For The Week of Jan 9 2022

Download Here

 

Life Group Study

“Jesus Said”

Study 1 of 7

Week of January 9^th, 2022

Study by Wayne Arcand

 

As we enter this new year, I draw you attention to the All Nations Church mission statement.

 

Who We Are

All Nations Church cares about one thing more than anything else, Jesus Christ. All Nations Church is a family of individuals who have found hope in Jesus, and want as many people as possible to experience that same freedom. We exist to help you come to Know the Lord Jesus Christ, Grow spiritually and Go make a difference in our world.

 

As we enter a new year it is our hope that each of us will come to know the Lord in a deeper way, that we will grow to be more like Christ, and we will serve the Lord using the gifts and talents he has given each of us that we might truly make a difference where the Lord has placed us.

 

This is the first study of a seven week series that will have a focus on the teachings of Jesus in Matthew Chapters 5 and 6.  We will start by looking at Matthew 5:17 to 20 – Jesus’ mission.

 

The Fulfillment of the Law

Matthew 5:¹⁷ “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. ¹⁸ For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.  ¹⁹ Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

 

1. In a general discussion, consider the following questions:
   1. Do you read the Old Testament? Why or why not?
   2. If you are a reader of the Old Testament,
      1. What are some of the things you have learned about God?
      2. What are some things you have learned about his people?

• Can you think of a specific situation where God rewarded obedience?

1. Can you think of a specific situation where God disciplined His people because of their disobedience?
2. What is the purpose of God’s discipline?

 

2. Consider Luke 24:25-27 (NIV): ²⁵ He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” ²⁷ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
   1. Who was speaking?
   2. What is the context in which these verses were written
   3. What was the speaker doing in these verses?
   4. Why would it be important for us to know this?

 

3. Consider these verses from Matthew: Matthew 22: ³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” ³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
   1. What is the context in which these verses were written?
   2. Consider this passage along with Deuteronomy 6:4-9?
      1. What are the differences?
      2. Discuss how you practically apply the command from Deuteronomy.

 

The intent of the previous questions was to show the connection, continuity and fulfilment of the Old Testament in the New Testament. In the following questions we will look at Jesus’ mission, what it means as it applies to us, and how that mission is a template for how we are to live our life as a child of God.

 

4. John 6:38, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me”.
   10. Consider Jesus’ mission as described in John 6:38 and compare it to a believer’s mission in Ephesians 2:10. What are the similarities between the missions in the verses?
   11. What is the message to us from Ephesians 2:10?
       1. How do we determine what we are to do?

 

5. Read the following two verses. Romans 5:8, “But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”. and 1 John 3:16, “By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers”.
   1. What is the message these two verses have in common?
      1. What is the difference between them?
   2. Read through 1 John 3:11-24. Based on these verses, how do you think we lay down our life for our brothers?

 

For Reflection:

Our Creator came to earth, suffered, died and was resurrected according to the Father’s will to be the perfect sin sacrifice and pay the penalty for our sins. When we accept Jesus as Lord of our lives, we commit to the mission Jesus has called us to. Romans 12:2 tells us we are no longer to be conformed to the pattern of the world, “but be transformed by the renewing of your mind”. Through this transformation we will, in the power of the Holy Spirit, be able to live out our mission for Christ. In Mark 10:45, we read, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”. Our challenge is to reflect Christ’s love that is in us to those around us. How can I show His love to someone today?