thin red line
ki mberly
SOWell
“Thin re d l ine ” S erie S Thin Red Line, Volume 1 Thin Red Line, Volume 2 Thin Red Line, Volume 3 Thin Red Line, Volume 4 VideOS
More New Hope Books by Kimberly Sowell Lost on a Familiar Road: Allowing God’s Love to Free Your Mind for the Journey Lost on a Familiar Road: eDevotional Soul Shaping: Creating Compassionate Children Journey to Confidence: Becoming Women of Influential Faith Journey to Significance: Becoming Women of Divine Destiny Major Truths from the Minor Prophets: Power, Freedom, and Hope for Women, coauthors Edna Ellison and Tricia Scribner A Passion for Purpose: 365 Daily Devotions for Missional Living Women of the Covenant: Spiritual Wisdom from Women of the Bible A Month of Miracles: 30 Stories of the Unmistakable Presence of God, coauthors Edna Ellison, Joy Brown, Tricia Scribner, Marie Alston, and Cherie Nettles
thin red line
ki mberly
SOWell
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
New Hope® Publishers PO Box 12065 Birmingham, AL 35202-2065 NewHopeDigital.com New Hope Publishers is a division of WMU®. © 2015 by Kimberly Sowell All rights reserved. First printing 2015. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means — electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise — without the prior written permission of the publisher. New Hope Publishers serves its authors as they express their views, which may not express the views of the publisher. Library of Congress Product Control Number: 2014955637 All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. New Hope Publishers series Project Team: Tina Atchenson, Mark Bethea, Jourdan Berry, Joyce Dinkins, Lynn Groom, Melissa Hall, Joshua Hays, Vicki Huffman, Maegan Roper, and Kathryne Solomon. Series cover design: Bruce Watford Series interior design: Glynese Northam ISBN: 978-1-59669-424-8 £x{£äÎÊUÊäÓ£xÊUÊÓ £
de dicaTi On
I wish to dedicate the “Thin Red Line” series to my wonderful church family, Second Baptist Church in Lancaster, South Carolina. Thank you for stepping out in faith as a church to experience God’s thin red line of redemption together for a year of study. I love you all, and I appreciate your firm stand on the Word of God, your fervent love for Jesus Christ, and your heart that beats for missions. May God continue to bless Second Baptist Church as we move forward to bring glory to His name. And for each church, Bible study group, and individual who will read this volume and journey along the Thin Red Line, may God enrich your walk with Christ and positively flood your heart and mind with His glorious redeeming love.
ackn OW l e dgmen TS
Every book has its own birth story. The “Thin Red Line” series was born out of my home church’s desire to understand fully how all the pieces of the Bible come together to paint one breathtaking picture of redemption. I can tell you that through my personal experience of journeying this thin red line, my walk with Christ has been taken to a new level because of my strengthened understanding of what God did to save my soul, and I adore Him all the more. I am excited about what God is going to do in your life and in your church because of this journey you are about to take through redemption’s story. I’ve tried to go back to the very beginning and retrace the steps of how this book series came into being. I can’t remember if it first happened in my office, or my pastor’s office; perhaps it was in the executive pastor’s office . . . But I remember discussions about the life-changing power of the Word of God. I recall that our hearts were beating rapidly and our voices were escalating with excitement as we began to dream about what could happen if each person in our church began studying together, digging for ourselves to catch the “big picture” of Scripture. We started envisioning the spiritual growth and Bible literacy that God would bring to our people if we started in Genesis and marched through Scripture to thread together the evidence of God’s plan from the very beginning — that God would send a Savior to save sin-wrecked humanity. This church-wide emphasis coupled with the writing process required many people working together for a common purpose to make the “Thin Red Line” series a reality. Our church body embraced this 52-week journey as we studied together. Our weekly Bible study
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groups studied one lesson per week. Our pastor delivered sermons to reinforce and more fully develop where we were in the timeline as we studied redemption’s history together. This was no isolated program; this was the theme of our church for an entire year, and we were blown away with how God transformed us through the power of His Word. So many people are deserving of thanks:
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Dr. Brian Saxon, pastor: Thank you, Pastor Brian, for being willing to take a risk and do something so “out of the box” for the sake of our church family’s spiritual growth. Your desire for each person to know and understand God’s plan of redemption ushered us to a deeper appreciation for God’s great love for all of us. Marshall Fagg, executive pastor: Preacher Marshall, thank you for helping to shape the vision and develop a format that made this study effective for everyone. Your doctrinal oversight and words of encouragement each week blessed me every step of the way. Whenever you teach God’s Word, I am challenged by how deeply you love Jesus Christ. Denise Johnston, LifeGroup director: Thank you, Denise, for providing leadership to our LifeGroup leaders and paving the way for an out-of-the-ordinary, yet extraordinary year of study. I appreciate your patience and the hard work you put into this process. Kristie Taylor, editor: Kristie, I knew I could always count on your keen eye and wordsmithing abilities each week. Thank you not only for the editorial input but also the spiritual feedback to sharpen each lesson and encourage me as a writer. Melanie Sanders, Pat Nobles, and Beth Center, administrative assistants: Thank you for your important role in getting the materials into the hands of our people each week, and always leading with a
servant’s heart. I appreciate your spirit of cooperation and kindness! Small-Group Bible Study Leaders: To every leader who accepted the challenge to undergo a shift in how our church experienced small-group Bible studies, thank you for your willingness to stretch, grow, and embrace change. I thank God for the love and leadership that you provide each week as you connect with your small group with the heart of an undershepherd. The Second Baptist Church Family: Writing this series was my distinct honor because I knew God was allowing me to connect with your lives at a very personal level: your love relationship with Jesus Christ. Thank you for your words of encouragement, your weekly study of God’s Word, your celebration of biblical discoveries, and your willingness to live life together with everyone in our church family. I love you very much. And as always, I want to extend a special thank you to New Hope Publishers team: for your firm commitment to provide Bible study materials that allow the Holy Spirit to be the teacher of each man and woman who opens the Scripture with a willing heart. I love your clarity of vision, and I am honored to partner with you.
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cOn Te nTS
introduction: Follow the Signs that lead to the Cross
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Welcome to the thin red line
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it began with a Word
life lesson 1
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The Authority of God’s Word: The Pharisees Question Jesus life lesson 2
27
Obedience to God’s Word: The Parable of Two Builders his Perfection, Our Pit
life lesson 3
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Creation life lesson 4
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The Fall of Mankind life lesson 5
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The Spread of Sin and the Righteous Judge life lesson 6
Praise of God, Not Ourselves: The Tower of Babel
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a giant Step Toward redemption
life lesson 7
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Obedience: Abraham’s Call life lesson 8
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A Vivid Picture of Sacrifice: Abraham and Isaac life lesson 9
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Eternal Importance vs. Immediate Needs: Jacob and Esau life lesson 10
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God’s Providence Through One Forsaken: Joseph life lesson 11
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God Guides, Equips, and Uses His People for His Purposes: Moses Receives the Call life lesson 12
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Faith in God: Redemption in Egypt life lesson 13
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God Gives the Laws Weekly Preparation for Small-Group Members, Option 1
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Weekly Preparation for Small-Group Members, Option 2
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Sample lesson from thin red line Volume 2
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inTrO du cTiO n FOLLOW
THE
SIGNS
T H AT
LEAD
TO THE
CROSS
What are the Bible stories you remember from childhood? We all have our favorites. Noah’s ark. Moses and the bulrushes, Moses and the burning bush, and Moses parting the Red Sea. David and Goliath. Abraham and Isaac. But which story comes first? What is the chronological order? And who was it that fought the battle of Jericho? Where do the judges fit into the Old Testament? When did the prophets come into the picture, and how do they fit into the rest of the Old Testament? When did Israel become a nation, and why is that even important? And can anyone give a clear explanation of how the Old Testament is linked to the New Testament? If you are one of the blessed individuals who has had exposure to the Bible for much of your life, you could probably sit down with a blank sheet of paper and write down a long list of Bible stories you’ve studied in your lifetime. You may even be able to jot down a moral or biblical truth to correlate with each story. But so often our Bible study approach can be piecemeal and disjointed, jumping from one text to the next, that we find ourselves possessing an enormous pile of exquisite threads, appreciating each one for its individual beauty, yet unable to weave them together to see the intricate tapestry that is God’s big picture. The “Thin Red Line” series is an opportunity to start at the beginning in the Garden of Eden and walk chronologically through the Bible, tracing the link of commonality found in every book of the Bible: redemption. From beginning to end, God’s Word points us to the Cross. The evidence is striking. The benefits reaped from the “Thin Red Line” series are many:
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Introduction: Follow the Signs that Lead to the Cross
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You’ll be overwhelmed by God’s intentionality. Looking at Scripture passages with one particular focus, God’s plan of redemption, will show how He has painstakingly dropped evidence like breadcrumbs through time, leading to the Cross. In fact, throughout this study you’ll find that sometimes God left breadcrumbs, but more often He provided large arrows with neon lights pointing people to the promised Savior, His Son, Jesus Christ. You’ll be overwhelmed by God’s love. As you study God’s master plan and the many ways God interacted with people to usher in their salvation, you cannot help but understand more deeply that humanity is completely undeserving of God’s grace. From the beginning God has been consistent, and He has been faithful; you’ll see in this study that from the beginning humans are consistently inconsistent and tend toward unfaithfulness. Why did God follow through with the plan? Why did God keep His promise by sending His own Son into this fallen world? It must be love. You’ll grow in Bible literacy. For those who traverse all 52 weeks, you will find a deeper understanding of how the different books of the Bible fit together and how the stories flow chronologically. I confess to you that as the writer, my Bible knowledge grew leaps and bounds as I sat down to march purposefully through time in studying redemption. The growth I experienced has made me a more passionate teacher of God’s Word. Whether I’m teaching my children at home around the kitchen table or sharing God’s Word in a more formal setting, I long for God’s people to possess a working knowledge of the Bible. The “Thin Red Line” series provides a framework for understanding the overall history of Scripture. You’ll fall in love with the Old Testament. It’s just a theory, but I believe that many Christians shy away from reading the Old Testament because they don’t know the history, they can’t figure out the relevance of some of the stories, and they don’t see how its
Introduction: Follow the Signs that Lead to the Cross
contents can deepen their walk with Christ. Prepare to be amazed! You’ll fall in love with the Old Testament when you begin to hear its pages whispering the name of Jesus. You’ll fall in love with the New Testament. Follow the “Thin Red Line” series from beginning to end. Your heart is going to sing “glory hallelujah!” when you arrive at the manger, having gained a deeper appreciation for the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes. When looking through redemption’s lens, you’ll understand the life of Jesus and the profound nature of every word He said and every act He performed. And how do the Book of Acts and the letters to the churches connect to redemption? Embrace the teachings of Volume Four of this series, and experience being a part of God’s plan of redemption for all of the peoples of the world. You’ll go to new levels of friendship with your Bible study group. The format of the “Thin Red Line” series lends itself to meaningful, on-topic, highly relevant discussions for your study time together. Each lesson is designed to allow participants to walk away with a solid understanding of the Bible passage (you will remember the details of the story for days to come) and also specific applications from God’s Word to put into practice in everyday life. The approach is both discussion-based and Bible-centered. I pray that God will use this study series to enrich your relationship with Jesus and deepen your love for God’s Word. May God’s people never cease to be amazed at the grace of God, the Author of our redemption through Jesus Christ!
Kimberly
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We l cO me TO The Thin red line
Welcome to the Thin Red Line. Throughout Scripture, we see a beautiful scarlet thread of God’s redemptive plan for humanity. From the beginning, He has implemented a divine strategy to save us from our sins and adopt us as His children. In this study, we will experience powerful life transformation as we understand and embrace how God has revealed Himself and His beautiful redemptive plan from cover to cover in His Holy Word. Each lesson’s small-group leader guide contains some specific components:
red line d eTa il S red line Verse: the memory verse for the lesson red line Statement: a statement of how the lesson relates to
God’s redemptive plan for mankind to be saved red line Connection: the theme of the lesson Focal Passages: the passages covered in the lesson
hear — listen Attentively to the lesson
This section is the telling of the Bible story and its details from Scripture.
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Welcome to the Thin Red Line
Search — investigate the Facts of the lesson
This section examines what is happening in the story, allowing each person to thoroughly digest what is being conveyed in the text. You’ll find group-leader discussion statements in italics.
See — Find the Purpose of the lesson
This section allows your small group to begin processing what God is teaching about Himself and how they can live for Him. Your group will discuss the significance of God’s truths and how they apply to their lives. You’ll find group-leader discussion statements in italics. 18
live — experience the truth of the lesson
This section is a crucial component of the lesson — sharing how God’s Word is reshaping your hearts and minds to be strong disciples of Jesus Christ. In this section that closes each lesson, you will have the opportunity as the small-group leader to challenge your group to respond specifically and to implement this lesson in their lives the following week. See discussion statements in italics. During these first two lessons, we will begin by laying a foundation for the authority of Scripture and the call for obedience to God’s Word. We will begin chronologically going through the Bible in lesson 3, starting with the account of Creation in Genesis 1.
i T be gan W iTh a WO rd In the very beginning God spoke into vast nothingness, and with the power of His word He created the heavens and the earth. There is power and absolute authority in every word that proceeds from the mouth of Almighty God. The very words of God fill the pages of Scripture. The same power that brought the earth into being has produced for humanity this amazing, infallible, complete, and errorless document that we call the Bible. Let’s begin at the beginning by fully embracing our solid foundation — God’s Word — before we raise our eyes to view the framework of redemption revealed in Scripture.
life leSS On 1
THE AUTHORITY OF GOD’S WORD: THE PHARISEES QUESTION JESUS red line Verses: All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for
teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16–17) red line Statement: The Word of God is our authority and
source of truth. red line Connection: Disciples of Christ uphold the Word of
God as our guide for life. Focal Passages: Mark 7:1–13; 2 Timothy 3:16–17
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Life Lesson 1
listen Attentively to the lesson 1. Tell the story of Mark 7:1–13 in your own words. 2. Read the passage aloud together from Scripture, confirming the facts of the story. Amend any details suggested by small-group members that did not accurately represent the Scripture.
investigate the Facts of the lesson
Use these questions to guide small-group members to investigate the facts of this passage. 20
1. Who are the characters in this story?
Jesus, the disciples, Pharisees, and scribes. 2. The Pharisees and scribes asked Jesus why His disciples didn’t walk according to the tradition of the elders, but their question to Jesus was really an accusation. What was the accusation the Jewish leaders were making?
Their question was their way of accusing the disciples of not being true in their religion and accusing Jesus of not being a law-honoring teacher. 3. The Jewish leaders were rules-focused instead of God-focused, and they found fault with the disciples. How did their legalism (an overemphasis on rules) lead to faultfinding?
They didn’t consider the heart of the disciples, as God looks on the heart. What they saw were men who didn’t exercise religion the way they felt it should be exercised, and they immediately faulted the men for doing things differently. Discuss with your small group our obligation to make sure our worship is true
The Authority of God’s Word: The Pharisees Question Jesus
to God’s Word. Straying from God’s Word is a sin, but straying from religious traditions is not a sin, especially when the tradition, such as the washing of hands in this passage, was not a biblical mandate. 4. According to vv. 3–4, where did these traditions of the Pharisees come from?
Note that though traditions were dear to their hearts, probably passed down from parents and elders they loved and respected, these traditions were not from God. These traditions were manmade. The elders may have had good intentions in designing some of them, but they hindered true worship. Jesus made clear His disdain for their strict following of traditions but lack of respect for God’s implicit laws. 5. What were the Jewish leaders conveying about personal holiness and the forgiveness of sins by insisting that people follow these traditions of washing hands and cleansing pots?
Refer your small group to the record of this story in Matthew 15:1– 20. In vv. 10–11 and 16–20, Jesus taught the disciples that sin is a heart condition, and that superficial acts of cleansing cannot wash away sin. The Jews practiced ceremonial washing. Do people today still believe that some ceremonies can make you right before God? 6. Jesus said the Pharisees had set aside God’s commandment in order to follow their traditions (Mark 7:6). He gave a clear example of this in vv. 10–12, denouncing the immoral outcome of declaring corban. This was a practice of the Jews; declaring that they were giving their possessions to God. In their minds this removed their obligation to use their financial resources to care for their aging parents (in a time when family was often the only support of the elderly). Thus, their elderly parents were neglected, and the money they had given “to God” was
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Life Lesson 1
filtered through the synagogue and into the pockets of religious leaders. Can you think of a modern example of how following religious traditions can cause a person to set aside God’s commandments?
One possible answer is the command to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves, named in Luke 10:25–28. For some churches, love for a tradition can become more important than loving a sinner when keeping a tradition causes a sinner to be confused or turned away by the church. 7. What was Jesus’ assessment of the religious leaders? How did He respond to their question?
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As Jesus answered their question, He turned the conversation into an accusation and assessment, not of the disciples, but of the Pharisees. He called them hypocrites, accusing them of being the fulfillment of Isaiah’s words in Isaiah 29:13. Jesus said their hearts were far from God, their worship was of no value, and their teaching was not based on God’s Word but on man’s rules. Jesus made it clear that we cannot be fully relying on God’s Word and rule-makers at the same time. When God’s people begin making our own religious rules, we set aside the authority of God’s Word and set ourselves up as the ultimate authority. 8. What other details do you see in this passage?
Allow your small group to share other details that stand out to them and discuss the significance of each point.
Find the Purpose of the lesson
Use these questions to guide small-group members to discover God’s purpose for this passage. 1. The Jews called their traditions “the fence of the Law.” The Jewish leaders felt a need to help their people obey God’s laws by imposing
The Authority of God’s Word: The Pharisees Question Jesus
specific rules or “fences,� which became traditions. What is the danger in setting up rules to make sure that people live within the boundaries of God’s law?
Possible answers: UĂŠ Âœ`Â˝ĂƒĂŠ7ÂœĂ€`ĂŠÂˆĂƒĂŠĂƒĂ•vwVˆiÂ˜ĂŒĂŠvÂœĂ€ĂŠÂœĂ•Ă€ĂŠÂ?ÂˆĂ›iĂƒÂ°ĂŠ ÂœĂŒÂ…ÂˆÂ˜}ĂŠÂ˜ii`ĂƒĂŠĂŒÂœĂŠLiĂŠ>``i`]ĂŠ>˜`ĂŠÂ˜ÂœĂŒÂ…ÂˆÂ˜}ĂŠ can be taken away. UĂŠ Âœ`ĂŠÂˆĂƒĂŠV>Â?Â?ˆ˜}ĂŠĂ•ĂƒĂŠĂŒÂœĂŠÂ?ÂœĂ›iĂŠ ÂˆÂ“ĂŠ>˜`ĂŠĂƒiÀÛiĂŠ ÂˆÂ“ĂŠ>Â?œ˜i° UĂŠ7Â…ÂœĂŠĂœÂœĂ•Â?`ĂŠLiĂŠ>Â?Â?ÂœĂœi`ĂŠĂŒÂœĂŠÂ“>ÂŽiĂŠĂŒÂ…iÊÀÕÂ?iĂƒ]ĂŠ>˜`ĂŠĂœÂ…ÂœĂƒiÊÀÕÂ?iĂƒĂŠĂœÂœĂ•Â?`ĂŠĂœiĂŠvÂœÂ?Â?ÂœĂœÂś UĂŠ Âœ`ĂŠ Â…>ĂƒĂŠ }ÂˆĂ›iÂ˜ĂŠ Ă•ĂƒĂŠ vĂ€ii`ÂœÂ“Ă†ĂŠ >``ÂˆĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜>Â?ĂŠ Ă€i}Ă•Â?>ĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜ĂƒĂŠ LiĂžÂœÂ˜`ĂŠ -VĂ€ÂˆÂŤĂŒĂ•Ă€iĂŠ LĂ€ÂˆÂ˜}ĂŠ bondage. UĂŠ ÂˆĂƒĂ•Â˜ÂˆĂŒĂžĂŠV>Â˜ĂŠÂœVVĂ•Ă€ĂŠÂˆÂ˜ĂŠ>ĂŠVÂ…Ă•Ă€VÂ…ĂŠĂœÂ…iÂ˜ĂŠÂ“>˜“>`iĂŠĂŒĂ€>`ÂˆĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜ĂƒĂŠLiVœ“iĂŠÂşÂ?>ĂœÂ°Âť UĂŠ iĂƒĂ•ĂƒĂŠĂœ>ĂƒĂŠÂ˜iĂ›iÀÊ>ÊÀÕÂ?i‡vÂœÂ?Â?ÂœĂœiĂ€]ĂŠLĂ•ĂŒĂŠÂˆÂ˜ĂƒĂŒi>`ĂŠÂŤ>Ă›i`ĂŠĂŒÂ…iĂŠĂœ>ÞÊvÂœĂ€ĂŠĂŒÂ…iĂŠ iĂœĂƒĂŠÂœvĂŠ ÂˆĂƒĂŠ day to break free from the Pharisees’ bondage of legalistic living. 23
2. Through the years, what traditions or “fences� have you experienced, either growing up as a child or traditions that you practice today? Do you have any personal guidelines that you feel strongly about, in the manner in which people should obey God’s Law?
Allow everyone to share.One example of a fence could involve someone who has been raised in a home with alcoholism or has been personally addicted in the past. That person refuses to eat in a restaurant where alcohol is served, whereas for other believers that restaurant would present no problem. What acts as an effective fence for one should not be extended to become a rule for all. 3. What role does tradition play in this story? Why do Christians sometimes hold on to traditions so strongly in the life of a church?
Have your group discuss how traditions are often habits we’ve grown to love, habits that make us comfortable. Traditions are handed down from people we love and respect and were first developed at a time when they met a need. We may struggle when a tradition is
Life Lesson 1
no longer relevant. For instance, a family’s way of worshipping at Christmas can become a beautiful tradition, but the tradition will likely change in time because children grow into adulthood, move out of the home, and begin their own traditions. 4. When does tradition bring value to the church? When is it a hindrance? How do you discern the difference? What does Colossians 2:8 teach us about the potential danger of tradition? What did Jesus say in Mark 7:7 about how “the doctrines of men” can affect the way God receives our worship?
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Colossians 2:8 teaches that the traditions of men may cheat us from walking according to Christ’s teachings. Mark 7:7 teaches that our worship is in vain and not received by God when we are teaching the doctrines of men. What might be some examples of tradition being elevated above the authority vÊ-VÀ «ÌÕÀi¶Ê ÜÊ«>ÀÌ V «> ÌÃÊÌ Êà >Ài°® 5. Rather than going through the motions of a religious ritual, how can we experience clean living, true personal holiness, and the forgiveness of sin?
We receive forgiveness of our sins and are declared righteous by accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior. Help your small group to place emphasis on salvation first, and then a respect for and dependence upon God’s Word. Take time to carefully examine 2 Timothy 3:16–17, and discuss how important it is that God’s Word is the priority and guide in how we worship as well as for our daily living. Discuss the many uses of God’s Word described in these verses. 6. What other truths from this passage stand out to you? What else can we learn about God or about being a follower of Christ from this Scripture?
Allow everyone to respond. Share any other points of spiritual growth that the Holy Spirit brings to your attention.
The Authority of God’s Word: The Pharisees Question Jesus
experience the truth of the lesson
Use these questions to guide small-group members to allow God’s transformational truths to reshape their hearts and minds. 1. The Pharisees preferred that the disciples “walk according to the tradition of the elders” (v. 5), but Galatians 5:25 teaches a better way. Paul writes, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” What does it mean to walk by the Spirit? How do you personally use the Word of God to guide you to walk by the Spirit?
Point your small group to the beautiful promise of Ezekiel 36:26–28. You might also reference Ephesians 6:17, which calls the sword of the Spirit the Word of God. 25
2. As Jesus responded to the Pharisees, He contrasted the difference between what we say we believe with our lips and the actual condition of our hearts. He pointed out their hypocrisy. We can detect hypocrisy in others. How can we detect it in ourselves?
Guide the discussion about using the Word of God as it is described in 2 Timothy 3:16–17. 3. In Matthew’s telling of this story, we learn that Jesus was fully aware of how offended the Pharisees were because of His response to their love of traditions (Matthew 15:12–14). Do you feel a sting of pain when your personal traditions are challenged by others? What is this lesson saying to you about how God’s Word must be our benchmark in all we do as Christians?
Allow your small group to share their thoughts. 4. Jeremiah 15:16 says, “Your words were found and I ate them, and Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; for
Life Lesson 1
I have been called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.” What do you desire for God to do in your life through this study as we celebrate the authority of God’s Word in our lives?
between the lines: Truth Points
Pharisees — a large and influential religious political party during
Jesus’ day that controlled the synagogue and had great influence and power over the people; means “separated ones.” Scribes — those trained to record decisions or events for the Jewish
leaders. 26
Ceremonial washing — sometimes called “ablutions,” these were
rituals of washing with water to be purified. doctrine — means that which is taught; Christian doctrine is the
basic teachings of the Christian faith. Corban — a gift specifically given to God; in Mark 7:11 Jesus
condemns the practice of some who declared their funds as “corban” and used this as an excuse to neglect the care of their aging parents.
lif e le SS On 2
OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S WORD: THE PARABLE OF TWO BUILDERS
red line Verse: But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely
hearers who delude themselves. (James 1:22) red line Statement: The Lord calls us to know and also obey
the Word of God. red line Connection: God has given us His Word to teach us
how to live in obedience to Him. Focal Passages: Matthew 7:24–27; James 1:21–25; Genesis
3:17; 6:22; 12:1–2
listen Attentively to the lesson 1. Tell the story of Matthew 7:24–27 in your own words. Context: Beginning with the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, Matthew gives many teachings of Christ. The entire sermon is directed to Christian disciples and our life in God’s kingdom. Matthew 5 focuses on values for daily living, and Matthew 6 and 7 narrow our focus on the true pathway of life in God’s kingdom. Matthew 7:13–23 are strong words on salvation. Jesus taught about the narrow way to salvation, then vv. 15–23 teach directly on the necessity of an authentic relationship with Christ; Jesus warns
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Life Lesson 2
about false prophets, “You will know them by their fruits” (v. 16), and then warns, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter” (v. 21). As Jesus then begins the story of the wise man who built his house on the rock and the foolish man who built upon sand, note His first word: “therefore” (v. 24). Jesus is connecting His teachings on salvation and an authentic walk with Christ with this story of two builders, that we might understand the importance of obedience to God’s Word. 2. Ask the small-group members to reconstruct the story of Matthew 7:24–27 together from memory. 28
3. Read Matthew 7:24–27 aloud together from Scripture, confirming the facts of the story. Amend any details suggested by small-group members that did not accurately represent the Scripture.
investigate the Facts of the lesson
Use these questions to guide small-group members to investigate the facts of this passage. 1. What are the similarities and differences you see in the two men Jesus described?
Both men were building a house, and both men experienced precisely the same storm that beat on their houses. The wise man built on a rock, and his house withstood the storm, but the foolish man built on sand and his house fell when the storm came. 2. The first word in v. 24 is significant: “therefore.” Go back and briefly examine Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 7:15–23. How does Jesus’
Obedience to God’s Word: The Parable of Two Builders
story about the home builders relate to Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 7:15–23?
Point out to your small group that Luke’s recording of these teachings of Jesus are in the same order as Matthew’s. Jesus uses the story of the two builders to emphasize that God requires that our lives be transformed. As Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3, we must be born again. 3. Jesus used the symbolism of house-building, something that most people can relate to from their own life experiences. How does house-building relate to how a person builds his or her own life?
Encourage everyone to share ideas. What other details do you see in this passage?
Allow your small group to share other details that stand out to them and discuss the significance of each point.
Find the purpose of the lesson
Use these questions to guide small-group members to discover God’s purpose for this passage. 1. Just as the storm tested the men’s homes, how do the storms of life test a person?
Allow small-group members time to share what they have experienced or witnessed others experience through hardships and trials. Keep the focus on God’s faithfulness. 2. The key difference between the two house builders was their choice of foundation. What is Jesus teaching us about the foundation we need for our lives?
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Life Lesson 2
First Corinthians 3:10–15 also uses the foundation analogy. Our salvation in Jesus Christ is the foundation, and Paul challenges us to choose wisely how we build on this foundation. Encourage your small group to discuss the difference Christ has made in their lives and how He has been that steady foundation. 3. In Matthew 7:24 and again in v. 26, Jesus mentions hearing His teachings and also doing them. Is it possible to hear God’s Word and not do it?
As your small group answers this question, challenge them to discuss how believers are able to discern whether they are actually hearing God’s Word. ÜÊ>ÀiÊÌ iÞÊÃÕÀiÊÌ iÞÊ>ÀiÊ` }ÊÜ >ÌÊ ÌÊV > `ö 30
4. James 1:21–25 speaks directly to not only hearing but also doing God’s Word. What is the goal of Bible study?
The goal cannot be to merely heap up Bible facts; God’s Word should change our behavior. 5. James 1:25 teaches that the doer of God’s Word is blessed. How do the examples of obedience or disobedience found in Genesis 3:17; 6:22; and 12:1–2 affirm this truth?
Adam disobeyed God’s instruction and the ground was cursed, causing mankind to have to toil for survival. Noah obeyed God’s instructions concerning the ark and the impending flood, and he, his family, and the animal species were preserved. God blessed Abraham to be the father of many nations and the forefather of the Savior.
experience the truth of the lesson
Use these questions to guide small-group members to allow God’s transformational truths to reshape their hearts and minds.
Obedience to God’s Word: The Parable of Two Builders
1. What is God saying to you about the foundation of your life and how you are to build on it?
Encourage the group to describe what is the true foundation of their lives based not only on what they believe, but also on how they are making choices. 2. How will today’s study affect your approach to personal Bible study?
Encourage a specific answer from each person. 3. As a small group, we’re going to be studying God’s Word together week by week. How can we determine not to “deceive ourselves” by hearing but not heeding God’s Word? For instance, often we hear a sermon or read a passage and can think of all the other people who need to learn that lesson, rather than seeing our own sins and 31
neediness.
Challenge your small-group members to take a fresh approach to their Bible study, looking directly into God’s Word for personal application and life change. between the lines: Truth Points
FROM MATTHEW 7:24–27 Pharisees — a powerful religious-political party of Jews during the
New Testament era. Pharisees were the largest Jewish party and ruled the synagogues. Pharisee means “separated one.” FROM JAMES 1:21–25 implanted — rooted, having come from a seed sown.
Life Lesson 2
delude themselves — many words are used in the New Testament
that we translate as deceive, beguile, or delude. The word used in this verse means to think through or reason falsely. James is telling us that such a person has reasoned with himself and made a false conclusion. This is an act we often do to ourselves; we are not mere victims of Satan’s trickery. natural face — literally “face of his birth.” looks intently at — literally “to stoop down”; God is calling us to
make a careful, thorough examination of His Word. Abides — literally “to remain beside”; steadfast continuance. 32