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BFA JAN 2019.Pdf 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 Great Commission 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 Matthew 4:18-22 own before looking at the discipleship pointers. A Certain Kind Of Disciple 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 1 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, Jesus 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? 2 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? 3 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.’ 4 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? 5 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? 6 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.
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