Today’s lesson was blessing comes with obedience. In this story, Abram’s dad passes away, and then Abram is instructed to go to the Land that God will show him. There God will make a great nation out of him. So Abram follows and takes everyone in his household and his nephew Lot, and they make there a way to Canaan. One night or maybe during the day. God shows up in person and affirms what he said to Abram. Abram then responds in worship.
Discussion Episode | Blessing Comes with Obedience
Today’s lesson was blessing comes with obedience. In this story, Abram’s dad passes away, and then Abram is instructed to go to the Land that God will show him. There God will make a great nation out of him. So Abram follows and takes everyone in his household and his nephew Lot, and they make there a way to Canaan. One night or maybe during the day. God shows up in person and affirms what he said to Abram. Abram then responds in worship.
We need to let Jesus become greater, and we need to become less! This desire goes against our natural instinct. He must become greater
About the Story
We are continuing through the book of John. Today we read John 3: 22 – 36. This passage is interesting because it takes place near Jesus, and we learn something significant through a man called – John the Baptist.
John the Baptist, he would have been known for baptizing people in the name of the Lord and would have been considered a prophet, meaning he held people to a high point of morality or was outspoken in his beliefs. So much so he probably annoyed a few people!
I don’t love it when people point out the things I am doing wrong! Anyway, we see individuals in this story notice that Jesus, a man who had been spoken about by John himself – is across the river, also baptizing people. The individuals talking to John recognize that many people, perhaps most of them, are going to Jesus, Rather than John.
The people seem to be complaining or pointing this out to John as if he didn’t know. Or they wanted him to get angry and frustrated. As if they were two store owners competing for “sales” and happened to be right across the street from each other!
That seems like it would have been a little awkward. Like competing to baptize people?? A little strange, no?
It isn’t exactly like that and here is where we get the lesson from today; which is, He Must Become Greater.
We need to let Jesus become greater, and we need to become less! This desire goes against our natural instinct. He must become greater.
John’s Desire to see Jesus become greater is amazing. John is super humble and gracious. It’s inspiring. Not only does he speak about that specific moment in time about becoming less to not overshadow or compete with Jesus’ ministry, but it speaks to us today. We can become less!
We get to apply that same thought today. So when you and I become too self-focused, we need to make ourselves less, think of ourselves less, acknowledge what we have done less and continue pointing to God and what he has done!
We all can do this. Unfortunately, we, as people, are selfish and sinful. But we get to recognize that and share that with God and continue to ask God to help us glorify Him! In the end, it’s just not about us.
Yet somehow that feels more exciting than it does sad. I am fine with it not being about me because God is WAAAY greater. So to say it one more time – our lesson for today is He must become Greater!
He Must Become Greater. Today we learned about John the baptist and his response to Jesus baptizing people near him and Jesus gathering a larger crowd. John Spoke very clearly about Jesus becoming greater and John, which applies to us today!
What is something you have not been giving God glory for?
What is one specific area in your life where you have been avoiding inviting God into? Maybe hiding from him?
What is something that God has blessed with you that you are really proud of? Remember God created you, and sharing those talents and skills can often give us the opportunity to glorify Him!
Growth Tip
My growth tip for today is See God in His Creation. I remember a friend of mine saying that fall was his favorite time of year because when he would be coming home on the bus, through all of the golden leaves. As they would be flowing in the wind and shining with the sun. He said it felt like God was waving and cheering him on. Like the clapping of a crowd, were the leaves of the trees! I have loved that thought after all these years. And to this day I am reminded of that when driving or walking through the trees this time of year. That’s awesome! God is cheering us on! So again, God made it, He created this beautiful world and time of year! So enjoy God cheering you on! He is with You!
Prayer Requests
At the end of your discussion, go around the group and ask for prayer requests.
Our key takeaway is a question. Do you believe in Jesus? That is such a great question. If I believe in Jesus, then I want to know him and grow in a relationship with him, and the more I discover about him, the more I want to share what I know about him, like his love with others! We are going to learn just how significant that question is in our story today!
Do you believe in Jesus? Today we shared the story of Jesus speaking to Nicodemus. He is talking to Nicodemus about being reborn in the spirit and living an everlasting life with God in heaven. Jesus then shared the intention of God, sending Him to give us eternal life and pay the debt for our sins.
Is there someone in your life you have been trying to share your faith with?
What makes sharing your faith scary or hard?
How can you, with God, overcome this fear and continue to share your faith with the people around you?
Growth Tip
Today, we learned about eternal life! I think we need to invite others to a life with Jesus. An eternal life with Jesus!
We have said for a long time on this show, and at Covenant Bay Bible Camp where we work, there is nothing more important than a growing relationship with Jesus! Inviting people into a relationship with Jesus seems like an obvious thing to do!
Prayer Requests
At the end of your discussion, go around the group and ask for prayer requests.
Today, we are going to learn that worship is more important! Think of worship as our response to who God is and what he has done or is doing. As far as what is worship more important than, I will throw the question back to you and our listeners with a twist. Try and think of something more important than our response to who God is and what he has done?
About the Story
Last week, we heard the story of Jesus at a wedding and turning water into wine. After the wedding, he went to Capernaum and then to Jerusalem. It was nearly time for the Passover celebration, a celebration that looks back on an event that led to Israel leaving Egypt and no longer being slaves to the Egyptians. Jesus with his disciples goes to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover.
What is more, important than worshipping God? Nothing is more important than our response to God! That is what worship is. People responding to who God is and what he has done in a way that makes him smile! Simply put, worship is more important.
This story is a great reminder that worship is more important. Worshipping God was the primary purpose of the temple. The temple was the house of God, and the place people came to worship Him.
Considering that it took 46 years building the temple, and millions of dollars in today’s money. Why would you do anything with it beyond it’s intended purpose? If it was that important to them in the first place, then why change what happens in the temple.
Notice how Jesus referred to his body as a temple? The apostle Paul who wrote lots of the New Testament, says in 1 Corinthians 6:19, “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honour God with your body.”
As a Christian, my body is a temple for the Holy Spirit. If the physical temple’s purpose was to be a place of worship, then considering that my physical body is a temple for the holy spirit, my purpose is to worship God!
Another letter that Paul wrote was to the Romans. In Romans Chapter 12, verse 1, he says, ‘And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.’
What is more, important than worshipping God? Nothing is more important than our response to God! That is what worship is. People responding to who God is and what he has done in a way that makes him smile! Simply put, worship is more important.
Worship is more important. Jesus goes to Jerusalem with his disciples to celebrate the Passover. Jesus sees people exchanging money or currency and selling animals for sacrifices. He then drives the animals out and tips over the tables. He is upset because they had made the temple a marketplace when it was supposed to be a place of worship!
The Jewish leaders question Jesus after hearing him say, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. He was referring to his body when he said, “this temple.”
Worship is our response to God, and it is more important than anything else. It requires us to be outward focused. As a result, it is impossible to worship and be completely self-focused. What are some things that could help you move your focus from self to God and help you respond to him well?
We often think of music when we hear the word worship, yet as learned today, it so much more than music. How else do we worship? How else do we respond to who God and what he is doing or has done?
As Christians, how would we live differently if we had the same passion for our bodies, which are temples of the Holy Spirit, as Jesus had for the temple building?
Growth Tip
It’s an interesting thought but practically what does it look like to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to God?
Look around you and see what God is doing. See what God is growing and bringing life too! It might be a movement or a cause, it could be the growth of a person, or it may be something that is being made beautiful. Look around; you will surprise yourself at what you see! Join him in his work. It could be volunteering, donating, praying, or inviting others to see and join in.
See what God is doing and join in the best way you can!
Prayer Requests
At the end of your discussion, go around the group and ask for prayer requests.
Today, we are going to hear about Jesus at a wedding! The critical lesson for us is that Jesus cares about us, even the little stuff.
About the Story
A little background for us. Jesus was not yet popular, with crowds continually wanting him to teach or heal. This story takes place at a wedding. He is with his mom and his disciples at this wedding.
Also, hear about Jon’s story of standing at the top of hill with his red and yellow banna seat bike with plans to go where he was not allowed to go!
God sees you and cares about you. Tell him about your situation!
The lesson is this. Jesus cares about us, even the little stuff.
Mistakes get made all the time, and people get through it. The point is God loves us he cares about the things we are concerned with. It’s not to say he will always fix every single problem, but he cares about us!
He cares about us a lot and will help us out even if we do something harmful to ourselves or others. Jesus cares about us, even a kid on a banana seat bike with no helmet going down a treacherous bike path! 😉
Jesus cares about us, even the little stuff. In today’s story, we read about Jesus, his mom and his disciples at a wedding where they ran out of wine. So Jesus turned water into wine, and the wedding celebration continued.
When life gets hard, we often forget to tell God about the situation. We struggle to fix the issue and spend our time worrying about it all. Why is our default to try to fix things on our own rather than going straight to God?
There are a lot of reasons we can trust God with our problems. Go around the circle and name two or three reasons why we can trust God with every situation.
What is impressive about this story is that Jesus had no intention to do anything about the problem of the wedding host running out of wine. Jesus’ mom, Mary, convinced Jesus to do something. And Jesus did something even though it brought more attention to himself than what God wanted at that time. This story tells me that we can press God for a response – for an answer to our prayers. What do you think of the idea of telling God a few times about your situation and asking him a few times to act?
Growth Tip
Today’s growth tip is simple. Tell God about the situation you are in right now and ask for his help! Your situation might be difficult, or it may be ordinary. Regardless of your situation, tell God and ask for help!
Prayer Requests
At the end of your discussion, go around the group and ask for prayer requests.
In today’s story, we are going to see how important it is to thank God for healing.
About the Story
There is not a whole lot of background needed. Jesus and his disciples have been touring around Isreal. Jesus has become incredibly popular because of his teaching and the miracles he has performed. He has healed lots of people, commanded storms to calm and cast out demons. He is doing things that are beyond human ability, and so Jesus has become increasingly popular. People are following him to be healed and to learn from him!
Thank God for healing. It doesn’t matter if it is natural healing from a small cut or something miraculous. Thank God for healing.
We need to go to God and thank him for his healing in our lives. I don’t think it needs to be miraculous for us to thank God for healing.
When I get a cut on my hand, my body can heal itself. That is by design, God’s design, and so it is still his healing!
The other day, I was agitated. Someone had done something to me that hurt me. I was mad and sad all at that same time. When I got to work, I read Colossians 3:13 during my quiet time with God. It said, “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you.” Well, I sunk low in my chair. I knew I was not being gracious or extending forgiveness. After my quiet time with God, I went to him, and we made things right between us. This person and I found healing in our relationship. My emotional and mental state improved significantly. God heals my emotional and mental state and my relationships too.
We ought to be thanking God for all the healing that he so generously puts into our lives regardless if it could be described as miraculous or as part of the natural healing process. He is our creator and healer, and we can thank him for his generous healing.
