I Believe Sunday School Lesson Topic Discussion

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I Believe Sunday School Lesson Topic Discussion

1.In what ways do you think our future, eter-nal dwelling places will contrast with our cur-rent, earthly homes?

It's tempting to focus on the physical as weimagine no more leaky pipes or balky furnaces torepair! The most important contrast, however,will be our new honors' nearness to the presenceof God. God is ever with us now, of course. ButHis presence and nearness in eternity probablycannot be described!

2.What was a time in your life that youshowed a lack of spiritual discernment? Howdid you grow from this experience?

The greatest challenge for most of us probablyis realizing, on a continuous basis, that there is aspiritual reality that is more enduring than ourcurrent physical reality. If Satan can't get us toforget about the spiritual reality entirely, hisother tactic is to get us to "compartmentalize"areas of our lives: spiritual stuff is for Sundaymorning and grace before meals, while regularlife is for all the other limes.

When we slip into this kind of compartmental-izing, we do not allow Jesus to lead us in allareas. Which movies we watch, where we surf onthe Internet, what kind of cars we buy—Jesus isinterested in all of these areas. Our choices indi-cate spiritual discernment. Wouldn't it be great ifwe always knew for sure that we were makingthe choices that Christ snouts us to make? Confu-sion in these areas may be reduced by greater at-tention to Bible study and prayer.

3. Suppose that you share John 14:6 with askeptic. In response he or she says, "You're justbeing narrow-minded. Surely a loving Godwould make a way for those who have neverheard of Jesus!" How do you prepare yourself inadvance for this kind of reaction?

You may or may not be able to persuade theskeptic. Remember that even Jesus himself didnot persuade everyone.

What is most important is that your own faithremain unwavering when you hear such argu-ments. Was Jesus himself narrow-minded? SeeMatthew 7:14: "Strait is the gate, and narrow isthe way, which leadeth unto life, and few there

be that find it." Does God have any plan otherthan Jesus? See Acts 4:12: "Neither is there salva-tion in any other: for there is none other nameunder heaven given among men, whereby wemust be saved."

God sent His Son to die for the sins of theworld (John 3:16). You can't get more loving thanthat!

4.Make a list of some out-of-the-ordinarythings that Jesus did in front of His disciples.Despite the miraculous things on this list, whatmade His disciples linger in their uncertaintyabout Jesus' identity and authority? How areyour own doubts similar?

One reason for the disciples' wavering wasthat Jesus didn't fit their preconceived ideasabout the Messiah. We see their misconceptionpop up again in the question that they ask rightbefore His ascension (see Acts 1:6). Undoubtedlyour own misconceptions also serve as roadblocksto unconditional acceptance of Jesus' authority.Perhaps a doubt that lingers in the back of ourminds is, "Where is the promise of his coming?"This doubt is not new - see 2 Peter 3:4.

Doubts also arise because of our focus on thephysical. The disciples could see the power ofRome all around them. But to realize that God'sspiritual forces were more powerful required theeye of faith that they didn't quite have (compare2 Kings 6:15-17). Similarly our vision often islimited only to the moment. We too quickly for-get about God's power and what long-term bene-fits we can gain if we heed the teachings of HisWord.

5.Jesus talked about others doing things evengreater than He had done. How do you applyJesus' expectations in your own life?

Jesus has general expectations of all believers(see Matthew 28:19, 20). Jesus also has expecta-tions that tie in to our individual spiritual gifts(Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12; and Ephesians 4).We learn of His expectations when we meditateon His Word. As we do we take care to notice thatHis promise to the disciples gave a purpose fortheir actions: "that the Father may be glorified inthe Son" (v. 13). This is our motive as well.

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