Father God, we thank you for this opportunity to study your Word. Bless this time and send your Holy Spirit to guide us during our study. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
I. Jesus Preaches to the Kingdom
- Matthew 4:12-25 started with Jesus finding out that his cousin, John the Baptist, was thrown to prison. Because of this, he decided to go to Galilee. This happened about a year after the "temptations" in the wilderness. We know in the book of John that in between, Jesus had turned water into wine, drove the money changers from the temple, talked to Nicodemus, and had done some ministry. Matthew decided to start again with Jesus' life here because John the Baptist's imprisonment became a turning point of Jesus' ministry. Jesus called his first four disciples. He didn't do it by taking applications or looking for the most religious people. Jesus plainly called four fishermen: the brothers Andrew and Simon (Peter), and the brothers James and John. He called on them and asked them to follow Him and become "fishers of men". And without any questions, they left everything (business and family) and followed Him. Discipleship is a simple commitment or response to follow Jesus. And discipleship always involve being "fishers of men". So what does that mean? "Fishers of men" spread the Gospel just like a fishnet, patiently waiting for men to receive the message, accept Jesus Christ as their savior, and build a relationship with God. Just like a fisherman catching a fish, there's nothing like catching someone's heart and lead them to God's family.
Pastor Ed from Calvary Chapel Aurora Colorado once said that "if we, as a church, fail to evangelize that it's only a matter of time before we fossilize before we become dry and stale, before our church is no longer an arm, or leg, or the mouthpiece, or the eyes of God on earth today but becomes just another social club."
We, as Christians and followers of Christ, have a duty, a Great Commission, to share the Word and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:16-20). We all have our own talents and God will use us with the talents and skills that He blessed us with. We don't have to be a pastor, a worship leader, or a Bible expert to show God's love. Follow the way of the Lord and you will turn into the "light of the world" where others can see through the changes that God has done in your life. Share our faith to others, send Bible verses, give encouragement , help others, provide hope, pray, and live the life that God wants us and we will shine and show God's love and grace.
II. No One is Righteous
- In Romans 3:9-20, Paul said that the Jews were not better than the Gentiles. The Jews might have the law but they still have committed sin and were unrighteous. Paul then used the verses in Ecclesiastes 7:20 and Psalm 14:1-3 which explains the nature of the sin. He talks about how they lie, curse, murder, and disrespect God. In verse 20, Paul stated that anyone would be guilty before God. He then explained that the law can not make people righteous and that is the reason why we need salvation.
Everyone in this world is not righteous. We are all sinners and if someone out there says that they are "holy" and they don't sin, then they just committed a sin. Nobody is perfect and as humans, we have our sinful nature. This is what makes the Gospel so important. The message that God is trying to share to us is that we are not good enough and we need to receive the Gospel and repent our sins. We will not get God's favor because we do good deeds, or we go to church every Sunday, or we read the Bible every day, or we give our tithes and offerings. "It is all by God's grace that we are saved through faith, and not of ourselves. It is a gift from God not by works, so that no one can boast"- (Ephesians 2:8-9).
III. Proverbs for Today/2:6-15
6 For the LORD gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;
8 He guards the paths of justice,
And preserves the way of His saints.
9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice,
Equity and every good path.
10 When wisdom enters your heart,
And knowledge is pleasant to your soul,
11 Discretion will preserve you;
Understanding will keep you,
12 To deliver you from the way of evil,
From the man who speaks perverse things,
13 From those who leave the paths of uprightness
To walk in the ways of darkness;
14 Who rejoice in doing evil,
And delight in the perversity of the wicked;
15 Whose ways are crooked,
And who are devious in their paths;
IV. Old Testament Reading:
Genesis 18:16-33, Genesis 19, and Psalms 8:1-9
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for calling us to follow you. It is not coincidence that we are reading your message to us. Help us to be ready and accept your calling. Use us in your ministry and let us be "fishers of men". Let us be the "light of the world". Let your love and grace shine through us. We know, God, that we are not worthy of your grace and we ask for cleansing. Forgive us for we are sinners. We thank you for all the blessings, or the protection, and everything else that you have given us. We ask that you continue to pour your blessings upon us. We love you and we honor you, In Jesus' Name. Amen.
- Matthew 4:12-25 started with Jesus finding out that his cousin, John the Baptist, was thrown to prison. Because of this, he decided to go to Galilee. This happened about a year after the "temptations" in the wilderness. We know in the book of John that in between, Jesus had turned water into wine, drove the money changers from the temple, talked to Nicodemus, and had done some ministry. Matthew decided to start again with Jesus' life here because John the Baptist's imprisonment became a turning point of Jesus' ministry. Jesus called his first four disciples. He didn't do it by taking applications or looking for the most religious people. Jesus plainly called four fishermen: the brothers Andrew and Simon (Peter), and the brothers James and John. He called on them and asked them to follow Him and become "fishers of men". And without any questions, they left everything (business and family) and followed Him. Discipleship is a simple commitment or response to follow Jesus. And discipleship always involve being "fishers of men". So what does that mean? "Fishers of men" spread the Gospel just like a fishnet, patiently waiting for men to receive the message, accept Jesus Christ as their savior, and build a relationship with God. Just like a fisherman catching a fish, there's nothing like catching someone's heart and lead them to God's family.
Pastor Ed from Calvary Chapel Aurora Colorado once said that "if we, as a church, fail to evangelize that it's only a matter of time before we fossilize before we become dry and stale, before our church is no longer an arm, or leg, or the mouthpiece, or the eyes of God on earth today but becomes just another social club."
We, as Christians and followers of Christ, have a duty, a Great Commission, to share the Word and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:16-20). We all have our own talents and God will use us with the talents and skills that He blessed us with. We don't have to be a pastor, a worship leader, or a Bible expert to show God's love. Follow the way of the Lord and you will turn into the "light of the world" where others can see through the changes that God has done in your life. Share our faith to others, send Bible verses, give encouragement , help others, provide hope, pray, and live the life that God wants us and we will shine and show God's love and grace.
II. No One is Righteous
- In Romans 3:9-20, Paul said that the Jews were not better than the Gentiles. The Jews might have the law but they still have committed sin and were unrighteous. Paul then used the verses in Ecclesiastes 7:20 and Psalm 14:1-3 which explains the nature of the sin. He talks about how they lie, curse, murder, and disrespect God. In verse 20, Paul stated that anyone would be guilty before God. He then explained that the law can not make people righteous and that is the reason why we need salvation.
Everyone in this world is not righteous. We are all sinners and if someone out there says that they are "holy" and they don't sin, then they just committed a sin. Nobody is perfect and as humans, we have our sinful nature. This is what makes the Gospel so important. The message that God is trying to share to us is that we are not good enough and we need to receive the Gospel and repent our sins. We will not get God's favor because we do good deeds, or we go to church every Sunday, or we read the Bible every day, or we give our tithes and offerings. "It is all by God's grace that we are saved through faith, and not of ourselves. It is a gift from God not by works, so that no one can boast"- (Ephesians 2:8-9).
III. Proverbs for Today/2:6-15
6 For the LORD gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;
8 He guards the paths of justice,
And preserves the way of His saints.
9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice,
Equity and every good path.
10 When wisdom enters your heart,
And knowledge is pleasant to your soul,
11 Discretion will preserve you;
Understanding will keep you,
12 To deliver you from the way of evil,
From the man who speaks perverse things,
13 From those who leave the paths of uprightness
To walk in the ways of darkness;
14 Who rejoice in doing evil,
And delight in the perversity of the wicked;
15 Whose ways are crooked,
And who are devious in their paths;
IV. Old Testament Reading:
Genesis 18:16-33, Genesis 19, and Psalms 8:1-9
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for calling us to follow you. It is not coincidence that we are reading your message to us. Help us to be ready and accept your calling. Use us in your ministry and let us be "fishers of men". Let us be the "light of the world". Let your love and grace shine through us. We know, God, that we are not worthy of your grace and we ask for cleansing. Forgive us for we are sinners. We thank you for all the blessings, or the protection, and everything else that you have given us. We ask that you continue to pour your blessings upon us. We love you and we honor you, In Jesus' Name. Amen.
