January 2019

Orchard Road Presbyterian Church Bible For All (BFA) Studies

Overview Our church mission states that ORPC is committed to being a Great Commandment and a Church, “To Know Christ and to Make Him Known”. We begin 2019 by reminding ourselves of why we exist as a church. May the Lord grant us fresh eyes and 6 Jan 2019 renewed hearts as we relook the Greatest Matthew 22:34-40 Commandment and the Great Commission in The Greatest Commandment the first and second studies. In the third and fourth studies, we continue exploring the meaning of our mission by considering what it 13 Jan 2019 means to be the kind of disciples and church Matthew 28:16-20 that know Christ and make Christ known. The Great Commission The format for this series has been modified to include the discipleship pointers. However, 20 Jan 2019 please attempt to answer all questions on your :18-22 own before looking at the discipleship pointers. A Certain Kind Of During the group time, please also set aside time for everyone to share at least one application and pray with one another at the 27 Jan 2019 end of your time together. May the Lord bless Philippians 3:7-11 you in the study and application of His word. Knowing Christ

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Sermon Date: 6 Jan 2019 Passage: Matthew 22:34-40 Topic: The Greatest Commandment

Context

Three of this month’s studies are taken from the book of Matthew. Matthew is a book about Christ. It begins with Christ’s genealogy traced back to Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation. It has more than 40 quotations from the Old Testament with at least 16 explicit statements of how the life of Christ fulfilled the Old Testament Scriptures. Yet numerous times in Matthew, was seen interacting with the Jewish authorities, indicting them for their unbelief. It is also noteworthy that despite the strong Jewish flavour, Matthew’s genealogy of Christ includes four gentile women. In fact, the entire book itself is framed by the opening narrative of a visit by Gentiles from the east and concluded with the commission to proclaim this news to the nations. Therefore, Matthew wants the readers to know that the Jewish Messiah promised in the Old Testament is indeed the Lord and Saviour, not only of the Jews but of the world. This is the basis for Christ’s call at the beginning of his ministry for men to follow Him and to become His fishers of men. This commission that frames the start and end of the book of Matthew is, therefore, the proper outworking of the monotheistic worship of the Old Testament, explaining the true object and the intended outcome of the Old Testament religion. Without acknowledging and submitting to Christ as the true Lord and Saviour of us all, there is no true knowledge of God, of Scripture, and of the power of God. The call to love God is translated into the call to love others by taking the gospel to them. The call to discipleship, to follow Christ, is the call to know Him and make Him known. Immediate Context The Sadducees just posted Jesus a question to challenge him in vv. 23-33. Jesus in his reply explained that the root of their problem was they knew neither scripture nor the power of God. God is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who are now living in God’s presence because He is the God of the Abrahamic Covenant.

Observations

1. What was the occasion that brought the Pharisees and Sadducees together? Why did the lawyer come to Jesus?

2. How did Jesus respond to this lawyer’s challenge?

3. What is the relationship between the great commandment and the rest of Scripture?

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Meaning

4. What was wrong with the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Lawyer? How did their behaviour confirm what Jesus said to the Sadducees in Matt 22:29-32.

5. Why did Jesus bring together Deut 6:5 and Lev 19:18 when the lawyer only asked Him for the singular greatest commandment? How does Jesus’ reply address the root problem of the Pharisees and the Sadducees?

6. What does this account tell you about the Lord Jesus?

Summary: 7. State the main idea of the text and state why do you think the Holy Spirit gives us this text.

Applications

(Break into smaller groups so that everyone can share at least one application and pray for one another) 8. In what ways may we be like the Pharisees and Sadducees?

9. Is it possible to love God only with the heart without the mind? What does it mean to you to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind?

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10. What provisions has God given to enable you to love Him and others more? How may you grow this grace of loving God and others in your life?

11. How can you help someone around you to grow in this same grace?

Discipleship Pointers

This text shows us what is at the heart of all Scripture.

Answer from the text: The heart of all Scripture is to reveal through the Lord Jesus the God who deserves and commands our highest love for Him and others.

Intent: This text is given  To help us recognise our own lack of love and so to answer our greatest need by helping us know God and Scripture.  To help us see the heart of Scripture as God’s command to love Him and others wholly.  To help us look to Christ as the One who loves God and others by His life and teaching.

Memory Verses: Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV) Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’

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Sermon Date: 13 Jan 2019 Passage: Matthew 28:16-20 Topic: The Great Commission

Context

As mentioned in the context for study 1, the Great Commission is a theme that frames the entire book of Matthew. At the heart of this commission, stands the Lord Jesus Christ as the God of the Old Testament, who calls for all to worship Him with all that they are. His resurrection from the dead that preceded today’s account is the most explicit declaration of who He is. And who He is gives the church its identity and mission. It is noteworthy therefore that Matthew is also the only Gospel that mentions the church, and mentions it three times. This text in Matthew reveals not just who Christ is but also His purpose for establishing His church here on earth.

Observations

1. What did the disciples do when they saw the Lord Jesus? Where were they when the Lord gave them these instructions?

2. What were the disciples commanded to do among the nations?

3. How are the disciples to make disciples among the nations?

Meaning

4. Why did Matthew tell us the Great Commission is given i) in Galilee, ii) up in the mountain, iii) in the context of worship, iv) mixed with doubts? (See Mt 4:15,23, 28:10 and Matt 5:1, 17:1 c.f. Exo 19:2-3)

5. Do a search for the word “nations” in the book of Psalms and Isaiah using a Bible Concordance or the Bible apps in your mobile equipment or computer. What do you find is God’s heartbeat for the nations throughout Israel’s hymn and prophetic books?

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6. How does Matt 28:19-20 reveal God’s strategy for the reconciling the nations back to Himself?

Summary: 7. i. Sum up the message of this text by stating a. The basis: ______b. The goal: ______c. The means: ______d. The reach and scope: ______e. The community involved, i. In heaven: ______ii. On earth: ______f. The content: ______g. The fruit/mark: ______h. The timeline: ______i. The empowerment: ______for this Great Commission.

ii. State why do you think the Holy Spirit gives us this text.

Applications

(Break into smaller groups so that everyone can share at least one application and pray for one another) 8. How do you see your role in obedience to the Lord’s commission for you and the church?

9. What are your doubts and reservation about fulfilling your role in this Great Commission? What helps do you need?

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10. What in this passage gives you encouragement and empowerment to fulfil your part in this Commission?

Discipleship Pointers

This text shows us what is the Great Commission given to the church.

Answer from the text:  The Great Commission is based on Christ’s absolute and universal Lordship and authority over all creation that draws forth our worship of Him, however imperfect that worship may be.  The goal is to make disciples of all nations.  The means is through their union with Christ and His church where they are taught the whole counsel of God given in Scripture.  The reach/scope is to all nations.  The heavenly community involved in this saving work is the whole Trinitarian Godhead, represented by the earthly community, the church.  The content is the whole of Scripture.  The fruit and mark is the disciples’ obedience to Christ.  The timeline stretches to the end of the age.  The empowerment comes from Christ very own presence.

The intent: This text is given so that despite our weaknesses and doubts, we may be committed and empowered for the mission of the church which is to make disciples of all nations by using the God-appointed means to accomplish this mission, and to do so because of and out of our worship of Christ.

Memory verse: Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV) All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

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Sermon Date: 20 Jan 2019 Passage: Matthew 4:18-22 Topic: A Certain Kind Of Disciple

Context

Matthew 4 reported that when Jesus heard that had been arrested, He withdrew into Galilee and began his ministry there. This was in fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy that Galilee, a place historically filled with Gentiles, shrouded in spiritual darkness, would see the coming of God’s light in Christ. The Lord Jesus is that fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy. This fulfilment will take place primarily through the preaching of Christ. The first word of Jesus’ preaching recorded for us was “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.” It shows us the silencing of John the Baptist through his imprisonment did not stop God but instead served to advance His kingdom, and did so according to His prior prophetic announcement. Christ’s calling of His first apostles is to be understood in the context of the advancement of God’s kingdom work in the midst of oppositions. This also becomes the context to understand our own calling.

Observations

1. Where and when did this event take place? What is the profession of Peter and Andrew, James and John?

2. What was Christ’s call to Peter and Andrew? What was the response of Peter and Andrew?

3. Who and what did James and John leave behind in order to follow Jesus?

Meaning

4. What is the significance that this call took place in the context of: a. John the Baptist’s imprisonment.

b. Jesus’ preaching of the repentance and the kingdom of God in Galilee.

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5. How did Jesus link His call to the disciples’ vocation? Why did He do so?

6. What does this passage teach us about: a. Christ’s Lordship.

b. Following Christ.

Summary: 7. State the main idea of the text and why do you think the Holy Spirit gives us this text.

Applications

(Break into smaller groups so that everyone can share at least one application and pray for one another) 8. How does this passage show you that God has a bigger purpose for your life then what you are doing in your vocation? What is this bigger purpose?

9. What does it mean to you to be a fisher of men?

10. What do you have to let go in order to follow Christ’s call for your life?

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Discipleship Pointers

This text shows us what it means to follow Christ. Answer from the text: The call to follow Christ is a radical conversion to Christ’s mission of drawing men and women into His kingdom. It means decisive obedience to Christ shown by 1. a total change in one’s direction and purpose in life. 2. the subordination of all other priorities to Christ’s call.

This text is given so that in the midst of opposition and competing demands in life, we may hear Christ’s call afresh and make a decisive recommitment to follow Him and serve His mission by calling men and women to faith and repentance in Christ.

Memory Verse: Matthew 4:19 (NIV) “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”

Additional notes The significance of where and when this calling took place: -The calling of the disciples following right after John’s imprisonment shows that God’s kingdom advancement is propelled forward rather than hindered by oppositions. It also shows the cost of doing the kingdom’s work, and the sufferings awaiting the disciples in following Jesus. -The call to follow Christ, exemplified by the disciples, shows us what it means to repent and enter God’s kingdom. -Jesus ministry prior to calling the disciples exemplifies what the disciples were called to do as fishers of men. They are to call men and women to repentance by announcing the arrival of God’s Kingdom in the coming of Christ.

The relevance of this text to our vocation and calling  First, it signifies a change in the preoccupation of their lives, from full-time fishing for fishes to fishing for men. It is a change in one’s direction and purpose to align with God’s kingdom agenda.  Christ always leads us from where we are.  Where we are is not irrelevance to God’s plan in our lives, but is part of God’s plan to bring us to where He wants us to be.  Becoming a follower of Jesus will result in the conversion of our vocational devotion and skills from serving our own ends to serving God’s ends.

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What this text teaches us about: Christ Lordship:  Christ the authority to call men from where they are to follow Him.  Christ deserves our all. The disciples left everything to follow Him. Including their means of livelihood, their immediate family and community.  Christ in His Lordship over us, promise to change and remake us “into fishers of men.” The call is accompanied by a promise for those who wholeheartedly obey the call. Following Christ:  Following Christ means immediate obedience. Peter and Andrew knew Christ beforehand as shown in John’s gospel. They had already spent some time with Christ. But this background is not given to us in Matthew or Mark’s gospel because it is irrelevant to what this text wants to convey. Following Christ is the greatest of all privileges. Regardless of how long or how short we have known Christ, obedience is immediate once we recognise this truth.  Following Christ requires unconditional obedience. When Christ calls us, the only thing for us to do is to fall in line with His authority and call. There is no necessity to worry about other matters except to do what He has called us to.  Following Christ is about a new pursuit in life, a total change of all else in life to pursue this new direction. It exemplifies the repentance and faith that Christ was preaching, noting its significance that Matt 4:19 is the second recorded statement of Christ’s words since the beginning of His ministry.  This new pursuit is about embracing Christ’s mission, the mission to bring men and women under His Lordship, calling them to follow Christ and His Kingdom mandate. It is the Great Commission reiterated at the end of Matthew 28:19-20.

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Sermon Date: 27 Jan 2019 Passage: Philippians 3:7-11 Topic: Knowing Christ

Context The book of Philippians was Paul’s letter to the church he had planted to thank them for their partnership and support in the midst of his imprisonment and to tell them his plan to send Timothy and Epaphroditus back to them. The church was probably facing false teachings and perhaps persecutions, so Paul wrote also to encourage them to endure hardship in their sufferings. While doing so, Paul used the occasion to also address a pressing concern that arose within the church, the division between two beloved sisters and fellow co-workers in Christ, Euodia and Syntyche. They were at loggerheads with each other. Paul wrote to persuade them, in humility and love, to be reconciled to one another by taking on the mind of Christ. He did so by declaring Christ to them and by pointing them back to Him. In fact, he did so by showing them how he himself was in the very same pursuit of knowing Christ. Observations

1. List what Paul had lost and what he had gained through his commitment to Christ in vv. 7-8?

2. What did Paul hope to gain by gaining Christ vv. 9-11?

Meaning

3. How is the righteousness from Christ superior to our own righteousness v. 9?

4. How is sharing in Christ suffering a necessary path to knowing Christ and the power of His resurrection? What aspect of Christ do you think Paul wanted to imitate in “becoming like him in his death”?

5. What is this hope of the resurrection that is the driving motivation in Paul’s life? How is this hope related to his pursuit in Christ?

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Summary 6. State the main idea of the text and why do you think the Holy Spirit gives us this text.

Applications

(Break into smaller groups so that everyone can share at least one application and pray for one another) 7. In what ways do you struggle to exalt Christ’s righteousness over your own? How does this affect your relationships?

8. How does this text alter your perspective about suffering? Did your sufferings draw you closer to Christ and make you more Christlike? How did they do or not do so?

9. How would you like others to pray alongside you in your pursuit to know Christ and become like Him?

Discipleship Pointers

This text shows us what is the supreme goal of Paul that caused him to give up all other inferior pursuits in life and the effects this goal had on him. The answer from this text: Paul’s supreme goal in life is to know Christ and become like Christ which caused him - to give up all other inferior pursuits, namely righteousness by self-effort - to pursue Christ by putting his faith in Christ’s righteousness rather than his own, - to joyfully undergo sufferings - to look forward to its final consummation at the resurrection

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This text is given So that in our struggles in ministries and relationships, Holy Spirit can show us our own lack of righteousness so that we may pursue the righteousness that is in Christ, to know and become like Christ, and hence to order all other relational aspects of our life around this sole pursuit.

Memory verses: Philippians 3:10-11 (NIV) I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

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