preparing our hearts for worship can keep us focused on ... · (john 6:14-15). jesus was not...

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LIFE GROUP LESSON Jesus Was Not a Great Man ● Week of March 22 Long ago God spoke many mes and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now, in these final days, He has spoken to us through His Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son He created the universe. The Son radiates Gods own glory and expresses the very character of God, and He sustains everything by the mighty power of His command. When He had cleansed us from our sins, He sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majes- c God in heaven(Hebrews 1:1-3). It is no wonder that at His bapsm, the Holy Spirit in bodily form de- scends upon Jesus and a voice from heaven says, You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy(Luke 3:22). King Solomon said, A wise son brings joy to a father(Proverbs 10:1a). Gods Son ulmately fulfills this proverb. Jesus Is Not a Great Man. He is the Word of God in human form – Son of Man, the only begoen of the Father. Exactly Who Jesus Is will remain somewhat of a mystery, beyond our human compre- hension, unl … “Every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and un- der the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father(Philippians 2:10-11, see also Isaiah 45:22-25). Read Luke 4:31-44 1. There is a man in the synagogue possessed by a demon, an evil spirit. How can (and does) the presence of evil sll enter the doors of the church today? How does evil respond at the presence (the voice) of the Son of God, according to v34? Preparing our hearts for worship can keep us focused on Christ. As we keep Christ at the center of our lives, we will have greater discernment when it comes to the spirit world—Listening for Gods voice daily, praying for weekend worship services, liſting up our pastors, volunteering to pray over the chairs prior to worship, personally reading (studying/ internalizing) Gods Word in the private place, as well as meeng with your Life Group. Name other ways can we align with Gods truth, thereby exposing any presence of evil? Because the demons knew Jesus to be the Son of God, Jesus did not allow them to speak. And although Jesus was the promised Messiah, His mis- sion was not polical or militant. Jesus came to free people from an ene- my bigger than Rome; Jesus Christ came to save people from sin. Once when the people saw Jesus do a miracle, they were ready to take Him by force to be their king. But Jesus slipped away into the hills by himself (John 6:14-15). Jesus was not movated by personal gain or fame. Jesus remained focused on His Fathers assignment (John 14:30-31). When the people begged Jesus not to leave, He said, “’I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other towns, too, because that is why I was sent.So He connued to travel around, preaching in the synagogues throughout Judea(Luke 4:43-44). 2. What was the Fathers requirement of His Son? Read the following passages — John 3:14-17 John 10:14-18 John 17:1-5 How has this message series, Jesus Was Not a Great Man, cleared misconcepons you may have had regarding Jesustrue identy and mission? What revelaon of the Lord Jesus Christ is especially prominent for you today?

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Page 1: Preparing our hearts for worship can keep us focused on ... · (John 6:14-15). Jesus was not motivated by personal gain or fame. Jesus remained focused on His Father’s assignment

LIFE GROUP LESSON Jesus Was Not a Great Man ● Week of March 22

“Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now, in these final days, He has spoken to us through His Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance,

and through the Son He created the universe. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and He sustains everything

by the mighty power of His command. When He had cleansed us from our sins, He sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majes-

tic God in heaven” (Hebrews 1:1-3).

It is no wonder that at His baptism, the Holy Spirit in bodily form de-scends upon Jesus and a voice from heaven says, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy” (Luke 3:22). King Solomon said, “A wise son brings joy to a father” (Proverbs 10:1a). God’s Son ultimately fulfills this proverb. Jesus Is Not a Great Man. He is the Word of God in human form – Son of Man, the only begotten of the Father. Exactly Who Jesus Is will remain somewhat of a mystery, beyond our human compre-hension, until … “Every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and un-der the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11, see also Isaiah 45:22-25). Read Luke 4:31-44 1. There is a man in the synagogue possessed by a demon, an evil spirit.

How can (and does) the presence of evil still enter the doors of the church today? How does evil respond at the presence (the voice) of the Son of God, according to v34?

Preparing our hearts for worship can keep us focused on Christ. As we keep Christ at the center of our lives, we will have greater discernment when it comes to the spirit world—Listening for God’s voice daily, praying for weekend worship services, lifting up our pastors, volunteering to pray over the chairs prior to worship, personally reading (studying/internalizing) God’s Word in the private place, as well as meeting with your Life Group. Name other ways can we align with God’s truth, thereby exposing any presence of evil? Because the demons knew Jesus to be the Son of God, Jesus did not allow them to speak. And although Jesus was the promised Messiah, His mis-sion was not political or militant. Jesus came to free people from an ene-my bigger than Rome; Jesus Christ came to save people from sin. Once when the people saw Jesus do a miracle, they were ready to take Him by force to be their king. But Jesus slipped away into the hills by himself (John 6:14-15). Jesus was not motivated by personal gain or fame. Jesus remained focused on His Father’s assignment (John 14:30-31). When the people begged Jesus not to leave, He said, “’I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other towns, too, because that is why I was sent.’ So He continued to travel around, preaching in the synagogues throughout Judea” (Luke 4:43-44).

2. What was the Father’s requirement of His Son? Read the following

passages — John 3:14-17 John 10:14-18 John 17:1-5

How has this message series, Jesus Was Not a Great Man, cleared misconceptions you may have had regarding Jesus’ true identity and mission?

What revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ is especially prominent for you today?

Page 2: Preparing our hearts for worship can keep us focused on ... · (John 6:14-15). Jesus was not motivated by personal gain or fame. Jesus remained focused on His Father’s assignment

This week’s message outline states that when we are in alignment and connected to Jesus, we can walk in the same power Jesus walked in – dominating demons, casting out evil spirits, and establishing light in dark places. Our words also have power. Because of Christ’s victory over sin (and because we belong to Him, when we accept the Lord into our hearts) we too can speak faith. Speak faith through the truth of God’s Word. By sincerely speaking God’s truth over our lives (and those around us—those we love, even our enemies) His living Word unleashes power in our strug-gles and challenges. In Christ, we do not have to accept fear.

3. Jesus Was Not a Great Man, but He can raise up men and women, boys

and girls to be great as they choose to align their lives with Him. The Bible says, “See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is what we are! … but He has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He really is. And all who have this ea-ger expectation will keep themselves pure, just as He is pure” (see 1 John 3:1-3). In what ways have you noticed Christ’s purifying love washing over you, preparing you for His imminent return? (share with your Life Group) Close in a time of prayer for Christ’s Church, our nation, and our world. Ask the Lord to help us walk in faith, not fear. Pray that God will turn the heart of this world toward Christ, and that His people will live out 2 Chronicles 7:14.

One Year Bible Reading Mar. 22: Numbers 33:40-35:34, Luke 5:12-28, Psalm 65:1-13, Proverbs 11:23 Mar. 23: Numbers 36:1-Deut. 1:46, Luke 5:29-6:11, Psalm 66:1-20, Prov.11:24-26 Mar. 24: Deuteronomy 2:1-3:29, Luke 6:12-38, Psalm 67:1-7, Proverbs 11:27 Mar. 25: Deuteronomy 4:1-49, Luke 6:39-7:10, Psalm 68:1-18, Proverbs 11:28 Mar. 26: Deuteronomy 5:1-6:25, Luke 7:11-35, Psalm 68:19-35, Proverbs 11:29-31 Mar. 27: Deuteronomy 7:1-8:20, Luke 7:36-8:3, Psalm 69:1-18, Proverbs 12:1 Mar. 28: Deuteronomy 9:1-10:22, Luke 8:4-21, Psalm 69:19-36, Proverbs 12:2-3

Text: Luke 4:31-41

PLAIN TRUTH:

Jesus’ mission wasn’t to take ________ but

to _______ ________ the _____________.

1. Jesus’ _____________ overcame ________ as the

______________ of Life.

2. Jesus served as Lord over ____________ and

_______________ before being Lord over

__________ and __________.

March 21 & 22, 2020