Signs of the Kingdom
Discipleship Questions for
Sunday June 15, 2008
Scripture Readings:
First Reading: Exodus 19:2-6
Psalm Reading: Psalm 100
Second Reading: Romans 5:6-11
Gospel: Matthew 9:36-10:8
Ex. 19:2
After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.
Ex. 19:3
Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
Psa. 100:0
A psalm. For giving thanks.
Psa. 100:1
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Psa. 100:4
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Rom. 5:6
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom. 5:9
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Matt. 9:36
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Matt. 10:1
He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
Matt. 10:2
These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Matt. 10:5
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.6Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.7As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Discipleship Questions:
1. Please read the Scripture readings above with special attention given to the Gospel reading from Matthew. While the unifying theme in these readings is our “identity” as followers of God I want us to focus on the phrase, “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” What do you think that means? Please discuss.
2. When people feel the presence of God – when they sense the coming of His Kingdom they are very very attracted. As we exhibit more and more the signs of the Kingdom here at TCC – the more attractive we will become. Name and discuss some “signs of the Kingdom of Heaven.”
3. After reading the Gospel reading I made the following observations. Please review them and discuss: Let me summarize what we’ve just heard:
· Jesus’ heart broke when He looked at people in His neighborhood.
· He saw a great harvest but few harvesters.
· Jesus gave His few harvesters dynamic spiritual power to heal the sick and to drive out evil spirits.
· He told them to go first to their immediate neighborhood.
· They were to proclaim that the Kingdom of Heaven is here with them – in words and in deeds of healing and deliverance!
· And they are to do all of this with charity – at no cost to the recipients!
Now what are the lessons for us in these verses?
We must have:
· Compassion for the lost
· Deep desire to go to them
· Empowerment to heal and deliver them
· Go to our Neighborhoods first
· Look and listen – heaven is here and now and finally,
· It’s free! It’s not going to cost you anything!
Jesus’ loves us and He loves the people in the houses all around us – in this neighborhood, in the neighborhoods in which we live – He loves them with a deep deep compassionate love.
4. Please read then discuss the following: Pity! Compassion! Our Gospel reading opens with, “At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them, because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.”
Matthew used the word “splagchnizomai;” and it was translated by the word: “pity.” Other translations translated it with, the words, “deep compassion” but this translation pales in comparison to what the Greek word actually means. It’s meaning involves guts, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys. In all, deep down things!
“Moved with pity” or “deep compassion” sounds so tepid don’t you think? Jesus’ guts ached! His liver screamed! His kidneys and heart and lungs burned with passion! Everything in Him ached as He looked upon the lost!
This is what you and I should feel for the Spirit of Jesus is in us – looking out at the lost in our neighborhoods!
Our hearts, if they resonate with the heart of Jesus, will ache for the lost!
In the Gospel scene Jesus’ deepest feelings are shaken when He views the crowd in need for direction, help, and attention. He saw them like sheep without a shepherd.”
5. Do you want to feel Christ’s deep compassion for the lost? Then pray to Him and ask Him for the weight of this sublime yearning. Amen!