God's Will for the Regular Guy

Every day Jesus sends angels to open prison doors, messages to guide us and instruct us on the path he has for us to follow, the path that leads to an eternal life spent in his presences. The lesson for us is this; realize the ability of Peter and the others to hear, see and know God’s will happened not in an instantaneous event, it came from walking with Jesus daily, fishermen opening the scriptures and studying, regular guys earnestly seeking a savior on their knees. The confidence and security Peter displays is available to each of us, he was a regular guy much like each of us, his only strength, he tenaciously followed Jesus; he became honestly aware of his faults and grew intentionally and completely dependant upon his best friend.
Jesus may have called you to be a pastor, an elder or a church leader but most of us are called to other things, we have other roles to play in the salvation drama. I can assure you however we all have been called as men to an awesome responsibility to lead His sheep, the families God has blessed us with. This is a responsibility we are unprepared to accomplish and only by following the example of Peter can we meet God’s expectations for us. Open up to him completely, recognize like Peter we will never be ready, always do the wrong thing, never be perfect but always be following Jesus. Open his word and you will find him calling you to teach your family all the words of this life. The story of Jesus and the amazing plans he has for them and what he was willing to do for them. These are the words of life, the words Peter spoke on the temple stairs and the words we can share around the tables in our homes.

Great Grace

There is a connection between great grace and total commitment to serving the needs of others. The statements great grace and “nor was there anyone among them who lacked” are linked. Simply put Acts describes a Christian community with “great grace” as a community that witnesses about Jesus and cares for the needs of all, a community of individuals with a total commitment to meeting the needs of all the people. There was a group of people, besides the twelve apostles, who had followed Jesus, sat at his feet and witnessed his tender interactions with so many hurting people. This group of men and women gathered the food, carried the tent, got the fire wood and tended to the needs of Jesus and the twelve. This was the core of the new church and they carried on doing for the new believers what they had done for Jesus. This is the group the writer of Acts discribes as having "Great Grace" upon them.

A Stone House

Christianity is a stone house, each stone representing a believer, it is a house made of rejected stones. This house, made of Christians, is a special new nation, a royal priesthood with the purpose of proclaiming the amazing power of God to save us all. We are to live as examples, not to show how good we are but rather to demonstrate how powerful God is. A loving Christian example speaks more clearly of God’s ability to change and affect lives than the most eloquent sermon. Our deeds of Christian service will stand in the minds of those we encounter as the definition of God’s fairness at the judgment. By living under His control and by His rules we clearly show how salvation is available to all who seek.

Update

In the last few months life has changed dramatically and I open these pages once again with a renewed sense of purpose. I will again be posting questions relevant to Sabbath School classes in an effort to provide a starting place for those adult sabbath school teachers struggling to find a starting place for their discussions. In addition I will be posting notes, observations and excerpts from a book I am attempting to write about Peter. I did not set out to write a book, I have been engulfed in a crisis of faith and in the life of Peter found an example to use, in a very personal way, on a journey to rebuild my personal faith. The notes, observations and relevant thoughts I am assembling describe my faith story. Comments and encouragement are welcome.

Jesus the Teacher

What did Jesus want to teach us about while he was here?
How did Jesus redefine God to those he spoke to?
Does his description of God affect us today?
How does seeing God as the Father of Jesus affect how we feel about Him?
Matthew 5:1-12
Why did this teaching amaze those who listened with it wisdom?
Does this passage have significant for us today? Why?
Do you see yourself in these words?
What does it mean by blessed?
How does this teaching relate to the Law given by Jesus on the Mount?
Hearing Jesus redefines Life, how does his teaching impact you?
How does his teaching give meaning to Humility, Grace and Forgiveness?
Can you trust his teaching?
Can we be the people Jesus describes in the beatitudes?
How does a student of Christ look in this church, today?

Sabbath School Discussion Questions

Why is it important Jesus choose to be a human?
How can we know Jesus was human?
What signs do we see in the stories of Jesus time that reveal his humanity?
Did Jesus have to suffer the same temptations as us?
Did he have to deal with the same or similar problems as us?
How does knowing he dealt with sin affect our attitude towards him?
How do you think He feels about us?
Do you identify more when people or causes that you have experienced?
What was the purpose of his human incarnation?
We see lots of examples in history of men claiming to be gods, but here is a case of God claiming to be man, why is this significant?
Can we explain how Jesus could be divine and human at the same time?
What is the danger in dwelling on the humanity of Christ?
Is it possible to make him to human and what happens when we do?
Why did Jesus choose not to use his divine power?
Did Jesus’ sinlessness win us salvation or did his sacrifice win salvation?
How does seeing Jesus, with a human experience, in heaven working on your behalf impact your personal relationship with Jesus?

Discussion Questions for Feb 16 Sabbath School Class

Mark 3:1-12

What do you notice about Jesus’ instructions?
Do all of these things apply to us today? How
Why did Jesus send the twelve out?
Why was there a delay between being called to discipleship and becoming apostles for the twelve?
How is the time of a disciple spent?

Luke 10:1-23

How is this similar to the commission of the twelve?
How is it different?
Why were they so happy?
What did Jesus say was the point of being a disciple?
What does discipleship have to do with having your name written in the book of life?

Matthew 5:13-16

What can we learn about being disciples from these verses?
How can you apply this?

Matthew 7:1-5

What can we learn about being disciples from these verses?
How can you apply this?

Matthew 7:15-20

What can we learn about being disciples from these verses?
How can you apply this?

What does being a disciple look like today?
Have you seen these truths reflected in the lives of those around you?
How do we reflect this in our lives?
If the Sermon on the Mount is our marching orders, what is Jesus telling us to do?
What does being a disciple look like today?

A Dogs Life

The lesson impacted me this week greatly. As I prayfully read the story of the canaanite woman begging for the health of her child I came to see a truth. I have always identified myself with the disciples, the followers of Jesus, but truly I am but one of the dogs at his feet. It's amazing what a change in perspective can do. Seeing myself in a different way impacts the way I see Jesus. The effect my newfound perspective has on the way I relate to everyone around me is profound. My prayer for this week will be that I may keep this perspective and continue to live "a dogs life" as I relate to my neighbors.

Discipleship and Race

The Samaritans

The leper - Luke 17:11-16
Was there any distinction in the group before they were healed?
Why is it important that the Samaritan was the only one who returned?
What does this demonstrate about Jesus’ healing touch?
Who was he sent to heal?
The woman at the well - John 4:39-42
Why did the people come to hear Jesus?
What did Jesus do when the crowd came out to see him?
What did the people come to believe?
Why did the believe Jesus was the savior of the earth?

The Gentiles

The centurion - Luke 7:1-11
Who was this man and why did the Jews urge him to heal the servant?
What can we learn about disciple ship from how this man treated his servant?
How did the centurion get word about his servant to Jesus?
How did the centurion know about Jesus?
Why did the man send a servant to ask Jesus not to come to his house?
What can we learn about discipleship from this story?
Cornelius - Acts 10:28, 34, 35
Who was this man and why did an angel appear to him?
What was he told by the angle to do?
How did God prepare Peter to go and minister to these people?
Who was waiting for Peter when he returned with the servants?
What can we learn about discipleship from this story?

Canaanites

The woman – Matt 15-21-28
Does anything trouble you about this story?
Why were the disciples so hostile to this woman?
What lesson did the disciples learn from this story?
What can we learn from the disciples about discipleship in this story?

Us – Acts 11:1-3, Acts 17:26-28, Heb 2:9

What group of people would cause you to be shocked that a disciple would eat with?
What group do we belong to?
Does recognizing that all of us are as the dogs at Jesus feet impact how you see your neighbor?
Because of the civil rights movements in this country we really don’t have racial prejudices but do we make distinctions among believers?
Once again what group makes you uncomfortable to sit down with and share a meal?
How will this lesson affect you this week, how will it affect your behavior towards those who make us uncomfortable?

Women Disciples - Sabbath School Discussion Questions , February 2nd

Women in Ministry - Luke 8:1-3

How did the Jewish religion view women?
Could women contribute spiritually?
Could they go to the temple and participate?
What did the crowd around Jesus look like?
What role did women have in Jesus’ ministry?

Mary – Luke 1:26-38

What would you have said?
How would you have felt?
Why did Mary take on this huge commitment?
What can we learn about discipleship from Mary?

The Women Who Touched His Garment – Mark 5:25-34

How did she approach Jesus?
Why was she so reticent?
Why did Jesus react so strongly to her touch?
What can we learn about discipleship from the woman?

Martha and Mary – Luke 10:38-42

What was Mary doing that annoyed Martha?
Why did Martha get upset?
What did Jesus tell Martha? Why?
What can we learn from this story about discipleship?

The Woman at the Well

How did Jesus approach this woman?
What did he say to her that impacted her so much?
What was her reaction?
What does it say about the kind of people Jesus is willing to use to bring others to him?
What characteristics of discipleship did this woman exhibit?



Lessons from Women

There is something unique about the perspective of these women that gives us a different view of what it means to be a disciple, how was their service different than the twelve?

Being a disciple includes more that just teaching and preaching, what characteristics of discipleship did these women demonstrate?

How can we apply these lessons to our own lives?

The Call of Jesus, SS Disscussion Questions

Luke 5:1-11

Did Jesus have a relationship with the four?
Why did Jesus choose these men?
Why did Jesus use Peter’s boat?
Why did he instruct them to try and fish again?
What does Peters answer tell us about Peter?
Why did Jesus fill their boats with fish?
What was their response when Jesus asks them to follow him?
How did they know it was the right thing to do?

Luke 5:27-29

How were tax collectors viewed in Jewish society?
Why did Jesus call Matthew?
What was Jesus demonstrating by reaching out to Matthew?
How do you think the other disciple reacted?
How do you think the call of Matthew impacted Jesus’ ministry?


Do you think the disciples knew Jesus before he called them to follow him?
Did Jesus know them?
While they clearly didn’t understand his mission what did they see in him that emboldened them to follow him?
What advantage do we have today?
Does Jesus want us to be his disciples? How is he calling us?
Would you be willing to trust him completely and follow him?

The Speeding Festiva

As I sat waiting at one of the seeming hundred stop lights on the way to work the other day something caught my attention in the car next to me. I was patiently waiting next to a Ford Festiva, a fine little car roughly the size and shape of a skate, when I noticed on the dash a top of the line, super deluxe radar detector. Now that is the definition of optimism right there. Even if the pedals could propel the car to speeds greater than the speed limit any officer would be so shocked the thought of actually writing a ticket would flee his mind. Yep, very optimistic indeed.

Sabbath School Discussion Questions - January 5

We embark upon a new quarterly this sabbath and I'm always a little torn between sad to move on a tired of the old topic. I must admit I'm looking forward to studying about discipleship this quarter as it complements an in-depth study I've been doing in my personal bible study. I'm looking forward to a conversation this morning with my Sabbath School class about what it means to be a disciple.

What is a disciple?
How do you become a disciple?
Why do would someone want to become a disciple?
In the story of Jesus calling the four fishermen, whose idea was it for the fishermen to follow Jesus?
What did Jesus ask them to do?
What did they have to give up?
Put yourself in their shoe's, picture walking away from you family, home, and business to follow Jesus, how did they feel?
Why did they do it?
Can you be a disciple if you are not asked to follow the master?
Do you feel Jesus calling you to sit at his feet?
Can we be disciples today?
How?
Is it possible to be a disciple of TV, or books, or a preacher or education or religion?
What or who are we disciples of?

What has collected my thoughts this week has been the power of Jesus' call, the invitation to follow, we cannot be disciples unless we are called, we cannot be lead unless we follow. We are all disciples of something and someone and our actions, our time, reveals the object of our devotions.

Poltical Commentary

Watching the political commentary spinning into hyper speed for an election that seems an eternity in the future I can't help but wonder: have we really thought about this? It seems we are so anxious to change, or we have been told we are desperate to change that we are rushing headlong into change, well, for the sake of change. I guess the thought of 10 months of political ads and non-stop candidate coverage is just giving me a headache. I tell my kids complaining about something without offering a solution is just whining so....I guess this is just whining because I have no solution. I saw a recent interview with Katy Curic where she dismisses Internet blogs as "guys in their pajamas impolitely spewing their opinions". So, with deference to Katy, in my opinion I need to get some pajamas.

A Changed World

I am troubled and saddened this week as I read and watch the accounts of the assassination of Bhutto. Not that I have a personal interest in the politics of Pakistan, but it is always sad to see someone give their life in pursuit of a cause and the pain of her family and supporters is something we all can identify with.

I wonder if anyone else sees the comparison to Archduke Franz Ferdinand in this sad tale. The politics of a small country being manipulated to advance the goals of powerful allies on each side. Often times, major historical events, earth changing forces are set in motion by seemingly insignificant actions.

The location and importance of Pakistan may seem relatively insignificant to us here in the US but maybe this is the seemingly insignificant event that will trigger a changed world. It is tempting to inject our own interpretations into events. It is impossible to know the path this action will lead our world down, however I think we can safely say, our path has been altered. I hope.

Sabbath School Discussion Questions - December 29

Where did Jesus come from?
What was his family like?
What was it like to live in extreme poverty in Judea?
Was Jesus accepted among the people of Israel?

Luke 4:28-30, John 8:58-59

Why did the people try to stone him and throw him of a cliff?
How do you think Jesus felt? Why?
What were the people rejecting?
Can we fathom Jesus’ feelings, can we understand his pain at being rejected by his friends and neighbors?
How did Jesus deal with the rejection?
What other trials did Christ suffer in his time on this earth?
How did he deal with them?
Do we have access to the same strength?

Matthew 27:45

Paul exalts in sharing a small measure of Christ’s suffering and often we hear that Jesus suffered more than anyone ever will, but people, even today are tortured for their beliefs. Lots of people were crucified under the rule of the Romans so what makes Jesus’ suffering extraordinary? What makes his suffering greater than anything we will ever face?
Did he have a choice, could he have chosen not to endure the trial?
When did he decide to be sacrificed for sin?


This quarter we have studied trial and Jesus exhibited all of the qualities set forth as guidelines for endurance: Praise, meekness, patience, seeing the big picture, and dying like the seed. How do we apply these lessons today because we will face trial tomorrow?
Is this how we want to live?
What are we facing?
How will we get through?
How can we make this practice a way of life?

Seeing Jesus

Reading the stories of Jesus recorded in the bible I can’t help but be drawn to the idea that seeing Jesus was the most important thing any of the people of that time could do. They wanted to see him, they had heard about the power and his message and they needed to see him. Some wanted to be healed, some wanted discuss theology, some just wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Zacheus climbed a tree, Peter walked on water, people walked for miles and some even tore the roof off a house. They did anything they had to do too see him.

How do we see Jesus today? He ascended to heaven in front of many witnesses and abides even now with his father so how can we encounter him, see him today? We see Jesus every day when we associate with friends who walk closely with him. We see him everyday if we invite him into our lives because he reveals himself, changing our lives. Every time we prayerfully open the bible we see him revealed by the Holy Spirit. He is revealed in the intricacies of nature and the kindness of a Christian. Sweet music lifted in praise opens our eye the character of the creator.

Imagine the joy of a blind man healed, opening his eyes and his first sight is the face of his savior. Think of the peace that fell on Zacheus when his eyes met the Lords loving gaze. Put yourself in the shoes of the demoniacs, lives completely changed from the first moment they laid eyes on the man in the boat.

Everybody who saw Jesus was changed, some where healed, all had the opportunity to be forgiven, and many gave up all to follow him. There is something else all the people who saw him shared. They told someone else what they had seen. He had such a dramatic effect on their lives that they couldn’t help but relate the story to someone else. Can’t you see the man from the pool, his few possessions grasped tightly in his hands, running through the streets shouting I’ve been healed! The sinner, depressed and hopeless, after spending a day listening to the savior assure them of salvation, of peace, of forgiveness, going to their friends and sharing the amazing joy that filled their hearts. Even the Pharisees in their unbelief could speak of little else, seeing Jesus was all they could talk about.
We talk about sharing the gospel, growing the church and witnessing to the world but first we have to see him. The definition of witness is someone who sees, with their own eyes, firsthand, an event. In order to be a witness we must have seen him. Invite him into you heart, open you bible and let him reveal himself to you. When you see him, you will know it because you will be compelled to tell someone else about the incredible, amazing man you just met, the man who is going to save the world.

Troubles - Reading Job

It seems as though we turn to the book of Job in our times of trouble, when we feel picked on and punished unjustly. We all feel as like we can relate to Job in some way so it’s easy to identify with him when life’s challenges come our way. I have to confess I have been reading Job lately and I have learned two very surprising things.
First of all, exciting revelation number one, Job’s friends weren’t completely wrong. Does this sound familiar? God rewards those who follow his law and punish those who disobey. It’s the basic message of Proverbs and is the theology espoused by Job’s three friends. They believed Job had sinned and deserved the punishment he was being subject to. So why was God harsh with them and required a triple sacrifice to wipe away their sin? They assumed that God always had to act in a certain way and forgot to factor in his complete sovereignty over life on this earth.
Secondly, exciting revelation number two, Job was sinful, yep filled with sin. I know we consider Job to be righteous and unjustly punished but Job’s last words in the book are “But now my eyes see you, therefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.” Job’s sin was pride. He believed himself to be righteous and with his pride came the false belief that he knew what God should be doing. When he realized the scope of God’s sovereignty he recognized his sin and repented.
So in light of these two revelations concerning Job what have I learned? I learned about God, about who he is and what he wants for me. I learned we can’t even imagine what he can do and what his plans are. Job is at its core about God and about how much he wants us to be ready to be with him. He will do anything, and as the book of Job makes very plain, he can.

Sabbath School Discussion Questions - December 22

John 12:24

How is this an analogy of submission to God?
Can you see your experience in the reference?
What does the falling represent? Submitting to God’s contol.
What laying in the ground represent? Waiting for God’s time
What does dying represent? Give up what it has been to become what God want’s it to be.
What is the result? A fruit bearing plant.

Philippians 2:5-9

What is Paul suggesting we become?
How is this different than what we are and want?
Do we have the right to be happy, the right to be healthy, the right to be saved?
How does our view of our rights stand in the way of God’s will?

Romans 12:1-2

How do we know God’s will for our live?
How does seeing God’s mercy impact us?
How can we offer ourselves as living sacrifices?
What does that mean?
How does that look?
Who renews our minds? What does he change?
If we experience this process will our understanding of God’s will change?

I Samuel 3:10

Can you hear God speak?
How do you know your hearing God’s voice?
What do we need to do to be able to hear God speak?
Do you listen?
Quote from Tuesday - bottom paragraph
What would you do if you heard God’s voice and he asked you do something specific?

I Samuel 13:1-14

What stands in our way to hearing and following God’s voice?
Quote from Wednesday – bottom paragraph
1. He saw -
2. He said -
3. He felt -
Self Reliance keeps us from God.
What happens when our own eyes shape our perspective?
What happens when we let God shape our perspective of the situation?
Why is this a critical difference?

What do we do when a situation in our lives becomes overwhelming?
Practically speaking how do we get through? What do we substitute for God?
How would our lives be different if we turned to God instead of food or TV?

How can we seek his will for our lives?
How can we hear his voice?
How can we put aside our own feelings and follow his leading?
How can we have the strength to face trials head on instead of finding a substitute to take the pain away?
How can we be like the seed of wheat?
We can fall into the hands of the creator, to be transformed into a new fruit bearing creation, completely by his creative power and according to his will.

Symbols II

When we think about bible prophecy and end time events I always come up with two questions? My first question is why did God lay history out on such a grand scale for us? My second question is this, if we are all reading the same bible, looking at the same history and believing in the same God why are there some many different versions of what is going to happen? It seems like it should be so plain and so obvious, history lines up so completely with the bible, why is our church the only group that interprets the end time events in this manner.
I’d like to offer my opinions on the second question first. I’m not a genius but when I’m faced with something that doesn’t on the surface make sense I think we must first pray for guidance and then take a step back and try and see the big picture. Previously I wrote about spiritualism in society and the presence of symbols that denote the foundations of today’s institutions. Both of these topics when taken together give a picture of a grand deception, an attempt to hide the nature and character of God and hide Satan’s control of counterfeit religions. Logic tells us that if we believe in the great struggle between God and Satan than we must confirm two things, first it is a spiritual war and second it is going on presently. If a spiritual battle is taking place currently between God and Satan, it is being waged individually within each person on this earth. The war was won on the cross but the battles continue until the second coming. The outcome of each battle is determined by each individual’s choice of whom to follow, to trust God or Satan. My point is this: Satan is currently engaged in a religious battle with God. His logical weapon of choice is false religion. I would add this assertion: The theological foundation of every opposing interpretation of prophecy to what we as Adventist hold to be true, springs from within the church controlled by Satan. This is the church which has embraced spiritualism, is replete with symbols betraying it’s marriage to the idol worshipping cults from the biblical history, the church bible prophecy specifically identifies as the beast is being used as Satan’s tool.
It sounds like I’m saying that Satan has used false religions to deceive the whole world including most theologians and bible scholars. I make that statement based on Revelation 18 specifically verse 23 when a mighty angel speaking about the world religions says “by your sorcery all the nations were deceived”. It doesn’t say some or a few but all nations were deceived and the context of chapter 18 makes it plain that he is referring to the established, accepted most widely attended religions. Any interpretation of prophecy that does not identify the Catholic Church as the beast in Revelation is a product of Satan’s attempt to manipulate and deceive the people of this world.
Why did God lay history out so plainly for us to follow in books of bible prophecy? There are many reasons but I think one stands above the others. God wants us to have confidence in absolute truth. One of the foundational components of morality on the earth is a clear distinction between what is right and what is wrong. Most in society, even Christians ask, what right do we have to judge what’s right, who’s right and what is truth. The popular view is that everyone has a little bit of truth. By very clearly laying out the events of history before hand, so we looking back can clearly identify the unerring accuracy of his predictions we can be confident the bible is the absolute truth. If an interpretation of prophecy does not line up exactly with the bible, and identify each of the beasts according to the bible, the interpretation is in error and is to be disregarded. Not by our standards but by God’s standard, the bible.
As Christians we have the privilege of being entrusted with the knowledge of what the future holds. By laying history out so plainly in the bible he gave us security in the knowledge the bible is absolute truth. Lovingly God does everything for a reason and in this time of deception and contradiction in theology and knowledge the one thing that we can hold on to his our faith in Jesus and the knowledge that he told us everything, Our whole perception of the bible and the our picture of the savior changes when we see clearly, looking through the lens of absolute truth at the written word of God. When God through his messenger laid out the worlds history in 400 BC he was making a statement to us, I am the good Sheppard, follow me.