Joseph, a Righteous Decision-Maker

Finding Nemo, a great movie, features a 150-year old sea turtle named Crush. What is the saying he's known for?

"Righteous! Righteous!"

But that term, "righteous", is not a word that is normally associated in today's society with something good. That's because the word is usually linked with another word right in front of it, forming a negative term: self righteous.

When you think of that term - self righteous - what do you think? What comes to mind?

The word in the Greek New Testament is "dikaios", and it means, broadly, "virtuous". When we think of the Christmas story, there's one person that is a central figure but doesn't get talked about much, that displays a great deal of righteousness. His name is Joseph.

We don't really know much about Joseph, but what we DO know tells us a lot about his character.


Matthew 1:18-25

18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us." 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

So here is this young man, pledged to be married after working hard to establish himself in such a way so as to be able to marry. He has secured a bride, according to Jewish custom, and is preparing a home for his bride. Joseph fully expects to be able to start the next phase of his life once his home is ready, when he will bring Mary to consummate their marriage, celebrate a week-long wedding feast, and segue into life as a happily married man.

Can you think of a time when you had worked hard to achieve a major goal or to see a lifelong dream fulfilled? How did you feel when you were right on the cusp of arriving? You could just see the finish line and only had a few steps left before you succeeded? What was that like?

So I want you to imagine being Joseph, being on the verge of marrying the girl of your dreams, and then you find out that she's pregnant? And you KNOW it's not your kid? How do you think Joseph felt?

Now, let me ask you this: Have you ever had a very nasty surprise? What was it like? How did you react to it? What's the natural human reaction to a very nasty surprise?

Why might Mary's pregnancy be viewed as a pretty nasty surprise for Joseph?

Now, Joseph was a sinner, just like you and me. So his natural tendency might have been to react harshly. But Joseph was also a righteous man, as verse 19 tells us. There's no doubt that Joseph felt violated. A virgin’s purity was essential to the betrothal itself – any respectable Jew would have expected to marry a virgin, just as every respectable woman would have done everything in her power to remain a virgin until her wedding night. Her condition obviously cast doubt on her character and made her unacceptable as a wife. Joseph must have been crushed, and would have been within his rights under the law to expose her to public shame and to insist that she be punished under the law.

But instead, how did Joseph handle it? He wanted to put her away quietly, so she experienced no shame.

Instead of being angry or taking some sort of vengeance on Mary for violating their relationship, he wanted to treat her with kindness and respect. Joseph is a good man, and it says that he "had in mind" to put her away quietly.

So even his thought process was based in kindness towards her. But something else happened. When the angel explained the situation to him and gave him instructions regarding how Jesus was to be named, we are told simply that Joseph got up and did what he was told. He did not argue or question the angel, nor did he delay in obeying the Lord. Mary’s condition must have been known to others around them, and for Joseph to immediately take her home as his wife may well have led others to believe that he was the father, tarnishing his reputation with no way to exonerate himself. But Joseph was willing to obey despite the cost, simply because he knew it to be God’s will.

So let's review: Joseph had great plans, and high hopes, between him and Mary. But he got thrown a very nasty curve ball, and was faced with a horrible situation. But instead of doing what he COULD have done legally, he thought it best to act kindly and graciously towards her and put her away in a way that did not bring her shame. But then, when faced with the actual reality, he simply trusted the Lord and went onto marry her.

So let's discuss this for a little bit.


Discussion

1. How do you feel when something bad happens to you that you don't expect and don't understand really what has happened, or why it's happened?

2. When someone wrongs you (not that Mary wronged Joseph here), do you usually desire "revenge", or do you feel compassion for that person? Do you act in kindness towards them? Why or why not?

3. When you recognize that God is asking you to do something, especially something that seems hard, how willingly do you tend to obey Him?

4. How likely are you to obey God if obeying Him costs you your reputation, your dreams, your family, or your "rights"?

5. Read Genesis 15:6 and Romans 4:1-3.  Where does our righteousness come from?  How can we live that righteousness out on a daily basis?  What does it look like?

The Wise Men

The Wise Men

Christmas season has begun because we have finished with Thanksgiving. And we all know that the day after Thanksgiving marks the start of Christmas. What are some of your favorite aspects of the Christmas season?

Matthew 2:1-12
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ” 7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

The Bible does not tell us specifically who these three men were, but an Armenian tradition holds that the three wise men were Balthasar of Arabia, Melchior of Persia, and Gaspar of India. Regardless of where, exactly, they were from, what we do know is that they were from the “east”.

Now, think about how they knew about the birth of Jesus. In verse two, they tell the people of Jerusalem, “We saw his star when it rose, and have come to worship Him.”

Put yourself in their shoes. How did they know about the birth of the new king in Israel?

Well, first, they believed that the Jewish Messiah King would come. How would they have known THAT? They must have read the Scriptures, and in there, seen prophecies of the coming Messiah King. They had SCRIPTURAL KNOWLEDGE.

The Old Testament, which is what they would have had, talks a lot about the coming Messiah King. But it’s not exactly like they would have had the resources we have today to look it up. So what does this tell us? It means that these men spent a lot of time in the Scriptures. Like the man in Psalm 1, they studied it day and night.

Second, they must have had their eyes open. They were EXPECTANT. They had a sense of what to look for. They were paying attention.

Psalm 119:18 – “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”

1 Peter 1:13 – “Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.”

1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 – “So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.”

These three passages use different terminology to talk about the same thing: “open my eyes”; “minds that are alert”; “let us be awake and sober”. They all mean: PAY ATTENTION.

So what, exactly, should we have our eyes open for? What should we be paying attention to?

And third, they put their belief and knowledge into action. When we do this, it is called TRUST. Belief is what is in your head. Trust is belief put into action. Can you think of a situation in your life where you put your belief into action, where it became trust?

These wise men had belief based in Biblical knowledge. They paid attention and had expectations that God was going to show up. And then they acted on that Biblically-based belief. And when they did, it led them to Jerusalem.

Now, when they got there, they did something else. They inquired specifically about the newborn king and when they went to Bethlehem and found Him, they did something remarkable. They brought Him gifts. Why did they do that?

This was a sign of respect and adoration and worship. They knew they weren’t going to meet some random baby. They were going to worship the Messiah King. They understood Jesus’ significance. Their response was one that we should all have – to come before Him in worship and reverence and to offer Him our very best.


Discussion Questions

1. What does the Christmas season typically look like for you?

2. In what way is Christmas significant for you?

3. How can you enter this Christmas season with expectations that God will show up? What will you be looking for?

4. In what ways can this Christmas season reflect the actions of the wise men – adoration, worship, and giving your very best to God?

Growing in Character

Just about every athlete, coach, and parent understands that success in the athletic arena isn't just about physical performance. Mental, emotional, spiritual and physical health must all be addressed in some way for individuals and teams to thrive. But what about character? Is character growth relevant to the development of an athlete?

As we continue to look at Matthew 6 and 7, we see that Jesus is instructing His hearers in the area of character. Last week, we talked about what He meant when He said we shouldn't judge others. Let's move on to Matthew 7:7-12:

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

So let's work backwards here, starting with v. 12, commonly called “the Golden Rule.” What do you want others to do for you….

• When you are happy?
• When you are sad?
• When you're succeeding?
• When you're struggling?
• In general?

Jesus is telling us that when we interact with “others” (I'm pretty sure He means anyone and everyone!) no matter who they are, what they are going through, or what we are going through, IN EVERYTHING, do to them what you would have them do to you.

The question is, HOW do we do that? Well, let's look back at verses 7-11 (the “so” in v. 12 is a clue that these ideas are connected.) Here, Jesus gives His hearers two things: instructions and perspective.

1. Instruction: what does He say to DO?
2. And WHY does He say that would make sense?

Discussion

1. When you are in need, what is your first response? Who is the first one you go to? What's the first thing you do? What does your answer say about what you're trusting in?
2. How does this passage compare to Matthew 6:25-34, which we looked at a few weeks ago? Look it up if you need to.
3. What are some ways we can treat others well? Look at James 5:16, Luke 6:28, Hebrews 10:24-25, and James 2:15-19

Consider these quotes about character this week:

• Train your mind with the idea that God is there. If once the mind is trained on that line, when you are in difficulties it is easy as breathing to remember, “Why, my Father knows all about it!” It is not an effort, it comes naturally….(Oswald Chambers)
• Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power. (Abraham Lincoln)
• Goodness is about character - integrity, honesty, kindness, generosity, moral courage, and the like. More than anything else, it is about how we treat other people. (Dennis Prager)

Lord, help us to know that You are with us and that You can be trusted to meet our needs. Trusting You frees us up to treat others the way we want to be treated rather than staying preoccupied with ourselves. We want to trust You. We want to bless others. Help us to do so, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Passing Judgment

Passing Judgment

On Tuesday, we will elect the next President of the United States. One of the things that elections tend to surface among people is that we disagree. A lot. On big issues. On small issues. On general principles. On very specific matters. People can get super passionate about all kinds of things – and sometimes what fires one person up is uninteresting to another, and vice-versa. 

What are some topics that people disagree over?

In a world of 320 million people, each with his or her own set of values, morals, and opinions, we often hear people cite Matthew 7:1 – “Do not judge”. This is often meant as a conversation stopper, not a conversation starter. That is, you may be engaged in a discussion and a moral topic comes up, and you say that you think X is wrong. And the other person says, “Do not judge.” They hope that this will make you shut up and disengage from your criticism.

Another way people often approach this is by referring to the idea of “tolerance”.

What does the word tolerance mean? It really means to put up with something you find objectionable. You “tolerate” an annoying little brother. You “tolerate” a certain degree of pain. But today, the word has come to mean something else. “A fair, objective, and permissive attitude towards opinions, beliefs, and practices, and those that hold them, from your own”.

I can accept those two understandings of tolerance. But there is a third way that people use the word. It now means agreement. If you simply disagree with people you are often accused of intolerance. The word is used as a weapon, not as a compliment. It is meant as a conversation STOPPER, not a conversation STARTER.

We, howeer, instead of using these ideas as a conversation STOPPER, we are going to use them as a conversation STARTER.

Matthew 7:1-5
“1 "Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2 "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 3 "Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye? 5 "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.”

The word “judge” (krino) there can have many meanings:

· to separate, pick out, select

· to approve, esteem, prefer

· to determine, resolve, decree

· to pronounce an opinion concerning right and wrong

· to pronounce judgment, censure

· to rule, or govern

· to contend together (of warriors and combat)


Here are some examples of this word being used elsewhere in the New Testament:

· 2 Corinthians 2:1 – “But I determined (krino) this for my own sake, that I would not come to you in sorrow again.”

· Colossians 2:16 – “Therefore no one is to act as your judge (krino) in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day.”

· James 5:9 – “Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged (krino).”

· Luke 6:37 – “Do not judge (krino), and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned.”

· Luke 7:42-43 – “(Jesus speaking)‘When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?’ Simon answered and said, ‘I suppose the one whom he forgave more.’ And He said to him, ‘You have judged (krino) correctly.’”

So in one sense, we absolutely HAVE to make judgments. We HAVE to decide between right and wrong. We HAVE to decide which option is better or worse. We HAVE to decide which is more ethical. We HAVE to decide which path to take, and which path to not take.

But there are three things here that we need to discuss.

(1) What Biblical judgments ARE, and ARE NOT.

(2) The “rules of engagement” of making judgments.

(3) Three levels of disagreement and why they matter.


First, what Biblical judgments are and are not.

· Biblical judgments ARE:

 - Moral and ethical evaluations.

 - Deciding between wisdom and foolishness.

 - Weighing between better choices and worse choices.

· Biblical judgments ARE NOT:

 - Thinking less of a person for having a different view than you.

 - Valuing a person less for having a different view than you.

When we make a Biblical judgment, we HAVE to choose between right and wrong, wisdom and foolishness, and better and worse. But we must NOT devalue another person for not making the same judgment as we do. We must not love another person less, because God doesn’t. Jesus died for the person who thinks and lives exactly opposite of the way you do. Really, He did. And we are called to love our enemies.

Second, the rules of engagement. Jesus here is really talking about something different than making judgments. He’s telling us that when we make judgments, we need to be careful, because the way we judge others will be used by other people to make judgments against us. “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.”

When a person who thinks that gossip is perfectly fine actually gossips, people may dislike the gossip but they don’t judge the person more harshly than that. Because at least they’re living consistent with their values. But when a person who says they’re against gossip is engaged in gossip, what’s the reaction? People go NUTS. Why? Because not only is that person engaged in gossip, he’s also acting hypocritically. And THAT is a worse sin in the eyes of most people.

What does the term “holier than thou” mean, and why does it matter?

When we take a strong moral stand against anything, we open ourselves up to the charge of hypocrisy.

So should the potential charge of hypocrisy stop us from making moral judgments?

Jesus has an answer to the question of how we should handle this. It’s this: Instead of worrying about the sins of others, we need to worry about our own sins. We MUST make moral judgments. But let’s be very careful about what we say and how we communicate our moral judgments, because the more vocal we are, the more outspoken we are, the stronger our opinions, the more we open ourselves up to the charge of hypocrisy when we sin ourselves.

Jesus is saying, worry more about your own problems than about the problems of others. Instead of being harsh with someone who has sinned, a gentle response may be more appropriate. Consider Galatians 6:1 – “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.”

Third, three levels of disagreement. Ever had a disagreement with a person over something you thought was small but they thought was such a big deal that it nearly ruined a friendship?

· Convictions:

 - Described as: central issues, unwilling to compromise

 - Scriptural example: Galatians 2:11 – “When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood in the wrong.”

· Persuasions:

 - Described as: not as central of an issue, but still important

 - Scriptural example: Romans 14:5 – “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.”

· Opinions:

 - Described as: peripheral issue

 - Scriptural example: 1 Corinthians 7:39-40 – “A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. 40 In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.”

We need to have some convictions, some persuasions, and some opinions.



Discussion

1. How have you experienced being judged? How did it feel?

2. In what ways have you judged others?

3. How can “tolerance” be used as a weapon?

4. How can we make moral judgments without being judgmental?

5. Why is hypocrisy such a grievous sin? How can hypocrisy impact our witness?

6. What are some thing you hold as convictions? How about persuasions? And how about opinions?

7. As you think about this framework, can you think of any views that you consider to be convictions that maybe should be a persuasion or an opinion?

Don't Worry

What kind of things do you tend to worry about? When you catch yourself worrying, what do you do then?

I love that the Bible isn't just a book of old stories or an outdated self-help book. Instead, it is “living and active,” “inspired by God,” and helpful for those of us who are seeking Good wisdom, even in the 21st century!

We all worry, but here in Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus addresses worry head-on. Before we consider this passage, let's consider what we've heard Him say so far in Matthew 6:

*Don't practice your religion just so others will be impressed

*God sees what others don't, so keep your eyes fixed on Him

*Talk to Him

*Be careful not to set your heart on temporal things

*Don't act like a “pagan”!

Hmm, I see a trend here - focus on God Himself. I think there's more of that to come.

Matthew 6:25-34
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

So Jesus is doing a few things here:

First, He's using His creation to make a point. Just like it would be silly for us to picture birds worrying over their feathers as winter approaches, or flowers to fuss about how and when their buds blossom, Jesus is saying that it makes no sense for us to worry about our needs. Again, like in past sections, He reminds us that “pagans,” or those outside of the faith, worry about these kinds of things. But those who follow Christ can live in relationship with a “heavenly Father” who loves them, sees their needs, and promises to provide for them.

That leads to the second thing Jesus is doing here: reaffirming God’s love for us. Fathers have a God-given responsibility to provide for and to protect their families. In a broken world, not everyone experiences that as they grow up - some have wonderful fathers who live out their roles as dads well (not perfectly), but others do not have protective, loving fathers, and yet others have a gap in their lives where a father should have been. No matter what kind of background we're from, God wants us to trust Him as our heavenly Father - one who is good and loving and able to meet our needs. Are we “not much more valuable than” all of creation? Indeed, we are!

And thirdly, Jesus explains the antidote for worry: seek Him first. Earlier in this chapter, Jesus warned His listeners not to seek praise from others or to pursue treasures on earth, not because it's wrong for someone to compliment us or for us to earn a paycheck. But, as the mathematician Blaise Pascal once said, “inside of every man is a God-shaped void that only He can fill.” We all seek something. The word translated here in v. 33 as “seek,” also means search for, desire, demand. When we actively seek God, we'll get to know Him and experience the love of our heavenly Father. But it's up to us to choose to seek Him.


Discussion

How can this make a difference in my life?

1. “Catch yourself” worrying. What do you worry about? Look at Philippians 4:6a - what command is there? Why is it significant that this is a command?

2. How can it help to consider nature when we worry? Read Psalm 19:1-4. Have you ever experienced some extra peace or calm in an outdoor setting? How could you carve out time to consider God's goodness in His creation?

3. “Seek Him” - look at the following verses. How do they speak to the idea of seeking God first? Mark 1:35, James 4:8a, Proverbs 3:5-6, Philippians 4:4-7 What one thing can you do this week to seek Him?

Spending, Saving, or Investing?

Let’s say you’ve been given $1,000. You are deciding what to do with it. And you’re thinking about either spending it, saving it, or investing it. What is the difference among those three things?

· Spend: Spending involved exchanging what you have for some good (like a pizza) or service (like an uber ride) of equal value. You choose to trade your money for that good or service because to you, the good or service is more important to you at the moment than the money is. If the money was more important, you wouldn’t make the trade.

· Save: Saving involves setting aside a trade of your money for a good or service, in order to spend it at a later time for something else you’d like. Maybe you are setting money aside for a new outfit or a new car.

· Invest: Investing involves setting money aside in order for you to get more money back in the end. You save with the intent on getting your money back with interest.

In the world of finances, there’s a place for each of these, as well as a place for giving. The Bible has a LOT to say about money, and the passage in Matthew 6:19-24, which we are going to look at tonight, sure seems to be talking about money. But in reality, Jesus here is talking about PERSPECTIVE. A way to see the world. A way to consider your life.

Matthew 6:19-24
“19Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 24“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

In verse 19, Jesus tells us to not lay up for ourselves treasures on earth. It’s better rendered, “Stop storing up treasures for yourself!” Commentator R. T. French says of this verse, “A present imperative in the negative often implies that the act prohibited is already occurring, as against an aorist subjunctive, used to prevent something contemplated but not yet actual.” What does THAT mean? It means that the tense of the Greek is talking about STOPPING something you’ve already started doing, instead of choosing not to do something that hasn’t started yet. In other words, Jesus is telling us that we are ALREADY storing up treasures for ourselves, and He is imploring us to stop doing that.

Now, there are two reasons for why we should not be pursuing the storing up of material possessions and earthly wealth. First, because, as the old adage goes, “You can’t take it with you.” It’s a temporary thing. It goes away faster than you can snap your fingers. There are hundreds of professional athletes who sign multi-million dollar contracts and then within a few years are completely broke. According to a 2009 Sports Illustrated article, 78% of former NFL players face bankruptcy or financial stress within two years after retirement. Allen Iverson, Evander Holyfield, Terrell Owens, and Sheryl Swoopes are just some examples of star millionaire athletes who lost it all after retirement.

So Jesus is warning us against pursing something that is temporary – here today, gone tomorrow. But there’s a second reason, and it runs much deeper. Namely, pursuing earthly wealth and material possessions reflects one’s heart. What are your priorities? What do you LOVE? What are you most after?

What are some reasons that people tend to pursue earthly wealth and material possessions?

· Security – We want our needs taken care of without worry.

· Personal esteem – We think more highly of ourselves if we have nicer clothes, a bigger bank account, fancier cars, etc.

· Power and Independence – If you have more money, you think you have more control over your life; that you don’t have to rely on others.

· Pleasure – More money = more play time and more fun. You can take trips, buy luxury items, etc.

There is nothing inherently wrong with each of these things. However, they can reflect a heart that seeks the gratification of ourselves, instead of pursing the things of God. In Mark 4, in the parable of the sower, Jesus talks about the seed that falls on the thorny ground. As the plant grows, the weeds grow around it, and choke the life out of the plant, and the plant dies. Jesus says one of the things that is a “weed” or a “thorn” that chokes out our spiritual life is the “deceitfulness of riches”. Why are riches “deceitful”?

Jesus here in Matthew 6 reminds us that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”. When we seek material gain, it is an indication that our heart is not in the right place. And it’s not possible to have your heart set on both money and God.

So the question really is: What is your life going to be about? Are you going to spend your life – giving your life in exchange for something of equal value, are you going to save your life – try to gain as much as you can here and now, or are you going to invest your life – living in such a way as to multiply your life?

This last option is what God calls us to do. In the parable of the talents in Matthew 25, the master entrusts his wealth to three stewards, each of whom is granted a certain amount to take care of. The first two multiply their wealth for the master, but the third one doesn’t. And the master returns to praise the first two, but has harsh words for the last one. The expectation is that we would multiply our lives.

Now, according to Jesus in Matthew 6:20, what kind of treasure should we be pursuing?

God talks all the time about pursuing heavenly things. Eternal things. Not earthly or temporary things. And so in the end, this is a call to having an ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE. A call to see your life for eternity, not just for the time being.


Discussion
1. What are some things that are eternal in nature?

2. Why do these things make good investments?

3. How can you invest in your relationship with God? What are some practical things you can do in this area?

4. How can you invest in God’s Word? How much time do you take in God’s Word on a weekly basis?

5. What does it mean to invest in people?

6. Who are some people in your life right now that you can invest in?

7. What are the benefits to YOU for making these investments in these three key areas? Think eternally and during your time here on earth.

8. Read 2 Timothy 2:2 – How do you see this principle of investing in eternal things playing out in this passage?

9. Read 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 – What does this speak to in terms of eternal reward?

Talking With God

If you had the opportunity to spend the evening with someone you have long admired but never met, what would you want to talk about? What would you tell them? What would you want to ask them? Would you prepare for your time together or just see how the evening developed?

Interacting with others, especially with those who are in the public spotlight, can be somewhat daunting. It’s easy to walk away from an encounter with a celebrity wishing you’d said something different or remembered to ask a certain question - or even feeling foolish for something you said or did. But when we know someone well, interacting becomes less stressful and more natural, especially when we grow to know who they really are and not just who we think they are. Knowing about someone and having a relationship with someone are two completely different things!

Last week, we looked at some verses from the beginning of Matthew 6 where Jesus addressed the difference between religion and relationship. He warned His hearers to consider the heart behind their acts of devotion - namely, giving to the poor and fasting - encouraging them to remember that they have a heavenly Father who sees what they do, who will reward them for what they do “in secret.” As we read Matthew 6:5-15, Jesus continues to address the contrast between being religious and having a relationship with God:

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this:

"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

So let’s look at 2 things in this passage: Jesus gives some perspective on prayer, and then He gets practical about what prayer looks like for anyone who calls himself a follower of Jesus.

Perspectives on Prayer

Jesus again, like He does in the areas of giving to the poor and fasting, assumes that His listeners are praying. We are all created with a spiritual dimension - in fact, anthropologists have yet to find a culture that does not have some kind of religion. But He points out two kinds of wrong thinking in the area of prayer:

Do not pray like “hypocrites.” In the Greek, the word meant a stage actor, or one with two faces, hence our term “two-faced.” These religious leaders tried to appear to be men of God, praying loudly in public for others to see, but really, their focus was on themselves. Their intent was not spiritual, but selfish.

Do not pray like “pagans.” The word translated into “pagan” or “heathen” here referred to one who was alien to the worship of the true God, or a “non-covenant person,” one who stood outside of God’s covenant. Their prayers were not to be copied, because their understanding of God was incorrect - their long, repetitive prayers reflected hearts that simply hoped God would respond if they prayed long enough and hard enough to convince Him.

Woven into His warnings is Jesus’ unveiling of a new perspective: God as a heavenly Father who knows us and loves us. Our prayer life can reflect who He is, rather than be focused on us, our reputations and our fears.

Prayer in Practice

“The Lord’s Prayer,” as verses 9-13 is typically known, is often a prayer that church-going children memorize, no matter the denomination. And while the prayer itself is beautiful and worthwhile, it is essentially a model Jesus gives us for prayer, broken down into 5 sections or types:

Praise or adoration (v. 9)

This is simply recognizing who God is - His goodness, power, love, etc. He is holy, which means set apart - and we can and ought to remember who He is when we talk to Him

Submission (v. 10)

We can choose to yield to God’s will and ask Him to do what He wants in our lives and in the world around us

Supplication (v. 11)

We can ask God to meet our needs because He knows what they are and is willing and able to provide for us

Confession (v. 12)

This simply means “to tell or make known, to acknowledge a wrongdoing, “ and simply allows us to experience God’s forgiveness when we acknowledge our sin to Him

Acknowledging our need for His protection (v. 13)

We recognize our need for His protection from our tendency to go our own way and from the spiritual forces of evil

Discussion

Jesus wants us to approach God in prayer - regularly! 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray without ceasing.” As we do, let’s consider the following discussion points from this section of Matthew 6:

1. How would you explain what prayer is to someone who is unfamiliar with the concept? When you pray, what does that look like?

2. Jesus keeps using the term “Father” to refer to God in this section as well as in many other verses in Matthew. Look up several of these verses to see what else Jesus tells us about our Father: Matthew 5:16, 48, and 48; Matthew 6:1, 4, 6, 8, 9, 14, 15, 18; Matthew 10:29; Matthew 12:50; and Matthew 18:14) List what you find out about God’s character.

3. Look at the 5 “types” or elements of prayer Jesus models in the Lord’s prayer and consider the other passages for each one:

Praise - Psalm 100, Ephesians 3:20-21

Submission - James 4:7, Hebrews 12:9

Supplication - Philippians 4:6-7

Confession 1 John 1:9, Psalm 51:4, 7

Acknowledging need - 1 Peter 5:8, Psalm 86:1-3

4. What role does forgiveness play in our prayer life? Ephesians 1:7-8a, Colossians 1:13-14 (relationship with Him possible because He forgave us in Christ….)

Our ability to forgive others is a reflection of our understanding of God’s forgiveness towards us col 3:13, james 5:16

Ephesians 3:12 - in HIm and through faith in Him, we may approach God with freedom and confidence

“Forgiveness does not mean simply overlooking or ignoring the other person’s failures. God’s forgiveness should be our model. God forgives us based on what Christ did for us on the cross.” Gary Chapman

In the Spotlight

Athletes' lives are public, for good or bad.  From the time you started playing when you were little, people paid attention to you.  And now, there's an entire section of the Daily Campus devoted to sports.  There isn't one devoted to the happenings in the school of business or in Sprague Hall.

In what ways are you known for your sport?  What are the potential downsides of being known because of your sport?  What are some potential benefits?

Jesus had a lot to say about the public me versus the private me.

Matthew 6:1-4, 16-18
1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Much of what God says is in complete opposition to what we see in the world around us.  Think of an award you've received.  How did you get it?  Someone saw you do something, or was aware of your stats or your record of community service or of your GPA, and because it was worthy of the award, you were recognized publicly.

But here, Jesus seems to be talking about keeping some pretty important things "secret".  What is He actually saying?

In verses 1-4, Jesus is not instructing His listeners to give to the poor.  Jewish culture, based in Leviticus 19 and Deuteronomy 15:7-8, was a culture that understood giving to the poor.  Jesus says "when you give to the needy".  So this isn't a command to give.  Rather, Jesus is addressing the heart behind the giving.  A couple of weeks ago we talked about the idea of "it's all about me" - and how, really, it's NOT all about me.  Jesus here is addressing the idea of doing these good things for the purpose of receiving praise from men.  It's ok to desire praise from God, but seeking praise from men is exactly the opposite of what God intends for us.

Psalm 139:1-6, 23-24 is a helpful reminder as we consider the public us from the private us.

1 You have searched me, LORD, and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain....
23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Discussion

1. Think of a time when you received accolades for something - an award, or some praise from someone for something you did.  What did it feel like?  

2. In what way can such accolades or praises fuel our pride?

3. Is there something - anything - healthy about being "praised by others"?  

4. How can we let our light shine before men so they see our good works (Matt 5:16) and thus glorify God in heaven, yet make sure that we aren't seeking praise from people?

5. How can you balance the public elements of your life and faith as an athlete with Jesus' encouragement to serve Him "in secret"?

6. Remember 1 Samuel 16:7 - "The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." How can we make sure we are paying attention to our own hearts?

The Power to Obey

Have you ever had a situation where someone is telling you to do something that is really beyond your ability?  What was that like?  How did you feel about it?

I once had a class in high school that was well beyond my ability.  I had hopes of going into aeronautical engineering (building airplanes and rockets and space ships), but that required a ton of skill in high level math.  I was a good math student, but in my senior year, I hit calculus.  Well, not only couldn't I do the computations I was asked to do; I did not understand what the heck we were even talking about.  And I knew right there that I needed to pursue a different career.

If we wanted to earn our way to heaven, all we have to do is be good.  Well, that's not exactly true.  In Matthew 5:20, Jesus tells us, "For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven."  How righteous is THAT?  Well, the Pharisees were people who lived up to the letter of the Jewish law.  Every detail.  They were sticklers for it.  So how can we be more righteous than that?  Jesus would go on to give six examples of what this would look like - each time taking an Old Testament example and expanding it to include our attitudes, our thoughts, and our desires.  And then He summed it up in Matthew 5:48, saying, "Therefore you are to be perfect, as you heavenly Father is perfect."

In other words, if we want to earn our way into heaven, all we need to be is perfect.

Well, who can do that?  Nobody, of course.  It's impossible to be perfect.  To be totally sinless in our actions, our thoughts, our desires, and our attitudes.

Even as Christians who have been forgiven by Jesus Christ face an impossible task - obeying God's every command.  Our eternal life is not based on performance, but nonetheless the Bible is full of dos and don'ts.  Nobody can keep them all.

The Apostle John understood this.  And he wanted to remind us that God Himself provides us with the power to obey Him.

John 3:31-36
31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

I want to focus on verses 34 and 36.  

In verse 36, John says that whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever does not obey the Son will not.  Why does it say "believe" and then "obey"?  Here's why.  There's a real connection between belief and obedience to God.  You see, while we talk all the time about Christianity not being about performance, there ARE lots of commands in the Bible.  Lots of things we are supposed to do, and lots of things we are supposed to NOT do.  

What are some things we're supposed to DO and NOT do?

Is it possible to live up to these expectations?  Why not?

Religion tells us that the way to eternal life is to do what God wants you to do (obedience).  Christianity says that no amount of doing what God wants you to do can erase our fundamental problem of sin, but it DOES say that we should do what God wants us to do.  But obedience FOLLOWS salvation; it does not precede it.

So we ought to obey God and live the Christian life as He wants us to, but it's really hard.  Thankfully, our eternal life is not based on it; rather, it comes as a result of our having eternal life.  

And in verse 34, John gives us the key to success:  It's found in the power to live this life, which is the Holy Spirit.  In verse 34, we read that God has given those who believe the "Spirit without measure".  That is, the fullness of God dwelling inside each believer.  That's an amazing thing, and it's this power that we have access to in order to live as God calls us to live.  

Discussion

1. What is the difference between a view of good works leading to salvation, and salvation leading to good works?

2. Why is it so hard to do the things that God calls us to do?

3. Consider these three passages and discuss how they relate to us trying to live the Christian life:

- Romans 8:26 - "In the same way, the Spirit helps us with our weaknesses"

- Ephesians 3:20-21 - "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

- Acts 1:8 - "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

4. We live in the power of God's Spirit through faith, not by "trying harder".  Galatians 3:1-4 says, "1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? 3Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? 4 Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? 5 So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?"

When we accept that we cannot merit God's favor by good works, but that it is a gift of God received by faith, we acknowledge that we need to rely on Him.  Paul here is saying that the Galatians got that, but then fell back into the old way of thinking, that living the Christian life is to be lived in our own effort.  Why is it always a challenge for us to not fall back into performance-based thinking?

More of Him, Less of Me

At the start of his book, "The Purpose Driven Life", Rick Warren shocks our senses by telling us, "It's not about you." The reason this shocks our senses is that from the moment we enter the world, it sure feels like the world is all about us.

As babies, when we cry, someone tends to our needs. Parents move heaven and earth to feed us, clothe us, house us, educate us, bring us to sporting events, you name it. We make decisions about US. We do things to make US happy. We choose a school and major and a job that suits US. We pick a church that fits OUR needs. We live in a house that WE like.

It sure seems like it's all about us.

But it isn't.

John 3:22-30
22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized.  24 (This was before John was put in prison.)  25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.” 27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven.  28You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less.”

Here's the scene.  John the Baptist is doing his job, baptizing people who wish to repent of their sins.  But then he is told that Jesus and His disciples are also baptizing people.  Now at this point you might wonder what John's reaction might be to what some might consider to be a "rival" ministry.  How would you feel if you kind of had the market on something, and you were doing a good job with it, and then all of a sudden someone better than you comes along and starts doing your thing?

In sports, it could be a new underclassman who is just a little bit faster than you, a little bit more skilled.  At work, it could be a new employee who gets work done a little more efficiently, can handle a little bit bigger workload than you.  How would that make you feel?

In team sports, there's only so much playing time to go around.  Every minute one player is in is a minute another player is not.  The coach at Conn College, one of the schools recruiting our daughter Abby to play basketball, told her that he has no problem playing freshmen.  And if you're good enough, you can play right away.  Awesome, right?  What a blessing to get the opportunity to play the first moment you don the uniform.  But what happens if you're a sophomore or junior or senior and a new player comes along who is better than you and gets your playing time?  

In the first instance, it's easy to be thankful to God for His provision and His grace and His blessing.  But what do your prayers look like when things are flipped around?  Do you now pray, "Oh God, why is this happening to me?  Why are you taking this from me?"  These prayers often reflect that we see the world through the lens of....US.

How much of your attitude and perspective is all about you?  

John here points out at the end of this section a phrase that we need to have seared into our brains and into our hearts.  Some translations render it this way:  He must increase, but I must decrease.  As hard as it is to believe, we exist for His purpose and His pleasure, not for our own.  Our life will be more full of peace and joy if we recognize this and seek to increase Him and decrease ourselves, and to remember why we're here in the first place.

Discussion

1.  What is your reaction to the idea that your own life is not about you?  How does that hit you?

2.  Think about your prayer life.  What are the things you tend to pray for?  Do they tend to be you-centered more often than not?  Why?

3.  How often do you rejoice at the success of others?  What if that success comes at your expense?

4.  What are some ways we can rationalize or justify an "It's all about me" perspective?

5.  What would it look like in your life to let Christ increase while you decrease?  Any tangible changes?  What would it look like in your sport to apply this?

6.  Mark 8:35-37 - "35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?"  

Galatians 2:20 - "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

What do these two verses say about this topic?  In what way can you say that these passages reflect where you are at?

The Film Doesn't Lie

Former Pro Bowl NFL quarterback, now a television analyst, once said, "The film doesn't lie." What did he mean by that? When looking at the film of a 2015 game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals, he said,

"When you look at this, you see every play, every guy, what his responsibility is, and you make a value judgment. I'm not saying I'm always right, but you base it on what you see on the tape."

In other words, the film is Jaworski's best tool for evaluating quarterback play. It's better than on-the-spot gut reaction, because the film reveals things he misses with the naked eye. The film shows things that you just cannot pick up in the moment. Film highlights the things you are good at, and it exposes your flaws and mistakes. You cannot hide from the film.

The Bible often acts as film for us, as we'll see.

John 3:16-21
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

Verse 16 links us to the story Jesus referred to in Numbers 21:4-9. For God loved the world like THAT, that He gave His only Son, Jesus, to pay the penalty for our sin. He then goes on to talk about why it is that some people do not believe in Him. Verse 19 and 20 are key.

(1) People love the darkness instead of the light. Human nature is such that we are sinful. We have a natural disposition towards selfishness, self-centeredness. We want what we want. In a very real way, this explains so much of what we see on television and read in the newspapers. You want to know why there's racism in the world? Sin. You want to know why people beat their children? Sin. You want to know why there is war? Sin. You want to know why there are so many people in jail? Sin. Our natural tendency is away from God and towards self-gratification, even at the expense of others.

(2) We don't want to come to the light for fear that our sin will be exposed. So here's what happens. There are people in the world that are total strangers. Then we meet them and they're acquaintances. Then maybe they become friends. Then perhaps best friends. At each of these levels, what happens in our relationship? We get to know each other better. As we get to know each other better, what is inside us comes out. People who know us better know our hearts better than those who we don't really know. The deeper the relationship, the more vulnerable we get with each other. That means the more our sin is exposed.

And here's the problem. We don't want our sin exposed. We know some of the things we have done in the past, we know some of the things we think in our minds, we know some of the things we desire in our hearts. And we know there is some real ugliness there. Some things that would totally embarrass us if it were known. And so some people, when faced with the prospect of a relationship with God, would prefer to shy away because they'd rather keep doing what they're doing, they'd rather their sin not be exposed, than to be vulnerable and real with their sin.

Here's the thing to remember: God knows our sin. He knows every hair on our head. He knows all our deeds. He knows what's inside our hearts. He knows every thought we have. He understands us better than we understand ourselves. And yet He loves us anyway. That's the amazing thing. In Romans 5:8, we read, "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." We can draw near to Him with confidence, without fear.


Discussion
1. We aren't asking you to share any details, but have you ever done or thought anything that you wouldn't want to share with the group because it would be too embarrassing for you or bring you shame?

2. How does our view of God impact our willingness (or lack thereof) to draw near to Him?

3. Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can understand it?" How does this speak to the human condition? Why should we pay attention to it?

4. Read Hebrews 4:12-13 - "12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." How does the Bible reveal what's inside us? How does it expose our sin?

5. What does it mean to you that God knows all your sin, and STILL loves you so much that He gave His life for you?

6. How should this give you confidence drawing closer to Him and to other Christians?

7. How can we make AIA a place where people can come and be authentic, without fear of being rejected because of things they may have done?

Listen to the Real Expert

John 3:9-15

“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. 10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things?  11Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.  12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?  13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.  14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”


There are people who are experts in every field. Who would you look to as an expert in, say, music? Medicine? Computers?

There are experts in electrical work, law, medicine, physics, cooking, carpentry, auto mechanics, teaching...you name it. And we look up to them and seek their knowledge in their respective fields. Sometimes we pay them a lot of money for their expertise. But sometimes the experts don't even really "get it".

In John 3, it's clear that Nicodemus is one of these people. He is an expert in spirituality, an expert in Jewish law, and expert in the Scriptures. But he asks Jesus several questions that show he doesn't really understand what Jesus is talking about. "How can this be?" he asks in verse 9. How can a person need to be born spiritually in order to enter the kingdom of God?

It's helpful to understand Nicodemus' frame of reference. He is used to thinking that entrance into God's kingdom is based on a certain degree of obedience to the law. He thinks that the spiritual world operates in the same way that the physical world here on earth does - on the basis of performance. He just cannot grasp that the spiritual world operates by different rules. Namely, that being right with God, that is, being in a relationship with Him, comes by God's grace, His favor bestowed upon us, through faith in Jesus Christ, not by fulfilling a list of dos and don'ts.

To drive this point home, Jesus references a passage Nicodemus would have been very familiar with - Numbers 21:4-9. Let's discuss this passage in small groups.

Numbers 21:4-9
They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!” 6Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 The LORD said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.

Questions:


1. How do you think most people answer this question: “Suppose you were to die today and stand before God and He were to say, ‘Why should I let you into heaven?’ What would you say?” How would people most likely answer that question?

2. Read Numbers 21:4-9. Jesus was referring to this incident in verse 14 when He said “as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness…” Read Numbers 21:4-9.
  a. What was the problem here with the Israelites?
  b. What was the consequence?
  c. What was God’s solution?
  d. Who did God extend this offer to?
  e. What would have happened if a person chose to reject God’s offer and try to be saved another way?
  f. In what way is this a parallel to Jesus and the cross?

3. How does this gospel differ from the way that most people think the spiritual realm works (i.e., based on our performance)?

4. What about you? How have you considered the spiritual world and how it works? How different is the spiritual world Jesus describes from how some of the religious "experts" in your life have described it?

5. What is one thing you can do tonight to align yourself rightly in the real spiritual world of grace, mercy, and faith?