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Southside Church of Christ, Lexington, KY
Episodes
Monday Oct 23, 2023
Monday Oct 23, 2023
Acts 16:25-34
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!" 29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31 They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved - you and your household." 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God - he and his whole family. (NIV 84)
FROM THE LESSON
In verse 26, the Greek words translated as "violent earthquake" are seismos megas. You don't have to be a Greek scholar to understand these words. It was a seismic occurrence of mega proportions.
In 2 Corinthians 11:25-28, Paul gave the details of his sufferings, he wrote, "I have been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger of bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea, and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressures of my concern for all the churches."
In verses 33-34, all of the acts the jailer performed for Paul and Silas following his conversion - washing their wounds, being baptized, removing the prisoners from the jail and bringing them into his house for a meal - were all acts punishable by death according to Roman law.
In verse 26, the Greek words translated as "violent earthquake" are seismos megas. You don't have to be a Greek scholar to understand these words. It was a seismic occurrence of mega proportions.
In 2 Corinthians 11:25-28, Paul gave the details of his sufferings, he wrote, "I have been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger of bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea, and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressures of my concern for all the churches."
In verses 33-34, all of the acts the jailer performed for Paul and Silas following his conversion - washing their wounds, being baptized, removing the prisoners from the jail and bringing them into his house for a meal - were all acts punishable by death according to Roman law.
WHAT IS BELIEF IN THE LORD JESUS?
- It is not about assurance. Belief does not exempt us from having bad days.
- It is not about an amount. Belief is not subjective, it is objective. It's what you believe, not how much you believe.
- It is all about allegiance. Belief is best described as allegiance to Jesus as King.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What do you think about or how does it make you feel when you read in verse 25 that Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God while suffering in prison?
- Belief in the Lord Jesus does not assure you good health and lots of wealth. It's important to understand that belief is not about assurance. Have you ever struggled with this understanding of belief?
- Belief in the Lord Jesus has nothing to do with an amount. It's important to understand that it's what you believe about Jesus, not how much you believe in Him. Have you ever struggled with this understanding of belief?
- Belief in the Lord Jesus is about allegiance to Jesus as the King. It's important to understand that Jesus reigns from the right hand of the Father and is the Sovereign Lord of the Universe. How does this understanding of belief help us to make it through the difficulties of this life?
Sunday Oct 15, 2023
Sunday Oct 15, 2023
Acts 16:16-24
16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her. 19 When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. 20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, "These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice. 22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to stripped and beaten. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. (NIV 84)
FROM THE LESSON
Spirit of a Python: in verse 16, Luke literally reports that this slave girl had the "spirit of a python." This is a reference to the young women who served as priestess at the Oracle at Delphi. These women were called Pythia, named after the Python dragon that the Greek god Apollo had defeated.
Ventriloquism: in verse 16, the word translated as "fortune-telling" will also be used to describe the art of ventriloquism. This is how the Greeks would have thought about what was happening with this slave girl. The words she spoke would have been understood as the very words of the gods being spoken through her, just like a ventriloquist and his puppet.
IJM: International Justice Mission is a Christian organization that partners with local authorities all around the world to combat human trafficking and slavery, particularly violence against women and the exploitation of children. You can check out the incredible work they do at www.ijm.org.
Spirit of a Python: in verse 16, Luke literally reports that this slave girl had the "spirit of a python." This is a reference to the young women who served as priestess at the Oracle at Delphi. These women were called Pythia, named after the Python dragon that the Greek god Apollo had defeated.
Ventriloquism: in verse 16, the word translated as "fortune-telling" will also be used to describe the art of ventriloquism. This is how the Greeks would have thought about what was happening with this slave girl. The words she spoke would have been understood as the very words of the gods being spoken through her, just like a ventriloquist and his puppet.
IJM: International Justice Mission is a Christian organization that partners with local authorities all around the world to combat human trafficking and slavery, particularly violence against women and the exploitation of children. You can check out the incredible work they do at www.ijm.org.
WHY SPEAK THE NAME OF JESUS?
- We speak the name of Jesus because we submit our lives to His authority.
- We speak the name of Jesus because we want to live without any ambiguity.
- We speak the name of Jesus because we desire to see His liberating activity.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- How many times did you speak the name of Jesus last week? Think about it and try to come up with a number.
- Paul wrote in Philippians 2:9 that "His name is above every name and at the name of Jesus every knee should bow." How can you speak the name of Jesus more in your day to day life as a way of submitting your life to His authority?
- Peter spoke these words in Acts 4:12, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." Peter was crystal clear with his message. How can you speak the name of Jesus more in your day to day life as a way of living without any ambiguity?
- The angel of the Lord told Joseph in Matthew 1:21, "You are to give him the name Jesus because he will set His people free from sin." How can you speak the name of Jesus more in your day to day life as a way of seeing His liberating activity?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcmqSfr1ENY
Sunday Oct 08, 2023
Sunday Oct 08, 2023
Matthew 6:24
24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." (NIV 84)
24 "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money." (NLT)
24 "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money." (NLT)
FROM THE LESSON
Three Conversions: "There are three conversions necessary: the conversion of the mind, the conversion of the heart and the conversion of the wallet." (Martin Luther)
Conquering Greed: "Guilt is conquered by confession, anger is conquered by forgiveness, and greed is conquered by generosity." (Andy Stanley)
The Principle of the Tithe: God is looking for our first and best. That may be 10% or it may be more.
The Principle of Ownership: God owns it all. "To the Lord belongs the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it." (Deuteronomy 10:14)
Three Conversions: "There are three conversions necessary: the conversion of the mind, the conversion of the heart and the conversion of the wallet." (Martin Luther)
Conquering Greed: "Guilt is conquered by confession, anger is conquered by forgiveness, and greed is conquered by generosity." (Andy Stanley)
The Principle of the Tithe: God is looking for our first and best. That may be 10% or it may be more.
The Principle of Ownership: God owns it all. "To the Lord belongs the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it." (Deuteronomy 10:14)
WHY DON'T WE CHOOSE TO BE GENEROUS?
- Procrastination
- Hesitation
- Exception
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. How open are you to talk honestly about money? What kinds of feelings arise within you when you read what Jesus says about money? Luke 6:24; 12:15; Matthew 6:19; 19:24
2. What do you think about Jesus positioning money as a rival god in Matthew 6:24? What crazy things have you seen people do to get more money or to cling to what money they have?
3. How do you find yourself resistant to the direction given to you in your Bible to "give it away"? Why do you have so much?
4. The principle of the tithe is "first and best". What does that mean for you in the context of giving? Which of the three ideas have negatively impacted your giving: procrastination, hesitation, exception?
5. "God owns it all." How does this truth make a difference in your giving?
2. What do you think about Jesus positioning money as a rival god in Matthew 6:24? What crazy things have you seen people do to get more money or to cling to what money they have?
3. How do you find yourself resistant to the direction given to you in your Bible to "give it away"? Why do you have so much?
4. The principle of the tithe is "first and best". What does that mean for you in the context of giving? Which of the three ideas have negatively impacted your giving: procrastination, hesitation, exception?
5. "God owns it all." How does this truth make a difference in your giving?
Monday Oct 02, 2023
Monday Oct 02, 2023
Acts 16:11-15
11 From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day on to Naeapolis. 12 From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of the district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. 13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshipper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. 15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her house. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us. (NIV 84)
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF CONVERSION
Humility: Don Meyer was the head men's basketball coach at Lipscomb University for 25 years. When he retired in 2009, he was the winningest coach in college basketball history with a record of 923-324. One of his life principles was: "Always Take Notes."
Hungry: Louie Gigglio is a Christian pastor and founder of the Passion Movement. He wrote this about worship, "Worship is simply about value. Worship is our response to whatever we value the most in our lives."
Hospitality: John Stott, in his commentary on Acts, wrote this about the conversion of Lydia, "For once her heart was opened, her home was opened too."
Hungry: Louie Gigglio is a Christian pastor and founder of the Passion Movement. He wrote this about worship, "Worship is simply about value. Worship is our response to whatever we value the most in our lives."
Hospitality: John Stott, in his commentary on Acts, wrote this about the conversion of Lydia, "For once her heart was opened, her home was opened too."
THE CONCEPTS OF CONVERSION
- Paul gladly shares because conversion is intentional.
- God graciously opens because conversion is spiritual.
- Lydia genuinely responds because conversion is personal.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Take a few moments and share your conversion story with someone. Do you have a favorite conversion story? Share that story with someone.
- There is an important principle established in Scripture (Proverbs 3:34, James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5). The principle is this, "God gives grace to the humble, but He opposes the proud." How have you seen this principle in your life or in the narrative of Scripture?
- The word translated "speak" in verse 13 is not a word used for teaching or preaching, it is a more casual word that means to have a personal conversation. Who shared in this way with you about Jesus? Who is someone in your life that you could share with about Jesus?
- The mystery of conversion is how all three of the concepts of conversion come together as one in a beautiful way. Does knowing all three of these concepts help you to better understand conversion? How?
- When conversion happens in a person's life, fruit is produced. In the conversion of Lydia, the fruit of hospitality is immediately produced. What kind of fruit have you seen produced in your life or in another person's life due to conversion?
Sunday Sep 24, 2023
Sunday Sep 24, 2023
Acts 16:6-10
6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. (NIV 84)
ABOUT THE LESSON
Asking for Directions: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and the one who knocks, the door will be opened." Jesus, Matthew 7:7-8
Both/And: In his commentary on Acts, John Stott wrote these verses teach that God's guidance is both negative and positive (some doors close and others open), both circumstantial and rational (situations happen and we think about them), both personal and corporate (sharing a vision in order to reach a common mind).
"The Macedonian Call" - it often takes a special call to break new ground. This is more than just a call to a different province, this is a call to a new continent. Paul and his companions will become the first missionaries on European soil.
Both/And: In his commentary on Acts, John Stott wrote these verses teach that God's guidance is both negative and positive (some doors close and others open), both circumstantial and rational (situations happen and we think about them), both personal and corporate (sharing a vision in order to reach a common mind).
"The Macedonian Call" - it often takes a special call to break new ground. This is more than just a call to a different province, this is a call to a new continent. Paul and his companions will become the first missionaries on European soil.
THREE PRINCIPLES WHEN YOU'RE UNSURE ABOUT WHAT'S NEXT
- A map is not included. Ask, seek, and knock are the action verbs of the disciple.
- We have a guide. Learn to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
- Keep your eyes on the prize. Submit to God's no because you trust God's yes.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Have you ever been unsure about "what's next" in your life? Have you ever asked God, "so, now what?" How did you seek the Lord's guidance and direction?
- Have you ever stopped and ask for directions? Does the principle of a map not being included in a life of faith encourage or discourage you? Why? How can you grow in the practice of asking, seeking, and knocking?
- Disciples of Jesus are sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. How have you experienced the leading of the Spirit in your life?
- Can you think of an example from your life when it seemed like God was saying No? We can submit to God's no because we trust God's yes. How have you seen this principle in your life?
Sunday Sep 17, 2023
Sunday Sep 17, 2023
1 He came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek. 2 The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in number. (NIV 84)
ABOUT THE LESSON
"The Dechurching of America" - we are currently experiencing the largest and fastest religious shift in the history of our country, as about 40 million formerly regular Christian worshippers have decided they no longer desire to attend church at all. This accounts for around 16 percent of our adult population.
Definition of spiritual formation - the process of being conformed to the image of Christ for the sake of others (Invitation to a Journey: A Roadmap for Spiritual Formation, Robert Mullholand).
Agape - this is the highest form of love. It is the love modeled by Jesus to his disciples. It is a selfless, sacrificial, and serving love. In the KJV Bible, the word is translated as "charity" when it refers to one Christian showing it to another Christian.
WHY GIVE CHURCH A SECOND CHANCE?
- Because of the need for community: give people a second chance.
- Because of the life of conformity: give the process a second chance.
- Because of the outcome of charity: give the possibility a second chance.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What do you think about this movement in our country that has been called the "dechurching of America?" Have you experienced hurt or had negative experiences in the church? Have you had to give church a second chance?
- Humans are created by God with a need for community. How have you seen this to be true in your life? Discuss both the difficulty and the importance of community.
- What do you think about the above definition of spiritual formation? Discuss specifically the phrase "for the sake of others."
- Jesus says that we should love each other as He has loved us. It is the highest form of love. What are some examples of how you have experienced this kind of love through the church?
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