Category: bible study

bible study

Jesus Calms the Storm

Posted on by firestripe

This week’s Bible study focuses on weathering the storm of life with Jesus in the boat with you. We had some quality discussion on Wednesday. We even had two guests who saw us studying stop by and join us. They were truly a blessing in encouraging our group to be bold and continue the great commission. The following is our study questions and the passages that we read. Share your answers or questions in the comments!

  • Read the Passages below.
  • Disregarding the differences in the narratives, what about the story is most interesting to you?
  • Why do you think Jesus was asleep?
  • What does it mean that Jesus would rebuke the sea?
  • Why do you think the disciples wondered who this man (Jesus) was?
  • What parallels do you see in this story with your relationship with God?
  • What obstacles might prevent you from believing that God has all power?
  • What obstacles prevent you from knowing that God cares?
  • Why are you afraid?
  • Where is your faith today?

 

Matthew 8:23-27 ESV
Jesus Calms a Storm

23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” 26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

Mark 4:35-41 ESV
Jesus Calms a Storm

35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other
side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Luke 8:22-25 ESV
Jesus Calms a Storm

22 One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, 23 and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. 24 And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”

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bible study

Bible Study – Romans 7:7-25

Posted on by firestripe

15 “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” Romans 7:15

I was asked to develop a study about this particular verse and what it really means. It’s a challenging verse to understand, but I think the whole passage below and the following questions can help to clarify its meaning. Please talk to me about it in the comments!

1. Read the passage (below). a) What do you understand? b)What doesn’t make sense?

2. An understanding of Sin. What do you know about the nature of sin? Adam and Eve. Cain and Abel. That which goes against the commands of God

3. An understanding of the Law. What do you know about Mosaic Law?

4. What did Jesus say about the Law? Why would Jesus say this? Why was the Law good? Why was the Law bad?

5. Nature of the Spirit Romans 8:9 Galatians 5:22

6. Nature of the Flesh Ephesians 2:3 1 Cor 3:3

Galatians 5:19

7. Background of the Letter to the Romans. Tensions between Jews and Gentiles Paul is writing out his theology. gospel and law eternal plan of God for the salvation of sinners Righteousness that God both demands in obedience and offers as a free gift in Christ, received by faith.

8. What are your next steps?

Romans 7:7-25 (NIV)

The Law and Sin

7 What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”[b] 8 But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead. 9 Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. 10 I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. 11 For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. 12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.

13 Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good to bring about my death, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature[d] a slave to the law of sin.

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bible study

Bible Study – Philippians 2:1-11

Posted on by firestripe
Our first Bible Study for the 2018 Summer here in Death Valley National Park compels us to think about how we serve our community. It asks us to think outside of ourselves in order to focus on the needs of others. Below is the scripture passage from the New Testament and the study questions to go along with it.

Christ’s Example of Humility

2. So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,[a] 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,[b] 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,[c] being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:1-11 (ESV)

  • From this passage, what verses stuck out to you?
  • How do you think those verses relate to your own life?
  • The passage says to imitate Christ (v3-5), how do you think you could do this in your own life? (v2: joy, same mind, love, one mind), humility
  • What are some challenges that you have to being able to imitate Christ?
  • How can you serve the people around you?
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