Forgiveness – by Bob Carlisle

Love in Action

Bible study prepared by Samuel Thambusamy

You have heard people say, “Love your neighbors and hate your enemies.” But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for anyone who mistreats you. Then you will be acting like your Father in heaven. He makes the sun rise on both good and bad people. And he sends rain for the ones who do right and for the ones who do wrong. If you love only those people who love you, will God reward you for that? Even tax collectors love their friends. If you greet only your friends, what’s so great about that? Don’t even unbelievers do that? But you must always act like your Father in heaven. (Mat 5:43-48 CEV)

Questions for further reflection

1) What is this passage about?
2) How do people deal with their enemies in your context/s? What do you think about them?

3) Why do you think God makes the sun rise on both good and bad people, sends rain for the ones who do right and for the ones who do wrong etc? What does this tell you about God?

4) Is loving the enemy possible? What are the stories in your context/s? 

5) What does it mean to love your enemy? What do you think about Jesus’ teaching? Why do you think Jesus wants his disciples to love their enemies and pray for those who mistreat them? What are the challenges in loving our enemies and praying for those who mistreat us? How do we respond to these challenges?

6) Even Tax collectors love their friends. People who don’t believe in God greet their friends! Why are we expected to be different from them? Why do we have to transcend ordinary expressions of love within our cultural tradition and social location?

7) (Mentally) prepare a list of those you perceive to be your enemies! Spend some time praying for them.

What is God telling us through the passage? What are you going to do in response to God’s Word?

Standing in the Spotlight of Grace

A discussion on the song “who am I?” (by Point of Grace)

Questions for further dicussion

1) What is this song about? What did you like about this song?
2) We speak so much about God’s grace? How do you understand grace? What is the picture that comes to your mind when you think of grace?
3) It is a privelege to have conversations with the Most High God. How do you feel when you go in prayer before God?
4)How does it feel to be in the spotlight of God’s grace? What has this experience taught you? How has it helped in your christian life?
5) The song raises the question, “Who am I”? What would you answer be to the question?
6) What have you (un)learnt from our discussion here?

Weird Christians I have met (or have been)

I am reading the book, Weird Christians I have met by Phil Baker (Senior Pastor in Australia). It is a fascinating book. I was struck by these words:

There is a suble balance between normal Christianity, with its appreciation of diversity, and that which is erroneous, misleading and ultimately damaging.

 

The authentic christian is one of the most attractive and compelling reasons for seeking the truth of Christianity. However, we are our worst enemy, for the inauthentic christian – the overly religious, fanatical or sidetracked believer – repels the seeking soul. Indeed, the number one reason why many people will not consider the claims of Christ is because they have encountered Christians – or, I should say Weird Christians.

 

One of the problems we face is that the phrase “the normal christian life” sounds pretty boring – that is until one attempts to live it. Only then do we discover that in following in the steps of Christ is, as one writer put it, “living tiptoe on the edge of expectations”.

 

Phil Baker in this book introduces us to WEIRD Christians – like Endtime-Ed, Pentecostal Pamela, Theological THeo, Demonic Dave, Frank Faith, Backslidden Bob, Gullible Garfield, Judgemental Jill, Prosperity Patricia, Plastic Pete.

Why does he lead us into the world of bizzare Christians? In borrow his own words: ” I have also discovered that satire is one of the best vehicles for Truth”. He does that so that ” we may run into familiar characters, recognize friends or even spot ourselves.

In the end, he gives a plea for “balance”.

 

Love and Relationships

A personal bible study prepared by Samuel Thambusamy

A husband should love his wife as much as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it. He made the church holy by the power of his word, and he made it pure by washing it with water. Christ did this, so that he would have a glorious and holy church, without faults or spots or wrinkles or any other flaws. In the same way, a husband should love his wife as much as he loves himself. A husband who loves his wife shows that he loves himself. None of us hate our own bodies. We provide for them and take good care of them, just as Christ does for the church, because we are each part of his body. As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother to get married, and he becomes like one person with his wife.” This is a great mystery, but I understand it to mean Christ and his church. So each husband should love his wife as much as he loves himself, and each wife should respect her husband.  (Eph 5:25-33 CEV)

Questions for further reflection

1. What is this passage about?
2. What does the phrase, “ love your wife” mean? How does relationships (loving your wife) connect with spirituality?
3. Male superiority is expressed differently in society. What are the cultural expressions in support of male superiority in your contexts? What do you think about them?
4. Why should a husband love his wife? Share one thing that you do to show that you love your wife?
5. How does Christ love the Church? Why do you think Paul compares the relationship of the husband to the wife with Christ to the Church?
6. What is God telling you/me through the passage? What am I/are you going to do in response to God’s Word?

Getting to know LOVE

- A personal bible study prepared by Samuel Thambsamy

What if I could speak all languages of humans and of angels? If I did not love others, I would be nothing more than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. What if I could prophesy and understand all secrets and all knowledge? And what if I had faith that moved mountains? I would be nothing, unless I loved others. What if I gave away all that I owned and let myself be burned alive? I would gain nothing, unless I loved others. Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. Love isn’t selfish or quick tempered. It doesn’t keep a record of wrongs that others do. Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil. Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting. Love never fails! (1Co 13:1-8 CEV)

 Questions for further discussion:

1.  What is this passage about?
2. How does Paul describe Love? What is love? What is not Love?
3. Do you agree with this description of Love? Why? Is it easy to love people?
4. Why does Paul consider love as such an important thing – more than speaking languages of humans and of angels, prophesying, understanding all secrets and all knowledge, faith that moves mountain, philanthropy etc ?
5. Love and relationships dominate media. How can our understanding of love make a difference to the world?
6. How do we grow in love? What are the areas of failure that needs immediate attention? What are the areas of strength that need to be affirmed?  
7. What is God telling me through the passage? What am I going to do in response to God’s Word?

Love and Truth

Bible study prepared by Samuel Thambusamy

You can tell God’s children from the devil’s children, because those who belong to the devil refuse to do right or to love each other. From the beginning you were told that we must love each other. Don’t be like Cain, who belonged to the devil and murdered his own brother. Why did he murder him? He did it because his brother was good, and he was evil. My friends, don’t be surprised if the people of this world hate you. Our love for each other proves that we have gone from death to life. But if you don’t love each other, you are still under the power of death. If you hate each other, you are murderers, and we know that murderers do not have eternal life. We know what love is because Jesus gave his life for us. That’s why we must give our lives for each other. If we have all we need and see one of our own people in need, we must have pity on that person, or else we cannot say we love God. Children, you show love for others by truly helping them, and not merely by talking about it. When we love others, we know that we belong to the truth, and we feel at ease in the presence of God.
(1Jo 3:10-19 CEV)

For further reflection

1. What is this passage about? What does this passage tell about Love?
2. How do we know love? How can we tell if some one belongs to God or not? What does our love for each other prove? What does our hatred prove?
3. How are we to show love? What are the benefits of loving one another? We must give our lives for each other! What has been your experience?
4. We must help people in need. Otherwise, we cannot say we love God! What has been your experience of people helping you when you are in need? How have you reciprocated such Christian love?
5. How does this passage link ‘love’ and ‘truth’?
6. What is God telling me through this passage? What am I going to do in response to God’s word?

To do:

Conversation with God – 1

A personal bible study prepared by Samuel Thambusamy

The woman (EVE) stared at the fruit. It looked beautiful and tasty. She wanted the wisdom that it would give her, and she ate some of the fruit. Her husband (ADAM) was there with her, so she gave some to him, and he ate it too. Right away they saw what they had done, and they realized they were naked. Then they sewed fig leaves together to make something to cover themselves. Late in the afternoon a breeze began to blow, and the man and woman heard the LORD God walking in the garden. They were frightened and hid behind some trees. The LORD called out to the man and asked, “Where are you?” The man answered, “I was naked, and when I heard you walking through the garden, I was frightened and hid!” “How did you know you were naked?” God asked. “Did you eat any fruit from that tree in the middle of the garden?” “It was the woman you put here with me,” the man said. “She gave me some of the fruit, and I ate it.” The LORD God then asked the woman, “What have you done?” “The snake tricked me,” she answered. “And I ate some of that fruit.”
(Gen 3:6-13 CEV)

Questions for Further discussion

1) What is this passage about?
2) Who are the characters mentioned in the passage? What do we know about them?
3) Who were involved in the conversation with God? Who began the conversation? What was the conversation all about?
4) Why did Adam and Eve build walls around themselves (hide behind the trees)? Were they feeling ’scared’ or ‘guilty’? Why is there is a discomfort when we think we are doing something wrong? Why are we able to get over this discomfort after some time?
5) The fruit represented ‘an image’(pleasing to the eye), “instinct” ( good for food) and “information (desirable for knowledge). Eve (and Adam?!) was attracted to it because of the image, instinct and information.
6)What are the attractions for us in the contemporary world? In what way do we wilfully disobey God? How do we feel about this? What walls are people building today? Who (or what) do people blame for all the things they do?
7) Adam and Eve resorted to a blame-game? How does this affect conversations between each other and between God?
Has there been a breakdown of your relationship with God? How did you feel about it (guilty, disgusted or scared? What walls did you build around yourself? Did you have a conversation with God after that? How did it go? How did you resolve the breakdown in relationship?
9) What is God telling you through the passage? What conversations are you planning to have with God?

Make a difference!

You have heard people say, “Love your neighbors and hate your enemies.” But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for anyone who mistreats you. Then you will be acting like your Father in heaven. He makes the sun rise on both good and bad people. And he sends rain for the ones who do right and for the ones who do wrong. If you love only those people who love you, will God reward you for that? Even tax collectors love their friends. If you greet only your friends, what’s so great about that? Don’t even unbelievers do that? But you must always act like your Father in heaven. (Mat 5:43-48 CEV)

Questions for further reflection

1)      What is this passage about?

2)      How do people deal with their enemies in your context/s? What do you think about them?

3)      Why do you think God makes the sun rise on both good and bad people, sends rain for the ones who do right and for the ones who do wrong etc? What does this tell you about God?

4)      Is loving the enemy possible? What are the stories in your context/s? 

5)      What does it mean to love your enemy? What do you think about Jesus’ teaching? Why do you think Jesus wants his disciples to love their enemies and pray for those who mistreat them? What are the challenges in loving our enemies and praying for those who mistreat us? How do we respond to these challenges?

6)      Even Tax collectors love their friends. People who don’t believe in God greet their friends! Why are we expected to be different from them? Why do we have to transcend ordinary expressions of love within our cultural tradition and social location?

7)      (Mentally) prepare a list of those you perceive to be your enemies! Spend some time praying for them.

8)      What is God telling us through the passage? What are you going to do in response to God’s Word?

Falling in love with God

Read 

One of them was an expert in the Jewish Law. So he tried to test Jesus by asking, “Teacher, what is the most important commandment in the Law?” Jesus answered: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. This is the first and most important commandment. The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, “Love others as much as you love yourself.” All the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets are based on these two commandments. (Mat 22:35-40 CEV)

Questions for personal reflection

1. What is this passage about?
2. The word ‘Love’ has been used, abused and confused in contemporary world. What does it mean to love God?
3. How do you understand: a. Loving God with all your heart (b) Loving God with all your soul (c) Loving God with all your mind (d) Loving God with all your strength
4. The Lawyer has asked for the most important commandment. Jesus gave him two commandments instead of one. Why do you think Jesus gave him another one?
5. How do you think “Loving God” connects with “Loving others”?
6. Did Jesus instruct us not to love ourselves? What would you tell people who don’t love themselves? Why is it important to love ourselves? Why is it important to love others as much as you love yourself?
7. Loving God, Loving ourselves and Loving others is the basis of all the Law of Moses and the books of the prophets. Comment!
8. What is God telling me through the passage? What am I going to do in response to God’s word today?

To do:

1. Decide to do one thing to show that you love God with all your heart, soul and mind
2. Decide to do one thing to show that you love others as much as you love others.