Sunday school lesson for July 28

This week’s passages are from Psalm 85:8-13 & Luke 11:1-10.

Psalm 85:8-13

The latter verses of Psalm 85 contain some of the most hopeful words in the Bible. Love and faithfulness, peace and righteousness are depicted as the greatest blessings God has to bestow upon those who listen to Him.

Obedience to God, according to the psalmist, brings about the well-being of God’s people and the whole nation. This thought is often emphasized, even today, during National Days of Prayer.

Questions for study and reflection

Why is peace given to those who listen to God? How can we experience that same peace in our own restless lives?

According to the psalmist, salvation comes through fearing the Lord. Is this something that we can accept today? What does it mean to fear God anyway?

Love and faithfulness appear to be the hallmarks of God’s favor. Have we ever experienced these blessings in our lives?

How do righteousness and peace bring about God’s goodness? Where do we see this happening in the world today?

Should we be praying for our nation? If so, then what should we be praying for?

Luke 11:1-10

           

Today’s passage is Luke’s account of how Christ taught His disciples to pray. A discipleship prayer was the identifying brand of a group of people following a particular teacher. Luke even mentions that John the Baptist had taught a special prayer to his disciples. This prayer has become The Lord’s Prayer for us today and is recited in Christian churches around the world.

Luke also adds some of Christ’s teaching about prayer, especially when it comes to asking God for something. Christian People are expected to be persistent in prayer when it comes to important matters. This is not to make God do something for us, but to show Him how committed and dependent we are toward Him.

Questions for study and reflection

Why did the disciples feel that they needed to learn a special prayer from Jesus? What was the purpose of that prayer?

How often do we say the Lord’s Prayer? Do we really mean what we ask and say?

Jesus tells a parable about a persistent neighbor seeking bread from a friend. What has this parable got to do with the process of prayer?

Verses 9 and 10 are among some of the best known verses in the Gospels. How do we apply them in our own lives? What is Jesus wanting us to understand through those verses about our prayers?

If God knows what we need, then why do we still need to ask Him for it?

Have you ever experienced God not granting your prayer requests? How did you cope with God’s response? Have you ever had your prayers fully blessed by God? How did you respond?

Any other thoughts or questions?

Next Sunday’s readings: Psalm 107:1-9 & Luke 12:13-21

Online Bible Study - Happy New Me! - 01 Blind Bartimaeus

At this time of year, we all make promises or resolutions to change our lives in better ways. Usually, we fail to meet up to the higher standards that we set for ourselves. The changes that we hope to make often fall by the wayside.

       But what would happen if Jesus were to intervene in our lives and make positive changes that we could not diminish or alter? What would happen to our lives and those of others around us?

       This short series looks at some of the people who met Jesus and whose circumstances were changed forever.

              Study 01: “I Can See!” – The Story of Blind Bartimaeus

Mark 10:46-52

(also in Matthew 20:29-34 & Luke 18:35-43)

46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. 

47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 

48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 

49 Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." 

50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. 

51 "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see." 

52 "Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you."Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Questions for Discussion

What do you think Jesus and His disciples were doing in this passage? What is Bartimaeus doing?

How does the blind man know that Jesus is there? What do you think he has heard about him?

Why does he shout? Why does he call Jesus the ‘Son of David’? What is the reaction of the crowd? How does Bartimaeus respond?

What does Jesus do? How does that change the attitude of the crowd? What is Bartimaeus’ response?

Why does Jesus ask him what he wants from Him? Isn’t it obvious? Why does Bartimaeus now call Jesus ‘Rabbi’?

Did Jesus heal Bartimaeus? Why is faith necessary here? What is the outcome of the event? How is Bartimaeus’ life changed forever?

Further discussion

Pope Benedict has stated that today’s Church is the equivalent of Bartimaeus. What do you think he means by this?

Is the Church blind? If so, how can we be healed?

Any other comments?

Next Week

Go and Sin No More – the Adulteress

(John 8:1-12)