August 21, 2011: Journey from Malta to Rome
The text for this lesson is Acts 28:1–16.
Key Points
- Just as God took care of Paul through the people he encountered as he journeyed to Rome, so God richly and daily provides for us through the people in our lives.
- Law: My sin causes me to not see that God is the one who does great things for me.
- Gospel: God forgives my sins because of His Son, enabling me to look to and trust in Him for all things.
Discussion Points
- What comes to mind when you hear the word prisoners? How does one get sent to prison in our society today?
- What is unusual about how Paul was treated as a prisoner?
- How was this treatment a blessing for Paul?
- Why didn’t Paul die when the viper bit him? What was the explanation of the Malta natives?
- Were the miracles of healing performed by Paul of his own power?
- Who were the “brothers” mentioned in verses 14 and 15?
- How were they a blessing to Paul?
- How does God provide for us?
- How does God come to us?
- Where do we find Jesus?
August 7, 2011: Journey to Gethsemane
The text for this lesson is Mark 14:32–42.
Key Points
- Carrying the weight of our sins, Jesus journeyed to Gethsemane and prayed to His Father. Because Jesus took our sins upon Himself, we can pray to God, trusting Him to hear and answer our prayers.
- Law: In sin, I do not do what my heavenly Father wants me to do, and I do not want to pray to Him and seek His will for my life.
- Gospel: Jesus, God’s Son, willingly suffered and died for me as His Father had planned; now all God’s plans for me are for my good, and His will for me is life eternal.
Discussion Points
- Why did Jesus go to Gethsemane?
- What did the disciples go with Jesus?
- For whose sin was Jesus preparing to die?
- How did Jesus feel about suffering what He knew was coming for Him because of our sin? What does Abba mean?
- How did He conclude His prayer?
- Where do we speak this petition?
- How does this petition reveal our confidence in God’s love?
- What did Jesus advise the disciples to do while they waited for Him?
- What does the advice of Jesus mean for us?
- Who took the consequences for our actions? Who carried the weight of our sin? Who benefits from His death?
- Read 14:32–42. The hour was near when the Son of Man would be betrayed into the hands of sinners. The hour was also near when the declarations of Peter (14:31), James, and John (10:38–39) that they would share His suffering were to be tested. What did Jesus do as the hour approached? Three times He interrupted Himself to encourage the three disciples to do the same. Why (14:38)?
- The cup Jesus was about to drink filled Him with sorrow to the point of death. What was this “cup” that Jesus refers to in verse 36 (see Isaiah 51:17, 22)?
- What did the way Jesus addressed God show about His relationship with Him?
- How did Jesus’ prayer show His obedient submission?
- How did His words in Mark 14:42 show the same?
July 31, 2011: Journey to Jerusalem
The text for this lesson is Mark 11:1–11; Luke 19:28–40.
Key Points
- Jesus journeyed to Jerusalem on His way to the cross so that our journey to heaven and life eternal would be made certain.
- Law: Because of my sin, Jesus had to suffer and die.
- Gospel: Because of Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection, my sin is no more, and I will live in heaven with Him forever.
Discussion Points
- What does Jesus know that the crowd doesn’t know and that even the disciples don’t quite understand yet?
- What kind of king were the people expecting?
- What will Jesus’ death accomplish?
- Why is this Journey with Jesus so important for us?
- How was this prophecy of Zechariah fulfilled in Jesus, the Savior, and written about in Mark and Luke?
- What is the significance of the colt never having been ridden?
- Why does the church call the day of Jesus’ journey into Jerusalem, Palm Sunday?
- Why do you think the people waved palm branches and laid their cloaks on the road before Jesus?
- What other time in the Bible did a king ride a mule on the way to his enthronement?
- What’s the significance of this happening at the time of the Passover in Jerusalem?
- What is the Passover?
- What does Hosanna mean? Where do these words that the people shouted come from?
- Why were the shouts of the people appropriate for Jesus’ entry even if their full significance wasn’t recognized until later? How was the humility of Jesus shown in this incident? How did Jesus fulfill Zechariah 9:9?
- How does this passage connect with both the liturgy for Palm Sunday and the closing portion of the Sanctus from the Divine Service: “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord”?
- What did some of those who shouted hosannas on Palm Sunday say on Good Friday? When does the same thing happen today?
July 24, 2011: Journey to Bethany
The text for this lesson is Luke 10:38–42.
Key Points
- As Jesus journeyed to Bethany to preach about Himself, the one thing that is necessary, so also He comes to us with this same message in His Word and Sacraments—salvation is found in no one else.
- Law: In sin, I am like Martha, worrying myself with many things and leaning on my own understanding.
- Gospel: For Jesus’ sake, God forgives my worrying and enables me to trust Him for all things.
Discussion Points
- What does Jesus serve us when we come to His house?
- How can His gifts help us serve others? Do we always serve God and others the way we should?
- Mary and Martha—which one is better? Why does Jesus single out Mary?
- How can we “sit at Jesus’ feet” in our day?
- How can we have Jesus as a permanent guest in our homes? What can our home life be like when we always think of Jesus as present?
- Why should every Christian family daily take time for family devotions? How should family members imitate Mary’s example when there is opportunity to hear God’s Word?
July 17, 2011: Journey with the Royal Officer
The text for this lesson is John 4:46–54.
Key Points
- In faith, the officer journeyed to see Jesus, believing that His words of healing were true—and the man’s son was healed. In faith, we journey to God’s house, believing that God’s Word proclaimed heals us of our sin-sickness—and it does, giving us forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
- Law: In my sin, I want to see God’s power and might before I trust His Word.
- Gospel: God, in His love, knows that I am weak in my sin, and He performs the greatest miracle—forgiveness of my sins.
Discussion Points
- What miraculous action did Jesus take?
- How did the officer react? What enabled him to trust Jesus’ words? What enables us to trust God’s Word?
- What is the illness from which all humankind suffers?
- How are you healed here?
- How did the official who came to Jesus show that he believed Jesus? Compare the man’s reaction in 4:50, 53. What was it that the official believed in?
July 10, 2011: Journey with the Wise Men
The text for this lesson is Matthew 2.
Key Points
- As God guided the Wise Men by a star to Jesus, so He guides and brings us, through His Word and Sacraments, to Jesus and life forever with Him.
- Law: In my sin, I follow what is false and am led to destruction.
- Gospel: God, in His love, guides and enables me to follow what is true and life-giving, His Son, Jesus.
Discussion Points
- How did you come to realize that Jesus is the Christ who came into the world to save sinners?
- Read Matthew 2:1–12. In verse 1, Matthew gives an abrupt, surprising introduction of the Magi (Wise Men): “Behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem.” When does this story take place? Who were the Magi? See Daniel 2:1–11, especially verses 2 and 10. Why does Matthew introduce them with the attention-grabbing word behold?
- When the Magi arrive in Jerusalem, for whom are they looking and what do they want to do when they find that person? Who actually makes the connection that they must be referring to the Christ? What do the Magi need in order to find and bow down to the Christ Child?
- Again in Matthew 2:9, the evangelist uses the word behold to grab our attention for something surprising. Why do the Magi need the star to guide them again, and how does their response to the star show this?
- When the Magi finally see the infant King, what exactly do they do? What gifts do they offer and what do these gifts mean? See Isaiah 60:6 and Psalm 141:2. What do these gifts say about Jesus Christ Himself? How might we apply them to our Christian life and worship?
- Read Matthew 2:13–18. When Joseph takes Jesus and Mary and escapes to Egypt, what does it mean for His reign of salvation and for us His people?
- Read Matthew 2:19–23. Here, Matthew records Jesus’ return to the land of Israel and the Holy Family finally settling in Nazareth of Galilee. What does it mean that “the prophets might be fulfilled: ‘He shall be called a Nazarene” (Matthew 2:23)? How can John 1:45–46 and John 7:40–44, 52 help us understand Matthew’s message in this verse?
- Why do we call this story, and hence the feast day on which we hear and celebrate this story each year, the Epiphany of our Lord?
- How can the story of the holy innocents—the baby boys whom Herod brutally slaughtered—help us be proactive in standing up against the sin of abortion in our day?
July 3, 2011: Journey on the Wall
The text for this lesson is Nehemiah 12:27–43.
Key Points
- The children of Israel traveled to Jerusalem to praise and thank God for His greatness and blessing. God shows His greatness by blessing us with the gift of salvation in Jesus Christ, and we, too, are moved to praise and thank Him.
- Law: Because of my sin, I deserve none of God’s blessings.
- Gospel: God richly and daily provides for me in this life and will grant me life eternal with Him because of Jesus, who paid for my sins on the cross.
Discussion Points
- Why did the children of Israel journey to Jerusalem and onto the wall to worship? How is this similar to our worship today?
- What did the Levites do to prepare for worship? How do we prepare for worship?
- What gifts do we receive in God’s Word and the Sacraments?
- How does the Levites’ worship compare with our worship today?
- Did the children of Israel (or do we) deserve the good gifts that God provides for their (or our) physical well-being? Why does He provide them?
- Why did the dedication of the wall bring the people of Israel such great joy (v. 43)?
June 26, 2011: Journey with Jeremiah
The text for this lesson is Jeremiah 29:1–14; 33:1–16.
Key Points
- Just as God went with His people and provided for them as they journeyed to the land of exile, so God is with us as we journey through this earthly life, and He will give life forever in heaven to us and all who believe in Him.
- Law: Because of sin, I face many troubles and hardships as I journey through this life, and I am tempted to doubt God’s love and promises to me.
- Gospel: God, in Christ, goes with me in this life, sustaining and blessing me through His Word and Sacraments and granting me life forever in heaven.
Discussion Points
- How long would God’s people be in exile in Babylon?
- What would happen at the end of seventy years?
- What reason did God give for sending His people into exile and allowing Jerusalem to be destroyed? What is His specific promise for Judah and Israel?
- How will other people then see Jerusalem?
- How does the fulfillment of the prophecy, “A righteous branch to spring up from David” comfort us today?
- How are we like the exiled Israelites in our story today? What does God’s message to the people to lead normal lives n Babylon, trusting Him for their future mean for us today?
- How is our life on this earth like the exile of Adam and Eve and God’s people in Babylon?
- In Jerusalem 33:1–13, Jeremiah describes the new earthly Jerusalem. The place that is now barren will be prosperous and overflowing with life. How does our earthly life compare to our life in heaven?
- What kind of lifestyle were they to lead in Babylon (29:5–6)?
- What does Jeremiah ask of the captives in verse 7? What would your reaction be to such a request?
- What does Matthew 5:13–16 tell us about the nature of these responsibilities?
- Read Jeremiah 29:10–14. List the promises God makes to the people through Jeremiah.
June 19, 2011: Journey with Jehoshaphat
The text for this lesson is 2 Chronicles 20:1–30.
Key Points
- Just as God fought for Jehoshaphat and the Israelites against a fierce enemy, granting them victory and great blessing, so God, in His Son, fought for us on the cross, granting us victory over sin, death, and the devil and blessing us with forgiveness, life, and salvation.
- Law: In sin, I fear whatever threatens or opposes me, certain that I cannot overcome.
- Gospel: God, in His Son, has fought victoriously on the cross for me, giving me complete and certain victory over the greatest enemies—sin, death, and the devil.
Discussion Points
- What did Jehoshaphat do?
- What did the people do while Jehoshaphat prayed?
- How was God going to help Jehoshaphat and the Israelites?
- How did the people respond to the Word of the Lord?
- Describe the battle of God’s miraculous deliverance.
- How did the people respond to God’s blessings of physical protection and increased wealth?
- Who (or what) is our greatest enemy today?
- As sinful people, how do we respond to sin, death, and the devil?
- What great blessing has God given that delivers us from our enemies?
- What is our response to God’s goodness and deliverance from our greatest enemies?
- What is the message about prayer and its importance in the life of God’s people?
- What parallels do you see between how the Lord’s blessings for the children of Israel flowed from the temple into the battlefield, and how the Lord’s blessings for us flow from the Divine Service into our daily lives?
June 12, 2011: Journey with Elisha
The text for this lesson is 2 Kings 4:8–37.
Key Points
- God used Elisha in his journeys to bless the Shunammite woman, granting her a son and then raising him from the dead. God sent His Son, Jesus, to journey to the cross to bless all humanity in this life and to raise those who believe in Him from the dead, granting them eternal life.
- Law: In my sin, I do not want to believe the promises of God.
- Gospel: God is faithful in all His promises and gives me forgiveness, life, and salvation.
Discussion Points
- Why did the woman provide a place for Elisha and his servant to stay?
- Why did Elisha ask what he could do for the woman?
- Did the woman believe Elisha’s promise of a son?
- Why would a child be important to the woman?
- The woman told her husband “all is well” when the child had died—why would she say that?
- Why did she tell Gehazi’s servants the same thing? “All is well”
- Given Gehazi’s response, “The child has not awakened.” Did Gehazi have faith in his master’s ability to raise the child?
- In the posture of Elisha over the child—hand to hand, face to face is there a foreshadowing of Christ on the cross?
- How does this text point ahead to the miracles of Jesus to raise the dead and to his own resurrection from the dead for us?
- The woman took care of God’s servant Elisha—what can we learn from her example about caring for the workers God has placed in our midst?
- Like the woman, we often doubt God’s promises—why? How are we like her?
