What?

If we need to choose between being a Fan or a Follower and we are called to be helping/serving those around us, what does it look like to Love and Know them?

– Romans 13:8 –

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. (Some translations use the word that we are to be obligated to love.)

Why?

Paul says here that we are obligated, as Christians, to love one another.

He didn’t say we “should” love one another or that it would be a “good idea” to love one another.

He said we are “obligated” to love one another.

And he didn’t say to just tolerate one another.

Loving others is a different story.

Luke 10:25-37 – Good Samaritan

Matthew 27:39-44

39 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, 42 “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.

Christ could have and was completely able to come off the Cross. Many would have immediately been proved them wrong, believed, and then known he was God, but if he would have done that there would have been no salvation for them or for us, because there would have been no perfect sacrifice to pay for our sin. So, Christ the savior of the world chose to stay on the cross, because of his love for you.

Qs to ask:

In the Parable we like to think ourselves as the Samaritan, but are there people that we pass by on a daily basis that are bloody and broken, yet we pay them no mind? (Because we are to busy, afraid of what people will think, or just have no interest.)

How do you seek to show love to those around you?

How do you seek to get to know people, to care for the needs they have?

In the Matthew passage who is the Samaritan and who is the broken?

What does this mean for you?

What does it mean to be a follower in the area of loving and knowing others?

Other Scripture to consider: Philippians 2:1-11

What?

Are you a Fan or a Follower?

Are you the Fan cheering on the sideline or the Follower getting in the game and helping to press toward the goal / win?

Acts 5:1-11 – Ananias and Sapphira – Fans

Luke 21:1-4 – The Widows Mite – Follower

Why?

Many of us claim to give all, or make claims we are to busy, or there is nothing more we can give. Yet God knows the heart.

1 Samuel 16:7 – God judges the heart

James 2:14-26

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Apart from Christ – Isaiah 64:6 – All our good works are as filthy rags, everything we do is tainted by sin

To us it can be difficult to tell the difference between the fan and the follower, but nothing is hidden form God as he knows the heart.

Q’s to ask?

Are you a Fan or Follower?

How do you seek to serve and be actively involved in the mission / game God has called you to?

We are called to cheer one another on and build one another up, but we are also called to physically shoulder the load using the talents and abilities God has given us.

What are some ways you can and are doing so on a daily basis?

Review day!

Things were a little different as we went back and reviewed the last nine lessons. We discussed the facts of the Bible and then talked about how each historical event relates to us today.

• the Bible described the kings from both Judah and Israel, most of whom were evil and followed after false gods. The people of the nations were influenced by their leaders and also worshipped idols until God finally brought judgment.
• Elijah had to deliver a message of judgment to one of the most wicked kings of Israel.
• After his mountaintop experience, Elijah is very discouraged and even depressed. God took care of his physical needs and then encouraged Elijah with the truth. We should also be encouraged by the truth of God’s word when we are down.
• Elijah served God faithfully and then trained Elisha to come after him. We should train others to know the truth and teach as well.
• Elisha was used by God to show His power to the people of Syria. We had Naaman healed of leprosy only after he humbled himself and did what he was told. We can let pride keep us from God.
• We looked at the book of Amos where we saw God’s attribute of being just, having to punish sin. We learned that God will always punish sin- either by punishing us directly or by punishing His son on the cross if we are saved. We also discussed what it means to be a child of God.
• We learned about Jonah and his hard heart toward his enemies the Ninehvites. God had to correct Jonah’s heart to understand that mercy and forgiveness are offered to all. Where are our hearts when it comes to dealing with our enemies or our bullies? Will we share God with the person who has treated us the worst?
• Hosea married Gomer who then left him to be with another man. He then redeemed her. God used Gomer as a picture of Israel and Hosea as a picture of God. Today, we act like Gomer going after other things, but God is there willing to take us back.
• The northern kingdom was sent into exile and then adopted the practices of the other countries. We live in a world that is against God. Have we adopted some of the world’s ways without thinking about what God wants or says?

What:
Is everyone a child of God?
Before we are saved, the Bible calls us “children of the devil,” says we are “of the world” and “enemies of God.” (Romans 5:10, John 8:44)  Only those who have received Christ are His children. (John 1:10-13)

Why:
Scripture is clear that sin separates us from God. Until we are cleansed of our sin through Christ, we are not part of God’s happy family. The promises in His Word for His Children are only true for us if we are indeed His.

Qs to ask:
What makes someone a child of God?
God disciplines His children. Is that a good thing?

Memory verse:
Proverbs 3:11-12
My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.