Lectionary Bible Study - Easter 2B - John 20:19-31

Oasis Bible Study – Wed 11 April, 2012

Overview of Study

After the First Easter, Jesus re-appeared among His disciples on several occasions. He comes to them with a message of peace and a mission to tell the world of His Good News. Our challenge is to think about how Christ appears to the world through us and what mission we are meant to presently fulfill.

Approaching God

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You came back to the disciples to reassure them of God’s power and to teach them new lessons of faith. Open our hearts and minds to Your message and ministry for us today.  In Your Name, we pray.  Amen.

Scripture: John 20:19-31

19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." 28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." 30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Input from Group

Why did Jesus return to be with His disciples? How did they initially react?

What kind of peace was Christ bringing to them? how did that peace help them in their predicament?

How did Jesus give them the Holy Spirit? Where have we encountered a similar experience in the Bible?

What was the purpose of the gift of the Holy Spirit? Why did Jesus emphasize the ministry of forgiveness?

Why do you think Thomas was not originally there? What made Jesus come back for him?

How did Thomas react to Christ’s reappearance? Is Christ our Lord and our God?

Service Applications

The Resurrection is the keystone of our faith. Without it, the Christian church would never have come into existence. How does the Resurrection affect our lives, our faith, and our churches today? Where can we show the power of Resurrection in our community?

For silent prayerful reflection:  If Jesus reappeared to me today, how would that alter my life? Do I live my life as if Christ is always with me? Why/why not?

Oasis Lectionary Bible study - Mark 12:38-44 - Lent 4B

Oasis Bible Study – Lent 4B

Overview of Study

Ambitious clergy who seek esteem, power, and wealth were as much a problem for the people in Christ’s time as they sadly still are today. In this passage, Jesus uses an unnoticed act of a powerless person as a direct contrast to the public pomposity of the local religious leaders.

Approaching God

Prayer: Lord Jesus, reveal to us the heart of this passage and teach us Your holy ways. Open our minds to the understanding of this scripture and enable us to apply its truths in our lives today.  In Your Name, we pray.  Amen.

Scripture: Mark 12:38-44

38 As he taught, Jesus said, "Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely."

41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. 43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on."

Input from Group

Why did advise His followers to be wary of the religious teachers?

Why did the religious teachers look to be publicly honored and revered? Is that still prevalent today?

Why did Jesus say that they would be punished? What kind of punishment was he talking about?

Why was Jesus the only one who noticed what the widow gave?

What pleased Christ about her gift?

Were the other gifts worthless in His eyes? Why/why not?

What lesson about stewardship does this event provide for us?

What lesson about clergy does this passage express to us?

Any other questions or comments?

Service Applications

What we give to God belongs to God, so we’re not giving up anything; we are actually giving back what God already owns.

Consider what you give to God through the Church each year. Is it more or less than what you pay for sports tickets, entertainment, alumni dues or leisure activities annually? What does that tell you about your commitment to God?

For silent prayerful reflection:  How does what I give to God compare to the widow’s offering? Am I being a good steward or am I still withholding resources from God?

Oasis Bible study: Mark 12:28-34 - Lent 3B

Oasis Bible Study – Wed 7 Mar, 2012

Overview of Study

All over the world, people discuss religion. Whether it is in churches or mosques, coffee shops or even pubs, people are drawn into conversations about God, the meaning of life, and the afterlife.

In this passage, Jesus has been discussing religious issues and answering questions about faith for a while. One of the spectators, a lawyer, watches the debate and listens carefully to Christ’s answers. This inspires him to ask his own question: which is the most important commandment?

Approaching God

Prayer: Lord Jesus, teach us the importance of Your words and help us to learn from Your actions. Open our hearts and minds to the message of this Gospel passage.  In Your Name, we pray.  Amen.

Scripture: Mark 12:28-34

28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" 

29"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." 

32 "Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." 34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.

Input from Group

Why did Jesus have to debate religious issues with His people? How was He faring?

What made the lawyer ask his own question? What may have the others thought he was doing?

Why were the commandments so important to the people of Christ’s day? What do you think the lawyer knew of them?

How did Jesus respond to the lawyer’s question? What is of prime importance to Jesus?

How can we love God so intensely?

Why did Jesus add ‘loving your neighbor?’ What was He trying to convey to the lawyer?

How did the lawyer respond? Why did Jesus consider the answer to be wise?

Why did the people stop asking Jesus questions after this event? What effect would it have on His ministry?

Any other questions or comments?

Service Applications

Loving God and loving our neighbor are not mutually equivalent. We are commanded by Christ to love God first and then to love our neighbor next. Why is it so important not to get the one mixed up with the other?

Think about how you love God. How do you love Him with all of your heart? Your soul? Your mind? Your strength?

For silent prayerful reflection:  How can I love God more? Who is my neighbor? How can I love God by helping my neighbor?

Oasis Bible study: Mark 8:31-38

Oasis Bible Study – Wed 29 Feb, 2012

Overview of Study

CS Lewis once said that if anyone wanted to practice a comfortable religion, he would not recommend Christianity.

In this passage, Jesus speaks about the imminent reality of His ministry and mission being destroyed by the religious authorities in Jerusalem. This shocks the disciples and Simon Peter tries to convince Jesus that he is wrong. As usual, Jesus uses the moment to teach a deeper message about faith – it is costly to each believer. Christ may comfort us, but Christianity is not a comfortable religion.

Approaching God

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your ways challenge our choices. Each day our faith is confronted by our acts and deeds. Make us more aware of what You require of us as disciples. In Your Name, we pray.  Amen.

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38

31 Jesus then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." 

34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 

36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

Input from Group

Why did Jesus want the disciples to know what was going to occur in Jerusalem?

What was their response? Why?

Why does Jesus rebuke Peter? What is Christ being tempted to do?

What does Jesus say to the crowd? How do you think they would have reacted? Was this a clever thing to do at this time? Why/why not?

What kind of crosses do we bear as Christians in today’s world? Are we willing to take up these crosses?

How is Jesus rejected in our present community? What can the Church do about this?

Has our society become ashamed of Jesus and/or His followers? What does that tell us about the state of the church and our modern culture?

Is Jesus ashamed of us?

Any other questions or comments?

Service Applications

The burden of being a Christian is that we are often put in situations where our faith is compromised or made irrelevant by cultural demands. Think about recent situations in your life where your faith has been cast aside by yourself or the people around you. Think about forthcoming events in your life, home or work which may affect your faith. Are you ready to bear a cross or looking for an excuse?

For silent prayerful reflection:  What does it mean to be a Christian 24/7/365? When is my faith at its weakest? When is it at its strongest?

Oasis Bible Study: Mark 1:40-45

Oasis Bible Study – Wed 8 Feb, 2012

Overview of Study

Jesus is beginning to take His message to other towns. He is spreading the Good News and allowing other communities to hear His gospel. He comes into contact with a leper who has been shunned by his community. This confronts Jesus with a dilemma: should he embrace the man and alienate the rest of the community, or should he follow the religious laws and ignore the man completely?

Approaching God

Prayer: Lord Jesus, show us through Your interaction with other people how we should participate in our own communities today. Challenge our pre-conceived opinions and change our ways so that our lives reflect Your own. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture: Mark 1:40-45

⁴⁰ A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

 ⁴¹ Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” ⁴²Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

 ⁴³ Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: ⁴⁴“See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” ⁴⁵ Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.

Input from Group

Why did the leper think that Jesus could help him? What shows us that he was desperate?

What was Jesus’ initial response? Why?

How could Jesus make the man clean? What does this tell us about His power?

What did Jesus command the man to do after he was healed? Why did He send him to the priest?

What did the man actually do?  Was he sinfully disobeying Jesus?

What was the community’s response to the healing?  Did Jesus want this?

Who are the lepers in our own community? How does the church generally deal with them?

What does this miracle challenge us to do with outcasts in our own community? If we do nothing, are we being sinfully disobedient?

Any other questions or comments?

Service Applications

Helping an outcast was Christ’s priority in this passage. Jesus lets humanitarian compassion override religious observance. What ministries or missions can we support in our towns that show this compassion?

For silent prayerful reflection:  How much does what I believe depend upon standards in both my religious and cultural communities? Is that okay with Jesus?

Oasis Bible Study: Mark 1:29-39

Overview of Study

Jesus has just begun His ministry by calling the first disciples to follow Him. Prior to this passage, Christ has just cured a demon-possessed man in the local synagogue, on the Sabbath. News about the event begins to spread around the region.

After a busy day, Jesus is invited to sup and stay over at Simon Peter’s home for some rest and relaxation. But even here, Jesus gets no rest.

Approaching God

Prayer: Lord Jesus, open our hearts and minds to the words of scripture that we are about to read. Grant us Your understanding of what was going on, and help us to apply any relevant lessons in our own lives today. In Your Holy Name, we study and pray. Amen.

Scripture: Mark 1:29-39

As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew.  Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!" 

Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else--to the nearby villages--so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." 

So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

Input from Group

Why did Jesus and his companions go to Simon Peter’s home?

What confronted them when they got there?

What was Jesus’ reaction?

How did this help His ministry?

Why did the people arrive at Simon’s home after sunset?

What did they want of Jesus?

What do you think He felt at that time?

What may His disciples have been feeling?

Why did Jesus get up early to be on His own?

Why were the disciples anxious to find Him?

What made Jesus move on from Capernaum?

What were His ministerial priorities?

Any other questions or comments?

Service Applications

Both family and community are key elements in this passage. Christ ministers to both. He also takes time out to be with God.

For silent prayerful reflection:  How can I serve God through what I do for my family and community? How can I also make time to be alone with God?