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Post by Scott Ross on Sept 25, 2008 13:15:05 GMT -5
Well... I have been quite remiss on my bible study, and at least Michelle wants to get it started back up. GOOD!! I'll take the last chapters 2 at a time. I hope to get some more participation here. Please post your thoughts on the chapters!! In Matthew 21 I especially enjoy: The Parable of the Two Sons
28"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'
29" 'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
30"Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go.
31"Which of the two did what his father wanted?" "The first," they answered.
Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.
32For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.Here Jesus was, confronted by the chief priests and the elders, and he tells them parables about themselves. What I have found that almost all of us can find ourselves in the parables of Jesus. This parable speaks to me of the importance of doing as we are instructed. Even when we say 'NO' and are rebellious in our words and actions, we have the opportunity to correct ourselves and do the right thing. We have all encountered those who say 'YES' but don't follow through with what they say. (Been there and done that myself....) This parable speaks to me of repentance. Even if we screw up in our lives, we all have the opportunity to repent and do as we should. Jesus points out to the chief priests and the elders that they were hypocrites in trying to 'talk the talk' but without 'walking the walk'. I can imagine what they must have thought when he looked at them and told them: "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you."That musta hurt their pride wouldn't you think? Scott
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Post by wanttobewithGod on Sept 26, 2008 6:35:56 GMT -5
Thanks for this, Scott. I will read within the next couple of days. Currently read (what, all FOUR I think??lol) Phillipians as well and plan to discuss that with Craig. Anyway... One thing I don't understand....(oh please everyone....I feel bad enough already! I've been away from the Bible, for the most part, for a long time ...and just in the last year or so have wanted to get back into reading and a closer relationship with God again...so forgive me if I don't understand even some of the basics!) Why did Jesus say that to them? This, I mean: I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you." The only reason I wonder....that is the answer I would have given as well. I would think that the one who DID say no....but then, as you said, went back and corrected himself and DID actually DO right (actions louder than words?!) in the end...would have been the one who did the right thing, no?? Was Jesus saying that *neither* were right, because one told God no to begin with...and one didn't follow through? I think most of us have been in a position of defiance....but the most important thing, imo, is turning that around and changing our minds and saying...you know...I really DO need to do that! or..I WANT to do that to serve God and to please Him...or for *whatever* reason....but just so we do what He expects of us! Isn't that the more important thing than if we said "no" to begin with? OR...maybe he wasn't referring to their answer about the sons at ALL, but just how they were living their lives??? I have heard this many times and I know that it's a popular parable and I really should understand it...and maybe if I had read it in my study Bible before posting here I would...but...yeah. I often post and then think. ;D (but not always!!! Don't run with that now!!!) ;D Ok...will read and get back. Hope we will be able to hear others' thoughts too. M.
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Post by Scott Ross on Sept 29, 2008 12:50:37 GMT -5
Hey Michelle! Why did Jesus say that to them? This, I mean: I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you."I can share my feelings about that statement. BUT, is my opinion, and I think it could very well mean something totally different to someone else, (and we would both still be right in my opinion...) As we read about Jesus and his teachings and healing in the bible, those that he healed and who came to him were usually afflicted with some sort of physical or mental problem. Being a tax collector in those days was one of the more hated positions to have. Being a prostitute really put a woman in to the bottom portion of the pecking order. As I can personally attest, when one feels that they are at the end of their rope, or flat on their back in the mud of life there is really nothing to do but to rely on Jesus to heal us. The Pharisees were definitely a group who considered themselves better than others around them. After all, they upheld the law and kept on 'doing' what they felt they had to in order to remain 'better' than those around them. It gave them a superior attitude which was based on what they did for themselves, and not what God could do through them. In the book I am reading 'In The Grip Of Grace by Max Lucado, he gives an example of those who feel superior to others around them. (I am going off the top of my head here, so may screw up a bit in the telling, so will 'ad lib' to make the point he did...) He was speaking of how God demands perfection from us, but knows that we can never be perfect because of our sinful nature. In other words, there is NOTHING we can do to make ourselves right with God. (based on being able to remain sinless) In the book, he says 'what if God gave us the following commandment. No one can be saved unless they can jump to the moon'. Obviously, none of us would be able to do that..... BUT, there will be those who are trying, and looking around and saying man look at that 'Michelle' over there. I doubt if she can even jump 3 feet. And that 'Scott' character, WHAT A LOSER!!!! Does he call that a jump??? He barely left the ground!!! He can't even put the effort into a good jump!!!! HA!!!! LOOK AT ME!! I JUST JUMPED AT LEAST 5 FEET IN THE AIR!!! WHOOPEE KI YI!!!! Do you see the point? Salvation is based on the ability to jump to the moon, and although it is an impossible task, there are those who will look around and proudly point out just how high their jumps can be. They tend to forget that no matter how high they jump, they just are not going to get to the moon, so they spend their time feeling and acting superior to those around them.... Salvation is by the unearned gift of God. We can't earn it, no matter how high we 'jump'. When one turns themselves over to the care of Jesus/God, and lives according to grace it really doesn't matter how high we can jump, and there is no need to try to point out how high those jumps are because they mean nothing! Those who are down and out (such as the tax collectors and prostitutes and Scotty) have no problem putting their trust in the Lord. Make that their COMPLETE trust! If we trust in ourselves, we are going to fail, and fail miserably... Well Michelle.... Pretty long winded, and DEFINITELY ad libbed (sorry Max for butchering your story...) but that is my thoughts about that passage.... Hopefully others will add their thoughts here. Pretty lonely over here isn't it? Much more fun on the main board bashing each other rather than sharing how the scriptures speak to each of us.... Scott
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Post by wanttobewithGod on Oct 7, 2008 15:43:38 GMT -5
Thank you, Scott, and I truly DO want to do this (and was SO hoping others would join in as well ) but I understand that people have time issues as well, other committments, etc. Anyway, sorry I havent' been around in this particular part of the board when I asked you to get it started again! I will make a post later this evening.... thanks for getting us started again. M.
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Post by hangingout on Mar 19, 2014 10:43:04 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing this.Jesus always gets right to the heart of the situations he was in. He saw the religious leaders who looked down on all the sinners out there and so they must have been shocked to hear that. And they probably went away thinking, 'he's crazy'...THEY won't get in before us... and you can imagine them huddling around together whispering, 'what does he mean?" I think it hurt their pride, yes. But it was the ones who took the message and really did something about it,who said, "Yes, I'll work in your vineyard." And the ones that God wanted to work for him, in the vineyard, who were called first, they are not the ones who really follow Jesus. It is the last who are called, like all the world is "go and preach" "all the world". These last ones really wanted the work, they really wanted to be a part of the Master's vineyard, so that made them first, not the 'religious elite'. Thank you.
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Post by faune on Mar 19, 2014 13:18:42 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing this.Jesus always gets right to the heart of the situations he was in. He saw the religious leaders who looked down on all the sinners out there and so they must have been shocked to hear that. And they probably went away thinking, 'he's crazy'...THEY won't get in before us... and you can imagine them huddling around together whispering, 'what does he mean?" I think it hurt their pride, yes. But it was the ones who took the message and really did something about it,who said, "Yes, I'll work in your vineyard." And the ones that God wanted to work for him, in the vineyard, who were called first, they are not the ones who really follow Jesus. It is the last who are called, like all the world is "go and preach" "all the world". These last ones really wanted the work, they really wanted to be a part of the Master's vineyard, so that made them first, not the 'religious elite'. Thank you. Hangingout ~ I really enjoyed your rendering of the meaning of "the last shall be first, and the first shall be last." That was a keen observation on your part and I appreciated what you shared.
I noticed this Bible Study started back in 2008, but it would be good to have another one start up for sharing among Christians. Perhaps Scott can resurrect it for us?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2014 13:38:27 GMT -5
Hey this is something worth the while ! I will have to go and re read the chapters before I can take part in the discussion.I am actually studying the Gospels and for the first time in my life they are actually becoming precious to me !
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Post by Scott Ross on Mar 19, 2014 18:05:53 GMT -5
I noticed this Bible Study started back in 2008, but it would be good to have another one start up for sharing among Christians. Perhaps Scott can resurrect it for us?
The whole bible study sub-board has just been waiting for people to join in. It is YOU guys that will resurrect it, and I can add subjects/chapters/verses to be discussed as people wish.
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Post by faune on Mar 19, 2014 20:19:23 GMT -5
I noticed this Bible Study started back in 2008, but it would be good to have another one start up for sharing among Christians. Perhaps Scott can resurrect it for us?
The whole bible study sub-board has just been waiting for people to join in. It is YOU guys that will resurrect it, and I can add subjects/chapters/verses to be discussed as people wish. Scott ~ Sounds like a great idea! Count me in! I enjoy a good Bible discussion and this sounds like a good way of doing it on line! Hopefully, others will join in and make it a Special Board for Christian members to hang out and share their thoughts on different chapters in the Bible. I did this at work years back and it was a most enlightening experience for somebody who had just left the 2x2's. It helped me to reconnect again with others on the outside in a small group and it was something I looked forward to on my lunch break at work in a meeting room set apart for that purpose. Perhaps some would find it like a little oasis for them during the week where they can get quiet and reflect on God's Word and share their insights. Thanks again for opening the doors to such a privilege! Also, I appreciate Hangingout for bringing this subject up again with her posting to your old thread! Look to see you all here!!
Any time during the week you want to set aside for a "share session" with this Bible study to report back and contribute?
The thought of such an undertaking reminds me of this verse from Matthew 18:20 below. Hopefully, others on TMB will join in and share in this Bible Study to make it even more special? However, few in number is O.K. with me, too.
biblehub.com/matthew/18-20.htm
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Post by hangingout on Mar 24, 2014 16:04:13 GMT -5
Sounds good, Scott - feeding on the Lamb would be awesome
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Post by faune on Mar 27, 2014 1:45:47 GMT -5
Scott ~ Well, now you have three interested participants ~ hangingout, thankful, and myself, and hopefully more will follow? Can you lead up with which verses from these chapters you wish to discuss in this Bible study first or do you have another chapter or Bible topic you want to discuss as a group?
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Post by sharingtheriches on Mar 27, 2014 21:59:36 GMT -5
Jesus defeated Satan's grand attempt at tempting him by using the same scriptures or from the same scriptures that Satan was using. Other words, Jesus beat Satan at his own game. And surely he kept on beating the Pharisees and scribes at their own game of being so snooty!
When I think about the many times that Jesus told the Pharisees and scribes how the cow ate the cabbage, I always think about when he had gone to dinner with a despised publican and there were other "sinners" or less desirable folks there with him. The Pharisees and scribes wanted, as it mentioned, to boast their superioty, but Jesus put them right back down to ground level by saying the reason he was with these less desirables was that the physician is not needed by the healthy but by the sick. Kind of took the kinks out of their stiff necks, eh?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2014 19:01:37 GMT -5
Mat 22:14 "For many are called ,but few are chosen." I don't understand this how can we be called but not chosen.I know some people say we don't choose to serve God but He has all ready chosen us? Does it mean that some are predestined to go to heaven and others to hell ?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2014 19:13:49 GMT -5
if you read the whole chapter you'll understand that yes many are called but they don't change for Christ so few are chosen also like the parable of the sower and the seed where much seed is sown but few produce any fruit
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2014 19:27:31 GMT -5
I did read the whole chapter but still didn't understand it.Now it makes more sense,thanks.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2014 20:29:25 GMT -5
that did come across a little snarky didn't it...
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