Life Group MaterialJuly 5-August 30, 2020

Profiles of the Apostles Introduction

Aside from Jesus and the apostle Paul, no New Testament characters are given more attention and have been cause for more discussion over the centuries than the 12 Apostles. This rag tag and rather ordinary group was comprised of several fishermen, a tax collector, a Jewish terrorist, and a traitor of whom it was said it would have been better had he never been born. Each man brought different strengths and weaknesses to the table when Jesus called them…And each of these 12 were willing to respond to the call of Jesus to “Come” and “Follow me.” Some were passionate and bold. Some were cowards. Some were outspoken and some were quiet. Some went on the play key roles in the development of the early Church and some played quiet roles in the background. A few of them never even got a speaking part in the Gospels, while some of them never seemed to shut their mouths!

One thing is certain: Regardless of their fame or obscurity, they each were handpicked by a Rabbi, who happened to be the Savior of the world, and were asked to follow Him around. And not only that, 11 of the 12 were given the task of carrying out the Great Commission when that same Savior returned to Heaven. Jesus was staking the future of His Kingdom, the Kingdom He died to establish, on these rather ordinary men. For better or worse, His plan for taking the message of salvation to the world would be lived out through their hands and feet.

Over the course of the next several weeks we’re going to examine these ordinary yet remarkable men and see what lessons Jesus would have us learn from them. Some of their stories will inspire you. Some of them will leave you shaking your head in disbelief. In some cases, we will see ourselves, and how similar are our failures. In others, we will see lives toward which we should aspire. Whatever the situation, whatever the story, whatever the lesson there is to learn, our hope and prayer is you’ll be changed and inspired to follow that same Rabbi…that same Savior…more and more closely each day. We’re offering this booklet as a guide for you to step into the lives of these 12 men even more deeply. Some weeks the discussion in your Life Groups will closely parallel the teaching from the stage. Other times it will be the same men being discussed but an entirely different topic. Please pray with us for the Spirit to get down deep inside each one and transform us through this series from the inside out.

(Some of the source material for this series comes from a book by John MacArthur called “12 Ordinary Men.” It may prove a useful companion should you want to delve more deeply into the lives of the Apostles.)

Week 1 Peter July 5, 2020

Remember that kid in class? Maybe you WERE that kid in class. You know, the one that was ALWAYS asking questions. It didn’t matter what the teacher said, there was never enough detail in the syllabus or the instructions on the board for THAT kid. He or she ALWAYS had to be asking questions. What happened to that kid? Most times, in my experience, the one who asks the most questions is the one who will eventually be telling everyone else what to do. Not in a bad way. Quite the contrary. It seems to me a true leader is one who is always asking questions. And you can begin to see that quality in children from an early age. That child who drives you nuts because her or she NEVER…STOPS…ASKING…QUESTIONS? Well, hang in there, because generally he or she is going places!

I wasn’t around to see it, but I’m almost certain the apostle Peter was that kid in class. When you study the interactions of Jesus with the apostles, you find Peter had more QUESTIONS for Jesus than nearly all the other apostles combined. It was Peter who always wanted a parable explained. It was Peter who wanted to know how many times to forgive, what would happen to John after Jesus left, why the fig tree withered, and on and on and on. When we read the gospels, it seems like Peter just wakes up every morning itching to ask more questions of Jesus…always wanting to know more. And maybe, just maybe, that’s a reason Jesus put him in charge of the rest of the guys. I think the sometimes annoying habit of Peter always asking questions was a strong deciding factor in him rising up to lead the rest of the group. Asking questions is a sign of wanting to better understand. Asking questions is a sign of being fully engaged. Asking questions is a sign of a willingness to learn from someone else. And for all his weaknesses, and there were many, the fact that Peter was ALWAYS asking questions put him in a great position to lead the rest of the group the way Jesus intended.

Scriptures: Matthew 15:10-20, Matthew 18:21-35, Matthew 19:16-30, John 21:15-25

Discussion Questions:

1. What is the most off-the-wall question you’ve ever been asked by a kid? 2. Do you think being a question asker is a sign of great leadership potential? Why or why not? 3. What could be a potential pitfall of asking TOO MANY QUESTIONS – of others or of Jesus? 4. Can you think of any other questions Peter asked Jesus that we didn’t highlight in the Scriptures

above? 5. What do you think was the most important question Peter ever asked Jesus? Why? 6. If you could ask Jesus any question right now, what would it be and why? 7. Are there any questions you have today about life that you wish Scripture did a better job of

addressing?

Week 2 Andrew July 12, 2020 While I’m sure Andrew had his shortcomings, we all do, there really isn’t anything listed in Scripture that you would define as a weakness of his. Peter, his older brother, was rash, impetuous, and bold to a fault, but you really don’t see any of that in Andrew. Perhaps, like so many younger siblings who learn from the oldest child what NOT to do, Andrew has had the chance to learn from Peter’s mistakes. In fact, in every interaction we have with Andrew in Scripture, he comes out smelling like a rose.

One of my favorites comes from John chapter 6. A huge crowd has gathered out in the countryside to hear Jesus teach and they’ve been listening for most of the day. It’s getting late and everyone realizes dinner time has come and gone and no one planned ahead. The disciples let Jesus know their concern and He playfully (in my mind) tells them to figure it out themselves. Well, they’ve never been asked to feed potentially 15000+ people and are freaking out just a little bit. In the middle of all the chaos, this little kid walks up. He talks to another disciple first, but finally ends up close to Andrew. We don’t know exactly what he said, but I’m guessing it was something like this: “Hey mister, I heard you talking about needing food for everyone and I know I don’t have a lot, but you’re welcome to what I brought from home.”

Now, did the boy intend to offer his meal to JUST Andrew, JUST Jesus, or did he think Jesus would do something miraculous? We don’t know. What we do know is this: In a culture that was focused on children being seen and not heard…in a moment when people were tired, hungry, and cranky…in the middle of an impossible task that Jesus has given His disciples…Andrew takes the time to actually listen to this little guy. What’s more, he doesn’t tell him to get lost or that their problems are too big for a little kid to be able to help solve. He doesn’t hesitate to take that little boy straight to Jesus. Granted, he wasn’t certain it would do any good, but Andrew’s first thought was to listen to this little guy and let him know he had value by hearing his story. And the very next thought on Andrew’s mind was that he might as well get this little boy to Jesus. What happens next is one of the most remarkable moments in the ministry of Jesus…all made possible by a little boy, and the often forgotten little brother of Peter, who knew the best thing he could do was simply get people to Jesus.

Scriptures: John 1:29-42, Matthew 4:18-22, John 6:8-9, John 12:20-22

Discussion Questions:

1. If you have siblings in your family, share some of the characteristics of each child based upon their birth order.

2. Do you think Andrew fits the mold of an older, middle, or youngest child? Why? 3. What, if any, patterns emerge when you study each of the stories about Andrew listed above? 4. If you had to describe this apostle in 5 words or less, what would you say? 5. Do you know any Andrews in your own life? Not by name, but by character! 6. Read John 1:29-42: What, if anything, does this passage tell you about Andrew’s character?

Week 3 James July 19, 2020 In the greatest musical genre in the world, which is, of course, country music, there often comes a song that perfectly embodies what I want to say. However, I temper my desire to use country music lyrics with regularity because I know there are some out there who aren’t as cultured and don’t appreciate a fiddle and guitar the way I do. BUT, today, I simply can’t help myself. We’re talking about the apostle James, and the lyrics to the first verse of the Brantley Gilbert song “The Ones That Like Me Love Me” are too perfect a description of this apostle not to include here:

“Ain’t gonna lie, I can count on both hands my down to ride ‘til the day I die friends To get them I’d like to think I’m few and far between Guys like me, you want in an alley with ya, up the creek, ain’t a doubt I’m gonna paddle with ya Go to bat, go to church, go to battle with ya…”

The premise of the artist here is those who rely on him can ALWAYS rely on him. He’s got their back, no matter what. He’ll passionately stand alongside his friends come what may. And that’s a pretty apt description of the apostle James. In nearly all the interactions we have of him in the text, we see a guy who is ALL IN for Jesus. Take, for example, the story of the Samaritans who refuse to serve Jesus or let Him stay in their town. For the normal friend, this would be annoying. For a friend like James, it’s an opportunity to offer to call on the angels of Heaven to burn that place to the ground! (For real, you all should read the story, in Luke 9:51-56)

James is a man whose life is defined by PASSION. And that passion comes out in many different circumstances. He’s so passionate, in fact, that Jesus give James and his brother, John, the awesome nickname “Sons of Thunder!” Their loyalty to their Rabbi-Teacher-Savior-Friend could NOT be overstated. I wonder, for all the times he may have been overzealous, if this characteristic of James wasn’t something that Jesus loved the most about this man? It also makes me wonder, in my own life, am I anywhere close to as passionate for my Rabbi-Teacher-Savior-Friend as was James? Do our Christian walks reveal lives of Christ-followers who Jesus would want to stand alongside Him through the mess…Christ-followers in whom it’s easy to see a passion burning so brightly the whole world knows we’re ALL IN for Christ?

Scriptures: Matthew 4:21-22, Matthew 17:1-9, Mark 5:21-24, 35-43, Mark 13:1-11, Luke 9:51-56,

Discussion Questions:

1. Have you ever had a friend in your life you KNEW, beyond a doubt, would always have your back? How did that make you feel?

2. Have you ever had to stand up for a friend in a scary situation where you weren’t sure the outcome?

3. Read Luke 9:51-56 (since you didn’t earlier, you rebel, you!): What do you make of the willingness of James and John to destroy an entire village for Jesus? What do the actions of Jesus in this story teach us about HIS feelings toward the Samaritans?

4. Is it possible to be TOO passionate in our efforts to follow Christ? Why or why not? 5. Can you think of examples in Scripture besides James of Christ-followers who lived passionately?

What about in modern times? 6. What are some steps you could take personally to live more passionately for Christ?

Week 4 John July 26, 2020 One of my favorite awards to see a player receive at the end of any given sports season isn’t what you might think. I, like anyone else, can appreciate an award for Most Points/Goals/Runs scored. I also think dirty work awards like Most Rebounds/Blocks/Sacks/Strikeouts are impressive as well. And any player that gets an MVP trophy at the end of the season has something to smile about. But, that’s not my favorite. I love the Mental Attitude Award, but I don’t think it’s my favorite either, because let’s be honest, you can smile on the outside but have a terrible attitude on the inside. With all due respect to anyone with those trophies in their trophy case at home, my personal favorite award at the end of any season is this: Most Improved Player. Why? Because you can’t hide behind natural ability, a good smile, or God-given height/strength/speed. A Most Improved Player award goes to that individual who started out in one place and found themselves in a VERY different place by the end of the season. And the catalyst behind moving from one place to another is always the same – good old-fashioned HARD WORK! If you show me the Most Improved Player, I’ll show you the girl that pushed the hardest, sweat the nastiest, and hurt the worst. I’ll show you the guy that stayed late and flat out put in the work.

If there was an awards ceremony for the Apostles, in my mind, John would get the Most Improved Player. Over the course of his life with Jesus, he went from arrogant and intolerant to humble and kind. He went from aggressive and overly ambitious to tender and willing to play the role Jesus had for him to play. Did this happen on his own? Of course not. The Holy Spirit was the catalyst behind the transformation, but John’s heart had to be soft enough to be the fertile soil in which the Spirit planted the seeds of change. John, one of the Sons of Thunder, was as gregarious and hard-hearted in his early years as he was kind and compassionate later on. We’re fortunate to see John’s heart years later as he pens his 3 epistles. This formerly hard-hearted man was able to write words like this in his later years: “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.” (1 John 3:14) And again, we hear his heart here: “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8) This transformation, worthy of the Most Improved Apostle award, was only possible because of John’s willingness to let Jesus come in and do surgery on his heart.

Scriptures: John 1:35-39, Matthew 20:20-24, Mark 9:2-41, Mark 10:31, 35-45

Discussion Questions:

1. Have you known someone with a hard, calloused heart who was changed entirely by Jesus? 2. Read Mark 9:2-41: How do you imagine Jesus must have felt after letting the 4 apostles closest

to Him witness His transfiguration and then, only days later, seeing John want to stop other disciples from healing in His name?

3. Read Matthew 20:20-24: What must Jesus has been thinking when He heard the words of Mama Thunder? What about the rest of the apostles? What about James and John?

4. Read Mark 10:31, 35-45: Perhaps this is the same story. Perhaps it isn’t. Taking the two together, what else can we learn about the apostle John prior to Jesus changing his heart?

5. At what point do you think John really started to transform on the inside? 6. How has Jesus been working to transform and soften your heart?

Week 5 Philip August 2, 2020 If you’ve ever spent time around someone who ALWAYS sees the glass as half empty, you know how demoralizing it can be. It could be sunny and 75 outside and he would remind you how the breeze makes it cold in the shade or what a bother it is to wear sunscreen. You could win free tickets to a concert off the radio and she would complain about how annoying it is to have to go all the way to the station to pick them up…and let’s not forget about paying for parking once you get to the concert! See, you’re exhausted and annoyed just from me describing them! We’ve all met eternal pessimists and we’ve all been worn out by them (if every person you’ve ever met is MORE optimistic than you, I’ve got bad news for you)! Sometimes you just want to shake them and say “Stop raining on EVERYONE’S parade! Life can’t POSSIBLY be that bad!”

Well, I’m pretty sure if the team of apostles Jesus put together had an eternal pessimist, someone the rest had to bite their tongues around, it would have been Philip. His shining moment came early on in the gospel of John (John 1:43-45) and it was all downhill from there. The apostle John, who is the only author who records the words of Philip, was very kind never to speak parenthetically about his penchant for finding the negative in everything. And, I don’t want to focus too much on the negatives about Philip, either. They speak for themselves. What I’d rather focus on is the fact that Jesus willingly allowed Philip to come along. From the very beginning, Philip was one of the first to respond to the invitation to follow Jesus. According to the text in John, it wasn’t even a decision Philip had to make at the beginning. Jesus sought HIM out and asked HIM to join the rest of the disciples. I love that. It shows us Jesus wasn’t as concerned about someone having it all together in order to follow Him as we often are in the Church. We want people to have their spiritual ducks in a row and behave a certain way before they can come be a part of the life of the Church. Jesus was just the opposite. He was more than happy to call the pessimists, the outcasts, the losers. What Jesus models for us in His invitation to Philip is too powerful to miss. He loved Philip, negative attitude and all, enough to invite him to follow Jesus everywhere. And you know what, even though I’m sure he annoyed the other apostles at times, even though he never seemed to fully “get it,” Philip was with Jesus from the very beginning to the very end. Maybe, just maybe, that willingness of Jesus to call a glass-half-empty-slow-on-the-uptake-pessimist into His inner circle is a lesson we need to learn when it comes time to choose who we’re willing to walk alongside.

Scriptures: John 1:43-45, John 6:1-7, John 12:20-22, John 14:1-11

Discussion Questions:

1. Can you recall a time when you’ve endured the rain cloud of pessimism from someone else? Don’t name names!

2. What is it about listening to and spending time with a pessimist that is so exhausting? Why do we let it bother us so much?

3. If you’ve ever struggled with pessimism as a lifestyle, what are some methods or tips you would give for getting over that attitude.

4. Some say being a pessimist is just being a realist in disguise. What would you say to that? Does pessimism ever work in concert with our Christianity? Why or why not?

5. What does it say about Jesus that he KNEW Philip completely before He called him, knew all his proclivities, but still offered the invitation to come and follow Him?

Week 6 Nathanael August 9, 2020 It seems like all schools have a rival…another team or institution they love to hate. Duke has North Carolina…Indiana has Purdue…Michigan has Ohio State…Nebraska has Iowa…the list goes on and on. When I was in high school, our rival at Bedford North Lawrence was Mitchell, the ugly cousin that lived south of the White River. There was nothing inherently wrong with Mitchell, and they were a tiny school that never really competed with us in athletics, but it didn’t make the satisfaction of beating them like they stole something any less! Simply by virtue of THEM not being US, we didn’t like them…And when you take that rationale and make it about individuals and not schools (because school rivalries are fun for the most part), it makes not liking someone because they aren’t like you seem, well, pretty stupid.

Racism is stupid…sexism is stupid…antisemitism is stupid…xenophobia is stupid…and NONE of them have any place in Christianity. Which tells us a couple things about Nathanael: First of all, he behaved stupidly. The first time we hear his name is in John 1:45-46, which says this: 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.

So, rather than focus on the amazing fact that his dear friend, Philip, has found someone he believes to be the Messiah, Nathanael just wants to take issue with the town where Jesus lived! That’s the first piece of Nathanael’s story I find interesting. The second is this: Jesus chose him anyway. His unwillingness to see past the exterior of another…his hatred for a specific group of people wasn’t a reason for Jesus to pass him over. Jesus was able to see deeper into his heart. Jesus knew there was more to someone than what their ignorance led them to say. I hope that’s true for us…for those times we are quick to dismiss others, and for those times others should be quick to dismiss us.

Side note, I met a girl at a Campus Life event my sophomore year who was from Mitchell, who loved Jesus, and who became one of my closest friends. There is always more to a person than can be determined by where they live or how they look. We’ve just got to see beyond the exterior!

Scriptures: John 1:45-51, John 21:2

Discussion Questions:

1. Who was the biggest rival for your school growing up? Do you have any crazy stories about the rivalry?

2. Have you ever been guilty of disliking someone because of where they were from or the way they looked, only to find out later you were entirely wrong? Explain.

3. How does having a relationship with Christ change the way we’re called to see others, especially those who are different than us?

4. If Jesus were physically with us today, what might He have to say about the issues that continue to divide the race He died to redeem?

5. Using Scripture as your guide, what verses can you find together as a group that speak against the kind of preconceived ideas Nathanael had about Jesus?

Week 7 Matthew (Levi) August 16, 2020 If ever there was a guy in need of a friend, a true friend, it was Levi. Each day of his life was defined by getting out of bed, getting dressed, and heading off to his office, which was really just a small booth along the side of the road, and dreaming up new ways to rip off the people of his town. And when I say “town,” I don’t mean town like Marion or Wabash or Greentown. Capernaum, where Levi lived and worked his tax booth, was a small town of NO MORE than 1500 ppl. Archaeologists have concluded it reached peak size in around the 5th century AD and then it was only at the 1500 mark. During the time of Jesus, it could have been much smaller. At any rate, regardless of the actual number of inhabitants, each and every one would have known Levi. His task was to collect taxes for the Roman government and his payment was whatever he could extort on top of that. NO ONE in town would have been caught dead with this guy, except other tax collectors, prostitutes, and other societal outcasts. So, this was a guy in need of a friend.

If ever there was a guy who had lots of friends, at least early in His ministry, it was Jesus. He was a powerful teacher, a rabbi others wanted to follow, and someone, according to Luke 4: 22, 32, and 36-37 who amazed and excited all the people. This was a guy who DIDN’T need any more friends…especially friends who collected taxes and extorted everyone else in town. That’s what makes the story in Luke 5:27-32 so remarkable. Jesus doesn’t just walk up to the booth where Levi was sitting, ripping people off, so He could pay His taxes. Maybe He did pay them (as someone living in Capernaum [Matthew 4:13], He would have been obligated), but that wasn’t His reason for visiting the booth on this day. Jesus was on a mission, and that mission was simple, to invite Levi into a life-changing relationship with Him. Jesus wanted to make Levi, not only His disciples, but also His FRIEND. The evidence of that is clear at the conclusion of the story, when Jesus, despite the anger and outrage of the crowd, goes to Levi’s house and sits down for a meal, which was a very intimate gesture of friendship in that culture. And we’re not sure exactly when it happened, but Jesus also seems to have changed this man’s name…from Levi, which means “Joined,” to Matthew, which means “Gift of Yahweh.” What better way to show a man in desperate need of a friend he was loved than to change his name to “Gift of God?!”

Scriptures: Matthew 9:9-13, Luke 5:27-32

Discussion Questions:

1. Have you ever encountered people in your life who were difficult to love? Without naming names, what made it so difficult?

2. Read Matthew 9:9-13: Try to put yourself in the sandals of all the different characters in this story. What must each have been thinking? Jesus…Matthew…the Pharisees…the other disciples…the other sinners?

3. Think about what Jesus was putting on the line to befriend a man like Matthew. What does His willingness to call Matthew a friend tell you about Jesus?

4. What does Jesus’s willingness to call US His friends tell you about Jesus? 5. What does Jesus’ willingness to call us His friends tell you about what He wants from us in

relation to others? 6. Is there anyone in your life right now you are feeling led to reach out to who will be difficult to

love? Anyone whose friendship would potentially damage your reputation?

Week 8 Thomas (called Didymus) August 23, 2020 I’m a nickname guy. I LOVE giving people nicknames. When we hiked the Appalachian Trail, I was happily able to give several people their “trail names.” The key to a good nickname is finding something about a person that is true to their character/appearance/personality and also rolls off the tongue. You don’t want to give someone a nickname, even if it’s spot on to who they are, if it doesn’t roll off the tongue. For example, our 3rd son, Hank, when compared to his twin brother, Wyatt, is much stronger and stockier than the spindly and wiry Wyatt. However, Stocky Hank, or Hank the Strong (however true) would make a terrible nickname because it doesn’t roll of the tongue. Hank the Tank, however, is just…about…perfect. He even tried to get me to change it to Hank the Dozer a couple months back because he’s always hitting his brothers with his head, but nope, that doesn’t roll off the tongue. So, Hank the Tank is here to stay.

Thomas, called Didymus, is also a man well acquainted with nicknames. The name, Thomas, means “twin” in Aramaic and Didymus means the same in Greek. More than likely this means Thomas WAS a twin and that’s how the rest of the world knew him…as THE TWIN. It certainly describes him, but I’m not sure it really rolls off the tongue. Another nickname he’s been given over the years is Doubting Thomas. That tickles the tongue nicely but I’m not sure it speaks to who he truly was (by the way, who gives someone a nickname related to a perceived weakness? What a terrible thing to do…Ugly Jordan or Jeff the Jerk are great nicknames, but not very nice…moving on). Thomas got this nickname from the perception he was plagued by doubt over not having actually SEEN Jesus after He resurrected, even though the other apostles had. He refused to believe until he could actually see Jesus and touch the nail scars on His body. And let me just say, I get it. Maybe my name should be Doubting Joseph, but I really get it. Thomas had set all his hope in who Jesus was, and the belief that Jesus would save the Jews…and then he watched Jesus die on a cross. Now, I know Jesus had promised to come back after 3 days, but how often had Thomas, or anyone else, seen a guy promise to come back from the dead and actually do it? Yeah, I didn’t think so. What I love about Thomas though, after he met Jesus in His resurrected form, is Thomas didn’t waffle at all. Once he saw what he needed to see, just as he’d promised, he was all in! Maybe a better name for Doubting Thomas would be…?

Scriptures: John 11:1-16, John 14:1-7, John 20:24-28

Discussion Questions:

1. If you had to give Thomas a new nickname, based upon what you know about him, what would it be?

2. Have you ever had someone give you a nickname that not only rolled off the tongue but perfectly described something about you?

3. If you could give yourself a nickname, what would it be and why? 4. Thomas gets a bad rap for his difficulty in believing the resurrection. If you were in his shoes,

what would you have believed? Why? 5. When Jesus spoke to Thomas after walking through the locked door to find him (John 20:24-29),

what must Thomas have been thinking? What about Jesus? 6. What are some scriptures that come to mind that can encourage us to continue believing in

Christ and His work, even when we can’t see Him with our own eyes?

Week 9 Judas Iscariot August 30, 2020 As a kid, and honestly, still today, I loved being singled out when I had done something exemplary. There were few things more satisfying than a coach blowing a whistle and stopping practice to point out a block I’d made or an assignment I HADN’T blown. Or when a teacher called out my paper as the one that stood above the rest. Everybody gets that good feeling down in their bones when someone else calls them out as a great example. BUT, as much as I love those times, I HATE the opposite of those times even more. I’ve lived through experiences when my behavior or performance was so poor, so abysmal, I became the example of “what NOT to do.” And I’m sure you have too.

Judas Iscariot seemed to be born for that role. In any place his name is mentioned, by any of the Gospel writers, it is mentioned with disdain. His failures are either shown outright in the text or the author mentions what a rat he was parenthetically. It’s almost enough to make you feel sorry for the guy…almost. The fact remains, when Judas was presented with all the evidence, when he witnessed the same miracles, the same kindnesses, the same transformative lessons, he alone, unlike any of the other apostles, chose the way of treachery. Was it because of greed? What it because his idea of what a Messiah would be didn’t match up with the way of Jesus? Was it merely because Jesus knew things needed to go this way so He chose someone whose heart He knew would never be open to salvation? We don’t really know. But, what we DO know is that Judas Iscariot holds the distinction of being the only person in history to intentionally betray Jesus Christ…or does he?

If Christ calls us to live sinless lives, then choosing to sin could easily be regarded as a betrayal of Jesus. And in that sense, I’ve certainly provided examples over the years of “what NOT to do.” James says “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and then doesn’t do it, sins.” (James 4:17) Before we jump on the train to run over Judas Iscariot, it would be good to take stock of our own lives and see how, in big ways or small, we’re intentionally betraying our Savior as well.

Scriptures: John 6:66-71, John 12:1-8, Luke 22:1-6, John 13:18-30, Matthew 26:20-225

Discussion Questions:

1. Has there been a time in your life when you were a great example of “what NOT to do?” Please share with the group…the more embarrassing the better!

2. What do you think was the main impetus behind Judas choosing to betray Jesus? Pride? Ignorance? Greed? Something else?

3. Do you think the other Apostles ever had an indication of the evil in Judas’s heart? 4. Judas Iscariot was one of the original 12 Jesus sent out. He saw the power of the Spirit at work in

his own life. He was witness to the miraculous and still chose to betray Jesus. What does that tell you about him? About the condition of his heart? About Jesus in relation to him?

5. Is there a particular sin or struggle you continue to hold out as the “what NOT to do” in your life as it relates to following Jesus? If you’re willing to share, how are you seeking to let the Holy Spirit direct you in that?