them.
7.How can you show Jesus you believe in Him as the Son of God and love Him.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Wednesday February 20th, 2008
We're continuing on with the John series on Believe. Last week John talked about his lucky bunnies but he also talked about people believing in the authority of Jesus' words. Just by proclaiming something it happened and people believed. This week we'll be looking at John Ch. 11 when Jesus raised Lazarus back from the dead. Lazarus' sister where having some difficulty believing Jesus would bring someone back to life after being dead for 4 day's. After Jesus had raised Lazarus again people's faith in Him grew even stronger. Really focus on how Mary and Martha put their faith and trust in Jesus and how they also believed in Him as the Messiah and Son of God.
Conversation 2.20.08
1. What was something you found interesting about the reading John chapters 5-7?
2. What was something you learned from the reading?
3. In John 11:23-25 Jesus tells Martha her brother Lazarus will rise again. Martha replies and says, “yes I believe he will rise in the resurrection at the last day.” And Jesus tells her, “I am the resurrection and the life, anyone who believes in me will never die.” What does Jesus mean by Himself being the “resurrection, and if you believe in Him you will never die?”
(Leader’s know that the resurrection is Jesus bringing all the believers to heaven and you will live for ever in paradise with Jesus. Make sure you explain this).
4. Martha had a hard time trusting Jesus at first when He asked for Lazarus’ tomb to be opened. After Jesus assured her, she believed and Lazarus was brought back to life. Have you ever experienced a time where you had a hard time believing something, maybe something that took a lot of faith in Jesus or others?
(Leader’s if they are having a hard time thinking of something give them some examples).
5. Talk about a time where you’ve witnessed one of God’s miracles in your own life?
Conversation 2.20.08
1. What was something you found interesting about the reading John chapters 5-7?
2. What was something you learned from the reading?
3. In John 11:23-25 Jesus tells Martha her brother Lazarus will rise again. Martha replies and says, “yes I believe he will rise in the resurrection at the last day.” And Jesus tells her, “I am the resurrection and the life, anyone who believes in me will never die.” What does Jesus mean by Himself being the “resurrection, and if you believe in Him you will never die?”
(Leader’s know that the resurrection is Jesus bringing all the believers to heaven and you will live for ever in paradise with Jesus. Make sure you explain this).
4. Martha had a hard time trusting Jesus at first when He asked for Lazarus’ tomb to be opened. After Jesus assured her, she believed and Lazarus was brought back to life. Have you ever experienced a time where you had a hard time believing something, maybe something that took a lot of faith in Jesus or others?
(Leader’s if they are having a hard time thinking of something give them some examples).
5. Talk about a time where you’ve witnessed one of God’s miracles in your own life?
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Wednesday February 13th, 2008
This past Wednesday was Ash Wednesday. The start of lent leading up to Good Friday and Easter. Kyle Spoke at the Ash Wednesday service with a focus on John 6:29 Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.” Jesus is saying that God wants us to believe in Jesus. Other translations use the word “trust” in the place of “believe.” So we are to trust and believe in Jesus. But much more than just believing in His existence. Believing in Jesus Power, believing in Jesus as God’s Son, and believing in Jesus’ purpose on earth. In this series of John we will be reading through the entire book of John a few chapters a week. By next Wednesday you should have the first 4 chapters of John read because your students are supposed too and they will probably have lots of questions for you on the reading.
1. Was there anything in the first 4 chapters that sparked your interest?
2. How about something you learned from your reading?
3. Refer back to when Jesus healed the official’s son. Would you have
immediately believed Jesus if He had told you your family member was
instantly healed? Why do you suppose the official was so quick to believe
Jesus when Jesus had never even met his son?
4. What do you find hard to believe about Jesus? Why?
5. Leaders: Hand out the note cards to everyone in your group and have them
write down 2 things they believe about Jesus and 2 things they are unsure
about Jesus. Then have them go around the circle and share with the group
what they put down.
6. Leaders: At the end of the night put the note cards into the same box as
attendance at the end of the night and Kyle, John and I will go through some
of them and try to answer their questions.
1. Was there anything in the first 4 chapters that sparked your interest?
2. How about something you learned from your reading?
3. Refer back to when Jesus healed the official’s son. Would you have
immediately believed Jesus if He had told you your family member was
instantly healed? Why do you suppose the official was so quick to believe
Jesus when Jesus had never even met his son?
4. What do you find hard to believe about Jesus? Why?
5. Leaders: Hand out the note cards to everyone in your group and have them
write down 2 things they believe about Jesus and 2 things they are unsure
about Jesus. Then have them go around the circle and share with the group
what they put down.
6. Leaders: At the end of the night put the note cards into the same box as
attendance at the end of the night and Kyle, John and I will go through some
of them and try to answer their questions.
Wednesday February 6th
Ash Wednesday. We don't have elevate programming, but we encourage you to come to the 7:30 service which is being run by the student ministries staff. We'll see you guys next wednesday
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