A Letter from the Elders

INTRODUCTION: How do you react or respond when you see some thing happening which is not right? When was the last time you got so mad about an injustice or fraud that you got up and did something about it?

Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem

— How did the way Jesus entered Jerusalem confirm His character, nature and identity? (see Zec 9vs9)

— Considering the response He received, what were the expectations of the crowd? What do you think the disciples were expecting? (see also 10vs37)

— Often in our own lives we sometimes misunderstand Jesus’ purposes and plans. Give some examples of your own experiences of this.

Jesus clears the temple

— How does the account of the fig tree relate to the clearing of the temple? (11vs13~14;20~21)

— In what ways did the Pharisees cover their fruitlessness with flashy foliage?

— This profiteering on the sale of sacrificial animals took place in the only area where gentiles could worship. Why would that have especially angered Jesus? (see Isa 56vs6~8)

— What was Jesus saying when He said they had made the temple a den of robbers? (see Jer 7vs9~15)

— How would you describe the behaviour of Jesus in this passage?

— Do you think He was overreacting?

Time to reflect:

INTRODUCTION: Jesus did a lot of teaching during the last week before His death and resurrection. Some of it was done in parables. Today’s study is focusing on two of these parables.

Being Ready!

— If a meeting begins at 7pm, do you normally get there at 6:45 or do you arrive a few minutes late?

— Is punctuality important to you?

— In what ways does the parable of the virgins relate to Mark 13vs32~37?

— What is Jesus’ point of this Parable?

— What is Jesus’ warning in Mat 25vs13?

Talents and our responsibilities!

— In the parable of the talents, who does the master represent?

— What was the “journey” He went on?

— Who are the servants representing?

— When Jesus is talking about “talents” what do you think He is referring to?

— How does the treatment of the servant with one talent seem to you? Fair? Lenient? Harsh? Why?

— What is the reality of what is being taught here?

— What are the lessons we can learn from this parable?

— What can this parable teach us about the Christians responsibilities in God’s kingdom?

— Why do you think Jesus told these parables at this specific point in his public ministry?

Time to reflect:

INTRODUCTION: In Jesus day a “teacher of the law” or any one of importance would never be the one to do the feet washing before a meal. Jesus does something outside the norm to teach two valuable lessons, one about being His servants and the other about what he has done for us.

A closer look at the passage

— When you look at a leader what are the qualities you look for? What do you think is important?

— The disciples would have been aware of the custom of foot washing, why do you think none of them decided to wash each other’s feet?

— As Jesus comes to the Passover meal what is He very conscious of that the disciples are not aware of? (see vs1; 3; 11)

— Considering this why is Jesus’ decision to wash feet so significant?

— How do you think the disciples must have felt when Jesus started washing their feet?

— When Jesus came to Simon Peter, what do you think Jesus meant when He spoke the three times in vs7; 8; and 10?

— What new meaning would these statements take on after Jesus’ death and resurrection?

— How do you think Judas must have felt?

— How does Jesus’ challenge their idea of what it means to be followers of the Messiah with what he says in vs12~17?

Time to reflect:

INTRODUCTION: This is a well-known passage of scripture, yet its message and significance are often not taken to the heart. What does Jesus want to say to you today through this passage?

A closer look at the passage

— Why do you think Jesus chose to use the analogy of a grape vine?

— Who are the following referring to: Vine; Gardner; and the branches?

— How are we to understand verse 2? Is this only referring to believers?

— If the branches are seen as representing us, what could be associated with being “cut off” and “trimmed or pruned”? What would be involved in this process from a human point of view?

— What is your understanding of verse 3?

— What command is given in verse 4 and 5, and what can we learn about our Christian life from these verses?

— Jesus repeats the words remain in me; love; and bearing fruit , how are these words related?

— What can we learn about prayer from verse 7 and what is essential to this type of pray? How is verse 16 linked to this verse?

— How do verses 9 and 12 tie together?

— How is love the essential dynamic of the Christian life?

— Is loving each other optional? Can we choose who we love and don’t love?

— What are some of the other passages in the bible that talk about the kind of love we should have?

— What can we learn about our obedience and our relationship with the Lord from verses 10; 12; 14?

Time to reflect:

INTRODUCTION: 

The chorus of a well-known hymn goes:

“Lest I forget Gethsemane,

Lest I forget Thine agony

Lest I forget Thy love for me,

Lead me to Calvary.”

As we start towards Jesus’ death on the cross let us reflect on what happened

in the garden of Gethsemane.

A closer look at the passage

— Where do you go, or what do you do when you are facing difficult situations?

— Do you prefer to be alone at these times or in the company of friends?

— Do you go and pray first in the times of distress or is that only an afterthought?

— Jesus knows he is about to be arrested, discuss some of what He must have been feeling and going through. (see vs32~36)

— Why do you think Jesus took James, Peter and John with Him to pray?

— Why don’t the disciples share Jesus’ sense of urgency?

— What do you think Peter, James and John must have thought when Jesus spoke to them in vs34?

— What did Jesus desire, yet how did He pray?

— What was significant about Jesus words to Peter in verses 37~38 in light of verses 27~31?

Time to reflect:

INTRODUCTION: It is one thing to give your word, but it is another thing to keep it. Far too often in life we are quick to make promises that we sometimes are not able to keep. How often don’t we also make all sorts of promises and commitments to God that we don’t fulfil!

A closer look at the passage

— What sincere promises have you made in the past that you have not been able to keep?

— How did you feel when you broke a promise or let someone down?

— What do you think Peter’s intentions were in vs33?

— Why do you think Peter followed Jesus to the courtyard?

— How do you think Peter must have felt when people thought they recognized him? What do you think made him react in the way he did?

— How do you think Peter must have felt when the rooster crowed? Do you think He felt remorse?

— How do we sometimes react in a similar way to Peter in this life amongst our friends, at work, or at social gatherings?

— Read John 21vs15~19

— How do these words of Jesus help to reaffirm and encourage Peter?

— What comfort can we gain from Peter’s experience for our own lives and when we let Christ down?

Time to reflect:

INTRODUCTION: Many have tried to portray in some way the sufferings of Christ, whether it be in a book, in a film or even publicly acted out. None of them, I don’t think do adequate justice to what Jesus must have being feeling other than these words recorded for us in scripture.

A closer look at the passage

— How do you respond when people ridicule and perhaps mock you for no found reason? How does it make you feel? How does it make you want to respond?

— In verses 27~44 Matthew records for us the way in which Jesus was mocked and ridiculed, make a note of the various ways Jesus was mocked and ridiculed.

— How is Isaiah 53 linked with this passage?

— The fact that Jesus chose to remain silent and chose to continue towards death for your sake, how does that make you feel?

— In Luke 23vs34 Jesus utters something quite profound, what was significant about His words?

— Try and imagine what it must have been like to have be an observer at Christ’s crucifixion. As you some of the things started happening i.e. the darkness, the temple curtain being torn; the earth quake; people coming out of their tombs, how do you think you would have felt?

— What do you think was the significance of these events?

— How do you think the people observing and the authorities of the day might have reacted?

— What is the significance of what Jesus cried out in Matthew 27vs46; Luke 23vs46 and John 19vs30, for himself and for us?

Time to reflect:

INTRODUCTION: There is a saying,” Seeing is believing” and many of us tend to live our lives like this, we are sometimes hesitant to take people at their word or even to accept the facts before us. Often this same attitude spills over into our Christian life and threatens to undermine our faith.

A closer look at the passage

— How do you react when you are feeling afraid or apprehensive and then someone appears out of nowhere and gives you a fright?

— How do you think the disciples must have initially felt when Jesus first appeared in their midst?

— Twice Jesus say’s “Peace be with you”, what was the significance of His words?

— How are we to understand and respond to the instruction given in vs21?

— How is vs22 a fulfilment of prophecy? See Joel 2vs28; Isaiah 59vs21

— What is to be understood by what Jesus tells the disciples in vs23?

— Why do you think Thomas didn’t believe the other disciples? Vs24~28

— In what ways are we sometimes like Thomas in our own walk of faith?

— Jesus says to Thomas, “Stop doubting and believe” in what areas of our lives could these words be relevant to us today?

— What is significant about Thomas’s response?

— Why were other miraculous signs done in the presence of the disciples?

— How do you think the disciples must have felt when Jesus told them to throw the net on the right side of the boat?

— What do you think was the significance of this event?

Time to reflect:

INTRODUCTION: How often through the journey of life, do we fail to recognise the presence of Jesus in a situation until after the situation has passed. We sometimes forget what we were told in Hebrews 13vs5 “Never will I leave you never will I forsake you!”

A closer look at the passage

— So often we tend to focus more on Jesus’ death than His resurrection. In what does His resurrection mean for you?

— Why do you think the eleven didn’t believe the women in spite of what Jesus had told His disciples before He died?

— In life, in what ways do we sometimes not take Jesus at His word but instead spend many anxious hours worrying about things we don’t understand?

— Why do you think the two men on the road were kept from recognizing Jesus?

— Why do you think the men were down cast? See vs21

— Jesus tells the men in vs25 that they are slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. In what ways could the same rebuke be made of us concerning prophecy in scripture concerning the things of this age and Christ’s return?

— When Jesus started sharing with them, what are some of the Old Testament prophecies he could have possible referred to?

— Why do you think Jesus used a roundabout approach through scripture rather than just reveal His identity?

— What significance do you think this would have had when they later shared their experiences with the disciples?

Time to reflect: